This takes places some years after "Always"

"Javi," he heard a once familiar voice behind him.

He turned around and his heart skipped a beat. In front of him stood the woman he still loved, but he hadn't seen her for over 3 years.

"Hello Lanie Parish," he greeted her, uncertainty in his voice. He looked at her, she was still beautiful and her smile ... her smile, he had missed the most.

"Hello Javier Esposito, how are you," asked Lanie and took a step toward him.

"I'm fine, and you," Esposito wanted to know.

"Really fine, thanks. How long have you been back here," asked Lanie.

Esposito was relieved of a reply when his golden retriever came running toward him with a tennis ball in his mouth. The dog dropped the ball and went curiously sniffing to Lanie.

"Is this yours," Lanie wanted to know surprised.

"Yes, this is Cooper," said Javier, as he watched smiling how Lanie was stroking his dog.

"What are you doing now," asked Lanie, but again Javier didn't have to reply, as Cooper abruptly turned from Lanie and ran up to a young woman who came up with a crutch on Javier and Lanie. She also had a dog with her.

While the animals strated playing after the woman had left her dog from the leash, she came up to Lanie and Javier.

"Hola Javi," the brunette beauty welcomed the Latino.

"Hi Eva," he greeted her and they hugged for a long time.

A moment too long for Lanie. "Gotta go, was nice to met you again. You can visit us any time, you know where to find us," said Lanie.

"You don't have go because of me," objected Eva.

"I need to work, I'm already late. Good-bye," said Lanie and touched Javiers arm and then left. Javier couldn't prevent that her delicate touch chasing a pleasant shiver down his spine as he looked after her thoughtfully.

"Who was that," Eva wanted to know, but got no response from Javier because he was lost in thought.

"Javi," said Eva energetic and shook his shoulder.

"What," the policeman wanted to know confused.

"Who was that, I want to know. Just as you've checked her, she must have been really special," Eva grinned as she hobbled past to a nearby bench.

"Oh, we used to be working together, she's a medical examiner," said Javier, and followed her to bench.

"But there was more than just work, right? And if not, then you should definitely visit her, because I think she's interested," said Eva smiling.

"I think that wouldn't be a good idea," murmured Javier.

"Why," asked Eve.

"Because not everyone is lucky and finds someone like Steve. Eva you don't know how difficult it is to get to know someone, because sooner or later I have to move out with the truth and then, I can tell you, that I'm not going to see the woman again after this revelation. I've tried it more than once, believe me," said Javier, while he looked at the dogs at play.

"Maybe it was just always the wrong time," objected Eve.

"There is no right time, there is no right moment to tell someone that I am a cripple. And I can handle it, but with Lanie ... I wouldn't bear to lose her again," Javier said quietly.

"And if she is an exception if she is your exception," asked Eve.

"The problem is that I know that she is my exception. She was even then. She was the first, which I could imagine more than a few weeks or months. She was the first one I could imagine my life with, but it hasn't worked out at that time. Then why should it work now? Everything has become much more difficult and I have to take care of myself. I have to take care of myself and I feel better when everything remains as it is, "said Esposito.

"Do you want to stay alone for the rest of your life," asked Eve.

"I'm not alone, I have Cooper, he takes care of me," said Esposito and like he was called the Golden Retriever came, and sat down in front of Javier and put his head to the thigh, whereupon Javier stroked him gently.

"Javier, I know, but he's just a dog," said Eva.

"Eva, don't worry so much about me, I'll be fine. With Coop I know at least that he honestly likes me," Esposito said sadly. The truth was that he did hard to trust someone. Too often he had been deceived and since he had come back too many supposed friends of him had turned away. When he stayed alone, at least nobody could hurt him anymore.

Eva gently stroked his back. "Steve and I are always there for you, you know that, right," she asked.

Javier nodded. "Yes, I know that you are true friends. But now, to you and Betty, how is she doing," he wanted to know.

Eva smiled and with a sigh, let him change the topic.

"She is still pretty impatient," said Eva.

"Hey, this is quite normal, Cooper was once exactly the same," said Esposito.

So, I don't know where this will lead.

I was suposed to study, but this idea kept buging me all the time, so I decided to write it down, and get it off my mind.

Now, I'll really go back to my books for the test tonight.

Please review!

Thanks.