You guys are so awesome, as always! I'm so glad you are all intrigued by this story. I really hope you continue to enjoy it :)

"So you're mother has literally been lying to you for the last 25 years. And you remember nothing of your time in Alabama?"

"Yeah, after it took me a week to get her to finally tell me everything. I don't remember a whole lot but ever since I talked to Wade, little bits have been coming back. I'm remembering a lot in like dreams. So who knows if it's even real memories?" Zoe filled in her friend and coworker Grace.

"I bet they are. What kind of stuff is it?"

"Just like, I see the town, some people, Wade and my Dad are the only ones I recognize."

"This Wade guy sounds intriguing. Is he hot?"

Zoe smiled. "I don't know. He's attractive I guess."

"You guess?"

"I'm not really in the position to be judging other guys."

"Oh you're engaged not dead. Julian won't mind you calling another guy good looking."

Zoe bit her lip. "You'd be surprised."

"Dr. Hart we need you in 6." Another doctor came in

"Ok, I'll be there." She pushed off the wall she was leaning on and smiled at Grace. "Catch up later?"

"Yep." Grace smiled back

Zoe walked down the hall and pulled open the curtain. She looked at the young women in the bed, she guessed around 25 to 30 years old. Her face was covered in bruises and she had marks on her arms.

"Hi I'm Dr. Hart, but you can call me Zoe." She smiled at her as she picked up her chart off the bed.

"Paige." The girl whispered

"What happened Paige?"" she asked "Were you in an accident?"

Paige shook her head no and looked away from Zoe.

"Did someone do this to you?"

Paige looked up at her. "It was my fault, I shouldn't have done it, I knew it was a mistake."

"What was your fault?"

"I should know better than to ask him to do something after he's had a few beers."

Zoe bit her lip and nodded. She moved to examine Paige but she flinched. "I'm sorry. But I have to examine you, make sure nothing is broken."

"No, it's ok. Go ahead." Paige gave her a small smile.

Zoe checked out her face and arms and moved to the rest of her body. She had plenty of what looked to be old scrapes and bruises on her chest and stomach. Zoe sighed as she finished up. "Nothing seems broken but I do want to X-ray your face, it's pretty swollen."

"Alright, no problem."

"Are you married?" Zoe asked cautiously.

"It will be a year next month."

She nodded. "You know there are groups, programs that you can go to. You don't have to stay with him." She put her hand on Paige's arm.

"I've heard it all before Dr. Hart. I can't leave, I'm in to deep."

"You can always leave Paige. Don't let him run your life."

"Dr. Hart, do you need any assistance in here? A nurse popped her head in."

Zoe's head snapped back. "Oh um yes. She needs an X-ray."

"Alright. I can take her down."

"Thank you." She said and once the nurse went to get a wheelchair she turned back to Paige. "Remember what I said."

"I will but it's very hard."

"Zoe we need you. Incoming GSW." Another doctor poked his head in

"I'm coming Blane." She said quickly and turned to Paige. "Good luck."

"Thank you Dr. Hart." Paige said and Zoe left the room.

She ran towards the entrance to the ER just as the EMTs were rushing in.

"How many?" she asked one of the new residents.

"I think they said 3." He replied

She looked over at him and smiled. "You look a little pale." She said. "First day?"

"How'd you know?" he asked

"I know the look. Just don't pass out." She giggled as the patients got closer. They got to work as soon as possible. She looked over at the new resident. "What's your name?" she asked him

"Kent." He said

"Alright Kent, hand me the scalpel and then I need you on my right." She told him

She started to cut around the wound, just enough to pry the bullet out of his stomach. She was yelling out directions to Kent and as she pulled the bullet out she looked up at him. He was paler than before and his eyes started to cross.

"Kent, don't pass out." She told him. "Holly, take over." She told an assisting doctor. "Kent, are you ok?" she pulled him out of the OR.

"Um, I don't." he paused and then Zoe was covered in puke. "I'm so sorry." He said immediately.

Zoe looked down at herself and sighed. "It's fine, my shift is over anyway." She looked up at the clock. "20 minutes ago as a matter of fact. Oh shit, I have to go." She poked her head in the OR and looked at Holly. "You good here?"

"Yeah, are you ok?" she asked

"Yeah, I just have to go." She ran out of the room and down to the lounge. She tried to shower as quickly as she could but the puke was making it a little more difficult. She was getting dressed when Grace walked into the locker room.

"Oh my gosh, Zoe. Are you ok?" she asked terrified

Zoe looked at her friend and then where she was looking. She swallowed hard seeing the giant yellowed bruise on her side. "It's nothing, I tripped and fell into the dresser the other day."

"Zoe, that looks so bad." She took a step towards her.

Zoe backed up and pulled her tank top down. "It looks worse than it is."

She turned to her left and Grace gasped again. "Zoe." She pointed to her shoulder blade. "Is that from the dresser too?" she asked

Zoe looked in the mirror and saw a scrape and bruise on her shoulder. "Yeah. I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow night." She put her jacket on and ran out of the locker room not waiting for a response.

As soon as she got out of the hospital she hailed a cab and told him her address. She checked her phone once she got in the cab and took a breath. Three missed calls and ten text messages, she closed her eyes and laid her head back on the seat. Her phone started vibrating and she looked at the screen. She bit her lip and accepted the call.

"Hi, we had a GSW and then I got puked on. I'm in the cab now." She said quickly not giving the other person a chance to even say hello.

"Well you're late. I told you we had a business dinner in an hour." Julian said on the other end.

"I know, I'm sorry. I'll be home in ten and dressed in fifteen. Are you already ready to go?"

"Of course I am, I got out of work on time." He spat

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry. I promise we will get there on time."

"We better." He said and hung up the phone.

As soon as the cab pulled up to the apartment building Zoe threw money at the driver and bolted out of the cab. She looked at the elevator and shook her head. She took off towards the stairs and ran up to the seventh floor. She ran to her door and quickly unlocked it.

"It's about time." Julian said as she came in.

"Give me 15 minutes or less and I'm ready." She threw her bags down on the couch and ran into the bedroom. She heard a grunt from behind her and took a breath. She closed the door and locked it. She shed her jacket, tank top and jeans and put on the dress that was hanging on the closet door. She quickly put it on and looked at herself. The dress went to right below her knees and had cap sleeves, covering her shoulder blades. She put her hair up and applied a small amount of make-up before slipping on her shoes and grabbing her sweater. She quickly left the room.

"I'm ready." She gave Julian a small smile

He walked closer to her and she inhaled. He brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear and she squinted. "Beautiful." He whispered

She let out that breath and smiled a little. "Thank you. You look very handsome."

He smiled at her. "Shall we go?" he asked

"Yes."

She picked up her purse and they left the apartment. As they were in the elevator he looked over at her.

"You owe me tonight." He told her.

Zoe nodded. "I'm sorry, I got puked on. I had to shower before leaving and I can't just walk out on an emergency."

He shrugged. "I don't care. We'll discuss it when we get home." He said as the elevator door opened. He put his hand on the small of her back which made her shiver and they walked out.

"Have a nice night you two." the doorman tipped his hat to the couple.

"Thank you Frank, you too." Zoe smiled at him sweetly.

A couple hours later they were walking back in the building.

"Did you have fun?" he asked her as they stepped onto the elevator.

"I did, it was a very nice night out. I enjoy these." She smiled up at him

"Me too." He guided her off the elevator and they walked to their door.

They walked in and Zoe kicked off her shoes. "I didn't realize how late it was." She looked at clock on the wall.

"It's not that late." He stalked towards her and cupped her face with his hand. "You looked really beautiful tonight." He said before kissing her intently and walking her backwards towards the couch.

Zoe broke the kiss a few seconds later and put her hands on his chest. "Tonight?" she asked

"Yes." He said sternly. She looked down and bit her lip. He put his finger under her chin and lifted it so she was looking at him. "You owe me for being late."

"But we made it to dinner on time so technically we weren't late." She said with a smile

Julian stepped back and looked at her, he smirked and then hit her across the face. She fell to the couch and covered her cheek as she felt a drop of blood fall on her arm. She sucked in her bottom lip and felt the blood on her tongue.

"I hope that comment was worth it." he said and turned on his heal, walking into the bedroom.

A few days later Zoe was getting lunch with her mother. She was sitting in the booth when she heard the door open and her mother's voice. She rolled her eyes and winced when she did it.

"Zoe sweetheart, I'm so glad you finally called." She said as she walked up to the booth. "I was beginning to think I was never going to hear from you after I told you about your brief visit in Bluebell."

"I lived there for 2 years. It wasn't a visit." She said

"Well it's in the past." She finally sat down. "Oh dear, what happened to your lip?" she asked looking at her swollen and cut bottom lip.

Zoe touched it slightly. "Oh crazy patient last night, nothing serious." She smiled

"Well I hope they were arrested."

"It was taken care of. So how's work?"

"Oh it's fine." She started going on about some client and Zoe zoned out. "Zoe are you even listening to me?" she asked

"Huh, no I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"I asked how Julian is. I don't know how he deals with you always spacing out like that. You definitely don't get that from me." She shook her head.

"Maybe it's my southern roots." She said.

"You are a New Yorker through and through, there is no southern about you."

"I wish that was my choice." She mumbled

"Oh Zoe enough, it's not like you missed anything in that backwoods town. You had a perfect childhood with everything you could have ever asked for right here in the city."

"Perfect in your eyes but not mine. I feel like there is an entire part of me that is missing."

"Believe me, there was nothing to miss. Now how is Julian? How are the wedding plans coming?"

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "He's fine and we haven't started yet." She told her.

"You have been engaged for three months now. What is the hold up? I am going to Europe in two weeks and you won't be able to really reach me. You better not start then. I won't be back for a month."

"We're busy and I'm in no rush. And don't worry we won't plan while you're away." She shrugged

Candice shook her head. "Like I said, I don't know how he deals with you."

"Thanks Mom, you're so kind." She huffed

"Oh stop it. You're so ridiculous sometimes."

Zoe bit her tongue, not continuing the argument. She changed the subject to the latest gossip in their circle of friends and Candice talked for the entire rest of lunch.

Another couple weeks went by and Zoe was getting ready to leave the hospital after her shift.

"So you and Julian going anywhere with your vacation time?" Grace asked

"No, he couldn't get off so I'm just going to relax." She said

"Well that's nice too."

"Yes, I need a week off to just do nothing." She laughed

"I can imagine. Well enjoy your week, I will miss you." She pulled her into a hug.

"I'll miss you too." Zoe hugged her back but winced a little.

"Are you ok?" Grace asked

"Yeah, I just pulled something I think." She lied

"You pulled something? Where? Show me." She demanded

"It's nothing, just a pulled muscle. Nothing an ice pack and week off won't cure."

Grace eyed her suspiciously but didn't press the issue. "Alright, you enjoy your week."

"Bye Grace."

Once she got home she was surprised to see Julian there.

"What are you doing home?" she asked

He looked at her and took a swig of his beer. "It's my home, I can't be here?"

"I didn't say that." She said quickly. "It's just two o' clock in the afternoon, I'm surprised you're here. Happily surprised." She smiled at him

"Oh, well I own the business, I decided I didn't have to go in today."

"Lucky you." She smiled again and sat down next to him.

"Why are you home?" he asked

"My shift ended and now I'm on vacation." She said

"Vacation? How long?" he asked

"A week."

"A week!" he yelled. "Are you getting paid for this week?"

"Of course I am." She said quietly.

"You didn't tell me about this."

"I did, a few times and it's on the calendar on the fridge."

"Oh is it?" he asked. "Well, I guess it's lucky you then. Do you plan on cleaning up this apartment?" Zoe nodded. "What?" he asked her

"Yes, that is number one on my list." She said

"Oh good, although I'm sure you're lying."

"I am not." She said defensively

He jumped up from the couch and hovered over her. "Are you arguing with me?" he asked

"No, no of course not." She said shuddering

His phone started to buzz and he growled he picked it up from the table. "Hello?" he said angrily. "Yeah, sure, I'll be right there." He threw his phone on the couch and walked into the bedroom. He came back out a few minutes later in a suit. Picked up his briefcase and keys and walked towards her. She flinched as his hand came swinging towards her but didn't feel a thing. He grabbed his phone and looked at her. "This isn't over. I'll be home later." He said and left the apartment.

Zoe let out a loud sigh as tears began to pour down her cheeks. She wiped them away a minute later and ran into her room. She pulled her suitcase out of closet and started throwing her belongings in it. Two suitcases later she was grabbing her purse and she headed out the door.

Please let me know what you think. I love all the reviews and it really keeps me going and right now I'm a little stuck on a future chapter.