PARIS LATE 1969 
Victor Collins fled from the chilled thunderous night entering the smoke filled club taking in the scent of stale alcohol in the air. His eyes scanned the room--the same usual heat filling the air as he slipped out of his overcoat letting the droplets hit the floor with their own rhythmic sounds as the piano player played an old familiar tune--their song, a song that could not be broken by the test of time and it was in that moment that he saw her.

With her smiling at him from across the room, he felt his heart melt and a simple, soft wave from her was all the motivation he needed to send him in her direction going to any place she would summons him to. How he'd loved her and usually this time spent here was filled with such joy and tenderness, but tonight he felt a heaviness hanging on his heart, a sense of sorrow mixed in with his usual anticipation that took over every time he spoke her name, every time she slipped into his thoughts, but this time around--this time it wasn't going to be like the last.

''I was starting to believe you weren't coming tonight Victor,'' she spoke in her soft, eloquent tone as he found himself hanging on every word that fell from her ruby red lips.

''I was running behind,'' he confessed thinking about the news he'd been given. 

''I figured, so I took the liberty of having the bartender have your drink ready for when you arrived and I suggested that good ole Sam over there strike up a few of our favorites on the ivories over there,'' She smiled at him, only causing his heart to sink further. 

Without any further prompting from him, her smile gradually faded and she reached across the table for his hand. ''Victor, what is it?'' 

''Oh Vivian,'' he spoke with a heavy heart looking down at her slender fingers as he touched her soft skin, ''tonight I may have been given one of the best messages in the world, yet at the same time it brings me here tonight with a heavy heart.'' 

She looked at him for a long moment knowing by the sadness in his face it could only mean one thing--the one thing that had consumed him for so many nights since they'd first encountered one another. ''They've located Melanie haven't they?'' 

He nodded as an open admission to her as she pulled her hand away ever so slowly. 

''So when are you leaving?'' she asked trying to mask her own disappointment. 

''Tonight. The flight they have me set to board leaves at zero five-hundred.'' he confessed meeting her eyes knowing that this was the last thing either one of them had planned on 

''Someone located her back in the states. Somewhere outside of Baltimore and this time it looks like I have a chance.'' 

''And Kevin?'' 

''He's safe. I've made sure of that.'' Victor finished thinking about his son he'd protected 

''No one will touch him while I'm away.'' 

''And you're sure that this time you'll be able to save Ryan?'' Vivian asked her voice full of concern as she remembered all the failed attempts he'd made in trying to locate his lost son. ''You're sure Melanie hasn't been notified already of your search? I'd hate to think you get all the way out there only to have your heart broken again.'' 

''He's my son Vivian. If there's a chance, I have to fight with all I have to bring him back to me. I can't abandon him more than I already have,'' he confessed shamefully bringing his eyes to the martini glass on top of the small oak table 

''I know Victor and I truly hope that this time, well, that this time you won't be disappointed. Ryan belongs back with you.'' Vivian spoke knowing in her heart what his departure meant to her--to this mission, but she also knew in her heart what finding his son meant to Victor Collins. ''So you're really leaving at five-hundred huh?'' 

Victor nodded glancing up at her again 

''Well perhaps it's for the best,'' she added hoping to ease some of the tension in his tired eyes, ''you've been working for far too long on this mission and perhaps finding Ryan will be the one thing that will turn things around for you. I mean look at how far we've come here. Before you know it, this will all be over and maybe life will go back to some normalcy.'' 

''Vivian, do you honestly believe that?'' Victor questioned his mind going back to the job 

''Do you think this madness will ever end?'' 

''Of course I do Victor,'' she said touching his hand again squeezing it, ''after all, we're the good guys here and you know how it goes in the movies,'' she smiled, ''the good guys always win.'' 

''This isn't a movie Vivian. These are our lives.'' Victor sighed squeezing her hand again as he found himself lost in her dark, concerned eyes 

''So who's taking over with you gone?'' she questioned a bit uneasy but trying to put up her business as usual front that Victor had grown so accustomed to 

''Burke,'' Victor replied 

''Well he's a good man. He should do nicely,'' Vivian noted 

''But it's not the same. This is my mission Vivian and in the beginning we promised to see this through together,'' Victor sighed shaking his head, ''I should be here with you during this.'' 

''Victor you're going to find your son. That has to take precedence over this mission.'' Vivian said seeing his doubt. ''I know that we've been a team and I couldn't have gotten this far without you, but Victor we both know how much is riding on your finding Ryan 

You need to bring him back to you where he belongs.'' 

''But what if I fail?'' 

''Victor Collins. I have never known you to fail anything,'' she replied assuringly reaching out to touch his cheek 

He brought his hand up to hers feeling the warmth of her touch, ''Come with me.'' 

''Victor we both know that's impossible.'' 

''No Vivian, it's not. If you leave with me, we can forget all of this. Start over again--'' Victor started 

''And jeopardize this mission. Victor you know that I can't do that. I've just gotten to the point where I've won over his trust and if I back out now all the work we've done over the past four years will have been in vain.'' she sighed seeing the tears behind his eyes 

''Vivian, I can't leave you with that monster and what HQ is asking you to do right now, it still burns me. Just the thought of him touching you,'' Victor said behind gritted teeth 

''It's part of the job Victor. Once I'm on the inside and I get enough information to bury him, I'm out. You know that.'' she explained seeing his anger. ''You have to trust me Victor. I'm so close to getting what we need to put this guy away forever and if I just have a couple month...just a little more time....'' 

''Vivian, I don't like it without my being here with you,'' Victor protested once more 

''You don't know what he's capable of and with Burke covering your back..'' 

''Burke will be just fine. Besides I know how to handle myself. I learned from the best after all,'' she offered feigning a tone of confidence as she looked into his sad eyes, ''Besides Victor I know what Melanie is capable of and that's why I can't let you jeopardize finding your son for me. I'll be here when you bring Ryan back and then, well, but then we'll have brought him down and we can work on being a family.'' 

''A family?'' he repeated stopping his thoughts as he looked at her seeing the smile on her face. ''I take it you've given my proposal some consideration.'' 

''How could I not?'' she asked. ''There's nothing I'd like more than to be Mrs. Victor Collins just as soon as you're back here in Paris again and this mission is over.'' 

''You have no idea what this means to me to know that I'll have you at the end of this,'' Victor said his voice filled with pride 

''On the contrary, I know exactly what it means to us--everything,'' Vivian concluded leaning over the table to brush her lips to his in a soft tender lingering kiss 

''I promise you that I'll be back as soon as time permits,'' he whispered as they parted and he pressed his forehead to hers 

''I know you will Victor and together....together we'll bring down this bastard,'' Vivian spoke softly feeling her heart pounding as she looked into his eyes 

''I love you,'' he whispered reaching for her kissing her once more as he brushed his hand against her cheek 

''I love you too Victor Collins and don't you ever forget it,'' she replied clinging on to him savoring these precious few minutes they had with one another before the world crumbled around them 

Thursday March 12th 1992 

''Brent that was fantastic.'' Eve breathed leaning back against him as the two rested on the her sofa together 

''Well, I aim to please.'' Brent replied feeling the warmth of her body pressed up against his 

''You do it quite well. In fact, I'd have to say that yours was one of the best that I'd ever had.'' Eve informed him with a smile looking at him 

''You're just saying that to make me feel good about myself.'' Brent teased looking down into her bright eyes 

''No, I really mean it. You are the best--well falling second to me of course.'' she insisted taking his hand in hers and giving it a squeeze. ''In fact, it was so good that I know that I'm going to be satisfied for the rest of the night.'' 

''Oh is that so?'' Brent asked raising an eyebrow as he watched her sit up straight 

''I can't eat another bite.'' she explained with a moan. ''The food was so filling.'' 

''So you're just using me for my culinary talents now?'' Brent questioned with a laugh 

''Pretty much. I mean I don't know anyone who can work their way around my kitchen like you do.'' Eve confessed with a laugh 

''I'm sure Cami will love the mess I left,'' Brent chuckled at her seeing the flicker of laughter behind her eyes 

''Well Cami can get over it, because tonight was very special for us.'' 

''Yes it was Eve,'' he said brushing a finger against her cheek, ''and I hope it's only the beginning.'' 

''Me too,'' she smiled at him thinking about the week she had 

''Does that mean you won't be up to dessert in a little while?'' Brent questioned watching her hold her stomach 

''Well, there's always room for dessert.'' she smiled up at him teasingly 

''That's what I thought.'' he replied tickling her sides 

''No.......Brent.............don't.'' she laughed as he continued to tickle her. ''Brent, please.............'' 

''Please what?'' he asked as she tumbled over in laughter 

''Stop tickling me!'' she squealed kicking her legs underneath him 

''What's in it for me?'' he questioned teasingly as he paused for a brief moment 

''I promise that I'll make it worth your while.'' she explained looking up at him with a sincere look in her eyes 

''Oh yeah?'' he asked with a goofy grin 

''Yeah,'' she laughed pulling him down to her. ''Why don't you kiss me instead?'' 

''That I can do,'' he agreed leaning down to kiss her for a brief moment before resuming in tickling her. She looked up at him in shock as she started to giggle 

''Hey, that's no fair!'' she shouted as she squirmed on the couch. ''I thought we had an agreement.'' 

''I never agreed to anything.'' Brent informed her as the two tumbled onto the floor 

''I've got the upper hand now.'' she announced gleefully as she realized that she was on top of him. She began to tickle his sides and it was his turn to burst into laughter. ''Paybacks are hell, huh?'' 

''Okay, I give up.'' he announced raising his hands in the air in defeat 

''Good!'' Eve exclaimed sitting up and moving back to the couch leaving him alone on the floor 

''That's it?'' he questioned in confusion. ''Two seconds of paybacks for all that I did to you?'' 

''Well, I like to do my paybacks a little at a time. You'll get yours when you least expect it Brent.'' Eve announced picking up her chemistry book and opening it up in her lap. ''Now it's time to study already before I lose my train of thought again.'' 

''Already?'' Brent asked disappointed as he pulled himself back up onto the couch 

''Yes!'' Eve snapped jokingly tossing his book into his lap. ''It's time to get focused.'' 

''I am focused.'' he informed her as he reluctantly glanced down at the book for a brief second before shutting it 

''What are you doing?'' she asked confused 

''I'm focusing.'' he explained turning to look at her 

''No you're not.'' she replied watching a devilish grin cross his lips 

''Sure I am.'' he informed her as his smile widened. ''I'm focusing on you.'' 

''That's so sweet. I really appreciate that,'' she said softening her tone for a moment as she gave him a quick kiss on the lips, ''but now it's time to focus on chemistry.'' 

''All right.'' he reluctantly agreed opening his book once more 

''Now Professor Todd was talking about binary complexes the other day in lecture.'' she started realizing that there was no response from him. ''Brent?'' 

''Did I ever tell you how much I love the curve of your neck?'' Brent asked gliding his finger along her neckline 

''No, you haven't.'' she replied as a chill ran up her spine from his touch 

''It's a truly an exquisite work of art Eve.'' he explained moving along the curve. ''It's very sensual.'' 

''Thanks, I think.'' she said turning her attention back to the chemistry book in her lap 

''Now back to binary complexes........'' 

''You know, I love your nose too. You have such a perfect little nose and your lips.....'' Brent informed her seriously 

''Brent, you really have a one track mind don't you?'' she asked in frustration as she turned to look at him 

''It's one of my redeeming qualities.'' He explained leaning in to give her a slow tender kiss. ''Now how's that for chemistry?'' 

''I felt some kind of reaction.'' she replied breathlessly turning in his direction 

''Maybe, we need to run another experiment.'' Brent suggested moving towards her again 

''I think that's very necessary.'' Eve responded tossing her book onto the floor and returning his heated kiss 

The two fell back onto the couch and began to get lost in the familiar motion that they had been finding themselves getting more into each day. They felt their passions growing within them as the phone started ringing and Eve drew back 

''Don't answer it,'' Brent urged pulling her close to him again 

''Brent it could be important,'' Eve explained watching the urgent look on his face as he moved in to kiss her again. ''Cami's been expecting a phone call all morning and...'' 

''Let the machine pick it up.'' he ordered cutting her off with a kiss 

''Well I suppose......that......well.....it couldn't hurt......'' Eve agreed as the answering machine clicked on and she heard the message she'd made not so long ago 

''Eve......Eve are you there.........?'' Shelly's voice rang clear through out the room 

''Shelly,'' Eve replied with wide eyes drawing back from Brent 

''Not again. Eve don't answer it. Every time she calls it puts you in such a foul mood.'' Brent frowned holding her close to him 

''Evie, if you're there, please pick up. I need to talk to you right away....it's really important......'' 

''It's important Brent.'' Eve insisted 

''It's always important every time your sister has a melodrama. Why don't you just tell her to get her butt back home where she belongs, give up this super model dream of hers and just live like a normal teenager? I swear she puts you and your mother through more hell than it's worth.'' Brent frowned holding her tighter 

''Eve please........I'm in trouble........'' Shelly's voice continued with tears threatening 

''Eve....'' Brent spoke pleadingly as she pushed him away 

''I can't just leave her hanging,'' she replied picking up the phone. ''Shelly I'm here.'' 

''Stupid little twit!'' Brent huffed 

''Oh Evie, thank God.'' Shelly sighed her voice full of relief 

''Where are you Shelly?'' Eve questioned ignoring the glares she was getting from Brent as she turned her back to him 

''Eve so much has happened and I'm in trouble....major trouble and I need you right now....'' Shelly started as Eve heard Brent mumbling in the background 

''Hold on Shelly,'' Eve said turning to Brent as she covered up the mouthpiece on the phone glaring at him. ''You can get out now.'' 

''What?'' he asked in disbelief 

''You heard me. Get the hell out of my apartment and don't bother coming back.'' Eve warned feeling her anger rise. ''You and your attitude are no longer welcome here.'' 

''Eve what the hell is this about? Come on. You can't honestly tell me you're kicking me out because I complained about how Shelly calls you during the throws of her multiple crisises.'' Brent commented seeing the seriousness in her face. ''Well that's just great Eve 

Once again leave it to Shelly Lambert to ruin a potentially wonderful evening between us.'' 

''Shelly had nothing to do with this. You killed the mood by being your usual ignorant self. Now get out!'' Eve snapped at him 

''Fine Eve,'' he said retrieving his jacket, ''but this is the last time. I won't be coming back.'' 

''Like I care,'' she snapped at him watching him slam the door behind him as he left her apartment. She uncovered the phone. ''Shelly?'' 

''Is everything okay Eve? I didn't interrupt something did I?'' Shelly asked softly as Eve heard Brent's tires squeal in the distance 

''No of course not Shelly. Now what's wrong?'' Eve asked holding the phone close to her 

''I don't even know where to begin Eve.'' Shelly commented 

''Well you could start with why you felt the need to run away from home....'' 

''Oh Eve please don't tell me we're going to get into this again. I didn't call you for another lecture. I just wanted to talk to you because I needed your help....not because I was in the mood for a sermon here.'' 

''Shelly, I want to help you, but you've got to give me something to go on here. Mom says you just picked up and left during the middle of the night not bothering to let her know where the hell you're going and then no one hears from you for three months. What gives?'' 

''Eve I couldn't stay there. You know how suffocating it was at that place. Living with mom day in and day out....seeing your life ending up no where. When you left for school Eve, it just wasn't the same and I couldn't take it anymore.'' Shelly explained desperately, ''but this isn't about my leaving Eve.'' 

''Then what is it about Shelly?'' 

''It's about what I've done with myself. You'd be proud of me Eve.'' Shelly said proudly 

''I've been working my butt off as a waitress here, but I think I've found my big break. I met this man and he's a talent agent.....a real charmer Eve and he said that he can make me a big star. He said I have potential Eve--real potential and I have a screen test next week 

He said I might even land a role in a movie opposite Tom Cruise. I mean Tom Cruise, can you believe it Evie?'' 

''Shelly.....I realize that you think this is what you want but....'' Eve started 

''It is what I want Eve. What I've wanted my whole life and it's going to happen for me. I can feel it.'' Shelly boasted proudly. ''And there's more Eve.'' 

''More?'' 

''Much, much more. Eve I'm in love. I mean not just this infatuation thing. I found someone and he's incredible. A business man.....a real power player out here and he said he thinks I'm charming. Me.....he thinks I am little Shelly am charming and he said that I'm the woman he's waited a whole lifetime to find.'' Shelly continued gleefully. ''Eve you have to meet him. He's just a dream come true.'' 

''Shelly look I know that you think this is for real, but remember the last guy....'' Eve started 

''Eve this isn't like last time. This time I know it's going to happen for me. I mean I realize he's a bit older....'' 

''How much older?'' 

''It doesn't matter when you're in love Eve, but listen about why I called.....'' Shelly paused. ''I know that this isn't fair to ask, but I need some money.'' 

''How much are we talking about?'' Eve asked 

''Enough to get me through the week. A couple hundred.'' Shelly blurted out. ''I'll pay you back as soon as I get things going for me here.'' 

''Shelly, I just can't keep tossing money out your way.'' 

''I know, but I really need it Eve. Please......'' she started, ''pretty please....'' 

''Shelly...'' 

''Just this once Eve. Look I'm going to be in New York tomorrow night for an art exposition that my darling is putting on. Perhaps we could meet out there after the show...'' Shelly suggested hopefully 

''Shelly I don't know. I mean I'm doing some volunteering at the hospital tomorrow night and I have some lab work.'' 

''Please Evie, it's been three months. I want to see you.'' 

''Shelly...'' 

''Please Eve. I mean I don't know how soon we'll get this opportunity to be around one another and besides I want you to meet this guy. I want you to see what kind of Prince Charming he is.'' Shelly insisted with a laugh. ''Come on Eve. Who knows? Maybe we'll even find you someone instead of the old standby you have with Brent.'' 

''Brent's a good guy,'' Eve started not believing it herself 

''Yeah right Eve and I'm the patron saint of virtue,'' Shelly laughed, ''Just meet me around nine thirty tomorrow at the Cafe down by 5th and Main. Think you can do that?'' 

''I suppose I can conjure up someone to take my place in the lab, but I swear if this turns into another one of your sales pitches....'' Eve warned 

''I just need a couple hundred bucks. Nothing more.'' Shelly replied quickly. ''Trust me Eve.'' 

''Against my better judgment I'm going to.'' Eve sighed 

''Thank you Eve and I promise you won't regret this.'' 

''Famous last words.'' Eve smiled looking at the photograph of her and Shelly sitting on her desk top 

''You won't. And Eve?'' 

''Yes?'' 

''I love you.'' Shelly said finally after a long pause 

''I love you too sis.'' Eve replied with a smile moving to hang up the phone. ''Remember if you're late, I'm not waiting for you tomorrow.'' 

''It's a deal.'' Shelly replied. ''Good-bye Eve.'' 

December 2000 

Eve finished up with her last patient for the day and decided to call home to check up on Kevin. She checked the time once more and waited for him to pick up the answering machine came on 

''Hey Kevin, it's me. Sorry, I'm running a little late here at the hospital, but I promise you as soon as I get home, I'll make it up to you with dinner. Maybe we could just take the time to cuddle up in front of the fireplace together or whatever comes to mind. I'll see you soon.'' she smiled thinking about the idea of curling up inside the lighthouse with Kevin after a long days work 

Hanging up the phone, she looked out into the night remembering how she hated driving in this kind of weather after the horrible snow storm she and Kevin had been in together a while ago. Something about the snow just seemed to get to her. Dismissing the thought, she stepped into the on call room, noticing Chris inside 

''Hey Ramsey,'' she smiled reaching into her locker for her jacket, ''how's it going? I haven't seen you in a while.'' 

Chris looked up from the charts he was working on surprised to see Eve there at such an hour when he opened his mouth to speak. ''Well it has been a long time hasn't it Lambert?'' 

''It sure has,'' she replied hearing her cell phone ring and she raised her finger in the air to tell him to hold on. ''Hello,'' 

''Hey, it is me, are you okay getting home in this mess?'' Kevin's voice rang out through the phone line 

''I should be.'' she replied looking outside at the snow falling. ''It's not that far to the lighthouse from here.'' 

''I realize that, but this weather has a habit of making others start to lose control behind the wheel especially when they're in a hurry to get nowhere fast.'' 

Chris watched her for a moment shaking his head knowing that she had to be talking to Dudley Do Right. With an exaggerated moan, he grabbed his coat out of his locker and grinned watching her talk to him. Amused he started mocking Kevin by acting like Dudley Do Right in the hopes of distracting her. When she shot him a scathing look, he smiled, put up his hands up in defeat and leaned against the lockers waiting for her to get off the phone. He laughed lightly seeing her roll her eyes again 

''I should be fine,'' she sighed, ''but I appreciate your concern.'' 

''You sure?'' 

''I'll be fine really. Besides, Chris is leaving now too and we travel pretty much the same path home. I promise I'll be careful.'' she insisted turning her back to Chris for a moment as she spoke into the phone once again 

''Well you are an adult, but I have really bad feeling about this.'' Kevin replied 

''I love you.'' she offered 

''Uh, excuse me. I need a doctor,'' Chris teased, ''I think I'm gonna throw up.'' 

Eve glared at Chris for a moment ready to smack him as she continued her conversation 

''Kevin, I'm fine, but if you're really worried about this, I could have Chris drive me home.'' she suggested noticing the silence on the other end of the line. ''I'd have you meet me here at the hospital, but I don't want you getting out in this weather.'' 

''I am coming out anyway Eve,'' Kevin finally replied, ''You know how I feel about trusting Ramsey especially with your life in his hands.'' 

''Kevin really, he's a capable driver.'' 

''Well whatever his skills are, I think it is best that I pick you up.'' 

''All right, but be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you.'' she replied giving in to his request realizing how much he cared about her to make such a drive in this weather. ''I'll meet you out front in about twenty minutes. That way it will allow you enough time to get here without a rush. Just please be careful Kevin.'' 

''Always, don't let Chris give you any grief. See you soon.'' he said hanging up the phone, now it was time to make the drive 

Eve chuckled at Kevin's last remark before hanging up the phone and directing her attention to Chris. ''Kevin told me not to put up with any more of your antics tonight.'' she warned him feigning disapproval as she slipped into her jacket. ''You know, if you're done being the comedian, then you can escort me to the lobby to wait for Kevin.'' 

''I'd love to escort you to the lobby,'' he said, offering her his arm, ''I just don't like escorting you to Superman.'' 

''What is it about Kevin that you don't like?'' she questioned as they approached the elevator 

''Got a few days for the list?'' 

''Chris really he's really a nice guy if you give him a chance. You should be happy that he asked me to move into the lighthouse with him. Now you have that spare room all to yourself.'' 

''Oh yeah,'' he said sarcastically, ''I had so many plans for that room,'' he grinned, ''And I'm suppose to appreciate the man who took my best friend away from home. Kevin just has that whole goodie goodie thing happening. It's really disgusting,'' he said pressing the button to call the elevator 

''Chris, just because I don't live with you, doesn't mean I don't love you anymore.'' she replied innocently as the elevator doors popped open and they stepped inside. ''Besides, the last thing you want is me lurking around every time you bring a date home now that you're a single man again. You should be happy I'm gone.'' 

Eve was about to speak up again with another witty remark when she heard a loud screeching over head. Feeling a bit panicked, she leaned up against the rail of the elevator and looked at Chris. ''What was that?'' 

''That's a very good question,'' he said, glancing upwards, ''Whatever it was I don't think I like it.'' As he said that, the light in the elevator began to blink and the elevator shifted 

The elevator jolt and instantly all the terror of being stuck in the elevator when Julie planted the bomb came back to Eve. Frozen with fear, she latched onto the rail as if she'd never let go as she opened her mouth to scream, but found nothing come out. The elevator dropped a bit more causing her to fall to the floor as her heart pounded in her chest 

''Kevin was right.'' Eve thought to herself thinking of his premonition as the elevator stopped moving. Trying to catch her breath she looked over at Chris, who was now sprawled out on the floor of the elevator 

''Chris? Chris, are you okay?'' she questioned too shaken to move. She called his name a few more seconds realizing that he was unresponsive laying silently on the floor 

''Oh God. Chris!'' she called out to him again hearing the shakiness in her voice as she spoke. She was too afraid to move, but the longer Chris remained unresponsive, she realized the worse things could be for him. Digging her fingers into the railing now above her head, she closed her eyes and slid over towards Chris hoping that the elevator would remain still. She felt a bit of shakiness as she inched in towards Chris until she was beside him. Reaching out to touch his shoulder, she spoke up again feeling the elevator rock ever so slightly 

''Chris, hey can you hear me? Chris!'' she cried out in panic. ''Don't you dare do this to me. Chris! Chris!'' 

Eve watched Chris for another long moment mustering the strength to get in closer to him. ''Chris it's Eve. Chris?'' she questioned noticing he appeared to be staring off into space. ''Come on Chris. Come back from where ever you are right now. I can't go through this alone.'' 

He closed his eyes as a wave of nausea poured over him, ''I hear you, Eve. I'm here. What happened?'' he blinked, trying to focus, but that only made the nausea worse as he covered his eyes with his hand. 

''Hey, take it easy.'' she said trying to get him to relax as she pulled off her jacket putting together a makeshift pillow as she guided it under his head. Noticing how disoriented he appeared to be, she looked for any signs of injury and noticed a lump forming on his head. Reaching out to touch it, she noticed him flinch. ''Everything's going to be okay. We just had a little accident here in the elevator, but I'm sure the technicians will be here soon. I hope....'' 

''Well, at least we get to spend some quality time together.'' he tried to open his eyes, but there were about ten of her hovering above him. Closing his eyes, he reached to touch the lump on his head. He flinched whenever his own hand got near it much less anyone else's. He suddenly wondered if Eve was alright, forgetting that he was injured, ''Are you alright? You're okay, aren't you?'' 

''I'm fine. You know me...I'm always a trooper.'' she replied trying to hide the fear in her voice as she felt the walls of the elevator closing in on her. Trying to talk herself down, she let out a forced laugh. ''I do have to admit that I'd rather be sipping martinis and playing video games at the apartment right now rather than being here like this.'' ''I second the motion,'' he said, just giving over to the pain instead of trying to fight it, ''Eve, are you sure that you're okay?'' 

''I'm positive....'' she replied hearing screeching sounds overhead. ''Actually to be honest with you, I'm terrified Chris. All of this just reminds me of the last time I found myself trapped in an elevator. This isn't sitting right with me at all...Kevin mentioned having a bad feeling about tonight and I blew it off, but now.....well, maybe he was on to something and I'm worried Chris.'' 

''Give me your hand, Eve,'' He said opening one of his own and extending in her direction, ''We're going to be okay, and Doctor Know-it-all's premonition or whatever is just associated with the snowstorm. We'll be fine,'' he said unsure, ''Or you will be anyway. My head feels like it's going to explode.'' 

''That's quite a lump you have on your head.'' she replied trying to distract herself as she accepted his hand. Moving in a bit closer for inspection, she reached out to him running her fingers through his hair hoping to alleviate some of the pain when she realized that he looked like he was going to fall asleep. ''Now Chris, you know you have to stay alert for me. I know it hurts, but we need to be ready once this thing starts working again. I can't have you going off to dreamland and leaving me here to sit and stare at these ugly brown elevator walls.'' 

''Well, don't stare at the walls. Stare at yours truly,'' he forced a grin, ''It'd make me happy to know that you have those beautiful eyes locked on me.'' 

''I'll keep them fixed on only you if you promise not to fall asleep.'' she replied noticing his twisted features. ''You know, who'd have thought that this was going to happen? Kevin's probably downstairs thinking I stood him up.'' she let out a soft chuckle as she thought it over for a moment. She looked down at him again with a smile as she continued speaking to him trying not to let claustrophobia set in. ''I should've learned to take the stairs by now, but oh well, you can't live on what ifs. Actually, I'm glad you're the one who's in here with me. I don't know what I'd do if I was in here alone.'' 

''I think I like the idea of Kevin being downstairs. It'll give him time to wonder what happened, like if I kidnapped you or something. It would serve him right, always running after Lucy like he does. How do you deal with that?'' he asked, trying to keep his mind off the pain and hers off the elevator. 

''Kevin and Lucy were almost married once Chris. He cares about her.'' she replied not wanting to get into the same tired argument about Kevin with Chris. ''I know he cares about me and while I don't always like him chasing off after her, I can't quite tell him not to. I've just come to terms with the realization that Lucy will always hold a special place in his heart, but you know Chris....right now the last thing I want to be thinking about it Lucy Coe. I don't even like to think much about her on a normal day, let alone in here. So, what about you? Any new developments with the life after Crazy Julie situation?'' 

''Ugh,'' he groaned, grabbing his head, ''I've got a headache already. Bringing up the J word is not going to help me any,'' he said opening his eyes and finally being able to focus on only one of Eve. She smiled as she saw his eyes focusing, ''Hey there beautiful,'' he smiled. 

''Hey...You know Chris, if you wanted to capture my undivided attention, you could've picked a less painful way to go about doing so.'' she teased glad to see him a bit more alert. she continued to joke around a bit hoping to lighten the mood. ''Don't get me wrong, I'm touched really, but I'd much rather prefer a good martini any day.'' 

''Yeah, but martinis didn't keep your attention, did they?'' he closed his eyes for a minute and reopened them, ''I mean you did leave them to be with Doctor Do-gooder. But, I don't want to talk about him. I'd rather talk about why I still can't beat your score on the video games at home.'' 

''Oh you wish.'' she replied nudging him slightly. ''You know I can still whip your butt anytime....any day.'' she was about to speak up again when she heard another sound above them that made her cringe. ''I promise you Chris, when we get out of here we'll have to have a rematch so that I can prove to you just how wrong you are.'' ''Good, although it really sucks that I have to get wounded to get you back to the apartment,'' he laughed faintly. It was so silent. There were no sounds, except for occasional creaking sounds from overhead, ''Eve, they are going to get us out of here. It's just a matter of time. But I'll tell you one thing. I would just about kill to have some Tylenol right now.'' 

''Well, there you're in luck Ramsey.'' she replied reaching into her purse and pulling out a bottle of Tylenol. ''As always, I'm prepared for most anything. I don't have anything for you to wash it down with, but hopefully that won't matter too much.'' she propped his head up a bit to help him swallow before easing him back down on her jacket. 

''I don't know about you, but I'm hungry.'' she decided looking through her purse once again and pulling out a half eaten chocolate bar. ''Hey, would you look at this? Now we're all set. Want some?'' 

''Why is it that women do that?'' he asked, grinning, ''You women seem to carry half the world around in those things,'' he said motioning towards her purse, 

''And,'' he grinned wickedly, ''I only want some of that,'' looking at the chocolate, ''If you promise to feed me.'' 

''In that case, it looks like you're just going to starve.'' she replied breaking off a piece of chocolate for herself. Wrinkling her nose at him for a moment, she broke off another piece of chocolate and moved it towards his open mouth deciding not to put up much more of a fuss considering his condition. ''Don't get used to this Ramsey.'' 

He licked his lips and took the chocolate from her fingers, getting a bit too close as he also gently tasted her finger as well. After swallowing the chocolate, he smiled and looked her directly in the eyes. If only she knew, he thought to himself, ''Very tasty.'' 

''I'm glad you're enjoying it.'' she replied breaking off another piece for him as he eagerly accepted the chocolate. She couldn't help but notice the way he was eating the chocolate as he captured her finger once again. After shaking it off and shifting her position a bit, she pulled back breaking off another piece for him. ''You were hungrier than I thought. Here's the last piece.'' 

''I was very hungry,'' he said, not meaning anything about the chocolate. He couldn't believe that his body and heart were responding to her despite the fact that his head felt like a busted melon. He smiled gently before looking away from her, ''You take the last piece, Eve.'' 

''Oh no Chris. I insist...you have it.'' she replied reaching out to touch his face noticing him flinch. ''What is it Chris? Did I hurt you?'' 

''No, of course not,'' he said, taking her hand into his, ''It's not that at all.'' He held her hand, savoring the chaste touch, wanting so much more, feeling his heart breaking. 

''Then what is it?'' she questioned a bit puzzled by his silence. ''Chris, there's something wrong isn't there? I've noticed it for a while, but I haven't said anything before. What are you keeping from me?'' 

Could he tell her? Would he tell her? ''Eve, this isn't a good time,'' he said trying to put her off, using his head as an excuse. He had a pretty good idea it wouldn't work, but he actually didn't know what he would tell her. 

''All right. I won't push you anymore for now.'' she replied deciding not to push the issue any further as she reached inside her purse for her cell phone hoping to contact Kevin to let him know where she was. After a moment she realized her phone was dead and she heard another noise again. Feeling her heart pounding in her chest, she felt the elevator slip a bit as she leaned up against the elevator wall trying not to let Chris know how terrified she truly was. 

''Eve,'' he said feeling the slip, ''Come here. Hold onto me.'' he said hoping that his own fear didn't carry across in his voice. He didn't want her to be afraid, but he didn't know if they would make it out of this as a screeching sound came from above. 

''Chris, what if no one finds us?'' she questioned scooting in towards him too afraid to stay in her corner a moment longer. Wrapping her arms around him, she heard the sounds grow louder as the elevator slipped a bit more. ''I've cheated death so many time before, what if this is the time for me? Chris, I don't want to go out like this. There's so much I still have left to live for...'' 

He held her close, hanging on tight. He had wanted to hold her in his arms so many times before and now, he could be holding her in his arms for the last time, the only time. He kicked that thought away and stroked her hair gently before the elevator seemed to screech again. As they began to slip, he didn't know why, but he whispered the words, ''Eve, I love you.'' 

Eve held onto Chris feeling the elevator shift again as tears filled in her eyes. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she clung to him hoping that they would be rescued. Feeling him tighten his arms around her, she thought she was going to lose her control and then she'd heard what he'd whispered to her. Caught up in the moment and the fear she looked back at him locking gazes with him as the elevator rocked a bit. She touched the side of his face realizing this could be it for both of them and she thought of everyone she hadn't been able to speak to and tell them how she felt, but here she was with Chris knowing that they were about to go out together if someone didn't help them. 

''I love you too Chris.'' she replied not giving it a second thought as the noises returned and she held onto him tighter. 
 

''Damn,'' he muttered to himself thinking about how a simple trip from the lighthouse to the hospital should only take him ten minutes in good weather. He sighed taking his time rounding the corner at the intersection thinking about how he'd promised Eve he'd be there to pick her up. 

''She probably thinks I've forgotten about her by now,'' he sighed feeling his car hit another ice patch. He placed his hands firmly onto the steering wheel feeling his car spinning out of control. In a rush of adrenaline, he struggled to regain control of the situation as the heavy winter cloud surrounded him. Feeling the car spin with a life of it's own for a few moments that hung like an eternity, Kevin felt his cool slipping away as his sedan took one final turn before seemingly regaining control. 

''Finally,'' he sighed as the car returned on a straight path and he found himself unclear on what direction it was going through the thick snow until he saw a figure before him. An unmistakable pink figure....a woman in the snow right in the center of the road as he slammed on his brakes and his car once again spun out of control. This time unable to recover from the force, Kevin's car slammed into a telephone poll. 

''Oh my God,'' the woman gasped rushing over to the car seeing the emergency flashers on as the broken telephone poll had fallen over the hood of his car. She moved in closer to the car noticing the driver hunched over at the wheel seemingly unconscious. 

''Are you okay?'' she asked tapping on the window getting no response. Tapping once again, she decided to get a better look. She pulled on the door opening it and feel the blast of warmth from inside hit her as she saw him and gasped. ''Doc!'' 
  
 

Chris felt his heart warm for the first time in years when Eve said that. But could he trust it? Was it just the situation that they were in? Was it just the impending fall of the elevator that would signal their death? Was she just saying that to make his dying moments happy ones? He wanted answers, but he wanted Eve to feel safe even more. He held her against his body, feeling her heart pound in her chest, her breathing ragged from fear. He ran a hand into her hair, gently stroking her, letting her know that he did care and he wasn't about to let go of her. He placed a kiss on her forehead, and held onto her. 

Sinking into Chris, she closed her eyes wishing that this nightmare would be over, but knowing that help didn't appear to be anywhere in sight. Forcing herself to look back at Chris, she didn't know what to think, but knowing that time wasn't on their side, she leaned in to kiss him. 

Seeing her intention, he caressed her cheek, and guided her mouth to his. He kissed her tenderly for a second, but it wasn't what he wanted or had dreamed of. He traced her lips with his tongue, memorizing her taste, before delving inside her mouth to taste all of Eve. She was like all the spices of the world combined into one magical taste alive with fire. In that instant he knew that if they survived, he'd never be able to let her go again. 

As she kissed Chris, thoughts of the finality of the situation were getting to her until the kiss deepened and she found herself enjoying the feel of his mouth to hers...that taste of him as the intensity of their kiss built. Breathlessly she broke away from the kiss realizing this may be the last time she'd ever kiss anyone and hearing the sounds above them, she realized that at this emotionally intense period in time there was nothing more that she'd rather be doing than sharing this moment with Chris. Noticing he was about to speak up, she cut him off with another kiss equaling the passion he'd shown her seconds earlier unwilling to think about what could happen as the elevator rocked a bit once again. 

Chris closed his eyes, savoring every moment of this. If now was their time to die, he was going to die happy. He had never thought that he'd actually be holding Eve like this although he had dreamed about it a million times. He placed his hand at her cheek, caressing the tender skin beneath her eye with his thumb. His other hand roamed to her waist, pulling her closer to him. He wanted to feel as much of her against him as was possible. He stroked her hair and continued to kiss her. he never thought anything could be this good, but who was he kidding? This was Eve. Of course, she was going to be the most amazing creature on the face of the planet. 

Eve felt Chris pulling her closer to him as they kissed and she experienced a million thoughts racing through her head as the realization dawned in on her that she was here with Chris experiencing such an intimate thing. She felt chills running down her spine as his fingers brushed up against her skin and her heart pounded with a combination of fear and excitement at the prospect of being this close to him. She'd never really taken the time to think of Chris in this way before, but now with her life flashing before her eyes all she could think about was touching him, holding him, just being with him as she reached out to caress his face hoping to memorize every second before time ran out. 

He ran his hands through her hair, continuing to kiss her. He just couldn't get enough. It was everything he'd ever wanted, everything he'd ever dreamed and better. As she touched his face, he sank into her hand, loving the touch of her skin against his. He was beginning to lose any hope of rational thought when it dawned on him that it was completely quiet again. The elevator had stopped rocking, and the screeching noises had ceased. He didn't want to let go, didn't know if he should. He decided to let her break contact if that's what she wanted. 

Eve continued to stroke the side of Chris' face acutely aware that the elevator had filled with silence once again. As she looked into his eyes, she wondered what thoughts were running through his mind as she reached out to touch the lump on his head for a moment watching him flinch at the contact. 

''I'm sorry.'' she replied in a hoarse whisper kissing him once again as her hand wandered down his chest feeling his muscular torso next to her. Breaking contact for a moment, she spoke up again remembering the intensity of his pain earlier. ''Does this hurt?'' 

''Not any more,'' he whispered looking into her eyes. She seemed confused, but there was no mistaking the heat burning below the surface. He suddenly felt very warm as she moved her hand down his chest, ''Is it hot in here or is it just me?'' 

''I think it's just you.'' she replied in a low whisper moving in to kiss him once again. ''Uh-huh, I was right. It's just you.'' 

''Eve,'' he whispered, kissing her again, ''It's you that burns me.'' 

''Chris,'' she breathed gliding her fingers along his chest allowing her nails to press in a bit on his shirt as she fumbled with the top button popping it open before resuming kissing him forcefully as the noises overhead returned signaling trouble in the future. Refusing to think about what could happen to them, she deepened the kiss feeling her heightened emotions taking control knowing that at any moment it could be over for them. 

Chris kissed her, loving the feel of her mouth on his. He placed his hands at her waist pulling her firmly against him. He slid his hand under her shirt, feeling the skin at the small of her back, caressing her. His other hand eased over her hip, slipping up and down, learning all her curves. She was so soft, and he wanted to let her know just how he felt about her before this elevator crashed and killed them both. 

Eve closed her eyes for a moment taking in the feel of Chris' touch upon her skin as she found herself longing for him. Reaching out to him, she began to pop open the buttons on his shirt followed by a trail of kisses along his chest with each new opening. She could feel him heating up beneath her touch as she undid his final button hoping to ease him out of his shirt when she heard another loud noise causing her to flinch. 

''Eve, touch me,'' he said, taking her mind off of the elevator. He eased her shirt further up her body, moving his hands around to caress her stomach and pushing her shirt higher, pulling it over her head. ''Eve, I want you,'' he said, kissing her neck and moving on to her shoulders. 

''I want you too Chris.'' she replied trying to block out the sounds above them as she focused on Chris hoping to savor these final moments they had together. Removing his shirt, she touched his smooth skin realizing their relationship was about to take a complete turn around, yet knowing that she was ready for it as her desire built for him with each passing second. ''Make love to me.'' 

Chris looked into her eyes, making sure that she meant what she was saying. There would be no turning back, and he didn't want her to regret one second of this. He captured her mouth in a searing kiss, tasting and teasing her. When she responded with just as good as she got, he knew that she was sure. 

Breaking away from Chris, Eve couldn't believe all the sensations she was experiencing from being this close to him after all this time. Pressing her mouth to his once more she gently nibbled on his lip before backing away allowing herself to explore other inticing areas of his body. Making a trail down his torso she kissed his chiseled abdomen taking in the taste of him until she reached his belt. Looking up at him for a moment, she grinned at him mischievously before deciding to unhook his belt knowing the growing heat that lie underneath. 

''Eve,'' he said through a ragged breath pulling her back to him and capturing her mouth with his as he tumbled her to her back, ''Let me love you,'' he pressed a kiss against her ear, taking the lobe into his mouth, gently nibbling on it before making his way down her throat. 

As Chris continued his seductive trail along her body, she felt her heart pounding in her chest as she caught her breath feeling chills crawl down her spine with each sensual movement he made. She reached out to him running her fingers through his hair realizing just how badly she needed him. Lightly digging her nails into his shoulders, she let out a soft moan as she spoke up in a heated whisper. ''Oh Chris...'' 

He wanted to remember every bit of this, every taste, every inch of her body. ''Eve, I love you. Are you sure?'' 

''I'm positive.'' she replied feeling the intensity build between them, she brought her arms around him holding onto his shoulders as the elevator sounds filled the small compartment once again. Touching his face, she looked into his eyes filled with love for her knowing that he'd protect her to the very end as she spoke up before kissing him again. ''I love you too Chris.'' 

He'd never felt anything like this, ever in his life. She was perfect, completely and utterly perfect. As she touched his face, any shred of control he had left was completely gone. He was terrified that he was going to wake up and this would all be a wonderful dream. As they went over the edge together, her nails dug into his shoulder in the most exquisite caress he'd ever had. 

After she'd been driven to new heights with Chris during their love making session, she held onto him as if she'd never be able to let go just enjoying the feel of him in her arms knowing that she'd never experienced anything like she just had with Chris. The emotional intensity was far greater than it had ever been with any man she'd ever been with before and now afterwards, her aching for Chris lingered on as she realized what a cruel twist of fate it was for them to be in such a desperate situation exploring their underlying feelings for each other. 

''Oh baby,'' she whispered feeling her eyes fill up with tears as Chris laid against her and she felt his heart pounding with hers, ''God, you were amazing just now. Chris, you are amazing......I'm just sorry it took this long for me to realize it.'' 

He looked into her face and wiped tears from her face, ''Eve, I have wanted you for so long. Too long,'' he said caressing her cheek, ''I've loved you for so long, but I never told you. I never thought I'd ever tell you.'' 

''Deep down I think I'd always known that you had feelings for me, but I couldn't admit that to myself.'' she confessed reaching up to him touching his soft skin as she continued feeling a few more tears escape her eyes. ''I'd seen traces of it here and there, but I just couldn't risk losing you. Every man I've ever been involved with only ends up leaving me in the end and I couldn't let you walk out of my life Chris. You're my best friend and losing you would be the end for me.'' she grew silent thinking about the words she just said realizing this could very well be the end for them. ''I just wish I hadn't wasted so much time.'' 

''Eve, I just found you,'' he said thinking of all the time in his life that he had wanted to someone to love and who would return the favor. He finally began to believe that Eve could and would love him in return. ''I'm not about to let you go. We're going to make it through this. I have no intention of ever walking away from you, Lambert. Not now, not ever. Just promise me that we won't ever waste time together again.'' 

''Never again.'' she agreed tracing the outline of his lips with her index finger wishing she could feel positive about their survival, but feeling the elevator rock once again, she still believed that time was against them. Reaching out to Chris, she pulled him to me into a desperate kiss hoping to spend this little time they had together letting him know how much he meant to her. ''I don't want to waste any time ever again.'' 

''Me either,'' he breathed against her lips, before taking her mouth in a searing kiss. He had never dreamed that this would actually ever happen between Eve and him but he was determined to tattoo these moments on his brain for the future. He ran his hands into her hair, deepening the kiss before running his hands back down her body, memorizing the feel of her skin. 

Instinctively she ran glided her hands down his back feeling it's contours as Chris touched her. Realizing that things were heating up again, she murmured his name softly in his ear letting him know that she was captivated by his touch. Breaking away from the kiss, she brought her mouth to his neck tasting the saltiness on his skin along the way knowing that she had to have him once more. 
  
 

Victor entered the lighthouse brushing the snow off of his overcoat as he looked around the darkened room. Switching on the light, he looked around the room wondering what Kevin and Eve could be doing out in this horrible weather. He stepped into the lighthouse further searching for any signs of life. Moving forward, he picked up a photograph of Eve on the table top and frowned slightly. 

''Monk?'' he called out hoping to find any sign of Kevin as he strolled into the kitchen. ''Monk? Eve? Anyone home?'' After finding no signs of life in the kitchen, he moved back out into the living room hearing the phone ringing. He thought about letting it go, but as he looked out into the storm he answered it worried. ''Monk?'' 

''Victor,'' the voice on the other end of the line spoke obviously surprised to hear him. A sinister laugh followed, ''well what a pleasant surprise. Looks like I'm killing two birds with one stone tonight.'' 

''What do you want?'' Victor's voice responded tight as he clenched the phone. 

''Actually I was looking for someone else, but now that I've found you it saves me the trouble of locating you down the road.'' the voice continued, ''I take it you've received my message.'' 

''Of course I did. Sending Bordiso like that was an obvious act of desperation.'' Victor sneered looking out at the winter world wondering if the eyes were still on him now. 

''Hardly......Bordiso was only the beginning,'' the voice responded coolly. 

''The beginning? Well if that's the best you could come up with for starters, then I feel no need for concern.'' Victor spoke hoping to pull off the confident tone he'd hoped to achieve. ''After all if they all follow the same path as David Bordiso, then you can rest assured that I will have no trouble sleeping at night.'' 

''Now come on Victor. You and I both know that Bordiso shook up things in your quiet little life......the life you've made for yourself. I must say that I am rather disappointed Victor. I'd always thought you to be such a worthy adversary, but now you're nothing more than a washed up old has been.'' 

''What do you want?'' Victor asked his voice tight. 

''You know what I want and I intend to get it Victor. Tell me something, does your son know the truth?'' the voice threatened as Victor grew silent. ''He doesn't know does he? Surely I'd have thought by now that you'd have found a way to tell him, but then again I suppose I overestimated you. You're just not the man I thought you to be.'' 

''Listen here--'' 

''No you listen Victor. Enjoy your moments of peace and happiness because your days are numbered old man and know that each breath you take could be your last,'' the voice finished menacingly. 

''Don't think that I...'' Victor started. 

''It's over old man.'' the voice answered sharply as the caller hung up abruptly leaving Victor alone in the lighthouse with nothing but his thoughts and concerns about the future. He stepped over to the window again searching the night sky for any sign of life behind the falling snow. He sighed. ''Monk where are you?'' 
  
 

Chris stroked Eve's hair gently as her head lay upon his chest. This was everything he'd wanted. Although he hadn't wanted it in an elevator that could crash at any minute and kill them both. He had imagined it differently, but now that it had happened, it was perfect, ''Eve,'' he spoke her name tenderly as he ran his fingers through her hair. 

''This changes everything you know.'' she spoke up in a bit of a daze as she nestled in against Chris feeling the warmth of his skin pressed against hers. ''I never would've imagined that you and I would be here like this together. Making love to you was incredible and now if we do make it out of here, nothing will be the way it was.'' 

''I know,'' he said softly, ''Eve, I'm not going to lie to you. I've wanted this for a very long time. I'm not about to say I'm sorry or anything else that's even remotely similar. I'm in love with you. Have been for a long time. WHEN,'' he emphasized the word, ''We make it out of here, everything's up to you. Now that you know exactly how I feel, my heart's in your hands.'' 

''There are so many things to think about in our futures,'' she began with a sigh thinking about Kevin and how she'd just betrayed him with Chris. Glancing up at Chris, she knew he was sincere in what he was saying. ''There's going to be a lot explaining that needs to be done in the future, but.......'' she paused pulling up to bring her face above his our lips mere centimeters from touching as she whispered, ''one thing's for certain, I want to be with you. I don't want to hurt Kevin, but I suppose it's a little too late for that now though.'' She traced his perfect lips with her index finger as she continued speaking to him. ''All I know now is that once I've had a taste of this being with you, jumping back into a life that doesn't allow me to be with you seems impossible.'' 

He tenderly ran his hand across her cheek, ''Eve, I know that once we get out of this elevator a lot of things are going to change for us. The first being Kevin, but you have to know that I'm going to be here through all of it. Now that I've told you and showed you what you mean to me, I'm never going to let you go again.'' 

''How could I have hurt Kevin like this?'' she sighed letting things sink in as she thought of the past months living at the lighthouse. She stared off into the darkened elevator walls thinking of everything Kevin had endured in his lifetime and how she'd promised not to lie to him and hurt him like Lucy, yet here she was with Chris. She was suddenly filled with guilt....not about what she'd done with Chris, but about the fact that she'd betrayed Kevin when he'd always been nothing but kind and understanding to her. Feeling Chris reach out to her, she took his hand covering it and placing a soft kiss on it trying not to let her thoughts of Kevin invade upon their time together. 

''You're thinking about Kevin, aren't you?'' he asked, feeling his heart shatter into a hundred million pieces. If she was here with him, and thinking about Dudley Do Right, it would be the end of him. He had hoped that she could love him, but if she was thinking about him after they had just made love, it would kill him. 

Eve turned to Chris looking into his eyes knowing that she couldn't lie to him. ''Yes, I was just thinking about Kevin.....'' she started noticing the hurt expression on his face as she reached out to him, ''...but it's not what you're thinking.'' 

''What were you thinking, Eve?'' he asked, searching her eyes, desperate for answers. 

''I just hate the thought of hurting him.'' she explained seeing the hurt in Chris' face as she continued. ''It's just that Kevin's done so many things for me and he deserves so much better than this.....'' 

''Better than watching you be happy, Eve? Because that's exactly what I can do for you. You can't look me in the eye and tell me that you didn't enjoy every second of it when we made love. You can't tell me that it was just another man. Cause I'll tell you right now that it wasn't like anything I'd ever experienced in my life. I love you, Eve, and for the first time ever, I made love tonight. I made love to the woman that I love. Don't tell me that Doctor do-gooder deserves any better than to know that you can be happy. Eve, I've never lied to you. I've never done you wrong. And I'm telling you now that I never will.'' 

''Chris, making love to you was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.'' she replied feeling her eyes glisten with tears as she touched his chest feeling his steady heart beat underneath. ''You could never be just another man.'' 

''Eve, I love you,'' he said, brushing her mouth with a kiss, ''It's no secret that I don't like Kevin. Most of it was because of you. You left the apartment to be with him. Do you know how hard that was for me? To watch you walk out the door into the arms of another man? That was like stabbing me right though the heart. If Kevin is what you're looking for, just kill me now because I couldn't survive watching you walk away again.'' 

''Kevin's not what I'm looking for.'' she replied kissing him once again as she wrapped her arms around him. ''What do I have to do to prove that to you?'' she questioned moving in to devour his neck as she placed feathery light upon him feeling his skin respond to her every touch. ''What do I have to do to show you that I have everything I could ever want right here in my arms?'' 

He pulled her mouth back to his and kissed her lovingly, trying to show her just how much he loved her. ''I believe you, Eve. I never want to let you go again.'' 

''You'll never have to. I'm not going anywhere.'' she assured him softly bringing her arms out around his body drawing him nearer to her. ''You're stuck with me Ramsey.'' 

''Thank god,'' he whispered against her lips. 

''I love you Chris.'' she she confessed laying against him listening to his heart pounding. 

''I love you, Eve,'' he spoke softly, every touch of hers burning him. 

''You drive me crazy, Eve. I don't think I'm ever going to get enough of you,'' he said kissing her cheek and nuzzling her neck. 

''You haven't seen anything yet Dr. Ramsey.'' she replied with a soft smile. ''I have a feeling you and I are about to embark in one hell of an adventure together in the future.'' 

''Lambert, you never cease to amaze me,'' he kissed her gently looking deeply into her dark eyes, ''I love you to a distraction.'' 

''You know I have to admit when we get out of here, I'm never going to look at an elevator the same again.'' she chuckled in amusement trailing her finger along his chest as a noise was heard overhead. ''Well other than for obvious reasons.'' she tried to ignore the sound as she snuggled into him trying to block out the sounds. ''Oh Chris, I hope you're right about us getting out of here.'' 

''We're going to get out of here, Eve,'' he said holding her close and kissing her forehead, ''And I was just thinking the same thing about elevators. I'll have erotic thoughts now every time I'm on one.'' 

''I've come to one conclusion.'' she sighed snuggling into him. ''No matter how erotic an elevator with you may be, I'm never stepping into one again after this. We'll have to find another place to make more enticing memories in the future.'' 

''First place is a nice big bed,'' he grinned, ''With satin sheets.'' 

''Satin sheets?'' she questioned with wide eyes as she let out a soft laugh. ''Chris, with our rhythm, intensity, and satin sheets it's highly likely you and I will wind up on the floor.'' 

He smiled devilishly, ''That's place number two. Any other suggestions?'' 

''I think I've created a monster.'' she chuckled in amusement. ''You know at this rate, you're bound to be tired of me by the end of the week.'' 

He grinned, ''Ah, Lambert, I'll just be getting started.'' 

''I'm going to hold you to that Ramsey.'' she replied with a hint of seriousness. ''Come to think of it, we may have to take a break every now and then to move my things back into the apartment and then there's always that little thing called work which seems to get in the way every now and then....'' 

He smiled brightly, ''Back into the apartment? I have made an impression on you, haven't I?'' 

''You've made quite an impression on me tonight Dr. Ramsey. Who'd have thought that after all this time all I had to do was come to you to have all my fantasies fulfilled?'' she questioned tracing his jawbone with her finger as she continued with a sly grin on her face deciding to play around with him a bit. ''You do realize that after word gets out about what happened here tonight I will be homeless and on the streets unless of course you are willing to take me back at the apartment. I was kind of jumping ahead of myself a moment ago, but if you want I can go looking for a place of my own.....'' 

''Hmm,'' he played along, ''I don't think that I'd want to make love to you on the street. Not that I would mind the making love part, I just wouldn't be able to live with myself with all those bruises you'd have from the concrete. So, I guess I just have to let you move back in, now don't I?'' 

''Well, you don't have to, I could always move back into the Scanlon home.'' she replied with a wicked grin. ''Then Frank and I could bond and oh maybe if I'm lucky Courtney and I could swap some stories with each other.'' 

''Okay, that's not even funny,'' he smiled, ''Courtney and Frank, eh....Now, I've got to get you back to the apartment.'' 

''Hmm...I don't know Chris....hanging out with Frank and Courtney. Now that sounds like quite an adventure. Of course I could be easily persuaded to come back home....'' she teased smiling up at him. 

''Oh, and just how might I do this persuasion?'' 

''Hmm....well, I don't know.'' she shrugged innocently pretending to think it over for a moment. ''You're a smart guy. I know you well enough to know that if you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to get it. I'm sure you'll come up with something.'' 

He grinned wickedly, ''Well, you're certainly right about the getting what I want part,'' he kissed her, tenderly at first, slowly increasing the intensity until she was breathless, ''Hmm, I don't know though,'' he smiled, ''I'm still not sure that I can convince you.'' 

''Well, I'll bet if you try really hard something will come to you.'' she replied with a grin taking a moment to catch her breath as he pulled away. ''In fact I'd have to say you're heading in the right direction.'' 

He traced a line from her jaw down her neck to her shoulder with a finger tip before following the same path with his mouth, ''Still in the right direction?'' 

''I'd have to say you're getting warmer.'' she replied feeling chills down her spine from the feel of his touch. 

''Still warm?'' 

''Uh-huh,'' she nodded biting on her lower lip as Chris kissed her. ''Much warmer.'' 

''Convinced?'' 

''Uh-huh,'' she nodded still trying to catch her breath. She rolled him over on his back resting her head in the center of his chest. ''I have to admit I've never been subjected to such heavy persuasion before. How could I not be convinced?'' 

He smiled, ''That's the point, Lambert,'' he kissed the top of her head. 

''Actually Ramsey,'' she sighed melting against him, ''while this has been an experience I'll never forget, I'm just about ready to get out of here.'' she looked into his eyes realizing that the last place she wanted to be spending her time making love to him was in this unstable elevator shaft. 

''Tonight's been amazing, but.....'' She stopped hearing heard the sounds return above them wondering if they'd been there the entire time she and Chris were fulfilling each other's fantasies. She was about to finish her sentence when she noticed a red blinking light in the top right corner of the elevator. Feeling her face grow flushed a bit, she looked at Chris in horror. 

''Chris, do you realize what that is?'' she questioned directing his attention to what she saw. ''That's the security camera. We've been under surveillance this whole time.....'' 

Chris grinned and that turned into a full fledged laugh, ''I think we should go ask for the tapes. I wouldn't mind reliving every moment of tonight. Well, except for the nasty bump on the head.'' 

''Of course we're going to get the tapes Chris, but what if someone's been watching us?'' she questioned thinking about the gossips at the hospital. After trying to remain calm for a moment, she felt herself struck by a bout of panic. ''This is the last thing we need going around the hospital. I don't need half the world seeing my naked......'' she paused for a moment thinking it over. 

Chris noticed the panicked expression on her face and couldn't help but laugh. 

''You know maybe this is fate coming back to kick you in the butt for posting those pictures of Matt and Ellen,'' she continued, ''Chris, we have to get those tapes and we need to find a way to get out of here before this thing completely breaks down. I can see it now.....at our funerals they'll be going over our last moments during a viewing and then pouf, there it'll be....us making love for the whole world to see.'' 

''I can think of worse eulogies,'' he grinned, ''And I hope they got my good side,'' he teased as she gave him a scathing look, ''Okay, okay, let's get dressed and figure a way out of here. I'll get the tapes when we're free.'' 

''You'd better.'' she replied reaching across the elevator for her clothes before pausing for a moment. Glancing up at the camera once more, she let out a sigh grabbing a hold of Chris giving him a deep penetrating kiss. After a moment she pulled away reaching for her shirt noticing the bewildered look on his face. 

''We had to have some kind of finale.'' she said trying to find the humor in the situation as she tossed his pants in his direction. 

He laughed, ''Well,'' he said, slipping into his pants, ''We could always get rescued for a big finish. Then again, that's not quite as romantic as breaking out, is it?'' 

''At this point I'll settle for an out period.'' she replied pulling her shirt over her head as she reached for her purse pulling out a compact to check over her appearance for a moment before tossing it back inside. ''Oh who am I kidding? I'm not going to be fooling anyone. For all I know Amy Vinning could be viewing those tapes right now just ready to run to Rachel Locke and tell her all about what you've been up to with Kevin's Collins' tramp of a girlfriend. That's all we need right now is having Kevin hear about this from someone else...especially Rachel.'' She looked back at Chris realizing he probably didn't want to hear about Kevin yet again as he helped her to her feet. ''All right, let's find a way out of here.'' 

Chris finished buttoning his shirt and rolled up the sleeves while looking around, ''Any ideas?'' 

''I suppose we could try climbing out up there.'' she suggested looking at the ceiling as she heard a noise overhead that was a bit different than those she'd heard earlier. ''Chris.....listen to that. It sounds like.....like someone's out there.'' 

''Looks like we may have gotten our clothes on just in time,'' he smiled, pulling her into his arms. He decided to call out, ''Anybody up there?'' 

The top of the elevator opened to reveal a man on the other side reaching out to them explaining that the elevator had malfunctioned due to the horrible storm outside, but everything would be under control soon so he was instructed to get them out of the elevator in the mean time. Eve looked at Chris for a moment as the man extended his arm out to hoist her out of the elevator. Kissing him for a moment trying to assure him she hadn't forgotten her promise about their future, she looked into his eyes almost feeling a bit sad to let their time together go. 

''I suppose I'll see you on the other side.'' she spoke softly. 

He grinned at Eve and caressed her cheek, ''On the other side,'' he said as she was lifted away to safety. Taking a moment to look around the elevator, he smiled knowing he would never look at an elevator the same way again. He could be happy. They had survived what could have been a life ending event by loving one another and he felt he could face what lie on the other side knowing that now he just had to get his hands on the video tapes. 
  
  

''Apparently Dr. Lambert and Dr. Ramsey have been trapped in there for some time.'' Amy Vining explained raising an eyebrow as she noticed one of the workers pull a very frazzled Eve into the lobby. ''I wonder what they've been up to. Just look at her.'' 

Rachel followed Amy's stare and noticed Chris and Eve now approaching them after they'd been 'rescued' from the elevator. 

''Amy, have you seen Kevin around here anywhere?'' Eve asked noticing the looks upon their faces. 

''Nope, I haven't seen him lately.'' Amy replied with a shrug turning to Rachel. 

''How about you?'' Eve sighed looking to Rachel knowing their was no love lost between them as she sighed and turned back to Chris. 

''I haven't see him Eve,'' Rachel commented noticing that there was something different about them as Chris stood close to Eve. She watched them carefully. ''You two must've been through quite an ordeal in there.....how many hours was it exactly?'' her voice full of curiosity. 

''Gee.....I can't remember.'' Eve commented shooting a glare at her before turning to Chris, who'd been lost in his own silence. ''Chris, I'm going to look for Kevin and talk to him about things.'' 

He nodded. ''That's probably a good idea Eve.'' 

''Okay,'' she said stepping closer to him and pulled him away from the nurse's station. ''You get the tapes and we'll meet up in a little while.'' 

''You can count on it,'' Chris replied watching her leave as Amy stepped up to him with a curious expression on her face. 

''What tapes?'' 

Chris looked back at Amy seeing the hungry expression on her face knowing that she was fishing around for any kind of gossip he'd toss out in her direction. He glanced over at Rachel knowing full well that she had something brewing behind her eyes as well as he answered simply. ''Get a new hobby Amy.'' 

''But.....'' she started watching him walk away abruptly. ''Geez.....why bother try being nice around here? See what it gets you.'' 

''The question is, what did it get him?'' Rachel asked clicking her pen and watching him round the corner of the hallway. 
  

''Kevin, it's Eve.'' she started a bit uneasy as she cleared her throat a bit. ''Look, I'm still here at GH. Chris and I were trapped in an elevator. One of the cables snapped and things were very intense around here. I know we were supposed to meet, but apparently you never made it here or if you did and couldn't find me, now you know why we didn't touch base. I know you were afraid something terrible was going to happen tonight as an omen, so please let me know that you're all right......I guess that's about it.....I...'' she paused not knowing how to end the message as she sighed into the phone. ''Just call me when you get a chance.'' 

After Chris quickly grabbed the tapes and did a brief check through them in a tape machine, he walked back out into the hall seeing Eve by the pay phone. He handed the tapes to Eve and grinned, ''They DID get my good side.'' 

''Did anyone see you when you were taking these?'' she asked him cautiously. 

''Well other than the two security guards I had to bribe heavily in order to buy their silence.....'' he started with a slight chuckle as she swatted at him. 

''You're terrible, you know that?'' she replied tucking the tapes into her purse quickly noticing how amused he was. ''I can't believe you're getting so much pleasure out of this.'' 

''Why not? It's a fairly common fantasy to watch yourself make love with the person of your dreams. You know,'' he grinned, ''We've fulfilled quite a few fantasies tonight. Number one, you. Number two, sex in an elevator. Number three, video tape of the whole thing. I'll have to come up with some new ones for us to work on.'' 

''Don't strain yourself trying to think up something too spectacular. I mean I wouldn't want you to actually overwork yourself there.'' 

''Thinking up ways to make love to you Eve, is hardly considered work on my part,'' Chris replied with a wink looking her over. ''In fact I find it to be more of an adventure really.'' 

''Well in that case, truth be known. I'm quite a simple girl when it gets down to it.'' she replied with a grin seeing his eyes scan over her and she began contemplating pulling him into a kiss even though there were a few people in the hallway with them. 

''Lambert there is nothing simple about you. You're probably one of the most complicated women I've ever met.'' 

''You're probably right about that,'' she nodded in agreement. 

''I know I am,'' he said with a laugh. 

She was about to speak again when she heard her cell phone ringing. ''Hold that thought.'' she instructed answering the phone. ''Hello...'' 

''Hey it is me.'' Kevin's voice came through over the line. ''Sorry I never made it to pick you up, something came up. Is everything okay there?'' 

''Kevin,'' she replied standing up straighter at the sound of his voice, ''hi. Um, yeah, everything's fine now.'' She looked at Chris for a moment before speaking up again. ''We're all out of danger here at the hospital so I think I'm about to call it a night. Is everything all right with you?'' 

''Yes, I am at the hotel. I had a mini auto accident.'' 

''An accident? Oh God Kevin are you okay?'' she asked her voice full of concern. 

''Yeah I'm fine Eve. It was pretty minor. Other than their being some hood damage to my car, I'm okay. I wasn't going too fast, so luckily I got out without so much as a scratch.'' 

''Oh I see. Well, I'm glad you weren't hurt Kevin. I was worried about you.'' she replied feeling a bit guilty. 

''I was worried about you too Eve,'' He said finally taking in a breath, ''I was still going to try to get over to the hospital there, but after they closed the roads, I just checked in here at the hotel.'' 

''Actually, it's probably best that you're there for the night Kevin. I wouldn't want you to chance it considering what you were feeling earlier with your worries about the snow. Actually, since the roads are closed I think I might just stay with a friend of mine who has a place not too far from here.'' 

''That sounds like it might be a good idea,'' He replied briefly. 

''I thought so too and that way I won't have to worry about the drive over to the lighthouse.'' she paused for a moment realizing now was not the time for them to get into the talk she'd been dreading since the elevator rescue. ''Kevin, it's good to hear that you're all right.'' 

''Same to you Eve.'' he spoke softly. 

''Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Perhaps we can catch up over brunch or something.'' she replied sensing that something was different with Kevin. After a moment she wondered if it was just her own feelings because of what happened with Chris, but the more she thought about it, he sounded like something was on his mind. Deciding not to probe any further into the issue, she spoke up again. ''Good night Kevin.'' 

''Good night Eve.'' 

She hung up the phone and turned to Chris who was unusually silent. ''Kevin's staying at the Port Charles hotel tonight.'' she explained putting her phone back into her purse. ''He never made it here, but I suppose that's good because it'll give me time to think about what I'm going to say to him.'' 

Chris slid his hands into his pockets and looked to the floor, ''Well, that's not the most wonderful way to spend your time, but it has to be done,'' he shrugged and smiled gently towards her. 

''Chris I just meant that--'' 

''I know that you cared about him, Eve.'' he said cutting her off. ''Just be patient with me.'' 

''Kevin and I had something special Chris and I'm not going to pretend that we didn't.'' she replied being completely honest with him about Kevin. ''Kevin taught me a lot about myself and about the person who I want to be and no matter what happens I'm always going to care about him, but that doesn't change what you and I have with each other. I know it'll take time for this all to get the closure it needs, but I hope you understand that.'' 

''I understand that I love you enough to be patient during this Kevin thing. I might get a tad cranky during it, but I'll be on the other side waiting for you, Eve.'' 

''That means a lot to me Chris...really it does.'' she replied touching his face for a moment as she smiled softly. ''Now what do you say we get out of here and head on over to the apartment?'' 

''Sounds like a good idea to me,'' he smiled. 

''Great,'' she replied following him out into the parking lot to his car before they made our way through the snow filled night to the apartment. 
  
  

''Something came up huh Doc?'' Lucy asked watching him hang up the phone as she pulled her robe around her. 

''That's all I could think of under the circumstances Lucy,'' he said turning to face her seeing her damp hair now down around her shoulders. 

''Well that's just nice Doc,'' she commented towel drying her hair a bit before holding the towel in her hand. ''I presume that the moment just wasn't right to mention that you found yourself back here with me huh?'' 

''Lucy I--'' 

''I just don't get it Doc. I mean if Eve understands you so much and you have this bond with one another, then why not tell her about something as innocent as this?'' she questioned curiously. 

''I'd hardly consider this simple or innocent Lucy,'' he sighed as his eyes traveled over her seeing her long, slender legs. 

''Then I take it you're thinking about what we discussed over dinner,'' she said watching him. 

''About fate and karma,'' he replied shaking his head, ''Lucy you know how I feel about those topics.'' 

''And you know how I feel Doc,'' she said moving over to take a seat beside him on the bed. ''You can't tell me that when I found you tonight in that car it didn't do something for you.'' 

''Lucy I swerved to avoid hitting you, which by the way I still don't understand what you were doing in the middle of the road like that.'' 

''I told you. My car was stuck in a snow bank and I was just trying to find a way out of it,'' she explained. 

''What were you planning on doing digging your way out?'' 

''If that's what it took. In fact I'd pulled out my snow scraper and was digging over by the tires when I saw your headlights approaching and then I figured maybe just maybe I could get a lift if I captured your attention,'' she said with determination in her voice as he broke into a laugh. She frowned slightly and he noticed that wrinkle in her nose that she got when she thought he was poking fun at her ideas. ''What?'' 

''You never cease to amaze me Lucy,'' he admitted. 

''What's that supposed to mean?'' 

''Just the way you are. I mean you could have the whole world fall apart in front of you, and yet you're always trying to find some way to get yourself out whatever situation you find yourself in.'' 

''Well I'm resilient, hasn't anyone ever told you that by now Doc?'' she said with a smile patting his leg. 

''They don't have to Lucy. I see it in your eyes,'' he said looking down at her hand on his knee. He watched if for a moment before raising his eyes to meet hers. ''Somehow you always find a way to come out on top regardless of what life throws you.'' 

''It's the product of years worth of practice,'' she said softly still looking into his dark eyes. ''I mean take the past couple months for example, when I lost both Christina and Scott in a matter of weeks, I could've easily just sunk back into that deep, dark place I was before like when Scott left town with Serena the first time around, but instead I channeled my energies elsewhere and I remembered what you taught me Doc.'' 

''What I taught you?'' 

''That's right. You taught me that even when I was feeling my lowest and all the deepest, darkest things in the world were coming at me, that giving up was the last thing I should do. You taught me how to overcome my challenges and be the best Lucy I could be and in a sense you helped me realize that I could be a better person,'' she paused. ''You made me see that maybe if I worked at it a little, that something good would come in my life.'' 

''I did all that huh?'' 

''All that and more Doc,'' she nodded reaching out to touch his face tenderly. 

''Lucy,'' he started feeling the old, familiar magic in the air as she touched him. Instinctively he brought his hand up to cover hers as they sat together in silence. 

''Doc, I know that you think I'm off the rocker when I tell you that destiny and karma play a big role in people's lives, but I really believe it's true. I mean think about it--the snow storm, the accident, us finding each other in the midst of it--the chances of that happening would be slim to none under normal circumstances.'' 

''Lucy we just so happened to be traveling the same path at around the same time,'' he started. 

''Yes Doc, but there was a reason we were set out on that path together and there's a reason why we're here together now.'' she insisted feeling his fingers run over hers as she cupped his face. 

''Lucy, I love Eve.'' he finally said feeling the words come as they had so many times in the past, but this time he wasn't sure who he was speaking them to. Was he trying to convince himself or her? 

Seemingly unbroken by his declaration Lucy inched in towards him meeting his lips in a kiss half expecting him to turn away, but much to her delight he kissed her back. After all this time, her Doc was with her and he was returning her kiss. She pulled back slightly seeing the words forming on his lips as she knew he was about to make the same statement over again when she raised a finger to his lips silencing him finally. 

''I know think you love Eve, but Doc I also know you love me more,'' she replied softly before bridging the distance between them and kissing him again.