A/N: Yeah…this is fluffy. And probably not very medically accurate. So sue me. Whattaya want? I ain't no doctor. ( me trying to sound like James) ANYWAY…thanks for all the love. This fic is one of my favorites to write so far. Enjoy :)

Okay, Juliet, so far, so good, the surgeon thought to herself. She had just begun to dissect James' tumor, and everything was going smoothly. Focus. You've got this. He's just a patient, this is just another surgery, and you know exactly how to do it. Cut here, now suction, now cut again… she talked herself through each step, knowing that if she didn't, she would lose the control she needed to save him. No thoughts about his lips or his smile or his eyes or…no. None of that, not now. Later. There would be time for all of that later…

"V-fib," one of the residents warned as the heart monitor inexplicably began to fibrillate. Juliet's heart jumped into her throat. "Pressure's dropping, Dr. Burke, he's crashing!" the same resident said. No, no, no, James, don't do this to me! she thought, taking a deep breath so she'd maintain composure…and then he flatlined. Panic seized her, but she tried desperately not to let it show on her face as she grabbed the paddles from another resident. "Charge to 200…clear!" she said, giving his heart a jolt.

Flatline.

"Charge to 300…clear!" Her chest felt tight as she shocked him again, sending up a silent prayer to anyone who would listen. Nothing. Damn it, James, don't you leave me! "Again…clear!" She stared at the monitor for a few moments, forgetting to breathe, until, finally, there was a blip on the monitor, signaling James' returned heartbeat.

Juliet let out the breath she'd been holding and closed her eyes, taking a few more deep breaths to calm herself. The reality of nearly losing him hit her all at once. He'd almost been gone forever. The chance to get to know him, to let him get to know her, had really almost been taken away. She'd known it had had a good chance of happening, but she hadn't realized it would hit her so damn hard when it did.

"Dr. Burke?" Dr. Carlyle asked her. Only then did she realize that she had somehow managed to lean herself against the wall, and was practically on the verge of an anxiety attack. "Dr. Burke, are you alright?"

She composed herself and stood upright, clearing her throat, "Yes, I…just…give me a minute." she said, taking one more deep breath.

"He's stable, it's safe to proceed with the surgery," a resident told her, and she nodded, taking a clean scalpel from the scrub nurse and continuing where she'd left off.

Juliet sat on the floor of the recovery wing, her back to the wall, knees pulled up to her chest. She'd done it. The tumor was gone. James was cancer-free, and he was alive. He was going to make it. She couldn't explain the tears that had pooled up in her eyes. How could she possibly be having so many emotions about a man she'd known all of a few days? This man was not anywhere near to being her type, never mind the fact that he was a convicted felon. She was a surgeon, he was a patient. This was supposed to be a strictly professional relationship, but she'd known from the first time they'd spoken that it was bound to be more than that. No matter how she fought it, she knew she couldn't force herself not to care.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted by her blonde intern. "Dr. Burke? Mr. Ford is awake. He…asked for you." Dr. Rutherford informed her with a curious eyebrow raise and the hint of a smirk, "Actually, he asked for 'Blondie'. I assumed he meant you."

Juliet found herself smiling at this, "Yes, that's me. Thank you, doctor. Would you go and check on Mr. Flannery in 2015 for me please? Then you can head home."

"Will do. Thanks, Dr. Burke." Shannon said, jaunting off down the hall.

Juliet took yet another deep breath (how many was that today? A thousand and five?) and walked a few doors down to James' recovery room. She opened the door slowly and entered, not quite sure what to expect.

"Blondie…I'm still alive." was the first thing he said, with a faint (though completely genuine) smile.

"You're still alive," she confirmed with a soft sniffle, tears of relief still tugging at the corners of her eyes.

"Hey, now, don't look so upset…" he said, chuckling weakly.

She let out a laugh and shook her head, walking to his bedside and taking his hand, "I'm not upset, I'm…I'm relieved. And happy. We got it, James. All of it. It's gone." she told him proudly.

"I'm cancer free. You ain't kiddin' me?"

"I wouldn't kid you about that," she promised him, "You're gonna be just fine." She said, leaning down and pressing her lips to his, the way she'd been afraid she never would again when he'd nearly died on her earlier. "Can I tell you something? You have to promise me you won't get upset, you need to stay relaxed." she said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

He furrowed his brow, "What is it, Blondie?"

"I…" she sighed softly, "Your heart, it kind of…stopped. During surgery, you…I almost lost you, and it scared the hell out of me, James. I never get thrown off like that in surgery, not ever. Do you understand what I'm trying to say, here?"

"That I make you weak at the knees? You can't live without me?" he asked with a kind smile that masked any fear he might have felt for nearly dying. He reached out and affectionately ran his hand through her hair.

"I'm saying that…feeling this way about someone I've basically just met, it's not like me. Actually, feeling this way about anyone at all is not like me, because I've never…I've never felt like this. So…you'll be here for 10 more days to recover, and then you've got, what, 6 weeks left of your sentence?"

James nodded, his hand now cupping her cheek. "That's right."

"Well…I was thinking it's time for us to schedule our first official date." she told him, a smile spreading across her face. "You know, one that doesn't include hospital cafeteria food or me cutting you open…" she said with a laugh, "Maybe the 23rd of August?"

"That's the day I get out," he said, smiling.

"I know. It's also my birthday." she informed him.

"Oh? And you want me as a present?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear, his dimples beautifully showcasing his happiness at this prospect.

"Yes." she replied, taking him by surprise with another kiss. "And a cake. There had better be a cake." she told him seriously, though a smile broke through her adamant expression.

"Oh, there'll be cake, Blondie. And lots of other sweet things, too." he said with a smirk that prompted another laugh from her.

"I can't wait."