A/N: I promised two chapters in one night and here I am, delivering. I decided it was time for another flashback eye opener. Who's shocked? You shouldn't be. Please review. Those things make the world go 'round.

Disclaimer: Bah! In my dreams.

I was digging through a cardboard box, desperately trying to find a tiny piece of my past, "What are you doing, Rita?"

He startled me and I turned around, throwing the lid over the box and pushing it behind me, "Just looking."

He smirked and walked over to where I was sitting, making a scene of looking behind my back, "Nice box."

"You think so? Amanda said it was passé but I told her it was vintage." I pushed the box back into the closet and stood up, "When did you get back?"

"Two minutes ago and counting, did you make dinner?"

I looked and my watch and blanched, it was seven o'clock, "Shit, no. I was all wrapped up-"

"In looking, huh?" He laughed and held up the phone, "I called for takeout. The guy said he'd bring it over for us."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and smiled sheepishly, "Sorry. I know I promised I would. Guess I just lost track of time."

I pulled him into a hug and he grinned at me, "Its okay. I guess you missed me, huh?"

I looked up at him and pretended to be offended, "Oh please! You think I'm that attached to you?"

"Actually, yes, I do." He held my arms and looked at me. I guess I passed muster because he let go and turned to leave.

"Greg." I flexed my hands, something I did when I was nervous.

He turned back around and looked at me curiously, "Yeah?"

I looked at the floor and was silent for a second, silently panicking. I was about to do something I'd either regret or appreciate for the rest of my life. Slowly, I looked up at him and his look softened, he was concerned. I took two giant steps forward and, putting my hands on either side of his face, took the plunge.

I kissed him.

At first he was shocked, I think, and he didn't respond. When I started to pull away he put his arms around me and pulled me closer, kissing back. I felt like the world had exploded and we were the only people left standing. Time stopped and for one measly moment, I was really happy.

I jolted awake, and fell off the stool. I had been lying in a precarious position, sitting on the stool but with my arms and head lying on the end of Dr. Wilson's bed. I was covered in a sheen of sweat and grime and I felt truly awful.

I looked over at Dr. Wilson and decided that I looked better than he did at the moment. He was pale and sweaty and his face was construed into a look of pain. I checked his temperature and it had risen a degree. I looked up at the wall clock and noticed that it was six in the morning now. I stood up and, pulling my hair into a ponytail, I made my way out of the room and upstairs to find Greg and the rest of the doctors and get the results of my test.

I'd left my bag with my laptop, phone, keys, and beeper in the bio chamber. When I pulled my phone out, I noticed that I'd missed two calls. One was from my boss, Dr. Macintosh, and the other was from Jack. I mentally kicked myself. I'd forgotten all about Jack! He was probably in a total frenzy wondering what was going on. He was just that kind of guy.

I decided that I should get it over with and call Dr. Macintosh first. So, as I bought a cup of coffee and settled myself at a table in the cafeteria, I dialed his number and waited for his answer.

"Doctor Macintosh."

"Hi, Henry, it's Rita Johnson." I took a sip and almost yelped. That coffee was hot!

"Rita! Good lord! I've been trying to get a hold of you for two days. You have no idea what trouble you've caused. Not only did you undermine my authority and make me look like a complete buffoon in front of my staff, you set Germany behind and left me without a lead in Europe. I can't believe you would do this to me!" I could almost picture his face. He'd be nearing purple now.

"I understand, Dr. Macintosh. But you have no idea what's going on here. Dr. House was right. He had a good case of Lassa. Unfortunately, he didn't catch it in time and the guy bled out. Before he died, the Lassa patient vomited on the head of oncology here and we're treating him for Lassa too. There've been some complications and we're still trying to figure it out. We could have a mutation on our hands. I'm going to need backup."

"That's where our problem is, Rita. I can't give you backup. I had to send two more, less qualified, virologists to Germany. I can't put up with your shenanigans anymore, Dr. Johnson. I've met with the board and we've decided to let you go. If you would have just complied and stayed in Germany, we wouldn't have a problem. We're sending your things from your office to your apartment in LA. I'm sorry it had to happen this way Rita."

"Wait, you're firing me?" I looked up and noticed Greg, making his way towards me, "You're firing me?"

"I know this might come as a shock Dr. Johnson, but you need to learn when enough is enough. You can't make the rules here, it isn't your job. The CDC will be forever grateful for the work you put in with us and all the research you did but there is no way that we can afford a setback like this again."

"You're firing me because I came to help a colleague?" Greg was standing in front of me now and he looked genuinely shocked.

"I'm sorry Dr. Johnson. You'll have to excuse me; I have a meeting to get to. Let us know how it works out in Princeton."

"Henry, if you don't help me this doctor will die. You can't let that happen. Send people for him, not for me." Now Greg looked angry. He held his hand out and I shook my head at him. I had to do this on my own.

"I can't, Rita. We just don't have enough hands down here. Let me know if it starts to spread. If you get a full blown epidemic, then we can send people. Until then, I'm sorry."

"Henry!" He hung up before I could say anything. I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it.

Greg dropped his hand and leaned on his cane, "He wouldn't have hung up if you would have let me talk to him."

"No, he would have hung up on you before you could even say 'sick oncologist'. He hates you, Greg. He didn't want me to come because he doesn't like you. No one at the CDC likes you. In fact, I don't think anyone on the planet except the oncologist lying in the isolation ward likes you." I stormed away towards the parking lot before he could stop me. I was too angry to work and I needed a shower. I was going to go back to the hotel before someone commented on my BO.

"Rita!" He'd resorted to yelling at me.

I turned around and glared at him, he ignored me and kept yelling, "We can do this on our own. We don't need the CDC. They don't know what they're talking about anyway."

My glare softened and, as he turned around and limped to the elevators, I felt really bad. He didn't deserve to be yelled at. Not yet anyway.