Both women watched as they walked out of the room and exit the ICU.

"Thanks for helping me getting him out of the room for a while."

"I get it. Irving was the same after my car accident. We can't blame them; we'd do the same if it were them and it shows that they care."

"Yeah. I guess you and I can say that we're extremely lucky with those two in our lives."

"It feels good, doesn't it?"

"It sure does."

"So… I know that maybe I shouldn't be bringing this up, but I know that I speak for everyone when I say thank you. What you did was brave and reckless. Red Rock Medical is officially out of the picture, and we can focus again on what is important to us and to our patients."

"That's what we signed up for when we set out to do our jobs. Even if the outcome had been different for me, I still would do it all again."

"I prefer this version of the story better."

"So do I."

"What's next?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean between you and Conrad."

"We decided to move in together which is already a big thing. I guess we'll take it from there, one step at a time."

"Marriage and kids?"

"I don't know. I mean is Conrad even a marriage kind of guy?"

Jessica shrugged.

"I don't know. I didn't think Irving was and look where we are today. Happily married. Sometimes, even if you're not the marrying type, meeting the right person can change your point of view on marriage. I think it was that way for Irving."

Jessica looked at the monitor. "Your temperature is dropping."

"It's just a urinary tract infection, I'll just need some antibiotics for a week, and it'll be fine."

"I thought you were just a patient and yet here you are making a diagnosis."

They jerked their heads around and saw Al standing in the frame of the door.

"I'm only going with my gut instinct, differentials and surgical history."

"Well, they never fail you. It is a UTI and I'll get you started on antibiotics right away."

He looked at Jessica. "You think you could give us a minute?"

Jessica turned her attention to Julia making sure it was OK. As Julia nodded, she stood and walked out.

Al stood at the foot of her bed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"About you and Conrad."

"Because it had nothing to do with you or concern you."

"I'm your friend."

"Yes, and none of my friends, or his friends knew either."

"I had the right to know, don't you think?"

"Why? Because you and I have a history together? It doesn't work that way Al."

"Do you love him?"

Her face that had been bold and serious shifted to a smile.

"Yes, I do."

Al swallowed but said nothing at first.

"Do you ever think about where we would be today if I hadn't…"

"Cheated on me?"

Al nodded.

"No. When we were together, I often imagined what our life would be like, but the minute you slept with her, they vanished. And now, I don't think about it Al. I don't think about you. If there is one person who I think about and who I dream about what my future life can be, it's Conrad."

Conrad who had returned and quietly placed himself against the wall, just outside of the room, next to the door, felt touched by what she said. He too; had over the past days, imagined what their life together would be like, and he was impatient to make those visions come true.

"Al, if you care about me and our friendship, it's time you let it go, that you let me go. We are the past and I'm not your future and if you don't get past that, you'll never be happy or ever let anyone else into your life to love you. I want you to be happy. I want you to feel butterflies in your stomach and feel your heartrate accelerate when she'll look at you the way Conrad looks at me. I want you to love, to have a family one day, with the woman who will be by your side. It's just not me anymore and it will never be."

Al bit his lip. "It's hard."

"I know it is. I guess you are where I was years ago when I realized things were over between us. The only difference is I never hurt you like you hurt me."

It was one thing he loved about her, she always spoke the truth, it hurt but it was never mean. And he couldn't deny a word of what she had said.

"Conrad is one lucky guy. I hope he knows that and that he will never hurt you like I did."

Julia nodded.

"I'll have the nurses hook up the antibiotics. I'm done for the day, but Bell is there if you need anything. In three days, if the antibiotics work, we'll discharge you. I think it's time you were in the comfort of your own home."

"Thanks Al."

Al walked out of the room and Conrad waited a few minutes before going inside.

She smiled. "Hey, how was dinner?"

"Delicious. I'm glad you convinced me to go. Everything OK?"

"Yep, temp is down and it's a UTI which is common with kidney removal surgery. Al's taking care of the antibiotics."