Chapter 3

She rubbed her hands up and down his back a couple of times the leaned back and smiled at him.

"Zander, I think this time we both just might get our turn."

*************

An hour later Zander and Alexis walked into the nursing home hand in hand with Luke following close behind. Alexis looked toward Zander and smiled before drawing to a stop. She turned to face him then placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Tell me where he is, Zander. Let me go in first. There are things I need to say to your father that are private and need to remain between the two of us. Do you mind?"

"No, Alexis. I don't mind. He's just down that hall right over there. Last door on your right. Luke and me will wait out front for you."

She squeezed his hand then turned toward Luke with a twinkle in her eye.

"You know… you and I are not finished with this whole thing. Not by a long shot. You've kept me in the dark for 5 years, ex-partner of mine. You are going to have to answer for that, mister."

"Aw you don't scare me, princess. And before you go spoutin' off more threats that you have no intention of standin' behind… Doc Quack is waitin' for you to pull his butt out of the 'almost dead zone'."

She laughed quietly then leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Stepping back she winked at him.

"I owe you one, Luke."

"NO! Absolutely not. Nobody owes nobody nothin' anymore. You people are too needy for me. I'm through with the lot of you. Don't be pullin' me in to your loco lives no more. I got my own agenda and it's been on hold for way too long. You just get old Doc Quack back into the land of the living and that'll be payment enough for me. Now get your pretty little gams movin' on down that hall and leave me in peace."

She walked away laughing and lifted her hand to wave at them just as she turned the corner and left their sight. Stopping for a moment she drew a deep breath. She couldn't believe it. Cameron was only a few steps away. He was alive and evidently wanted her or at least his subconscious did. 'He'll probably send me packing when he finally does wake up.' Well, he was never that easy before and I haven't changed either. If we have to fight our way back to getting him on his feet, then that's what we do. 'Ready or not, Cameron. The worst patient you ever had is on her way to your bedside. It's up to you how long I stay there.'

She opened the door and peeked inside. The sight of him almost took her breath away. He was there… larger than life… making his bed seem woefully insufficient for the job he required of it. She tiptoed closer and sat down on the bed beside him. Looking down the length of him to make sure he was still in one piece she finally reached for his hand. The warmth of it infused her and made her blood race. Holding it tightly between hers she leaned down and lightly kissed his cheek. It wasn't enough. She needed more. Moving slightly she grazed his lips with her own and felt his breath against her cheek.

"That's right, Cameron. You keep right on breathing. I have a bone to pick with you and I can't as long as you're way out there where I can't get to you. So come on, oh-thou-great physician. Heal thyself. I need you."

She straightened up and watched him closely. There was no response.

"You mean to tell me Cameron Lewis that you're just going to lay there and let an admission like that just float right on by without jumping on it. Come on, I expected more from you than that."

She reached up and caressed his cheek. It's soft silkiness surprised her. Evidently beards were frowned on where convalescing patients were concerned. She leaned down once more toward his ear.

"You know if you wanted to get rid of your beard all you had to do was ask. I would have divested you of it any time you wanted. Want to grow it back and let me prove it to you?"

"Yes."

It was faint… Almost non-existent, but she was so close to his mouth she heard his rasping whisper. Leaning down a bit more she lay her cheek against his.

"Not good enough doctor… and not nearly loud enough. You want more out of me then your going to have to do better than that."

She felt his hand shift within hers and looked up into the most beautiful eyes in the world.

"Hi." She whispered.

"What… took you… so long?"

"You had a couple of bodyguards who decided it was in our best interest to keep us apart. You really need to watch who you save from now on. Luke takes his debts very seriously."

"Alex.."

"He's fine, Cameron. He's outside and I think maybe this time you're gonna like the man who made it his mission in life to take care of you until you could take care of yourself again."

She saw him frown as confusion spread through his eyes.

"Not… not dead?"

"No… he's not. He survived the fire, Cameron. Just like you did. Both my boys survived hell to come home to me."

"Both… your… your boys… Kristi…"

He seemed to be fading on her… she knew he needed rest and she knew she needed to get a doctor into the room for him. So she reached up and placed her fingers against his lips to quiet and calm him.

"You need to listen to me for a minute, Cameron. Kristina is fine and she misses you, but right now you need to let me get a doctor in here to check you out. You've been asleep for a long time and I need to know that you're really alright."

He tried to raise himself and she quickly placed her hands on his shoulders to force him back down.

"No, Cameron. Please don't move. For once please just trust me to know what's best."

"Not… yet… need to tell… need to tell you… it can't wait…"

She moved her hand to lay on the other side of him and leaned her weight on it affording her the ability to look straight at him and in turn keep him from having to strain to look at her. She placed her other hand over his heart and her heart jumped as he slowly moved his to cover hers. She saw him take a deep breath and waited patiently.

"I should have told you a long time ago. Stupid… stupid pride… got in the way. Got so mad sometimes…"

"I did give you quite a few reasons to stay angry with me, Cameron."

"No… I didn't see… didn't want to see you lose her… not like I lost… lost my boys."

When she started to interrupt him he squeezed her hand and shook his head.

"No… please… just listen… please." At her nod he continued. "You fought so hard… every time I saw… saw you… another scheme or idea… you never quit. Made me feel… like a failure… and I would get so angry with you. You saved my son's life… and proved me wrong when you got Kris… Kristina back. I… I… sometimes I almost hated you for being so determined… more than me. You didn't… never gave up. Took every abuse I threw at you… just kept right on fighting… never lost your focus."

"Cameron, please… you need to rest. Don't do this now."

Tears were to close to the surface…

"Almost done counselor. Let me finish… my closing argument then I'll rest."

At her reluctant smile he shifted and drew another deep breath.

"When I moved in… with you… I thought… maybe we could finally get past all the hard stuff. Nothing else was working… couldn't get you to see me. See what I wanted."

"What, Cameron? What did you want?"

He smiled slowly and caught her eyes refusing to let her look away.

"I wanted you, Alexis. I loved you."

Her mouth dropped open and miraculously she heard him laugh. How often had she longed to hear him laugh just once; without anger, without cynicism. Just to laugh because he felt like it... because he was happy. Had he ever been happy during the time they were together.

"Cameron, were you ever happy? With… with me?"

"When did we have time, Alexis? You and I never had a chance to find that part of ourselves together. But, can I tell you a little secret… just between the two of us?"

She smiled at the twinkle that suddenly appeared in his eyes.

"A secret, Cameron? That you want to share with me?"

"You're the only one who could truly appreciate it. Come here."

She leaned closer.

"Right now… looking at you… I'm happy."

She blushed and ducked her head. Moving her hand away from his heart she placed her cheek upon the warmth of his chest and breathed a sigh of content. His heart beat strongly beneath her ear and she felt his hand begin to run through her hair. Lifting her head she looked at him again and smiled.

"Thank you, Cameron. Thank you for coming back."

"You didn't think you'd get away that easy, did you? If not me, then who else is going to keep your life interesting enough to prevent you from getting bored?"

"You certainly are equipped for that particular job, Dr. Lewis."

Sitting back up she recognized that he was getting more tired. He needed to rest and Zander needed to know that his dad was finally awake.

"Cameron, I'm going to call for the doctor to come check on you. Then I want you to get some rest. I need to find Zander and let him know you've awakened. He's been so worried about you."

"Is he really okay, Alexis? Is he still in trouble?"

Cameron didn't know how long he had been in a coma and Alexis didn't want to tell him just yet. He needed more rest first.

"I took care of it, Cameron. He's fine and there is no one chasing him anymore. At least no one unless you count Luke. Someday you're going to have to tell me what kind of magic you performed on that man. But right now, you have to rest and I don't want any argument from you."

Cameron reached for her and caught her hand.

"Just one more thing, Alexis. I need to know something from you."

She reached out and ran her fingers through his unruly hair and smiled into his eyes.

"What's that, Cameron?"

She watched him try to hide his grin.

"Does she still like the cow?"

Laughing she tugged on a hand full of his hair.

"That was so not fair. You started something then disappeared and left me to face a child who all of a sudden couldn't resist certain barn animals."

She pulled the bedsheet up a little higher and stopped when he reached for her.

"That wasn't exactly the question I wanted to ask. Care if I try again? I think I've found enough nerve now."

She stared at him in confusion.

"Nerve. Cameron. why would you need…"

He interrupted her afraid that he would lose his nerve and never ask her what he wanted to know.

"Did it not mean anything to you when I told you that I loved you?"

She immediately began to fidget nervously. And he emotionally backed away.

"It's okay, Alexis. You don't have to answer me. It's enough that you're here."

She watched him turn his head away from her and close his eyes. She couldn't let him think that it didn't affect her. It was time for her to open up to him as he had to her.

"Cameron, look at me."

She waited until his eyes were once again on her and she reached for both of his hands and pulled them together to hold between her own.

"Do you know what I missed more than anything when you were gone? I missed your eyes. I missed being able to look into them and know that you could see right through me. You knew my thoughts almost before I knew them myself and I started to depend on that. I started to depend on you. You were always there when I needed you and even when I didn't. It was you who finally became my conscience when things became so fragmented in my own mind that I could no longer think clearly. You grounded me and kept me from losing my sanity so many times that I can't count them. You fought right along side me to get my daughter. You are a large part of the reason I have my daughter now. Without you putting your life on the line for me… she would be lost to me now. So when you tell me that you love me… how can you question if it means anything to me. Cameron, it means the world to me."

"But…"

"No buts… I'm not through with you yet. And I don't plan on being through with you for quite a few years to come. What I can tell you right now… in this moment… is that I never want to spend another day of my life without you being a part of it. And as crazy as it may sound given the ups and downs of this rollercoaster relationship we somehow got caught on… I've missed you… I don't want to ever miss you again. So, to that end I'm going to find your doctor and see about getting you ready to come home. That is if you're feeling alright."

He reached up and drew a slow finger down the side of her cheek before dropping it back down to reclaim her hand.

"Well actually I'm starving."

Looking over her shoulder she spied her purse at the foot of the bed and reached for it.

"Well I think I may have a candy bar in my purse…"

Looking back at him they both began to laugh… she leaned down and gently kissed him then lay her head on his shoulder.

"It's been quite a ride hasn't it, Dr. Lewis?"

"It certainly has, Miss Davis."

"Care to take another ride with me?"

He reached for her and pulled her closer laying a soft kiss on the top of her head.

"Why not? I didn't do too badly the first time around. Who knows what we'll find together just around the next curve in the road. Stick with me and we'll do just fine."

Moments later Cameron heard the door open and looked up to find his son peeking in. He lifted his hand and smiled. Looking back down at the woman asleep on his shoulder he motioned Zander closer.

"Hey, Dad."

"Are you alright, Alexander?"

"I'm fine, dad. Better than ever. How are you feeling?"

"Top of the world, son."

Zander glanced at Alexis then back at his dad.

"You know she loves you, don't you?"

"Yeah, I know. And she knows that I love her."

"That's good. I knew she could reach you."

Zander looked down and settled his hand over his father's.

"I missed you, dad. Not just since the fire. But, before that. I was just so messed up."

"I know, son. And it's okay. I messed up pretty bad with you and I hope you'll forgive me and give me another chance to be a better dad to you."

"It's a deal if you'll let me try to be a better son."

'I think that's about the best deal I'll ever come across in my life. I love you, son."

"I love you too, dad."

A delicate hand found its way across Cameron's body to cover the hands of her two favorite men and Alexis smiled. It was finally her turn… and Zander's… and Cameron's and somewhere across town a little girl smiled in her sleep as she dreamed of little puppies, kittens and cows; daddy's and big brother's and best of all her mommy who loved them all.