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New Story. This is going to be an AU fic.

Chapter 3

Quite house. Dark room. I flipped on the light switch and set my purse on the table by the door then threw my keys in the bowl. I kicked off my shoes. The same as every night, but for some reason it felt different that night. It felt lonely.

I sat down on the sofa and kicked out the recliner. I should have been taking a shower and getting ready to go back to work, but I just needed a minute. I had told Alice I needed to go home and change first, but I'd really wanted to see if Jake was home. I guess deep down I was hoping there would be some kind of surprise waiting for me. The same way I did that day every year. The same as I did for every holiday.

But, he wasn't even home. I guess he was working all night again. The man was obsessed with his career. He was a deputy in Crayton Village. A place were not much happened, but he still had to be at the jailhouse every single night. He dreamed about taking Sherriff O'Riley's place when he retired, which probably wasn't far off. The guy had been sheriff since before I was born.

I flipped on the television. Romantic movies. Valentine's Day episodes. Everything! Even the cartoons. I didn't want to see it! I turned it off and sat there. I turned on the lamp and picked up the frame that sat beside it. I ran my finger over Jake's face and smiled wistfully. Oh, how I had been so crazy about that man in high school. I still loved him I guess. Maybe that's why I dismissed his simple ways. I ignored his occasional negative attitude and I never expected anything from him. I didn't need him to get on one knee. He didn't have to be overly romantic. I knew how he felt without all the formalities. But lately, I kind of wished he would try.

I mean I used to have so much of his time that those things didn't matter. I knew how he felt. I understood what took him away lately and I guess I wished he would do something that let me know he still felt the same way he did when we were kids.

It was my fault. I'd made it too easy for him. I never demanded. Never made him work to get me as his girl. He had been so funny and so sweet. I fell for him the moment I saw him. He was still the considered the hottest guy in town and honestly treated me better than anyone in my life.

That was enough. That's what I told myself every time my feelings were hurt. Why should I need little gifts? I didn't need flowers. Material things never impressed me. The way I felt was so confusing that I couldn't even make sense of it in my own mind. Maybe I was being foolish. It was only a day. A silly stupid day created by card makers and candy suppliers. The flower boutiques probably had a hand in it as well.

I brought the simple, fresh cut rose my new boss had given me to my nose. Jake had never bought me flowers. Bought or otherwise. So, why did I feel cheated and unwanted? I had a good looking, hardworking man and I was lucky to have him.

Okay, I had to shake it off and get back to work. There were more important things than roses going on in town. The flu outbreak that year was the worst I have ever seen and I had to be there for the people who had come to like me. They depended on me and they knew I would be there for them anytime they needed. I was the girl people called when they needed someone to sit with their elderly parents when they needed to run errands or had to be gone all night. I was the one that came running when they pushed the call button during the day when they had to stay at the clinic.

Everyone knew me in my hometown and they all seemed to like me. I was a good girl in their eyes – except for living with my boyfriend before marriage, but I think they excused that because we'd been together so long. We were married – in their eyes. At least that's how Jake put it. Every time someone used to ask when we were getting married he would tell them that we didn't believe in having a piece of paper to prove our commitment to each other. A license was just the government's way of binding us and we were bound by a higher power. That was what really counted, right?

Everyone ate up every word. They thought we were so grounded. So spirited. We were such a lovely couple. But I'm not sure I really agreed with that. I think it was just another thing I went along with.

I didn't bother me to have to return to the clinic and work all night. I had nothing at home anyway. Jake and I were living separate lives. That bothered me. So, I stopped by the jailhouse to see him for a couple of minutes.

He was heading out the door just as I got to it.

"Daniella?" He rushed down the sidewalk toward his car. "What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to see you. I have to work all night."

"That sucks." He didn't pause as he took out his keys and opened his car. "I got somewhere I have to be too."

"I'll see you in the morning?"

"No." He took a deep breath. "I – I didn't know when I would get a chance to tell you, but I'm moving out tonight."

"You're what?" It really caught me off guard.

"Don't take it personally. We've just been together so long."

"Are you seeing someone else?" I didn't even tear up and I wasn't sure what it meant that I wasn't upset.

"I think we need to have a chance to make sure that this is really what we want."
"You mean you want to see someone else."

"I mean I need some time for me. Then – we'll move on from there."

"You know what? It doesn't matter. I never see you anyway."

I resumed my path to work. We were just roommates anyway. But why wasn't I upset? He was my boyfriend for so long. I should feel something.

"You're working all night?" Sara greeted me when I entered the ward.

"Yeah. Margie and Maggie are sick and the Tara quit."
"Oh. She wasn't here very long."

"No. Alice said she told the twins to come in tomorrow and see the doc while we have one in town." I rolled my eyes. Alice just wanted to make sure the two really were sick. They came in to clean every day and they worked the weekends or any other day I needed to be off. They never missed a day of work. I knew they were sick.

"The new doctor seems nice." She said sweetly. "I was a little scared of him when he first walked in here. I had no idea he was a doctor."

"I thought the same thing." I laughed. "Okay, so did everyone get supper tonight?" I knew Alice would have left at her normal time no matter what and I knew Sara had to get a babysitter before she could come in.

"Yeah. Doctor Reigns had the diner send over some soup, but no one really ate anything. I had to feed Mrs. Morgan. She so weak. I'm worried."

So was I. Mrs. Morgan was in her early seventies and she'd been the librarian all my life. She was a sweet lady who read to me when I was a small child. I felt like it was my own family member that was sick.

I made a round, then went to the kitchen and gathered snacks and drinks. I wanted to at least get everyone to drink even if they couldn't eat. I knew so many of the people there that night. Every one of them was elderly. Except one who was a ten year old girl who had always been too small for her age. She looked even smaller that night and her mother never left her side.

I sat down at the desk and filled out paperwork. It had been such a long day that it felt like two separate days. I propped my head up on my hand and yawned. Only six more hours to go.

"Hey."

I was nudged softly. My eyes fluttered open.

"Oh, I am so sorry." I apologized quickly. I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep.

"It's okay." The doctor smiled. "I'm sending Mrs. Morgan to the city hospital. She needs more care than we can give here." He filled out paperwork on a clipboard. He wasn't even wearing his lab coat. It really looked odd seeing someone doing those things dressed like was.

"I'll get her things together." I rose quickly to make sure none of her personal things were left behind. I knew her daughter had brought a few things.
"Sara's taking care of that. I want you to go to the lounge and rest. You're no good to anyone tired."

"I'm okay." I argued. "I've worked long hours before."

"No one can be fine working twenty four hours." He laughed. "I know. I've done a few thirty hour shifts myself. Go – if there is a problem, Sara will wake you."

I headed to the lounge, removed my shoes and slipped under the plush comforter. The bed was comfortable and I'd used it a few times during bad winter snow storms so I wouldn't have to drive back and forth. Doctor James had made the room comfortable. Like home. I felt more at home there than I did in my own place.

"Daniella …" I heard my name over the intercom and Sara had to say it a few times before I opened woke. I slept too good for being at work. "Do you think you can help me cook breakfast, sleepy head?" She giggled. I laughed and shook my head. That girl was too happy for being up all night.

I stretched and turned over. I hugged the pillow. Ugh, I felt so comfortable I could have slept all day. Then my thoughts were paralyzed as my eyes fell on the man standing outside the sliding glass doors.

He did one handed pushups in a light rain. His rhythm slow. His broad shoulders flexed with each movement. Then he stood, wiped away a bead of sweat then headed inside. He grabbed a towel from the back of a chair. I had to catch my breath.

"Good morning."

I was embarrassed when he addressed me. I know I was staring and I wonder how long he'd noticed. He chuckled lightly as he pulled on a clean tee shirt.

"You must … do that a lot."

"Don't people work out here?" He dug in his bag.

"Sure."

"Then there's nothing special about me."

I sat up on the bed and pushed my feet into my sneakers. "You must be doing something different because none of the guys around here look like that. I've seen guys like you on TV, but never in person."

"It's just something I do."

"Keep doing it." I stated at the door. "I kind of like the view."

But on the other side of the door, I nearly lost my breath. I had never said something so forward in all my life. But the man was gorgeous. Jake was considered the most built man in town and Roman made him look like a twig. Jake's arms were defined but Roman … wow.

I shook away the image and headed to the kitchen to help cook. Or I tried. It came rushing back the moment the doctor walked into the kitchen.

Damn. I should have been thinking about Jake. I should have been mourning the loss of near lifetime relationship, but instead it was like … Jake who?