Will's POV

It was my last day in town. It was a grueling two days of back to back meetings and such but obviously neccessary. I hated that I couldn't see Laura more throughout my time here. I was frustratingly busy and when I did have a free minute she was busy. Yet I wasn't going to leave town without saying goodbye.

I had a suspension she wasn't going to attend my award ceremony. So I wasn't sure when I'd ever see her again. I couldn't go without seeing her one last time.

I knew the hospital she worked at. It was late but from what I could put together she had a late schedule. The ER wasn't as hectic as I was used to. The nurse at the desk typing at her computer barely raised a brow when I got there.

"I'm looking for Laura Brown."

She finally peeled her eyes from the screen to give me a thorough inspection. "She's not here. Sorry."

I was most certain she wasn't sorry in the least. She was an older woman who probably didn't like wasting her time of meaningless conversation.

Obviously she didn't know where Laura was.

"She's probably at the gym." Spoke a younger nurse from across the desk. She was pretty, blonde, and definitely more friendly. "You're William Stevens. Laura's told me about you. She makes me read every article on you."

I couldn't describe how good that made me feel knowing Laura tried keeping up with my life. She wanted to know about me even if she didn't want to see me.

The girl smiled so big and stretched out her hand. "Not that I wouldn't read them if she hadn't told me about you. You're great. Your work is..."

I shook her hand with pleasure. "Thank you."

She seemed eager with questions. "I didn't believe Laura when she told me you guys worked together but now... damn."

I could immediately tell this girl was a talker. I wanted to be polite but also keep her on track. "So Laura's at a gym."

She nodded. "Blake's gym. It's down the street from her apartment."

Blake... no. It couldn't be, could it?

"Thank you." I paused not knowing her name.

"Molly."

I thanked her again and headed for the exit. Laura didn't live too far. The gym. Blake's gym. I wondered how often they met being so conveniently close.

Not only was the guy fit and attractive he was a counselor and knew how to talk delicately to more troubled individuals. Laura was hurt. Maybe not now but she was. I could understand the appeal. She needed someone to confide in.

I was just jealous it wasn't me.

It seemed like the average planet fitness gym. The equipment had your standard treadmill, elliptical, and weight machines. Not that many people were there and not the someone I was looking for either.

Where was Laura?

I needed a membership to get in so I asked the guy I was paying my fee to if he knew her. It wasn't a no but he wasn't giving me much information, like it was a damn secret or something.

I lied and said she was my sister. I had to give him a bogus reason why we had different last names but the man was convinced enough to finally talk.

"Laura's in the back with the exclusive members. Just go down that hall passed the bathrooms then to the right. Tell the guy who you are and you should be good."

What the hell kind of gym was this?

I took the directions down a staircase to closed doors guarded by a brute bodybuilder. He was a big dude.

He looked like one of those guys you'd picture in the Russian mafia. He didn't crack any expression while I stood timidly in front of him.

"I'm here to see my sister Laura Brown."

His eyes squinted for a second. "She didn't mention you were coming."

Lie again. "I wanted to surprise her."

Another dreaded minute went by as he judged my explanation and appearance. Then he opened the doors for me. I hadn't felt that kind of anxiety before, not even in surgery.

On the other side of those doors was a massive open gym; bleachers on the sides and a boxing ring in the middle. There was already a fight going on. A crowd of 40 people gathered around the edges hanging on the adrenalin rush of watching the boxers.

As I got closer I realized they weren't boxers. They didn't have the thick padded gloves on. Actually I think it was only tape protecting their knuckles.

I searched the faces of the crowd but couldn't find hers. Where was she? My attention was brought back to the fighters when the crowd began chanting. But I couldn't understand what they were saying.

The fighters in the ring were women. They were pacing in a circle, facing each other. One was distinctively bigger and taller while the other-.

My heart completely stopped.

It was Laura. It didn't fully register it because I never would have thought I'd ever see her in such a setting. She had blood and sweat dropping down her toned body.

She looked ready to take down the hulk. She seemed so freaking confident. It was incredibly sexy.

Laura dodged a punch and kicked her opponent in the stomach. It was a fierce kick to the ribs, knocking the woman to the ground.

The crowd cheered and Laura had never looked happier.

It was all happening so fast. Was this real? Was Laura really involved in an underground fight club?

Blake got into the ring and pulled Laura into a hug lifting her off her feet.

What the hell was really going on here?

The girl on the floor rolled over in pain. My instincts kicked in and I jumped onto the stage to get to her. She was hugging her side and squirming with discomfort.

I reassured her I was a doctor so I could assess her without confusion.

"Will?" I heard Laura's voice ask from behind me.

I focused on the girl. Her face was bloody and bruised. Multiple hits to the face and possibly chest.

Laura did this?

"Will?" She spoke my name again and crouched down next to me.

I finally worked up the courage to look at her. Shock, and I picked up on the slightest bit of embarrassed, from her expression. Thankfully she wasn't as badly beaten.

"There's a doctor on site for her." Laura tried putting my mind at ease.

A guy who was standing next to Blake earlier came to lift the girl into his arms and carry her away. I wanted to go after her and make sure everything was in order but Laura stopped me.

"She'll be fine."

She wasn't that badly injured so I knew she was right. It was just difficult addressing this situation. Laura was in a fight club. Blake's fight club.

I knew I didn't like him.

I touched a fresh cut on Laura's face and she smiled warmly. "I'm ok. But how did you get here?"

"Molly told me you were probably here then I told them I was your brother." I felt no guilt lying about it now.

She laughed and I assessed the rest of her as we got up. I needed to know she wasn't in any crucial pain. She wore joggers and a sports bra. Her body was covered in sweat but no serious wounds.

Seeing her in this light, sweaty and tough, turned me on. Who would have thought? Laura looked amazing and in her element.

"Dr. Stevens what are you doing here?" Blake came up from behind Laura putting his hand on her waist while the crowd started to disburse.

I grinded my teeth together as I imagined myself punching him in the face.

"I wanted to see Laura before I go home."

Laura's lips parted in surprise as if forgetting I had a flight tomorrow. Maybe she did forget. I wasn't that important in her life anymore. Why should I expect her to care? She had been on her own for so long now.

That realization hit me in the gut. I didn't mean much to her anymore.

Perhaps this was a bad idea.

"Today? You're leaving today?" She spoke in a panic.

"Tomorrow morning."

She seemed relieved.

"She did great tonight. Didn't she?" Blake burst into our bubble... again.

He knew probably by the look on my face I wasn't too fond of Laura fighting. But I also wasn't used to it either. Not that I didn't think her incapable. I just never wanted to see her hurt or in any situation where she could get hurt.

When I didn't answer fast enough Blake presumed my thoughts. "You don't approve?"

I fixed my gaze on Laura. She was the only person I cared about and I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

"I never said that."

Blake was a smug bastard I could tell by the way he carried himself. Yeah he owned the gym but I bet he didn't own Laura's heart like he really wanted to.

"You look like you work out. Why not take a chance and get into the ring with me? I'll go easy on you Doc."

I seriously considered the invitation but I wasn't an idiot. This guy was military from what Laura told me about him. He had more training than I could ever process. I was healthy and yeah I lifted weights but I had no combat training what so ever.

Laura shrugged him off of her and stood in front of me, protectively I might add. "Hell no. It's his last night and he's spending it with me."

A burst of God knows what pulsed through my body. She wanted me all to herself. Laura took my hand and she led me into a locker room. I waited patiently as she pulled out her bag and threw on more clothes.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"For what exactly?"

"I guess I didn't think that you might actually want to see me again before you go. I just wasn't thinking. I'm sorry."

The guilt in her eyes were enough to warm me into a pile of puddy. She still had me wrapped around her finger and she had no clue.

When I met Laura she was an assertive force at the hospital. She dominated the ER more so than the rest of her co workers but I didn't think she knew that. She put her whole heart and soul into her patients. It took me awhile to realize she was suffering from a broken heart. That was how dedicated she was. Chris hurt her and I was there to see her question her worth.

I got to know so much about her in the short few months we were together. Once she was comfortable she opened up about everything. I fell in love with every part of her.

"It's been over a year. Of course I want to see you. I miss you Laura." I wasn't even shamed to say it.

She bit her lip and tossed her bag over her shoulder. "Let's get out of here."

We ended up back at her place which I didn't mind. She let me treat her smaller wounds before proceeding to lounge on her couch, drinking wine.

"You're incredible." I blurted out, staring at her like a huge fan would. I needed to chill, maybe the wine was getting to me.

She corked a brow up at me. "Shut up."

She could never take a compliment. She never believed them.

"You're amazing." She shook her head to deny it. "Yes you are. You're brave and you found a way to protect yourself. I'm so proud of you."

At least now I knew she could knock any guy off his feet and onto his back in seconds.

"I'm glad you see it that way." She lowered her gaze and took another gulp.

Was she nervous?

"I need to tell you something."

I was hoping she'd open up in due time, her own time. I was here for her, always no matter what. I wanted her to know that.

"I know we already talked about Chris but there were parts I was leaving out." She continued to spill her story; a tragic story of unrelenting love.

Chris truly had an unconditional love for Laura. I just didn't understand why she felt the need to tell me.

"You still love him."

She didn't even have to admit it. I could see it in the way she spoke about him. She missed him.

"I try convincing myself otherwise because the thought of really losing him kills me." She dropped her gaze and I knew exactly how she felt.

It was how I felt about her.

"You were at a stage in your life where his love wasn't enough to heal you. Some things you can only deal with by yourself."

This was my chance to be there for her, as a friend, like she truly wanted.

"When you feel worthless and empty there's nothing anyone can do or say to change it. I felt nothing because I couldn't feel anything. I wouldn't allow myself to feel anything." She broke down. "There was nothing he could have done to help me. I wasn't ready."

I knew exactly what she meant.

"I went through a period of time where I didn't know myself. I couldn't understand myself. So it's not that I don't love him; it's just I couldn't love him then." Tears ran down her beautiful face. "My life paused and everything was numb."

I hated seeing her in pain. I could still remember all those days she cried in the hospital. They were torture.

I stayed quiet so that she could get everything off her chest. I could see it had been on her heart for a long time.

"I shouldn't have let him move out here but I missed him. How can you love someone when you can't even love yourself?"

She had said those words to me before but we were at the hospital.

"Do you love yourself now?"

She wiped her tears with her sleeves and nodded. "It took time. It took sweat and it took honesty to finally find myself. I love my work. I love my strength. I love my purpose. I love me."

Her confidence was real. "Why haven't you told him?"

She finished off her glass before answering. "Because I fucked it up so bad. In my selfishness I broke his heart."

"You numbed yourself in order to protect yourself. You wouldn't be the first person to do so." All those years of Clare's counseling was finally being put to good use.

I wanted to help Laura in any way I could. I wanted to see her happy again.

"It doesn't matter now." She got up, conflicted and hurting.

I wanted to help. I couldn't let her give up. "Yes it does. From what you've said and from what I already know is that Chris would never stop loving you. He just needs to know your ready."

"I'm scared." She confessed.

I got up too. "Of what?"

"What if he doesn't think I'm worth it? What if he wants nothing to do with me?" She couldn't face anymore emotional pain.

"Remind him why you are worth it."

"What I did was unforgivable. I used him." She cried more tears.

"It is forgivable if he truly does love you."

I wanted to hold her, to comfort her but she wanted someone specific for that.

"You can't be scared to try. Not after everything you've been through." I would never let her know how much it hurt me to tell her to go after another man.

She began to sob and I couldn't sustain it any longer. Forget my feelings. I couldn't watch her be this sad and do nothing.

I opened my arms to wrap them around her; hoping the embrace would give her an anchor to hold onto. Her warmth, her scent was taking me onto another level of bliss. I never got over her and I wasn't sure I could.

I had compared every woman I had been with after her with her. Laura was someone I loved being with. She made me laugh. She listened to my struggles. She was there for me, taking care of me. I fell in love with her when I didn't even think love was possible for me anymore.

Most of the women I meet were a bit needy. They want a man to spoil them which I'm not opposed to but for me that comes with affection. When I know you and care for you then I want to spoil you and show my affection in whatever form you want.

Laura didn't need things from me. She needed my support. She needed to be held. She needed to feel loved and adored. I wanted to give her those and I still do.

"You're stronger; more confident in yourself. Don't be afraid to tell him how you feel. Don't lose that chance. Trust me, you'll regret."

"I'm sorry." She murmured into my chest.

She was driving me crazy with no real intention to. I think for the fact that she rejected me made me want her even more. I knew that was messed up. When we were together and even engaged she still chose Chris.

Finding a woman to be with wasn't hard for me. I wasn't saying women threw themselves at me but I was attractive and I had a decent, respectable job.

Of course I think it impressed Laura but it wasn't that with her.

Yet in the end I wasn't enough for her. I wasn't who she wanted. That hurt the most. I still loved her. I couldn't get over her. I wondered if Chris could. It had been months since their final split but we never talk about it.

I honestly doubted it. Laura wasn't the type of girl you could forget.

I was currently the shoulder she was crying on and eventually the tears subdued. I cradled her face and made sure she was listening to me.

"Be brave. He's worth it to you so fight for him."

To see that smile on her face once again meant I could finally relax. She was going to be okay.

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