Emma was so glad to be home. True, she wished she was in Europe with JC, but after what he had done, she didn't ever want to see him again. She had to leave him, she couldn't stay with a guy who cheated on her and was always away.

        It never really bothered her that he was away so much. He was doing what he loved, just like she was. Their lives didn’t revolve around each other.

        Emma had known from the start that she was getting too serious about JC. Now she had prayed the price for not listening to her head.

        The next morning and Emma decided to go straight back to work at the hospital. Many of the doctors and nurses were surprised to see her back just a day after she took leave. Emma didn't want to just stay home because she knew if she did all she would be able to think about is what had happened in Europe and what she had seen, and that hurt too much.

        “What are you doing back already?” One of Elizabeth’s colleagues and good friends, Meg came up behind her, after just coming from seeing a patient.

        Emma turned away from her paperwork and saw Meg standing there. “Oh, I decided I just didn't want to take my time off right now.”

        Meg looked at her friend. “But I thought you were going out of town to see your boyfriend?”

        Emma sighed. “Well I did but he was kind of busy.”

        Meg joined Emma on one of the couches. “I’m sorry to hear that. Did you at least get to talk to him?”

        “Oh yeah, I talked to him all right.”

        “What does that mean?” Meg asked.

        Emma didn't want to answer but knew she should to get Meg off her back about her boyfriend. She had never told anyone who her boyfriend was, all they knew was that they were apart a lot because of his job.

        “I got to talk to him for a few minutes, then I left.” There, that sounded simple enough.

        “At least you got to see him,” Meg said standing up being able to tell she didn't want to talk about it. “Anyways, I got a patient but we should get together for lunch, what do you say?”

        “Sure.” Emma went back to work and did her best to concentrate on her job.

        She saw a lot of patients that day. Getting back to the life she preferred.


        “Listen, just let me go back to New Mexico for a few days, that's all I'm asking,” JC pleaded. He was in the managers office trying to get a few days off so he could go see Emma and try to piece their relationship

        One of the managers gave JC a look. “I told you it was a bad idea for you to get involved in the first place. It's not good for your career.”

        JC got mad. “I don't care!! I have to go and work things out with her, I love her.”

        “Listen, I know you care about her, but the tour in Canada starts in three weeks.…”

        JC sat down and hung his head then looked back up at him. “Two days, that's all I'm asking. I'll be back, I promise.” He gave them puppy dog eyes hoping it would work. And it did.

        “Fine, JC but be back here on Saturday morning. If you're not here...well we'll figure that out later if we have to.”

        JC smiled for the first time in the last twenty four hours. “Thank you!” He was about to give them a hug because he was so happy but then stuck out his hand instead.

        He walked out of the office in a much better mood. “Emma, here I come.”


        After a long, exhausting days at the hospital, Emma just headed home. She walked into her lonely bare apartment and sat on the couch not bothering to take her coat or shoes off.

        “God, it’s nice to be home.”

        “I know,” she heard a voice say.

        At first, she was a little frightened. But the moment she recognized his voice, she stood up and glared at him across the room.

        “Get the hell out of here!” she yelled. “I'll call security.”

        “Emma, we need to talk,” JC said softly. He didn’t move. He just stood there, leaning up against the wall that connected the living room to the kitchen.

        She didn't look at him. She looked straight not wanting to see his face. “There's nothing left to talk about.”

        With his hands, JC brought her face to meet his. “Emma we love each other. True, what I did was a huge mistake, the biggest one of my life, and I am more sorry then you can imagine. You are the best thing in my life.”

        She crossed her arms over her chest. “So?”

        JC brushed her cheek with his hand. He had always done that when they would be talking and usually it distracted her completely but not this time.

        “I love you, that's all I can say. I want to prove it to you. To prove you're the only one I want. The only one I need.”

        “Why the hell are you here anyways?” She changed the subject quickly. She always weakened at his soft words. “Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for your tour in Canada?”

        JC nodded. “I made them give me a few days to come here.” He moved closer to her and placed his hand over hers. “I need you. Please give me a chance to show you how sorry I am.”

        Emma took her hand away. “No.” There was nothing he could do or say to change her mind. “No,” she repeated. “I can’t. We’re through.”

        “Please don't shut me out. I love you more than anything, why can't you give me the chance to prove it?” He was getting desperate now.

        Emma glared at him through lowered eye lids. “Because I don't know you anymore. I don't even think I love you anymore.”

        She didn’t give him a chance to say anything more. She slammed her bedroom door once she was behind it, leaving JC in the living room alone.

        “Shit,” he said. “I really messed up this time.”

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