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-FYI, in my story Alexx is still the M.E.

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Ryan was actually excited about today. He was being allowed to go back to work for a few hours each day to get reacquainted with his job. He had a really good feeling about today since he really hadn't forgotten how to do his job. His doctor could not explain why he could remember how to do his job, but everything else was gone. Memory issues were very different for each person who experienced and Ryan's case was no different.

As Ryan drove to work he took in everything he saw. He was really struggling to recognize anything along the way but by the time he arrived at work he had nothing. He wasn't especially worried about this since he didn't even know if he was taking the same route he always did or if was going a new route; which in that case he shouldn't have recognize anything anyway. He had seen that there were several ways to work and he had chosen the most likely one.

Ryan parked his vehicle and stepped out into the parking lot. At first he just stood there staring at the building. This was his first time here; he had not visited since his accident. He was at first reluctant to move toward the building since he didn't really know where he should enter, but as he watched other people he soon found his way. He went through the doors and came into what appeared to be the main entrance. So far nothing looked familiar, but he didn't let that get him down. Just like his time in the parking lot, he was once again unsure of where to go. He stood there trying to decide when he heard someone call his name.

"Ryan, it's so good to see you back to work".

Ryan waved to the person who called his name and then watched them walk off in the other direction. He had only been here for a few minutes and he was starting to feel apprehensive about coming back so soon. If this was any indication of how his day was going to be, he didn't know if he was ready. Just as he thought about making a run for it back to his car he once again heard someone call his name.
Fortunately he knew who that voice belonged to. He turned around and said "Good Morning Calleigh".

"Good morning Ryan". Calleigh was in a good mood today and she didn't try to hide it from anyone. "So are you excited about coming back today?"

"I think so, but I'll let you know when my day is done. So who will I be working with today?" He had not been told of the details of his return to work, only that they would tell him on his first day. He just hoped they gave him an easy first day. He was still healing from his accident and his arm was still in a cast making it difficult to do a whole lot.

Calleigh could tell by the look on his face that he was worried about his assignment. "We thought we would keep you at the station today since it was your first day back. We thought that you could work with Alexx today".

He liked the idea of staying here today, but he didn't know if he liked where he was working. He had gotten the chance to hang out with Alexx on numerous occasions since he was in the accident and he liked her, but he remembered how she described her job and he not to eager to be working with dead people.

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Before Calleigh had shown Ryan where he would be working, she gave him the grand tour of the building and also took the time to introduce several people to him. The place was bigger than it looked on the outside and there were definitely more people that worked here than he thought. He just hoped he could remember everyone he met today.

The last stop on the tour was the locker room. Ryan went over to the locker with his name on it and just stared at it. This was proof that he worked here, but when he tried to get into his locker he was unable to open the lock. "Um Calleigh, I don't remember the combination. Is it written down somewhere?"

Calleigh handed him a piece of paper. "I already have that covered. I talked to human resources yesterday and they had your combination on file".

"Thanks". He used the numbers on the paper to open his locker. When he looked inside he found a few personal items, but nothing to get excited about. He closed it and turned to Calleigh, "Well that was exciting. I don't know what I was expecting to find in there. So I guess I should go and find Alexx".

Calleigh assumed she would need to show him, "Well follow me then and I will let you get to work".

"If you don't mind I would like to find it myself, I think I remember where it is". All through the tour he had made several mental notes on where certain rooms were, but paid close attention to the M.E's office since he knew he would be working there today. If this was going to work he needed to find his way around this place and not rely on his friends and coworkers to help him.

Calleigh smiled at Ryan before saying "I think that is a wonderful idea. I'll come by and check on you later to see how it's going".

"Sounds great, I'll see you later". He waited until she had left before exiting the room. As he stood in the hallway he had to think very hard on which way was the correct way to find Alex. He decided to go left and as he walked down the hallway and around the corner he was grateful to see that he had chosen correctly. Before he knew it he was standing at the entrance to the coroner's examination room. He was hesitant to enter since he had no idea of what to expect. A few moments passed before he had the nerve to open the door and walk inside.

Once inside he looked around quickly and spotted Alexx hovering over something. As he walked over to her he saw what it was that she was examining. She was in the process of extracting some internal organ from the person who was lying on the table.

Alexx looked up just in time to see Ryan's face go pale as he stood there watching her. "Hey baby, I was wondering when you were going to get here". She finished with the liver by placing it onto a scale and came over to stand closer to Ryan. "So, I can see some things have not changed with you. I remember the first time you came in here your face went so white at what you saw. But I can promise you you'll get use to it, you did before".

Ryan spent the next 3 hours helping Alexx with various parts of her examination. She was right about one thing, the more he was around the body the more he got use to it. As he was cleaning up the area the sound of someone walking in caused him to stop what he was doing. He looked up and saw that it was Calleigh. She was true to her word about checking up on him. "Hey Calleigh, how's it going?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing. How was your first day back?"

"It was long, or at least it felt that way, but it feels good to be back even though I can't remember what it was like before".

"Great, so we can expect you back tomorrow then?" She grinned at him before adding, "Hey a bunch of us were going out after work and we thought you might like to join us".

Ryan thought about it for a few seconds before replying, "Yeah sure, that sounds good. I just need to finish cleaning up, but I should be ready to go after that".

"Sounds perfect. Do you want to ride along with me or do you just want to follow me to the bar?" She wasn't sure he knew where it was so she thought she would offer both ideas.

"I can just follow you since I do need to learn where everything is around here, especially if this is a common event around here". He didn't know if this something he did with these people or not, but he thought it sounded like fun.

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It had taken Ryan about 30 minutes to clean up the work area and another 10 minutes to get himself cleaned up, but now he was ready for a night out with his co-workers. He hopped in his car and followed Calleigh to a place that was not too far from work. From the looks of the parking lot it was a very popular hangout. After driving around for a few minutes he finally found a spot that was a good distance from the front door. He got out and started walking toward Calleigh's car, which was a lot closer to the building. "Hey Calleigh, this looks like quite the place. Is this the usual hangout?"

"Yeah, you could call it the usual hangout for a few of us. It's a great place to unwind after a stressful day". She matched Ryan's pace as they made their way to the front entrance.

Once they were inside Ryan looked around and as usual didn't recognize anything. The place itself was just as crowded as the parking lot and the music was loud; but at least he liked what he heard, "So who is meeting us here anyway?"

"Eric and Natalia were coming and I think Alexx said she would try a little later". Calleigh around the place and finally spotted who she was looking for. "I see Natalia, she's over there". She waited for Ryan to join her and the both of them walked over to the table where Natalia was seated.

Natalia looked up from her drink "Hi Ryan, Calleigh, looks like a good crowd tonight doesn't it". She took a sip from her glass before continuing "How was your first day Ryan? I'm glad you could join us tonight".

Ryan smiled as he took a seat "First day was good, I'm looking forward to tomorrow. So is this something I did with you guys often".

Calleigh didn't give Ryan's question a chance to be answered as she got up and asked "so Ryan, what can I get for you, I'm buying the first round".

As soon as he realized what Calleigh was asking him he thought about his previous night's excursion to the bar. He really didn't want to repeat that mistake again so he replied to Calleigh by saying "I think a nice ginger ale sounds good".

"Oh come on, don't you want something stronger".

"Maybe later, but for now I think I'll lay off the strong stuff".

"Ok then, I'll be right back". Calleigh went toward the bar leaving Ryan and Natalia to talk.

Ryan felt a little awkward sitting there and he wasn't sure what to say while waiting for Calleigh. He thought he would ask his earlier question again, "So did I come here with you guys often?"

Natalia smiled at Ryan and was about to answer him when she was distracted by a woman who suddenly started calling out Ryan's name.

A tall slender beautiful woman who looked like she was in her early 20s came over to the table "Ryan, is that you. I thought that was you when you came in here, but then I thought to myself it couldn't have been. I thought you told me that you hated this place, so what made you change your mind?"

Ryan had been staring at the woman while she talked waiting for his chance to ask his usual question, "I'm sorry, but do I know you?"

The woman looked very offended "What, after 3 dates you've forgotten me already. I guess I should expect that from someone who obviously wasn't very truthful with me. Sure you hated this place, is that why you're here with her?" Her tone sounded like she disapproved of Natalia being here with Ryan.

"I'm really sorry, but I don't remember you. I was in an accident that left me with amnesia". He thought she would probably have a hard time buying this. She was already so pissed at him and for what he didn't know.

"Oh right, you expect me to buy that story. If you wanted me to get lost you could just say so". She was ready to leave but for some reason decided to wait for his response.

"I can't prove it to you, but I really don't remember you. Can you tell me your name; maybe we can start over again. I really would like to talk to you, maybe buy you a drink". He thought she was pretty, but he was more interested in finding out what she knew about him.

She seemed to calm down a bit as she replied "Are you serious, you honestly don't remember me". She seemed to buy what he said and decided to sit down next to him "My name is Melissa and yes you can buy me a drink".

"That's a nice name, what are you drinking?" Ryan had turned his full attention toward Melissa; forgetting all about Natalia.

Natalia cleared her throat to get their attention, "Ryan, why don't you sit here and talk with Melissa while I go and get another drink". She shot Melissa a cool look before returning her gaze at Ryan, so can I get your friend a drink then?"

It was as if Melissa had done a complete turnaround. She answered Natalia with a new sense of charm that was lacking earlier "Yes that would be great, I'll take a white zombie if you don't mind". As soon as she was done ordering her drink her attention went back to Ryan.

Natalia walked off toward the bar leaving the two of them to talk. On her way up she ran into Calleigh and told her they had company at the table.

Calleigh arrived at the table to find a woman sitting with Ryan and she was chatting up a storm. "So who's your friend Ryan?" She handed him his ginger ale and sat down.

"Hi Calleigh, this is Melissa. Apparently I had 3 dates with her and now we're catching up on old times". He looked over at Melissa and smiled. "Melissa, this is Calleigh, we work together".

Melissa took her eyes off of Ryan long enough to acknowledge Calleigh, "Hi Calleigh".

As the night progressed Eric and Alexx joined them and they all spent the next couple of hours talking and having a pretty good night.

Ryan looked at his watch and saw that it was getting late. He was tired and thought he better call it a night. He had fun with the group, but as he walked out to his car he had to wonder if he really enjoyed this kind of stuff before the accident. Melissa had indicated that he said he didn't like the place. He had wondered why throughout the night and now that he was leaving he wasn't really sure what he thought about the place.

Ryan headed home so that he could be rested up for his second day at work. Once home he felt the urge to clean up the place a little bit before heading off to bed.

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