Well this story has gotten so long it impossible to find anything anymore so I spent a chunk of yesterday naming the chapters to make it easier to navigate.

I want to say hi to all the new readers and a big thanks to all the stalwarts who have stuck with me all this time. There are good times and bad times still to come, I hope you can bear it… and a happy ending of course (eventually).

And as ever your reviews always make me smile. :))

So where was I? Oh yes…

SPOILERS – this week – A stranger turns up at Krystal's, Marissa undergoes hypnosis and the Orpheus treatment has an unexpected side effect.

…

Monday came around far too quickly for Marissa's liking. But she managed to get AJ off to school in good time, pop into the hospital on the way into work to wish Bianca a good morning and still arrive in time to open up Krystal's before the customers began arriving.

The morning rush melted into the afternoon rush without her really noticing. She had settled into her management role at the Bistro quickly, especially with Camille around to help. Between them they had the routine down pat. Now she knew Camille had her back, Marissa no longer found herself overwhelmed when confronted with problematic customers and she no longer found herself getting flustered… well not until that afternoon.

…

"Well, Marissa isn't it? Have you done something new with your hair? It looks good!"

Marissa turned around to see an attractive brunette smiling at her. She was dressed in a tank top and shorts and her skin was darkly tanned; she looked like she was literally just back from holiday.

"You don't remember me do you?" said the woman still smiling. "Sienna… the lawyer from the Miranda Centre."

"Oh… okay… hello." said Marissa shaking her by the hand. She felt a strange feeling in her gut at the sight of this woman. An unfamiliar twist in her belly she couldn't quite identify. The name was familiar to her but she didn't know how or why.

"This is a little awkward." said Marissa, "But I have amnesia, so I really don't remember you at all."

"Oh god," said Sienna putting a comforting hand on Marissa's arm. "What happened?"

"I was shot." said Marissa quietly.

Sienna winced in sympathy.

"Were you in the Mansion shootings? I was so worried when I read the papers about Bianca but I've been travelling around Asia for twelve months… I only just got back. But I spoke to Muriel at the centre. She said Bianca's doing okay now."

"There have been some new complications but she's under treatment at the hospital." said Marissa sadly.

"Oh poor Bianca!" gasped Sienna. She shook her head as she sat down. "I thought a year out would be a chance to escape but I've missed so much!" Sienna gave Marissa an embarrassed smile. "I came in here for the one thing I missed the most; I just have this insane craving for chilli fries and some proper America coffee, silly isn't it?"

"Hey, at least that's something I can fix." said Marissa returning the smile; glad to be returning to her professional capacity rather than trying to be a friend to a woman she didn't know…

Maybe they had been lawyers together? Maybe that was the connection?

She took the order to the kitchen and came back with a coffee.

"Here you go, a proper cup of Joe."

"Thanks." said Sienna, she gave Marissa a curious look. "Do you think I could visit Bianca at the hospital, would she mind?"

"I don't see why she should. The more company the better in fact as far as she is concerned" said Marissa but a frown appeared on her forehead. Why did this very pleasant young woman make her skin itch?

…

Super short I'm afraid, but tomorrow is going to be an epic.