PART 13NO MORE CRY

Katie stirred in her sleep, then she woke up. Her eyes are still closed but a wide smile was plastered on her gorgeous face, pondering on the dream she just had; the incredible night that she spent with Jessie. She wished it wouldn't have to end, but it had to. And now, katie just refused to open her eyes, hoping to fall back into sleep and spend another intimate moment with Jessie. But it seemed impossible, so she let it go.

Katie opened her eyes, letting out a deep sigh. She stayed on the bed for a while, thinking as she stared at the ceiling. Then she noticed.

Wait a minute... Katie realized how different the ceiling was. She finally noticed the difference. Why not, she spends her every waking moment staring at her own before getting out of bed. Then she turned and she saw the different furnishings of the room. And another difference was that it was more organized. Well, the room Jessie provided for her stay used to be organized, 'til she occupied it and made it look like a tornado made a serious damage on it with her things scattered everywhere. Still, this wasn't her room. Then she smelled that familiar scent of sweet strawberries. She never used a strawberry shampoo before. Katie immediately buried her nose into the pillow and breathed in, looking like an idiot. Katie suddenly got up and let her eyes wander around.

Am I in...? Her thoughts screamed at her. And when the sheets covering her body fell, she realized something else. She was naked... Katie sat wide-eyed for a moment. She wasn't even moving. She pinched herself hard and it hurt like hell. She had to believe.

Oh my God... It wasn't a dream... It happened... It really happened! She smiled as the memories of last night flooded her head. The night with Jessie was perfect... Amazing... Unbelievable... There was so much passion and love.

Love? I heard her say that... Or was I dreaming that she said that?.. Did she say that...? Katie was driving herself crazy as she thought about it. She did hear Jessie say that she loves her, but still, it was too hard to believe. She wanted that, definitely. But she's dreamed about it all too many times, now she's having a hard time separating the dream from reality.

And she HAS to know. Katie threw the covers off of her and grabbed her clothes that were neatly folded in Jessie's vanity chair. Katie couldn't help but smile. Typical Jessie. She just had to fold Katie's dirty clothes before leaving for work. Then she dashed out of the bedroom to take a shower and change.

Meanwhile, Jessie was all too happy right now. She felt too good and nothing could ever ruin her mood. Despite the big amount of patients who came in that day, she didn't feel tired at all. She felt great and energized. She was practically prancing around that didn't go unnoticed to her colleagues. The nurses were even betting on why their used-to-be not so cheerful doctor was acting like a highschool girl recently noticed by her crush.

But Dr. Michael Collingz had a hunch. He entered Jessie's office room without knocking. Jessie looked and smiled at him. He remained standing in the doorway.

"You can take a seat, you know." Jessie smiled at him.

"No thanks. I just want to see that smile on your face. That's something we don't see everyday. Looks like somebody's got something last night." Michael grinned at her then winked.

"So, you heard the gossips those people made up about me just to get themselves entertained?" She heard the nurse and the aides talking about what could have been the reason for her unusually good mood. But Jessie didn't really care. Actually, it just amused her.

"Gossips? Yeah... But I knew better." Michael realized that something good happened last night, and he was glad. Jessie deserves to be happy.

Jessie smiled. She was just so happy, she couldn't even describe it. She doesn't have any idea what to tell Michael. But she knew she doesn't have to tell him anything, 'coz he probably already knew. Michael was still standing in the doorway when they heard the knocks on the office door. Since he was nearer, Michael opened it. And the grin on his face grew wider.

"Ms. Singer, nice to see you again." Michael said to a surprised Katie. She didn't expect to see him in Jessie's office, and she didn't realize he was a doctor.

"Uh, hi... Is Jessie here?" Katie asked anxiously.

"Yeah, come. Time to pull her out of her daydreams and give her the real thing. If you know what I mean." Michael laughed at his own joke, which generated a chuckle from Jessie and a red face from Katie. "Anyhow, I have to go. Jessie, I guess we have to find another time to discuss that case. Later." Michael left the office and closed the door behind him.

When Katie looked up to meet Jessie's gaze, she was smiling sweetly at her behind the pile of charts.

"Hi, I didn't know you're coming."

"Is this a bad time?" Katie was still anxious.

"Of course not." Jessie noticed the bouquet of gardenias on Katie's hand. "Are those for me?"

"Huh? Oh, these? Yeah." Katie approached her table and handed it to her. Jessie excited reached for it.

"Wow, thanks."

"You're welcome... So, Michael's a doctor?" Katie asked her again after a short silence.

"Yeah, we're handling a case together and we're supposed to discuss the condition of the patient, you know, talk about each other's assessment and all sorts of stuff." Jessie said nonchalantly.

"Oh." It was all Katie could say. Jessie noticed the look on Katie's face and couldn't help her amusement.

"Wait, you didn't think we were out on a date, did you?" Jessie asked but Katie looked too embarrassed to answer. Jessie couldn't help but chuckle. "I told you he's married. Actually, he's HAPPILY married. And not really my type." Katie looking all jealous was cute. "Besides, why are we talking about him?" Jessie focused her attention to Katie and forgot all about the patient's charts rested on her table. "So, why are you here?"

"Uh... I don't know... I wanted to..." Katie thought of what to say, but nothing really registered in her head. She came to know if Jessie really said those words, but she couldn't find her guts to ask.

"Jess, I'm sorry..." It was a dumb thing for Katie to say. Sorry for what anyway?

"You can always come see me whenever you want, Katie. I wouldn't mind having you around when I'm working." Jessie smiled as she saw Katie fidgeting to where she stood. Cuteness factor, Katie has that factor that keeps Jessie smiling more and more. And to Katie's confusion, Jessie was acting like nothing happened, and she's being extra-sweet.

Am I missing something here? Katie thought.

"That's not what I... Look, about what happened between us last night, I'm really sorry, okay? I've had a few drinks and you had a few shots yourself and your probably regret everything and that's okay with me you know I totally understand we could just forget about it if that's what you want..." Katie babbled. She talked without slowing for commas or stopping with periods. She expected the same freaked out reaction from Jessie, but Jessie seemed happy just watching her talk like an idiot. "Aren't you gonna say something?"

"Yeah. You look cute when you're babbling." Jessie chuckled while still staring at her with that beautiful smile on her face. Katie's face reddened again. Jessie got up from her seat and walked around her office table and stopped in from of Katie. "Why did you even think that?"

"Because I knew why I did what we did... But why did you? You know my feelings for you Jessie, you've always known. But you've decided our fate a long time ago, and I've been trying my best to get on with my life and accept that fact, though it seemed impossible for me. And then last night happened and... It shouldn't have. I don't want anything you don't want."

"Are you a psychologist?" Jessie asked, hoping she looked cute and smart at the same time. Meanwhile, Katie didn't see the relevance, but answered the question anway.

"Uh, no."

"Then don't go over psychology and stop psychoanalyzing me. Do what you do best honey, just write." Jessie said with a wink. Katie stood in Jessie looking like an idiot.

Did she just call me honey? Katie still couldn't believe her ears. Jessie is an expert at this sweet-torture thing.

"Would it be okay if I take you out to dinner tonight? I made some reservations at this really nice restaurant for tonight. They've got great lobsters and I figured you need a break from cooking anyway, so... " Jessie smiled at her, waiting for an answer. Katie gaped at Jessie.

She's asking me to dinner? Katie was more confused than ever. The uncertain expression on her face didn't escape Jessie's eyes. She knew exactly what's going on in Katie's mind. Katie didn't even have to ask.

"It's either you're deaf of just plain dumb." Jessie touched Katie's face with both of her hands, caressing her cheeks. He effect on Katie was palpable, which by the way she was enjoying to watch.

"Why do you think I've been staring at you since you came home for Tad's wedding? Did you even notice that? Or the displays of cuteness, which I hope looked really cute to you? Or why I've been stealing kisses from you every chance I get? Or why I didn't strangle the rest of my family when they practically threw us together again? Or the reason why I wore those two-piece pink bikinis that barely covered me? I've been trying to seduce you but I don't know, sometimes, you're just so clueless. And you're actually wondering why I did what we did? I'm not the type who sleeps around, you of all people should know that, so why do you think I slept with you?" Katie was just staring dumbfounded at Jessie, not really knowing what to say. Hearing those things from Jessie was great, she used to dream about it. And now that it's all happening, it just robbed Katie all of her senses. She's afraid that if she says anything, everything will just disappear and everything would turn out to be just one mind-blowing dream.

"Damn Singer, you're so DENSE. You're not good at this stuff, are you" Jessie shook her head in disbelief and rolled her eyes, but still smiling. She figured she really has to spell everything out for Katie and she's really hoping to get some reaction from her. Any reaction would do. She framed Katie's face with her soft, delicate hands, making her look straight into her eyes.

"I love you Katie." Jessie then closed the gap between them, and kissed Katie with full-force passion. At first, Katie seemed to be in a dazed, but later responded to the kiss. Jessie could feel Katie's lips form into a smile as they kissed. Now Katie was sure this wasn't just a dream...

But it was definitely a dream come true...