The TV news is breaking on another possible earthquake due to hit LA in the next few days. So bad they think it will be the worst we have ever seen, not that we don't hear about that constantly you know about the big one coming. I feel a little concerned who wouldn't? I had lived in LA what 4 years now and I had to say I had grown accustomed to their attitude about the constant scaremongering these things caused.

Sarah the administration assistant flicks the remote button putting on the discovery channel. She catches my look, "You aren't worried are you? Listen sweetie we get these warnings all the time, they don't mean jack ok?"

I nod my head- knowing when I get home my best friend will be on the phone calling me all distraught and begging me to come back home to Dallas. Bonnie oh I missed my dear friend from our college days, we had clicked immediately when we sat next to each other in human biology and the rest is well history. I had been trying to get her to move out west for awhile but she was so stubborn set in her ways, plus she had a long term boyfriend with Kai a match made in heaven and of course I was extremely happy for them.

Sarah is staring at me, I finally reply, "Worried? Well maybe just a little. But you are right this happens all the time right?"

She laughs, "Elena my girl you are sounding more like one of us." Wishing I could find Sarah's humour in the situation I can't help but feel a sense of uneasiness.

I finish scrubbing up in the washroom after my last case finished for the day. Matt Donovan walks in removing his theatre garb, "Pretty rough huh? You did really well Elena, he is going to make it because of you."

I let out a smile of relief because a little boy of 8 years old falling off his bike and suffering severe damage is going to be alright. The parents were worried sick and a mother's guilt can never be eased when they are wired to protect their own. "I am so glad he is going to pull through. It is days like these I can say I love my job."

Matt ditches his gloves in the bin, "You are a wonderful surgeon Elena. Some of us are going out for a drink if you would like to join us?"

I hesitate not wanting to hurt his feelings, his blue eyes are watching me eagerly and I know I'm going to have to decline."Tonight? I am really beat it has been such a long day, I'm going to head home and have an early night."

A pink flush creeps up his face in embarrassment because we both know he wants to try and get me there alone on a date with just the two of us. I mean he is a wonderful guy but the spark just isn't there. I wanted someone who could give me butterflies in the pit of my stomach, share a love without reason and can't live without type- but was all that just a myth? No, because I believed there was a man out there who fit the description and all I had to do was find him.

"Ok Elena, maybe some other time then? Enjoy your night."

My alarm clocked beeps incessantly after my fingers have hit the snooze button for what seems like the 10th time. I am finding it hard to get up and motivate myself today and I don't know why, I enjoyed my job and had great friends but I feel like something is missing and life is passing me by. Hell what 26 year old could say that really? I had my whole life ahead of me and for once maybe I should start living it. I am in a dating wonderland nothing serious since I broke up with my last boyfriend Stefan Morgan with two wonderful years spent together. He works as a paramedic and sometimes I see him around the hospital, no weirdness between us because things are friendly we left on good terms. My alarm beeps again I reach over to silence it muttering, "Ok alright I'm getting up now."

I head for my usual coffee bar not far from the hospital called Destino's. It is quiet and quaint an old Italian type off the beaten track. I walk through the doors when Giuseppe the cafe owner greets me with a friendly smile, "Elena how are you? What can I get you the usual?"

His smile is infectious but I know I want to try something else today, "Giuseppe you know lets go with something different." The specials on the chalkboard catch my eye as I quickly scan it, "A medium cafe mocha please." I hand him my coins and take a seat in the back corner, I settle back against the brown leather seat noticing the other tables were sitting empty. I am the only customer, I smile because there were times when Giuseppe wasn't busy and he would come over and tell me stories about his life in Italy, sadly his wife died a few years ago he loved her more than anything in this world and so obvious he missed his beloved of 40 years. The sound of Giuseppe's laughter makes me turn around and I see he is talking to a man at the counter another regular customer I guess he looked quite comfortable pulling up a stool and sitting down to read the newspaper.

Giuseppe heads towards me with my drink, "I am sorry I took a little longer, I like to talk to everyone, live every day like it maybe your last."

"I'm in no rush, thank you." He placed the cup down in front of me and all of a sudden I feel the walls start to sway with my cup rattling against the table. What the hell? Giuseppe yells at me to get underneath the table scrambling I do as he asks.

"Earthquake." he says and I am petrified this could be it the big one.

We wait it out as another round of loud rumbles tears through, Giuseppe squeezes my hand in reassurance and I am grateful. 5 minutes pass with no further action so we escape from underneath our safe protection, Giuseppe asks, "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, what was that the big one they have been talking about?" I try to keep my voice even because I don't want to become hysterical and start screaming like a bloody lunatic because panic doesn't get you anywhere.

Another voice answers, "Not the big one yet this is only the beginning. We all need to get out of here like right now."

I turn towards the door staring at us is a tall man with dark hair he is impeccably dressed in dark trousers and a black shirt. His eyes are weary like he been through this before, I can't help but notice the blueness of his eyes and the perfection of his face handsome was not enough to describe him.

Giuseppe waves his hand around, "You are wrong see nothing is damaged, it was just a little one, no need to worry."

The stranger retorts, "Listen to me if you want to see another day of the sun rising and setting then this is not the time to be stubborn, do you hear me? We need to leave now."

I grab my bag and heed his instructions, one because I'm terrified and two because I want to know more about this stranger, "How are you so sure?"

He turns back to me his eyes lingering on my face, "Do you remember the San Francisco quake of 91? I was there I know how these things go."

I can't argue with that I have never lived through a quake of that magnitude. Giuseppe comes to his senses, "Damon my old friend you are right. Help me lock up and we can all get out of here."

Damon proceeded to help stack the tables and chairs against the windows. Giuseppe placing all the other items into the back room, then he tallied the till removing his takings. While we waited for him, Damon says, "When you leave here make sure you go somewhere safe. Tall buildings with no escapes are a big no no and stay away from the elevators too." He flashes me a grin, "No offence you don't seem like the seasoned Californian who knows the drill."

His voice is deep and strong and I'm embarrassed to admit I find extremely sexy, chastising myself really Elena are you crushing on some random guy in the midst of possible catastrophe? Gathering my thoughts I reply, "I'm on my way to work - we have safety procedures in place there. And I may not be born and bred in this city but I am well aware of what to and not do in these situations."

Smiling briefly he says, "Good, you take care of yourself then..?"

"Elena."

Damon waves goodbye to Giuseppe, "Take it easy old man. Get to safety quickly it is going to be here sooner than they think I believe."

He heads for the door and he is gone.

Giuseppe finally ushers me out rolling down the shutters on the external windows, patting my arm he says "Now get going miss. I hope to see again soon."

"Giuseppe you too please take care."

The Pediatrics ward at St Eloise hospital is a buzz of activity with the nurses busy racing around, Caroline Forbes one of them waves me over. "Elena. Where have you been? They have placed us on an earthquake warning alert." She pulls on my arm taking me down the corridor.

"I just left a cafe not far from here and felt the tremor. The evacuation level.. Why are we going down here?" I ask in confusion.

"Not yet they said only when and if the quake is over a 7. Now in the meantime you have a consult in room A8. Here's the file." Caroline shoves it into my arms and propels me towards the door.

I knock gently entering, "Hello, I'm Dr Gilbert your Pediatric surgeon." I sit down opposite across the table where a couple are waiting for me, I guess in their early 40's with a young toddler in tow.

The woman responds, "I thought we were meeting you with another doctor, Dr Salvatore. Where is he?"

For a moment I am at a loss my hand quickly rummaging through the file where I read the patient notes T. Lockwood, 3 year old son level 1 cleft palate, prior operations and age requirements. Plastic surgeon - Dr D. Salvatore, Pediatrician Dr E. Gilbert. Ok right, well where the hell is this doctor now that I am going to have to make excuses for him? "I apologise for this he is probably running late with his surgeries, I'm sure he will be here soon."

I gather more information from them jotting it down in my notebook when the door swings open and an apologetic Dr. walked in, "Sorry for the delay, my last patient just didn't know how to stop bleeding what a mess." My head snaps up in interest hearing a familiar voice only to find the stranger from the coffee shop standing before me our eyes meet he looks confused initially at seeing me here but ever the professionals we cast that aside he smiles at me warmly and I feel the beat of my heart flutter.

Damon takes a seat next to me, I'm feeling a little flustered so my voice comes out croaky, "Dr Salvatore this is Mr Lockwood, his wife Carol with their son Tyler."

He doesn't lift his eyes in response, all he says is, "I expect my colleague Dr Gilbert has asked you a few questions already? This should be the last operation Tyler will need."

Carol nods, "Yes she has. We just want to know when you can schedule the surgery for him?"

We wait for his response I watch him flick through the calendar on his Ipad, "Thursday 10.30am?"

Mrs Lockwood snaps, "Fine. Book us in then."

"Now do you have any other questions you would like to ask?" He looks at them and then back to me, I shrug. They both decline taking their leave by shaking our hands and hurrying from the room.

Leaving me alone with Dr Sexy and I am feeling rather nervous he seemed to have that effect on me turning me into a tongue tied adolescent. My mind still also reeling that he is a Doctor working here. "They seem like a nice couple the Lockwood's," is all I can think of.

Damon grimaces, "Nice? I wouldn't take first impressions literally Elena because there are always wolves dressed in sheep's clothing in every walk of life. "

I am surprised by his tone but not one to pry I ignore the comment. "I had no idea you were a doctor, you don't look like one." I blurt out instead, immediately regretting my words.

His blue eyes sparkle with laughter, "Is that so? And how are doctors supposed to look?" He is staring at me intently with a mischievous look about blush creeps up my neck scorching my face as I feel his eyes deliberately travel the length of my body stopping at the rise and fall of my chest and slowly resting back on my eyes.

I can't breathe feeling like the wind has been knocked out of me. I finally break away from his gaze. "Oh I don't know maybe middle aged with a little extra being carried around the waist and balding."

He laughs again, "Well I'm sorry to disappoint you Dr Gilbert." Damon's hands reach the sides of his arms shrugging out of the white coat, "But as you can see I am still young, toned and with a full head of hair."

My skin tingles from just the way he says my name, feeling like a caress and damn it I already know he has a well built physique he is overwhelming my senses with his pure maleness. I didn't have time for a comeback the walls begin to shake and sway, Damon grabs my arm and we both take refuge under the desk. The shaking continues around us and he murmurs, "This is it hang on tight because we are in for one hell of a ride."

Somewhere in my mind between the feelings of fearing for our safety, there is something else a strong attraction for this man confined in such a small intimate space. Damon's arm is placed tightly around my shoulders with his muscled thighs pressed up against mine. It takes some time and sense for me not to reach out and kiss his lips which were only inches away. I answer brokenly, "What about all the patients and our fellow workers are they going to be safe?"

He nods, "This building is designed well. All will be left standing." Another shock tears through the hospital this time the widows shudder shattering them into pieces. Damon shields me with his body the debris flying in around us.

I instinctively draw closer to him holding him tightly yelling over the noise, "Are we going to die?"

"Elena believe me when I tell you it could be a possibility, I lied the only safe place here is on the evacuation floor for a quake of this size, the warning alert came too late we are stuck here." His eyes quickly dart around checking the ceilings and windows for cracks and signs it was about to crumble down around us. He looks at me, "Do you know what I want to do before I die?"

I shake my head, "What would that be?"

Damon moves his head slowly towards mine and my heart starts to accelerate with just the thought of what he wanted to do- kiss me or have one last dash of making love to another human being, I don't know? Because that is exactly what I want to do, I quickly run my tongue over my teeth in some hope it would help to clean them. His lips are resting against mine with our breaths coming slowly and deeply and it is driving me insane moving my arm I slowly snake it around his neck, "Damon.." We stare at each other for a second before he throws all caution to the wind and captures my eager lips with his the feel of his mouth against mine sending shockwaves coursing throughout my body, I have never felt anything like it in my life. I pull him closer deepening our kiss pressing my body tightly against his and my hands free to roam over his tight muscled shoulders. His hands reach for my breasts cupping them in both his hands and rubbing them with his fingers against the fabric of my shirt.

Through our hazy desire I can hear the sound of loud rumbling roaring through my ears. Panicking I scream out "No!" clutching myself into a tight protective ball I waited for the impact when the walls and part of the ceiling came falling down around us.