"Hello, welcome home,"

O N W A R D S;

Caleb was on edge as he watched the guard escort Sloan to his car. At the sight of his van leaving Caleb turned his heel and made his way to her room, a route that he was slowly getting accustomed too. Upon entering the waiting room for that floor of the hospital his eyes caught Anastasia Abrahams green eyes, ones so similar to Georgia he had to do a double take.
"Mr. Hearst!" She smiled at him politely.

Caleb looked around to see that she wasn't accompanied by anyone and as she stood in front of him holding a small bouquet of roses.
"These are for Georgia, I was hoping I could come with you."
Caleb smiled and nodded his head, "That wouldn't be a problem,"
Side by side they walked together in silence until Anastasia spoke up, "Mr. Hearst, forgive me if I come off as too forward but did you love my daughter?"

Caleb didn't meet her gaze, "very much."
Anastasia let out a sigh of relief, "Then, what exactly happened?"
That was exactly what he was trying to find out, "I don't know,"
She was quiet for a moment, "You're helping her to help yourself aren't you?" she stated plainly.
How she said it made Caleb feel uneasy, at his lack of an answer she nodded her and continued, "— and if you get your answer what then?"

He would leave, he'd get the answer he was yearning for and then maybe he'd be able to live in peace. Although with the look on Anastasia's face he didn't know if telling her that was the best idea, "I'll tell you when it happens."
"Mhm." She mumbled as they approached the door and Caleb twisted the handle.
Tim seemed to be checking her stats and at the sight of them both pairs of eyes turned to us.

"Hello love," Anastasia said calmly.
Georgia held her mother's gaze, a soft look overtaking her features, "I know you're memory is a bit fuzzy and the last time you were here, you didn't... um recognize me but...."
Tim suddenly cut her off, "Mrs. Abrahams, I told you to wait until the end of the week before you were permitted to see her!"
Anastasia suddenly let out a frustrated groan and frowned, "I needed to see my daughter! I didn't want to wait is that so hard to understand!"

Caleb took a look at Georgia's expression and realized that confusion was etched all over it.
"Georgia please... remember me, I'm your mother..." she trailed off.
Caleb saw that Georgia physically stiffened and suddenly her eyes caught his, "Listen I understand your frustration, but this is a sensitive process..." Tim tried to say.
Anastasia scoffed, "You do not understand anything! Is that your daughter lying down in a hospital room with only the memory of a man she never mentioned?"

She plastered her hand to her forehead, "Please Mrs. Abrahams..." Caleb began.
She shot daggers at him, "I don't want to hear it" she raised her hand up.
Without a second glance she was out of the room leaving the three in deafening silence. Caleb took a breath and nodded at Tim as he nodded back and left the room.

Caleb stood with his hands in his pockets and he looked up to her to see her fiddling with her fingers, "I really, don't remember her..."
She shook her head, "My mother," her eyes finally caught his and he noticed a glassy look to them.
"From looking at her I could see the resemblance but, then nothing—"
She hung her head and he pulled the chair close to her bedside.

"You told me something once, that your mother was a nurse and that when you were younger you wanted to be just like her, to help people."
She looked up at him with tearful eyes, "You always wanted to go to work with her, to help take care of her patients." Caleb paused, "I remember seeing the admiration in your eyes, pure selflessness you just oozed it was one of the reasons that I..." he stopped himself.
He realized he was getting lost that couldn't happen, not again.

He shook his head, "You're memories will come back," he said confidently.
Caleb turned his attention to the contents of the room, "You seem so sure," she said quietly.
He shrugged, "Because I am, you're strong."
Georgia suddenly caught his eye and smiled and just that fact caused him to reciprocate the action. On the wall close to the door, Caleb noticed a painting. It was obviously abstract black and white with strokes of grey, which created a blur over the whole canvas. It reminded him of what he'd been feeling all those years just a mixture of so many emotions they all just blurred into one.

Georgia must have noticed his staring as she spoke up, "When I look at it, it reminds me of the first time I saw you in the park."
Her statement made him turn to her, "I remember looking at you from the window of the bus and thinking that you were so cute and that I honestly would have gone to the park twice a day every day just to see you." She chuckled softly.
Caleb's eyes widened, "You never told me that."

Her eyes suddenly lifted to meet his, "I thought it was creepy and plus your ego was so big back then, I didn't want to inflate it anymore."
Caleb suddenly searched hers and a familiar feeling overtook him but he managed to shake it off, no.
"Do you still paint?"
Caleb cringed instantly retreating his gaze from her, how could he tell her every time he picked up a paintbrush he thought of her? So he hadn't picked one up in five years?

"Caleb?" She asked curiously.
He shook his head, "No, not anymore."
Her facial expression seemed so surprised, "But you loved it, it was what you did all day every day."
Caleb shook head, "Things changed."
"But..." suddenly the vibration of his phone tore him away from their conversation.
It was work and he looked up at her, "This is important."

She nodded and he stood up and walked to the end of the room, "Hello?"
The voice on the end of the line was Harry Jameson, Caleb's most trusted advisor, "Caleb, where have you been?"
He sighed, "I told you, I was going to be away for awhile..."
"Awhile? How long is awhile?" He snapped.
"I can't say at the moment but..."

Harry cut him off, "No, Caleb you don't get to do that! You're running a damn company here! The CEO can't just take an unscheduled trip to god knows where when very important meetings are in progress!"
Caleb ran his fingers through his hair, "I'll be back soon Harry."
He scoffed through the phone, "Don't take too long Caleb the board is getting antsy."

Caleb shook his head, "What they want to vote me out?" He said it as a joke but when Harry didn't answer Caleb became serious.
He hadn't been away from work for more than two weeks, "Just come back as soon as possible." He ended the call and Caleb turned around to face Georgia who was once again fiddling with her fingers.

He knew she'd heard the phone call but didn't say anything or question him as he sat back down.
"I'm sorry," he began, "It was work."
She just nodded, forcing a smile onto her face, "I understand and,"she paused, "I'd definitely understand if you didn't show up for a few days." She mumbled.
She caught her gaze and he nodded, "I'm still going to be coming."

She shook her head, "Still stubborn I see."
Caleb rolled her eyes, "I wasn't the stubborn one!"
Georgia giggled, "Are you accusing me of something?"
He shook his head, "No, I'm just telling the truth."
She gasped a mock hurt taking over her face, "Whatever Casanova."
There it was that nickname again that brought back so much memories, good and bad.