Saving Grace

Chapter 2 – Baby Steps

A/N: Hey! Thanks so much for all of the reviews!! I wasn't really planning on adding to it, seeing as though it takes a lot out of me to actually finish a chapter story…but since you guys want it so bad, here it is. And by the way, the moment I read your reviews, I had a whole storyline played out, which would take me like, five more chapters, but I'll make it seem like each chapter is the end, just in case I never get back to it…Anyway, here it is! Don't forget to review…It's not so hard!

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Previously…

Confused, Gallant leaned in. She stroked his face, as he did to her. "I can't believe you are really here…" she whispered. He smiled.

"Same here…" And then on came the fireworks. Their temptation bubbled over, and she kissed him. The most passionate kiss ever seen in the ER. After a while of not breathing, they pulled apart, gasping for air.

"Miracles really do come true," Gallant almost sang.

Startling them once again, Susan busted in.

"Grace is awake!"

~*~*~*~

Neela jolted up. Her heart was beating so loudly, she couldn't hear Gallant yelling for her. Intuition told her he was following her. Bumping into gurneys, knocking over things, almost knocking a person unconscious…nothing could stop her. She had promised herself that she would be there when her daughter woke up, but she had broken it. She was too busy with herself, and Gallant, that she almost forgot her troubles. I am such a bad mother…She repeated in her thoughts.

It was like she was following a yellow brick road to nowhere. It took forever for Neela to make it to Grace's room, but she did. Rapidly blinking her eyes, Grace stared up at her mother, who was leaning over her, stroking her hair. Then she smiled. Her first smile in days.

Neela was bursting with joy. This girl did have a guardian angel…but who?

"Mommy…" Grace whispered. Neela began to cry, and stroke her daughter's soft, tan face.

"Mommy is here…" she whispered back. Breathing hard, Gallant studied them. They looked so much alike it was unreal.

Grace looked over at him for a moment, and then began asking Neela something, still staring at him.

"Michael…Can you, uh, come over here for a second…?" Neela asked.

He nodded, and came over to the bed.

"Sit down, silly!" Gracey squealed.

He smiled, and sat down next to Neela. "Sorry…she is…too good with people…" Neela explained. Gallant chuckled.

"No problem…"

Neela turned towards Grace. "Grace, this is Gallant. Gallant, this is Grace, my daughter."

Grace looked confused. "If his name is Gallant, then why did you call him Michael earlier?"

He shook his head. "Just call me Michael. It's my first name…"

"Ok…and you can call me Grace. That's my first name."

~*~*~*~

"We can't do this! I can't do this! I have believed that you were dead for the past six bloody years! How do you expect me to accept my long-lost love back into my life after that long! What would you do if I told you I had married Gracey's father! Hm? What would you have done?" Neela screamed. Gallant just stared at the floor.

"So what are you saying? There is no us anymore? Because I mean, there never was. I stood up for you, and never got the chance to ask you out because I was sent away! You didn't even care! You went off, got drunk, had sex with some man you didn't even know, and then got pregnant with his child! All I am asking for is the chance I never had. A chance to get to know you. All I want is for you to accept me. Please?"

Neela was dead silent, her face cold. Fury raged up inside of her like a volcano. "Don't you ever talk about my daughter like that, do you understand?" Her words hit him like a ton of bricks. His heart was crushed.

~*~*~*~

Neela walked through the ER like it was an ordinary day. Her daughter was safe at home with the babysitter, seeing as though school wasn't an option with her injuries.

"Hi, I am Dr. Rasgotra. And you must be…Danielle?" Neela asked.

"Yeah…" The little girl was interrupted.

"Neela, look, we have to talk, now." Abby ordered.

Neela shook her head. "I can't. I am with a patient right now."

"Neela…please. Just for a second." Abby sounded desperate.

She sighed. "One moment, Danielle. I'll be right back."

She followed Abby into the lounge. Once they were in there, the room was quiet.

"Well? What did you need?" Neela sounded frustrated.

"Neela, look. We are best friends, right?"

Neela nodded.

"As your best friend, I think it is my duty to keep you happy…I know what happened between you and Gallant…And I just wanted to let you know that John and I almost had the same problem as you! But the day that he found out that Kem was only using him for his money, and that the baby wasn't his, he came to me, just like Gallant came to you. He suggested that we get back together, and of course I didn't agree, but I knew that I loved him, just like you and Gallant. Now, we didn't start off so easily, but that's because we were taking baby steps. And look at us now! We are happily married. We took it slowly, and built our way up…And I guess that all I am trying to say, is that if you just give Gallant a chance, and take baby steps, maybe your relationship will grow into something really great. It might even benefit Grace, too."

Neela stood there, looking at the floor. Abby gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, and walked out of the room. Neela knew that Abby was right, but was this all right for her?

As she walked out of the lounge, she saw Gallant. He looked so handsome in white. I loved him. I loved him so much. And then he left. Why should I try and start things up? Would if he leaves again? What would I do? Well, he already has tried to get back with me…Maybe our love is real…Maybe we actually have something…

As she walked up to Gallant, her throat went dry. He turned around, and all she could say was…

"Baby steps…"