Julia reached the 30 day mark of being in the hospital. Nate had already been discharged so it was just James and Julia at that point. Jeremy had been consumed with Julia and her health while in the hospital so much he skipped out on his counseling sessions with Dr. Cohen.

"I'm concerned." Katherine said over the phone.

"Don't be. I'll get back on track with my other patients when things here calm down." Jeremy paced the small empty waiting room. He didn't have time for Cohen to be on his back. He needed to go check on Julia. She was on day six of her detox and pretty sick.

"That's not my concern, Jeremy. Your patients are all fine. It's you. You have not met up with me one time all month. You're putting Miss Moretti's mental health before you're own."

"I just want to see her get back on her feet. Then everything else will fall into place, ok? She's just starting her detox now." Jeremy sighed. "I promise, I will make up for the therapy sessions missed."

"Fine. Please tell me one thing though. You've at least been keeping up with all your meds, right?"

"Yes." Jeremy lied. It's been a full month without any of his antipsychotic medications. Other than snapping at a few doctors and nurses who didn't know what the hell they were doing when it came to Julia's health, Jeremy had yet to notice any negative difference.

"Good, because you know without those meds-"

"I know, I know, ok? Don't worry about me. I'm fine. You know I am, Katherine." He lied again and stopped pacing. "Listen, I need to go but I will touch base with you this week."

Jeremy hung up on his own doctor and headed to Julia's room. Of course, Nate Hollan was already there with her.

"How we doing in here?" Jeremy took Julia's chart and began reading the latest notes. "Julia. You ate breakfast with no issues. That's great."

"No. I just threw it up." Julia sighed as Nate helped her in bed. She no longer had a cast on and graduated to a walking boot type brace that was removable. Progress. "I'm so cold... I really can't do this again!"

"Ahhh. It's what, day 6 of detox? You're feeling all the things now, aren't ya?" Jeremy wrote some notes in her chart.

"I rather feel numb."

"Said by a true addict."

"I hate this shaking." Julia was really struggling.

Trisha and the bodyguard Paul enter the room and Dr. Donovan could tell right away Julia did not want her company.

"You ready, Nate?" Trisha asked Nate.

"Ready for what?" Julia glared at Nate in confusion.

"Oh, I forgot. I have a practice scheduled at the studio with the band today... I'm sorry. I forgot to tell you." Nate kissed her cheek and got off the bed.

"For how long??" Julia sat up and Jeremy could sense her sadness.

"Not sure. After I may go visit my sister. It's been a while. You're ok with that, though, right?"

"Of course."

And just like that, Nate left with Trisha and Paul. Julia was having a hard time seeing everyone around her healed and moving on with their lives. She laid back down in her bed with a frown.

"You ok over there?" Jeremy stopped writing in the chart and dragged a chair over to the bed. But Julia was stubborn. He already knew that. She flipped to the other side and closed her eyes. "Hey." He patted her shoulder a few times. "You know you can talk to me, right? It's kinda my job and all."

"I'm just sad."

"Fair enough. About what specifically?" The psychiatrist asked. Julia turned to him and wiped her eyes. "Why are you crying?"

"I told you. I'm sad."

"Yes. You mentioned......Let's talk." Jeremy knew Julia needed to talk it out or she would just get worse.

"When Nate was going through his detox. I was there for him. Life stopped. I helped him deal with his tremors, I was there when he was irritable, I was there. I feel like I'm alone in this. Life is moving on for everyone, and I'm still stuck in the same place."

The doctor nodded. "Valid. I can understand why you're feeling this way. Have you talked to Nate about how you feel?"

"And what? Tell him to stop his life and sit with me while I detox?? That's not realistic, Jeremy."

"But you did it for him. Why?"

"Because that's just what you do. You help the other person get through it." She cried and buried her face in her pillow. This tore the doctor apart. He continued to rub her arm and let her cry until her detox took over once again.

"Oh no. I'm gonna get sick."

Jeremy bolted up into action and grabbed the pink bucket for her. He would help her get back on her feet. He would do whatever it took. He rubbed her back and stayed with her while she threw up. Nate left but Jeremy was taking his place. He would be the one to take care of her. Nate couldn't. Not with his demanding job and lifestyle. Julia needed more. She needed Jeremy.

"It's all part of the detox." He reminded Julia and held her hair back for her. Something her boyfriend should have been here to do. But he knew he was the better fit for Julia, so this worked out perfectly for him.

As the day went on Jeremy watched and observed his patient. He stayed in the presidential suite on the couch and got some paperwork done while Julia took care of James. She was an outstanding caretaker to him. It was a good thing, Jeremy could see that. It made Julia feel needed. She had a purpose taking care of her best friend. It was helping her heal. But Julia also needed someone to take care of her as well. Especially during her detox.

Jeremy stayed while James's sisters visited and once they left, he helped Julia over to James when he saw she struggled with her crutches.

"I love your sisters, James." Julia began to talk to her friend in a coma. "Ashley painted my nails for me. It's a light pink color. Really pretty."

"He..." Julia cried. "He squeezed my hand! Oh my God. He squeezed my hand! I felt it!" She stood up to try to get closer but was about to fall.

"I gotcha." Jeremy rushed to her side and held her up. He held her and began feeling all sorts of things while he watched her in excitement. She kissed James's hand and put it to her cheek.

"James! I'm right here, sweetie."

Then Jeremy noticed James squeezed Julia's hand.

"Holy shit." He blurted out and watched James do it again. Julia was ecstatic. Jeremy could help but smile and be happy for her.

"James!" Julia screamed in excitement and kissed his lips while she cried. Then... she did something Jeremy was not prepared for. She turned around and threw her arms around Jeremy and cried. This was by far the closest encounter the two of them have had and it ignited this fire in Jeremy. He knew Julia felt it, too.

"He's coming back! I felt it. Did you see it?? He squeezed my hand!" Julia lifted her face and looked up at Jeremy, who nodded and smiled down at the beautiful woman.

"I saw it. I definitely saw it." He said softly and held her tight, not wanting to let the moment fade. He let her cry in his arms. But he knew he had crossed the line. Not only with the way he held her in that moment but the way he felt for his patient. After a minute or two, he backed away and became nervous.

"Here, sit down." He sat Julia back down in the chair, and she nodded because she felt the same thing he did. She knew it was inappropriate behavior. Jeremy ran his fingers through his hair, and Julia looked away, making it known she felt something too.

And what they felt would only grow stronger if they kept slipping up like that.

*****

"I can't do this anymore." Jeremy cried.

Things with Maddie had spiraled out of control. Their marriage? Over.

Jeremy had finally found time to head home to grab all of his medications. He first took each and every prescription to get it into his system. He then threw the pill bottles in with some clothes into an overnight bag. But it was too late and he knew it. He had gone too long without his meds and was feeling all out of sorts.

So when Maddie came into the house drunk, Jeremy was done.

"C'mon babe. We can make this work." Maddie hung on Jeremy and reeked of alcohol. She was so gone. Jeremy knew he could help her but it was not worth it if she didn't want his help. She wasn't putting the effort into fixing their marriage, and it was clear they would never get back together.

"Get off me, Mad. You're so plastered." He pulled Maddie's arms off and tried to walk away. But the woman was persistent.

"Seriously, Jeremy. You can't just pack a bag and leave." She slurred.

"Sure I can."

"Fucking coward." She said under her breath.

That's all it took.

Jeremy spun around and pushed his wife into the wall and held his body against hers. "What did you just call me?"

"A coward. Running away instead of fixing the problem. You're WEAK!" Maddie laughed in his face.

Jeremy pressed his forearm against her throat, pinning her to the wall. Her eyes widened. He had never been violent towards his wife. Ever. But the monster in Jeremy Donovan was beginning to rear its ugly head.

"And you're a fucking whore." He spat.

"Jeremy. Get off me." She gasped. "I can't breathe!"

"You're a fucking waste of my time." He continued without letting up on the force. "Your parents will be so proud."

He snapped back into reality and realized he was hurting Maddie. He quickly backed up in shock as she scrambled away from him.

"You asshole! Don't you ever come near me again!" She gasped, holding on to her throat.

He stared at the wall he just pinned his wife to and dropped his head.

"Get out of my house." He growled.

The voice that came out of him was alarming. It didn't sound like him at all. It was filled with rage and Maddie knew to leave the house immediately. Which she did.

Once he knew she was gone he broke down and cried. This wasn't like him. Not at all. He knew this person and knew what this person was capable of. Without those meds- Jeremy knew the monster inside of him would take over. Just like his father. He was capable of some awful things. Jeremy saw them with his own eyes growing up.

And Jeremy was just like his father.

******

That same night Jeremy went straight back to the hospital. He knew if he kept busy with taking care of Julia he could tame the monster and forget about what happened with Maddie. He had his meds now. Maybe it wasn't too late.

Dr. Donovan entered the hospital suite, looking stressed and exhausted.

"Shouldn't you be home or something?" Julia whispered in the dark and turned on the small bedside lamp.

"I'm just gonna hang here for a little bit if that's ok. Get some paperwork done." Jeremy dropped his backpack and briefcase by the door and laid down on the couch in defeat. He took his glasses off and put his arm over his eyes.

"Are you good?"

"Yeah. I won't stay long." Jeremy mumbled.

"Stay as long as you want. This room is triple the size of a normal room with plenty of places to lounge." Julia sat up. "Why didn't you go home?"

Jeremy sighed under his arm.

"Oh, I went home all right."

"And you're back because...?"

"You really want to know?" Jeremy said behind his arm.

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't."

"True..." He laughed a little. "Fight with the wife."

"Wife???" Julia's eyes widened. Jeremy had never told her about his personal life. He kept it private.

"Kinda. Yeah, not really."

"I've never had a more confusing conversation, Jeremy."

Dr. Donovan lifted his arm but kept his tired eyes closed.

"I probably shouldn't be sharing my personal shit with my patient."

"Fine." Julia huffed. "I'll stop sharing my personal shit with my doctor then if we're gonna play that game." She raised her eyebrows when the doctor sat up and looked over at her.

He smirked and put his glasses on the coffee table, rubbed his eyes, and Julia hobbled her way over to the couch.

"Talk, Jeremy. Pretend like I'm YOUR therapist. One that's shaking and going through detox, of course."

"Of course." He turned to her and inhaled sharply. "Ok. We've been married for less than six months."

"No ring. Explain..."

"Yeah. That got flushed down the toilet. She cheated on me." He rubbed the tension in the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry. You know I understand." Julia frowned.

"Yeah. It sucks, huh... anyways. I filed for divorce, but she has yet to sign the papers."

"Huh.... yep. Know what that's like, too. Is she by any chance related to a Luke Moretti from Boston, Massachusetts?" She joked, getting a slight laugh out of Jeremy. Then... she took his hand and squeezed it.

"But really... I'm sorry you're going through this. I don't wish this feeling on my worst enemy. It's an awful pain to have to endure."

Jeremy rubbed his thumb across hers but then froze up. He looked down at their hands and tightened his jaw.

"I..." Julia paused as they made eye contact. "I should probably go back to bed." She finished her sentence in a whisper but didn't move away from him. The chemistry between them was strong.

"Yeah, good idea." His thumb lightly stroked hers again but then quickly let go. He nervously rubbed the slight stubble around his jawline as his eyes dropped down to Julia's lips and back up to her eyes again. He wanted this. He wanted to cross the line with her. But he knew he couldn't. She knew that too. "Maybe I should go..."

"No. You're fine. Sorry. I'm gonna head to bed. You can stay as long as you want. Nobody will come in or bother you overnight unless I hit the call button." Julia stood up and leaned on her good leg. "James sure won't bother you." She frowned at her best friend in a coma.

Jeremy's body reacted to Julia the way any man's would. He pulled at the bottom of his athletic shorts a little but refrained from looking down. Julia smirked and headed back to her bed. She knew the way she affected men.

*****

As the night went on, all Jeremy could think about was his obsession. Julia. He had never felt this strong for someone before- not even Maddie. He knew it was wrong. Julia was his patient. But he also knew he could care for her the way no one else could.

Like Julia- without his meds- he lost all inhibitions. His behavior was altered. He did things he normally would not do.

"You awake?" Julia whispered in the dark. She was struggling to fall asleep like Jeremy was.

"Yeah...."

"I can't sleep."

"Me neither." Jeremy replied and let out a low sigh and shifted on the couch.

"Jeremy."

"Yeah...?"

"Never mind." Julia retracted. Jeremy did not.

He got off the couch and boldly made the first move. He walked to the other side of the partition and gazed down at Julia before he tucked her hair behind her ear. His thumb stroked her cheek and she didn't back away. Instead, Julia being Julia- she reeled him in more. She placed her hand on top of his and brought it to her lips. She kissed the palm of his hand which sent electricity to shoot through his body.

"Julia... " He whispered and exhaled sharply when she kissed his thumb. "What are we doing?"

But she didn't answer. What they were doing was wrong. They both knew it. But neither could control their urges for each other. Neither of them could control their own mental health issues when it came to boundaries.

That night they had sex. Right in Julia's hospital bed. There was no turning back after that experience. Jeremy fed his addition. His obsession. Once he had her he couldn't get enough of her. He couldn't stop thinking of her. The way she kissed. The way she felt under him. Everything she did to him was perfect. She begged him. Julia used sex to forget and Jeremy needed to feed his addiction.

Both of them made a huge, lifechanging mistake.

*****

The next morning Jeremy came to his senses. He feared their mistake would cost him his patient. He needed to make sure that never happened. Nate Hollan made it easier and easier for Julia to run to Jeremy.

"I slept with Trisha." Nate confessed.

"You need to leave."

"Jules..."

"YOU NEED TO FUCKING LEAVE!!" Julia shouted, spiraling out of control.

"I'm sorry." Nate nodded and left the room. The minute the door closed Julia bursted into tears.

"He slept with Trisha." Julia cried into her pillow and Jeremy observed her from the chair next to her bed.

"His personal assistant?" He paused. "So... he ... the same time we... and you didn't tell him?"

"No."

"Julia, I'm a little confused by your reaction. We did the same th-"

"Because it's TRISHA!" She cut him off. "Of all people he had to pick her. The one person I can't compete with. The one person who makes me feel like I'm less than everyone else here."

Jeremy frowned hearing this. He pushed her hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear, leaving his hand to rest on her cheek. Nate slept with his personal assistant. He slept with Trisha. Jeremy knew how Julia felt about her just from their many therapy sessions. This would hinder Julia's recovery. She wanted to be like Trisha. So to hear her boyfriend had sex with the one person she couldn't compare to tore her to pieces. Pieces Jeremy had to pick up.

"Julia, you are NOT less than ANYONE here. I didn't know she made you feel inferior. You are anything but less than her." He kissed Julia's perfect lips but then backed away nervously. "Maybe we should tell him."

"I can't lose you as my doctor. Do you know what this could do to your career? And I can't lose you as my doctor." She cried.

"Fuck."

Jeremy consoled Julia for a while until Nate barged back in.

"No. You don't get to kick me out. I made a damn mistake, Julia. You did it with James. This is no different." Nate yelled. His temper was always out of control. A red flag to Jeremy.

"And YOU stormed off and left me at the hotel right after honoring my dead son's birthday... at his grave!! You know what? It doesn't even matter, Nate. Because while you were off fucking Trisha last night, I was here-"

"Julia!" Jeremy blurted out, jumped up out of his chair and cut her off. "Think about what you're doing." He snapped.

"Nate! What the hell is going on?" Trisha whipped the door open and barreled into the suite, with her bodyguard right behind her. "Why the hell are you already all over the internet?? It's a fucking zoo out front. What did you do?"

"Julia. Finish your sentence." Nate scowled.

"Nate. Why the hell is she crying...... what did you do......" Trisha asked.

"Julia!" Nate demanded an answer but Jeremy shook his head no to her. He didn't think the guy would notice- but he did and things escalated fast.

"You sonofabitch!" Nate lunged forward across the bed and grabbed the doctor by the collar, but the bodyguard pulled Jeremy back and stood between them. This was normal for Nate- these outbursts.

"Nate!" The bodyguard shook his head.

"I don't fucking pay you to protect him." Nate seethed.

"You don't have the right to be mad at him." Julia defended Jeremy.

"He's your fucking doctor."

"And she's your fucking personal assistant. Wanna play that game?!" Julia threw her hands up and covered her face to cry.

"It's different and you know it. He's your doctor..."

Julia dropped her hands and continued the fight.

"No, Nate. It really isn't different. She's your secretary... I'm pretty sure that's frowned upon."

After that, Julia shut down on everyone. She went to her best friend and cried against his hand. Even though James was deep in a coma, Julia knew he was still there. She ignored everyone in the room- including Jeremy.

"I miss you so much, James. I could really use my best friend right now."

"What the hell were you thinking?" Nate turned to Jeremy.

"I could ask you the same damn thing."

"You're so lucky I don't report you. If you weren't such a good doctor for her, I wouldn't think twice about ruining your career."

"You're so lucky I don't go downstairs TO the reporters. If you weren't what's best for her, I wouldn't think twice about ruining YOUR career." Jeremy retorted. He would love to put Nate Hollan in his place. His game and money didn't do anything for Jeremy. He was making a name for himself and acquired just as much money as Hollan.  He just didn't flaunt it the way Nate did.  He put it into the Avalon. To help people.  People like Julia.

"How about everyone leaves the room. Julia and James are the only ones admitted. Separate. God, I feel like a preschool teacher." Jonah was fed up so everyone did as he said.

Jeremy went into a vacant hospital room and made the call.

"Katherine." He sniffed. "I fucked up. I don't think I'm ok."

He told his therapist everything. He came clean about not taking his meds as well as starting to feel the negative effects.

Over the phone, he told the therapist how he became violent with his wife, sexual with his patient and crossed lines that were not meant to be crossed.

"Jeremy you need to come back to the Avalon. Step away from the situation for a few days. Get back on your feet and don't leave the facility until your medications have kicked in."

"That could take weeks. You know I can't do that!" He cried into the phone. 

"You need to."

"I'm sorry." He hung up on his doctor. He can't be without Julia for weeks. She needed him. He was the only one who knew how to take care of her and he wasn't going to abandon her when she needed him the most.

There was no erasing the things he did but he needed to get a grasp on reality. He could do it without going to the Avalon. He was sure if it.

But he also knew if he didn't reel himself in, things could get worse. It's happened before. He can't let it happen again.

Not with Julia.