author's notes:

Hello! This is an epilogue for my first story 'There's No Cure, You Can Only Heal Slowly', but you can read this one even though you didn't read it before! Pairing:John/Zoe. Original Character:Elizabeth Hadley, a doctor on Team Machine. Story is set in the third season, after John went after Simmons and nearly died.

I wanted to give a very detailed background of the characters' state of mind and their thoughts,and I'll provide more details and how the story unfolded from another person's point of view. Just please bear with me and read to the end. I promise it will be a happy ending.

Anyways, please review and happy reading!
Sincerely,

kellyh000

epilogue

chapter 1

When Zoe found out she was pregnant with John's child, she freaked out. At first, she hoped that the pregnancy test is wrong, but after getting more tests and receiving the same result, she had to accept the fact that there's a life living inside of her.

Zoe and John had been special friends for some time, but that's all they was. They weren't going to have a serious relationship, let alone of having a baby.

She wasn't sure whether she should keep the baby or not. She always thought she would marry her career and stay single 'til she gets too old and retire. Having a baby would definitely mess everything up. She wasn't even sure whether she should tell John. He lived a life which is even more dangerous than hers, and a part of her heart is terrified of whatever John's reaction may be.

Zoe decided to give herself two weeks before coming to a final conclusion.

But her maternal instinct had already started to influence her decisions in many ways. No matter how busy she was, she wouldn't miss a meal; she started to sleep in more, and she started to wear shoes that have lower heels. After coming home from a long day of work, she wouldn't pour herself a drink like she used to.

Zoe wasn't going to kid herself-she knows she could never bring herself to get an abortion. She would give birth to her child, and give him or her up for adoption.

She wasn't going to let a child change her life upside down.

But Zoe's mind changed again when she saw the doctor point to a tiny, black circle on the computer screen and told her it was her baby while getting an ultrasound.

Her baby, she thought. How could she ever give her baby to anyone else? If need be, she would raise her child alone, but there's nothing that can make her give up on being a mother now.

Naturally, after coming to a conclusion that she wants to raise the baby, Zoe decided to call the baby's father.

But to her horror, it was Harold who picked up the phone and told her John's not available right now as he nearly died when Simmons tried to kill him, and went AWOL to hunt down Quinn and Simmons, and nearly died again.

"Is there something I can do for you, Ms. Morgan?" Harold asked softly, being a prefect gentleman.

"No. But when can I see him?"

"John's still in a coma, I'm afraid. Although he did woke up shortly last night. Perhaps I could give you a call when he's better?"

"Yes, and is he in a hospital now?"

"No, John's in a safe house. Don't worry, Ms. Morgan. He has a doctor by his side 24/7. He will be alright. "

Zoe muttered a goodbye to Harold half-heartedly. Harold already said that John will be alright this time, but she knows that one day, he won't. And it will break her heart.

She would lose the father of her child, her guardian angel (even though she would never admit this in front of John), and the man whom she shared a special chemistry with, forever.

A few days later, to Zoe's surprise, John had called her himself.

He was able to stay awake for short periods of time now, and when Harold told him that Zoe called him and sounded distressed, John called back to check on her.

"Zoe, what's wrong?" John said.

His signature soft voice used to calm her nerves but she has too much on her mind right now. Of course she wouldn't show weakness, but for a moment, she did not know what to say.

"Can I...see you?"

"Uhh...hold on, " John put her on hold and she could hear him asking someone whether he could have visitors or not, most likely his doctor. "my doctor said yes, would you like to come over tomorrow?"

"Fine by me, but I didn't know you were such a good boy. Following doctor's orders, now?" Zoe said flirtingly to mask her anxiety.

"You have no idea. My doctor's been very rough on me." John replied jokingly, and Zoe heard a woman in the background yell "I'm not the one who chokes people with IV tubes!" and the sound of a door slamming shut.

"What was that?" Zoe asked, alarmed .

"Doctor Hadley and I had a little misunderstanding, but we're good now." John chuckled "tell you all about it when you come over tomorrow. "

Zoe's heart sunken at his response-John nearly died just days ago and now he's already joking around with a female doctor by his side. He sounds...more than fine. And yet here she is, brooding over her future with their baby inside her.

"I'll see you tomorrow, John." Zoe hung up, not wanting to hear anymore about what happened between him and the doctor.

The next morning, Zoe and fixed her long wavy hair and put on a new dress she just bought. She wanted to match it with her 4-inch high Christian Louboutin so badly, but eventually she picked out a pair of flat sandals from her dressing room.

When Zoe stood in front of the door of the safe house, she felt butterflies in her stomach. She had been in much more dangerous situations and have dealt with some very powerful people, but she never felt this insecure. It must be the hormones, she thought to herself and knocked.

A young, beautiful woman opened the door and greeted her. Zoe noticed her attractiveness the second she laid her eyes on the doctor. "You're even more beautiful than John said." She lied, wanting to see what the doctor's reaction would be. Flattered,maybe?

But the doctor spun her head back and asked incredulously as if she just told her a bad joke. "Sorry, John said what?"

"That you were young, beautiful, saved his life, and a bunch of other nice things about you." Zoe went on.

After walking down the stairs carefully, she followed the doctor down the hallway.

"Ms. Morgan, I have no intention of screwing with my patient, and he is slightly too old for my taste." the doctor stopped before a door and said quietly "by the way, John's in there, and I bet he's dying to see you." The doctor winked and opened the door for her.

She doesn't know how much the doctor knows about her relationship with John, but she certainly approves her straightforwardness. It just says that she's bold and perceptive. Zoe decided that she liked the doctor after all.

"Doctor." She called out.

"Yes, Ms. Morgan?"

"You can call me 'Zoe'" She hinted, trusting the doctor will get the cue.

And she was right as she saw Dr. Hadley nodded, smiling kindly.

Zoe closed the door behind her. The man on the bed turned his head and gave her a small but warming smile that made her smile involuntarily, too.

"Young, hot , smart doctor nursing you back to health, John?" Zoe purred "Are you trying to make me jealous?"

"Zoe. Good to see you, too."

Zoe walked over to sit on his bed. John scooted a bit over to give her some space.

"How are you, John?" Zoe asked, looking directly into John's eyes.

The seriousness on her face told John that she wants an honest answer.

"I will be," John said softly, and brought up his hand and brushed his thumb across her face tenderly. "I just need some time."

"I heard about what happened to Joss," Zoe muttered quietly and felt John's hand tensed. "I'm sorry for your loss."

John remained silent for a few seconds before changing the subject abruptly. "You sounded stressed on the phone, Zoe, what's wrong?"

Nothing's wrong. It's just that we're gonna be parents, John. Zoe thought to herself. John looked terrible, and she knows it's not just because of the wounds. He's still hurting badly over Joss's death. At that moment, she has no idea of how to bring up the baby.

"Nothing, it's just work." She said and tried to sound convincing "Something went wrong, but I got it under control now, really. I'm just here to see your pretty face. "

But John was sharp and a retired international spy who's good at spotting people's lies.

He, of course, sensed that Zoe did not want to speak of it, and chose to play dumb. "Hope you got what you came for, Ms. Morgan."

"Oh, you did promise me to tell me about the 'misunderstanding' between you and Dr. Hadley."

"Ah... When I first woke up, I sensed someone beside me. It was dark and I didn't know her, so I acted before she had a chance to introduce herself."

"'Acted' is such a vague word." Zoe pried for more details.

"I...used my IV tube to choke her."

Zoe's eyes widened "Did she fight back?"

"No, no. But she got me back."John winced a little" She sedated me to stop me from getting out of bed."

Zoe laughed "Sounds she's really rough on you. I'm just glad she didn't choke you, John."

John looked at her confusedly.

"I'm the only one who gets to choke you, remember?" Zoe bit her lip naughtily.

John gave her a defeated smile, pulled her to him so she could share his bed, and they stayed like that with their fingers laced before John fell asleep again.

TBC

Thanks for reading !

PLEASE review and have a nice day :)