Autumn Leaves-Find Me

"You have the most beautiful smile, Olivia. It radiates and brings light to the darkness of your eyes." Fitz just started into her eyes as she looked back up at his.

She bowed her head, hard to accept the compliment, but flattered as well. She just wanted to lean forward and put her head back on the chest of this beautiful stranger. Of course, she wouldn't, but thinking about it had her heart pounding and she had to let his touch go before he felt it.

"Thank you, Fitz", she said as she rolled off his arm and headed towards her car. "Did you need something?"

"Ummm….no, I just had or I wanted to.." and he stopped realizing how silly it was to bring a leaf back to her. There are thousands of leaves, but this was their leaf. The leaf where she explained life so exquisitely to him. He couldn't believe he was at a loss for words, but this is what this woman did to him.

He felt the little leaf in his pocket, still somewhat moist despite not having a tree to live on. He shook his head, knowing she was waiting for an answer. "I thought you may have wanted this back, since you were so in awe of the colors and explained them so vividly." Fitz held the leaf in the palm of his hand.

Liv thought back to the painting she just completed. She looked at the leaf. It was their little leaf after all, wasn't it? Even though idiot boy Jake pulled it down from its home, it still meant something to Olivia. She remembered how he listened to her describe it without judgement.

She reached out for it and said "Thank you, I appreciate that, although I mostly paint from memory, but it will be good to press this leaf and keep it. It is a special leaf." She walked in the house, placed the leaf down and returned outside.

She hurried towards her car, wanting to bring her things in and settle down for the night. She felt him watching her every move, and it tingled her insides. She was having a hard time concentrating. He had to leave soon, she had to get him out of her head if she ever wanted that perfect fall painting.

"Can I help you with anything? Do you have anything on the back seat?" He opened the car door, just out of habit, not to be nosy, and before he can undo what he had done, her heard her say "no".

The door was opened though, and Fitz noticed the medical bag on the seat. He crossed his brows and looked at her. "You're a doctor?"

"No, I am a licensed nurse practitioner, but I haven't practiced in two years. I have that as a promise to my dad that I will consider going back to it." Her voice drifted off and she nudged him a bit and closed the door. "I appreciate you wanting to help, but really, I am fine."

She heard static and a voice and she looked around to see where it was coming from. It sounded like a walkie talkie radio of some sort. She saw Fitz reach around to his back and pull out a radio.

"Boss, it's Adam. The airport is trying to contact you, but your cell phone is on your desk, they need you to….."

"I am on it Adam, thank you, I'll be back there shortly."

Liv was looking in the trunk but heard it all. Obviously, his plane awaits to carry him off to his world of women in the Caribbean. She wished it wasn't true, closed her eyes and thought about kissing him. Maybe that would make him stay and they could get to know each other better.

Liv tried to shake that thought as the picture of her and Derek sat on top of the box, she was about to carry in. Her mother had caught them under the mistletoe their last Christmas together. Liv was looking up smiling at him and he was heading down to her lips to kiss her. It was her favorite picture of him, he looked so happy.

The one next to it in the frame was at the hospital. She was as the desk writing when he came from behind and put his arms around her shoulders and they were both smiling looking in each other's eyes. That was two days before he asked her to marry him. One of their co workers snapped the picture to show them how perfect they were for each other.

Now, she thought of kissing another man. A stranger she had just met but felt such a strong connection to. One who awakened her body that had been asleep for so long. But, Liv thought, he's a womanizer, so stop. She picked up the box and turned, not realizing Fitz was right behind her.

When she swung, the box hit his hand and the radio fell and cracked into pieces on the concrete. "Oh my God, Fitz I am so sorry."

He waved his hand. "No big deal, we have plenty back in the lobby. Let me take that for you."

Before Liv could protest, he grabbed the box and looked down to see the pictures Liv was just staring at. He remembered her engagement ring. He looked up quickly, pretending he didn't see anything, and followed her lead into the house.

"You can just set it on the table there, thank you."

Fitz quickly turned to walk out, and Liv followed.

"Well, I have to get back to the lobby." Fitz looked down at her. He wanted to caress her cheek, pull her close and give her a soft kiss, but obviously she was off limits. "I hope you enjoy your painting and your time here Livvie."

The name just came out of nowhere. It seemed so fitting for her and he wished he could take it back when he saw her eyebrows cross down.

"Livvie? No one has ever called me Livvie. I like that."

Fitz smiled. "Well, then, Livvie it is. I hope you get to the paint the picture of your dreams."

Liv thanked him. "I hope so too. It will do a lot for my life to get that picture and realize I have strength in me to accept my change." She looked up to the dark sky, half moon, and the invisible trees. "Getting above the trees would be amazing and would do wonders for my painting, but for now, I have the view from below."

She saw him staring at her, holding on to her every word. It was just something about the way she spoke of nature, it was so pure, and Fitz really was listening.

He nodded at her, took one last look at her engagement ring, and said good night.

Liv closed the door behind her and rested her back up against it. Her heart started to pound again, as she thought of his smell, his chest, his eyes. He's off Liv, get him out of your head, sleep and begin a new day. She took the two pictures out of the box and headed to the bedroom.

After she placed the pictures on her nightstand, she picked up her single use burner phone. She called her parents as promised to let them know she had settled in. That would be it. She didn't want to be bothered from the outside world.

"Hey mom, just wanted you to know I made it safely. It's a cute place, the fall colors are simply breathtaking."

"Baby," Maya began, "we're not going to lie. Your father and I are very worried about you. We don't like this cutting us off and not contacting us. What if something happens to you? How would we know?"

"Fine, I'll head in to town tomorrow and get a few more burner phones so I can call you."

"That's better, but we would rather be able to reach you daily."

"Mom, I need this time, please. It's the only way I am going to move on. I am away from the apartment, I am away from the city atmosphere, and I can just embrace the season changing and leaves changing. I know I sound crazy, but this is what I need."

"Ok, baby, if it's what you want. Have you painted at all. I know it's only been a day."

Liv looked across the room and saw the painting of his eyes. It was like he was staring at her all over again.

"I tried to get the foliage I saw coming in, but my thoughts are still clouded. I'll get there though."

"Any single guys there?" Maya asked in anticipation.

"Mom, stop." For some reason she felt her mom knew something, she always did.

"Dad looked over the brochure you gave him, said it was owned by a Fitzgerald Grant. Your father is familiar with the name. He does lots of charity for the hospitals around the country. His father was a big donor also. He is single, so if you happen to meet him."

"Mother…please." Liv's thoughts were now in overdrive. Her father had heard of Fitz, ok, he was a giving man, but did he know about the women.

"Besides," Liv continued, "a man like that probably has women all over him 24/7, why would I put myself in that position."

"hmm, sounds to me you may have met the man already." Maya stopped and waited for an answer.

"I'm going to sleep mom. I will call you in two days. I love you and tell dad."

"Good night, and put the pictures of Derek away and take off the damn ring. We love you too." With that, Maya hung up and Liv stared at the phone. Her mother knew her too well.

She headed to the shower, getting ready to wash Fitz out of her thoughts and begin changing her life tomorrow.

Fitz was walking back to the lobby, shoulders slumped and head down. Where are you Fitz? Who are you? With any other woman, you would have pulled her to you, made her feel your magic hands on her body, but not her. She deserved so much better. She was getting it though. She was so happy in the picture he saw of her with whomever he was.

Fitz looked up to the dark sky. He shook his head. Forget her, he told himself, just keep it platonic and avoid her as much as you can. He thought back to the medical bag. Why would she stop practicing medicine? Why is she here alone? Something was off.

He should have been paying more attention while walking in the woods because a deer went running by him, and he stopped short. As he did, his leg caught on a branch sticking out of a tree, and it sliced his right calf. Fitz could feel the blood immediately. "Shit" he shouted as he felt the pain rise up his leg.

He took a few steps and tried to get some light to look down. He had walked closer to another tree. As he bent he head to look at his leg , he didn't realize the low rising branch and he nipped his forehead right above the left eyebrow, splitting it open. He now felt blood rushing down his face and when he tried to move, he got dizzy. With the stinging in leg and pain above he brow, he felt himself fall to the earth.

He closed his eyes anticipating his hit to the ground and had a hard time opening them back up. A light shown and he saw Olivia's smile and he followed it, right into unconsciousness deep in the woods on the path back to the lobby.

Liv had spent most of the afternoon making the tiny house to her liking. She had brought all her things in, made her bed, and piled all her canvasses and paint supplies in the room. She needed to get to town to pick up a few things. She was going to walk to the lobby to find directions, but she chose to drive instead.

It was 2 in the afternoon. She entered the lobby and looked around. No sign of Fitz. He would never know that she googled weather in Antigua and Jamaica just to see what he was enjoying. She heard Adam on the phone, and he sounded concerned.

He hung up and looked in her direction. "Ms. Pope, how can I help you?"

"Just need some directions to town and your recommendation on stores with paint supplies and a good pharmacy or medical supply store."

Liv figured she should pick up some medical things, get herself acquainted again with the medicine world.

"Sure thing." As he began to write something down the phone rang again. "Are you sure? Then I don't know what to tell you, his phone is still on his desk and I haven't been able to radio him. Elaine? No she isn't here this week. Samantha, no, she's been out of the picture for a few months. No, not her either there isn't anyone on this property he would miss a Caribbean vacation for. Okay, Okay, let me backtrack his moves last night, but if I bust him with some new woman and he….. Sure thing Grant Senior."

"Everything alright?" Olivia couldn't believe the list of women Adam just went down, but anyhow, something was off with Fitz.

"Mr. Grant, the airport called today, I thought he was heading to the Caribbean, but they said he canceled that trip yesterday afternoon. He never mentioned it to me. They called to tell him the plane was back in case he needed it for anything. Now, we can't seem to locate him, and he isn't answering his radio, his cell phone…."

"Is on his desk, I was with him when you radioed him last night. He came to give me something and as I was bringing a box into the cabin, I knocked the radio out of his hand and it broke, which explains the radio."

"Thank you, Ms. Pope, I will head in that direction and see if he stayed at…." Adam stopped. He knows Fitz took a liking to Livia and he just rambled off about his women and vacation. "Here you go." Adam handed Liv a list of stores and directions to each.

Liv thanked him. It took her about an hour to get everything she needed. She had more paint supplies and medical supplies. She would be doing two things she loved without distraction.

She once again noticed all the fall foliage on her way into the resort and as she parked her car she remembered Adam's words. "He canceled the trip yesterday afternoon. There isn't anyone on this property he would miss a Caribbean vacation for."

Adam was walking by the cabin as Liv spotted him. "Any luck with Fitz?"

"No, I spent the last hour knocking on doors, no one has seen him. Did he say he was driving or walking back last night?"

Liv shrugged I closed the door before I saw him leave. He just said he was heading back to the lobby."'

Adam hit himself in the head, "Damn it." And he ran off towards the path.

He was covered in leaves, but Adam saw his shoes and the blood coming from his leg. He was moving, and grunting and when he heard Adam, he tried to mouth something, but it was gurgled.

"Boss, you ok, shit what happened?"

"My leg Adam, I tried to stand a few times, too dizzy and the pain in my leg."

Adam scooped him up, the adrenaline helping him carry his boss who was slightly bigger than him. He was closer to the cabins than the lobby and he headed in that direction.

Liv was unpacking her car when she saw them approaching. She saw Adam struggling to get Fitz to the house and she ran over. Blood was coming down the left side of his face, but it had dried a bit. She noticed Adam's hands with blood, but he said it was from the leg.

"Put him on my bed and get several washcloths of warm water." Adam ran and did as Liv said.

She put her head in the the palms of her hands, breathing deeply. She looked at the medical bag in the back seat. She was frozen, until she saw his face.

"Derek, what are you doing here?"

"Grab the bag Livia, he needs you. Grab the bag and do your thing, let me go. You couldn't save me, you could save him. Go Livia, now."

She looked at the bag, and reached for it, before grabbing it she looked up, she wanted to see him one more time, but he was gone. "Ms. Pope!" She heard Adam's voice, frantic.

Liv grabbed her medical bag and headed inside to help Fitz.

Two Days Later

Liv had been able to stop the bleeding to his leg and an head. Adam watched in complete shock as she cleaned both wounds and stitched them up without hesitation. He just did as she was instructing him to do and within a half hour, Fitz was hooked up to an IV for antibiotics and fluids. That medical bag had it all.

The paramedics had come and looked over Fitz, having been satisfied with his care, they saw no reason to move him, and left Liv with some more medical supplies as needed. No one had a phone and Adam had to run back to get Fitz's phone and call the paramedics.

Now, two days later, Liv was letting Fitz rest, as he was in and out of sleep. He had suffered a slight concussion and rest and limited movement was best. Liv was sitting looking out her bay window and painting the scene in front of her.

She had captured the red maple tree that stands outside the window perfectly. She even put shades of green and gold within the leaves. By the trunk of the tree, just at the bottom, she had painted a squirrel with an acorn, just to add some animation to the picture. She stopped to look at her creation and looked to her left to see the oak tree calling to her.

She had a new energy, having helped Fitz medically and still be able to paint, she was slowly coming back to life.

"You're next big guy" she said to the oak tree, then she looked back down at the picture she had just finished. It was the first one she painted without Fitz in it, she guessed because he was with her, and not in her thoughts.

"That looks gorgeous, just like the painter." She heard his low voice and she felt chills. She looked across the room and set the canvass down. She washed up her hands in the bathroom before heading to Fitz.

She sat next to him on the bed. She grabbed some ointment to treat the cut above his eyebrow. "You gave us quite a scare Mister. You've been in and out for two days. By the end of today, I should be able to take that IV out if you're able to swallow your antibiotic pill.

"How bad is the leg?" He tried to look, but he just saw a bandaged wrap.

"25 stitches, and some show off bruise, but it's fine. The head wound is what caused your dizziness and off balance. You had a concussion and bed rest is the best thing for it. Add another 15 stitches on that baby up there. You kept me busy."

"You did all this?"

"I did, by the time the paramedics got here, they decided you were good to stay here. I didn't think I had it in me anymore, but you proved me wrong." She took the cap off the ointment and began applying it gently to the would above his eye, her lips just above his. She was concentrating on not breaking the stitches, when she felt his hand on her cheek.

She looked down, into those eyes, now grey, almost stormy looking, and he pulled her down connecting her lips with his.

Her first reaction was to pull back and run, run far away, but she couldn't. It just felt so right, and she gave in, grabbing his face in her hands and pushing him further into her mouth. As they both gripped each other's faces, lips locked and tongues touching, the slightest breeze blew through the open bay window.

It caused enough air to reach the room and they heard a thud. The picture frame had blown down on the nightstand, and you could no longer see the pictures. Liv looked at where the noise came from and rested her head on Fitz's chest unknowingly.

As he caressed her hair, he lifted her left ring finger. She picked her head up and looked at him again, her favorite set of eyes, bringing her back to the land of the living. "Want to tell me about this?"

And as he stared so lovingly at her, Liv was ready to embrace the change Fitzgerald Grant had brought into her life.