AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first attempt, so let me know if you like it
AUTHOR: Shannyn.
It was just another typical day in Ward 17. Connor and Jared were sharing the latest piece of juicy staff gossip with Kylie, and anyone else who happened to be within earshot. Von walked past, rolling her eyes. She couldn't believe that they spent so much time talking about such ridiculous topics, and she could not understand why they found this type of conversation so interesting when there was work to be done and more important issues to be discussed.
"Jared," she said sternly, breaking them up. "Mrs Jacobs in room 8 has gone to theatre. Her sheets need to be changed while she's gone. Off you go... she's your patient."
Reluctantly, Jared left, and both Connor and Kylie turned and tried to look busy as well. Connor found himself some paperwork to finish and took it back to the main reception desk where Terri was trying unsuccessfully to make sense of Jody's unique method of filling. It seemed to consist of piles of paper thrown together in no particular order, but Terri was determined to find some sort of logic in it, even if it took her all day.
Down the hall, voices could be heard that drew her attention away from the task at hand. Though the words spoken were not audible, the tone was, and it was clear that those involved were having an argument. Terri and Connor made eye contact, but neither spoke. A moment later, Mitch walked through the door, his expression clearly showing that he had been involved in the argument. Connor subtly moved backwards, knowing that Terri would handle the situation. "What was all that about?" she asked.
"Bloody Forlano," Mitch started. "Just because he's a surgeon now, he thinks he's better than the rest of us. He's always trying to prove that he's better than me."
"It's not like you to let him get to you this much. You know it's just how he is."
"Yeah," Mitch agreed.
"Anyway, where have you been Mitch? You were meant to start two hours ago. We've been flat out."
"Look Terri, I'm sorry. Something's happened that has made me realise a few things." Mitch paused and looked around, not wanting anyone to hear.
"Let's go to my office," Terri suggested, sensing that it was a private matter.
Once in there, Terri closed the door and they sat down. There were a few moments of silence before either of them spoke. Terri wanted to let Mitch take his time. He chose his words carefully before telling here about everything that had happened because he knew that it could have a dramatic impact on their relationship. They way in which he told her could determine the direction in which their relationship headed. Mitch took a deep breath before explaining his lateness.
"I was late this morning because I had to sign my divorce papers Terri," he began.
"Divorce papers?" Terri asked, shocked.
"Yeah, Rose and I are going our separate ways."
"Why? I mean, what happened?"
"The baby isn't mine, it's Dan Travers'" Mitch told her. "Rose told me last night."
"Mitch I can't believe it."
"Well it's true. I had my suspicions anyway."
"What do you mean?" she asked, leaning forward slightly in her chair.
"Well, when we had that first ultrasound, it showed the baby was twenty weeks old. I knew something wasn't right because we'd only been married a month. I knew it wasn't mine because we waited for marriage," he explained.
"Why didn't you say something to her then?"
"I honestly don't know Terri. I never found the courage to, and then when I found out Rose is sick, I couldn't do it."
"Rose is sick?" Terri asked, a little confused because she did not yet know of the illness.
"Yeah, that's another secret she kept from me. Rose has had Bipolar since she was fifteen. Great confidence she's got in me as a husband if she couldn't even trust me with that. Apparently that is how she met Dan. He's her therapist. Terri, when I found out about the Bipolar, I couldn't question her pregnancy because I didn't know how it would effect her."
It seemed that neither of them know what to say next because the room was again filled with an uncomfortable silence. Mitch stood up and walked to the other side of the room, facing away from Terri. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't tell him what she was really thinking. She couldn't tell him that she was sorry his marriage didn't work out, but maybe now he would come back to her and they could be together again. Mitch could tell she was unsure of what to say, and he was too. He wanted to tell her that he never really cared for Rose anyway, but the words weren't there. Finally, Terri spoke again as she went to stand behind him.
"I can't imagine how it feels to have someone you love so much hurt you in that way - no one could. But I just want you to know that I am here for you."
Mitch turned to face her, looking into her eyes and seeing everything that he had fallen in love with so long ago. The realisation swept over him that this was the right time to let Terri know that the feelings were still there. He took her hand in his own.
"I never loved Rose. Not like I love you. Not like I've always loved you," he said.
"Mitch," Terri started slowly. "You know I never stopped loving you either. I'm so sorry I made you wait this long. If only I hadn't joined the Order then maybe we wouldn't have wasted so much time."
"Hey Terri," Mitch cut in, putting his arm around her. "Don't ever be sorry for joining the Order. You needed to do it and it was good for you. Besides, why worry about the time we've lost? We should just think about the time we have now."
They moved a little closer together, and Terri reached up to stroke his face. For a brief moment, they made eye contact.
Then, the moment they had both been waiting so long for was interrupted by a knock on the door. They both stepped back from each other, like teenagers scared of being caught trying their first cigarette.
"Come in," Terri invited.
"Sorry to interrupt," Connor said as he opened the door. "We're going for drinks at Cougars tonight for Jared's birthday, if you're interested."
"I'll be there," Terri told him.
"Great. What about you Mitch?"
"Sure... hey Connor?"
"Yeah??"
"We're nearly done here. Could you get everyone together because I have something to say that I'd rather everyone hears at the some time to stop the rumours."
"Okay, Connor told him, before leaving the room."
When they were alone again, Mitch and Terri agreed that they both wanted to wait until the moment felt right, instead of rushing straight into it. Considering the news Mitch was about to share with their co-workers, this probably was not the best time for them to re-ignite their relationship. They left to office and went to the tea room, where all the others had gathered.
"I want you all to hear this from me so the story doesn't get changed on the grapevine," Mitch started, shuffling his feet uncomfortably. "Rose and I got divorced."
There was one question that immediately passed through the minds of everyone else in the room. They all wanted to know the reason behind the marriage break up. Finally, Jody found the voice to ask it.
"Why," she almost whispered.
"well, um. I guess I decided Rose's baby would be better off with it's real father."
With this, Mitch turned and left the room. Immediately, the air began to buzz with all sorts of thoughts and ideas about the reasons behind what had just been said.
"Don't you think Mitch has been through enough without you lot adding to it with this sort of talk?" Terri asked. She walked out before an answer could be given to her.
"So how long do you give it before Mitch and Terri get back together?" Connor asked.
"Knock it off Connor," Von said.
"What?"
"Come on Von," Jared said, coming to the defence of his friend. "Everybody knows they still love each other. They belong together. You have to admit that."
"Of course they belong together," Von agreed. "But all of you talking about them isn't going to make it happen any faster. They have to take their own time with this... not yours."
That night, Mitch and Terri arrived at Cougars together. They walked up to the bar where most of the others were already waiting. They could both feel their friends watching them, and waiting for something to happen, despite the best efforts of the others not to make it obvious.
"Ah, can I get you a drink Terri?" Mitch asked, trying to divert attention away from the,.
"Sure," she answered. "I'll have a..."
"Red wine," Mitch finished. "I still remember."
Terri smiled.
For three hours the group drank together. They talked about anything and everything, from events of the day, to events of past months and even years. Terri and Mitch found themselves drifting further and further from the general conversation, and becoming more involved in their own discussion about the past. They talked about the times they had shared and how much they had both missed each other. When they finally looked around them - some time later - they noticed that some people had left, and those that were still there had wandered off to different parts of the room. A slow song began to play through the speakers.
"May I have this dance?" Mitch asked, holding his hand out to Terri.
She took it, and he led her to the middle of the dance floor. As they faced each other, she put her arms around his neck, and be placed his hands on her waist. Terri let her head rest on his chest, and sank into his arms - a place she had wanted to be since the moment he walked back into her life. Mitch kissed the top of her head, and then closed his eyes as they swayed to the music. Soon they stopped moving to the beat and just stood there, holding each other.
"I love you Terri," Mitch said softly.
She looked up and her eyes met his. "I love you too."
At this moment, they both knew without a doubt that their destiny had been fulfilled. There was nowhere else that they wanted to be, and no one else they wanted to be with. More than ten years after it had last happened, they slowly moved towards each other, and kissed.