Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed or commented on this story so far here is chapter two J enjoy

A week passed before Peter arrived at work again and it came as a shock for everyone when he called Ethan into his office.

Ethan had been banished like an unwanted pest the last time he was here and he approached cautiously.

'you wanted to see me?'

'listen Ethan,Im sorry,Ive been a littke out of it lately and taking it out on other people and I shouldn't have. Ive just been so angry….'

But now I just feel regret and sorry for lost time we should have had together,he added silently to himself.

'hey I understand man,you needed to vent..me…I go to kickboxing classes….

At Peter's baffled look Ethan froze in the middle of his compensatory speech and allows Peter to proceed.

'I think you should read these'

'what is it?'

'it's a journal Dani's mom gave to me,its got a few poems in it under friendship you're going to want to see'

'wait…she wrote poems?'

'yeah I know its new to me too…. but anyway…take as long as you want reading them,I know she cared about you'

As if Peter were handing Ethan a rare and valuable jewel he said

'oh no Peter..I…I couldn't take it I mean its meant for you'

'Ethan I want you to read these it may help you understand how she felt about you…she really did admire and respect you even thought she didn't say it aloud'

'thank you and I will get it back to you as soon as Im finished'

But Ethan felt he had something important to let Peter know so he turned at the door and said

'you know I never really saw you guys as a couple but whenever I saw Dani lately she was happy and lively…she must have really loved you'

'thanks Ethan I miss her too'

But did he love her? How could he not have just said he loved her too?

Isnt it love when you consider moving in with someone when she suggests it?

Maybe his heart was so strained and stretched from the anguish he was in that it was confused and was overshadowing his love.

If so why hadn't it returned already,hadn't he been through the grieving phase?or was he simply finished phase one? He dared not think about the latter option.

Did he not love her at all? To help crush that notion he punched his desk which in turn caused a crack in the glass top.

The shattered glass taunting his likewise fragmented mind.

Later in the morgue,Peter was bombarded with questions.

He kept underestimating the power of communication and the love of his friends.

'oh my god Peter what happened your hand?'

'got it caught in a car door'

'your knuckles are swollen and your phalanges are unharmed'

'im fine ok please can we just examine the victim here'

'and how do you propose my medical investigator photograph said victim with a watermelon for a hand?'

Megan followed this by taking off her gloves and Peter asking

'megan what are you doing?'

''Ethan could you take over here,Im going to go baby proof Peter's office' and with a direct glare she ordered Peter to follow her.

God help him Ethan whispered under his breath and went to find the walking Mccheeseburger to help with the autopsy.

'Peter this is ridiculous,hold still'

'you've got really cold hands,were you sticking them in dry ice or something?'

'since Im the only nurse on staff at the moment you'll have to make do'

Suddenly she felt like a mother chiding her son for being so reckless whereas Peter was trying to force that nurse image out of his head.

'now I know the force a car door needs to cause this type of bruising and unless you had mr universe close your door today,I don't think you're telling me the truth?'

Megan put some numbing gel on Peter's hand while waiting for an answer and when he was calm enough she relocated his mangled fingers.

His yelp would have reached the guanas of the amazon forest but Megan knew it was the right thing to do,she always was sure with Peter.

'jeez Megan,you could have warned me?'

'you don't like surprises much Im guessing?'

'no I don't like people dying on me unexpectedly I guess but then again,I don't think anybody does'

'not just anyone Peter,I get it,it was serious'

She squeezed his hand to give meaning to her words

'you were in love but if you start pushing everyone away we wont be able to help you when the grieving is over and you need help in living on'

He had forever trusted her as a confidante and he hoped she didn't leave him down now

'its not the grieving anger anymore Megan I….eh…Im beginning to think I wasn't in love with her?'