phone number and address. She hadn't been able to convince herself to call and

still carried the piece of paper with the information in her lab coat pocket. Riley

still couldn't believe the way she'd acted practically throwing herself at Sam then

insisting they couldn't be involved and running away. She knew it was unlikely

the woman would even speak to her if she ever managed to work up the nerve

to call her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As she entered the cafeteria the hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood up.

She turned and her jaw dropped in shock. As if conjured by her thought there

stood Sam McKenna in the cafeteria line. Riley's eyes skimmed over her profile

taking in every detail. She was wearing sweats pants and a sweat stained t-shirt

with her damp black hair pushed back off her face. Riley sighed if anything she

was even more beautiful than she'd remembered. She didn't know what to do.

Should she approach her? Before she could make up her mind Sam suddenly

stiffened then turned to look directly at her, their eyes locked. Riley felt the

breath catch in her throat. She stood as if her feet were glued to the floor. She

deflated when Sam turned away again turning her back on her. Riley blinked

trying to stop the tears that had formed behind her eyes from falling. She

couldn't blame Sam for her reaction. She was the one who'd kissed and groped

her then insisted they couldn't be involved. Riley started to walk away then

stopped. Damn it, she muttered to herself, this might be the only chance you

get. Get your ass over there, apologize, and pray she'll listen to you. She ordered herself sternly.

Sam didn't know how but she knew before she turned that Riley was standing

there. All the hurt and anger she had been trying to overcome come boiling to

the surface at her first sight of the beautiful redhead in her rumpled scrubs. She

wanted to rush over and shake her until she came to her senses. At the same

time, the deep hurt Riley had caused kept her standing in place. She bitterly

reminded herself that Riley had made it clear she didn't want to be involved with

her. So she turned back to her place in the line wanting to just leave but

unwilling to risk walking past Riley.

Sam paid for the lunch she no longer wanted and headed for the nearest

trashcan her eyes never leaving her tray. She started when a soft hand grasped

her forearm. Sam knew who it was before she even looked down. She met the

violet eyes that haunted her dreams. She wasn't sure how long they stood and

simply stared at each other. Finally hearing someone loudly clear their throat,

she realized she was blocking the trashcan. She stepped aside never breaking

Riley's gaze.

Riley was speechless with one look into those amazing blue eyes. She could

clearly see the anger and hurt and knew it was up to her to make the first move.

She mentally shook herself trying to clear her thoughts.

"We need to talk," she said softly.

"I don't think we have anything to say to each other Dr. Connolly. You made that

perfectly clear the last time we spoke." Sam responded angrily. That wasn't what

Sam had wanted to say but her anger got the better of her. She cared for Riley

more than she had any woman she'd ever met and Riley had tossed her aside

without even giving her a chance.

Riley felt the tears break free and run down her cheeks. She knew she should

just walk away. She was making a public spectacle of herself. She didn't care

though; she had to convince Sam to listen to her... to give her a chance.

Riley reached out softly stroking Sam's arm. She couldn't help herself she

needed to touch her. When Sam didn't pull away, she felt her first spark of hope.

"Please Sam, I'm begging you. I made a mistake. Please!" Riley's voice was

getting louder.

Sam wanted to pull away from her touch but couldn't force herself to do it. She

looked around and saw they were starting to attract attention. When the tears

started pouring down Riley's cheeks her resolve broke.

"Okay, but not here." Sam finally acquiesced.

Before Sam could say anything else, Riley grabbed the tray out of her hand.

"Follow me please." She requested before heading for the door.

Sam followed docilely behind her enjoying the gentle sway of her hips as she

walked imagining what she'd look like without the clothes. She mentally slapped

herself. Don't even go there.

Riley led them to a small courtyard with several tables. She put the tray down on

the table and sat on one of the benches motioning Sam to sit next to her. Sam

looked longingly at the bench and then purposely walked over and sat at the

bench on the other side of the table opposite Riley. Riley looked at her with a

hurt expression but Sam hardened her heart. She didn't trust herself sitting so

close to Riley.

"So what did you want to talk about Dr. Connolly?" Sam asked trying hard to

keep her face expressionless. She wanted nothing more than to sweep Riley up

in her arms and kiss her senseless.

Riley cleared her throat before speaking. This was the only chance she would

get to convince Sam she'd made a mistake and ask her forgiveness. She knew

there was a very good chance Sam would choose to walk away. She'd hurt her

with her actions and she needed to take responsibility for that. It was time to lay

her cards on the table no matter what the cost.

"I made a terrible mistake Sam. The last two weeks have been the most

miserable of my life. I couldn't stop thinking about you and what I might have

thrown away. At first, I really did feel I couldn't be involved with a patient. Then

later when I found myself caring about you way beyond what a doctor feels for a

patient it scared me. You stirred something in me I'd never felt before and it

terrified me. I know I acted horribly and gave you mixed signals. I can't tell you

how sorry I am I hurt you."

Riley looked into Sam's eyes hoping to get some kind of reaction. Her eyes were

flat emotionless silver and impossible to read. Riley was getting desperate.

"Please believe me Sam I never meant to hurt you. I care about you deeply.

Please I'm begging you, give me another chance." Riley swiped away the tears

that had started to fall.

Sam wanted to believe Riley. It was taking everything she had to present an

emotionless demeanor to her. She just didn't know if she could do it. If Riley

changed her mind again Sam didn't think she could take it. She sighed heavily.

She was just kidding herself. She cared too deeply already not to give them a

chance no matter what the risks.

'I'm still your ex-patient." Sam reminded her.

"I don't care!" Riley stated emphatically.

"So where do we go from here?" Sam asked allowing her gaze to soften.

Riley almost swooned in relief.

"Have lunch with me?"

Sam smiled. "That's a start."

"Okay, I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." Riley walked several steps way and turned back. "You won't leave right? You'll wait for me?"

Sam felt her heart soften further. Riley looked so nervous and scared she was

almost pleading.

"No Riley I won't leave. I promise. I'll be here when you get back." Sam assured

her.

Riley flashed a brilliant smile before heading back to the cafeteria almost running

in her haste to get back to Sam.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam smiled as Riley escorted her out to her car. They had spent over two hours

in the courtyard talking. It had been awkward and uncomfortable at first but as

time went on both women relaxed. Riley had apologized several more times for

the way she'd treated her. Sam had finally assured her she was willing to let the

past go and start again. They caught up with the past two weeks. Riley

questioned her extensively on her recovery and therapy. She couldn't help

noticing and mentioned that Sam appeared to have lost weight and looked tired.

Not wanting Riley to feel any guiltier than she already did Sam passed it off as

nothing. She could tell Riley didn't believe her but was glad when she let it drop.

They stopped next to Sam's car suddenly awkward with each other again.

Neither knew what to say nor where to go from here. After several moments of

simply staring at each other Sam couldn't help laughing to herself. This is

ridiculous. I've dreamed about this woman for weeks. All I wanted was a chance

to see if anything would come of what seems so strong between us. Now I've

got it and we're standing here staring at each other like dummies. She shook her

head before reaching out for Riley's hand.

"How about dinner tonight?"

Riley immediately looked stricken and Sam stiffened and attempted to pull her

hand away. She's going to do it to you again! Her mind screamed.

Riley tightened her grip on Sam's hand not allowing her to pull away. "I'm sorry

Sam I can't."

Here it comes, Sam's little voice supplied.

"I'm on in-house call tonight. How about tomorrow night?"

Sam was so caught up listening to her little voice tell her what a fool she was

she missed the rest of what Riley said.

"Okay fine, no problem." She pulled away and opened the car door.

Riley grabbed her arm pulling her back around to face her. Sam's face had gone

blank when she'd said she was sorry.

"Wait, okay fine what? Dinner tomorrow?"

"HUH??"

"I'm on in-house call tonight. How about dinner tomorrow?" Riley repeated.

Sam looked confused. "You are? You want to go to dinner tomorrow?" Her smile

reappeared.

Riley sighed in relief. "Yes Sam I'd love to go to dinner with you tomorrow."

Sam didn't know what had just happened. One minute she was sure Riley was

turning her down and the next she had a dinner date with her. She couldn't help

the grin that broke out on her face.

Sam thought quickly. "How about that Italian place? I forget the name... on Third

in Hillcrest." Sam suggested.

"I've never been there but I like Italian." Riley said.

"They have great food. I'll pick you up, say about 6pm."

"It's a date!" Riley said smiling brilliantly at Sam. She gave Sam directions to her condo in Del Mar and the code to the security gate.

The two women stood grinning at each other neither one wanting to say

goodbye. Riley's pager shrilled ending the standoff.

Riley pulled it off her belt and checked the display. "I have to go. It's the ER."

Before she could stop herself, she quickly stepped forward and put her hand on

the back of Sam's neck pulling her down. Sam didn't resist she remembered well

the sweet taste of Riley's lips. Their lips met in a brief kiss. It was just as Riley

remembered and her arousal soared. She went back for a second taste. Sam

pulled her into a tight embrace as the kiss deepened. She licked Sam's lips

begging entrance that Sam eagerly granted. Just as her tongue slipped into

Sam's mouth and began to explore her pager shrilled again.

She pulled away with a groan her heart pounding. "I have to go. I'll see you

tomorrow at 6." She hurried across the parking lot. It wasn't until she was almost

to the ER that she realized she'd been locked in a passionate kiss with Sam in

the middle of the parking lot where anyone could've seem them. I guess that's

one way to come out, she laughed to herself. She wondered if anyone had seen

them then decided she didn't give a damn she felt too wonderful to care.

Sam stood leaning against her car watching Riley rush across the parking lot.

She glanced up and noticed an older man dressed in a lab coat glaring at her.