Dr. Nelson tried to avoid Leonard's gaze but his friend knew him in and out.

"What is going on Jaby? What have you gotten yourself into?"

"I don't understand what you are talking about Leonard. As I said, she is just a friend."

"Just a friend?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"I have never seen you smile at someone like that. You are in freaking pain but you were smiling for her like a fool you idiot. Don't you see that? Why are you trying to deny it? You are in love with her. Or are you in denial because she is with someone else?"

"Was I that obvious?"

Dr. Nelson asked nervously and looked at Leonard who leaned back on the wall and kept looking at him without saying anything.

"Can you stop torturing me, Leonard."

"Ok, Ok I give up. Maybe you have feelings for her because she looks like..."

"No."

His voice was firm.

He let out a deep breath of air and then spoke again.

"I don't like her because she looks like Alita. Maybe initially I was drawn to her because of that. But she is very different from her. She is a young, confident, and passionate woman. I like her because she is someone who never gave up on her love. Maybe that's why I relate to her more. maybe I feel we are alike, hopelessly romantic people if that's what you call us."

"Does she know?"

"She has no idea and I would like it to be that way."

"Why?"

"Because ..."

"Are you scared of losing her? Scared that she might think that you are with her because she looks like your wife?"

"Losing her !!!"

Saying that Dr. Nelson chuckled.

"I never had her in the first place, Leonard. She was always in love with the man next to her and he loves her more than she can even fathom. I am just... just a sidekick in the story. I just want her to be happy and her happiness lies with that guy, Raymond. They make quite a good couple."

Saying that Dr. Nelson sighed.

Leonard looked at his friend for a while, trying to map his eyes, trying to tap into the depth of his heart to find out the real truth because he could clearly figure out the pain and despair in his voice.

They both looked at each other in silence for a while. The silence was so intense that they could hear the sound of the second hand of the clock, ticking away to clock a minute. Finally unable to bear the whole drama, Leonard said,

"Whom are you trying to deceive Jaby?"

"I am not trying to deceive anyone. I like her. I admit it, but that's my problem, not hers. Why she has to bear the guilt of hurting anyone? After all these days of waiting, today finally she has gotten the opportunity to be with the man that she loves. She already has too much on her plate man. She can't know about this."

"But don't you think she has the right to know about your genuine feelings?"

"Over my dead body Leonard."

Dr. Nelson replied and this time his tone was a bit stern. Like he was asking his friend to back off.

"Fine, fine. You and your saint attitude. Don't come crying to me when you ..."

"I will never cry for her. She is in her happy place now Leonard. And my heart is in peace because of that. Call her in else she will start bawling outside thinking I have a tumor or something."

"Fine, I will zip my mouth. But what about the lady who darted out. Won't she tell her everything?"

"No, she won't. She has her own pride to handle."

"If you say so. Call me for a beer at your place once you recover."

Saying that Dr. Leonard placed the chart back and went outside to call Akira back into the room.

-----

"Do you think he is all right?"

"I mean they could have told us what is wrong. Why did they send us out? Does he have a brain hemorrhage or something?"

Saying that Akira started biting her fingernails as she paced in the corridor.

Raymond also stood there all tense, but there was something else that was eating his head up. He couldn't digest the fact that why everyone was referring Akira as Dr. Nelson's wife. First the nurse at the reception and then Dr. Leonard. He was unable to understand what was Akira's connection with Alita.

So he looked at David who was sitting on the bench quietly, trying to hide his worries so that it didn't pile upon an already worried Akira, and said,

"Check my message."

Saying that he walked towards Akira.

She was talking to herself and when she turned she collided with him.

"Errr... Sorry I wasn't looking."

"I didn't mind."

And saying that he took her hands in his own and gently interlocked his fingers with hers and said,

"Just stop worrying. He is a good man, nothing will happen to him. They are old friends and maybe they have something to discuss with each other."

"Then why Oshana stayed inside with them and why did she storm away without telling us anything? You know that she has feelings for him. Why would she be upset if everything was ok?"

Taking a deep breath, Raymond pulled Akira close. her head rested on his chest and he slowly started running his fingers through her hair and said,

"Don't jump into conclusions. Let's just hang in there for a few minutes. I have asked David to get hold of his reports. If anything we will get to know. Just give me some time. But before that don't conclude anything in your head."

Saying that he gently placed his lips on her forehead.

A soft smile curled up on her lips and she hugged him tightly.

"Feeling better now?"

He asked, tilting his head a bit, trying to see those beautiful expressions on her face. But suddenly she looked up at him and said,

"Couldn't you cure my heart a bit earlier?"