Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 21:25:18 -0400
From: JT Poole <jtpoole9@nctv.com>
Subject: Boybands - If I Ain't Got You - 20

Warnings and Disclaimers:

1) If reading this is in any way illegal in your town, state or zip code
because of your age, religion, or other government rules you shouldn't read
this.

2) If you don't want to read about male/male gay sexual relationships, go
away. You shouldn't waste your time with this story.

3) I don't know any of the members of 'N Sync, or any other celebrities that
may be mentioned in this story.  This story in no way is meant to imply
anything about 'N Sync, and any other celebrities sexualities,
personalities, or anything else.  This is a work of pure fiction.

Questions and commentary can be sent to "jtpoole9@nctv.com". I want to hear
from everyone out there that is reading this story, tell me what you think
whether it is bad or good.

======================================
If I Ain't Got You -- Chapter 20
by JT Poole and some elements by MzNikkiGotStyle

// Orlando, FL -- Florida Hospital -- JT's Office //

"Look I really don't want to be up here working, so tell me what the deal is
Candy and I will stop wasting your time."  JT spoke into his phone.

"Mr. Poole I am under orders by Mr. Tanner to keep that information
confidential."  Candy, the nurse on duty on the Prison Ward spoke.

"Excuse me I don't want to have to come up there.  I am really having a bad
day and I am not in the mood for this crap today.  I asked you a direct
question about the patient I am supposed to be talking with right now and
you give me some line about Larry telling you not to tell me.  I am the head
of psychiatry now and I will not put up with impudence."  JT stated just as
Larry Tanner walked into his office.  "Never mind."

"Mr. Poole what seems to be the problem here?"  Larry asked sitting down in
front of JT's desk.

"Well you can start off by telling me why I am getting the run around with
Brian Littrell."  JT spoke, slinging Brian's patient folder at Larry.  "I
have been on the phone for a good hour being bounced from person to person
trying to get information about this guy."

"Well if you would have asked me first, then you would have known the deal."
Larry stated.

"Why in hell do I need to ask you before I talk with a person that is on my
list of patients?"  JT asked, standing up behind his desk now.

"Because I demoted you."  Larry stated.  "You are no longer Head of
Psychiatry, Valgina Williams is."

"What the hell?!"  JT screamed.  "You can't do that Larry.  If you are
demoting me and putting Valgina in control then I am quitting."

"Well you do what you must do JT, but my word stands as it is.  Valgina is
the new Head of Psychiatry."  Larry stated, getting up out of the chair
walking out of JT's office.

"Fuck this shit.  I'm outta here."  JT stated, getting his knapsack and
picking up his crutches.

// ER Lobby -- 15 Minutes Later //

"What's going on JT, where are you going?"  Angela asked, walking up to JT.

"I just quit."  JT stated, still walking through the lobby.

"What do you mean you just quit?"  Angela asked.

"I mean I quit.  Larry demoted me and Valgina is now head of Psychiatry.  So
I quit."  JT stated, pushing the door open with his crutch.

"You can't just quit.  What about me, what about Steve, you can't just leave
us here with her."  Angela spoke.

"Oh yes I can.  There's no reason for me to stay here and be subjected to
whatever Valgina has in her twisted mind to do.  So I am saving a whole lot
of trouble and future possible lawsuits and jail time."  JT stated, walking
into the parking garage.

"What will you do for money JT?"  Angela asked.

"I can get another job elsewhere if need be, if not, remember I have money
and investments Angie."  JT states, stepping into the elevator.  "Is there
anything else Angie?"

"I guess not."  Angela stated.

"Will you be stopping by for lunch?"  JT asked her.

"I guess so, probably Steve too after he finds out you have quit."  Angela
spoke, as her phone rang.  "Hello?"

"Angela this is Kevin.  Please, don't hang up.  Could I please talk with
you?"   Kevin asked.

"Kevin I have nothing more to say to you.  Loose my fucking number.  Don't
ever call me again."  Angela stated, pressing the end button on her phone.

"What was that all about?"  JT asked.

"Kevin wants to talk."  Angela stated, placing her phone in her pocket.

"Well aren't you going to talk to him?"  JT asked.

"Hell no.  I told you what he did."  Angela stated, turning away from JT.

"Yeah you told me what he did and you also told me how you felt with your
body language.  You have strong feelings for him girl.  It was just
something that happened in the heat of passion.  You told me that he had a
relationship with a man and maybe he was thinking about you, but said the
wrong name."  JT stated.

"Are you listening to yourself on this one?"  Angela asked.

"I know it sounds strange Angie, but give him a chance to explain, see what
he has to say before you write him off."  JT stated, getting into the SVU.

"I can't do that J, I just can't.  We were making love and he called out
another person's name, a man no less.  How do you think I felt when I heard
him say Jayce?"  Angela asked JT.

"I know you were hurt, but like I said, people say things in the heat of
passion.  Just hear what he has to say, make sure you listen objectively."
JT stated cranking the SVU up.  "It's a Saturday, have a good day.  I know I
am as soon as I get home.  I will be back later to check on Kai."

"Alright you brat.  I will see you at lunch."  Angela stated, walking back
to the hospital.

// Up in Larry Tanner's Officer //

"Good morning Larry, I need to talk to you a for a moment."  Larry heard
someone say, walking into his office and sitting in the chair in front of
his desk.

"My Sylar how are you doing today?"  Larry asked, standing up and shaking
the man's hand.

"I am doing fine Mr. Tanner."  Mr. Sylar spoke.  "I came to talk to you
because I just heard the strangest thing."

"What did you hear Mr. Sylar?"  Larry asked.

"I just heard that JT Poole quit and he quit because you told him that he
wasn't head of psychiatry.  Why did I hear that?"  Mr. Sylar asked.

"Well sir I was told that he was being demoted and that the new employee Ms.
Williams would be head of psychiatry."  Larry stated, stumbling over his
words.

"Where did you hear this information from?"  My Sylar asked.

"I heard it this morning in the board meeting."  Larry stated.

"Are you sure you heard that Mr. Tanner?"  Mr. Sylar asked.  "I was in that
board meeting this morning and I have no recollection of hearing what you
just told me.  Which board member made the statement?"

"Well sir I don't know which board member made the statement."  Larry
stated, still stumbling over his words.

"Well I can agree with you on that note.  I don't know who said it either.
Mr. Tanner answer me this.  Why would the hospital promote a new employee to
head of psychiatry over an employee that has been with us longer than the
new employee has been in the field of study?"  Mr. Sylar asked.

"Sir I don't know the answer to that.  I was just going by what I heard
 sir."  Larry stated.

"Larry I don't know what you heard, but what you have done here today
constitutes your termination from this company."  Mr. Sylar stated.

"What, what are you talking about Mr. Sylar?"  Larry asked, getting upset
now.

"I have talked with other employees around here today Mr. Tanner and they
have all informed me that you have had it in for JT for awhile now.  After
reading JT's reports about things you have done and reading reports from
other staff members here, it seems everything you have done, you did because
of JT's sexual orientation.  All this information leads me to believe that
you only told him he was demoted to get under his skin and make him quit.
As of this moment Mr. Tanner you will tender your resignation to the board
and I will assure you that you will leave with severance pay.  If you fight
this, you will loose.  I want you out of this hospital by the end of
business today."  Mr. Sylar spoke, getting up out of the chair, shaking
Larry's hand and walking out of his office.  "Be out by the end of the
business day or I will have security escort you out."

"I don't fucking believe this.  I have been fired all because of a faggot.
Oh he will pay for this."  Larry spoke to himself as he started gathering
all of his personal things.

// Kasai's Hospital Room //

"Hello there."  Aaron Carter spoke, walking into Kasai's room.

"Hi."  Kasai spoke, pulling the covers up to cover his exposed chest.

"I wasn't trying to disturb you, but I was looking for your dad."  Aaron
spoke.

"Which one?"  Kasai asked.

"Oh?  Yeah that's right, you have two.  Forgive my ignorance; I'm kinda slow
today.  I was looking for Mr. Poole.  Is he here?" Aaron asked.

"No Daddy J hasn't been here today."  Kasai spoke, sitting up in bed now.
"Have you tried his office on the second floor?"

"Yes I went there, but no one is there.  I assumed he would be here, but I
was wrong again."  Aaron stated.  "Sorry for bothering you."

"It was no bother.  It's always good to have company."  Kasai stated,
smiling at Aaron.

"Well cool.  If I have the time, I will drop back by later to see what's
poppin'."  Aaron stated, waving at Kasai and walking out of the room.

"Damn he's hot.  Wonder what I have to do to get the digits."  Kasai spoke
just as Mark walked into the room.  "Hi Daddy Mark, where's Daddy J?"

"I have no idea.  I thought he was here."  Mark spoke, sitting next to Kasai
on the bed.

"Well that kid that just walked out is looking for him."  Kasai spoke.

"That's Aaron Carter.  He's problem still trying to find his brother."  Mark
stated, just as his phone rang.  "Hello baby.  Where are you?"

"I'm at home.  Where are you?"  JT asked.

"I'm at the hospital with Kai."  Mark stated.

"Well damn.  We must have missed each other.  I just got here."  JT stated.

"What are you doing home baby.  You should be here."  Mark stated.

"No am I not.  Larry demoted me so I quit."  JT stated.

"You quit?  Baby what did he do?"  Mark asked.

"He told me that I was demoted and that Valgina was gonna be my boss so I
quit."  JT stated, fumbling with his laptop.

"Damn baby.  So what are you going to do now?"  Mark asked.

"Well since you are at the hospital I'm going back there.  Spend the rest of
the day with our baby."  JT stated, pushing his laptop back into his
knapsack.

"Okay honey.  I will see you when you get here."  Mark stated, making
kissing noises into the phone.  "I love you."

"I love you too."  JT said, hanging up the phone.

"You guys are just too mushy for me."  Kasai stated, laughing.

"Oh whatever kid."  Mark stated, grabbing Kasai and kissing him on the cheek
and then started tickling him, causing Kasai to freak out a little bit.

"Get off me!  Get off me!  Please don't hurt me!"  Kasai screamed, pushing
Mark off of him.

"Baby, baby I would never hurt you."  Mark stated, getting off of the bed
and stepping away from Kasai as he cried.  "I'm sorry baby."

"No Daddy Mark I'm sorry.  I just...I just don't know what to do."  Kasai
stated, crying now as Mark sat back down on the bed and hugged him.

// In JT's SVU //

--- JT's POV ---

On the way out of the house back to hospital, Dean was waiting out in the
yard for me.  He told me he needed to talk to me and that it was important
that he talked to Mark and me about it together.  Thinking to myself about
what Dean could possibly want to talk about, he asks me can he go with me to
the hospital to see Kai.  I agree and we get into my SVU.

"So what is it that you need to talk to us about Dean?"  I ask him, turning
onto Ventura Boulevard.

"Well I think I will rather wait until you two are together.  I don't want
Mark thinking I am trying to get with you or anything.  I still love you JT,
but not like I used to love you."  He says, looking out of the window.

"Dean what is it.  Why are you here all of a sudden?"  I ask, trying to keep
my eyes on the road.

"Fine, I guess I can tell that part.  I got married and now I am divorced."
He says to me, almost causing me to run off the road when I heard what he
had said.

"You got married?  To who?"  I ask him.

"I married Shannon Elizabeth, you know the girl from `American Pie'.  Well
we got married last year and when she caught me sleeping around with someone
else she left me."  He told me, still looking out the window.

"Okay so who did you cheat on her with?"  I ask, turning into the hospital
parking garage.

"She caught me with Paul Walker.  I fell in love with him, but he didn't
love me J, he didn't love me.  I sacrificed the relationship with her for a
guy that didn't love me."  He told me, tears running down his face now.

"I'm so sorry Dean, I didn't know."  I tell him, leaning over and hugging
him.  "Everything will be okay.  I promise you that."

"You can't tell me that JT, I am heartbroken.  Things will never be the
same, ever."  He said as we got out of the SVU.

"Come on, let's go see Kai."  I tell him.

// 30 Minutes Later -- Kasai's Room //

"Hello?"  JT asked into his phone.

"Mr. Poole, Daniel Sylar here."  JT heard the man say.

"Hello Mr. Sylar.  What can I do for you?"  JT asked, pulling out his
laptop.

"I was calling to convince you to take your job back."  Mr. Sylar spoke.

"I don't think I would want my job back.  As long as Valgina Williams would
have been my boss, I wouldn't want to work here again."  JT spoke.

"That's just it Mr. Poole, you were never demoted.  You are still head of
psychiatry."  Mr. Sylar spoke.

"What?"  JT asked.

"You are still head of psychiatry.  So far no paperwork has been processed
for your resignation, so you are still employed here and still the head of
psychiatry.  Also Larry Tanner is no longer here.  He's been terminated
immediately.  Please Mr. Poole come back to work.  I don't want to loose
your expertise."  Mr. Sylar spoke as JT contemplated his new option.

"I guess I will come back."  JT spoke.

"Good Mr. Poole.  I expect to see you in your office at your earliest
convenience."  Mr. Sylar spoke.

"Well I am here in the hospital, I can be there in a few minutes."  JT
stated.

"Well I will see you in a few minutes."  Mr. Sylar stated hanging up the
phone.

"I wasn't demoted baby."  JT stated.  "I'm still the boss up there.
Yahooooooo!"  (no pun intended)

// During Lunch -- Hospital Cafeteria //

"So what is it that you wanted to talk about?"  JT asked, as Mark sat down
next to him as the both of them looked at Dean strangely.

"Will the both of you stop looking at me so strangely?  Damn, I just wanted
to ask a favor of you two."  Dean spoke.

"What kind of favor Dean?"  Mark asked, sliding closer to JT.

"I was wondering, I was wondering...could I move in with you guys?"  Dean
asked, holding his head down, staring at the table.

"What?!?"  JT and Mark spoke in unison.

"Nevermind, I will find some place else to live."  Dean stated, getting up
from the table and walking away.

"Dean, Dean wait."  JT stated, getting up and walking over to Dean.  "Just
come and sit back down.  Why do you need a place to live?"

"Well I told you about what happened with Shannon."  Dean stated.  "To
start, the divorce is final and she really didn't want to play fair since
she was mad as hell.  I decided to settle out of court, but instead, she got
a woman judge and the bitch gave Shannon my house and both of my cars.  She
didn't mess with the rest of my assets, but I have to pay Shannon $50,000
per month for alimony."

"Well damn.  Who did you cheat on her with?"  Mark asked.

"Does it really matter?"  Dean asked, looking down at the table again.

"Oh my God, you didn't."  Mark spoke, getting up from the table and looking
at JT with a hurt look on his face.  "I knew it!  You show your face for one
minute and you two are back together again!"

"What?  Baby what are you talking about?  Dean didn't sleep with me if that'
s what you're thinking."  JT stated.  "Dean tell him who it was, damn I don'
t need this argument again."

"She caught me with Paul Walker."  Dean stated.  "Look Mark I understand how
things seem, but me and JT haven't been together for a long time and
basically, I don't have the same feelings for him like I used to, it's just
a friendship/family bond that we share, has nothing to do with romance or
anything like that."

"Yeah right."  Mark stated.

"Baby I thought we had gone through this last night.  If you don't have
enough sense to trust me, then I think it's time for us to go our separate
ways.  I don't need the constant temper tantrums and this so called
jealousy."  JT stated, grabbing his bag and crutches.

"Baby don't, I'm sorry.  You know I trust you."  Mark stated.

"If you trusted me, you wouldn't think I would jump back into bed with
someone else.  The only man I love and sleep with is you and only you.  When
are you going to get that through your head Mark, I married you, not him!"
JT stated, punching Mark in the shoulder and then walking away from Mark
crying.

// Up in JT's Office //

"Hello you two.  Where have you been?"  JT asked as Nick and Justin came
into his office.

"Well I took Justy on an outing for a few hours."  Nick stated, leaning down
and kissing Justin on the cheek.

"Oh yeah, where did you two go?  Did you have fun?" JT asked, looking at the
two of them.

"Yes it was quite fun."  Justin stated blushing.

"Well I am glad you had fun.  What can I do for you guys?"  JT asked.

"Well we are here because I want to know when can I leave this place?"
Justin asked.

"You will be cleared to leave here when your doctor and I believe you are
ready to go out into the world and know how to handle everyday living."  JT
spoke, flipping through some papers on his desk.

"That's just it JT, I think I am ready."  Justin stated.  "I just need to
get out of here."

"Really, where are you going?"  JT asked, standing up and walking around his
desk to lean up against it in front of Justin.

"Well ah...ah...we haven't thought that far along."  Justin stated.

"Where were you planning on going?"  JT asked.

"Nick's hotel room."  Justin stated.

"Nick's hotel room?  Hmmm...do you think that's a good idea?"  JT asked.

"Right now it is until I can get into a place of my own."  Justin stated.

"And where are you going to look for a place of your own Justin?"  JT asked.

"Well ah...ah...I don't know where to look."  Justin stated.

"That figures."  JT stated.  "Justin if you don't have a place to go, I just
can't agree to you leaving the hospital."

"Why not JT?  I can't stay in this hospital forever.  People are starting to
circulate rumors around here and I am scared that some of them might get
out."  Justin stated.

"What kind of rumors Justin?  Nick do you have a clue what he's talking
about?"  JT asked.

"The rumors about me and Nick being romantically involved."  Justin stated.

"Well you are."  JT stated.

"Well yes, but that's nobody's business but ours and our friends that know
about us."  Justin stated.  "I want to get out of this place because I don't
have any privacy here and I want to spend every waking moment with the man
that will soon be my husband."

"Your husband?"  JT asked, blinking twice when he heard Justin say that.

"Yes, I'm going to be Nick Timberlake soon."  Nick stated, smiling from
ear-to-ear.

"Congratulations you two."  JT stated.  "When is the big day?"

"Well we haven't decided on a date yet.  We are trying to solve our other
problems first."  Nick said that with a frown.

"What other problems?"  JT asked, looking at Nick with concern in his eyes.

"I don't want to talk about that right now, but me and Justy do need a place
to live and since you don't agree with the hotel, do you have any
suggestions where we can go that will be suitable for Justin and me to go?"
Nick asked.

"Yes I do have a suggestion."  JT stated.

"Where?"  Justin asked.

"Well how would you like to move in to my house?"  JT asked.

"Really?  Wow."  Justin stated.  "Are you sure?"

"Yes I am sure.  My house is already wheelchair accessible and all the rooms
are equipped for wheelchair access and I have two room on the main floor
that are vacant that you two could use."  JT stated.

"We would only need the one."  Nick stated.

"Are you sure?"  JT asked.

"Yes that's all we need."  Justin and Nick spoke at the same time, then
giggling.

"Okay that's just weird."  JT stated, laughing too.  "If you two want to
move in, I'm all for it, I am sure Mark wouldn't mind.  Hell he better not
mind, it's my house anyway."

"Well JT if it's going to be a problem, we can look elsewhere."  Justin
stated.

"Nope it's settled."  JT stated.  "Let me call everyone.  We are going to
have a barbeque today."

"Wow, why?"  Nick asked.

"To celebrate the new people in the house."  JT stated.  "We have a hotel
running at the Poole-Wahlberg Estates."

"Okay."  Justin stated, laughing now.  "You make it sound like there are
more people there besides you and your husband and your son."

"Well there are.  My best friend Angie is moving in, and then you two, and
another friend is moving in too."  JT stated, walking to his phone.  "Hi
Angie, pass the word around to the gang.  Cookout today at my place."

"Cool man, cool."  Angela spoke, putting a folder in a cabinet.  "So your
hubby tells me that you are mad with him.  Is it safe for me to move in?"

"Yes it's safe for you to move in."  JT stated.  "Wait.  So you are going to
move in.  About damn time girl."

"Yes I am going to take you guys up on the offer.  Hell it would be nice to
be around my baby boy Kai."  Angela stated.

"Oh yeah, I can see you spoiling my son rotting.  He's already rotten now."
JT stated laughing.  "Oh yeah before I go, I got a surprise for you."

"What?  Girl don't keep me waiting, tell me what it is."  Angela stated.

"Nick and Justin are moving in downstairs."  JT stated.

"Really?  So you are allowing him to stay for how long?"  Angela asked.

"As long as needed.  I am in no hurry, it's all about healing."  JT stated.
"Okay I have to get things going on my end.  Don't forget to pass the word,
oh and don't invite Tamara, she's too damn greedy and I don't think the
other people enjoyed her slutty demeanor last time."

"Oh alright.  I was trying to give Andrew someone to keep him company, I
guess he will go at it alone again."  Angela stated.

"I am quite sure Andrew can round up his own skanky dates." JT stated
laughing.  "I will see you at the house later and bring something."

"Yeah yeah, I will bring something.  I will stop by the store on my way to
your place since I will be getting off in a few minutes or so."  Angela
stated.

"Okay, bye girl."  JT stated, hanging up the phone.

"So it's a party.  Can we invite some people?"  Nick asked.

"Sure you can."  JT stated.  "But first you two need to get your stuff and
get going to the house.  I will get Steve to take you two there so you can
pick one of the rooms that you want."

"Okay cool."  Justin stated.  "JT?"

"Yeah?"  JT asked.

"Come here."  Justin stated, waving JT over to where he was.

"Yes Justin?"  JT asked, leaning down to Justin, as Justin pulled him down
closer to him and kissed him on the cheek and hugged him.

"Thank you JT, you are the coolest person I know."  Justin stated as Nick
hugged JT too.

// 1 Hour Later -- JT's House //

"Baby do you forgive me?"  Mark asked, holding JT in his arms standing in
the doorway.

"Yeah I guess so."  JT stated.

"You guess so, you guess so?  What kind of answer is that?"  Mark asked.

"It's the only one you are getting right now."  JT stated, kissing Mark on
the cheek and walking away.

"Well fine.  I will get a better answer out of you later on tonight."  Mark
stated.  "So when will Justin, Nick, Dean and Angie start moving in?"

"Well Justin and Nick are already moved in.  Angie will have the movers put
most of her stuff in storage and she's staying here tonight, taking the room
down the hall that she normally sleeps in and Dean will be across from her
and he will start moving in around Tuesday or Wednesday."  JT spoke in
detail.

"Well, this place will be operating like a hotel sooner or later."  Mark
stated.

"That's what I said earlier."  JT stated, kissing Mark full on the lips.

"Baby Kasai wants to move up to the Attic.  Should we let him?"  JT asked.

"Why shouldn't we?  He's almost fifteen and he would probably want to be
away from our room."  Mark stated laughing.

"Well you do realize that he will be way up there away from us."  JT stated,
hugging Mark.  "Way up there in the Attic doing God knows what."

"Well yeah, but it's not like we don't know how to get up there."  Mark
stated, wrapping his arms around JT and sliding his hands into the back of
JT's pants.

"Naughty naughty boy."  JT stated, kissing Mark again.

"Yeah I am naughty.  Let's get our freak on before everyone comes back."
Mark stated.

"No baby we can't.  We don't have time."  JT stated, pulling away from Mark.

"Hell all I need is fifteen minutes.  Hell all I need is a good five."  Mark
stated, kissing JT on his neck.

"Excuse me, I am not just going to jump in bed and rush things."  JT stated.

"Oh come on baby.  It won't take long, we will be done before anyone comes
back."  Mark stated, trying to kiss JT again.

"Down boy."  JT stated, turning Mark's face away from him.  "I think not.
You will just have to go take a cold shower or something."

"But baby..."  Mark whined.

"That's what you want, but you are not going to get it now."  JT stated.

"Well fine, fuck me, I need some form of sex baby, I need you any way I can
get you."  Mark stated, pleading with his eyes.

"No baby, wait until later.  I promise you will like it better."  JT stated,
walking down the hall to his home office.

// Outside the Hospital //

--- Angela's POV ---

"I'll see you tomorrow night girl," I yelled as Tamara walked out of the ER
on her way home. I busied myself finishing my notes and gathering my things
so that I could head for JT's house. "Now where the hell did I put those
stupid keys at? Damn, must have left them in the locker."

As I ran back to the staff locker room, I heard my phone ringing. I dreaded
answering it, especially after last night. Kevin has been blowing my cell up
trying to apologize for what happened, but I don't want to hear anything he
has to say. I looked at the caller ID, and since I did not recognize the
number, decided that it would be safe to answer it. I flip it open,
rummaging around in my purse for my locker key.

"Hello?" I said, pulling out the key and opening my locker so that I can
change out of my scrubs.

"Angie, please don't hang up," Kevin says quickly, trying to buy himself
some time before the dial tone greets him. "Baby, I just want to talk to
you. Please don't hang up on me."

"Don't call me Angie! You no longer have the right to call me that. I
thought I told you to loose my number? What the hell do you want from me?" I
reply in exasperation, not needing this kind of stress right now on top of
everything else going on today.

"I just want to see you so that I can apologize for what happened last
night," he replies quietly, so quietly in fact that I have a hard time
hearing him. "Angela, I really care about you. I know that I fucked up, but
please don't let this kill us before "us" has a chance to grow."

"Kevin I told you that there is no us, and I meant it. Darlin', any us that
might have been died last night when you called me by his name. Now please,
if you really care about me, leave me alone." I tell him, hanging up before
I can start to cry.

Damn him, why can't he just leave me alone? I already have too much on my
plate to deal with. First, my baby Kai getting hurt and then Valgina comes
home to make my life a living hell. And now to top it off, JT gets fired and
that bitch is named his replacement! I don't know how much more of this I
can take before I have either have a nervous breakdown or catch a case.

I finish changing clothes, grabbing the last of my stuff out of the locker
before I head out. I stop by the time clock to make sure that all of the
nurses under my supervision remembered to sign out before I head for the
door. Since I decided that it would be a good thing to move in with JT and
Mark, I have a lot to do at home so I hurry to my car, stopping dead in my
tracks when I get there.

Sitting on the hood of the car is a vase of at least a dozen perfect
long-stemmed yellow roses, anchoring a clutch of helium balloons that say "I
'm Sorry" on one side and "Please Forgive Me" on the other. I get close and
I can see that there are also a dozen teddy bears sitting on the hood of the
car, each holding a pink rose and a card that says, "Please forgive me".

I gasp in surprise, tears springing to my eyes as I get closer. I touch the
roses gently, almost afraid that they might break. I can feel my heart
melting, and I know that Kevin is behind all of this. I turn around to put
my purse on the roof of the car so that I can find my cell, but just as I'm
about to dial his number my phone rings.

"Kevin?" I say breathlessly, hoping that he has forgotten that I told him
never to call me again.

"I take it you found my apology," Kevin replies softly.

"Yes... and it's beautiful. Thank you." I manage to say before I start to cry
softly. "Where are you?"

"Somewhere close by. I didn't want to come around unless you said it was
okay." Kevin replied.

"I need... to apologize... to you," I spoke before I felt his hands on mine,
moving the phone away from my ear.

"Don't cry sweet girl," Kevin says softly from behind me, wrapping his arms
around me. I turn in his embrace, burying my face in his shoulder and
holding on to him.

"I'm sorry that I slapped you last night Kevin. It just hurt me so much when
I gave myself to you and you called me JC." I finally tell him, crying as I
hold him. His arms tighten around me, holding me closer to him.

"Baby you have nothing to apologize for. I am the one who screwed up. I wish
that I could go back and erase the pain, but I can't. All I can do is say I'
m sorry for hurting you. You are so much better than I deserve---," Kevin
stated, but I cut him off.

"No! You deserve me... and I deserve you." I ask softly. "I just need to be a
little more willing to forgive you when you make mistakes. I'm so sorry for
hitting you."

"Hey, that's in the past, remember? Can we put last night behind us and
concentrate on getting back to where we were?" Kevin asks, smiling down at
me.

"I think I'd like that," I reply, kissing him gently. "Would you like to be
my date tonight?"

"Where are we going sweet girl?" Kevin replies, kissing me as we begin
moving my gifts from the hood to the back seat of my car.

"We are going to a barbecue at JT and Mark's house." I reply, stealing a
quick kiss before I get behind the wheel and start the car. "Oh and another
thing. If you ever call me by another person's name when we're making love
again, I will rip your head off and shove it someplace really painful.
Capeesh?"

"Capeesh!" Kevin laughed as I pulled out of the lot, resting one hand on my
thigh as I drive us to JT's house to share a special night with him and
Mark.

======================================
TO BE CONTINUED...

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