A/N - Sorry for the possible confusion. ~L~ In my haste to get this story posted and mix-up as to which chapters went where, I got chapter 11 ahead of chapter 10. SO, here is the REAL chapter 10. In a peace offering, I'm posting a grand total of three chapters today!

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"She's not in her office."

Nick stopped and turned around to see Jules Keating behind him. "Huh?"

"Cori. She's not in her office." Jules tried to smile as she approached Nick. She'd been on call when the message came over that Dr. Cori was taking the rest of the day off. Since Jules knew that Cori and Nick were getting close, and that they both had a patient in common, it was a natural assumption to Cori's unhappiness being at Nick's feet. "Just what did you say to her?"

Nick heard the harsh edge to her voice. "Dr. Keating, I didn't say a thing to her. If you want to know what was said, ask Rae. She was the last person Cori spoke with. I was in the OR."

Jules stepped back and sighed. "I'm sorry Nick. I like you, like you a lot and I love Cori to death. But why would Rae… oh, of course." Jules smiled half-heartedly and looked down for a moment. "I know why Rae would 'talk' with Cori. They don't exactly have a gold-plated history together."

"They are not on speaking terms?"

"More like gasoline and a lit match. Ever since that cocktail party a year or so ago when Rae accused Cori of sleeping with her husband, the two of them have been very.. oh what's the word for it?"

"I understand what you're trying to say. Dr. Keating, you don't think it's possible that Rae…"

"Is jealous of the possible relationship between you and Cori? In a nutshell - Hell Yes!"

"Rae has no right to be jealous of Cori." Nick could feel the bile rising in his throat at the very thought of Rae being jealous. After the way she treated him when he came here and every day after that for the next six months, Rae had no right to say anything to him or any woman he even thought about becoming involved with.

"You have to convince her of that Nick. I don't know what's come over her lately, but the other night when mention was made about your fight with Cori in the hallway over the Philders' kid, she turned an ugly shade of green and left immediately. I spent half an hour in the parking lot trying to get her calmed down before she went home."

"Ask me if it's worth it to get concerned. Listen, Jules, it's over between Rae and me. She ended it and none too prettily either. To this day, I can't even remember what I saw in her. I don't want to put you into the middle of this, but thank you for telling me. I think it's time I had a talk with Rae, alone, and see if I can set her straight."

"Good Luck. Jealousy has gotten a good grip on her. If your talking to her fails, see if Letty can help." Jules watched as Nick stalked off to find Rae. "If nothing else," she muttered. "It'll be a good show to watch Letty smack Rae upside the head. You got an avid supporter in that woman."

Nick found Rae in her office easily enough. He had to take a moment to collect his thoughts and keep from yelling at her the instant he stepped foot inside of the door. But, when Rae looked up and smiled at him, he felt a burning in his throat and he couldn't help but grab the edge of the door and slam it has hard as he could. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Rae blinked slowly. "I beg your pardon?"

"You shouldn't, not mine. You should instead be begging Coriandra's pardon. I don't know what you said to her, but butt out!"

"My my, what a show of outrage! Why Nick, last time I saw you this upset was when you yelled at me in front of a nurse and Dr. Keating. Tell me, what do you think I did this time?"

Nick's jaw dropped as he stared at her. "You… I can't believe you. Of all the things you could try and pull. Are you STILL trying to make it so I can't stand it here? Do you really hate me that much?"

"No, Nick, I don't hate you at all. I just want things to go back to the way they were, two weeks a year and that is that!"

Nick leaned over the desk, bracing his hands on the edge of it.

Rae had never seen his eyes that dark, not before this. A part of her was beginning to think she should be afraid.

"I don't deserve this kind of treatment Rae. And leave Dr. Coriandra out of it as well. This is between you and me. Things are NEVER going to be like they were, I won't accept that any more. I wanted something different, thought you wanted it too. But, stupid me acted on those desires. You didn't want things to change, I did. It's over now. Get used to it!"

"I don't have to get used to anything, Nicholas Kokoris! Or, perhaps I should call you 'Dr. Koko'? Coriandra Eleszara isn't the kind of person you should be involved with. Nick, trust me, she's not your type."

"What, and you are? A woman who likes cheating on her husband and schedules the dalliances… You've kicked me in the teeth long enough. I know about your personal issues with Coriandra and you know what? You can shove them down your throat. If she tells me that something didn't happen, I have no reason to disbelieve her. LEAVE HER ALONE!"

Rae sat back as his voice thundered in her office. One of the physician's assistants walking by stopped and stared for a second until she threw a harsh glare at them. "She's not the one for you, Nick. Come on, didn't you like what we had?" She came around the desk and put her hands on his arms to stroke them gently. "I loved it, loved you and the way you made me feel. It's not too much to ask Nick!"

"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Of. Me." Nick stepped back and shrugged her off. "Leave Coriandra alone, leave me alone. You have no more rights as far as I am concerned." He turned and walked out of the office, the door thumping against the wall loudly as he left.

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