Cleo.
10 Years Ago.

My fingers continued to slide the needle in and out to intertwine the loose fabric together. Sewing was tedious yet a receptive gift I seem to have. Traditionally, mothers would teach daughters how to sew as their proper duties, but me?

I learned from watching a neighbor who was a grandmother sewing outside on the front porch.

Maybe, because it was more like my life. It was woven in its disasters and only the gifted could make it out.

I exhale slowly before setting the ripped sweater onto my lap before resting my back against the hospital bed. My head was spinning, my body aches, and it seems like my nurse was never going to feed me.

Breathe in... breath out. Where's my father?

My thoughts were interrupted as the hospital door flung open, showcasing two men walking over to my bed. One of them was older, grey hairs seem to infiltrate the jet-black strands alongside his milky white skin. He seemed foreign, different in a sense, while the other man, holding a clipboard, had the smoothest lick of milk chocolate skin. His curls seemed to coil perfectly while his defiantly crafted face.

I've never seen two men so attractive in my life. Were doctors always so charming?

"Present the case, Dr. Jackson"

The ones with the ebony curls began to speak, "Cleo Roberts. 16 years old, suffered from GS in the abdomen and shoulder, minor laceration to the head. Held temp hypertension from induced trauma. Performed Laparoscopically to remove GS 1. Ran into complications, 5 mg of Heparin, had to perform an emergency appendectomy. Right now, she's running 5 mg of Morphine and Depeco."

The older man gazed at me for a while before turning to his colleague and answering harshly, "She seems fatigued. Why isn't THAT in your notes? You can't be a good surgeon if you can't SEE. Some things just require your own eyes without a needle and a machine, Dr. Jackson."

I mumble innocently, interrupting his further scolding towards his colleague, "Can I have some water please?"

The two men face me as the older one nods, "Of course, dear. I'm sure Dr. Jackson can give you just that. Now, Dr. Jackson, you are running recovery and pre-op. Get ready for a long night on call and don't forget you are presenting the Lawrence case at 13:00 to the attendings." He muttered a couple of other things but it was too complicated and too "mediated" for me to understand.

Momentarily, a cup was being offered to me by the younger doctor as I grab it from him. I slowly took a sip as he was consistently giving me a quick glare before marking something more.

"He didn't need to be so hard on you."

My words caused the doctor to stop writing before his eyes gazed up at me. "Oh, eh, it's fine. I've been kind of a screw-up since I've become a resident. If anything, I'm sorry for my lack of attention to my patient," he admits. I take another sip of the cold water before answering, "Does he always treat you like that?"

"He's just tough...don't be alarmed. I've learned a lot from him. If you think he's tough, you should hear my father."

"Your father is a surgeon?"

"Cardiologist. Sharp as a whip. Unfortunately, I didn't want to live up to that legacy, so General Surgery is where I am at."

He releases a quick chuckle which caused me to smile gently. Something about that laugh felt...warm and refreshing. It was a priceless sight to see from someone who didn't look tired but EXHAUSTED. The more he opened up, the more he feigns the appearance of being dashing and alert seemed to dimmer. His head was hanging slightly as his eyelids fluttered as it seemed like he was fighting to stay awake. He looked more human than the sculpted god he looked when he first walked into my room.

Once he finished writing on the clipboard, he sighs tiredly before muttering, "Forgive me for intruding, but may I sit here? Just for a moment?  I've been on for sixteen hours." Before I could answer, he plopped himself into the chair adjacent to my bed before covering his face with his hands.

Silence filled the room as he just breathed slowly.

As he seemed to sort himself out, I close my eyes well before humming softly.

"I need to tell you something, Miss Roberts," he starts.

"Cleo."

His hands slid from his face before clapping them together. Eventually, our eyes met as his face felt grim and emotionless as he begins.

"Your injuries were life-threatening. The more I read back on the notes, the more I realize you were not supposed to survive. But, I need to talk about your father."

I whisper with a sense of hope, "Is he out of surgery? I saw you working on him...then you came back to work on me." He nods, allowing his lips to curl into a small smile, "That's part of the job. But, seriously, his injuries were more severe than unexpected. We continued to give him medicine and pump his heart...for an hour. We tried using drugs, but he wasn't responding to the treatment." His tone continued to grow solemn as I whisper,

"Is he dead?"

"I'm...sorry, Cleo. We did everything, we just couldn't get him back. It was too much bleeding for us."

My eyes looked into his for the longest as they filled with tears. Unsure of everything, I didn't know if I wanted to scream or cry. Either way, I didn't have the strength myself to perform the actions. I just continue to breathe before looking away from the young doctor.

"The question I need to ask is that...do you have anyone else you would like to call? Maybe another relative."

"No, I never had anything or anyone else."

Present-Day ~ One Week Later.
15:34

Swish swish swish!

The strands of straw bands slid against the floor as I continue to sweep quietly.

It's been days since I've seen Michael after that night on the couch. Was he avoiding me? Did I say something wrong? These questions pondered in my mind for the longest, and it seemed as though keeping busy kept me from thinking too deeply of it.

"You sure you don't want to come to the mall with us?" Rose asked while I continue to sweep. Eventually, I looked up at her before laughing, "No! You asked like three times. We never get a break like this to clean the apartment. I'm on nights and you're normally on all day. Let's tidy the place."

She groans annoyingly at my stubbornness as I go back to sweeping the trash into a pile. I didn't even see why I wasted my breath. Rose wasn't a fan of cleaning.

It was nice that she was social and found other interns to be friends with. Me? I was not interested in that, and it seemed as though Rose would taunt me to go with other friends to make me jealous but I wasn't. Maybe this was just me and my unhealthy lifestyle. I should have friends. I should be having fun.

Not worried about this warm palpitating feeling when I thought of him and his intoxicating scent. This unruly obsession was horrible in itself. I was just as doomed as the many nurses, who dreamt for a dose of Michael's attention.

Hard enough, I was going to be on call at midnight. At least when I'm done, the apartment won't be a disaster as it was previously.

"Well, I'm off. I'll make sure to get you a salad or something."

"Thanks. Have fun."

The door shut behind her as I set the broom down before wiping my forehead with the back of my head to remove some of the sweat that formed there.

Knock knock knock!

I frown at the door for a moment before walking over to it to open it.

"Rose, why won't you ju— oh, hey."

I smile awkwardly as it was Michael at the door. He smiles widely before tilting his head curiously, "Bad time?" My head turns back to the pile of trash on the floor then back at him, "Kinda, I'm spring cleaning. Did you need something?" My eyes just looked at him with a blank stare.

How could he just visit me like...nothing happened?

As much as I was happy to see him, I was somehow staring at him as his presence caused a new chain of pricks and needles in my chest. He shook his head in denial, "No, I'm just here to say. 01:10, there's a Coronary bypass procedure marked. I was just wondering if you would like to join me?"

I smuggle a grin before turning around to walk back to the broom, kneeling to sweep the trash onto the dustpan. Michael took it as an excuse to walk in before closing the door behind himself.

"Are you seriously asking me on a date? Silly of me to think you would be here to actually, I don't know, apologize or explain your avoidance?"

"No, I'm asking you to help me with some surgery, nothing more. I'm not one to add titles to meaningless things such as surgery nor I would hate knowing something so cliche like that was our first date," he huffs in annoyance.

My eyes look up to him as his expression changed from a quick frown to a grin. A mischievous one, which caused me to laugh. "Fine, I guess I could oblige. Although I'm still mentoring under Dr. Kingston, I guess working with you will be a good experience," I answered. He puts his hands up in defense while wiggling his eyebrows, "I know. I see she's teaching you well. I heard about your Gastric Bypass procedure. Impressive."

My head turns back to the trash as I stood up to toss the trash onto the dustpan into the trash can. "So you've been keeping tabs on me, yet can't take the decency to speak to me?" I asked coldly.

He shrugs nonchalantly as if his stalking behavior was normal, "I keep tabs on everyone who works on the surgical floor, even if they're not under my supervision. Liability reasons and for you, other reasons."

"Other reasons?"

He scoffs playfully before looking away, "C'mon. It's you, pretty girl. You know why." I watched as he folds his arms, resting his firm hands against his gently flex muscles. He was resting his bottom against the arm of the couch while he watched me clean.

It was now I noticed his casual outfit of a nice, navy blue sweatshirt and turquoise scrubs bottoms. His watch was gleaming along his wrist as he gave me a skeptical look.

"Why keep tabs when you know you could talk to me? It's been days you know? For a moment there, I thought you were avoiding me and who knew you saw me as pretty?" I answered sarcastically, realizing this was the third time I mentioned his absence, and he seemed to ignore my frustration.

Why was I so upset over him? Was I upset for his sudden aloof behavior or was I angry he didn't just barge in and just kiss me?

His eyes look away for a moment to search for his words before looking back at me. "Don't take it personally, it's not you. Forgive me. Just dealing with the divorce stuff is hard in itself, getting back into the routine of work, and uh, right now I'm dealing with my mother falling ill. My sudden absence from our friendship has nothing to do with you and pretty? Hm, that's too off-brand. More like gorgeous," he reassures. I frown for a moment at his sudden flirtatious tone before walking towards him, gently pressing my hands against his forearms, "Your mother? Michael, you need to go see her."

"I was with her for months. I don't have any more sick days."

I shake my head as he looks at me with a painful glare. Those mahogany orbs held so much anguish, so little sleep, and seemed almost lifeless as I once saw them before.

"Take my sick days for all I care. It's your mother," I pleaded. For once, it would be nice to see him be a little selfish, at least when it came to his mother.

He chuckles lightly before pressing his lips onto my forehead effortlessly before whispering, "Ah, you care too much for my soul. Eliezer has been keeping me on tabs on her recovery and my sisters are there to her aid. I can't leave every time mother catches a little cold." His arms unfold from his chest as found their place around my waist as my eyes continued to look up at him before asking shyly, "Would you like some tea? I just brewed some."

What was happening to me? One moment I'm upset with him and now, I could feel my heart racing from his warmth?

"I shouldn't impose. This wasn't supposed to be a long visit. I was just inviting you to an early morning surgery. I prefer being mesmerized by a pretty face than the gory view of a heart beating as I play the superhero."

My breathes were condensed as he leans over and kisses the corner of my lips, "Just looking at you makes me want to learn every little thing about you. Your interest, your ideologies, your past..." I almost felt myself about to puke once he said 'past' as I turn my head away so that he couldn't see my reaction.

Luckily, he doesn't notice as he attempts to stand up and walk to the door, my hand grasps his wrist, causing him to turn around to me.

"I miss you, okay? I don't like not seeing you and for a moment, I thought because I did or said something wrong," I pout disappointedly.

All he did was give me a subtle smile. "You? Do something wrong? No. Please don't think of such atrocities unless you feel as though you did do something to me yet hiding it. My sudden thoughts came from Lisa's betrayal. You're different. I can tell, you're not malicious." His expression was nothing more than sincerity yet joyful as my grasp tightens.

I wasn't a cheater like Lisa, but yes, I was hiding my secrets and possibly even a liar at most just to see him. What would make me any different from her? What do I expect to gain? Was I, myself, a psychopath for seeking the man who saved my life, or was this all my destiny and he seemed to catch himself into the eye of the storm? How can I bear to tell him the truth of why I chose to be here at Jasmine County?

"Y-your hair. It's tangled. Let me brush it..."

"You're stalling. I applaud you for it."

"So what. Come sit. Once you leave, God knows how long I will see you again."

He releases a sigh, knowing I will never let it go, before walking over to the floor and sitting in front of the couch as I sat on the couch behind him. Instantly, my fingers infiltrated into the layers of curls which caused him to hiss.

"Gentle, please."

My fingertips slowly slide against his scalp as I mumble, "Relax." He doesn't answer me, yet just hums quietly while I gently comb my fingers through his thick strands of ebony curls. They were long and locked in a loose, wavy pattern. The template was defined. Coconut and Jojoba oil's scent came from the strands and found a place on the tabs of my fingers as I continue to slide my fingers through the luscious locks.

"You know I normally don't let people touch my hair, but since I like you...take this as a prize given to you, doll."

I chuckle at his array set of pet names for me as I continue to focus on his hair. Never in my life, I was met with such luminous strands. It was easy to see how much time and life Michael cared for his looks, his statute, and his character. He was sexy, and not like in a normal fashion, but he took the unordinary and made it arousing. 

"Mm, Cleo...you're so good..."

I chuckle at his unexpected moans as my fingers slid through each strand to make sure all of the tangles were out, "Does this feeling nice?"

"Of course, I love your gentle touch. Ahh, yes, here. Scratch there. Augh, that's the spot."

My head leans down to look at Michael as his eyes are closed, relaxing to the feeling of my touch. He seemed at peace and less tense than his usual persona. If only I could keep him in his position a little longer to just relax. Seeing him like this, seem to leave me constricted. Wasn't this the task of what married couples do together?

"You seem to be in a rush to leave, why so?" I asked.

He hums out, "Hm? Oh, I have to go see Lisa in Milwaukee with our lawyers. Divorce proposals and stuff. I would tag you along, but that would be adding gasoline to an already fueling fire. Although, seeing a heated Lisa sounds nice."

I immediately changed the subject of Michael's sly tone towards making his soon-to-be ex-wife jealous.

"Will you be back later?"

"If you want me to, then I will."

I remove my fingers from his hair as he slowly turns around and leans himself upwards so that our faces were inches apart. My breath hitched for a moment as he gives me one of those genuine, cheeky smiles. The smile itself was causing my flustered cheeks to burn up.

"You're adorable when you're nervous, girl."

I turn away embarrassingly, allowing my thick braids to gently slap against his face, before snapping back, "I'm not nervous! Ugh, just go!" His teasing easily got to the best of me, as this seemed to be another side of our dynamic.

Did this newfound teasing come as a coping mechanism for him?

He released an airy chuckle before pressing his nose against my cheek.

"Do you want me to come back later tonight?"

I whisper as his head slid down to the crevice of my neck, "You might be exhausted from the commute to Milwaukee and back. It's best to get rest." His chin rested against my shoulder while his face was buried against the skin of my neck. I could feel his lips curling against my skin, "Hence, we could rest together. I know you're the type of girl who likes to cuddle."

"Only little girls are desperate for such a thing. Not me."

"Oh? So you're saying you didn't enjoy our cuddle on the couch?"

I roll my eyes before protesting, "That was different! We were both drunk and knocked out." He scoffs at my denial with a cold answer, "I see."

His head slid from the crevice of my neck as I cup the sides of his face with my hands before pressing a soft, quick kiss to his lips. After the kiss, I found myself looking at him, a bit stunned at my action. I knew we talked about a relationship, possibly in the future, but somehow, I couldn't help but melt like butter in his presence. He just looked at me quietly without a response to the kiss as I knew this had to happen. Something in my mind clicked like a lightbulb as his words came back to me:

"Don't break my trust."

This was the moment and it was now or never.

"I need to tell you something. Something that's been lingering in my chest for a while, and when you talked about honesty, and I thought of so many ways I could say this or express this. After kissing you, I think this moment is now, and it wouldn't feel right if I felt this way about you and you felt some way about me. Well, I want to be honest with you," I started.

His expression changed from stunned to a more serious approach. His shoulder was broad, a slight frown appeared on his face while his hands rested in his lap. "Go on," he answers solemnly.

I rest my hand on my chest as my heart was beating a thousand miles per hour due to Michael's new change of pace. His eyes were piercing through my soul without ease as I continue to breathe slowly to calm my adrenaline.

"Take your time," was all he said.

"A while back, my father...he was kind of an abrasive alcoholic. I found myself always tailing for him. Making sure he wasn't here or there to cause trouble. It seemed I was mostly the parent at times, while he was the child. My mother just got tired of the task, so one day, she just left without a trace. Even now, I came to terms with not looking for her. I have tried to track her down, but hehe, she hates to be found."

"Wow, I'm sorry. I could imagine the frustration," he sighs before resting a hand on my shoulder in reassurance.

"Anyways, when you're young and naive, it's just faith that you feel as though you need to find freedom in little things. Me? I was a daydreamer. It kept me from thinking about the constant ringing and banging of my father and his abrupt behavior. I never knew at times, it could get so dreadful. As I got older, it got worse and it was harder to manage. I wasn't home a lot. I had to go to school and work to keep the bills paid."

"Did he work?"

"Yeah, he would work down by the docks. Unfortunately, it was useless as he would just use the money for a pack of beer," I chuckle in annoyance.

"..."

"This tension, it was becoming its monster. At times, he would cause fights with others, including myself. It got to a point where the police knew my name by the time I got to the station to pick him up. Then, he would fight with me the whole way home because I would scold him for being so stupid. It was hard to keep friends around. I guess it's why I always had Rose and no one else. I'm not...the best when it comes to making friends."

"I'm your friend. Same with Dante, don't forget that you know? I don't want you to feel lonely. Just hearing this is making my heart ache."

I smile softly as he pulls me into his arms lovingly. My head fell against his chest in the exhaustion of talking about my father as he mumbles, "You don't have to continue if you don't want to. If you're trying to be honest with me about your past not being the best or you think I will judge you for not being a rich girl with the perfect parents, you're sadly mistaken. If anything, I just respect you more than ever." I breathe in his cologne as his fingers were rubbing against the back of my head. His voice was soothing and warm as his embrace. If he keeps this up, I just know I would fall asleep.

No, I couldn't stop. Not yet.

"One day, he got into another fight. In the apartment. I was coming from work. I think it was him and some of the other guys in the apartment. They were playing cards. I'm not sure who they were...one thing led to another. One of the guys was accusing my father was stealing the game and..."

"...And what?"

"Gunshots, yells, beer bottles crashing onto the floor, blood..." I mumble as my mind tried to think back to that night. Michael's grasp tightened around me as I shudder before licking my lips. "I just remember being on the ground. The air in my lungs, was as if I was drowning. Gasping, suffocating, and my mind seemed to travel. I woke up and for a moment, I thought I reached heaven. That it was all over. The screaming, the bright light. The sounds of voices."

My head looked up at his as I whisper, "Your voice in the distance."

"My voice?"

"You're going to be okay, you're in good hands," is what you told me. I lick my lips once more before moving away from his grasp.

"I was sixteen years old and you were a resident here. Bashful, handsome, yet somehow in the midst of it, you were cautious and selflessness beyond means. I woke up and there you were, saving my life. Pumping my heart. Moving me in and out of surgery. Even now, I could remember the nagging the other doctors did to you because you didn't act like a surgeon but a human who cared. And once my life was saved, you tried to save my father and failed. You believed I had a better chance, and I look at you now, and I know I do. You told me before I left the hospital that I was going to find a way, and I did. I found a way...a way back to you. Meeting you, I still see that side of you, and I never meant to hide this from you, but I'm not afraid to admit this secret. Now, I guess all I have left to do is say thank you."

He looks at me, completely stunned and taken aback by my revelation. It was as if he was staring at a ghost how he looked at me.

Was he frightened? Or was he surprised? The context of his surprise didn't reveal itself as I reach my hand to touch him.

"Don't...don't touch me."

I rest my hand on my waist as he slowly stands up from the couch. His face was pale and filled with bewilderment at his newfound discovery of the story of how he, himself, saved his own intern's life.

"I...I don't even know where to start! You...you planned this from the beginning, didn't you? To come here. To work under me? To pretend to be interested in surgery to infiltrate my life, huh?! To infiltrate my marriage? T-to be my 'friend?' Those talks we had, you probably told me these things so I would see you as the victim and Lisa as the villain, I bet. Our friendship, my new blossoming affections was a ploy for your gratification to be with the man who saved you, huh? Is any of this genuine or is this just a sick way to get what you want? Me, huh?"

My eyes widen at his sudden outburst of accusations as I shake my head, "God no! At first, I just want to work with you. Learn from you and eventually, mister the courage to tell you the truth, praying that back then, I would be too stupid to stay in your program, but then I don't know you enjoyed my company. You enjoyed working with me and after that C-section months ago, I've been fighting with my mind of how I feel about you. I never expected to feel this!" At this point, I was angry and confused, and actually crying as he just stared at me, "This warmth, his flustered feeling you leave me, and when you just stopped talking to me. It hurt Michael! I never felt so unhappy because you mean so damn much to me! I never cared for anyone the way I care about you! When you left for three months, I worried about you. I worried if you were okay! Don't you dare accuse me of some person who wanted to make you miserable. I had no attention of ruining your marriage or faking a life! I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to pity me or feel as though I came here to be in your debt."

"I don't want you to pay me any debt! I just...ugh. This isn't something small, this is huge! I saved your damn life and for months you hid this from me?! Why did you tell me this?!"

"I don't know!"

"You do!"

"Maybe because I'm falling in love with you!"

The moment I yelled it out, he just stared at me as I cover my hand over my mouth. It was the truth, of course. Every moment, he was there only I thought about, worried about, and yearned for.

"Well, that's bad. Really bad. Because I can't love you, Cleo, not after knowing this."

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A/N: I can't believe we hit 2K reads already! Woo hoo! Thank you for the love and support! Thank you for the comments and for voting this story as the best AU fanfic! I guess you can say this is the end of the "prologue" section of the story hence why the characters' description are different from how they've been acting now. As you can see, there's a shift, personally in Michael's behavior where basically NOW he's going to act in the way he's described in the written prologue. This chapter, in a sense, is the turning point of the story シ