Tommy

This is just what I need. It's really what I deserve. A nice hot cup of coffee with a splash of oat milk and two sugars. There's just something about it. It's the perfect balance of sweet and rich. This is my third after being pulled to a consult at five in the morning. I'm planning on about six more by lunchtime. Besides, I wouldn't survive the long hours without it.

"Morning, Dr. O," a nurse tells me as I walk by. I turn quickly to see who that was but I'm met with seven smiling faces at the nurse's station. I think they're in the middle of morning huddle.

Oh, fuck me sideways. It's way too early for this shit.

"Morning, ladies," I mutter as I keep walking. I take another sip of the warm contents, allowing them to warm my cold insides.

I can hear their giggles behind me and I unconsciously roll my eyes. It's an immediate reaction these days. I have set a few boundaries in the recent months. Rule number one: I will not chase anyone that I work with. Rule number two: No women with children. They are completely off-limits. Rule number three: Don't give your heart out. It's back in the ice box. This is how I can stay safe. And as an unwritten rule: no women whose name starts with the letter K… they're nothing but heartache. I shiver at the thought.

It's a Monday and I'm typically holed up in my office, however, the ER was a little short-staffed and I was needed for a couple of stroke patients. When there are only five neurologists in one hospital, it can get quite overwhelming. We're in constant rotation. I was lucky to get any day off last week, especially being the new guy.

I've been living in this weird daze for the last few weeks as I grow accustomed to this new city. Jason called me up asking if I could give him a hand on my off days at his little league. Although I don't have a lot of free time, the time that I do have can be spent to good use, instead of chasing the wrong women around. I could see myself as a coach. Why not? Add it to my extensive resume.

I have to remember to give that asshole a call when I get off work.

The rest of the morning slipped away as quickly as all of the other days, I had a few follow-up appointments that I was able to do over the phone, a couple more consults from back in New York, and I was able to send Rachel a quick thank you for the weekend text.

She took it exactly like I expected she would. She called me a jerk and just about every other name in the book. Then… she said that if I ever changed my mind then to reach out. Like I said, just like how I expected. I feel bad that I don't feel bad. Does that make me a world-class jackass? Of course it does, but I can live with myself. Rachel and I both knew that the weekend was all we were going to have. I'm not sure what more she was expecting of me, but like I've told everyone before her, I'm not ready for more with the wrong person.

I type away on the laptop, writing a few more notes in the patient chart. The patient is a thirty-two-year-old woman that had survived a head-on collision a few months ago, she was on her way to recovery but she suffered a severe blow to her head in her accident. Today had been my first day working with her but I could tell she had come so far already. Physical Therapy had done wonders for her.

A knock on my door pulled me from the screen.

"Come in."

The bubbly charge nurse poked her head inside.

"Morning, Tommy," she smiled at me. Her name was Erika and unlike all of the other females in the building, she was apparently immune to my charm. She saw me more as a son, and coming from a place where I've never considered anyone a parent, that meant the world to me. She calls me by my name when it's just the two of us because it feels the most natural.

"Morning," I returned the sentiment. "Take a seat." I offered her the chair across from my desk.

Erika shook her head, "I wish I had a minute. It's getting busy out there once again. I don't know how many times I've been trying to sit my butt in a chair today only to be pulled in a different direction."

I laugh because I've been there. I think we all have.

"You have something for me?"

She gives a single nod, "Kid just came in. He's in 115 if you want to look him up. Bumped his head at school."

I take a sip of my coffee that has now gone cold from the charting and I wince. There's nothing worse than expecting a hot coffee and getting the exact opposite. I don't mind iced coffee when it's meant to be, but when it's not it's like stepping on a wet floor while you're wearing socks.

Gross.

I reach for my bag under my desk and crack open an energy drink that I had stashed in there as I was running out the door of my apartment this morning. I'm still fucking exhausted from the lack of sleep. I'm starting to think that Rachel might not have been worth it.

"Thank you," I yawn as I sip about a years dose of sugar and caffeine.

I'm met with silence as I return to the screen and begin finishing up my notes. I peer up, slightly confused and I see Erika with her hands on her hips like I had just about committed a crime.

"Yes?" I ask.

"What is that?"

I look around, unsure of what she's referring to.

"That," She beckons to my drink with her eyes

I take another sip and I'm reminded of the promise I made to her a last week about cutting off the caffeine, but in my defense, that wasn't sleep-deprived Tommy.

"Fuel," I give her a cheeky smile and her brows furrow.

Her eyes widen as if piecing together why I'm so tired and she immediately closes the door behind her and throws herself in the chair. Hmm… I thought she didn't have a minute.

She points to my neck, "Fuel for that?"

I freeze. "What are you talking about?"

She gives me a look. No fucking way.

I pull the phone from my pocket and open up my camera. In my reflection I see a huge purple bruise on my neck and I slap a hand around it. No. No. No. I've been greeting patients like this all day?

Fuck.

I throw my phone in my pocket. Can't really do much about it now, can I? Just have to wear it with pride at this point.

Is this what it feels like to get in trouble by your mom?

"This is the last one," I say quickly, knowing I'm not going to keep true to my word.

"Who was it this time?" She lifts a brow at me. She knows why I can't keep my eyes open.

This would be the moment where I would do my best to play stupid, but unfortunately for me, I have more brains than acting skills.

"Just a rando."

"What?" She hisses, "you don't know her name?"

"I do know her name, okay?" I smirk. "I'm just saying that her name isn't important."

Her head shakes as if disappointed, "You need to meet a nice girl."

I had met a nice girl.

"I prefer it when they're bad," I wink.

She grabs the stack of sticky notes on my desk and chucks them at my head.

"What?" I laugh, "Oh, come on, Erika. Like you'd ever see me settle down. I've been there and it didn't work out."

"Maybe you had met the wrong one," she shrugs.

I couldn't agree more.

"Maybe." I say as I type a bit more.

She's silent for a moment, the tapping of the keys filling the space between us.

"You should let me set you up with someone. I'm a dream matchmaker."

I grin. I've had people try to set me up many times before and all have been unsuccessful. I stopped listening after the tenth attempt. I can do my own scouting.

"Thanks but no thanks."

She lets out a frustrated sigh as she stands, "Fine. Spend all of eternity alone."

I smile to myself. Hasn't been too bad.

Once Erika leaves, I finish typing up my notes and open up the new chart and begin to review it.

Jeffrey Hart. My eyes narrow at the last name as a sadness fills me. Of course I can't help but think about Kimberly. Fuck. Everything reminds me of her. Even random kids with the same last name as hers. This sucks. I'm seriously considering getting a lobotomy on my way home to just forget about the vixen from New York.

Hart. How fitting for a woman that broke mine.

I let out one last sigh and leave the past where it was. No use thinking about it now.

I spent a few moments in the men's room fixing the collar of my shirt so that the hickey wasn't as obvious, but there wasn't much success. I pride myself in my professionalism and this screams more corner brothel. At least the high-end brothels have a policy against marking your clients.

I just have to get through the day and then find a way to break up the bruise. What do people do anyway? Cover up? Turtle neck? Scarf?

I walk up the hall and count down to 115, making sure to not miss it. The ER is like a maze and I haven't completely familiarized myself with the layout. The room comes into view and I do my best to fall into the brilliant doctor role… a character I can play very well.

Good morning, I'm Doctor Oliver. I'm the neurologist on call today. I'm going to take a look at you—- yada, yada, yada.

The sliding doors open and the world stands still.

I look down to the chart to make sure I have the right room. Did I just walk into the twilight zone?

Kimberly?

Excuse me but I've forgotten how to breathe. It's her. She's here… but how? Why?

I'm momentarily too stunned to remember where or who I am.

I scan the room quickly and I see Kimberly with a young teenage-looking kid and Trini, one of the best nurses in the unit. Hart… damn, this must be one of hers.

Remembering my manners, I say, "Good Morning."

Kimberly looks up, her face falling. She recognizes me too. Surprise! I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me. Her eyes widen as they lock on mine. How is it possible to miss someone that's standing right in front of you?

I spent night after night, sitting in a chair by the window, looking out to the sky and wondering if I ever crossed her mind. And now that she's here, and all of my prayers have been answered, I don't know how to react.

This is just so unexpected. It takes everything inside of me to not run up to her. But I almost do. She's still the same beautiful woman that I left at JFK six months back. She has beautiful golden brown hair that complements her skin perfectly. She's everything that I remembered and more. There's a mixture of emotions at the moment. I thought I would be ecstatic to see her again, and a large part of me is, but another part of me is livid. Why the fuck didn't she call me? As far as I can see, she's perfectly healthy. She's not lying in a ditch somewhere like I expected. She's here. With a likely perfectly working cell phone.

"Hi, Dr. O," Trini smiles at me.

"Morning, Trini," I answer. She smiles goofily at me and I try to ignore it.

All eyes are on me and I begin to feel a little self-conscious. That's a first. Kimberly just does something to me. I'm unsure how to handle this. Do I greet her like I know her? Or do I pretend this is our first meeting? My mouth is fucking dry right now.

"Umm… Jeffrey?" I say, clearing my throat.

"Yup," The young boy answers me.

"And… you must be mom?" I turn to Kimberly as I try to gather all the facts. I need to establish relationships first.

"Y-yes," She stammers.

She's even more beautiful than I remember and that's saying a lot. Something inside of me just wants to reach for her and take her in my arms, but I know I need to control myself. Be cool, Oliver.

"I'm Dr. Oliver. It's very nice to meet you." I stick to my usual greeting because it's what I know to be the safest. It's formal and professional. I move to address the patient, "And what seems to be the problem?"

Jeffrey rolls his eyes, "I got in a fight at school."

What a strange reaction.

I nod. A fighter, eh? I don't know why but I was under the impression that Kimberly's children were well-behaved little boys. Jeffrey was older than I expected.

"Did you hit your head?"

"I…tripped. It was an accident. They didn't even stand a chance."

I stifle a laugh because this was me as a kid. Before I met Jason I would end up in the emergency room every weekend because I would dislocate, cut, or break something. But it was never because of the bullies. It was always because I caused it. I was invincible. They got a punch in because I let them. But that was always a lie. In reality, it was because I didn't want anyone to know that I lost a fight.

I don't say anything. I grab the light from my pocket and test the brightness in my hand before lightly shining the light in each of Jeffrey's eyes. I concentrate on seeing the pupil constriction and making sure that there are no neurological abnormalities. Everything appears fine, but I can't definitively rule anything out without some proper diagnostics.

"I'm just going to look around," I say.

I feel around his head and Jeffrey pulls back when I touch a tender spot.

"Ouch," he hisses and pulls his head back.

"Does that hurt?" I ask as I look through his shaggy light brown hair.

"No," he rolls his eyes, "I just said ouch for fun." He pulls his head away once more.

What the fuck, kid.

"Jeffrey," Kimberly growls. Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink.

"He's a handful, Doc," Trini laughs, "This probably won't be the last time you see him in here for a possible concussion."

Frequent flyer, eh?

"He comes here often?" I ask Kimberly.

"We're here at least once a month," she replies, her head dipping as if embarrassed.

My heart plummets. What kind of animal house is she living in? What the fuck is going on that she's here so frequently. I get that boys will be boys, but they can be wrangled, can't they? I don't know the first thing about kids aside from what I learned in school, even then, I didn't specialize in pediatrics. Can't she keep them in a cage or something?

I turn to Jeffrey, "You like to give your mother a hard time?"

He gives me a sarcastic grin, "Keeps her on her toes."

I'm starting to dislike you, kid.

I dig through his hair again, being careful to not touch that sore spot and notice a small hematoma. It's expected with these types of injuries so I'm not too concerned. Still, I want to make sure that it's not more severe.

"Did you lose consciousness?"

"What? Like, pass out?"

"Yeah," I nod, "Did you pass out?"

Jeffrey smirks, "Only pussies pass out."

"—Jeffrey," Kimberly warns him, her cheeks even pinker than before. She turns to me, "I'm so sorry."

I hold a hand up. She doesn't need to apologize. Is this why she did it so often when we first met? Are her kids that chaotic that she has to clean up their mess for them?

What the fuck is up with this one? He can't give a straight answer to save his god damn life. Hey you little shit, stop taking years off your moms life.

"Well, I've passed out before," I tell him, hoping that he can cut the tough guy act with me. Maybe he needs someone to relate to. Last I heard, they had a shitty dad that walked out on them. I sit down in a chair across from Jeffrey, dropping down to his level.

"Like I said," Jeffrey rolls his eyes.

Someone kill me now before I strangle this fucker.

"—Jeffrey," Kimberly gasps. "I'm so sorry. He isn't usually like this. "

I kind of feel like that's a lie, but I can't blame her. I can't blame any of them. They've had a rough life and Kimberly has been doing her best with what she was left with. But I'm not taking shit from a teenager, no matter who his mother is. I was a teenager once before too.

I smirk as I turn to Jeffrey, "So you got into fight and what? You lost?"

Jeffrey's eyes narrow, "Does it look like I lost?"

I'm about to put in an order for a shock collar for this half-demon.

"I'm not sure. Let's look at the facts. You're covered in blood," I hold up a finger, "You're irritable." I hold up another. "Possibly because you lost." Jeffrey scowls. "And lastly, you're here because I need to rule out a concussion." I hold up a third finger.

I address the room. "Am I missing anything?"

Trini grins, "I think you go it all."

I glance at Kimberly who has her head sunken into her shoulders.

"I'll put an order for a CT," I tell Trini, "Hopefully they aren't too backed up. That way I can rule out a concussion."

And I can see if he was dropped on his head as a baby.

"You got it, Dr. O," She smiles at me for a ridiculously long time. I simply stare at her, unaffected and a little concerned about her ability to not blink.

Kimberly notices and gently shoves Trini's side, "Oh," Trini says, startled. She throws an arm around Kimberly as if introducing her prized trophy, "This is Kimberly. She works in this unit. So aside from Jeffrey, you'll be seeing a lot of her too."

So she wasn't lying? Why does it still feel like I know nothing about her?

"That's great," I smile. I move across the room, and extend my hand to hers, willing her to take it. She does. As my hand forms around hers, I make myself a silent promise that I'd do anything to make her mine again. "I look forward to getting to know you better."

Her beautiful eyes hold mine as she takes my hand. Her skin feels like home.

She tilts her head down, her eyes looking up at me through her full lashes, "Like-wise, Doctor."

I'm not sure how long I held her hand, it felt like hours— yet still not long enough. The memory of her hands around me all night those many months ago come flooding back. It was like it was just yesterday.

I smiled at her, feeling like my luck had finally turned around. I'd found her. All of those months of searching that I thought led me no where had actually led me to her all along. Now that she was here, I couldn't let her go. I wouldn't.

What must she think? Certainly she wouldn't believe that I wouldn't call her, right? No, that's exactly what she would think. I can't let her think that.

"Don't you have other patients to see?" Came from the whiney teenage cock-blocker.

Kimberly released my hand immediately, her demeanor now flustered.

I bit the inside of my cheek. Don't lose your shit in front of Kimberly.

"You're my priority at the moment," I said through a strained smile as I turned back to Jeffrey.

"Great," He gave me a smug smile, "but I'm over here. That's my mom."

I stared at him for a moment, wondering if the staff would question an order for a sedative. Maybe I could get away with it.

Yes, maybe some Propofol, Versed— hell, at this point I'd give him a handful of Benadryl or melatonin. Anything to knock this kid out. He's ruining this for me.

"Jeffrey," Kimberly sighs, exasperated, "You better stop it right now. This is not the time."

Trini giggles to herself, her head shaking. "What did I tell you?"

I'm glad Trini finds this humorous because I do not.

I stare at the room from across the hallway. They had just taken Jeffrey a few moments ago and I've been trying to work up the courage to go speak to Kimberly. This woman makes me nervous. I'm sweating and stuttering and my mind is completely blank. They say don't treat a patient you know personally. I may not know little Bruce Banner but I sure do know his mom… I know her in many ways.

"Hey, Dr. O," One of the nurses winks at me as she walks by. She's a tall blonde with a ponytail that bounces with each step. Just my type.

What was her name again? Kami? She'd asked me out for drinks two weeks ago and I turned her down because of my rules.

I hear my name again and I turn to see another two women giggling to each other at the nurse's station. Everywhere I go I'm surrounded by women that want a chance with me, but the only woman that I want is in that fucking room.

"We're going out tonight, Dr. O," one of them says. "Are you joining us this time?"

I bite my lip involuntarily and I shake my head to keep myself in line. No. Remember the rules.

"Can't ladies," I regretfully inform. "You know the rules."

They roll their eyes playfully at me like they had heard it all before and they go back to work.

But… Kimberly. She works here. She works in this fucking unit. Don't those rules apply to her too?

I look across the hallway once again and I see her pacing. A flutter runs up my body.

That's when I knew.

I'm willing to break all my rules for her.

Somewhere between a leap of faith and the brink of a heart attack, I muster up the courage to go into that room. She's there. As surprised as ever.

"Hi freckles," I grin at her.

She messes with her hands nervously and looks up at me, those gorgeous dark eyes holding mine. This woman is unbelievably beautiful.

"Hello," she answers softly.

The automated doors close behind me, sealing us in the small room. It suddenly got ten degrees hotter in here. I blow out a quick breath, my heart slamming away against my rib cage. Help. I think I might be having a medical emergency.

I take a few steps toward her and she counters me by taking a few steps back. She's practically running.

"I thought I'd never see you again."

Her face falls.

"I'm sorry to have put a wrench in your whole system. I never planned on seeing you again either."

My heart plummets. She didn't want to see me? I've been searching what felt like decades to find her and now that she's right in front of me… I'm left shattered.

"Oh."

It's all I could say. Had I gotten it all wrong? I know we left with things up in the air, but I really thought we had something. Maybe it's just what I wanted to see. I had been wrong before.

"I'm sorry that we're meeting again under these circumstances."

She angles her head, "Yeah, well, Jeffrey has always been a daredevil. I know he'll be fine. I think all mothers just worry."

Devil is right.

I bury my hands in my pocket, "We'll see what the CT tells us."

For the first time in my life I think I am out of words. This wasn't how I wanted our first meeting to go, pretending like we don't know each other.

"I've been searching for you," I say and I don't know why I felt the need to.

Her nostrils flare as if angered. "You can stop. I told you then and I'll say it again, I want nothing to do with you."

I don't believe it. Sure she said that months ago but I know she didn't mean it. We got along so well. It meant so much more than a throw away.

"I dropped my phone in the fountain trying to find my wallet. I had every intention of calling you. You have to believe me."

She stares at me and shrugs. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters if you think that I purposely didn't reach out. I've been going out of my mind, freckles."

"Don't call me that. Really! Don't call me that." Her voice is laced with wrath. "Don't call me freckles, don't call me Hart, don't call me anything because you never did."

"I'm sorry," I reach for her and she steps back once again, "I really did look for you. For months. I went out of my mind looking for you."

"And I don't believe you," her eyes narrow.

"Where was I supposed to look?" I ask, "You told me nothing! You think that I didn't try looking you up because I did! You have to believe me."

"Well I don't," she lifts her chin defiantly, "and even if I did, what did you expect?"

"Exactly what I told you all those months back."

"And I meant what I said back then too—No." She points to the door behind us, "As you can clearly see, I have my hands full."

I'll admit that one is a lot.

"What do you expect me to do?" I look at her. "Forget about what we had? I can't do that. I won't."

"I mean, you've been doing such a great job. I had yet to know you were here, but I knew everything that I needed to. Your reputation precedes you, Doctor Oliver. Very much so."

My head tilts at the accusation. "What does that mean?"

She wastes no time, "It means you've been screwing your way through the country."

What the fuck has she been hearing? I get that there are rumors out there about me, but most of the time they aren't true. So I haven't been a saint… for a moment I thought she had been something I had made up in my head. She left no trace behind.

My jaw drops, "I have not!"

She points to the bruise on my neck.

I had completely forgotten about that. Fucking Rachel.

I slap a hand on it. "I can explain."

"You don't need to. Trini told me all about Dr. Orgasm. You can cut the act."

I don't believe this. What the fuck have people been saying about me?

"I have not been with Trini!"

"I never said you were!"

"Then why would she know anything about it?"

"Because women talk! We know!" She runs a hand through her hair, "And you know what? I don't care. You can do whatever you want, Tommy. Do you know why? Because I still want nothing to do with you!"

"Because I didn't call?" I lower my voice, afraid someone will hear us, "Because I lost everything on my phone? I'm being punished for an accident?"

"It wasn't an accident. It was fate."

"You're right and fate is bringing us back together again to right its wrong. Or maybe this is the way it was always supposed to be."

She rolls her eyes and I can see where her son gets it from.

"I know somewhere in there you feel that I'm right," I swallow. "We spent two amazing days together. Two days that I haven't been able to forget."

She scoffs as if not believing a single word that has come out of my mouth.

"It's true."

"I don't care," she shakes her head. "Seeing you now changes nothing."

I reach for her hand and to my surprise, she doesn't pull away this time. Her warm touch is mesmerizing. "This changes everything," I whisper. "You're not getting away this time. Not until we give this a fair chance."

"We had our chance and for whatever reason it didn't work out. Let it go. Do what you do best."

"I didn't get a chance to show you what I do best," I smirk.

Her face twists in disgust as she tries to pull away at my comment. I seriously need to keep my thoughts to myself. I quickly interlock our fingers. This isn't how I want things to end.

"I'm sorry," I sigh. She makes me think crazy things. "I know what you want and I'll leave you alone, but I can't let this go without giving this a fair shot. It's not right."

I know she agrees somewhere inside of her.

She looks up at me with those beautiful dark eyes, so lost and unsure, "I don't know—"

The doors open up behind us abruptly and we jump apart just as quickly. When I turn, I find Trini wheeling back the little tyrant. That was the fastest CT in history. Do they house it in a fucking drive-thru? What kind of hospital is this? Jeffrey's eyes narrow and I determine that he saw something. Fuck.

I clear my throat to break the silence. This is awkward.

"Are you two getting along?" Trini smirks.

I hate you right now.

"Of course." I switch into my professional role so easily. "I was just going over follow-up instructions with Mrs. Hart."

"—Ms," The kid corrects me, eyeing me curiously, "She's not married."

I knew that already, but since she can't seem to tell me a thing about herself, maybe I can fish it out of the kid.

"My apologies, Ms Hart."

There's something here between us, brewing ever so subtly. We're not finished. No matter how much she denies it, no matter how many times she rejects me, I know that this isn't over.

"I have a few things I need you to sign," Trini tells Kimberly, pulling her just outside of the room. I can hear them going over routine paperwork for consent as the door shuts behind us, sealing me in with Dahmer in the making.

It's awkward. I'm not good around kids. In fact, I fucking hate them. They're loud and obnoxious, have no concept of hygiene, they don't appreciate shit, they eat like you have a never-ending supply of food in the refrigerator, and they give zero respect. I saw it all growing up in home after home. Why would you do that to yourself? Why make your life a living hell for those little parasites? Leeches! All of them!

The kid isn't talking to me… he's actually just glaring and it's quite obvious. He's not very subtle about it.

"Do you have any concerns, Jeffrey?" I ask him.

"Yeah," he narrows his eyes at me. "I do."

I stare at him blankly, the noise around me coming to a screeching halt. Getting to Kimberly might be a little harder than I thought. She's got a demon disguising himself as her son. This kid is glaring at me like I'm his next opponent in the ring. He's challenging me. Unfortunately for him, I don't back away from a challenge. If anything this makes it that much sweeter.

If only he knew how badly his mom actually wanted me.

The rage in this kid is palpable. Must take after his mom. You don't intimidate me, kid.

"And they are?"

He looks at me like the devil himself.

"Stay away from my mom."

Author note: Hey everyone! Hope you guys enjoy this new chapter. It's been in the works for some time and I'm so glad to have it out for those that are still interested! I hope you're all doing well! See you next time!