They'd been working in opposite wings of the hospital Monday morning so they'd only seen each other long enough to agree to meet for lunch in the cafeteria.

By the time Mary made it downstairs, Sara had already found a table. "Let me go get something and I'll be right back," Mary said. "And then I want to hear all about your weekend."

Mary rushed off to find some decent grub and quickly returned with a turkey sandwich and a salad. She sat down and picked up her sandwich. When Sara didn't immediately start talking,"Am I going to have to beg or do I get some details?"

Sara smiled at her friend. "And what kind of details would you like?"

"As many as you are willing to give me."

Sara picked up her own sandwich and took a bite. Then picked up her soda and took a sip. By the look on her friend's face she'd stalled long enough so she sat her drink down and began recapping the events of Friday evening.

Mary had been listening intently. The restaurant sounded lovely. When Sara told her that Michael had ordered the filet mignon, she noticed a goofy grin appear on her friend's face. "Am I missing something?" Sara stopped and looked questioning at Mary. "About the filet mignon, I mean. Does it mean something?"

Sara's face broke out into a huge grin. "Yes. During Michael's first week in…" Sara paused and looked around to see if anyone else was within earshot. Mary motioned that she understood so she continued, "Well, we'd already started flirting with each other a bit and he told me that when he got out of there he would take me to dinner. Two months later, while on the run, we were sitting alone in a vehicle waiting and… Well the subject came up again and I told him that anything short of a filet mignon wasn't going to cut it with me."

"Ahh. So you got your filet mignon." Mary smiled back. "I'm liking this guy more and more. So go on," Mary prodded her friend.

"Well dinner was great but we didn't get to finish desert. A reporter spotted us and made himself…well a nuisance. We ended up having to leave the restaurant before we were able to finish."

"Oh that is too bad. I know how much you wanted this big date of yours. I'm sorry it had to end on such a sour note." Mary noticed her friends smile. "So it didn't end there I take it?"

"No." Sara said. She was enjoying this. "We found ice cream and sat in the park for a while. Then we went back to my place and…well he helped me make breakfast Saturday morning."

"Oh Sara that's wonderful. I am so happy for you."

"Thanks Mary but there is one more thing."

"I know I said I wanted details Sara but I'm not that desperate."

Sara laughed. "That's good to know." Sara took the hand that had been resting on her lap and lay in on the table for Mary to see.

Mary's eyes widened, "Oh my! Sara did he…?" Sara bit her lip and nodded. "Oh that's wonderful. Congratulations."

"Thanks." Sara pulled her hand back and placed it in her lap again. She'd been wearing her ring all day. She hadn't taken it off since Michael put in on her finger Friday night, but she wasn't ready to take the comments from some of the staff that she knew would be coming just quite yet. For now she just wanted to bask in her own contentment.

Mary immediately understood. "I don't blame you. Enjoy it. They'll find out sooner or later."

With lunch finished, they headed back upstairs to see which patients needed their attentions first.

~

Michael's morning had gone well. When the alarm went off this morning, Sara had been in his arms. They had showered and eaten breakfast together before they'd both headed off to work. He loved waking up to her. It had only been three days but it felt right. He couldn't wait to repeat this morning for the rest of his life.

It wasn't until after lunch he remembered he had to call his lawyer back. The rest of the project team was in the conference room trying to figure out how to hide a support beam in the lobby of their current project so he had the office to himself. Picking up the phone, he dialed the number. The receptionist answered and put him right through.

"Hi Michael. I'm glad you called. Did you get my message?"

"Yea. I got your message. What's going on?"

"I have no idea. I was hoping you might tell me. Everything seemed to be going fine and then this. Do you have any ideas?"

"No." Michael rubbed his hand over his head deep in thought. "When do they want to meet?"

"Wednesday. Three o'clock."

That would mean he would have to make arrangements to get off early. He sighed, "Go ahead and make the appointment Frank. I'll call you back if there's a problem."

"You got it Michael. Call me if you need anything."

Frank disconnected and Michael placed the phone back in its cradle. "Everything alright?"

John was standing in the doorway. "Ugh…yea." Michael realized this was probably his best opportunity to tell John about needing to leave early. "Actually John there is something I need to talk to you about. The call…I need to go see my lawyers on Wednesday at three o'clock."

Concerned John asked, "Is everything ok with your parole? Do you need me to talk to your lawyers? I will help you if I can Michael."

"It's not that." Michael was quick to say. "I'm having a little...domestic trouble and I need to meet with my lawyers and hers to try and get it solved."

John's eyebrows rose. "Your date Friday night didn't go well I take it?"

Michael hadn't considered John would think he was talking about Sara. It seemed he needed to provide some clarification. "Before I was arrested I got married. Now I am trying to get a divorce."

"Ahh…So a different woman." John nodded as comprehension dawned. "When will you need to leave on Wednesday?"

"They're only a few blocks away so two forty-five should be fine."

"Ok." John turned to leave and then stopped. He turned back around. "How did your date go Friday night?" Michael's smile was all the answer John needed and he smiled back. "Don't forget I still want to meet this Sara."

John headed back to his office and Michael made his way back to the conference room to see how the project team was coming along in solving their current problem.