Ramona made a slow trek toward the front entrance of the hospital in downtown L.A. Derek walked in front of her, leading the way. She bit her lip as every step became more and more difficult for her. She froze as they made it to the front door.

"Ramona?"

She jumped as Derek called her name, holding the door open for her and waiting for her to move. She stared blankly inside the door for a moment before she slowly dragged her feet forward.

Derek didn't say another word until they reached the front desk. "I have Ramona Greene checking in, please."

The woman at the desk looked around him and looked back at him. "Where is she?"

Derek mentally cursed and turned around. Ramona had turned the second Derek began speaking. She almost made it to the door until an arm shot out in front of her and grabbed her.

"Woa, where do you think you're going?" Michael spoke softly as he hugged her back against his chest. She breathed rather quickly for a moment. "Honey, I'm right here with you. I'm not going anywhere. Calm down. Breathe with me," he whispered softly to her as he steadied his breathing against her back.

Ramona gulped and then laced her fingers with his, focusing on his breathing. She slowly began breathing normally and then sighed.

"There you go, that's my girl," Michael softly praised her and turned her around. He kissed her softly on the lips and she finally smiled at him. "Better?"

She sighed. "Yea. Thanks tomcat. I don't know what came over me. I mean, I know this must be done in order for me to continue dancing, but I don't know. I'm so afraid I'm gonna lose my touch and I won't wanna dance again like before…"

Michael shook his head. "No, I won't allow that to happen. Before is when he was trying to run your life and make you live it the way he wanted you to. This is your life. You're the only one that has a say in what goes on, and who stays in it."

She nodded and took a deep breath before turning back to the front desk. Michael smiled at Derek and motioned him silently to move aside. He squeezed her hand and walked slowly by her side until they finally reached the front desk.

"Ramona Greene, I presume?" the woman asked. Ramona nodded without making eye contact. "Hey, no worries. We have some of the best doctors in the nation working here. You will be just fine," she winked and handed over some paperwork to sign. Ramona held the pen and shook slightly as she tried to sign. Michael smirked and held her hand steady as he helped her carefully sign her name in all the correct places.

She smiled a thanks to him and he winked at her as they were led to an elevator and up to her room.

The nurses came in one by one and handed her a robe to change into. She bounced her leg nervously on the side of the hospital bed as she watched the nurses move around her. Another nurse asked her to lay back and they hooked her up to a heart monitor. They placed sticky nodes all over her chest and shoulders and the cords attached to a plastic box which they tucked into her robe pocket.

"This is just a heart monitor. We have a little computer at the nurse's station that shows us what you're heart rate it like. So if there's a problem during your stay here, we'll see it first," an older nurse smiled sweetly at Ramona. She nodded and bit her lip.

Another nurse came in and took her vitals. She giggled when her blood pressure cuff released and showed the numbers. "You must be nervous. The nurse will come in and give you something to help you relax if you want it."

"I think that would be a wonderful idea," Michael spoke up. The nurse nodded at him and walked out. Another person walked in wheeling a cart carrying numerous tubes with different colored caps on each one. Michael bit his lip. He hated needles. "I, um…I'm gonna start unpacking some of your things, sweetheart."

Ramona giggled slightly at his face as he disappeared into the bathroom with her toiletries'. "Mike, it's just a needle," she paused and winced as the man stuck her. He apologized lightly and she shook it off. "No worries. Not my first time getting stuck. I'm sure it won't be the last either."

The man smiled as he took blood and started her IV. He cleaned up some access blood left over and then left the room. Michael returned with more of his color in his face. Ramona raised an eyebrow at him and he gave her a funny look.

"What?"

"Since when are you afraid of needles?" she asked.

"Since forever," he said simply.

"You didn't seem so scared when I got that injection," she countered.

Michael shrugged. "My fear didn't seem as important then." Ramona blinked and he looked at her with a serious face. "You needed me."

Ramona smiled and reached for him. He moved to the side of the bed and took her hand in his, kissing the back of it gently.

"I love you," she whispered.

Michael smiled and leaned down to capture her lips in his. "I love you more."

"I highly doubt that," she giggled.

Michael gasped. "You doubt me? The great Michael Jackson? Shame on you, woman!" he said dramatically.

Ramona laughed and the nurse ran in. "Are you doing okay?" she asked, panting lightly.

"Yes, I'm fine. Why?" Ramona asked.

"Your heart rate just shot up dramatically," she said. She eyed Michael and saw his grin and she smiled. "Now I see why. Try to keep things calm, okay Thriller Man?" she giggled at him as his mouth dropped in shock.

The doctor came in a little while later and Michael was lying in the bed with Ramona. The bed was sitting up and he sat back, Ramona lying against his back with her eyes shut. He was reading to her. She didn't know what it was, but it was a lovely story.

"How's my favorite dancer feeling?" he asked.

Michael and Ramona both sat up and replied with a "fine."

The doctor chuckled as Ramona and Mike glanced at each other and then smiled. "Okay, two of my favorite dancers," he corrected himself.

"I'm alright, just nervous," Ramona replied softly.

"I understand completely. Let me show you some x-rays," he said as he placed a black sheet onto a white board on the wall. He flipped a switch and a bright light came on, showing Ramona's x-ray. There was a bright white dot in the middle of her shoulder.

"Is that the bullet?" Michael asked as he squinted his eyes at the board.

"Yes," the doctor answered as he pulled out a pen and pointed at it. "This is the bullet she was hit with in Bucharest. The doctors there were unable to locate it. I know it looks easy to get to on the x-ray, but once they got inside there, it was so wound up in ripped tissues and muscle. There was just no way to get to it without causing further damage."

Ramona winced and rubbed her shoulder and Michael kissed her temple trying to soothe her. "So, what is this surgery supposed to accomplish this time?" he asked.

"Well, the tissues and muscles have had plenty of time to mend by now. We are going to try and locate the bullet and remove it, as well as repair any damaged tissues we can't see already on the x-ray. However there is a risk, as with any surgery, with bleeding."

Ramona took a sharp intake of breath and clenched Michael's hand tightly. He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.

"We will not go any further if there's risk of further damage. Overall, our main goal is to find what is causing you so much pain and destroy it before it gets any worse for you."

"How many times have you done this surgery?" she asked suddenly.

The doctor tapped his chin in deep thought. "You know…I've lost count."

Michael smiled at Ramona as she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in. "Alright, I'm ready."

"That was going to be my next question. We can push the surgery to tonight, maybe an hour and a half away, or we can do it first thing in the morning. It's completely up to you."

"Tonight," she shot out instantly.

"Baby, don't you even want to think about it first?" Michael asked her.

"No. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can come home with you and get back to dancing. I'm tired of being scared, Michael."

Michael placed his forehead against hers for a second and then moved a hair behind her ear. "I know you are, baby. I know. Okay doc, tonight it is," he said to the doctor.

"Very well then. I will see you in a little bit. Would you like something to calm you down while you wait?"

Ramona nodded and Michael cleared his throat. "Is there anything you can give me too?"

The doctor raised his eyebrow at him. "Would you like me to start an IV on you too?"

Michael sunk into the bed and Ramona looked at him from over her good shoulder. "Umm…on second thought, I think I will just work on some new lyrics."

Ramona giggled and the doctor chuckled before writing something on his clipboard and leaving the room.

"Thank you," she whispered to Michael as she nuzzled his neck and kissed his cheek.

"For what?" he asked.

"For being here. For always being there by my side. For being my best friend…and for showing me how to feel…and to love. I love you so much," she mumbled, biting back tears.

Michael's heart throbbed against his chest. He never had any doubts when it came to Ramona. She always came first since the moment he met her. She became number one in his life the second she stepped in front of him on that stage in Bucharest.

"No, thank you for saving my life, and for loving me for me," he smiled and kissed her passionately.

"I wouldn't love you any other way," she sighed into his chest.

"Nor I you, my love. In fact," he sat up a little so he could look into her eyes. "I would spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I love you, if you'd let me."

Ramona searched his eyes for a moment. "What are you saying, Michael?"

"Marry me, Ramona Greene. I love you more than anything, or anyone. My love for you is eternal, I just know it. You love me for me, which is more than anyone has ever done for me my entire life. I love you. Marry me, babygirl."

Ramona's eyes welled up with tears and for a moment, Michael thought she'd say no or get up and run out, but she finally smiled and nodded. "Okay," she said softly.

"What?" Michael asked, making sure he heard her correctly.

"I said okay," she giggled. "Nothing would make sense without you by my side. I love you, Michael. And I will love you for the…" she was cut off as Michael kissed her passionately. He pulled her on top of him and deepened the kiss. She moaned into his lips and slowly moved her hips against his. He groaned and then pulled her off, hearing someone barge in the door.

"What did I say about keeping her calm, thriller man?" the nurse scolded him.

He giggled and she buried her face in his neck in embarrassment.

"Sorry. Won't happen again, boss," he chuckled.