*9 HOURS PRIOR SURGERY*

Night was tough, I barely slept. My nerves were taking the best of me, my mind was spinning with questions I could not answer and the single thought of today's events made me sick. I kept repeating to myself that everything would be alright, that after Mitch's surgery everything would go back to normal and he would finally be walking out of these hospital doors and I would go and search for another unsolvable case.

I was finally relaxed and positive about today but suddenly all my fears and doubts returned when a tall figure passed by my office. He was wearing a suit and had a portfolio in his hands, he was heading east so I guessed he was going to meet with Avi. He was just about to disappear round the corner when he looked at me and smiled, I only stared. You don't get you play nice with me Ryan.

*7 HOURS PRIOR SURGERY*

"I despise him" Kirstie spat. "You should have seen him in the Lab, he humiliated Alex in front of everyone by saying the medicine he was preparing was awfully done"

"I want him gone"

"So do I, but I still want to know why he's here" She took a sip of her coffee and leaned back on her seat. We were still in my office.

"I really don't like this Kirst"

"Me neither"

"How's Mitch by the way?" He was in his room but nobody except Kirstie was allowed to check on him, I wish I was there.

"Nervous, he doesn't want to speak. I know he's scared even though he won't say it" Her words pained me in so many ways.

"What are you exactly going to do with him?"

"Don't worry Scott, I'll take care of him" It still made me uneasy, I trust Kirstie but I don't get how she does it. How can somebody open up her friend's brain and be completely unfazed about it?

"I know you will" We still had seven hours to go, such short time but it seemed like forever. Time wouldn't pass by, it was almost as if it froze a little every hour making it longer than it should. I was nervous and scared as hell but I wasn't going to admit it, I just needed some air.

I stood up and went for a walk, I heard some days earlier that this hospital had a backyard with some benches where you could go and spend some time. Right now, that was all I needed.

*5 HOURS PRIOR SURGERY*

I sat on the farthest bench at the end of the backyard, it was surrounded by some small trees that gave me a little bit of privacy. I focused on how the leaves danced to the rhythm of the wind and on how the bird's chant blended perfectly forming a beautiful symphony. I wished I had discovered this place earlier, I was definitely going to bring Mitch here someday. He would love it.

"Everything's ready" I turned around. It was barely audible but I caught the subtly whisper of a grown man, his voice was really deep and sounded extremely familiar. I soon discovered that its owner was Avi. "Mitchell is being prepared and soon enough we will have our answers"

"Good. It would be a shame if I had travelled all the way here for nothing" Ryan. They both spoke in whispers, I had the feeling neither of them wanted someone to hear them.

"Indeed. May I ask you a question? Once we have all what we want what will happen to the boy?" Avi asked, I caught a hint of concern in his voice.

"You know how he is, he will turn us to the police as soon as possible and we can't let that happen. I just need to ask him one little question before he's fully aware and then he'll be history. We can't risk letting him go, the boy has to die" I almost fell to the ground. They were planning on killing Mitch, but why? Who were they? What did they have to do with Mitch? But most importantly, and if it all of this was true... Who was Mitch? What did he want?

"I thought you cared for him"

"Just because I'm his uncle it doesn't mean I care for him, he has caused me enough trouble. He had it coming" Uncle? Ryan Grant is Mitch's uncle? What. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, there was a lot of information I needed to process. I felt sick to the stomach with the thought of him kissing Mitch, how could he?

I couldn't tell Mitch though, at least not now. It would worry him even more and I still had to figure out what to do with the surgery. It pained me so much to even think about it but... I couldn't let Mitch remember.

*3 HOURS PRIOR SURGERY*

"KIRST! I need you RIGHT NOW!" I shouted through my phone, I needed to talk to her about what was going to happen. "Come as fast as possible"

"Okay, give me five"

"You have 1" I hanged up and threw myself in my chair. I put my hands on my face and let out a long breath I didn't know I was holding.

"I'm here what happened" She practically bursted through the door and sat next to me.

"They are going to kill Mitch"

"What?!? Who?!?"

"Avi and Ryan"

"Explain. NOW" And so I did. We spend the next two hours debating and planning what we were going to do. Kirstie suggested something I never thought possible, it was extremely dangerous but it was worth it. We both had one goal in common: Mitch was not going to die. We made it clear that anything we did from now on it would be only for his protection and nothing more. "We need someone else" I finally said.

"Alex, he'll definitely help. I'll go talk to him, and remember: we CAN'T tell Mitch yet, not until we know it's safe"

"I know"

"I really hope this goes well" I didn't answer, I just looked at her while she left. All I wanted right now, was for all to end.

*1 HOUR PRIOR SURGERY*

A white room. Beating hearts under white coats. Blank faces focusing on their task. Muffled voices echoing through the marble walls. Thump, thump, thump, Kirstie's heels crashing against the cold ice floor. Everything seemed so loud but quiet at the same time, every passing minute hit me like waves against cliffs.

Scott stood behind the glass, observing, there was nothing he could do but watch and in an ocean of white he found his brown little boat, seating straight and staring at him.

And he thought to himself: In a few hours, my dear, I will see you again, please forgive me and don't rise hell, bare in mind that I only meant well.

In a dessert of white Mitch found his oasis, deep blue crystal eyes holding his gaze for as long as he could remember.

And he thought to himself: In a few hours, my dear, we will reunite again and I wish for your eyes to be the first memory I'll retain.

_______________________

Author's Note:

Took a lot of time to write but it's finally here. I'm so proud of this chapter you guys have no idea, I LOVE IT and I hope you guys did too! Bye bye - Vicky