I walk into the hospital. It's been a little bit over a month that I've been here, and finally everything seems in order. I've got a job that I absolutely adore, a girlfriend that I cannot get enough of, and a life that is perfect. I sometimes get those moments of weakness, where I want to return home, but they've become less frequent, and if they do come, Annette is only a few feet away. We've become closer than ever, sometimes I think we're joined at the hip. I never expected to feel this way, so carefree, so happy. I thought it would take so much more effort, but it hasn't. The people that I've gotten to know here, the doctors, the professors, the nurses. Everyone. They are just spectacular. So open and helpful, I've made more friends and companions than I ever have in my life. I drop of my latest chart, and see Annette standing by the desk, I walk over to her and give her a peck on the cheek.

"Hey you..."

I smile at her. The nurse she was talking to rolls her eyes and laughs.

"Hey yourself."

I take her hand and start pulling her away. I have a patient in another room that is a huge problem. I can't figure out what's wrong with her. She's complaining about a headache, fever, stomach pains, but nothing's coming out on her blood work. I'm clueless.

"I have a patient, Mrs. Zandilski, I can't figure out what's wrong with her."

She scrunches her nose, and I hand her the chart.

"What came out on her blood work?"

I shake my head.

"Nothing, perfectly normal."

She starts to suck on her lip and we walk into the room together.

"Mrs. Zandilski, this is Dr. Denison."

She smiles at the woman and she smiles back. That smile is so contagious. Sometimes I swear she makes patients feel better by just smiling, laughing, and talking with them.

"Mrs. Zandilski, have you ate out recently or had anything raw?"

I look at Annette, and then at the woman lying on the bed.

"Actually, my fiancée had brought sushi home two days ago."

Annette shakes her head, signing orders to the chart.

"You're going to be okay, just a simple case of food poisoning. We're going to keep you here for observation for the night just to be safe."

She gives us both a thankful glance.

"I'll be right back with something to help with the pain."

I walk out after Annette, and give her another kiss.

"Thank you..."

She laughs.

"Don't get used to it. We don't get a lot of food poisoning cases either, though."

I nod my head. I'm holding her very close to me. I know there has to be rules about this somewhere, but the only thing that can happen is Annette fires me and herself. Which is very unlikely. I start to give her gentle kisses along her neck. I hear her giggle my name a little.

"You two are just absolutely precious."

We both look up at an older woman sitting in a bed across from us. We really should pay more attention to our surroundings.

"We're sorry."

Annette forwards it and gives the woman an apologetic glace.

"Nah. Don't worry about it. It's great to know that true love still exists."

We both smile at each other. I don't know if it's true love, but it's something. I'm drawn to her more than ever. We head off towards the lounge to get some coffee. We've both been on for over 30 hours. And we're both exhausted. Probably turning delusional.

"So how you holding up after last night?"

I sit down on the couch and watch her brew the coffee. Last night I had finally mustered enough courage to call Bryce. And it went over as I had thought it would. He hung up on me. I don't blame the kid, I mean he's been hurt by me enough. He had good reason to. I silently wished it hadn't gone the way it had though. She sits down next to me, putting her head onto my shoulder and grabbing my hand.

"I'm okay."

She rubs my thigh a bit and then stops, probably too exhausted to do anything else.

"He'll come around."

I shurg my shoulders. Who knows. I think it might be better if he doesn't. It'll keep me away from hurting the two of them again.

"One way or another, I've still got you."

She smiles and leans over, giving me a strong kiss on the lips.

"Yeah, and we're out of here in five hours and fifty-eight minutes."

I roll my eyes. I'd hang around a bit more. It's better than County.

"You have too much time on your hands, don't you?"

She laughs a little.

"Yeah I wish."

She gives me her hands, and pulls me up with her.

"Get back to work. Your wasting too much time."

She hits me playfully.

"I do not sound like that."

I kiss her again.

"I know you don't. And I hope you never do."

She hands me the cup of coffee and pushes me out the door back into the ER. We get back into work mode, and the hours seem to fly by quicker than usual. After this, I have a meeting, she's going to bed. I plan to join her afterwards. I've done my mandatory time, but I guess I go from time to time to make sure I don't give in. I'm alot stronger now than I was before. I get alot of strength from Annette. My father was telling me she is good for me. I know she is. I watch her walk off towards one of her patients, the patient's face lighting up instantly when they see her. I walk off my opposite way, heading towards Andrea, one of the nurses. I need some help on a spinal tap. The nurses are beyond remarkable. I doubt I've ever heard one of them complain about anything all in all the time I've been here. This little girl is my last patient before my shift ends, and I'm a big eager to get it done. I talk with her for a while. She's an orphan, and they brought her here because of her fever. I spent a better part of an hour with her, and she felt comfortable with me. I do the spinal tap with little resistance. I hate doing these things on little kids. They take so much out of them, even the stronger ones. I've had one done before and it hurts like hell. I send off the sample to the lab and sit back down with her.

"Katie, I have to go now, but I"ll be back tomorrow, okay sweetie?"

I push the hair out of her face, and her eyes are brimming with tears from the pain.

"Otay."

I fluff up her pillows, and give her one last reassuring smile. She'll be okay. She's a fighter.

I sigh out on most of my charts, the rest I have to take home to update. I pack them in my bag, and I give Annette a kiss as she walks in.

"I'll see you at home."

She nods her head.

"Whatever you do, do not wake me."

She says it seriously but that bit of laughter is in her eyes. I kiss her again and head out the door.

"I won't."

I exit the hospital into the sun. The weather keeps on getting better every day, and it's a bit warmer. My father also likes it here. He's usually in New York on business, but he manages to come down every two weeks or so. Our relationship has gotten much better, and so has his and mom's. I haven't seen my mother in a while, but I have talked to her a few times on the phone. I think the Ice Queen is finally starting to melt. I don't know if it's just me. Maybe it is. But I've gained more acceptance for who I am, and I can also tolerate alot more. I'm finally happy with the person I am.

***PREVIEW***

"Hi Bryce, this is Annette, John Carters friend." Bryce and I both freeze, neither of us know what to say or do. Annette probably isn't aware that I can hear what she is saying, hell she may not even know who I am.

"Uh hi." He replies.

"I am sorry to call you like this, you must be quite confused." Bryce seems to agree with this statement. "Uh- its okay." He runs his fingers through his hair, a habit he picked up from Carter.

***REVIEW RESPONSES***

Amanda- hehe nope

Amanda- haha like my fist and his face

Amanda- Good thats our intention :D

Amanda- He was screwed in the head when He said most of those things... if not all

Amanda- yep Abby is so smart haha

vicki- Yeah it was a creepy ending... sorry hehe

Caitlin- haha yeah so many problems, first thing on the menu... Carter comes back!

rizzo1- Not the end...do not fret :D