Link and Rhett were still in the ER room when Mia came back in with another man.

"Hey, Rhett." She greeted. She motioned to Link. "He finally get some rest?" Rhett nodded.

"Well," Mia continued. "This is Kyle, he's your nightly nurse, and will be taking over from here." Kyle gave an impersonal smile and waved.

"If you need anything, just give me shout." Kyle said with little fanfare, and we was back out of the room. Mia watched him go, lingering a little longer.

"Thank you, Mia." Rhett began. "You've been so amazing to us." He stood to shake her hand, and she beamed.

"It is my pleasure!" She shook his hand and saluted him. "Have a good night, Rhett." She cast one more look at the sleeping man and then she was out the door.

...

Later that night, Mia sat in her living room. She had lots of books open and loose pages all over her coffee table as she tried to concentrate on a paper that was due on Monday, she couldn't help but drift back to her last patient today. Link was heavy on her mind and she could not for the life of her figure out why. Sure, she admitted to herself, he was very good looking, but he was so sick, he could barely speak. Maybe she was a little twisted in the head, leering at a sick man that way. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, then her phone rang.

'Kerri'

"Kerri Berry!" Mia answered, jovial. "Hey, sister, what's up?"

"Hi, Mia!" Kerri's soprano voice rang out. "I just got off, the floors were short staffed today, and probably will be tomorrow," Her fellow nurse said. "They were already taking volunteers to work 24 shifts for double-time pay!"

"Aw, yeah!" Mia exclaimed. "Love me that double-time pay."

"Knew you'd be excited about that one." Kerri laughed, "How'd you like your ER shift today?"

"I was actually thinking about it just now." Mia said, leaning back into the couch, propping her feet up. "My last patient was a looker."

"Girl," Kerri said, getting silent. "Spill."

Mia was bashful, but continued. "He was a 6 footer, blue eyes. Glasses, Kerri. You know I'm a sucker for a guy in specks." She drew in a breath. "Had that salt and pepper thing going on with his hair."

"Old?" Kerri asked.

"Nah, late 30's"

"That's kinda old," Kerri replied. "But since you haven't even had a date since he-who-must- not-be-named, I say, TO HELL WITH OUR RULE!"

Mia just laughed at her exuberant friend. "No, Ker, the rule is still in effect."

"Boo," Kerri moaned. "Alright, I just wanted you to have a heads up on double-time. I just pulled in my driveway, I'll see you in the morning my love."

"You too, Ker!" Mia chimed. "I'll see you bright and early!"

The call ended shortly after.

Mia decided to forgo her homework tonight. Her mind began to wander, and her eyes drifted to the baby grand piano in the corner of the room. Mia was a fantastic piano player. Ironically, she went to college on a music scholarship,but ended up perusing medicine. She didn't regret the choice, but as she gazed at the deep,blue beauty, she felt inspired. Mia walked over and sat on the bench, hitting a few notes here and there.

Then, Mia did something she hadn't done in years. She played. And once she started, she couldn't help herself. She played for hours. Lost in the music, Mia played swayed. And she cried. She missed this, but music couldn't pay her bills. Nursing did. Caught in her feelings, the melody moved faster and deeper. It grew and grew into a great crescendo. Mia slowly let the melody fall apart, and she ended her song.

Music made her think of her dad, how he made her go for her dreams. And she was damn good, but falling out with her dad is also the reason she changed majors in the first place.

Mia sighed. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was 20 past one in the morning. She supposed she should get to bed, considering her shift starts at 7. Mia made a slow trek through her house, shutting off lights and locking windows and doors. Once she made it to her bedroom, she laid down in the abyss of her bed and thought once more of Link. And how she kinda hoped she'd see him tomorrow.

...

6 am came early for Mia. Though she didn't have much sleep, she felt good. She hopped out of bed, humming to herself. She went through her daily routine of getting ready, deciding to braid her copper hair. Mia checked her emails while she ate grapes as fast as she could. Downing the rest of her protein shake, and switching to coffee, she jogged to her garage and made her way to work.

She arrived at the hospital, early as usual, and was quick to clock in and bound up the stairs to the 4th floor. After dropping her things in her work locker, she made her way to the nurse's station.

"I will never leave you again." Mia said to the unit clerk, Cara. Cara was a small, mousy girl with beautiful dark skin and honey eyes. Mia was always so jealous Cara. The girl was naturally so beautiful and graceful. Cara smiled up at the redhead.

"Didn't like the ER, Mia?" Cara laughed as she reached to pick up the phone. "We missed you too, goof. 4th floor, this is Cara."

Mia left her to it, and went in the center of the nursing station where they were getting ready for end of shift report. Mia looked around as it got closer to 7, and on the dot, Kerri made her entrance with a loud proclamation of, "Yeah, I'm here!" She rounded the corner and sat down next to Mia, winking at her.

The report was short, who was being admitted and who was being discharged, what beds where empty and which beds each nurse would be assigned to. Mia listen as they rattled off room numbers.

"And Mia, you will have back of 4. 29 though 34. Alright everyone, start your rounding." The nurse leader finished. I met up with the night shift nurse before me, and we rounded together. As she gave me overviews of the patients I would be in charge of, my heart skipped a beat at the last name on the chart, 'Charles L Neal', 39 y/o Male.

"He's been good all night." Becky started. "He's not asked for a single thing." She went into detail about how he's progressed over the night, then handed the chart over to me, said thanks, and took her leave for the day. Mia gathered her wit, why was she nervous in the first place? She didn't know, but she exhaled and knocked on the door.

"-Ah, no way. Come in!"

Mia closed her eyes briefly, before pushing the door open. She saw Link sitting up, doing much better. Rhett was also there. Both of their eyebrows raised in recognition of Mia. She just smiled and waved.

"Hey, strangers. How are ya feelin'?"

"You're the ER nurse!" Rhett said, happily. "I didn't think he would get you again."

"I'm actually a forth floor native." Mia offered walking in and changing his white board information. She wrote as she spoke. "Let's be formal at first, shall we? My name is Mia and I will be taking care of you today." She underlined her name and looked back up at Link. He offered her a half smile. "On a scale of one to ten, how is your pain today?"

Link shrugged. "My chest hurts a lot less, and I can breath better, so I'd say a two, three maaaybe." He said playfully, dragging out the last word. Rhett smiled at his friend on the mend.

"Great!" Mia said. She circled the 3 on the board. "Our pain goal is a one, and I think we can make that happen. Okay, that's all for formalities." She turned back to Link. "I really am glad you're doing better, Link. I'm just going to get your vitals again and take a listen to your lungs and heart and I'll let you get back to it."

After getting the vitals and charting them, Mia unwound the stethoscope from her neck and placed it in her ears. She placed on hand on Link's shoulder offering him a kind smile before placing the other end on his back.

"Ahh, its cold." He whispered in a funny voice. Mia chuckled, but continued to listen to his lungs. Lungs were still gunky, she would order another x-ray to see if it got worse overnight. She then knelt down and listened to his chest. His heartbeat was slightly elevated, could be from the fever. She stood up and charted it.

"Alright," She announced, "That's all I need. Is there anything I can get for you Link?" Her eyes then slid over to Rhett. "Either of you?" She added on. Rhett gave her a smirk, but said nothing.

"No, I'm okay." Link said, smiling up at her. "Thank you, Mia."

Mia bowed her head and made to exit, but before she shut the door.

"Mia!" Link called. When she popped her head back in, he continued. "Where were you born? You ain't Californian, for sure. Me and Rhett have a bet."

"What are your guesses?" Mia asked, genuinely curious.

"I think your a mid-west girl." Rhett said shrugging his shoulders. Link smiled knowingly.

"But I know, you got to be a southerner!" Link said with a laugh. "That mouth that talks so sweet, also drinks sweet tea, I know it!" His own southern accent coming out a bit. Mia laughed, and she looked at both of them for a long minute before she gave in.

"East Tennessee, born and raised."

"Yes!" Link exclaimed while Rhett moaned, "In your face Rhett, I was half out of it last night, but I know a southern belle when I see one!" Rhett only mumbled under his breath and crossed his arms. "Thank you, m'lady for the satisfaction."

Mia just shook her head and closed the door behind her.

And was face to face with Kerri.

"Oh, god." Mia barely got out before she was dragged to the break room.

"You've got it bad!" Kerri started into her. "And so quickly! I heard you laying it on thick and I'll be damned if that salt and pepper thing isn't hot, Mia!"

"Please," Mia cringed, blushing. "Lower the volume."

"I'm just so excited!" Kerri chuckled. "No one, I repeat, NO ONE has caught your interest in years. This is monumental, Mia."

Mia only shook her head, "Yes, he's interesting. But also probably involved." Kerri was quick to the chart from Mia's hands. She scanned the pages quickly, grinning when she found what she was looking for.

"Single, Mia." She showed her redheaded friend. "You wrote it yourself. Divorced though, ew. That might be tough." Kerri said as an after thought.

"Don't talk like that." Mia reprimanded. "Its a miracle your husband hasn't divorced you."

Their conversations died down after that with Kerri huffing off at her friends persistence on Link's availability. A couple of hours past, nearing 2 in the afternoon, and Mia was almost finished with her rounding. All except one. She pulled her computer on wheels, or COW as they called it among the staff, behind her and knocked on his door for a second time today.

There was a lot of shuffling and muffled speaking, and to her surprise, someone pulled the door open.

A beautiful, younger woman with blonde hair had answered. She gave Mia a long once over before smiling.

"Stevie! Is it Mia?" Rhett called from somewhere in the room.

"Are you Mia?" Stevie asked with a smirk, clearly having already read her name badge.

"Some call me Mia," She started, matching the joking tone. "You can call me anytime." Mia finished, winking playfully, making Stevie laugh. She motioned for Mia to come in. Mia was taken back by how many people and how many cameras she saw. They managed to squeeze seven people in that tiny room with two cameras.

"Sorry about the mess," Stevie apologized after returning to her seat in the far corner. "But the show must go on!"

"Show?" Mia asked slowing making her way towards Link, who smiled at her when they made eye contact.

"Yeah," Stevie said slowly, "You're looking at the mobile crew of Good Mythical Morning!"

Mia mulled the name to herself, bringing a hand to her chin in thought. It was familiar, but she couldn't place it. She looked around the room as they stared her down a little horrified that she didn't recognize them.

"I hope I didn't hurt your feelings," Mia said, resting her eyes back on Link. "I'm just not home a lot to watch t.v." Mia moved her eyes to the screen at his bedside that had his vitals, and she jotted them down. No one in the room made to correct her about the platform, but Stevie had to know one thing.

"How old are you, Mia?" Then, trying to be respectful, "If you don't mind me asking?"

"I'll be 28 in July." She replied. Everyone looked shocked, so she continued. "It's this damn baby face. Got me looking eighteen forever. I get carded every time."

While Mia jotted down notes, taking Link's blood pressure, Stevie continued. "Married Mia?"

...

Link didn't know why, but when Stevie asked, he held his breath.

"Uh, no." Mia looked a tad uncomfortable. "Never."

"She did have a pretty serious thing going on with Vic, though."

Everyone turned to the new voice leaning against the door frame. A short, young girl with curly blonde hair, and dark brown eyes.

"Kerri," Mia moaned.

"Who's Vic?" Stevie asked when no one else did. "Boyfriend?" and after a pause, "Girlfriend?"

Mia turned bright red. "I'm going to kill you." She mumbled to Kerri, before turning to Stevie. "Vic is short for Victor Frankenstein." At the puzzled looks, she continued. "He's my cat. I'm not dating my cat." Mia felt the need to explain.

Everyone began laughing. It's was a sight to behold. Mia took in all their faces, lasting on Link's far longer. A part of her was happy that she made him smile.

"Well," She said after the commotion died down. "I think I'm done in here. Call if you need me, Link."

He smiled at her and nodded. "Will do."

Turning on her heel, Mia made calculated steps, grabbing her by the elbow, and hauling her down the hallway. Before the door shut completely, every one could make out Mia's words and Kerri's laughter.

"Stop embarrassing me in front of my patients! I cant go back in there-"