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…One Teardrop At A Time…

…Chapter Five…

Previously on One Teardrop At A Time—Kim's having the worst day of her life (dramatically speaking). Lindsey is trying her best to get Kim fired, even if it means telling lies. Kim does her best to make Jack remember her, but he just can't find the right memories.

"Do we have to go?" Kim asked, looking up at Jack while seated in the break room, "Tell Rudy I'm sick."

"It doesn't matter if you tell him that or not. You have to go sooner or later." Jack replied, placing his hand on her shoulder, "We should hurry before the hospital gets too busy."

"Good Luck, guys." Jerry said, sympathetically. He doesn't want Kim to be fired either.

"Thanks, Jer." Jack replied on his way out with Kim taking the lead.

"No problem, yo." Jerry grinned, giving him a fist bump.

Kim stopped in front of the Chief of Staff Office door, and looked up at Jack.

"I don't think that I can do this." She frowned.

"You have to do it." He reminded her, gently.

"Okay. Whatever happens I guess that I can move on with my life." Kim stated, placing her hand on the silver door knob. She felt a large, warm hand wrap around her hand, making her blush.

"We'll do it together." Jack whispered into her ear. His hot breath against the side of her neck sent goosebumps down her skin, causing her to shiver in delight.

Wow! I feel really attracted to him right now. I wish I could kiss him, but he'd probably pull away from me. I hope he can fall in love with me all over again, if he never remembers what we shared before his memory loss. I have already fallen head over heels multiple times for Jack.

Together they turn the knob, opening the door.

"Come in." Rudy said, emotionlessly. He was seated at his desk, looking down at a paper with a blue pen in his hand. He didn't look up until he heard Jack's voice. A huge grin formed on his facial features.

"Hi, Rudy…"

"Jack! I didn't expect to see you here." Rudy grinned, happily. He twirled the pen around in his fingers.

"I decided to come, too." Jack replied, taking a seat across from him. Kim quickly sat down in the green chair next to Jack.

"Kim, I'm surprised you were reported to me." Rudy noted, "Did you physically assault another nurse?"

"Well, yes and no." She hesitated, "Lindsey provoked me, but I know that isn't a valid excuse for my actions. Whatever she told you wasn't completely true. I never slapped her and I never choked her."

"Then, what did you do?" Rudy raised his blonde eyebrow, quizzically.

"I shoved her against a locker and threatened her…Okay. That sounds really bad, but she was tormenting me. Please, don't fire me!" Kim explained.

"I should fire you right now." Rudy said, seriously. Then his tone of voice lightened up, "But, unlike most of the other employees, I know you on a personal level. I know the real Kim Crawford and I know she would never harm anyone intentionally."

It's true. Rudy just said he knows Kim, so there really must be something wrong with me. What could've happened to me to cause me to totally forget this wonderful girl?! I need to find answers, but how am I going to do that?

Kim smiled as Rudy reached across his desk to hand her a tissue box. She had been so frustrated and nervous that she couldn't stop a single tear from falling from her eye. Kim wiped her face with a tissue that she had plucked from the Kleenex box.

"Thank you, Rudy. I can't thank you enough for sparing me." Kim sniffled, trying to smile again.

"No problem, Kim." He responded, "However, there will be consequences for your actions. For a week, starting tonight, you have to mop the entire West Wing."

"Okay, I'll do it." Kim said, tossing the used tissue into a nearby trash bin.

"You can go ahead and back to the break room." Jack instructed her, patting her shoulder. His touch caused her stomach to flutter with butterflies and her heart beat increased.

"Rudy, do I know this girl, too?" Jack wondered.

"Of course, you know Kim!" Rudy laughed, wiping away a tear of joy, "You and her dated when you guys were in school. Are you joking with me? Because, that is the funniest joke ever!"

"I'm not joking. I'm really worried about myself. I have no memories of her." Jack said, seriously. Suddenly, Rudy's laughter stopped and he appeared worried, too.

"Did you hit your head?" Rudy asked, getting up from his desk chair.

"If I did, I don't remember." Jack replied, rubbing his forehead, "There's no bump either."

"You need to get that checked out." Rudy added, leaning against the front of his desk.

Kim was in room 309 with a seven year-old girl and the girl's panicky, young mother.

"Is Annie going to be okay, Miss?!" The woman panicked, pulling to her frazzled black hair beside the hospital bed.

"We'll give your daughter the best care we can give, Ma'am." Kim informed her, calmly. The blonde haired little girl was so weak that she couldn't keep her eyes open.

"Please help my little baby!"

"Mrs. Perry, please calm down. I'm going to run some tests, so I need you to let go of my arm." Kim noted. The woman then released Kim's arm and got quiet.

"Ouch! That hurts." Annie sniffled as Kim inserted an IV needle into the girl's wrist.

"You'll be fine, hun. It only hurts for a little while." Kim replied, softly. She opened a drawer and retrieved a long needle and some sanitizing pads.

"That's really big." Annie gulped.

"It looks scary, but it really isn't." Kim reassured her, cleansing the girl's inner elbow area with the pad. "You're lucky because I can see your vein, so I won't have to prick you many times to find it."

"Please, don't let it hurt me, doctor." Annie pleaded, her blue eyes was frosting over with tears.

"It will be quick, hun. I promise." Kim smiled, picking up the needle, "One. Two. Three." The sharp end of the needle penetrated her delicate skin.

"It didn't hurt." The little girl smiled.

"See, what did I tell you? You had nothing to worry about." Kim smiled, pulling out the needle and placing a bandage over the area. "Mrs. Perry, the doctor will see your daughter soon."

"Okay, Miss. And thank you." The mother replied, gratefully.

"You're welcome." Kim grinned. She walked down the hallway to the lab. On her way there she noticed Rudy talking to a frantic blonde girl about her age. Normally, Kim wouldn't have cared, but when she heard Jack's name in the conversation, Kim listened carefully.

"Rudy, it's my entire fault that Jack has lost his memory! I didn't think there was anything bad after the accident, but this morning before going to work, he called me Kim." The girl panicked.

"Everything is going to be okay, Taylor. I'll talk to Jack. He's starting to notice his memory loss." Rudy answered her, putting his hands on her shoulders to calm the girl.

Who is this Taylor? And what did she do to my Jack?! Why would he call her Kim?! I'm going to find out.

Kim hurried into the lab and put Annie's vile of blood into the machine.

To be continued...

AN: I apologize for this chapter being shorter than my previous chapters, but I have had a rough week, and I really wanted to update soon for you guys. You all are absolutely wonderful! The future chapters will most likely be longer.

When I get the chance to write chapter six, we will find out exactly what accident happened to Jack and he will get his memory back soon! All sounds good, but there will be trouble on the horizon for Kim.

READ/REVIEW/FAVORITE/FOLLOW :)

—Emily Jane :)