*James*

I bring the dog to Lindsay's for a while and let her know what's going on. When I come back to the hospital, Trisha is asleep in a chair and looks like she's been crying. I look at Paul who just shakes his head. This is weighing on everyone, including Trisha. She may put out that she's strong but everyone has their breaking point. She's hit hers.

I walk in to the room and Julia is giving the nurse and Nate a hard time about eating.

Shit.

"I'm really not that hungry."

"Cmon. I'm jealous you get to eat real food and I get.....this." Nate stirs around his broth.

"Sorry, no solids for you yet. But Julia, you do need to eat a little. They won't discharge you on time if you don't."

"Would she get discharged today?" I look over at the nurse in a hopeful manner but it fades when I hear the nurse's prediction.

"Probably not today. She passes out too easily. But possibly tomorrow....if she EATS." Jonah taps on my tray. "You threw up a lot last night. You have nothing in your stomach, Miss Moretti. I'm serious. You don't eat a few good meals, you don't go home."

Julia looks to me for help but I shake my head at her. She needs to eat.

"C'mon Jule." Nate whispers. "Even just a little. Don't shut down like this. I know that's what's happening."

"Shut down?" Jonah gives Julia a confused look.

"He doesn't know what he's talking about and I'm really not hungry." She pushes the tray away forcefully, and turns to her side facing me, then pulls the covers up and closes her eyes. This is her shutting down...right in front of the nurse for him to see.

"Babe, just eat a little." I say. It's all she has to do. Just eat a little and Jonah will probably get off her back and leave her alone. But Julia is so friggen stubborn sometimes.

"Oh my fucking God can I just get my own room or something?? Can you all just shut the hell up?!" She bursts out, catching all of us off guard. "I'm sorry. I'm just really tired ok?"

She pulls the covers over her head so she doesn't have to deal with any of us now. Jonah the nurse looks at me and Nate but we both shake our heads. We know this is how Julia gets. And it's happening more frequently lately.

"Julia, does this happen often?" The nurse walks over to Julia and pulls the covers away. "I need to see something. Let me check your vitals."

"Are you for real right now? I'm fine." Julia sits up. She lets Jonah listen to her heart and check her pulse. He puts the stethoscope back around his neck and sits down next to her.

"Your heart is racing. Can I ask you a few questions privately?" Jonah asks and then looks around the room. The only person who can leave is me and the nurse realizes that after the fact.

"Just say whatever. I've slept with them both." Julia lays back down on her side and pulls the covers to hide her face. Both me and Nate look at each other wide eyed. Julia just wants to be left alone and for the first time ever, she's can't have her way. She is NOT happy.

"You know what? Maybe now's not the best time." Jonah stands up and writes something in Julia's chart. "I may have someone come in and check on you in a little bit, ok? Try to eat something." Jonah looks at Nate with a slight nod and then at me. He ticks his head to the side signaling for me to meet him out in the hall. Probably because I'm the only one who can physically leave the room. I follow the nurse outside the door and close it behind us. Trisha is still sleeping which just leaves the bodyguards to hear anything we say.

"I think I'm going to have to get psych involved." Jonah looks at me and I nod.

"I know. I had a feeling that's what you were bringing me out here for. She's not gonna cooperate though. She's pissed."

"You don't have to tell her anything or get involved. This is part of my job. But...Julia is emotionally distressed and working in this field, I can't turn away and ignore it. I have to call in a psychiatrist to get Julia evaluated. She can't be discharged until we know she is healthy both physically AND mentally. You understand, right?" The nurse waits for my answer.

"Of course. That's all any of us want. For her to be healthy." I admit.

"Has she ever been diagnosed with depression or gone to counseling?"

I shake my head. "I don't think she has.." I feel awful having this conversation behind Julia's back. First ratting her out with the Ativan last night, now this. I'm already feeling like the worst boyfriend ever and we just started officially dating.

"Ok. Go back in and hang tight. I'm going to have a doctor paged and get the ball rolling. Thank you for being honest with me. It will only help Julia in the long run." Jonah pats my shoulder and walks away. I quietly walk back in to the room, feeling awful about everything now. I sit own and say nothing.

There's a long thick silence that takes over the room. No one says a thing.

I don't push Julia to eat. Nate doesn't push me for info on what was said in the hall. Julia ignores the world around her.

The silence ends when I see Jonah talking to someone in the hall. The door is closed but I can see him through the small window. I see him nod and then walk away.

There's a quiet few knocks on the door before it opens. A woman in her mid 40's wearing a white doctor's coat walks in with a clipboard. She's small like Julia with jet black hair tied in a ponytail.

"Oh, is she sleeping?" The woman asks and we both shake our heads. Julia isn't sleeping, she's just checked out of the real world for a while.

The woman gets the hint and closes the door behind her.

"Hi, Miss Moretti." She talks to the ball under the blankets. "My name's Angela. I just wanted to leave this survey for you to take. I'm gonna leave the iPad next to your food and whenever you're ready, you can look at it." Angela is soft spoken and calm. She places the iPad on the table next to the full tray of food that Julia has yet to touch. She takes a mental note of it and nods to herself.

"I'll come back in a little while to grab the survey. Take your time. If you have any questions just hit the call button on the side of you're bed and a nurse will page me." She looks at me and then Nate, giving us both a little nod before leaving the room.

I lean over to look at the iPad to read the questions.

Shit.

I feel lightheaded. This survey... these questions... are all about mental illness. Depression. Suicidal thoughts. Anxiety. Even Bipolar Disorder If Julia was truly honest with herself, us and the staff here- she would be checking off yes for all these questions. I make eye contact with Nate and then hand over the ipad for him to read for himself. He quickly scans it over and hands it back to me. We both share the same look now.

We say nothing.

We say nothing because both of us can answer those questions on Julia's behalf and come up with the exact same answers. The result isn't ideal.

I stand up and lean on Julia's bed, patting what we assume is her shoulder under the covers.

"Hey Julia. Babe, I gotta go feed Maggie." I lie. The dog is with Lindsay. I need some air before I lose control and cry in front of Hollan. "I'll be back in a little bit, ok?" My eyes fill up and I look away, ready to break down. I quickly leave without saying another word and shut the door behind me.

Trisha is awake now and sees the look on my face. She can also see the tears in my eyes.

"James." She quickly stands up. I shake my head and try to walk away but she follows me.
"Hey. Lets get some fresh air, ok?"

I nod, unable to talk just yet and she leads the way now. A security guard lets us out a back door that leads to a small outdoor patio area. A few nurses are having their breaks and eating but there's a bench in the corner that I spot and go to. The second I sit down I lean over and rest my elbows on my knees and face in my hands to silently let go. I feel Trisha sit next to me and rub my back. She says nothing for a few minutes and lets me do what I need to do.

"It's a lot, huh." She says instead of asks. "I already had my meltdown moment inside. Paul was there for me and I'm gonna be here for you, ok?" I hear her say. I nod and lift my head. I don't make eye contact with her and she gives me the respect of staring straight ahead while we talk so she doesn't see me cry.

I take a deep breath and lean back on the bench.

"Sorry." I wipe my eyes and for some reason start laughing a little. Trisha looks at me now, a little confused. " Weird how everything is one big circle." I start. "I'm sitting here with Hollan's best friend and he's in there with my best friend."

"Yeah. That is kinda weird huh." She laughs a little too now.

"Only difference is I sleep with my best friend." I shake my head. Trisha says nothing and I immediately turn to make eye contact with her.

"Wellllll....."

"Stop. " My eyes widen. "Seriously??"

"Shit happens. You say one fucking word to anyone and I'm defriending you James the Receptionist. I mean it!" Trisha pokes me in the chest.

"I'm not gonna tell a soul." I assure her.

Trisha turns to me fully now. "What is it about Julia that has a hold on both you and Nate? I just don't get it." She admits. I sigh and stare ahead for a second.

"Yeah. I don't get it either. She just....does. She's Julia. I can't explain it." I shrug knowing not having an answer is not acceptable for Trisha.

"Well...the two of them together is not a good combination. Nate needs to focus on his health right now." She doesn't say this to reprimand me in any way, because I fully agree with her.

"I completely agree. They both need to focus on their own shit. Julia can't handle his stress and he can't seem to handle hers. They aren't together though. " I correct her. "Julia is with me and that's how I intend it to stay."

"I'm glad we're on the same page." She exhales feeling some sort of relief from hearing this and nudges me a little, making me smile. I don't think Trisha can stand Julia just like I can't stand Nate. Maybe Trisha is in love with Nate and hates seeing him obsess over Julia like I'm in love with Julia and hate seeing her think about Nate.

****

Trisha's phone notifications go off. Someone named Richard seems to be stressing her out. She ends up leaving to go tie up lose ends.

The day passes by quickly. IV bags get replaced. Pump bags get emptied. Nurses come in and out throughout the day check vitals, incision site, fluid retention, and also how Julia is doing. Her mental state. If she can stand up without blacking out, use the bathroom, mood control and eating are also evaluated.

Even though she thought she ate enough, it wasn't acceptable enough to send her home. She took a few bites of her sandwich and ate the fruit but that's the only meal she's eaten since we both got here and I have no idea how long she went before that one meal.

Julia had a few choice words for that nurse that wasn't as pleased as Julia would have hoped, sending the nurse out and Julia back to being frustrated and shutting down.

Trisha comes and goes. Paul leaves to shower and comes back a while later, Jonah is off his shift until later tonight.

I am the only one left. Cheryl was able to take my shift for tonight.

While Julia and Nate are sleeping, I call Katie to make her aware of it all, though I'm sure the news has informed my sisters plenty. I also explain how my next paycheck may be a small one. That whole paycheck was supposed to help my mother.

I think I'm gonna have to wash my own dishes for a while and give my birthday money back to the girls for mom. Which is fine. I don't NEED a dishwasher. But it was exciting to think I was gonna get one for a minute there. I sigh once I hang up the phone.

"Worst fucking Birthday Ever." I say out loud to myself while the two patients in the room sleep.

*****

I sit in my usual chair, keeping Julia company while Nate is sleeping. Between the surgery itself, no solid food in his system, and pumps pumping things out of him, he sleeps a lot. Tonight, I think I heard Jonah say he has to have Nate try to get up and walk. Something about waking up his intestines.

"I think they want you to eat more than that, babe." I look at the pasta that she barely made a dent in.

"I know they do. I'm trying. I'm really not hungry.." Julia pushes the tray away and lays back down on her side facing me. She looks so worn down and sad.

"What? It's not as good as the pasta and sauce my sisters make?" I laugh, trying to lighten up the atmosphere for her.

"God, not even close. You didn't tell them I was here, did you?"

"Julia. It's on the news. Remember? Your life is now just as public as 'America's Heartthrob' over there." I tick my chin up to Hollan.

"Right... everyone knows."

I move my chair so my knees are practically hitting the side of the bed and taking Julia's hand in mine. "All they know is what the guy at the press conference told the world, just going into shock, a minor panic attack."

"If I eat more, will you come lay with me for a bit?"

"Deal."

I watch her force a few bites down and then move to the edge of the bed to make room for me. I turn off the light and join her, letting her rest her head on my chest. All I want is for her to get out of here. I wrap my arms around her and notice something. She's naked under her hospital gurney.

"It's like free rein in here." I grab her naked ass jokingly, but it somehow turns Julia on. She pulls the blanket up to cover up and whispers in my ear.

"You may proceed..."

"Oh yeah?" I whisper back. "You know I have no problems with taking you right here, right now." If Julia knows anything about me, she knows I could care less where we fuck. If it feels good, I'm all for it.

"I wouldn't expect anything less of you, Mr. Gallo. But I'm not kissing you till I brush my teeth."

"Same. I ate Cheetos for lunch." I fess up.

"Cheetos, hmm? That's not like you."

"The cafeteria was packed so I hit up a vending machine instead." I sigh.

"Ahh..I see." Julia pushes in close and feels me stir against her. My hands stroke her back while I rock myself against her a little. I bury my face in her neck and she keeps her lips close to my ear which turns me on instantly.

"There are so many things I had planned for your birthday." She whispers and her hand travels down my body so she can feel what she's doing to me. Julia slowly unbuttons my pants. Of course, I'm fully erect now. In a friggen hospital with Hollan sleeping right next to us.

"We have to be REALLY quiet James. Think you can handle that?" She teases.

"We'll find out."

I smile in her neck and she pulls my pants down more, flipping over so I am spooning her. smiling in my neck. No one will know we aren't just sleeping if we are in this position, with the covers over us completely. I groan in her ear when she pushes her ass against my erection.

"Jesus, you're not gonna make staying silent easy, are you?" I whisper.

"That's half the fun, right?" She whispers. I line myself up easily in this position and slowly penetrate her while I wrap my arms around her body. Fuck, she always feels so good. We both let out a breath from the sensation, trying not to make any noise whatsoever. I drop a hand to work on her nerves while slowly rocking in and out of her now.

Without warning, Julia hits her high and I have to cover her mouth to make sure she doesn't make a noise. She breathes into my hand and trembles, pushing my hand away from between her legs when it becomes too sensitive.

I'm panting a little faster now. Needing to go harder but knowing I can't. I continue at this painfully slow pace to make sure it's barely noticed. My mouth presses right against Julia's shoulder as I try to contain any noise.

"Oh God.." I whisper. I'm so close. Painfully close. Julia comes and I throw my hand over her mouth while she rides it out. She's driving me crazy.

"Yeah..." I whisper, feeling her thighs shake under the blanket. I can't hold it any more. I thrust in harder, not being able to control the slow pace anymore, not caring about anything except needing my release.

Another few hard thrusts and I groan a little too loud as I come inside her. Both of us look over at Nate but he doesn't budge.

"You have no idea how good you feel." I whisper in her ear as I ride it out.

I quickly pull out and pull up my pants, tucking the blankets in so I'm not under the covers, then resume my position like nothing happened. But Jesus Christ that felt amazing.

"You're smooth. Have you done this before, Mr. Gallo?"

"Never." I sigh in satisfaction. "I can honestly say this is a first." I let out a little laugh and wrap my arms around her.

******