Three months later Julie was happily busy with wedding plans. Julie and Carlos had planned to be married as soon as possible and decided on early fall, leaving Julie five months to get everything together. Her dress was being designed by a friend of hers and C.D. was more than happy to cater the reception.

Julie was at home, surrounded by files for work, lists for the wedding and brochures for honeymoon sites. . .she was definitely looking forward to the dinner she had planned with Carlos. Finally deciding to take a break, Julie stretched her cramped muscles and was just thinking that a nice warm bubblebath would be the best way to relax. As she headed toward the bathroom, the phone rang.

"Hello?" she said as she glanced that her watch to judge how much time she had left to relax in her bath.

"Dr. Lawrence, this is Mr. Williamson," came the voice on the other end of the line. Julie remembered Mr, Williamson and was about to ask how Crystal was doing when the man continued without giving her a chance to speak. "It's Crystal. . .she's in the Whitestone Park bridge. . . she's threatening to jump. . . "

"Okay, calm down," said Julie when she heard the tightness and fear in his voice. "Where are you right now?"

"At the bridge. . . there are also some cops here and Texas Rangers. . ..but Crystal has threatened that if anyone comes near the bridge, she'll jump."

"I'm on my way right now,' said Julie as she left her apartment, glad he had called her on her cell phone.

"Just please hurry," Mr. Williamson said as he saw his only daughter standing in the outer ledge of the bridge. It frustrated him and scared him because there was nothing he could do at that moment.

Julie jumped into her jeep and made it to the bridge with the use of the portable siren Walker had given her for situations like this.

Seeing the bridge, Julie saw the small group clustered at one end of the bridge, thankful that the cops seemed to have kept the public away from this area. As she neared the bridge at a quick jog, Julie saw Crystal standing on the outer edge against the rail of the bridge bear the center.

Finally reaching the group, Julie saw that among the group were the Williamsons as well as Walker, Trivette and Carlos and a paramedics team.

"What's happened so far?" she asked Walker, catching Carlos' eye. "Has she said anything else?"

Walker shook his head, "Her only demand is that no one come on the bridge."

Julie nodded her head, "Okay, I'm going out there." Then she turned to Walker. "Make sure no one else comes near us unless I say otherwise." Walker nodded. Finally, she turned to the Williamsons, "I will do what I can, but I can't guarantee that I can save her this time. . . she is going to want to come back."

Julie took a deep breath and walked to where Crystal was standing.

"Go away Dr. Lawrence," said Crystal. Julie could hear that anger and tightness in Crystal's voice.

"I am not going anywhere unless I know what is going on," said Julie.

"You want to know what's going on? Fine. I'll tell you. I have learned that I can't trust anyone anymore."

"Why not?" I need to keep her talking, thought Julie.

"Ever since you had that conference with my parents, I am watched by them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I have teachers and counselors always asking if I'm okay all the time. And to top it all off, my friends are scared to have me around because they're afraid I'll go on a suicidal rage or something."

"I'm sorry about that Crystal, but the meeting with your parents was required."

"I know that, but they didn't respect my wanting to keep this quiet," said Crystal angrily. "Why should I bother anymore if I can't trust anyone?"

Then Julie did what she never thought she would do. Placing her hands on the railing, she lifted herself up and over the railing to stand beside Crystal on the outer ledge.

"What are you doing?!" exclaimed Crystal in surprise.

"I'm just proving to you that I care what happens to you and that you can trust me," said Julie, realizing that there was only about a foot and a half of space to stand on.

"You're crazy!!" Crystal said with wide eyes.

"No, I care. I care what happens to you and if you decided to go through with this, I won't let you do it alone."

When Carlos saw Julie climb over the railing, fear seized his heart and he bolted toward the bridge; only the firm grips of Walker and Trivette held him back.

"What is she doing?!" Carlos exclaimed, not believing that Julie had actually climbed over the edge.

Julie looked over her shoulder and saw Walker and Trivette restraining Carlos. She quickly looked away, not wanting to see the fear in his eyes.

"Crystal, I know this has been hard for you. . . but you have been doing better," said Julie, aware of the rushing water beneath them over the rocks.

Crystal looked at her, "I have?"

"Yes. I could see the determination in you to live. . . you don't want to do this. . . do you?"

Crystal shook her head, "I don't even know why I came here. . . I thought it would be easier this way. . . but I'm scared."

"Why don't we climb back over and I can help you," said Julie.

Crystal nodded with tears in her eyes. Julie helped her to climb over the railing, then turned to nod her head to the group waiting at the end of the bridge. Everyone made their way to the two girls. Just as Julie was lifting herself up, her foot slipped and Julie just barely caught the bottom of the railing to keep from falling. She heard Crystal scream and looked up to see Carlos leaning over the railing, stretching his hand out to her. Julie grabbed his hand and with his help she was able to pull herself back up and over the railing. As soon as her feet touched solid ground, Julie fell into Carlos' arms breathing hard.

"Are you okay?" Carlos asked her, holding her tightly.

"I'm fine," she said, still shaking slightly.

~~~

Two days later Crystal was transferred to an associate of Julie's who would better help her. The day Crystal left HOPE Julie found a letter on her desk from Crystal:

Dear Dr. Lawrence,

I want to thank you for doing what you did to help me. I

don't know how I would have been able to survive without you.

Because of what you did on the bridge. . . of how you trusted me and my uncertain actions. . . has shown me that I do have things to live for and to look forward to.

I will keep in touch with you and keep you informed of my

progress -- something I wouldn't have without you.

I wish you luck in your marriage to Detective Carlos

Sandoval..

Love,

Crystal

Julie finished the letter with tears streaming down her cheeks. Composing herself, she pulled her journal out of her bag and stapled the letter into the pages of the book.