3. Breakfast and a Dance

Author's Note: Sorry this one took so long to take off. I'm still not 100% sure I like the idea of them. Let me know if you guys want to see more of Krysta and Ragosa and I'll keep writing them. If not then this will probably be the last time I write just about them. I probably won't get the next chapter(s) up for a few days, so keep reading and please give me constructive criticism. If there is anything you like, or don't like or want to see differently please tell me!

Krysta kissed Joey goodbye. This kiss didn't feel like the rest, it felt like an ending. They didn't say it was for the last time, but they both knew that it was. How could he expect her to wait for him? A month or two, sure, but three years, he had lost his damn mind. Krysta however couldn't escape the fact that she already missed him. She missed his thick mess of coal colored hair and the way he was so composed about everything. She wondered if he'd even miss her or think about her while he was in Cambodia or Nigeria or where ever the hell it was he said he was going. Krysta decided that she was livid at him, but livid sure felt a lot like heartbroken.

She needed to get Joey out of her head. She knew that the only way that would happen is if she talked to Jordan. She had wanted to check in on Jordan all day but her patients and Joey had kept her away. She decided to walk to the ICU just to see how she was doing and offer her condolences, and a shoulder to cry on if needed.

As she exited the elevator she could see clearly that this wasn't the right time. TC and Jordan were fast asleep, holding onto each other like they would shatter if either let go in the small hospital bed. TC's hand was still cupping her face and she had buried her head in the crook of his neck. Krysta cursed at whatever God she believed in.

"You know, it's really fucked how much you've put them through, whoever you are. Can't you just let them be happy?" She said under her breath as she backed up into the elevator.

"This couldn't of happened to better people, it's sad really."

Krysta turned around abruptly to see Ragosa standing behind her.

"Holy shit, when did you get in? I thought I was alone," Krysta sniped.

"I got on the elevator at about…" Ragosa thought for a second before finishing his sentence in his best Krysta impersonation, "It's really fucked."

Krysta rolled her eyes hard enough she was sure one of them was going to vacate her skull. She folded her arms and turned away from Michael. She watched as the elevator lights lit up indicating which floor they were on but by the time they reached the 2nd floor she was seething.

"I do not sound like that!" She shrieked.

"I'm sorry Krysta, I shouldn't pick on you. Everyone here has had a rough night with Jordan and the snipers…. it has just been a long night. How about I make it up to you? What would you say to pancakes? My treat."

Was Ragosa asking her out or trying to be nice? Her stomach grumbled and made the decision for her.

"Apparently you haven't eaten much," Ragosa voiced looking down at her stomach where he was sure a pit bull lived based on the growl that just escaped, " I haven't eaten much either and I'm starving, so lets go."

Ragosa couldn't help but notice how nice Krysta always looked, even in scrubs, she always looked pretty and fresh faced. Being a doctor suited her nicely.

"Sure," she answered nonchalantly. She brushed a hair off of her face and reached for her phone.

"Great, I just have to change and grab some stuff out of my locker. I'll see you in a second."

Krysta stood outside the locker room dumbfounded. She could run the opposite way and not go for food and then this wouldn't have to happen at all. She thought about leaving more than a few times, but her feet somehow stopped listening to her brain and she stood in place, checking her e-mail and reading her old messages from Joey.

"He's an ass… just an FYI," Ragosa said coming out of the locker room. Krysta couldn't help but notice how quickly he had changed out of his scrubs and into something a little more appropriate for breakfast.

"Are you reading over my shoulder? What the hell Ragosa how about some privacy?"

"Actually, nurse Ramos said you left Joey, I just deduced that you were looking at some memory of him on your phone."

"Oh, sorry. I'm just on edge, I shouldn't have snapped," she said as she walked out of the doors to San Antonio Memorial Hospital with Ragosa.

She noticed Drew and Rick kissing in their truck with the windows up.

"Get a room!" She yelled with a giggle, knowing they probably didn't hear her. She'd tease Drew later about his impromptu make-out session in the parking lot. The idea of teasing the both of them made a smile creep across her face.

"You know, I never would have thought Drew was gay. Having met Rick though…I can't picture Drew with anyone else," Ragosa chimed in.

"They are pretty great together."

"So where are you parked Krysta? I'm the black Jeep over here, you can follow me."

"Actually, I walk to work. I just live a few blocks that way," Krysta pointed down the street that led away from town.

"Then I'll drive you," Ragosa said with a childlike smile that Krysta hadn't seen before.

"Great," she responded sliding in the passenger seat.

Ragosa slithered into the driver's seat beside her and started the car. The SUV came to life along with the radio. Ragosa reached out to turn the radio down which happened to be playing "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver.

"Don't," Krysta said leaning her head against the seat, closing her eyes.

Ragosa returned his hand to the steering wheel and looked at her. She looked peaceful, and beautiful. He had never noticed how slight her ears were, or that she had chocolate lowlights in her hair.

"Shit," Ragosa muttered under his breath. He couldn't possibly like this girl, he scolded himself in silence knowing that he did like her. If he was being honest, her happiness seemed dependent on his. If she had a bad day, so did he. Shit, Ragosa was in love with this girl. She was 8 years his junior and he was seriously screwed and now he wished he hadn't asked her breakfast.

Krysta's eyes fluttered to life. "What?"

"I just need to run through the ATM, that's all," he responded hastily.

Ragosa stopped by the ATM, even though he had plenty of cash for breakfast in his wallet. He pulled out a $20.00 and continued on his way down the desolate city street. For a Saturday he would have expected more cars out, but with the sniper situation he wasn't surprised.

Krysta and Ragosa drove in complete silence apart from the Bon Iver in the background. Krysta would have never picked him to be one to listen to Bon Iver. The painfully beautiful melody was haunting and upbeat. The album was a mix of contradictions that seemed far to abstract for Ragosa. She had always pictured him as more of a classic rock kind of guy.

Moments later they pulled into a quaint little diner. This wasn't the normal place everyone else went. After work they all usually when to Paula's, the small diner near the hospital that was covered in a layer of baubles and knick-knacks. Why had he purposefully driven her 10 minutes away from Paula's?

"We're here," Ragosa chimed and he turned off the Jeep and unbuckled his belt.

Krysta exited the car and stood in front of the small, 50s style diner. The neon OPEN sign blinked and under other circumstances Krysta would have loved this place. She reluctantly walked in behind Michael and took a seat across from him in the booth.

"What can I get ya'll drink?" The waitress asked sweetly. Krysta examined the waitress who appeared to be interested in Ragosa the way she looked at him. Krysta couldn't explain why she felt a pang of jealousy.

"Coffee for me, decaf," Ragosa said absentmindedly.

"Same," Krysta mimicked.

Krysta stared at the menu, completely oblivious to Michael's talking. Finally he pushed the menu down and looked at her with concern in his eyes.

"Are you ok?"

"What?" Krysta shook off the haze, "I'm fine."

The waitress returned with their coffees and placed one in front of each of them.

"We'll each have a short stack," Ragosa said handing the menus back to the waitress.

Krysta looked at Ragosa. He didn't have to order for her. She was perfectly capable of making her own decisions about breakfast food. There was something about him ordering for her though that Krysta liked.

"I'm gonna ask you one more time Krysta. Is everything ok?" Michael said lovingly. He was genuinely concerned about his friend. He had never seen her so melancholy before. Krysta was one of the reasons he liked his new job. Her smile lit up the room and her laugh was infectious. He looked at her face intently and it happened. The bubbly, positive doctor he cared about so much broke down and cried.

Ragosa listened to her cry about Joey and Jordan for what seemed like hours. The bell on the front door jingled announcing they were alone in the tiny diner. Ragosa looked over at the jukebox and signaled that he'd be right back.

At the jukebox Ragosa inserted the required dollar and picked his four songs. The first was a slow melody. He returned to the table and reached for Krysta.

"Stop crying please, just dance with me." He asked pleadingly.

Krysta was perplexed, why did he want to dance with her when she was like this? She reluctantly took his hand and stood up. She had never noticed that they were almost the same height. He pulled her in close, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks with his thumb. He held her hand and swayed with her in the diner next to their table until the tears stopped falling and a smile made it's way sheepishly to her face.

The song ended and the next song started to play and Krysta couldn't help but laugh that contagious laugh Ragosa had grown so accustomed to. She never realized that Ragosa had two left feet and no rhythm until he tried to dance to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper.

The song ended as breakfast came and they sat down to eat.

"Thanks for that," Krysta responded in almost a whisper.

"You're welcome, I really can't stand to see a woman cry. Specially someone I care about," Ragosa acknowledged.

The rest of breakfast was spent laughing and enjoying each other's company. Krysta had completely forgotten about Joey, and Jordan had been reduced to a slight ache. Ragosa paid the bill and left a generous tip, which if Krysta was going to admit impressed her. She paid her way through medical school as a waitress and a bartender so a good tipper was always a turn on.

The drive back to Krysta's was spent with more laughter and off-key singing to some 80s pop music. Ragosa was much more complex than she would have realized. Finally they arrived at her home and Ragosa turned off the car. He got out and opened her car door walking her up to the door.

"If you ever need someone, I'm here for you. I just wanted you to know that," Ragosa told her whole-heartedly.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," Krysta said. Instinct took over and she kissed him quickly before making quick work of the lock.

Ragosa wasn't expecting a kiss. It wasn't for the lack of hope, he just didn't think that this beautiful person both inside and out would be interested. He tried to brush it off as polite, however every nerve ending in his body told him to grab her and kiss her like he meant it, he may never get another chance. So he did just that.

Ragosa grabbed Krysta by the arm and spun her toward him. He reached up and grabbed her face with his left hand while holding her close with his right. He kissed her with a passion he never felt for his ex-wife and she reciprocated the kiss with a fever that matched his. Passion enveloped around them as she tried to pull him into the house. Ragosa stopped, his heart sank, and he pulled away. Krysta's eyes became wide with fear. She was sure this is what he had wanted, so why was he resisting?

"Krysta, I'd love nothing more than to come in with you," his voice trailing off as he searched for the words to express his want without hurting her feelings.

"The truth is Krysta, I like you, more than I'd like to admit. I like kissing you, I think about kissing you all the time. You are the reason I love coming to work. Your smile could power the whole hospital and if I'm having a bad day hearing your laugh changes all of that. If I can be truthful you deserve someone who makes you feel loved, and often. I want to be that person. The person who makes your heart beat, the person who kisses you because he can't stand the idea of not doing so. I don't want to be your rebound. I'm here for you while you get over Joey, and if you tell me to I'll wait for you, I will. To be completely honest though, I might regret not coming in, but in the end I don't want to have sex with you. I want to be the person who makes love to you," and with that Ragosa kissed her cheek, turned on his heel and walked back to the Jeep, leaving a reeling Krysta in his absence.

Krysta went inside the house and slid down the couch, thinking about what Michael had said. At some point she finally fell asleep.

Songs Mentioned in this Chapter:

"Skinny Love" by Bon Iver

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper

*I do not own the rights to these songs*