Hey, hey! I hope everyone is doing well. I feel like a broken record, thanking you on every chapter, for your kind comments and for reading, but I can't help it!

Anyway… This chapter and a very small part of the last one were inspired by the song Flicker by Niall Horan. If you want, you could listen to it before reading the chapter, or after, or even while reading it. I personally prefer the acoustic version, but you can listen to any version you want.

I hope you enjoy it!

EMOTIONS

About an hour later they were at small restaurant nearby eating breakfast and Lea was nervous.

"Thanks for taking me on a road trip. You were right, I feel a lot better. I think I'm ready to talk to Dr. Glassman." He said with a smile on his face and she smiled back.

"I feel better too… I'm gonna talk to my boss." She said and awkwardly filled her mouth with food.

"About what?" He asked.

She swallowed and answered his question "He offered me a promotion but…" She hesitated for a second but then just let the news out by adding "I'm not gonna take it" She said nervously, yet, a bit proudly.

"Why? Promotions are good." He said amusedly and chuckled, shaking his head some, then ate a piece of his pancakes. Apparently he thought that what she said was ironic.

"I know" She nodded too and took a deep breath thinking —Okay, here we go…— "I know promotions are good but It's not what I'm looking for… I'm not happy there, and I want to do what I love, you know? …I keep avoiding this feeling but, every time I drive my grandpa's car, it just reminds me of the good time I used to have when I helped him at the shop, rebuilding old cars, and I want to feel that again. I want to be that happy at work, and I'm not going to achieve it if I stay at my current job. I don't need a more impressive title or a million dollars. I want to enjoy my life… When my grandpa died, he left me his car and he left the shop to my brother, so, I'm gonna have to move back to Hershey." She said and looked at him, studying his expression and hoping for the best.

He had been quiet and listening but his eyes had gotten teary. Lea immediately knew she had hurt him and felt awful for it. She knew she had absolutely broken his heart.

"Shaun…" She said waiting for him to say something but he just put his fork and knife down, got up from his chair, and left the restaurant.

She watched him go, then buried her face into her hands. She wanted to go after him and hug him and maybe tell him she changed her mind, just to make him happy again, but she also knew he needed some time to process everything and hopefully understand her side of things. She didn't want to lose him as her friend, but she also really wanted to follow her dreams.

She got up from her chair, too, took some money out of her pocket and left it on the table, then she left the restaurant, as well. Once she was out on the sidewalk, she looked around for Shaun but she couldn't see him so she just guessed he had gone back to the motel, and she headed back there, as well.

When Lea got to their room, Shaun was pacing around it again, like earlier that morning, except now he had his hands by his ears and his pacing was anxious. There were tears in his eyes and his breathing was heavy. Lea felt her heart crumble. He didn't deserve that but there was no way back. She warily moved closer to him and he stepped back, which broke Lea's heart even more. He was hurt and rejecting her, and he had the right and reasons to do so.

"Shaun, you need to understand, please…" She said looking at him, feeling how tears started to fill her own eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear… You are one of the reasons why I'm doing this, and I don't mean that in a bad way. It hurts me, too, that I have to go away but, Shaun, you inspired me... How much you love what you do and how hard you've fought to get to where you are, it's inspiring! I envy your determination and yet I admire it. Because I want my life to be as fulfilled as yours... I want to do what I love, too! I'm trying to follow my dreams the way you've followed yours despite what anyone has ever thought of you." Her voice broke and tears trickled down her cheeks. "You're inspiring, Shaun… Do you understand?"

Shaun's pacing and breathing had gotten slower as he listened to her, apparently he had calmed down some, either by Lea's words or by realizing she was crying, too. He looked into her eyes for a moment, processing what she had said to him as she sobbed some and wiped her tears away trying to compose herself, because she felt like she was drowning in a sea of emotions.

"Just say something, please…" She begged.

"I understand." He finally said after a few minutes and looked away from her, then rubbed his eyes some, getting rid of the remaining tears, adding "Y-You make me happy, Lea… but you deserve to be happy, too, and have a job that you love, like me... I love medicine and I love being a surgeon. You love restoring old cars, you should do it." He said and nodded, but it was obvious that it had been hard for him to admit those things and go against his feelings, what he wanted from that friendship, and his confusion over several things.

Some more tears trickled down Lea's cheeks but this time they were product of a combination of feelings. She was happy that he understood, or at least it seemed like he did, but at the same time, she was sad about having to leave. She wasn't sad about leaving San Jose, she was sad about leaving town because Shaun was there. The only other persons who had made her feel that supported in her life before were her grandpa and grandma but now, Grandpa Rod was gone.

She looked up to his eyes and, not being able to help herself, she moved closer again and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest. Shaun just stood still for a few seconds, like taking in what was happening, then he slowly and gently wrapped his arms around her in a light but warm embrace.

"Thank you." She said with a shaky voice as she cried and sobbed some more against his chest. Knowing that what was coming next was going to be hard but she hoped it would bring great things. After all, she was chasing her dreams.

And they stood there for a moment, in the middle of the room, just like the first time she had hugged him. She listened to his heart, beating a little fast at first but them the rhythm slowed down to a calm and almost peaceful one, which calmed her… until Shaun had to pull away because it became a bit too much for him.

"Okay. Enough hugging" He said and Lea chuckled as she pulled back, too.

"Asshat…" She grinned at him and pushed his shoulder gently, remembering the first time she called him that, and he smiled some, also remembering.

"I know you don't mean that" He said proudly, because of what Claire had told him back then.

"Of course I don't" She grinned more and wiped her tears away, then they locked eyes for a brief moment, taking in everything that was happening and everything that had happened in the last couple of days, or rather, in the past few months, since they met.

A few days passed and, back in San Jose, Lea had talked to her boss, rejected the promotion he had offered her and quit her job. He was surprised because he didn't see such a move come, but he wished Lea the best.

Things between her and Shaun seemed to be fine but she had no idea about what Shaun had been up to for the past few days at the hospital. Though, at home, he had been helping her pack her things because, according to him, he had one of the best packing systems, and she was just happy to let him help and to spend time with him on her last couple of days in San Jose.

"Well, what about baseballs that this girl caught at a Giants game, signed by Mr. Hunter Pence? He didn't hit it, but that doesn't matter." She asked, holding a clear box with a wooden base that had a baseball in it, while sitting on the floor, where they were packing.

He glanced at it quickly and kept packing other things.

—Okay, no interest…— She thought then asked "Where is the sporting goods box?"

"Over there" He answered and pointed out one of the boxes around them. She got up and moved towards the box he had pointed out, but he immediately stopped her.

"Oh no, no, no… That does not go in the sporting goods" He shook his head and reached for the baseball box.

"Okay…" She said letting him take the box and sat on the floor again while Shaun wrapped the box in bubble wrap. He then dropped a bomb on her, shortly after.

"I thought and… I'm applying to move my residency to Penn State Medical Center."

Lea's brow went up in surprise and she looked at him "Really? …I mean… Are you trying to follow me, Shaun?" She asked in a teasing yet concerned tone.

"No" He said flatly and looked around as if he had been caught in a lie

"Shaun…" She said sternly but trying not to smile because she actually thought what Shaun was doing was somewhat cute and something no one had ever done for her, but at the same time, she knew it was wrong.

"Are you sure about it though? I don't want you to do such thing just to stay close to me."

"No" He said again and she narrowed her eyes a bit at him but he added "I want my own life... I want a life that I control, not Dr. Glassman."

"He's just trying to help you because he cares for you."

"I don't want help" He shook his head.

"Sometimes we don't want help and we don't realize we actually need it... I don't want you to leave your job, your friends, your family, just to be closer to a girl you've basically just met. You're my best friend and I'm going to miss you, but you don't have to do this."

"Penn State Health has been listed among the best hospitals in the nation." He said slightly changing the topic.

"Right…" She said and he kept talking about the hospital for a while. She just stared at him partly listening and partly worrying about his impulsive decisions, but who was her to judge him when it came to making decisions impulsively?

What if it ruined his career though? She didn't want him to resent her or something, if that happened. He didn't know anyone in Hershey, what was he going to do? She couldn't let him do such thing just because he wanted to be close to her, as cute as she thought that move was, or as much as she'd appreciate it, it wasn't right.

"Shaun…" She interrupted him and looked into his eyes "I can't let you do this."

"I'm just packing your books" He said and looked at her slightly confused. She shook her head.

"That's not what I mean…You've come so far with your goals, I can't just let you move to a place you don't know and basically restart your life, because of me… You have other friends and family here who would miss you." She added.

He pondered her words for a moment, then said "I would miss you. I don't want to miss you."

"I know…" She felt her heart melt "I will miss you, too… a lot, if I'm being honest… But we'll stay in contact, I promise." She nodded some assuringly and he glanced around like processing everything.

"Clair said she would miss me." He said with a small nod.

"See? You do have several other people who love you and worry about you." She smiled softly at him and thought —He's actually told others about this… oh Shaun…— He sighed in resignation.

It pained her to see him sad about her leaving, but she only wanted the best for him, because he deserved it.

She knew he probably was thinking about more than just a friendship between them, but, in her mind, she wasn't suitable for him that way.

That night, she was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, in the darkness of her bedroom, which was practically empty. She snuggled under her covers, suddenly feeling loneliness slip in like a cold breeze, she hated whenever that feeling attacked her, because it only meant one thing, overthinking, doubting herself, doubting and questioning everything, all at once.

She started thinking about the trip to Hershey. Did she have everything ready? Was she forgetting anything, like she usually did? Was quitting her job a good idea? Was leaving San Jose to go to Hershey and follow her dream a good move? Was she going to make it? Was she going to fail? Was everything going to go great as she expected? What if all of it was a mistake? Was she ever going to see Shaun again? Was he going to remember her or was she going to just become a distant memory in his mind? What if he's actually lying when he says he understands and he's okay with her leaving? Does he hate her? What will her family think of what she's about to embark on?

"Shut up…" She mumbled exasperated, just frustrated by her own mind.

She rolled over on her bed and closed her eyes, hoping her mind would stop overthinking and let her get some sleep.

Next evening, Shaun had arrived from work and Lea had packed the last of her things in her duffle bag. He left his backpack in his apartment then went to hers and asked if she needed any help with anything else. She looked around at her empty apartment and sighed nostalgically, then looked at Shaun.

"No, I'm all good. Everything is perfectly packed and ready to go, thanks to you." She smiled at him but she knew that smile was just hiding her insecurities about leaving everything and also leaving him, but she had to be strong.

She walked out onto the hallway and Shaun nodded with a little proud smile, which only made Lea's heart melt. She was going to miss that smile.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I wanted to give you something." She said interrupting her own thoughts, put her bag down and reached inside it to pull out the box with the baseball that she had shown him the previous night, then handed it to him.

"I'm letting you borrow it." She said with a smile and Shaun took the box. "Bring it when you come visit?"

"Okay" He answered simply.

"You promise? You're gonna come visit, right?" She looked at him in a playful challenging manner.

"I promise... I like Hershey" He said and she chuckled.

"You've never been to Hershey." She said amusedly.

"Lea's there" He said and her heart melted again. —How does he keep saying or doing the sweetest things?— She wondered trying not to get emotional, but he continued "I still could move my residency to Hershey."

"Shaun, we've talked about this…" She warned looking up at him. "I'll go, we'll achieve our goals, do what we love, even if it's in different sides of the country, and then, with some luck and organization, life will cross our paths again." She smiled softly, trying to hide her emotions again.

"What if it doesn't?" He asked, looking into her eyes, concerned about the future.

"Then we'll make it happen." She nodded reassuringly, looking into his eyes, too, and they stood there in silence for a moment, then, fighting emotions, she asked "Can I put my arms around you?" She couldn't see herself leaving without at least hugging him again.

He thought about it for a second then bent down to put the baseball on the floor and leaned back up, facing her again. She knew that was him accepting, so she gently wrapped her arms around his neck, looked up to his eyes again, and stroked the back of his neck with her fingers, sighing softly.

"Are you a good doctor?" She asked keeping him close, and he made eye contact with her once more. "'Cause when I think of you, I think you are… and I know you'll do great things and achieve anything you want… Dr. Shaun Murphy…" She said, looking at him, like studying and memorizing every feature of his face, then added "Don't ever let anyone put you down, always show them how great you can be… It doesn't matter what people think of you, because you know, and I know, how awesome you can be… never forget that" She added with a small nod, then, completely ignoring her thoughts, she glanced down to his lips, moved her hands to his cheeks and pushed herself up onto her tip toes to press her lips against his.

And there it was again, the same spark that had lighted up the first time they kissed, lit up again. They closed their eyes and remained like that for a couple seconds until she pulled back, letting go of him, knowing that, if she stayed longer, she would never leave.

She leaned down to grab her bag again then walked to the elevator, pressed the button, and stepped into it when the doors opened. She then turned around to see Shaun who was standing in the middle of the hallway, holding the baseball again.

"Remember, I said borrow" She said with a slightly shaky voice, right before the elevator doors closed.

She looked up at the ceiling, full of emotions —Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry ... — She repeated in her mind, fiddling with her fingers, until she could no longer contain herself, and her eyes began to fill with tears that a minute later trickled down her cheeks as she walked out of the elevator to her car. Once she climbed into the car, she leaned over the wheel and sobbed for a moment, letting the accumulated emotions come out, but wondered why she was being so emotional.

The thing was, she had nothing to hold her back in San Jose, except for one person, and that was Shaun. Even though it hadn't been that long since they met, he had managed to changed her life for the better in a short time. He made her believe in herself again and gave her a flicker of hope about her future, which she had not felt in a while. There was a Lea before Shaun and a Lea after him, and this Lea was definitely better, all thanks to him.

But there was a Shaun before her and a Shaun after her, too. She had given him hope about love and about truly being understood and not judged by someone else, other than Dr. Glassman, Claire or his brother. Consciously or subconsciously, she had opened doors for him in his mind and heart, and he was never going to forget that.

She wiped her tears away with her hands and took a deep breath, then adjusted her mirror and looked at herself in it. "Let's do this" she said to herself, started the car and drove off the garage, in direction to the airport, leaving with big hopes and dreams, even though a piece of her heart was always going to be in San Jose, with Shaun.