Disclaimers:

We don't own any characters although it would be nice to borrow them sometime.

This is not really a science fiction, so the effects of any future technological advances are minimized - for all we know, Katie could have cloned Jessie.

Rating: A couple of love scenes, but nothing really smutty

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CHAPTER 5: Walking in Boston

LOBBY OF MASS. GEN. MAIN BUILDING

Boston, MA

"I made this for you from my art class. There was a whole bunch of them but…" Katie said, smiling, as she walked towards Jessie. She had one hand in the pocket of her slacks; it was already May but her hands were as cold as it had ever been on a cold February morning.

Katie had arrived in Boston early that afternoon. She tried to order some room service from her hotel room at the Ritz overlooking the Boston Common, but there was more than hunger buzzing in her stomach. She lied on the bed, tried to get some sleep, but her mind was going at a hundred miles per hour. She tried to watch some daytime shows, but the images on the plasma screen were speaking a foreign language, or so it seemed.

Finally, she looked out the window. She could see the hospital from where she was, just off the Charles River. She stared and stared, half expecting to see a sign from the building assuring her that everything would be okay. Why did Jessie have to leave? Why didn't she stay with her mother? Or her grandparents, or heck, even Judy? Why did Jessie "abandon" her? All the feelings that she had buried underneath made their way back into her head, and after a while, she felt intoxicated by this tidal wave of questions unanswered.

She sat on the bed and took a paper from the stationery desk, and automatically started folding it into a paper flower. She did not know how long it took her – it seemed like forever. She could glance at complex econometric models without blinking, but how difficult could it be to make a stupid paper flower?

And then she smiled… the flower looked… like a flower. Everything is going to be okay, she thought. She took a shower, puller her hair in a pony tail, put on a pair of old khaki slacks, a white cotton shirt, and her faded Oxford sweatshirt. She did not need to dress up, she wanted Jessie to see her the way she always thought whom she really was.

She took her time walking through the Common, smiling whenever she saw some teenage girls laughing and talking like there was no tomorrow. The main receptionist gave her directions to the Pediatric Medicine Unit on the 5th Floor of the Main building, and when she got out of the elevator and walked towards the floor reception desk, she swore her heart had made its way up to her throat. Ruth the receptionist pointed her towards an office down the hallway, where the glass door said "Dr. Jessica E. Sammler, M.D.", but she decided to wait downstairs in the main lobby. Ruth assured her that Jessie would be out by around 5, and it was almost 5. Katie did not really care… she had waited 20 years to see Jessie again, surely she could wait another few hours.

"Katie…" Jessie whispered as she stared at this woman before her. Except for the glasses and a few extra pounds – God knows Katie could have used them while in high school – before her was the only person who looked at her and looked through her and saw through every unspoken corner of her soul and still loved her just the same.

Katie put the paper flower in Jessie's coat pocket – she was still wearing her hospital coat as the breeze in Boston could still be a little chilly in May – took her hand and led her out of the fluorescent-lit cavern of the Main Building.

It was still bright outside as they walked out towards the street, Katie still holding her hand. Jessie did not know what to think or feel, it's like the whole background faded and every person and car and tree was a blur and she was being a spectator in her own dream. Finally, Katie stopped walking, turned around and faced her, still holding her hand. Jessie did not know how long they stood there, but it was like an eternity – the good kind of eternity where you just want it to never end.

Katie put her hands around Jessie and held her. They were both crying, they were both laughing, they did not know where to begin, but it did not really matter. For that one sweet moment, nothing else really mattered.

"You want to get something to eat or drink?" Katie finally asked, "I am staying at the Ritz, if you want to go there."

"What are you doing in town?" Jessie finally asked, reality rushing back to her head.

"I came to see you," Katie answered. "You know, I still did not believe when they told me that you are a doctor, a medical doctor. I thought you wanted to be a chef or something."

Jessie smiled, "You too are a doctor, though."

"A fake one," Katie added. "Jess, I have been up since 5 this morning, I have not had anything to eat or drink other than a few cups of coffee and some overpriced room service soup…"

"You just described my daily life, except for the room service part," Jessie interrupted. "It was worse when I was a resident. I did not even know the time of day and if I had exceeded the legal limit for daily caffeine intake."

Katie laughed as they continued to walk west towards the park, towards Beacon Hill. "Uhm, Jessie, about food…"

"Let's go to my place first so I can drop off these things and change. Like you, I have been up since 5 this morning," Jessie quipped nervously. She wondered if her cleaning lady had come this week at all. "Or I can throw something together really quick, so we don't have to bother with the happy hour crowd. I still could be a chef, you know."

"Okay," Katie replied, wondering what Jessie's place looked like, what they would talk about. She knew that Jessie was equally happy to see her, but like her, she also sensed the pain of the last 20 years, the pain that she had come to accept as a part of her existence, like a stump after you lose a limb, except of course, neither one of them ever actually lost a limb.

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JESSIE'S CONDO

Beacon Hill, Boston

"It's a mess…" Jessie finally realized that her cleaning lady was not due to come in until next week.

"Definitely not as messy as the attic," Katie quickly answered, referring to Katie's room at the Manning House.

Jessie ignored that one, and proceeded to flip through the mail quickly. "Make yourself at home," she called out to Katie as she put the mail and her backpack on the table and went to the bedroom to quickly change.

Katie looked around the place. It was rustic, with a working fireplace and exposed brick walls. Jessie had sparsely decorated the place, some very tasteful posters, fresh flowers on the coffee table, a stack of medical journals by the mantle. Katie walked towards the Bang and Olufsen stereo system by the corner. She flipped through the remote and pushed play.

Billie Holiday.

Katie smiled – Jessie still had the CD she gave her 20 years ago. What more, it was actually in the system, which meant that Jessie had been listening to it. Of course, the system had several other albums ready to be played. But it didn't matter, Billie Holiday was softly crooning as dusk started to settle in.

Jessie came out, all dressed down in slacks and t-shirt and a red pullover. It was always chilly in Boston. She threw a suspicious look at Katie as she realized that she was so busted… Billie Holiday had given her away. But she decided to "act cool" – she promised her mother she would, and went to the kitchen to pour Katie a glass of bottled water.

"I will offer you some alcohol, but it's not really advisable if you have not had anything to eat. Your system would absorb the alcohol more easily and without anything else to process, your liver or pancreas could spew out chemicals to protect itself and in the process throw you violently ill," Jessie said as she worked towards Katie handing her the glass.

Katie smiled. She could listen to Jessie talk medicine forever, and it would not bore her a bit. "Thank you, doctor," she said as she took the glass.

Jessie sat on the armchair and motioned Katie to sit on the sofa. She was being cool, she thought.

"How long are you staying in town?" Jessie asked once more, subconsciously trying to plan her days around Katie's.

"I'm driving back on Sunday," Katie replied as she sipped some water and took some pretzel.

And they just sat there, not even knowing whether the silence was the awkward kind or the kind that spoke to both of them. But it had been so long, 20 years, and neither of them could really remember which was which.

Finally, Jessie stood up, walked to the kitchen, and then called out to Katie, "Dr. Singer, would you care to join me as I take you into the wonderful world of Jessie's culinary expertise?"

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It was almost 10, and Katie and Jessie just put the last plate in the dishwasher. They made some pasta and salad and Jessie opened a bottle of 1985 merlot, hardly a culinary experience but Katie thought that she had never had pasta that good, not even in Italy.

"What do you usually do on Thursday evenings, Dr. Sammler?" Katie asked as they both walked back to the living room.

"Oh, usually I sleep. I am so tired and I have to be back early at the hospital, sleep was the only luxury I could ever have time for," Jessie answered.

Katie looked at Jessie, wondering if it was her cue to go back to her hotel and leave her former girlfriend alone. Finally, she put her sweater back and checked if she had everything in her purse, until she felt a tug on her elbow. She looked back and Jessie was staring at her, examining her face, until finally saying, "I have a lot of new toothbrush… you don't have to go back to the hotel."

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Later That Night

Katie lied awake next to Jessie, who was sleeping soundly beside her. She smiled – Jessie still wore those pajamas with cute animal print. In fact, she was also wearing some herself – Jessie pulled some fresh pajamas for her to wear.

She looked at the girl lying next to her who still looked like the little angel she used to hold in her arms. She softly brushed away some hair that had fallen on Jessie's face, careful not to wake her up.

Oh how she wanted to take Jessie in her arms, feel her lips against hers, but the moment seemed too holy for the both of them. She just looked at Jessie, before softly kissing her forehead before she settled to go to sleep. She smiled because tomorrow, she would wake up and she would be happy because they would have another day together.

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Friday Morning, 8:00 a.m.

Katie opened her eyes and looked around her. It took awhile before she realized that she was in Jessie's condo, on Jessie's bed, wearing Jessie's pajamas. Except Jessie was not around. Beside her were a yellow rose and a note:

"Shift starts at 7, but will try to be back early. Please call me when you wake up.'

Katie reached out for her eyeglasses and stood up to go to the bathroom to wash her face. She went to the kitchen and as she passed the dining table, there was a set of keys with another note: "Round key for the main door, 2 square keys for the top bolt and lock." She smiled as she reached for the phone and called Jessie at the hospital.

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MASS. GENERAL

Boston, MA

Jessie was with a patient and a resident when her pager went off; she excused herself went to the phone and dialed the receptionist's number.

"Dr. Sammler, Dr. Singer on line 3 for you," Ruth said.

Jessie smiled. Dr Singer, the fake doctor, she thought, as she pushed the blinking light. The resident was standing right next to her, so she tried to sound professional, "Dr. Sammler," she said before she broke into a big wide smile.

The resident watched Dr. Sammler smiled and laughed like a high school girl. Dr. Sammler had always been very nice to him and had always been very compassionate and open with patients… but he did not see her smile at lot, much less hear her laugh. Dr. Sammler had a pretty smile, he thought, before he turned back to talk to the patient's mother.

After a few minutes, Jessie walked back to the bed and sat right next to the patient, a little girl named Morgan. Dr. Henley, the resident, could not help but notice that lingering smile on Dr. Sammler's face. Muscle reflex, he thought.

"So Morgan, the pain in your belly has gone away? Do you think you can go home soon?" Jessie asked the girl as if she was an adult ready to make a decision.

"The stitches still hurt…" Morgan whispered, looking at the bandages on her stomach.

Jessie gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and whispered, "The stitches hurt because your skin is healing and it's pulling the stitches away. We'll take them out soon, okay, honey?"

"Okay…" Morgan called out.

Jessie smiled as she walked away with the resident.

"Dr. Henley, I think you can take out Morgan's stitches tomorrow. Discharge her after but make sure they come back next week for a follow-up," Jessie said without looking up, still busy scribbling some notes on Morgan's chart before handing it to the resident.

"Ruth, I need some comp time. How many do I have?" Jessie asked as she approached the desk.

The receptionist was rattled – Dr. Sammler had so many accrued vacation days she could practically take off for 2 months and the hospital would still have to pay her. She quickly checked the file and called out "Twenty eight days. Do you want me to schedule some vacation time for you next week?"

"Nope," Jessie answered. "I'm taking them now. Be back Monday after next. Please tell Dr. Garrett that I am taking some time off. Dr. Casey is the attending on call while I am gone. I already spoke to him this morning and he agreed to cover for me. Oh, and no phone calls."

"Did Dr. Garrett approve this before hand?" Ruth wondered as Jessie walked towards the doctor's lounge to put her pager and hospital coat and hospital-issued stethoscope and other doctor paraphernalia into her locker.

"Nope. Don't have to. He owes me. Just tell him when I'll be back." And Ruth was surprised at this sudden burst of life from this beautiful doctor who until yesterday seemed like she wanted to cry every time she looked up.

Jessie needed to talk to Katie. She did not know what Katie want, and she was not going to play any more games. And she wanted to talk now, because she had waited 20 years to do so. She was happy to see Katie, God knows her heart was ready to burst. But she was also ready to let go, that very moment, let go of everything that Katie represented in her life, because now she knew that she still would not disintegrate into dust in the presence, the actual, physical presence, of Katie.

Oh, she was confused. Like that day in the attic 20 years ago.

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