A/N – First of all, thank you all for reading and sticking with the story! I am forever grateful for everything you do to keep me motivated :)

And I had a great trip, thank you!

Secondly, it's been less than a week (cough – two days) but I already have an update. It's been a slow week at work – a 'calm before the storm'-sort of thing and I'm finally at the point in the story I wanted to get to when I started it, so I'm more than eager to keep writing.

Finally – to marsupial1974 (if you're still reading this) – I totally get it about the kangaroos now!

Chapter 15 – Hesitation

Effy's POV

It's not like I didn't know it was coming but the sheer force of it put me off my game immediately. We had dropped James off at his dorm and the minute he closed the door, Katie turned her intensely scrutinizing gaze on me. I had decided earlier that perhaps evasive measures could steer her attention away from me and toward Emily's situation. In all honesty, it was what really needed the attention anyway.

"She's sweet, isn't she?" Katie Fitch didn't budge. "Naomi. I can't believe we never met, being the same age and knowing the same people." Still no reactions from Katie, other than an odd smirk and raised eyebrow at my futile attempts at diverting her. After a couple of minutes of her staring intently at me, I concluded that she wasn't going to pull out the dorm parking lot until she had gotten some answers. I sighed and relented. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

Katie's smirk changed into a grin and she finally pulled away. She had won our little staring contest and was content that I was now going to stop trying to convince her that nothing even remotely eventful had just happened.

"He recognized you?", she asked bluntly, unable to disguise her eagerness.

I shrugged in reply. "Eventually." I wasn't going to make it easy for her to pump me for emotional information and was intent on using as few words as possible.

She nodded happily. "And you talked? A lot?"

"Not really", I answered with indifference and turned my head to look out the side window. Katie fell silent for a while as she navigated the car onto smaller streets.

"So it was purely brute and powerful animal attraction then?", she teased.

I shook my head and refused to turn my head toward her. I didn't find it funny. "There's no attraction, Katie."

She snorted in disbelief while pulling up at my doorstep. "Now, that I know to be a lie, Effy. And that we swore a long time ago that we would never do." She put the car in park and turned off the engine.

Accepting that she wasn't going to let me out of the car anytime soon, I sighed and turned to face her. "I mean from his point of view." I paused as a confused expression spread across her face. Katie seemed to find it hard to believe that Cook didn't wasn't interested. "He's in love with Naomi."

I watched as my best friend's expression transformed from confusion to surprise before finally landing on realization. "You're sure?", she asked despite already knowing the answer. After all, if I had picked up on it, she knew it to be true.

I simply nodded and took off my seatbelt. "It surprised me, that's all." Katie regarded me with a confused frown. "His brute animal attraction, that is." I smiled suggestively at Katie and it didn't take her long to return it.

"Well, he is quite fit and that buzz-cut really suits him, I'll give you that." She paused for a few seconds, looking thoughtful, before patting me slightly patronizingly on the knee. "So he loves a woman he knows he can never have. Does that mean he should be celibate for all eternity?"

I knew where she was going with this and wasn't like the thought hadn't crossed my mind when I felt heat shoot to my cheeks after his lips brushed against my skin. It was a bad idea though and I had pushed the thought aside almost as quickly as it had emerged. Cook was perfectly fine with Naomi being gay and his earlier issues with Emily had mostly been the result of her hurting Naomi and not the fact that she was his competition in any way, shape or form. No, he had accepted long ago that his undying affection for his best friend would never be reciprocated. I could even imagine several scenarios where he would have assisted her in pulling girls – and from what I knew about his past, I surely wouldn't put it past him.

It didn't matter though because I had no interest in pursuing him. It was neither the right time nor the right place and considering the heartache he was bound for in the near future, the only thing I could contemplate being, was his friend. Granted, a friend that might make my cheeks blush on occasion, but a friend nonetheless.

I took a deep breath and smiled at Katie who was eyeing me excitedly. I knew her well enough to know that she would try her best to manipulate the situation and despite enjoying her performing her magic on other people, but it was quite different when it involved me.

"Leave it, Katie." I warned but without animosity. "This situation doesn't really need any additional complications, does it?"

Her smile faded and she let out a loud sigh. "Fine". She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. I had finally managed to change the subject and I saw my own reservations about Emily's involvement with Naomi mirrored in Katie's face. "She's completely smitten. Do you think it's even possible to fall for someone that quickly?", she asked and sounded exhausted, keeping her eyes closed.

I frowned and thought back to the way Emily had reacted Friday night after having interacted with Naomi for the first time. She had been acting out of character all night and it wasn't really a surprise to see her in such a state when we arrived at her flat bearing alcohol on Saturday. Nothing I had experienced or witnessed in my life came close to the impact Naomi had had on Emily. Meeting Naomi today had only confirmed everything I already suspected to be true. One of my favorite people in the world was headed for the worst kind of heartbreak and there was nothing I could do to prevent it. All I could do, was try and be there for her as it happened.

"Yes", I finally answered and a memory of Emily's expression as she pulled away from sharing a kiss with Naomi brought a smile to my face. "I do."

We sat silent in the car for a while, both of us contemplating Emily's situation. I knew that part of Katie was happy for her sister, happy that she had finally allowed herself to fall for someone head first, without letting her powerful, overactive brain stop her. I also knew that Katie, much like myself, was ecstatic about the fact that Emily was finally starting to realize that women might suit her much better than men.

Before she left, Katie got me up to speed about Jeremy and I was angry to learn about his promotion and move to Zurich. I had always liked him and I had been worried about his feelings ever since Emily confessed to having started an affair – even if it was a very innocent one. Realizing that he had been deceiving Emily for months and had been the cause of their constant fighting, I lost most of the respect I had for the man and put him out of my mind. Katie was less intent on letting him go and told me she was planning on keeping in contact with him until she was completely sure Emily could survive this whole thing without him. It was the most selfish thing I had heard from Katie's lips in at least five years and she wasn't even being selfish for her own but for her sexually confused twin's sake.

We said our goodbyes and I raced up the stairs to my flat. I hadn't been there since Friday afternoon, having spent the night at Katie's and the following night at Emily's. I took a quick shower, made myself a hot cup of tea and sat down in front on my sketchbook. I drew Naomi's eyes from memory and within the hour, the drawing had warped into a mix of Naomi, Emily and Cook's somewhat distorted faces. To me, the sketch represented the manifestation of extreme torture and desperation – all of which I was feeling on their behalves. I sighed as I put the pencil down and rubbed my sore fingers. The sound of an incoming message brought me back to the present and I reached for it, expecting it to be Katie reminding me when she would be picking me up in the morning.

Surprisingly, the number wasn't in my phonebook and as I opened it and read the first line, my stomach did the strangest little flutter.

A party at Freddie's shed. You were wearing black fishnet stockings and a long, dark blue top that matched your eyes. I don't remember much from back then but I do remember those eyes - Cook

Naomi's POV

A few rays of early morning sunlight managed to pass through the closed blinds of my window. The room was still dark but the rays seemed intent on illuminating the sleeping figure of Emily Fitch. Her dark hair was ruffled and fell across her face, her lips slightly parted as she drew in regular breaths. I had been watching her sleep for the past hour and was intrigued at how watching her sleep could bring me such immense joy.

I don't remember falling asleep but it was long past midnight. I haven't had the energy to stay awake for that long for about a month or so and was shocked when Emily suddenly realized how late it had gotten. She had scorned herself for keeping me awake before 'the most important day in the rest of my life', as she so dramatically put it. I begged her to stay until I had fallen asleep, well not begged per say – she more or less offered without incentive – and was thrilled to wake in the morning to a sleeping beauty.

It was still early but I was getting increasingly nervous that a nurse or, even worse, Kieran or JJ would soon be knocking on my door. And that, of course, would result in disaster. I sighed and shifted slightly, preparing to lean in and wake her with a kiss. A few strands of hair fell across her nose as I moved and she stirred a little and scratched it. I couldn't help but smile and leaned in to place a kiss on her cute, button-nose instead of her lips. Her eyes flew open and after a split second of confusion, a warm, shy smile spread across her lips. She tilted her head upwards towards me and planted a soft, lingering kiss on my lips.

"What time is it?", she whispered sweetly. I placed a hand on her cheek and tugged a few runaway strands of hair behind her tiny, slightly pointed elf-ear.

"Almost 8 o'clock", I whispered and smiled into her lips as she sweetly kissed me again. Realization dawned on her and she abruptly pulled away and almost performed a full back flip as she rolled out of bed. Panic was written in both her face and her flustered body language as she hopelessly tried to straighten her wrinkled clothes, staring at the door with large eyes.

"It's alright, no one's been in to check on me yet." I couldn't help myself and started to giggle at Emily's increasingly panicked expression.

She ignored me and ran her hands through her hair and smoothly put it up, making it look less ruffled and giving her a more professional look. My giggles subsided as she ran into my bathroom and, from what I could tell from the gasps, splashed some cold water in her face. She came out after a few minutes and was looking wonderfully refreshed.

"I take it that wasn't the first time you've spent an entire night at the hospital?" She smiled warmly and seemed more relaxed. Even if someone interrupted us now, she wouldn't look like she had been having inappropriate relations with a patient. Not that anything inappropriate really went on anyway. Last night I had regrettably realized that despite my body's reaction to Emily's presence and affections, I was too weak for anything really physical to happen between us. My body was in a constant state of exhaustion and it had been almost a week since they drained my abdomen of built up fluids and it was starting to get painful again. Emily had been very aware of my condition and had at no point put any weight on my body, which was incredibly considerate as well as extremely frustrating.

She sent me a beautiful smile that caused my heart to race. "No," she replied, shaking her head, "It happens quite often – so much so that I keep a change of clothes at the office." She bent down and placed a soft kiss on my lips. I couldn't hide my disappointment when she pulled away. "But it's never been this enjoyable."

I smiled, grabbed her neck and pulled her down toward me but the sound of a hand on the doorknob interrupted. Emily slowly removed herself from my embrace and I was impressed with her self-control. I had expected her to jump away from the bed but I suppose that would make it appear as if we were in fact doing something wrong. This way, it seemed more like we had been greeting each other with a friendly squeeze.

"Oh, don't stop on my account!"

I recognized Cook's voice and turned to see him grinning at us.

"Your Mum passed that Kieran-fucker at the nurse's desk and if I know her, she'll keep him occupied for a minute or two. You're safe, for now." He gave me a quick peck on the cheek in greeting and acknowledged Emily with a grin before taking a seat by my feet. Despite his seemingly carefree attitude, I knew him well enough to know from his tone that he was far from relaxed. Somehow Emily picked up on it as well and decided to give us some privacy. Rounds started at 8 and she had to meet with JJ and Kieran soon anyway. She put on her jacket and walked to the door, turned back to send me one of her glorious smiles and left us, closing the door behind her.

I wiped the goofy grin Emily's smile had left me with off my face and turned to glare at Cook. He was smiling but there was no joy in his eyes. I frowned. "What's wrong?" He broke eye contact as his smile faltered and I resorted to kicking him to get him to look at me. "Cook!"

"Naomi…", he hesitated and I knew it was bad because he hardly ever used my actual name. He sighed and looked at me, "I'm just a little angry, alright?" He sent me a small smile and shrugged. "I literally just got here and they are already taking you from me." He was referring to the one week in isolation I had to spend after receiving treatment.

In all of the excitement yesterday I had managed to push the facts of the trial out of my mind despite discussing it at great lengths with Emily. This morning, they were going to run some final tests but unless something unexpected happened, I would be transferred to an isolated room and stay there until I was safe for my surroundings. Mum and Cook would only be in contact with me through the phone, Skype or the surveillance system during the coming week. Kieran and JJ along with the nurses in charge would be the only ones with access to me. Since Emily wasn't technically part of the medical staff, she wasn't allowed near me during the first days following treatment either. For some reason, and I'm guessing that reason's name was Emily, I had forgotten about that part of the trial.

Reality struck me hard and I felt panic emerging. Cook noticed immediately and rushed to hold me close as I started to hyperventilate. He whispered sweetly in my ear, asking me to breathe and rocked me as if I were a young child. It worked, the panic faded and my breathing returned to its regular pattern. I sniffled back a few tears and he released me, placing a firm kiss on my forehead. Cook was, and would always be, my rock. The door opened behind him and Kieran, JJ and Emily walked in, flanked by Mum who, from the looks of it, had been shedding a few tears recently.

It was time.

JJ and Cook helped me ease into a wheelchair while Kieran explained the events of the day and asked for my final approval. Mum failed to keep up appearances and broke down several times before they had even started rolling me out of the room. She embraced me and refused to let go before Cook took hold of her from behind, hugging her firmly while she sobbed against his shoulder. She had been so strong for so long but now that Cook was back, she allowed herself to grieve and show her pain. Emily busied herself with untangling the chord of the morphine pump from the additional wires by my bed but her pained expression didn't go unnoticed.

I had placed blind trust in my team and it wasn't until this very moment that I realized that despite all of their preparations and precautions, they couldn't guarantee that I would make it through the first cycle alive. They had of course been upfront about it and the odds were incredibly small but there was always a risk associated with radioimmuno-therapy and they were about to expose me to it.

I suppressed the emerging panic and allowed myself to have some rare faith. I looked up at Mum and Cook with a determined expression, "I love you both. And I will see you soon."

It took them a while but they eventually nodded in ironclad agreement and kissed me goodbye. Mum called out a final 'I love you' as JJ pushed my wheelchair through the doors to the isolation wing.

After drawing a little blood for the final tests, they left me in a barren, chilly room with a thick lead shielding covering the walls, ceiling and windows. JJ and a nurse had helped me get comfortable in the bed but being left alone in the room did little to appease my growing apprehension. It felt like an eternity had passed before the heavy door opened again.

Emily smiled reassuringly at me and walked to my side. She placed a hand atop mine and stopped my fidgeting. The room was video-monitored but not wired so we could speak freely but anything other than that was out of the question. It mattered little anyway since I was too freaked out by the thought of dying from radiation poisoning. That scene from the first Indiana Jones film where the Germans melt sprung to mind.

"Effy just texted me," she said sweetly, like there was nothing going on out of the ordinary. Emily was trying to calm and reassure me. "She wanted me to wish you luck and to tell you that James thought it was too bad you were a lesbian." The warmth and sincerity of the smile spreading on Emily's face calmed my agitated nerves a little, but not nearly enough. I managed a nod and clutched her hand so hard my knuckles turned white.

Emily looked over her shoulder and shifted in order to have her back to the camera above the door. "I really want to kiss you again", she whispered and held my gaze to make sure I knew she meant it. Her brown eyes were aglow with heated passion and determination as she spoke again, "And I will." She squeezed my hand and I felt my body relax as the force of her emotions washed my fears away. She was the expert and if she was sure – how could I not be? I smiled shyly and laced her fingers with mine. How can anyone go through this without having an Emily to calm them?

She placed a friendly and unbearably chaste kiss on my cheek and let go of my hand as JJ and Kieran entered the room along with two nurses. Kieran acknowledged Emily with a nod before turning to me.

"Ms. Campbell", he started, eyes aglow with anticipation, "Are you ready?"

Thank you for reading!

Experimental treatment is scary but I have faith in the team and the trial. Do you?

And how did Cook get Effy's number? What will Gina do with her time now that Naomi is in isolation? Will Emily's resolve falter during her separation from Naomi?

All this and more, next time…