Wyatt's head pounded, and his body was weak with exhaustion. Closing his eyes, he sat on the edge of Jessica's bed as he rubbed his temples. Slowly, the room stopped spinning, but it was his mind that created the havoc inside him. Escaping the hospital seemed very familiar. Why did he think he'd done that before?

Flashes of memory were returning, but they made no sense. Wyatt had been running from someone. All around him were trees and bushes. Darkness was thick, but in spots during his getaway, the moon was full enough to light his way. Just like tonight when he held Jessica's hand and followed.

They had reached the building where she lived, and she helped him through the opened window. That didn't seem familiar, thankfully. But him running for his life, out of breath and very weak, were the things he knew he'd done before.

"Are you all right?" she asked, taking off her cloak before kneeling in front of him. She placed her hands on his knees.

He opened his eyes to the lovely vision in front of him.

"I... think I remember something."

She gasped, and her eyes widened. "What did you remember?"

"Running through a forest at night."

Her excited smile gave him hope. He took hold of her hands, gently rubbing the pads of his thumbs across her knuckles. "But will you tell me why you felt the need to break me out of the hospital?"

The happiness on her expression waned, and her eyes filled with tears. Wyatt's heart wrenched. Whatever happened had affected her deeply, and he felt her pain.

"Nurse Tweed and two other men wanted to lock you away. They have plans, and even though I don't know what they are, they aren't good. I couldn't allow them to hurt you." Her voice broke as a tear slid down her cheek.

He reached up and wiped away the tear and then cupped her face in his hands. "I don't know what I deserved to have such an angel by my side, helping me through my fuzzy memory, but I thank God every day that you care enough to keep me safe."

More tears fell, wetting her cheeks more. "Oh, Wyatt. I don't know what else to do. They think of you as a prisoner. I know deep in my heart that you're not." She took a ragged breath. "The Wyatt I remember growing up with would have never deserted the war. He was a good and honorable man."

Now, more than ever, he wanted to be that man. He wanted her to always look at him as if he was someone she could be proud to know.

"It's my hope," he said with his heart full of emotion, "that I will remember. Now that I've had images of me running through the forest, feeling panicked, I think I'll start remembering more." He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. "Just don't give up on me. With your help, I'll have my memory back in no time."

She inhaled and released it slowly. "Then, I shall continue to help."

His gaze dropped to her mouth. Would she let him kiss her? He'd never felt closer to her than he did right now. Well, at least what he could remember. But as he concentrated on her movements and especially any indication that she didn't want his kiss, he couldn't see any.

Swallowing hard, he gained the courage to take the first step and leaned toward her. She didn't pull away. That was a good sign.

Just as he pressed his mouth against hers, she sighed. His heartbeat quickened. He kept the kiss sweet and slow. Perhaps she wanted more, but he didn't want to scare her, either. Yet, as she gradually responded, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her closer. Just as her palms rested on his chest, she gasped and jumped back.

"Someone is coming." She quickly stood and glanced around the room. Her expression had returned to panic.

"What's wrong?" he asked, rising to his feet.

"We need to hide you, just in case." She glanced at the bed. "Get under the bed. Now!"

He did as requested, and she tossed her black cloak at him. He slid under the bed and curled into a ball before using the garment to cover him. From his position under the bed, he could see her removing her dress. Of course, all he saw was that it had fallen to the floor, and she quickly took it to lay over the wooden chair. The bed moved as she climbed on the mattress. It only took another minute or two before someone was knocking on her door.

Wyatt lay still, and he was certain Jessica was doing the same thing. Another minute passed before the knock came again, harder this time.

The bed shifted, and her bare feet hit the floor. She moved toward the door, wrapping a shift around her body and messing up her hair.

Jessica cracked the door open. Wyatt couldn't see who was out there, but he tried to remain still so that the cloak would stay over him.

"Jessica, I'm sorry to disturb you," Doctor Jackson's voice said softly, "but something has happened at the hospital. I came to check to make sure you are all right."

"What happened?" she asked in a groggy-toned voice. "I went to bed early tonight, but I think I have enough energy to come help at the hospital if you need me."

Wyatt grinned. Jessica sounded so convincing.

"No... I just..." Doctor Jackson stammered.

"What is it?" she asked, before yawning loudly.

"How long have you been asleep?"

"Um, well, I think I went to bed around eight-thirty. I've been so tired this week with the new job and all."

"All right then. Please, don't worry about coming to the hospital. I'll take care of everything."

Wyatt could see the doctor's legs move as if he was leaving, but then Jessica stepped forward.

"Hugh, wait."

"Yes?" Doctor Jackson's voice softened.

Wyatt frowned. If he wasn't mistaken, he would think the doctor was sweet on his nurse.

"Is Wyatt all right?" Jessica's voice trembled slightly.

"Please, Jessica. Don't worry about it. I can take care of it, now go to bed."

"Good night, Hugh."

"Good night."

Jessica slowly closed the door, locked it, and turn to lean against the thick wood. She sighed heavily.

Wyatt scooted on his stomach from underneath the bed. She stepped over to him and helped him stand.

He smiled. "You were very convincing."

She shrugged. "I just pray that one of the deserters in the ward recognized me or my voice. If they told anyone that they saw me, Hugh would come back. If that happens, I don't know where you could hide."

Worry filled him, but he tried not to let it show. "Then, we must do all we can to break open my memory."

"I don't know," she said wearily and sat on the bed. "I'm so exhausted. Wyatt, I might fall asleep telling you stories of our past."

He shrugged. "Then, if you fall asleep, I'll tuck you into bed."

"No, Wyatt. I must get some rest. Tomorrow when I arrive at work, I must have a clear mind. There are too many things going on in that hospital that aren't right, and I need to discover who I can trust and who I can't."

She moved to the closet and pulled out a blanket and pillow. "Here. You'll have to sleep on the floor."

"That's all right. I shall be fine." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Rest well, my sweet Jessica."

As he made a makeshift bed for him on the floor, Jessica crawled into bed. The moon shining through the curtains on the window wouldn't be a distraction, especially since he didn't mind seeing the light. He'd been without it for too long, and he wouldn't take advantage of that ever again.

Laying on his back, staring at the ceiling, the minutes merged into hours, and he tried thinking back on his flashback of running through the forest. The more he concentrated, the more he recalled that his side hurt most painfully.

He sat up and lifted his shirt, using his palm and fingers to be his eyes. When they passed over the tender spot, he sucked in a quick breath. Had he been shot? Now, he needed to know if the injury was old or new. For some reason, he felt it was an old wound.

What could he have possibly done in his life to get him shot and to give him severe burns on his face, chest, and arms?

And... did any of this have to do with why Nurse Tweed didn't want him to remember?

If he didn't discover the answers soon, both he and Jessica would be in grave danger. He couldn't do that for the woman he felt like he should be in love with... the woman he was slowly falling in love with.

He pulled his shirt down and laid back on the blanket, facing Jessica's bed. She'd been asleep for a while now, but he didn't mind watching her sleep. She was so lovely. He'd never get tired of her beauty.

His memory opened, and he pictured Jessica, but she was a little younger. She wore a calico dress, and her hair was pulled back into a bun at the back of her head. She stood in front of him, grasping his soldier's uniform jacket as if she didn't want to let go. Tears swam in her eyes, and she cried, begging for him to stay.

Wyatt closed his eyes, trying to delve deeper into the memory.

They were standing together in a wooded area nearby a creek. The water trickled over the rocks, and birds sang in the trees. His mind had been full of anticipation. He was on his way to war, and he would make a difference. The war would soon end, he was confident of it, and when it did, he'd return home and marry Jessica.

"Please, Wyatt. Don't go. I fear for your life." Jessica sobbed, pressing her forehead against his chest.

"Not to worry, my dear." He ran his palms over her back. "I will return, and we can begin our lives."

"But..." She lifted her head. "What if you don't return?"

"I promise you now. I'll come back to you." He bent and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

Her smile trembled when she nodded. "Then, I shall wait forever."

Wyatt snapped to a sitting position again. His heart beat in an irregular rhythm, but at least he remembered something about his life and about Jessica. He was Wyatt Ryker, and he had been in love with Jessica. And yet... there was more he needed to remember. What had happened to him during his time in the war?

Hopefully, he would find good memories locked away because anything else just wouldn't do. Not if he wanted to have a life with Jessica.