*~*Chapter One*~*

"What do we have here?"

No....no, it wasn't him.

It couldn't be.

Not after all this time.

If it was him, Eve had big trouble to face.  She closed her eyes and prayed 
to herself that it wasn't him.  She didn't want to face him, especially 
after the way things had ended between them.

Five years.  Had it really been that long?  It seemed like only yesterday 
when she had dashed like a mad woman across the airport to catch his plane, 
but in the end, she had been too late.

Too late?  It was the story of her life.  She had realized too late that 
her dream world was a sham.  She had decided too late what she truly wanted 
in her life.  She had waited too late to seize what she knew could save her.

She had stood at the gate and watched his plane soar into the waiting blue 
sky.  She had nearly choked on her own tears as she watched the man she'd 
waited too late to acknowledge leave her by herself.

Making her way back to the apartment that night had been the longest, most 
excrutiantingly long drive of her life.  No one would be at home waiting 
for her.  No one would be there to listen as she cried.  No one would be 
there to tell her that she could make it on her own.  There would be no 
one.  And she would have to face life on her own after leaning on her best 
friend for so many years.

Eve couldn't quite place when she'd lost her independent spirit.  Had it 
happened when she'd tried to get her love life straightened out only to 
fail miserably?  Had it happened when she'd become vulnerable and let 
someone care about her?  Or had she merely given herself to the old urge to 
become a part of something larger only to lose herself in the process?

Whenever it had happened, the loss of her independence had proven a fatal 
wound.  She had spent the last five years rebuilding her life piece by 
piece, struggling to come to terms with the many losses in her life while 
dealing with the greatest challenge she'd ever faced.  And now.....

Here he was.

She took a deep breath as she turned towards the doorway.  The blue jean 
clad legs made her doubt herself for a moment.  He would never be caught 
dead at work in anything so casual.  But as she continued looking over him, 
the pale blue button down shirt peaked her curiosity.  Could it be?  Was it 
really him?

Eve looked up to finally meet the magical brown eyes that had captivated 
her years ago.  She swallowed hard as she was faced with the man she'd 
vowed not to love.....the man she had to guard her biggest secret from.

"Well look what the cat dragged in," He smiled casually, a sexy grin 
crossing his features.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to smile, desperately trying to 
steady her quivering knees and the fluttering in her stomach.  She hoped 
that her voice could remain steady as she finally allowed herself to speak.

"Chris Ramsey."

Chris crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame with a smile, "Eve 
Lambert.  What the hell are you doing back in my life?"

Eve took a deep breath and asked herself the same question, wondering how 
she was ever going to explain this to him, and wondering how she would ever 
keep the truth from him.
 

*~*Chapter Two*~*

"What?  No quick answer?"

Eve took a deep breath before she sat at the conference table, "It's funny, 
but shouldn't I be the one asking you that question?"

"I'm the one who left Port Charles to get away from all of you," Chris 
replied before he walked to the window and looked outside, "So why is it 
you've invaded my life yet again?"

"Invaded your life?" She repeated and glared at him, "I had no idea you 
were here."

"And you expect me to believe that?" He accused, turning to face her, "Of 
all the hospitals, in all the world, you just happen to end up at the same 
one where I'm working?  Come on, Eve.  There are a lot of coincidences in 
the world, but there is no way you can convince me that this is one of them."

"You honestly believe that I would show up looking for you?" She asked in 
disbelief, "Your ego hasn't changed one bit.  You still have an over 
inflated image of yourself."

"Tell me I'm wrong."

"You're wrong," Eve stated firmly, "I had no idea you were here."

"Play your game however long you like, Eve, but I'm not taking part in it," 
He said casually, glancing out the window again.

"Dr. Ramsey, I see you've been introduced to Dr. Lambert," Derek Thomas 
spoke as he stepped into the room.

"Dr. Thomas," Chris nodded towards the chief of staff, "Dr. Lambert and I 
are.....familiar."

"Oh, so you two know each other?" Derek asked as he placed a stack of files 
on the table.

"Yes," Eve replied and sighed, "We're acquainted."

"Well that should make things a bit easier then," Derek smiled as he 
glanced back to Chris, "I thought you might show Dr. Lambert around the 
hospital, the ins and outs, our little procedures, such as that."

"I'll see what I can fit into my schedule.  I've got a bypass scheduled for 
two o'clock," Chris answered.

"That should be plenty of time," Derek slid a file towards Eve, "That's 
just a quick run down of our staff.  Look it over so you'll know who's who 
around here.  And if you have any questions, just let me know," He finished 
quickly before he slipped out of the room.

Eve moved her fingertip around the edge of the file before she raised her 
eyes to find Chris scowling down at her, "You don't have to do this.  I'm 
sure I can find my way around."

"Don't be ridiculous, Eve.  Why wouldn't I want to show you around?  I 
mean, it's not like I have anything better to do with my time," Chris frowned.

"Don't put yourself out on my account.  Lord knows I couldn't live with it 
on my conscience for Chris Ramsey to do something selfless with his time."

"Selfless?  On the contrary, I'm actually looking forward to questioning 
you non-stop about the men you've burned your way through in the last five 
years.  That should take up most of our time anyway," Chris shrugged as he 
made his way towards the door.

"Ramsey, how dare you!" Eve huffed as she got to her feet.  Her only reply 
was the closing of the door behind Chris as he exited.  She took a quick 
breath and groaned, hoping that she could make it through the rest of the 
this already long day.

*~*Chapter 3*~*

"Rumor is that you know the new doc in town," Paige Stewart smiled as she 
leaned against the nurse's station.  She toyed with the stethescope 
dangling around her neck as she watched Chris with prying eyes.

Chris smiled in his usual manner when dealing with Paige's talkative 
nature.  He usually enjoyed her playful banter and often instigated her 
just to amuse himself, but today was different.  It wasn't just anyone she 
wanted information about.  It was Eve Lambert.

Eve Lambert.  He swore to himself that her name would never again haunt 
him.  He'd left Port Charles to cleanse himself of her influence in his 
life only to spend several months afterward wondering if she had even 
noticed his departure.  He had found a way to crawl out of his misery by 
focusing on Stacey.

Stacey.  Wouldn't she be thrilled to hear about Eve's arrival in town?  He 
inwardly cringed at the very thought and decided to make it his mission to 
keep the two women from ever meeting face to face.

"Chris....hello, are you still here?" Paige waved her hand in front of him.

"I'm here," Chris replied, "We know each other."

"Where from?"

"Paige, have I ever mentioned that you don't know when to stop?"

"A time or two," She grinned as she stepped around the nurse's desk and 
touched his shoulder, "I'm just trying to get to know the lady."

"Then maybe you should speak to her."

"Ouch....there was venom in that statement.  I'm sure of it."

"Paige..." Chris warned, "Let's just say that Eve Lambert and I have a very 
twisted history."

"A history," Paige repeated, "That's .... well....."

"What?"

"It's interesting," She shrugged, "That's all."

"It's not what you think," He stopped her roving imagination quickly.

"Oh really?  Then why don't you tell me what it was?"

"Because it's...." He smiled, "Not very interesting."

"Chris," Paige frowned.

"Excuse me," A soft feminine voice interrupted them.

Paige turned to face the woman and smiled.  Chris watched Eve carefully for 
a moment, "Paige, this is the new doc as you called her.  Eve 
Lambert.  Eve, this is Paige Stewart, she's the wife of Dr. Doug 
Stewart.  You'll meet him sooner or later.  He seems to latch on to all the 
attractive women."

"Careful Ramsey," Eve forced the corners of her mouth into a smile, "That 
almost sounded like a compliment."

"Well I'm glad I avoided that situation," He replied before signing a file 
in front of him, "Let's get this tour started.  The sooner we start, the 
sooner it ends."

Paige frowned, "Don't let him give you a hard time, honey," She addressed 
Eve, "If he starts any nonsense you just come tell me.  I'll fix him right 
quick like."

"Spare me," Chris nudged Paige on his way by before pointing down the hall 
and looking to Eve, "After you."

Eve studied him for a moment before taking the lead.  Chris followed behind 
her, just hoping to make it through the day.

*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*Chapter 4*~*

Eve sat in a cafe downtown, staring out the window as a few people walked 
along the sidewalk.  Chris' guided tour of the hospital had been about as 
comfortable as being stuck in the middle of rush hour traffic.  He had 
rushed down the hallways pointing out sites of interest before he hurried 
into his scheduled afternoon surgery.

She glanced down at the mug of coffee before her and sighed.  She had never 
imagined running into Chris again, especially now.  She had thought about 
seeing him again, but it had never crossed her mind that it might actually 
become a reality.  She had no idea what she was going to do.  She only knew 
that she couldn't let him find out the truth.

"You okay, hon?"

Eve looked up into the eyes of an older woman wearing an apron with a pot 
of coffee in her hand.  Eve shook her head and forced a smile, "I'm fine."

"You look like you're in some deep thought there," The woman replied before 
she refilled Eve's cup, "Must be man troubles."

Eve allowed the smile to curve naturally, "That obvious, huh?"

"I've had plenty of trouble with em myself," The woman smiled before she 
placed the pot on the table and extended her hand to Eve, "My name is 
Caitlin Gibson, and you must be new to town."

"I am," Eve nodded, "I'm Eve Lambert."

"So what brings you to Evansville, Montana?  We can't be much to look at 
for a beautiful young woman like yourself," Caitlin spoke before she took a 
seat across from Eve.

Eve smiled, "This town has a certain charm to it."

"Like a certain gentleman who might have your eye?"

"No," Eve shook her head, "That isn't what drew me here.  A friend of mine 
actually referred me here.  Now I wish I hadn't come."

"Why?"

"It seems that some memories turn up even when you've tried your best to 
avoid them."

"That doesn't sound too good.  I'm assuming these are bad memories."

"I wouldn't say that," Eve frowned, "It's just that some times thing left 
in the past should stay there.....forever."

"I know," Caitlin nodded, "I know the feeling well.  I have had my fair 
share of men, and there are stories that I could tell that should never 
ever see the light of day."

"So don't tell them," Chris said as he entered the cafe.

"Who said you could eavesdrop, boy?" Caitlin asked as she stood and met him 
halfway.

Chris kissed her cheek, "You know that you couldn't hide any secrets from 
me, Caitlin."

"You'd just try to pry them up anyway," Caitlin frowned before she patted 
him on the shoulder, "How's Stacey?"

"Grumbling at me to get home with some of your chicken noodle soup," Chris 
explained before he moved to the counter.

"Well, we can't keep her waiting, can we?" Caitlin moved behind the counter 
and began moving around some containers as Chris cast a glance towards Eve.

"You've found your way to the best place to eat in town," Chris commented 
softly.

Eve looked up and nodded, "I've noticed."

"And the conversation isn't too bad if you can deal with Caitlin's prying," 
Chris spoke as he cut his eyes towards the older woman.

"Prying?  Excuse me, Chris, but you're the prying one around here," Caitlin 
replied as she placed a bag in front of him, "I even put the garlic texas 
toast in there, just the way Stacey likes it."

"Thank you," Chris smiled as he placed some bills on the bar, "I'll give 
Stacey your love."

"You do that.  You be good now," Caitlin warned as she watched Chris 
leave.  Caitlin shook her head and then glanced to Eve, "Chris really loves 
that girl.  He'd do anything for her."

Eve watched Caitlin for a moment and wondered who Stacey was.  It appeared 
that Chris had moved on with his life and was happy.  She was glad that he 
had found some happiness after the disaster Port Charles had been, but she 
also felt a difficult pain clenching within her chest.  How could she work 
in this town while Chris had his happy relationship and she had a secret to 
protect at all costs?