Here's an early chapter! I won't be posting until next week, so enjoy!

A voice woke her up from the little sleep she had gotten, making her open her eyes, alert and scared. She instantly relaxed as she took in her surroundings… and remembered whom she was with. She had woken up by Connor's voice, who was practically whispering over the phone trying not to disturb her.

"Yeah, she had a pretty rough night. I think I'm going to stay and keep an eye on her." He said and then paused, waiting for the other person in the line to answer. "No, I don't have any appointments today. Call me if any of my patients need me. Thanks, Nat."

He hung up and Sarah closed her eyes again, not ready to face the day. She was curled up into him, relaxing with the ups and downs of his steady breathing. How could she even begin to apologize for what had happened last night? Had he even slept at all?

She sighed heavily as she recalled the events of the past night. She had never lost control of herself like that, and it scared her to death. What if it happened again? Connor wouldn't be there to help her every time something happened. She felt weak and exhausted. Her eyes felt glassy and dry, and her throat felt like it had been scratched with sandpaper.

She tensed a little when she felt Connor's hand caress her hair again.

"Reese? Are you awake?"

The girl opened her eyes and looked up only to be met by Connor's bluish-grey ones. He smiled worriedly at her and continued to caress her tresses lightly, but Sarah turned away from him, facing the nearby wall, wrapping her good arm around herself in the process. She felt so ashamed and vulnerable. She felt she had no power over herself.

She felt the mattress rise up a little and heard Connor walk over to her side. He kneed down so that they were face to face.

"Sarah?"

"I need to stay back at the hospital, don't I?" she mumbled, not actually looking at him.

Connor sighed. "I'm afraid so. It was very unprofessional of me to let you go just like that. You need a psychiatric evaluation."

Sarah closed her eyes again, coming to the conclusion that she didn't want to make things complicated for him or anyone, so she ultimately nodded her head.

"I know this is difficult, but it's for the best. I want you to be okay." he said, sincere.

Sarah opened her eyes again and only then noticed how tired he looked: he had bags under his eyes, and his expression lacked energy. She then sat up, noticing how messy her hair was, and felt embarrassed.

"Here" He said handing her a glass of water, which she gulped down quickly. She knew all of the crying must have left her a little dehydrated and swollen. She looked down at her arm for the first time and noticed the finely wrapped bandages.

"Do you remember what happened last night?"

Sarah nodded, unable to speak. She didn't want to talk about it. She couldn't. At least not yet.

"Thank you... For everything. And I'm sorry." She whispered.

"Hey, there's nothing to be sorry for, okay?" he replied, searching her eyes.

Sarah finally looked at him and nodded. He noticed his grey shirt was wrinkled, probably because of her dried tears.

"Don't you have to be at the hospital right now?"

"I took the day off." He shrugged.

"You don't have to-"

"I want to." He interrupted her. "Come on." He added, getting up from the floor. "Let's make you some breakfast."

As Connor cracked open a second egg and let it fall into the frying pan, she couldn't help but let out a small smile. She was resting with her head on one arm, watching with curiosity the way he cooked for her. She still hadn't said a word to him. But what could she do? Start small talk about how she had completely lost her mind? Talk about the weather? Her head was killing her and she felt moody.

"Natalie sends good wishes" said Connor after a while trying to break the tension that had set between them, adding ingredients to the eggs as he went.

"Good wishes?"

"Yeah. She says she hopes you're feeling better."

"You called her?" She asked curiously. "Why?"

"I briefed her in on the situation."

She somehow felt surprised by the revelation. It's not that she didn't trust Dr. Manning, but this was something that she had wanted to deal with herself without getting everyone involved. She didn't want anyone to know what had happened… she felt ashamed as it was. She didn't think that Connor would have told anyone about it.

"Why would you do that?" she asked, furrowing her brow.

Connor stopped what he was doing. "It's important for them to know what happened and that you're okay." He replied noticing her getting defensive.

"And why didn't you ask me first if I wanted anyone to know? Didn't it occur to you that maybe I don't want that?"

Connor looked at her unbelievingly. "Sarah, you were in no condition for me to ask-"

"Since when do you make those kinds of decisions for me?" She spat back. She didn't know why it had gotten to her, but she felt anger beginning to boil inside her, ready to be discharged.

"I'm not deciding anything for you. I simply briefed your superiors on what was going on. People need to know." he said, raising his voice.

"And who are you to brief them in? Who are you to make that call?"

"Reese, what's the matter with you? I only told Natalie."

"And soon everyone will know because of you! How do you think I find knowing that the next time I walk through those doors, people will start whispering behind my back, knowing that I have lost my mind? Do you know how much I worked on getting a good name to work in that hospital?"

"Sarah, calm-"

"Don't." she said, raising her hand. "Don't you dare tell me to calm down, okay? I have been through HELL this past week and the least I want to hear is to calm down."

Connor closed his mouth and looked at her, his fists balled at his sides.

Sarah looked at the ground, jaw clenched. She felt so angry at him… but didn't exactly know why. He only wanted to help her. He had spent the night watching over her, had barely slept and was still here, awake and tending to her. She hugged herself and sighed, still not looking up. She realized she wasn't angry at him, but at herself. She hated feeling like she was something that if mishandled, would break.

"I think it's best if I go. You seem a lot better now." He said turning the stove off and walking out of the kitchen to get his stuff from the couch.

Sarah looked up and noticed that anger had gotten into him too, and instantly chastised herself.

"Dr. Rhodes…"

"Your pills are on the counter. Make sure you change your bandages at four and try to get some rest. I'll tell Dr. Charles you're staying the night for evaluation."

Before Sarah could even reply, he had left her apartment and left her alone. She sighed at the wall in front of her, angry at herself. Why had she reacted in such an immature way? This was not like her. She knew that both of them lacked sleep, but still, that wasn't an excuse to her behavior. He had been so kind to her, and had gone above and beyond everything to help her feel better… to make her feel safe. Why on earth would she repay his efforts like that?

She ran a hand through her hair and walked back into the kitchen. She scraped the now burnt eggs into the trashcan and threw the pan into the sink with force.

She felt fresh tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

How could she have been so stupid?

The hours went by and soon the light started to fade. After she had composed herself and spent some time organizing her work and schedule, Sarah headed back to the hospital. Not that she wanted to in the slightest, but she had to do it. She owed it to herself… and to him.

She took a cab instead of driving. As she got out, the dark and coldness that now surrounded her made her remember the night when Connor had lent her his jacket, and she couldn't stop an involuntary smile that had set on her face. She walked through the parking lot where the cab had left her, walking through the rows of cars and noticed Connor's was still parked. She sighed heavily. As much as she had thought about him all day, she didn't want to see him right now. Not when he was angry at her and she knew it was all her fault.

She crossed the hospital doors, readying herself to be bombarded with questions or looks from other people… but nothing happened. Everyone noticed her arrival, but continued to work on their business. April and Maggie waved at her happily, and Sarah generally explained that she would be staying the night, keeping all details to herself. She said goodbye to them and left for the room she had been staying in, preparing mentally for her first evaluation.

She kept thinking that everything she thought might happen (the looks, the gossip) had all been in her head. For a moment she had left herself feel like she was back in high school all over again: frequently watching her back for the girls who were mean to her and expecting slurs and nicknames thrown at her. But she was over that now. She had worked through it. Why did her insecurities resurface that morning?

She shook her head while she was walking, looking at nothing in particular… but then she noticed Connor heading out of one of his patients' rooms. He was smiling, but as soon as he saw her, she distinctly detected his smile fall a little. Sarah stopped dead in her tracks, hurt by his expression and feeling remorseful. Connor gave a half-smile her way and left in the other direction.

Sarah gulped. She had clearly messed up that morning… she was sure of it now. She reached her room and sat on the bed, her head on her hand, thinking about how she could amend for how she had acted.

"Hey kid. Good to see you're back." said Will happily from the door, but sobered up when he distinguished her expression. "You okay?"

"Why is it that everyone calls me kid?" She replied, not looking at him. She had drawn her feet to her and had wrapped her good arm around her knees. "I'm not a kid."

Will smiled and made his way into the room and sat beside her. "What's wrong?"

Sarah sighed. "Nothing."

"That didn't sound like nothing."

Sarah looked up, slightly annoyed. "If you must know, someone hates my guts."

"Who? Rhodes?"

Sarah looked down again. "Dr. Manning told you, huh?"

"Actually no." he said a little bit confused and making her look at him again.

He looked outside the door like if he was going to reveal her an important secret, and she looked out too, interested. He then lowered himself so that they were on ear level. "The nurses. They know everything." He whispered.

Sarah scoffed and rolled her eyes, but let out a smile.

Will let out a laugh. "You couldn't have done anything that bad. Come on, spill." He said pretending to be a girl ready to hear a piece of gossip.

Sarah rolled her eyes, but decided it might actually be good is she got another perspective. Besides, Will didn't look like he was going to drop the subject, so Sarah basically retold the events of last night, skipping some details. She told him that she had disappointed Connor this morning, and how she had felt vulnerable and powerless. She didn't know what was it about Will that made her open up so easily. Perhaps it was because he had always been supportive of her and treated her like a friend, and if Sarah dare said, maybe more like a sister.

"…and that's why he hates me right now."

He nodded to himself before answering. "Well, what you did was certainly… shitty."

Both chuckled at his conclusion. "Yeah… it was pretty shitty."

"Don't get me wrong, I know that what you went through must have been..." he stopped himself. It was still a touchy subject to talk about so openly. "I mean, I can't even imagine…"

"It's okay." She reassured.

He took a breath. "You went through hell with this. But there are people who would go there with you and would do anything in their power to take you back. It would be best if you showed those people you are thankful for their efforts." He said lightly.

Sarah kept quiet.

"You are not alone in this." He added, almost interrupted by his pager going off. "Try to remember that." He winked before standing up.

"Thanks, Dr. Halstead."

"What are friends for?" he said before leaving her be.

Sarah smiled at the comment, but then sobered as she came to the realization that she needed to speak to Connor. As soon as possible.

She got up from her bed, but as she did, Dr. Charles arrived for her evaluation, paperwork in hand.

"Hey Reese, Dr. Rhodes filled me in." He noticed her standing up and frowned. "Are you going somewhere? Why aren't you wearing a gown?" he said motioning at her attire with his pen.

"Dr. Charles, I know this sounds confusing, but I need to excuse myself for five minutes."

"Where are you-?"

"I'll be right back."

She left the room without giving him any chance to protest. She had to see him… and she had to see him now. She had to fix things between them.

Sarah walked into the direction in which he had left when she had last seen him: the stairs to the roof. She tried to climb them fast, but did what her bruised body allowed her to. She quickly opened the doors, her face colliding with a cold gush of wind. She scanned the area lit by the moonlight only to be disappointed.

Nothing.

"Reese?"

She turned at the sound of her name. He was there, looking at her in a confused manner. "Aren't you supposed to-?"

"I'm sorry." She interrupted him, making him dead silence. "I'm sorry for the way I acted this morning. There's no excuse for how I treated you."

Connor walked closer to where she was, listening intently.

She gulped. "You're the only one who has helped me, who has been with me though all of this, and it's not fair for me to treat you the way I did. I was foolish, and immature… I wasn't thinking straight. I was angry, and I took my anger out on the wrong person, at the wrong moment… and I'm sorry."

Connor didn't reply. He simply stood in front of her, not actually looking at her.

"I just wanted you to know that." She finally said, her hands fidgeting at her sides. "How sorry I am. And that I will try my hardest not to push you out again." She added, hugging herself.

When she saw he didn't respond, she turned away to return to her room, only to be stopped by a hand to her wrist. She looked down and then at him.

"Reese, I want you to understand something very clearly." His eyes met hers. "I would do anything to keep you safe. And nothing you can do or say can change that."

She kept quiet a few seconds, processing what he had said.

"I know."

Connor used her hand as a lever to subtly pull her in closer to where he was. He looked closely at her, concentrated on her features. Sarah felt she couldn't move. She didn't dare to. The closeness made her dizzy, and closed her eyes as she felt his lips brushing her cheek lightly. She breathed in deeply at the gesture, completely lost in the moment. When he pulled away, she felt with no surprise as an intense blush spread across her cheeks and opened her eyes again. This was the first time they had a moment, both completely aware of what was happening.

"I will always be here for you, Sarah Reese."

She felt his forehead rest in hers, while they both looked directly into each other's eyes.

"Does this mean you forgive me?" she practically whispered.

He laughed lightly. "Yes, I forgive you. Now let's go back to your room and finish your evaluations."

Sarah frowned, crossing her arms. Going back into evaluation didn't thrill her at all.

Connor rolled his eyes, laughing at her antics and walked behind her grabbing lightly at the upper of her arms, just below her shoulders. He kissed her cheek once again from behind, making her feel a jolt of electricity travel her body.

"Come on, princess. Let's get you fixed up."

I'm excited to see what you thought about this chapter. Thanks for the support!