Chapter 35

I ran my hands through my hair after she had left the room. There wasn't anything that I could have said differently that would have changed that outcome. As much as I hated the fact knowing that she was upset with my decision, the fact remained, it had been my decision. Now was not the time to start second guessing myself.

I didn't know if Ryan was going to come by later in the day or not. I really didn't have any idea of what was going to happy now that I had, had that falling out with my mother. Hopefully when things worked out, or she saw that things were working out we could relax again and go back to the way that our relationship had been. Granted it had never been as great as the one that she had with Kate, but Kate was the baby, twins we might have been but Kate for all intense purposes was born second and was the baby.

I hoped that Dad would somehow find the time to come by once more before they left back for Seattle. I didn't know if they would be hoping the first plane back or staying for a day or two. Mom hadn't said and I didn't think now was the best time to pick up the phone and ask her, she'd take that the wrong way too. It felt like she had taken everything that I had said the wrong way, which could have also been fueling the guilt trip that I had now found myself on.

Lunch time came and went and the doctor came in to tell me that I could have my walking papers tomorrow. I would just have to see the PT people once more and then I was free to leave, but knowing that I would be back, probably for months of strength exercises.

The sun was starting to set, and there had been no sign of my family or what was a little more nerve wracking no sign of Ryan. I settled into the bed a little more and started flipping through television channels to see if there was anything remotely interesting on them.

"Sorry I'm late." I heard that familiar voice calling from the doorway. "You weren't thinking that I had forgotten you, now where you?"

"Uh not that I know of." I said flashing him a smile, and then I noticed his clothes. He wasn't dressed as if he was going back to work in the ER.

"What's that look for?"

"Oh nothing I just have a thing for guys in uniforms." I answered. I had told myself that I wasn't going to make a big deal out of what he was doing. That I was his girlfriend that gave me the right to worry and fuss, but not to flat out say no you can't do this, no matter how much I might have objected.

"You don't sound overly convincing with that you know." He said as he moved through the room sitting down on the bed rather than in the chair. Probably the closest that we had been in several days.

Neither one of us feeling like being overly affectionate in the presence of my mother.

"No really." I said still smiling, "you're pretty darn cute in that. I need to tattoo my name on you so that the other women don't go after you."

"You haven't lost your sense of humor." He said, "I would have talked with you about it, but it seemed like a good idea at the time, and hey it's something that I am good at."

Honestly Tess, come on you have to be honest with him. "Honey, yes it would have been nice if you had told me that you were planning on doing this, but if it's what you want to do right now then I am behind you all the way. Besides I am sure that you will make an excellent paramedic."

"Thank you." He said softly, "but you don't have to lie."

I looked at him. "I'm not." I said with sincerity in my voice. "I might worry about you and how long the hours that you will be putting in are going to be. But I am right beside you."

That put a soft smile on his face when I said it, I had meant it and I hoped that he knew it too.

"No really thank you." He put his hand on the side of my face leaning in and giving me a soft spine tingling kiss. The first one that we had shared in what felt like an eternity.

"Hey just promise you won't run into burning building… or if you do, refrain from sharing that part of your day with me okay?" I smiled at him.

"Deal." He said, "so when are you free?"

"Tomorrow." I said, "are you in the ER all day?"

"Nope, medical students don't have to work weekends or holidays." He said, "so when you write your name on those discharge papers I can sweep you out of here. Best part is you don't have to take the EL."

"Can you fly now?" I said giving him a slightly puzzled look.

"No borrowed the car." He said as his head shook side to side and a small chuckle escaped him.

"I see you knew I would be coming home and after being whooped in the butt by the PT queen wouldn't feel like having to hoof it home. How kind and thoughtful you can be." I said laughing a little now, "I knew you were a keeper."

"Have you hooked now do I?" He said as I watched him move to hold onto my hand.

"Just a little." I said.

"How did your conversation with your mom go?"

"Yeah how about if we don't talk about that." I said.

"That good huh?" He replied back, "perhaps she just needs some time to adjust."

"Time isn't going to do it." I said, "she thinks that I am making a big mistake."

"Is that what you think?"

"Oh honey no." I said very quickly. "I know that staying here isn't a mistake. I know that this," I pointed between the two of us now, "this isn't a mistake at all."

"She doesn't like me, does she?"

"I don't think that's it either. Just for everything that I thought I had an answer for she reminded me that there was something else that I hadn't thought through."

"What?" He asked I could tell that he was curious about all of this and well I didn't blame him.

"With you taking on a second job, which I do appreciate don't get me wrong, she's worried that I will be alone to much." I answered.

"Ah well you know I just happen to have an answer to that one, if the solution meets with your approval of course." He said.

"What?" I was curious now.

"You know my sister Gina?"

"Yeah the one that still lives at home with you and your mom, she's at Northwestern isn't she?" I asked.

"Yeah that one." He said, "she's willing to come and stay at the apartment for a few hours a day if you don't mind her working on homework. I thought that you might be able to help her in her advanced chemistry class."

"Tutor in exchange for someone to help."

He nodded. "But only if you are okay with it. I told her that I had to talk to you first."

"Yeah, I don't have a problem with it at all. She seems like a nice girl."

"What else?"

"Oh that was the big one, the rest of them are small tiny crap things that you don't need to worry about." I said.

He just looked at me for a minute. "Every mother's worst fear. That I am going to make you all these grand promises and when things get tough I am going to walk out the door, leaving you high and dry and on your own."

"Pretty much." I said, "I know that you wouldn't do that."

"No I wouldn't and I won't." He said bringing my hand up to softly kiss it. "I'll get you through this and once you are up and about you and I are going out for a night on the town. A date that doesn't involve the couch and popcorn."

"Hey I like those dates. I don't have to dress up." I said laughing, "it's cheap too."

"I want to take you out." He said, "so that means that you have to work extra hard at this PT thing so that I can take you dancing."

"Dancing?"

"Just get better."

"Booger, you don't dance." I said poking him.

"Tess for you, I would do anything."

I didn't know what to say to that. Somehow it didn't surprise me just threw me a little off to hear if from him. My voice got very soft now, "I know you would."

"Now you behave yourself. No more moonlight strolls with Dr. Lockhart." He said leaning in for a quick yet soft kiss on the cheek, "I'm off to work, I will see you in the morning. Sleep well."

"Be safe."

"For you always." He said walking over towards the door. Stopping to turn back, "I love you."

I fought not to blush, "love you too." I said to his retreating form, still unsure of how he could make me so happy and feel so good after such a horrible day, but I knew more than ever now that when I was with him, I was in very good hands and Ryan would be the last person on earth who would ever hurt me. I trusted him more than I had trusted anyone else. He had a heart of gold and it made me feel just that much more special to know that I was the one that had that heart.