A/N - Darien and Serena are in their 20's now. Darien would be about 29. Serena about 22. Ami would be 22 but she fast tracked through school. Mina would be the same 22.

I wanted them to be older. Before when they were young and After when they were older.

Hope you enjoy!

~Munchkin1978

Chapter 20 – Part 2 - Her

Jack of all Trades

I woke again with a start. My chest felt like something had been ripped out and put back in. I wasn't sick I just felt like my body had had a war within itself and I had not won. Maybe it was the interrupted sleep I had last night. Or the kids at the hospital yesterday that made me laugh with them. I rose from my bed and showered again. The heat from the water easing the pain I had in my chest. If it didn't cease I would go to the doctors.

I dressed and stuffed the last piece of pizza into my mouth as I got into my car. Mina was driving herself today. I quickly started and sped off without getting coffee. I had to stop again. I needed coffee. I hopped out of the car and headed into the closest coffee shop. I stood in line as I searched for my change purse. By time I pulled it out it was time for me to order. I was about to pay for it when someone from behind me spoke up.

"I'll get it for you."

I spun around and there stood the cute jet black haired doctor from yesterday. Dr. Darien Michaels. The spark he we had had yesterday evident on my finger tips yet he had not touched me yet.

"You don't have to do that." I said to him as he stepped forward and ordered his coffee and paid for both with me objecting again.

"It's okay. I went looking for you yesterday to talk about the boys. You had gone for the evening Dr. Alexander had said."

"Yes I couldn't stay. I had to get home. I have a job to go to today." I paused looking at him. "Thank you for the coffee."

"Are you headed to the hospital?"

"No I am headed to my kindergarten class. If I don't get going though I will be late. It is my second day teaching so I best go." I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay and talk to him. Stop being boy crazy I could hear Ami talking to me even though she was not here.

"I don't want to keep you. Could we talk later about them if you have time?"

"Yes of course."

We both exited the coffee shop and I headed to my little car. He watched as I got in and started it and waved as I exited the parking lot. My chest started to ache again as I pulled away. The spark from yesterday tingling in my fingers. I pushed them both aside and kept going or I was going to be late.

Arriving at the school I slid across the ice with no klutz attack and made it inside in one piece. The kids wanted to know more about the planets so we continued the lessons from yesterday. We tried making Earth's today with green and blue tissue paper and construction paper. We put their names on them and displayed them in the classroom. They had such fun and I was glad. I had them for floor time and reading time and they sat and listened. They were such good kids today.

Later that day I was so tired from the hurt in my chest and teaching that I just headed home. I know that Dr. Michaels wanted to talk. I wanted to see him but I just wanted to sleep. I curled up in the bed this time and was drifting off into a deep sleep like I had the night before.

The little boy with the jet black hair had picked one of mother's roses and he had presented it to me while I sat on the bench. A red rose.

He sat down on the bed beside me and turned to me taking strands of my hair in his hands and just letting it run over his hands. His jet black hair so dark compared to mine. With the moonlight and the crystal it changed my clothes to the dress he saw me in all those years ago. Silvery white with golden strands. Pearls over the shoulders draped just enough to make a sleeve.

Again I woke with a start. It was the middle of the night and my chest hurt still. My stomach had grumbled at me and that told me I had not eaten since lunch at the school. I sat down at the table and poured a bowl of cereal with milk and pulled out my phone.

I had 4 missed calls from Mina and Ami both. They both then sent text messages to see if I was okay. It was late to call but I did text Ami that I was okay just tired and maybe coming down with something. She texted back that she was just leaving the hospital and that she would call later or come see me later.

I changed my clothes and decided to head to the hospital to be checked out. My chest was hurting a lot and it was not getting better. I got in my car as it flashed in my eyes again the dream of the moon kingdom story. The little boy with the jet black hair had picked one of mother's roses and he had presented it to me while I sat on the bench. A red rose. I shook it off and headed to the emergency room. I checked in and they put me in a room to wait. This was honestly the fastest I had gone through the emergency room. I guess it pays to come in the middle of the night and the hospital you work at.

I didn't have to wait too much longer. I had my head in the moon princess book that I had in my bag funny enough when he walked in looking at my chart.

"Sorry about the wait. What brings you in tonight?"

I looked up from my book and saw Dr. Darien Michaels looking straight at me. I tucked my book in my bag and looked at him. I blushed a little before I spoke and I was sure he noticed.

"Hi." I squeaked out.

"Serena is there something the matter?" He asked with one eye raised.

"Yes I am having some chest pains but I haven't been sick. I have been sleeping rather deeply the last two days but I thought it was because I was over tired."

"Where you having them this morning when I saw you?"

"Yes just slightly. It got much worse about an hour ago." I was also feeling the spark again but I didn't say anything. He would think I was nuts.

"Well let's get you checked out." He said as he took out the stethoscope.

He listened to my heart beat which was regular. I was wearing a tank top so he didn't have to go through a lot of clothing to hear it. I knew enough from being at the hospital to tell that at least. He had me cough, take deep a deep breath and hold it to see if he could hear anything else. Everything that my regular family doctor would do if I had gone to them. He did the same to my back. I coughed and held my breath and took a deep breath or two.

"Well Serena I don't hear anything and you are not congested at all so I don't feel right giving you medicine for something I can't hear or see. I will send you down for a quick x-ray though." He paused to write something down. "Is this why you didn't come this afternoon?"

"Yes I am sorry. I fell asleep at home. I just felt so tired all of sudden like I didn't want to be awake. I kind of woke up with it a short while ago and told myself to get it checked out. I know enough from Dr. Alexander about signs of a heart attack so I ruled that out. I did feel like something had been ripped out of my chest and put back in though. My body felt like it had lost the war with whatever it was having it with."

"Good thing you know that. Not a lot of people do." He smiled. "You are my last patient tonight I will go down to x-ray with you."

"I'm not getting special treatment am I?" I asked him my blush even more evident now as I slipped my sweater over my tank top.

"No Serena I just happened to be going that way to my office."

"Oh. Sorry." Feeling like an idiot now I went flushed. He noticed of course as soon as I popped my head out of my sweater hole. I pulled my hair out the back and noticed him starring at me even more.

"It's okay." He said making me feel slightly better for saying what I did. I could just hear Ami scolding me for saying what I had. However Mina would be cheering me on.

He explained to the nurse on call at the desk that he was taking me for an x-ray and was going to look after me for it. She just starred after him with dreamy eyes and nodded yes. She had attempted to write it down however her eyes never left looking at him.

"Do you have that effect on all the nurses here?" I asked and quickly covered my mouth. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that. I am prying." I was curious. He seemed to have that effect on not just the nurses I was sure.

"No it is okay. Really you are not the first person to notice it." He paused. "Yes a lot of them do that. They try but I am just not interested right now. I am busy working two different hospitals and the ER here. My father's company. Being a doctor takes precedence for me. Everything else can take a back burner for a little while."

"Thank you again this morning. You really didn't need to do that for me." I said changing the subject noticing it was a difficult subject for him to talk about. I know I had trouble talking about that stuff too.

"I didn't mind. Beside you actually spent more time with those boys than all of us combined. You got them talking or listening…." He paused again and looked at me. "What did you read to them?" Wait how did he know I read to them? He was not in the room with us.

"The moon princess fairy tale. It was my favorite as a child. I don't remember a lot my parents did with me as a child or my childhood for that matter because they died when I was so young, so I carry it with me sometimes and read it when I am here with the smaller kids."

"Moon Princess Story?"

"You have never heard of it? The fairy tale they created because of some of the NASA astronauts believed there was a palace in ruins on the moon"

"Ahh I have heard the NASA theory but not heard of the story. I was away at school most of my life. Never really delved into the fairy tales when I was young. I guess it was a girl thing."

"I will have to leave it for you one day. But all things aside they seem like good kids. It is awful what happened to them. I am sure it will catch up to them. They seem like they are still in shock. It also doesn't help that they don't remember anything."

"Did they say anything else?"

"No not really. They said their names and that they remembered being in a car and then waking up in the hospital. I think they will open up with time but when people are in and out of their room with equipment and they don't know what is going on it doesn't help."

"I suppose your right." He paused. "Have you ever thought of being a therapist?"

"No I just know how kids think. I went to school to be a teacher. I sometimes think like a kid to gain a better perspective" I did sometimes do that. But I watched his face as he thought about what I had said and decided that it made sense. I hoped it made sense or I would feel like an idiot who has no idea what she was talking about.

"Well Serena here we are. I'll get them to do the x-ray now so you can head home and not have to wait hours."

"Thanks."

He talked to the specialist inside the office and I was taken in right away. A quick x-ray later it was up on the light board and he was looking at them.

"Well Serena I can't see anything wrong. I don't quite know what to make of the pain you are having. All I can say is monitor it and if you have any heart problems or feel like you are come in right away."

"Thank you. I wish all my doctor visits were like this. Quick and painless." Not that I didn't want to spend more time with you right now. I smiled letting him know I was truly thankful.

"Are you headed to your car?" He asked looking at me with his dark eyes.

"Yes I have some sleep to catch up on again it seems." I let out a small laugh at myself.

"Well at least let me escort you to your car to make sure you are safe. It is the least I can do since it is the middle of the night."

"Thank you."

We headed out of x-ray and to his office to switch coats. He had his satchel which he put over his shoulder and his coat over his arm. Before he did I caught a glimpse of a tattoo on his arm of a rose and moon intertwined. It was quite beautiful. The rose was similar to my own which I just realized that he may have seen when he was listening to my back. I flushed again at the thought. He came out and looked at me.

"Serena are you okay? You're flushed again."

"Yes I am fine. Promise."

He felt my forehead and the side of my face. The touch he had for me was soft and I noticed he was lingering a little longer than he should have. When he realized I was not warm he removed his hand and continued to lock up his office. From there we exited the building.

I walked with him through the covered parking lot and out into the open lot and spied my little car all on its own with no one around me. I smiled and pointed and we headed that way. I pulled my coat up around my neck a little more as I noticed it was getting colder and starting to snow again. "This is me." I said stopping at my car. "I hope it was not out of your way Dr. Michaels."

"We are not that far from my car. It is just over there." He pointed as I turned to follow his finger. "We are not in the hospital any more so Darien will do."

"Okay. Thank you again for the coffee Darien and this evening." First name basis. I could do this. I am not a klutz. I am not a klutz tonight. Don't be a klutz Serena.

"It was my pleasure. Feel better. Please let me know if you go see the boys again. I would like your opinion on what you have seen with them."

"Sure." I got in the seat of my car with out having a klutz attack thank goodness and turned the key as he held the door. When the engine wouldn't start I turned it again. "It must be cold it will start in a minute." I waited a minute before I tried again and it wouldn't even turn over.

"Pop the hood Serena." What?

"You sure? I can just call the mechanic to come get it tomorrow. I don't have school to teach. It's Saturday."

"Yes I am sure." I popped the hood and he expertly looked under the hood like he was a mechanic and not a doctor that had just looked at my chest x-rays. "Your alternator is gone I think."

"How do you know?" Yes how do you know that? I don't even know those things. Given I am a girl that had no interest in looking under the hood of a car.

"I have a friend who is a mechanic. I picked up a few things while he was in school."

"Just like me and Dr. Alexander huh."

"Yes I guess." He paused and helped me back out of the car. "I can text him to come and help you if you like. I am sure he is still up."

"Thanks I appreciate it. But I think I had better call a cab if I am going to get home. It is starting to get colder out here and it is starting to snow again." The snowflake conveniently landed on my nose proving my point.

"Put your phone away I will take you home." He said looking at me. His normally dark eyes had lightened some as he smiled.

"You have done so much already for me today I couldn't."

"I'm not taking no for an answer." Okay I think my heart just skipped a beat. I think my insides were doing a dance. I tried not to show it but I was not sure how well that was working.

"Okay I accept then." I smiled and followed him to his beautiful silver sleek car. "Thank you. Next time I am going to buy breakfast and not just coffee for both of us."

"Coffee is fine. I don't usually do breakfast. But on occasion I do. I am more of a night hawk. When you saw me this morning I was heading to a meeting then off to bed."

"Coffee it is then. That must have been a long day for you."

"It is but I wouldn't have it any other way. I like to be busy. Keeps me out of trouble. Here we are." I heard the locks pop as he came around to my side that I would be getting in. He opened my door for me and I eased down into the seat. I put my purse in my lap and waited for him to get in. He started the car with a push of a button and turned the heat on to start warming us up. "So how long have you known Dr. Alexander?" He asked as he pulled out of the parking space.

"Since we were small. She, Mina and I went to school together. Only she went away to school and Mina and I stayed in town to go to the local college. She always wanted to be a doctor. Not a lot of people know that we were friends from long ago."

"How long have you been teaching for?"

"Just over a year. I just started at this current school a few days ago. I wanted something in town and close by. I didn't like traveling in traffic so much. "

"Always wanted to teach kindergarten?"

"Not always but the first year I taught high school and I felt like I wasn't teaching them anything they didn't already know. So I switched the year after."

"Sounds like you have things set."

"In a way I guess. I look after myself. I like you tend to be a night hawk. I work on little sleep. I like moon. I seem to be at my best at night. But now that I am teaching full time Kindergarten I may have to change my ways." He glanced at me quickly before setting his eyes back on the road.

"So where am I headed to?" He asked stopping at a red light.

"Luna Street. There is only one apartment building on it. That is me." I paused and looked out the window to see where we were to direct him. "Next stop light turn right please."

"Is there someone expecting you to come home?" He asked turning to look at me. He was watching my face. He looked like he wanted to know if I had a boyfriend.

"Why Darien are you trying to ask if there is a boy in my apartment?" He blushed and turned his head back to the road. I myself blushed at the quip I had just made. What was coming over me?

"Sorry I didn't mean to pry."

"No it's okay. I don't have anyone but my 4 main walls to greet me home and my TV. I don't even have a cat. That is what I get for taking over the whole top floor. I am not one to date much. I don't go out a lot."

He stopped outside of the building as I went to get out of the car. He got out before I did and opened the door and helped me out. He was quite the gentleman. I was impressed. My last boyfriend was awful at that.

"Thank you for the ride home. I can see myself up. I am as I said the only one on the third floor."

"I am glad I was there to help you out tonight. I will text my friend to look at your car if that is okay."

"Sure that would be great. Thank you for everything Darien."

"Have a good night Serena."

"You too. Don't stay up too late!" I smiled and left him beside his car. He was leaning on the side of the car with his legs crossed as I glanced backwards. I almost didn't want to go inside and leave him there. He waited and watched that I got inside safely and remained till I reached one of my windows inside to wave. He waved back and I watched him stand up and get in the drivers seat and speed off down the street only to turn around. He waved again as he went by and disappeared into the night. I pulled the curtain closed and lay my back on the wall. He was so nice and very much a gentleman. Conversation with him was easy compared to other people. He certainly seemed to be a jack of all trades.