Nick wakes to his hands throbbing. He groans in pain. "Nick?"

He opens his eyes and sees his mother. "Mom?"

"How are you feeling?"

"My hands are killing me." He looks at his bandaged hands. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

"No."

"You cut them on broken glass. You're in the hospital."

"Just for cutting my hands?"

Jane is confused. "I'll go get the doctor."

The doctor comes in. "Hi Nick. I'm Dr. Mitchell." he says.

"Hi. My hands really hurt. Can you give me something please?"

"I have something right here."

Nick takes the medicine. "Thanks. I don't understand what's happened. Where's Aaron? Is he okay?"

"Aaron's fine Nick. Why do you ask?" inquires Jane.

"The last thing I remember he and I were at the mall looking for video games."

Jane is shocked. "Dr. Mitchell may I speak with you in the hall?"

"Mom what's going on?"

"We'll be right back."

"What he's talking about happened two days before he went to Australia and Rachel started that job. It was nearly two months ago."

"Amnesia is understandable. He isn't ready to accept the fact she's gone so he doesn't remember it."

"But why now? He was fine this morning. He was cleaning out her things."

"I can't explain it Mrs. Carter but he isn't ready."

"What do we do?"

"Hope that he remembers soon. But do not under any circumstances tell him, he has to remember on his own. We can help him a little by saying that she's on an assignment, since she told him about it that night maybe that will trigger something."

"I hope so."

They go back to Nick's room. "Nick what is today?" asks Dr. Mitchell.

"August 13th. Why?"

"No, it's October 6th."

"What?! What are you talking about? Is this some kind of sick joke?"

"Nick no." says Jane.

"Then I must be having some crazy dream."

"It's not a dream, it's amnesia." states Dr. Mitchell.

"Why? Was I in some sort of accident? Did I hurt my head as well as my hands? And where's Rachel?"

"She's on an assignment for Jake. She told you about it that night you just have to remember." says Jane.

Nick begins to feel dazed from the medication. "I'm so tired."

"Get some sleep. We can talk more tomorrow." says Dr. Mitchell.

"I'll see you tomorrow Nicky." says Jane tucking him in.

In the hall she asks, "What will happen if someone tells him the truth?"

"More than likely another breakdown."

"I couldn't bear that."

"Neither could he, his body could shut down as well as his mind."

The next afternoon Dr. Mitchell says, "Nick tell me everything you remember about that day."

"I woke up, Rae was still asleep. I kissed her on the cheek and eased out of bed. I got in the shower." He giggles and raises an eyebrow. "She joined me." Dr. Mitchell smiles. "We got dressed, and I went and picked up Aaron. He and I went to McDonald's and got some breakfast then we went to the mall."

"Anything else?"

"No."

"Okay. Nick I know this is frustrating but sooner or later you will remember."

"I wish sooner. I'd feel a lot better if Rachel was here."

"What did your friend Jake tell you about her this morning?"

"He said she's guarding the witness to a crime. They have the person in hiding. They're only allowed to contact certain people that's why she can't call me and I can't call her."

"You really love her."

"Love is actually an understatement. She's a remarkable woman."

"Tell me about her."

"She's feisty, got a lot of spunk. If she wants something she goes after it. She's really sweet but she does not like mean people. She's a nurturer, she has to take care of people."

"She sounds really wonderful. Tell me how you met and about your relationship."

"I was being stalked and Rachel was assigned as my bodyguard. I didn't think this little lady could protect me. I asked her to show me some of her moves and she flipped me."

Dr. Mitchell laughs. "You literally flipped for her."

Nick laughs too. "Yeah. She cooked for me, cooking is something she loves doing. I finally became pretty good at it myself. She couldn't swim and I took her out on my boat and taught her. I eventually taught her to SCUBA dive. That's what we did on our honeymoon but I'm getting ahead of myself. A few nights later I had an incident with the stalker. I was so scared I asked Rae to sleep with me. I knew I loved her but didn't say anything. A couple days later I confessed. She also made a huge confession to me. She'd never been on a date or been kissed. I kissed her and we became a couple. I got kidnapped, by the time I was rescued I had pneumonia and was put in the hospital. A week after I was released we went on our first date."

"I bet that was special."

"The twins and I built a sandcastle on the beach. I packed a picnic basket. I gave her a locket. We started making out and I went a little too far. She stopped me and told me she doesn't believe in pre-marital sex. I was fine with that. I love and respect her. I mean we did make out and sometimes share a bed but that was it. We kept falling deeper in love. I knew I wanted to marry her so I asked her, she said yes and we got married."

"Didn't you have a private ceremony on the beach before the wedding?"

"Yeah."

"Tell me about that."

"I...I don't...remember it. Oh God I can't remember that either! I know it happened, I can hear our words and feel her lips on mine but I can't *see* it. Why?"

"Nick calm down. What about the official ceremony?"

Nick smiles. "Yeah. I was so nervous. Rachel looked beautiful. We went to Hawaii on our honeymoon, that was great. I had her dream home built and while we were gone our moms and sisters decorated it in blue since that's her fave color. She was really surprised. A couple months later she had a few rooms redone in my favorite color, green. I can remember every detail about my life with Rachel except for the last two months. And what's the deal with not being able to picture the beach ceremony?"

Dr. Mitchell thinks to himself, *His life *with* her. That's why he can't remember the last two months because she's been gone for a month and he wasn't with her the three weeks prior. But what about the ceremony? Why can't he remember it?"

"Can you hypnotize me? Maybe that would help."

"It's better if you remember on your own. Well I see no reason why you can't go home."

"My home or with my family?"

"Right now you should probably stay with your family."

"When can I get these stitches out?"

"In a few more days. I'll call your parents to come pick you up."

"Thanks Dr. Mitchell."