The operating room was silent except for the inconsolable sobbing of the little girl on the table. The surgical tech was lining up all of the instruments in perfect, organized lines, resolutely ignoring the child's wails. Beth had just finished the time consuming task of scrubbing in and walked over to the little girl.

"Sweetie," she said soothingly, "What are all those tears for?"

The girl's face was red with effort and snot and tears covered her skin. Beth took a tissue and wiped at her tears.

"What's wrong, Amy?" Beth said as she gently pressed the tissue to Amy's face.

"I don't want to have surgery!" She whimpered, "I'm scared!"

After Beth threw away the tissue, she replied, "There's nothing to be afraid of, sweetie. You're just getting your tonsils taken out. Easy peasy."

"Will it hurt?" Amy asked, fear sparking in her eyes.

"Of course not. You'll be asleep the whole time. And guess what?"

"What?"

"After you wake up, you'll get to eat all the ice cream you want!" Beth said with enthusiasm.

"Really?" Amy said, her eyes brightening up a little.

"Really." Beth said as she placed her cool hand on the girl's forehead. Amy seemed to relax almost immediately. She even had a tiny smile on her face.

Beth started to remove her hand when Amy said, "Wait!"

"Yes?" Beth replied as she covered Amy's hand with both of her own.

"Promise you won't leave? Promise to hold my hand?"

"Sure, sweetie. I'll be right here."

The girl sighed contentedly now and closed her eyes. It was strange, even to Beth, how anyone she touched would become automatically soothed. It was almost as if her cool hands held some sort of magic power over the sick. It was half of the reason why she was so good at her job.

As she stood holding the little girl's hand, she saw Dr. Cullen and the anesthesiologist scrubbing in. Her heart lurched with embarrassment as she stared at Dr. Cullen's perfect profile. She should have never told him about her past. Now things were bound to be awkward between them. He knew too much about her. More than she'd ever let anyone else know.

Dr. Cullen walked gracefully into the operating room with his hands extended from his body, waiting for the technician to help him with his gown and gloves. His eyes swept across her face briefly, but there was no flicker of recognition there. For some reason, Beth's heart dropped. She thought that she had wanted him to forget she ever said anything, but now that it seemed he had forgotten she felt lonely all over again.

After he was properly suited up, he walked over to Amy with a kind smile on his face. "Are we ready to get started, Amy?"

She looked to Beth as panic started to set in anew. Beth squeezed her hand and said, "Don't worry, sweetie. Dr. Cullen is the best doctor. He'll take good care of you."

"You promised to stay, remember?"

Beth smiled encouragingly, "I promise I'm not going anywhere."

"Okay," Amy looked up at Dr. Cullen, "I'm ready."

Dr. Cullen smiled brightly, "Very good. Now Amy, we're going to put this mask on your face and put you to sleep, okay?"

Amy nodded and held still as the anesthesiologist placed the mask over her face. As her eyes fluttered closed, Dr. Cullen turned to her and said, "Beth, are you ready?"

"Yes, Dr. Cullen." she responded as she released the little girl's hand and surgery began.

An hour later, Beth was standing by the nurses station filling out paper work. She absentmindedly listened to the other nurses gossiping.

"How old is Dr. Cullen supposed to be now?" The dark-haired nurse named Lisa asked.

Another nurse answered, "Well, I think he's thirty-five or something now?"

Lisa snorted derisively, "He doesn't look a day over twenty-five, at least."

Being a loner, Beth didn't normally take to gossip. Usually she considered the conversations of others rather mundane, but today they were talking about something she had thought about many times herself.

Dr. Cullen had been in Forks for all of ten years now. But as the years passed, he showed no signs of aging. No laugh lines, no wrinkles. His skin was as smooth as the first day she had ever seen him, his beauty never lacking. It was almost as if around him time came to halt. He was always so perfect. If she hadn't been so enamored with him, she would have said he was too perfect.

"Maybe on those days he takes off to go hiking with his family, he's actually getting plastic surgery." Lisa laughed.

"Oh, please, no plastic surgeon I know could make anyone look that good."

"What do you think, Beth?" Lisa asked her, "You're close to Dr. Cullen."

I am? She thought to herself. She didn't believe anyone was close to Dr. Cullen, except for his family. She wanted to be close to him, but that didn't make it a reality.

"Oh, I don't know. It's probably just good genes or something." Beth said lamely.

Lisa frowned at her. They were not the best of friends, obviously. Beth was too quiet and reserved, too strange for Lisa's liking. And maybe there was a hint of jealousy that Beth was supposedly close to the handsome doctor and she was not.

Lisa looked past her and said, "Incoming."

Beth turned to see Dr. Cullen walking up to her, seriously studying the chart in his hand.

When he reached where she stood, he stated, "I need you to take Mrs. Peterson to get a CT scan. I believe her condition is very serious, but we need to see the extent of the damage."

"Acute stroke?" She asked.

Dr. Cullen nodded gravelly, "Most likely so. The sooner we know the better."

Beth set aside her paperwork, "Okay, I'll get right on it."

Before she could leave his side, one of the nurses she worked with called out to her as she walked by, "Hey Beth, I can't wait to see you perform tonight! I know you're going to do great!"

"Thanks, Lucy." She replied as a blush crept across her face.

Dr. Cullen raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow, "You are performing this evening?"

She smiled and ducked her head, "Well, yes, I'm singing and playing the piano at the coffee shop tonight. It's just a small performance I do every month or so. It's no big deal really."

"Sure it is, Beth. Why haven't you told me about it before?"

Beth stammered, taken aback, "Well I just- I-I didn't think you would want to come. Honestly, it's not important."

"Of course it's important. And I would be glad to come see you. What time do you perform?"

She blushed so deeply she was sure her face was cherry red. "Really, Dr. Cullen, don't trouble yourself. I understand."

"Not at all, Beth. I'd love to come. What time?"

She made the mistake of looking into his golden eyes. The genuine interest shining there like lanterns made her momentarily forget her own name. Finally managed the single word, "Seven."

Dr. Cullen smiled, "I'll be there. And of course, I'm sure Esme would love to come as well."

"Of course." She breathed. After a pause, she said, "Well, I better go get Mrs. Peterson now."

He nodded, serious again, "Page me as soon as you get the results."

"Yes, Dr. Cullen."

As she walked away, she saw the dark disbelief on Lisa's face. She was just as surprised as Beth. Why was Dr. Cullen suddenly taking an interest in her less than mediocre life? Did he feel sorry for her now? Was this pity?

She tried to shake off the anger that was starting to climb up in between her shoulder blades. She didn't need his pity. She didn't want it. Now, she really wished she hadn't told him about her past. All she needed was someone trying to rush in and play savior only to bail when they couldn't fix her.

She didn't have friends for a reason. She wasn't incapable of making friends, she just knew that she didn't want any. She knew that anyone she let get close was a threat. She couldn't trust someone else not to break her heart. Not to tear off the chunks they wanted and throw away the rest. So much of her was already missing, she couldn't risk losing anymore.