Kayla walked off the plane and looked around the waiting area for Steve. The flight had landed early, so she was not entirely surprised that he was not there yet.
As she kept an eye on the people moving through the terminal, she heard a familiar voice call her name. Turning, she saw Shane walking towards her.
Kayla was surprised and confused to see him there. "Shane, what are you doing here?"
"I'm meeting someone. I'm just on my way to her gate and I saw you here."
"Oh." Kayla kept looking nervously towards the entry to the terminal. She did not want to be rude, but she did not want to deal with what was bound to happen if Steve arrived to find Shane there.
"So how did your hearing go?" Shane asked.
"It was fine," Kayla said absently, still looking for Steve.
"Good," Shane replied. "I wanted you to know that I talked with Neil and Julie, and the position at the lab is still yours - as soon as your reinstatement comes through."
That caught Kayla's attention. "I don't even know when or if that is going to happen."
"I have faith in you," Shane said. For the first time since he had approached her, she noticed how tired he looked. The thought briefly crossed her mind that not that long ago she would have been pushing him to tell her what was so clearly bothering him. Even now, Kayla thought about asking him what was wrong, but she really did not want to prolong the conversation - not with Steve due to show up at any moment. Before she could figure out how to politely escape the conversation, Shane spoke again. "It doesn't really matter, actually. We left it that we'd hold the position open for you until you're reinstated. But even if that doesn't happen, I'll just convince them that it doesn't matter. You don't need a nursing license to be the lab administrator, and who cares what the hospital board thinks. Julie and I fund the lab."
Kayla felt both uncomfortable and appreciative. Shane knew what the lab meant to her. She had worked so hard to get the lab up and running. It had been a distraction from her grief and something that made her life feel meaningful again. It was as much a part of her life as the Emergency Center and Community Center had been. But the lab also was tied directly to Shane and her relationship with him. His comment only reminded her that he controlled the purse-strings and could use that power to control her employment.
"Look. . . ." Kayla searched for a way to turn Shane down without hurting his feelings. "I appreciate that you want to help, but I'm not sure that's what is best for the lab."
"What do you mean?" Shane sounded surprised. "You know how that lab runs better than anybody. Of course, it's best for the lab for you to return."
"Like I said, I have no idea when - or if - that reinstatement is going to come through." Kayla refused to meet Shane's eyes. "It's probably better for everybody if you just find somebody else to run it, so that the lab isn't stuck in limbo waiting for me."
Shane's eyes narrowed. "What's really going on Kayla? If you don't want to return to the lab, just say so."
Kayla sighed softly. "It's not that I don't want to return, Shane. The lab means a lot to me, you know that."
"I thought I did," Shane said.
"There's just a lot going on with my life right now. I'm not sure it's the right time to return to the lab - assuming the board even reinstates me." She looked up to see Shane studying her carefully. Unable to meet his look, she turned away.
"What you really mean is that you don't think that Steve would like you working at the lab - working with me?" Shane said, his voice tight. "That's what this is all about?"
"I really don't want to get into this with you right now." Kayla's frustration was growing. "Steve's going to be here any minute, and the last thing any of us need is another scene."
"I'm not going to cause a scene." Shane ran his hand through his hair. "But I know how hard you worked to get that lab going. You shouldn't have to give that up because of Steve's petty jealousies and insecurities."
"That's not what this is about," Kayla snapped. This time, she looked Shane directly in the eyes. "What I choose to do or not do with my career - if I even have one - is none of your business. It's between me and Steve."
Shane stepped back and took a breath. "Okay . . . You're right. This is between you and Steve, and it's really not any of my business. It's just the lab is my business, and nobody can run the lab better than you." Shane sighed. "You shouldn't let Steve and his jealousy take that away from you. You deserve better than that."
"Deserves better than what? Me?"
Kayla whirled around to see Steve standing there. He held a bouquet of yellow roses in one hand and Stephanie in the other.
"Steve!"
"Hey, Sweetness." Steve kept a smile on his face and handed Kayla the roses. "Welcome home, baby." He gave Shane a hard look. "Still can't help yourself, can you Donovan?"
"Steve-" Kayla hoped the pleading tone of her voice told him not to cause a scene.
"It's okay, Kayla," Shane said. He turned to Steve. "I just ran into Kayla while waiting for another flight to land. I should head over there now anyway."
"Yeah, you probably should," Steve said. "You wouldn't want to be late."
"Right." Shane glanced back to Kayla. "Just think about what I said."
Kayla nodded and turned back to Steve, while Shane walked away. His eye was still focused on Shane and she could see a bruise on his cheek. She sighed inwardly and wondered where that latest battle wound had come from.
"Mama!" Stephanie said, squirming in Steve's arms.
"Hi, baby doll." Kayla swooped Stephanie out of Steve's arm, hugged her daughter close, and kissed her cheek. "Did you miss me?"
"Almost as much as I did," Steve said softly.
Looking up at him, Kayla gave a small smile. "I missed you too." She paused. "I'm sorry about Shane-"
"Don't be sorry, baby." Steve ran his hand across Kayla's cheek. "You have nothing to be sorry for."
Kayla stared into Steve's eye, sensing a deeper meaning behind his words. But she did not get a chance to ask, because Steve leaned down and kissed her softly. Kayla returned the kiss, oblivious to the people around them.
A squirming Stephanie brought them back to reality. They separated, and Steve smiled as he took Stephanie back from Kayla.
"Come on, Sweetness. Let's go home. I think we have some things we need to talk about."