A/N - this is a long one! Swearing in this chapter. Writing today hopefully have another chapter or two today.

Enjoy!

~Munchkin1978

Chapter 21 – Part 2 – Him

Emergency Room

In the car I was almost home before I got another call. Emergency Surgery flashed across my phone as I answered it through the Bluetooth. Hanging up I turned around and headed back to hospital. I had a meeting to go to across town at 9am. So I hoped it didn't overlap. I had told my father I would be there for the board meeting.

I jumped out of my car and ran inside to get scrubbed in. Thankfully they made it sound worse than it actually was on the phone. I went through the process of checking the chart and the vitals even though the nurses had done it already. I needed to be sure before I did any kind of surgery. Any good doctor checked their patient's vitals before they proceeded. The nurses all were waiting on bated breath for what I needed next and it was getting to the point that something needed to change. I needed top notch nurses to behave like nurses not love sick puppies that wanted me. My mood turned dark at the thought and I finished the surgery with little talk them. I would point and they would bring me the tools I needed.

I was supposed to be off today but seemed to be doing more work than I was supposed to be. I found out all the other doctors were already in surgery and I was the closest one available and I was fine with that.

I removed my surgery scrubs and cleaned up it was just past 8am so I headed out of the hospital and went to get coffee. I needed coffee if I was going to sit through the meeting this morning.

The closest coffee shop was 5 minute drive away and I jumped in my car and sped off towards it. Exiting I realized I should have left a note for Dr. Alexander to ask Serena to stop in after her day today. If I remember right she said she was a Kindergarten teacher. The shock she and I had yesterday tingled in my fingers as I remembered. I had that earlier and shook it off then as well. There was something about her I was drawn to. I wasn't one to date or take girls out because of how I am portrayed in the press. A top bachelor waiting for the right Mrs. Michaels to come along. I would shower them in money and fame and then marry them.

I stood in line and looked at my phone as I got caught up with what would be discussed at the board meeting. My father's secretary the only female it seemed who didn't stare after me was kind enough to send me everything in advance. I felt the same draw I had yesterday and not ignoring it today I finally looked up and realized who I was standing behind. Serena. I felt that pull I had when I first met her yesterday return more strongly and I couldn't push it away. She was searching for something in her bag and when she ordered and was about to pay when I finally spoke up.

"I'll get it for you."

I watched her blonde locks sway as her head turned around. For just a split moment I saw them as red and knew I had been seeing things. Her large blue eyes were looking at me. I think she was questioning what I was doing. I felt my finger tips tingle again as I clinched my fist in my gloved hand as I held my wallet in my pocket.

"You don't have to do that." She said objecting to my offer of paying for her coffee. I wanted to reach out to touch her but that I think would have scared her. It was a good thing I had a coat on I could feel my lower extremity start to throb. Just being close to her was doing this to me and I had not even said 10 words to her yet.

"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." She picked up her coffee as I paid for hers. "Thank you for the coffee." I quickly ordered mine and paid for it as well.

"Are you headed to the hospital?" I asked as I picked up my coffee from the barista girl.

"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." She looked like she wanted to stay to talk but her work came first much like mine did.

"I don't want to keep you. Could we talk later about them if you have time?" I would love to see you after the meeting but I knew that would not happen. Her eyes were watching my movements as I was watching her. I was radiating with a sudden urge to protect her and see her off safely.

"Yes of course." I would get to see her later. I just wouldn't see her right away. I could wait that long. I had no idea what was coming over me I never acted like this. I never went through being girl crazy. I was too focused on what I wanted to do with my life.

I watched her get into her car and drive off towards where the school was in the area. I got in my own car and just sat in the driver's seat. My phone buzzing bringing me from my thoughts of her and the apparent slight bulge in my pants. It was reminding me I had a board meeting to get to. Pushing everything aside I drove across town with little interruption outside of traffic and the occasional thought of Serena.

By time I arrived it was a few minutes past 9 and the meeting had just started. The bulge in my pants ceased as I had work to do. But that didn't mean anything at this point.

"Sorry I'm late everyone. Emergency Surgery early this morning. What have I missed?"

"Not much Dr. Michaels. Just the good mornings. Please have a seat."

I sat on the board of directors of my father's company. I was the youngest and had earned my right to speak up for the clients and patients of his company. I was the only doctor on the board and my father almost gloated every time something got shot down by me. I was helping better his company with my knowledge of how medicine works and doesn't work.

I sat back and listened as the board members hashed out the same thing they had been trying to resolve for weeks. The blood analysis clinic that I ran was safe at the moment from the agenda as it was further down. So I picked up my pen and was fiddling with it. My mind wandering to her. Her long blonde locks tied up in the two buns on the side of her head. Those beautiful big blue eyes that seem to take you in when you looked at her. Her beautiful smile that reached her eyes every single time. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of her smiling at me.

She had silver hair like the Queen and King. I was not much older than her yet she sat by herself outside. I walked up to her and handed her the rose.

"Dr. Michaels…"

"Yes sorry." Fuck I was day dreaming. Not a good thing when you are supposed to be paying attention.

"What about the blood disorders your team is working on?"

"Well we are still testing the new batch that had come in." According to father's secretary that was what was told to her. I would have to thank her after we were done here for sending me the info on the lab. I had not got to update myself like I wanted to. "We are close to being able to create a medicine that will combat certain blood illnesses from failing to sustain patients in life."

"How close?"

"Close. You can not put your finger on lab work Mr. Henry." I glared at him.

"If we move the division to Europe would that speed up the process?"

"No, the blood illness division will not be moving. It stays here where I can over see it." They were trying to move it again. They had tried it once before when we had no break through. Now that we had inched closer to a break though they want to move it again.

"Do you think it best since the hospital has taken your time?"

"I have had no issues in the past. Nor will they become one in the future. I control the unit. I will say where it will need to go should the need arise."

No one spoke after me. They got the point. My mood had gone dark and they could tell the subject was closed. My father spoke up on a few other items of interest and the meeting concluded.

No one bothered me as I rose from the table. The others were talking and I excused myself to my father. I needed some sleep. I could tell by my mood. I put my coat on and left without a back ward glance. I would thank Robin for the information later.

I showered when I got home and set my alarm for 3pm. That should be enough sleep to get me out of my mood. I placed my phone on the night stand and just laid there for a moment as the memories of her drifted in and out of my head. I had only met her yesterday but I felt like I had known her forever. Her eyes and her smile. I was drawn to her eyes. I had drifted off to sleep just thinking of her smile that reached her eyes.

She sat on the bed and fidgeted with her hair. Her beautiful silver hair that I had been seeing in my dreams and those big beautiful eyes. She was glowing as the moonlight shone through the window. She reached her head up and basked in the light. She seemed to get stronger as the moon rose in the dark sky. She went from glowing to glittering in a matter of moments. I was in awe of her. The one I had dreamed of for so long was by my side. I sat with her as she looked at me. She closed her eyes and smiled "Is this what you remember? This is what I remember."

I took her face in my hands being as gentle as I could. I looked in her eyes and kissed her again. It was just as I remember. Her sitting on that bench watching me. "Serenity…."

"Endymion."

Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep

I groaned and turned over to turn off the alarm. I lay back thinking of what I had just dreamed. I didn't dream often but something about Serena and this dream clicked. It felt like her. Like it was her in this dream. But somehow it was different. I rose from the bed and opened the floor length curtains as the bulge in my sleep pants was more than evident now than it had been earlier. It was snowing again and I could feel the cold even though the door was closed. The tingle in my arm shot through my tattoo and into my finger tips as I closed my hand to flex it back open.

I showered again and released everything I had pent up thinking of her. Yet all I could think of again was her smile that reached her eyes. What was coming over me? I was not a love sick teenager. I turned the water cold to bring me from my daydream so I wouldn't go hard again. I was an adult that had passed that stage in life.

Arriving at the hospital an hour later I had hoped she would be waiting to talk about the kids but she was not here. Dr. Alexander however was.

"No Dr. Michaels I have not seen her yet. I will text her though. She usually comes in on Friday's afternoons to spend time with the kids."

"I saw her this morning before she went to her Kindergarten class. She was running late. She did say she would be in. If you do see her could you send her down to my office. I will be there or in the ER."

"Okay."

She had rounds to do so I left her. I popped my head in to look at the boys and they were napping so I left them.

Coming out from another surgery for a broken leg was much easier than the one this morning. I got out of my scrubs and cleaned up in the shower and re dressed. I had decided that motor cycles were not a way to go in the winter. They were very dangerous especially on ice.

Coming back to see a new stack of charts for patient visits helped the night go faster. I had one more minor foot surgery for a toe and then the last patient chart for my shift was sitting at the nurse's station.

"This the last one Rachel?" I asked

"Yes. She is in room 2." She said dreamily at me. She was trying to keep my eye contact and it was not working.

"I can get the patient if you want Dr. Michaels." I turned and saw the other ER doctor on call tonight standing there.

"No that is okay. This will be my last patient for the night Dr. Adams."

"Okay. Have a good night. Thankfully it was a slow night."

"You too." I watched him leave and head off to the other nurses station. Rachel handed me the chart and pointed to room 2.

I opened the chart and looked at the vitals and what was going on. I had skimmed past the name but I didn't need to know who it was because when I looked up as I entered the door way she was sitting right there. She was reading a book sitting on the hospital bed in her tank top and yoga pants. I looked down at the chart again to hide my thoughts that were running rampant in my head. I pushed the immediate feeling I had for her aside as I kept looking at the chart and spoke out loud trying not to startle her. "Sorry about the wait. What brings you in tonight?" I looked up from the chart at that moment as she looked up from her book and I starred right at her.

"Hi." She let out a squeak. I don't think she was expecting me to be her doctor for the night.

"Serena is there something the matter?" I asked. She didn't look sick. But her chart said she was having chest pains.

"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." That is why she didn't come in earlier.

"Well let's get you checked out."

She was in a tank top so thankfully I didn't have to ask her to remove clothing. I think I would have lost it entirely if I had. I had to control myself. I was a doctor first. I had her breath deep and cough so I could hear what was going on in her chest. I turned her slightly and listened to her back. I lifted her tank top in the back and had her cough again as I listened. It was then I saw it. I single rose in bloom in the small of her back. Such a simple tattoo yet it matched my own on my arm.

She had silver hair like the Queen and King. I was not much older than her yet she sat by herself outside. I walked up to her and handed her the rose.

"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." I paused writing down X-Ray in her chart. "Is this why you didn't come this afternoon?" I asked. I got the impression that Dr. Alexander didn't think this was normal for her.

"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." I smiled she knew some things. "You are my last patient tonight I will go down to x-ray with you."

"I'm not getting special treatment am I?" She had her face hidden trying to put her sweater over top of her tank top. Just looking at her like that made me think of her smile. I had a feeling she didn't mean to say it out loud.

"No Serena I just happened to be going that way to my office." Which was true. It is on the way to my office I would just like to walk with her some more. Also kind of hide the bulge forming under my doctor's smock being this close to her. I was loosing my control over it.

"Oh. Sorry." She was flushed when her head came out of the sweater hole. I had a feeling and I was right.

"It's okay." I smiled at her to ease her thoughts.

I left her standing there at the door way with her things and went to quickly talk to Rachel at the nurse's station.

"I am taking her down to X-Ray it is on the way to my office so I will drop her off. You can mark her off the patient list as complete. I will release her from X-Ray."

She nodded at me and just starred after me. Just like the others I thought to myself. It will never change.

"Do you have that effect on all the nurses here?" She asked but quickly covered her mouth. She had noticed. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that. I am prying." Her cheeks again were pink as she blushed.

"No it is okay. Really you are not the first person to notice it." I paused. All of them do that. "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." Only you would take me from that I mused to myself.

"Thank you again this morning. You really didn't need to do that for me." She was changing the subject which I was thankful I didn't have to do.

"I didn't mind. Beside you actually spent more time with those boys than all of us combined. You got them talking or listening…." I paused to look at her a moment before we started to walk. "What did you read to them?"

"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." She knew a lot more than she let on, I was impressed. She knew how the hospital worked. "Have you ever thought of being a therapist?" I asked.

"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 looked at her. Her face told me that she was trying to make sense of how her thoughts and actions made sense to her. I looked at the hallway where we were and realized it was a short walk to X-Ray. I wanted to talk to her a little more but I did bring her down here for her X-Ray.

"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."

I went into to see the specialist on call that night. I asked for an emergency X-Ray and they had an open spot now. I noticed how she came in right away. I waited till she was done and they printed it right away. When they handed it to me I pulled them out and put them up on the light board. I looked at them and didn't see any blockage anywhere. Everything looked normal.

"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." She smiled and her eyes lit up like I was so used to seeing.

"Are you headed to your car?"

"Yes I have some sleep to catch up on again it seems." She let out a little giggle that I am sure was meant for herself.

"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."

I took her from the X-Ray office and we headed to my own office. I entered and switched out my coat. I let my sleeves down and buttoned them back up before putting my satchel over my shoulder. I returned to the door way and looked at her. She was flushed again. Her eyes were big and starring at me. I wondered if she had the same feelings as I did. I didn't have the heart to ask her. Just being this close to her I was testing my limits. I was still so drawn to her. I couldn't have been the only one that had noticed a spark happen between us. "Serena are you okay? You're flushed again."

"Yes I am fine. Promise."

I felt her head. She was not feverish. I felt the side of her face and I realized that my hand fit perfectly against hers. It was like she was made to be there. I held her gaze for a moment before letting my hand drop and I turned to hide the feelings I was sure was showing now on my face. I locked up my office and put my coat over my arm hiding the now forming again bulge in my pants and looked straight ahead towards the exit we needed to take. Had she noticed that I had lingered a little longer than I should have? I walked with her through the covered parking lot. I let her dictate where we were going since she knew where her car was. We continued through to the open lot as I put my coat on hoping she had not seen my current situation. It was definitely colder and it was starting to snow again.

"This is me." She said stopping at her car. It was a small little car. The same one she had been driving earlier. Not everyone had two cars like I had. "I hope it was not out of your way Dr. Michaels."

"We are not that far from my car. It is just over there." I pointed to just under the covered parking lot. We had actually passed my car on the way to hers. "We are not in the hospital any more so Darien will do." I smiled at her.

"Okay. Thank you again for the coffee Darien and this evening."

"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." I just want to see you again. Is it too much to ask if you could see them tomorrow? God I would feel like an idiot if I asked her to do that. As a Dr. maybe? What was coming over me? I watched her as she responded.

"Sure." She got in her car and turned the key. It didn't start right away. I stood peering into her car as she fiddled with the key. "It must be cold it will start in a minute."

"Pop the hood Serena." I knew enough of what was in the engine to tell what may not be working. Jacob was a mechanic and he and I had been friends for years. I picked up a few things from the parts he had lying around his garage.

"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 looked under the hood and I couldn't tell with it being dark and cold what was actually failing. I knew from experience that when it didn't start it was the alternator. So I poked at it and realized it was loose. "Your alternator is gone I think."

"How do you know?" I wasn't entirely sure but like her and Dr. Alexander I had friends too.

"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." It was like she was reading my mind. I stood in awe of her for a moment before speaking. I gave her my hand and helped her back out of the car.

"Yes I guess. 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."

"Put your phone away I will take you home." Please don't say no. I have this urge to keep you safe from everything and you are not feeling well. I smiled at her hoping she was going to say yes.

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

"I'm not taking no for an answer." Fuck, please don't say no. I will feel like an idiot for asking. Why does this feel like high school all over again? Fuck get yourself under control Darien.

"Okay I accept then." She smiled and walked with me to the car. She kept pulling up her coat around her neck. It was cold and the temperature was dropping. "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 popped the locks and almost ran to get her door for her. I felt awkward. I brushed her hand and again I felt the tingling in my arm and the throb in my pants. I came back around and entered the car and started it immediately. The colder it was getting we would need the heat that much faster. There was also a silence forming between us and I didn't want that. I wanted to know more about her with out looking like I was trying too hard. I flexed my hand before putting it on the steering wheel and pulling out of the spot I was parked in. "So how long have you known Dr. Alexander?"

"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 the 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." I glanced at her quickly. She hadn't realized all the questions I had for her was my way of learning about her. She liked the moon, like me. The moon princess fairy tale, she knew about the NASA astronauts and she seemed to be more awake at night.

"So where am I headed to?" I cast another quick glance at her as she was looking out the window. She wasn't scared to be in the car with me. She had almost a wide eyed look. Like she wanted to be here. She was pretty. Her hair almost seemed to glow in the moonlight coming from the window. I smiled a little thanking God that I was here tonight and not anyone else.

"Luna Street. There is only one apartment building on it. That is me. Next stop light turn right please."

"Is there someone expecting you to come home?" It was out of my mouth before I could stop it. Darien you idiot you just lost the whole conversation. She will back off for sure now.

"Why Darien are you trying to ask if there is a boy in my apartment?" I blushed at her comment. I didn't know what to think. I had lost my resolve it seemed.

"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." Really you are beautiful I am surprised. I will be first in line then.

I turned down her road as she directed and stopped in front of her building. I got out of the car trying to hide the very apparent bulge in my pants now and poured on the charm. I could tell from the way she looked that she was impressed. I wanted to give her the world the way I was drawn to her. I just wanted to be close to her.

"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 watched her go. I sat on the edge of my car as the engine ran inside. She was not running inside like I thought she would because of the cold but she almost lingered not wanting to go in. She turned and caught me watching her. It was like she was suspended in time for just a moment. Her blonde hair had started to glow and her blue eyes looked almost silver. She looked almost like the girl in my day dream but much older. I smiled and waited till she was safely inside. She surprised me by coming to the window and waving at me that she was inside. I waved back and removed myself from the side of the car the throb in my pants need to be taken care of soon.

My body groaned at the cold but I was also male. Just thinking of her made me want her that much more. I slipped into the seat and sped off down the road. I turned around and looked to see she was still in the window and waved goodnight. I was probably going faster than I should have been but it seemed that every time I thought of her I was comparing her to my memory of the girl and the rose and having a sudden urge to protect her along with a few other things.

Stopping again at the lights at the end of her street made me almost turn around. As I pulled forward at the green light her smile flashed in my head again as the moonlight hit the hood of the car. I skidded to a stop as it was so blindingly strong I couldn't see for a moment. I pulled the visor down as a reaction and saw that no one else was on the road thankfully. I shook it off and continued on my way to home. I had some business to take care of.