I'm sorry about the lack of updates but I'm back now! I'm SO proud! I finished UTK2 in 2 days! WHOOP faints in glee

ahem anyway... on with the story! Please R+R!!

Solutions

Derek couldn't shake the feeling of overwhelming sadness that had engulfed him as he plodded back to his office to complete the paperwork for the last operation.

"I wonder where Angie is, I'm sure she'll want to hear the good news." He thought bitterly as he seated himself at the large desk overlooking the car park. He cradled his head in his hands as he fought back the tears that threatened to engulf him.

"Derek I need you to look at this puzzle," Victor had silently appeared in the doorway with a small smirk on his face. Derek turned around to face Victor with a look that would turn a lesser man to stone, however, the look did its job and Victor flinched slightly.

"Okay okay I get it! No puzzles, why are you crying?" Victor questioned with a slight look of disgust at Derek's weakness.

"I… I saved the GUILT patient…"

"Ok now you've completely lost me, how is that a bad thing?"

"He was, well is from England and he loves Angie and… Angie loves him." He finished in a rush, slumping against the back of his chair in anguish.

"Wow that's… bad." Victor stammered, something never seen before in the reclusive genius, "I'm sorry for you Derek, really I am."

Derek looked round in surprise, "Victor, are you feeling okay?"

"It might surprise you but I am actually a lovely person!"

Derek was completely speechless.

"Well maybe not a lovely person but I'm not as nasty as I make out; it's mainly just to make Chase leave me alone so I can work."

"But… you're mean to everyone!" Derek exclaimed incredulously, hardly believing that this was the same Victor Niguel that had barely said seven words to anyone except his fellow researchers in the past month, and most of them were varied threats about what would happen to Tyler if he dared set foot in his lab ever again. But here he was, actually being sensitive.

"Anyway, you're in no fit state to even attempt this puzzle at the minute and I need to find somebody to do it. Will you be ok?" Victor asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I need to go find Angie anyway and tell her that she can go back to England and forget all of this." Derek replied sadly and stood up stretching, trying to delay that moment for as long as possible.

--

Angie sprinted through the doors of Caduceus, trying to ward of the icy rain that pelted her. She shivered and looked down at her soaked t-shirt and jeans. "Perfect, could this day actually get any worse?" She flinched as she remembered something that definitely could make her day a lot worse. She checked her watch, not surprised by her shaking arm, "hmm the operation should have finished by now," she thought unhappily and sighed loudly and sat down in a nearby chair.

"Erm Angie? Can I have a quick word?" Laurie asked tentatively, before stopping dead in her tracks as she noticed another figure in the brightly lit reception area.

"Actually no it doesn't matter at the minute I'll talk to you later ok?" She stammered before hastily retreating from the room. Angie looked around for the source of Laurie's distress and gasped when she spied Derek leaning on a column, staring directly at her. He shrugged himself upright and walked over to where Angie sat trembling.

"James will be fine now; you can go back to England with him in a few weeks time." Derek muttered quickly, glad to have got it over and done with as he turned around to leave when-

"Derek, wait…" Angie said in a quiet, broken voice, making Derek's heart skip a beat. He turned round and saw that she was stood a few paces behind him, with crystalline tears making their way down her pale face.

"I don't want to go back, not now," she sobbed weakly and Derek was unable to resist any longer. He wrapped his arms around her shaking frame and held her close to him. Angie wept openly into Derek's chest, causing his heart to feel like it was bursting out of his chest.

"Angie, you have to go back, it's your job on the line."

"I don't care!" she cried vehemently, "I want to stay here… with you." She finished in a whisper. Derek stroked the top of her head and gently lifted her chin to face him.

"It'll be ok, we'll figure something out."

"But what if we don't? I can't go b-" Angie was abruptly silenced by Derek's lips on hers. She returned the kiss happily and wound her arms around his neck to deepen it.

"Angie?!" someone cried from the doorway, forcing Angie to break the kiss and turn around in surprise.

"Danielle?!" She stuttered, astounded at her friends sudden appearance, "what are you doing here?"

"I came to surprise you! But you've surprised me! I hope you've broken up with James!" Danielle glared at a shamefaced Angie, "you haven't?! Angie! Bad girl!" Danielle chastised her gently. Sort of.

"Ok ok I'm going! I'll do it now… can you hang around outside and leap in when I leave so I don't feel as bad?"

"Ok but you owe me so much…" Danielle muttered viciously and all but poked Angie towards the wards leaving Derek stood there with a bemused expression, trying to work out what the hell had just happened.

--

"James?" Angie murmured as she seated herself next to the bed looking down on the man in it.

"Angie?" he whispered, trying unsuccessfully to sit up.

"No stay still James, you'll hurt yourself," Angie pleaded, "I've come to tell you something…"

"Oh? Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to be good news…?"

"No it's not, I- I'm staying here in America… I'm not going back to England."

"Oh so I guess this is the end for us then."

"James I'm so sorry!"

"It's ok Angie; things haven't been working between us for a while anyway." He tried to smile but there was sadness in his eyes that he couldn't hide no matter how hard he tried.

"James… I- I have to go, I'm sorry, I'll come and visit you again before you leave." And with that, Angie bolted from room only to be grabbed by Danielle.

"Angie you idiot! You said you were staying here!"

"I know! I panicked! I'm sorry but I need to find Laurie, she said she had something important to tell me," Angie cried pathetically before releasing herself from Danielle's iron grip.

--

She found Laurie in her old office doing paperwork.

"Laurie?" She whispered softly, trying not startle her best friend's sister.

"Angie! You're here! I have something to ask you," Laurie took a deep breath, "I've always wanted to work in Europe, and I've spoken to Dr Hoffman and… well we could swap places, I could go to England and you could stay here… But of course if you don't want to that's fine too…"

"Oh my GOD Laurie! I'd love to! This is perfect!" Angie laughed and hugged Laurie,

"Nurse Thompson, it would appear Nurse Sears has told you about her proposition." Dr Hoffman was stood in the doorway looking vaguely amused at the scene unfolding before him.

"Yes sir she has and I would like nothing more than to work here." Angie beamed, her eyes shining. Dr Hoffman nodded,

"Welcome back Nurse Thompson."

--

OK 1 more chapter and then I've finished Degrees of Separation! tear Anyway I hope you all enjoyed that and the last chapter's an epilogue anyway but then I'll be starting 'Out of Darkness' OoO XD Please read it when i put it up!