Tala continued to grumble incoherently under her breath while slamming the ax down in the wood effectively splitting it in half. Her thoughts scattered too far for one mind to comprehend. Her fingers were practically frozen against the rubber grip of the ax. Her nose tip she could only imagine resembling Rudolf by this point. Although she was chilled to the bone, she didn't know if she could bare to go in, not ready to face Duke after their trip into town.

Duke made the calls as he said he would. The first was to his label who seemed to be in utter shock that their supposed 'dead' artist was indeed still alive. After that, they promised to have him and Rick airlifted out in a days time. The storm had cleared enough for air flight in the area and the label said they would have someone out immediately. Duke had been the one to state he needed another day here before leaving... much to his boss' dismay. He then called Summer to inform her of their arrival back in California in two days time. Summer was in her last trimester and the news of her husband's return made her sob joyfully through the phone. The whole time he made the calls, his eyes never waivered from her face. His gaze watching her every reaction to his words. Once the phone went back to the receiver, she could feel his heavy gaze. His eyes pleading her to talk to him. She didn't know what to say so she just began talking. 

Flashback

"I don't understand what you said earlier.." Tala's voice coming out a mere whisper in the vacant office. 

Duke's eyes pinning her in her spot. "I meant what I said Tala. I won't let you go."

He slowly reaches out to touch her hand. His thumb rubbing over her knuckles. Those eyes never once leaving her. She could feel her heart beat pounding against the confines of her chest. Her chest kept rising and falling while she searched his eyes but found nothing but truth. She cleared her throat tearing her gaze away from him to look down at the desk. Her hand however remained within the confines of his hand. Her mind drifting to a different time. Duke's eyes continue studying her even when she goes silent. Her eyes seeming to be so distant as she begins speaking. 

"Have you ever had a day where you wish you could redo?" She could see Duke nod in the corner of her gaze but she still focuses on the desk. "I don't mean like you had a bad day, spilling coffee on yourself, running late for work or whatever... I mean a day that changed everything."

Duke watched as her eyes became dull and lifeless. The memory bringing about unbearable pain. A lone tear runs down her cheek that she does not bother wiping away. He reaches forward touching the liquid and brushing it gently away. His hand retreating back to her lap. One of his hands clasped with hers while the other laying gently on her leg. An anchor to let her know she is not alone. 

"Her name was Emily. She was a bubbly, kind, and beautiful young woman. God.. She was so pure of heart. I swear that girl practically bounced around wherever she went." A sorrowful smile pulling her lips upwards momentarily. "I felt so proud to have her as my intern. She was incredible and soaked up information like a damn sponge," a laugh escaped her as images of the woman danced in her head. 

Duke felt his stomach drop realizing she kept using the past tense. His heart felt heavy having a feeling of where this conversation was heading and dread settling in. 

"I was getting towards the end of a very long ass night and it was early morning. Emily had just arrived and as usual was bouncing around but more cheerful than usual. She told me she was excited because she would get to see her family after being apart from them for some time. I felt envious of her." She scoffed shaking her head dropping her gaze to her lap momentarily. Her eyes squeezing shut. A tear falling on their conjoined hands. 

"Tala, you don-"

"We had a case come in about a drug addict. We didn't know that at the time... Emily just said that he was strung out. I hadn't seen the man but trusted her judgement. We got to the room and the man was barely conscious, so high on whatever he was on that he was smiling ear to ear but couldn't make a coherent sentence... We attempted to gather basic information but he just giggled... Fucking giggled."

She pauses again shaking her head. Duke squeezes her hand in comfort. She takes a shaky breath and continues. 

"We begin doing the prognosis when he begins to seizure. We going into immediate action and get him stabled beginning immediately the fluids to drain his system. The morning goes on and I am well past my time to get off. I can't even tell you when I had last slept. I felt like a walking ghost by the time 10 o'clock rolled around. My supervisor showed up and took over for me. Emily got reassigned to him. I checked on her and she smiled like she always does shooing me away. Telling me to go home and get rest. I remembering laughing gently and walking off to my office to gather my belongings. It couldn't have been more than twenty minutes before a code gray was called."

She finally turns her water eyes to him. Duke wanted nothing more than to take away the pain he could see. His heart crumbling seeing the dull in those bright doe eyes. 

"I remember getting this heavy feeling in my chest. My feet automatically moving without a thought to how tired I was. My exhaustion gone in the blink of an eye. I began speed walking and eventually jogging. I arrived back in the emergency rooms and the sight I saw practically stopped my heart. My drug addict patient was standing... IV still in his arm as he held my intern to his chest. Her back to his front and in his hand pressed to her neck was a scalpel."

"Tala..."

She shakes her head, willing herself to continue. "Her eyes Duke... Jesus." Tala paused closing her eyes trying so hard to forget that moment. "She was terrified and she was looking at me... only me. Their were a few nurses around and the security guards to the side but the man looked deranged, his eyes were wide and he wasn't stable. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe... He yelled at us. He wanted to end his life. He was mad that we saved him. He began talking to Emily asking who it was that saved him. I went to step forward but she moved her head the slightest bit telling me no. He then yelled asking her again. She kept looking at me but the man couldn't see. She closed her eyes and reopened them with tears running down. She told him it was her. I went forward but before I could do anything, he acted..."

She crumbled, sobs raking her body and Duke moved on his own accord. He lifted her moving the broken woman into his lap. She curled herself into a ball and Duke held her with everything he had. Her words coming out a mess following but he understood. 

"Sh-She was so you-young. He-He di-didn't need to kill her. I coul-couldn't save her. I tried.. I TRIED!" 

He let her fall apart. He was there to hold the pieces allowing her to relive the pain that haunts her. He leaned his cheek against the top of her head before speaking. 

"It's not your fault Tala."

Her head snapping up to bore into his eyes. Her eyes ablaze now making him freeze. "It should have been me."

He has to stop himself from glaring. He felt his anger rising realizing where her mind is set at. She feels survivor's remorse. She shouldn't but she does. He gripped her chin making those blazing eyes focus solely on him. 

"It... was not.. your. fault." The flames simmering in her eyes as he continues. "Do you hear me, it was not YOUR fault!"

She began to break down again and Duke continued chanting those words into her ear making her truly believe she had no control in that situation. He held her until she finally ran out of tears. When her body finally slacked in exhaustion. She finally looked up at him. Her eyes puffy and red and face blotchy. His thumb brushing her cheek gently. 

"I don't think I'm ready..."

His finger stopped as he looked deep into her eyes. She felt like he was searching the depths of her soul with his gaze until he finally spoke. 

"Let's get back home."

She was confused but nodded her head regardless. She got up just now realizing once again he laid her on his bad leg. Although it was healing beautifully, it still worried her. They made themselves presentable before waving goodbye to Sue and Roger. They left and the ride back left her in confusion. She dashed off as soon as they arrived home.

Flashback Ended

Her body began to shake and she rested the ax on the snow near her feet trying to relax her body from the tension currently coursing through it. A heavy and shaky sigh escaping her lips feeling the cold brisk air fill her lungs. 

"Enough"

Her head snaps to the door where she finds Duke standing with the door open. His arms are crossed allowing his muscular biceps to be on display. Her eyes momentarily shifting to them before her mind comprehend what he had said. Her brows pulling together in confusion. 

"Wha-"

"Tala you are turning blue. Enough for today, come inside."

She thought about it before going to lift her ax turning back to the log. "I want to finish-"

"Tala, stop!" His voice raising. She rolled her eyes not particularly enjoying him interrupting her. "Is this because of what I said?"

"No," her answer coming out to quickly and he clearly knew it. 

"Why is it bad Tala?"

"It's not bad..." She said bringing the ax down in the process. She stares at the log for a moment choosing her next words carefully. "I'm just not sure it's what you actually want."

"I know what I want!"

"You have no idea what you want."

"You're right..." That stops her dead in her tracks as she turns to stare at him. His feet crunching in the snow as he stops in front of her. "You're right, but I know what I need."

Before she can say anything, his hands grasp the side of her face. His lips come crashing onto her own making her frozen lips feel his warmth. More than his heat, she could feel his passion and frustration in the kiss. He nipped at her lower lip making her sigh allowing enough access for him to dive into her mouth plundering all the crevices his tongue could reach. He only pulled away when their was no breath left in their lungs. Both of their chests were heaving. His hands were still firmly holding her face. His forehead touching hers with their breaths mingling. 

Noticing his arms beginning to shiver, she realizes the state he is outside in. She immediately drops the ax forgetting about her stubbornness and putting him first. She immediately tries to step away so they can go in. He doesn't let her and lifts his head silently asking her why she moved.

"Let's go in."

He nods and takes her hands holding her firmly as they begin going back into the house. The moment they pass the threshold, the heat penetrates her clothes warming her. She turns to Duke, his hand is unconsciously rubbing his upper leg. She felt bad for making him come outside but before she can react his body turns to hers. His dark eyes meeting hers placing her in a trance. His hands going to her left hand first taking off the glove. 

"Angel..." The left glove comes off her hand. "You can be confused."

"Hell-" he goes to her other hand removing the glove allowing it to hit the floor next to her. "You can not believe me."

"But-" his hands going to the zipper of her jacket as he pulls it down before his hands go to her shoulders pushing the fabric off.

"I promise you Tala... I will prove it to you."