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“Hi. I was just telling Cory how great this is.”

“Yeah, everyone is smiling. Even patients that don’t have treatment today are here. It’s so cool,” Cat said.

“Hey, where’s my beautiful girlfriend? We’re hoping to have lunch together.”

“She ran back to the salon to get something that was left behind,” Cory said.

“She should’ve been back by now,” Cat added, looking at her watch.

“Here, Alexis. Try this,” Cory said.

Alexis took a sip of the drink and nodded. “This is good.”

“Told you!”

“There’s Heather,” Cory said, waving her over. “Maybe CeCe texted her.”

“Hi,” Alexis said to Heather. “Do you know where CeCe is?”

“She went back to the salon, but I haven’t seen her since. Is she not back?” Heather asked.

“I’ll go look in the treatment room. She could be with a patient,” Cat said and walked away.

Alexis's heart began to beat a little faster. She took out her phone and called CeCe. It rang several times then went to voicemail. Alexis didn’t bother leaving a message. She disconnected the call and quickly texted CeCe. No answer. Where could she be? Something didn’t feel right. Calm down. You’re a doctor, remember? You don’t get rattled.

Cat came back from the treatment room and shook her head. “She wasn’t in there.”

Alexis wasn’t sure what to do next when she heard her name being called over the PA System. She was being paged to the emergency department.

“Go! They must need you,” Cory said.

“We’ll find her and I’ll text you,” Cat said.

Alexis gave them a forced smile and nodded then hurried to the elevator.

* * *

Alexis walked towards the desk in the ER, but before she reached it, Erin intersected her path.

“Hey,” Alexis said, confused. What was the hospital administrator doing in the emergency department? “Are your kids all right?”

Erin nodded and pulled her towards one of the treatment rooms. “It’s CeCe. She’s been in a car wreck.”

Alexis felt all the blood rush out of her body. Her heart began to pound. “Where is she!” Alexis demanded.

“Hold on,” Erin said, grabbing Alexis's upper arms. “They are about to take her upstairs for a CT. She hit her head.”

Alexis stared at Erin and listened to her words, but it sounded like she was far away. Oh God! CeCe had to be all right.

“Take a breath,” Erin said in a low, tense voice. “You don’t have to be a doctor at this moment. She needs her girlfriend.”

Alexis did as Erin said and took a deep breath then let it out. “I’m okay, I’m okay.”

Erin smiled. “Right this way.”

Alexis walked into the exam room and all eyes turned to her. She didn’t notice because all she could see was the woman she loved. Alexis grabbed CeCe’s hand and bent down to look into her face.

CeCe slowly opened her eyes and when she saw Alexis she tried to smile. “Hi, baby. I’m so glad to see you.”