It was seven o'clock and Amber was relieved she was finally clocking out. It had been a long tiring day and she even had to deal with a tragic death in the ER. She had seen death before and this was not a new situation but every time someone died under her watch it was like a cold slap of reality. She couldn't help everyone and she had to accept that.

You couldn't save Ned, either she said to herself. And just the memory of her former husband who had passed away a few years back brought tears unwillingly to her eyes. Grabbing her purse she headed out to her car and tried to keep the pain at bay. She had heard that the loss of a loved one was easier to bear overtime, but it only seemed to become harder.

She was just getting to her car when her cell phone chimed from inside of her purse. Swiping at her eyes as if the unknown caller could see that she was crying, Amber made her eyes were dry before finally answering her phone. "This is Amber."

"Hi Amber," the familiar male voice caught Amber off guard and she momentarily stopped in mid-motion of unlocking her car door.

"Dr. Carter?" She didn't bother to hide the surprise in her voice. As far as she knew he didn't work that day so why would he be calling off duty? "Can I help you with something?"

There was a long pause before he finally answered her. "Yeah, there is something you could help me with. Do you have plans for dinner tonight?"

By the time Julia and Cassie arrived the party was well underway. There was loud music and the two story house was so crowded the lawn was also packed with people. "Wow, what a turn out!" Cassie said and grinned over at Julia, "That means they probably have a lot of booze."

Julia quickly grabbed Cassie's hand and pulled her to a stop right outside of the house. "You're not planning on drinking, are you?"

Cassie looked surprised by the question. "Well yeah, sweetie, that's what parties are all about. Don't worry Mark will let us crash here tonight."

Julia felt betrayed a little that Cassie hadn't mentioned this plan sooner. She knew she could always tell her father she went back to Cassie's and spent the night but she hated lying to her father. "Alright," she said and followed Cassie into the throng of people.

Music was blaring inside and it took all of her effort to squeeze between people and keep Cassie in her line of sight. She was just making her way into the kitchen when a gruff hand wrapped around her and pulled her backwards. "Hey there, good looking," a voice murmured in her ear and a trail of kisses started going down the back of her neck.

"Let go of me," she said and fought to get out of his grip. She didn't know who it was and certainly didn't recognize it his voice which sounded slurred by the alcohol. "Cassie!" She tried calling for her friend but her voice was drowned out by talking and the loud music.

Meanwhile the kisses didn't stop and Julia found herself getting frightened now. "Stop it!" She screamed back at him when his hands cupped her breasts. "LET ME GO!" Even her frightened screams was drowned out by the music and with so many people shoved into such a tiny space she felt like she was all alone.

When his grip tightened and he only whispered, "Calm down," in her ear her instincts took over. Slamming her elbow into the man's stomach, Julia made a break for it the moment he let go of her. "You bitch!" she heard the man shout and his voice seemed to boom over the music. She scanned the crowd as she pushed through t toward the front door.

Where is Cassie? She thought, panicking; And stole a glance over her shoulder to see the man come barreling after her.

Amber couldn't believe she was sitting across from Landon Carter, in a nice restaurant, for a second time. She didn't even know why she accepted but the offer to take her out caught her completely off guard and she didn't quite know what else to say.

After the waiter took their orders they both found themselves staring awkwardly at one another. "This is something I never expected from you," Amber said, speaking first. "When I got your phone call I thought you needed me on duty or something related to our job."

Landon nodded and absently ran his hand through his aging, slightly shaggy hair. "I know. I don't even know if this is allowed. Is dating colleagues allowed?"

Amber choked on the water she was drinking, "I'm sorry, what did you just say?" She placed her water down on the table, "Are we on a date right now? Because somehow I think I missed that memo."

Landon wanted to punch himself in the face. How did that slip out?

"We are…," Landon trailed off and tried to gather his thoughts. "Just out to dinner, I didn't mean to call it a date."

When their waiter stopped by Amber asked for a margarita and then absently began to plan with the small silver chain bracelet on her right wrist. "Uh-huh," she said. "Well I'm okay with calling this date if you are." She sent him a disarming smile, "Just next time maybe you should clue me in I was supposed to be your date."

Nick was just climbing out of his car a block down from the party and was feeling a whir of feelings. Mainly he couldn't wait to socialize because it was the easiest way to temporarily forget the pain he felt for losing Julia. He knew there would be plenty of alcohol but due to being on the drug trial had strict instructions to stay sober and though he desired a beer was not going to screw up his one chance at a cure for a quick fix.

"Hey man!" Mark was outside, congregating with a group of freshman women Nick recognized from campus and he couldn't stop the smirk that splayed across his face. Mark was and perhaps always would be a player. Loyal when in a relationship but the man preferred the single life and slept with a lot of women on his free time.

"Hey, finally decided to show up," Nick said and smiled at the woman who was very openly winking in his direction.

"Good, man, good. Well grab a beer, relax and enjoy the party," Mark said and wrapped his arm around the closest woman to him. "I think I'm going to relax tonight, what do you think?" his voice became incredibly intimate and Nick knew that was his cue to head into the house and let his friend do his thing.

"Leave me alone!" Julia screamed, pushing through the throng of people that were standing in the way of the front door. She turned around to face the man coming at her and before she could have reacted felt a fist collide into her cheek bone. Something snapped and her vision blurred as she was thrown backwards from the blow.

"You son of a bitch!" Nick was on the man in seconds; tackling the man to the ground and throwing punches. It took an entire crowd to pull him off. Blood covered the attackers face and Nick's hands but the anger he felt pumping through his blood dissipated the moment he remembered Julia. "Call the police," he said to Mark. "Call them now!"

"What? Dude, you want me to crash my own party?"

Nick grabbed Mark by the front of his shirt and pulled him close. "Damn it, someone's hurt, call the police!"