“Well I was expecting you for a long time now. I thought you would show up earlier.” Dr. Matthew Ashford said as he looked at his patient.

“What?” Aaron said as he sat down across from Dr. Ashford and leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes.

“Well I heard about the whole fiasco with Olivia and the last time you were here was when you thought your relationship wasn’t going anywhere but then you proposed to her.”

Aaron shrugged one of his shoulders, his eyes still closed.

“Look Aaron, I have told you so many times don’t let your past dictate your present and future decisions. Your proposal to Ms. Miller was a decision influenced by the past. Now why don’t you tell me what happened starting from the day you proposed to her?”

“This isn’t about her. This is about someone else.” Aaron sighed and straightened up.

Dr. Ashford leaned forward and fixed an intense look on Aaron.

“Oh please, take that look away” Aaron groaned.

“Talk to me”

“That’s the whole point of me paying you isn’t it?”

“Aaron”

“Her name is Elaine Sparks.”

“Elaine Sparks as if in Dr. Elaine Sparks?” Dr. Ashford asked.

“You know her?”

“No. Just heard about her” Dr. Ashford said as he maintained his somber expression. She was one year behind him in medical school and he had a thing for her for a long time but now he was happily married with a baby on the way. He wasn’t going to tell this to Aaron as it would affect how he approached the topic of her with him.

Aaron nodded and told him about how he met her right up to last night at Sam’s house where things went to hell after he had smashed opened the door.

“She is seeing a psychiatrist right?”

“Yes she is”

“This is complex. The first thing you need to do is stay in the distance but be near at the same time.”

“Simplify that doc”

“Right now she is trying to cope with the rape and her brain isn’t really cooperating. It is protecting her with a primal instinct; basically repelling anything similar to what hurt her in the first place. You need to be seen by her but in a calm manner. Just be around but at a considerable distance. She should see you but at the same time realize you are not a threat to her and then you can progress from there.”

“So basically act like a stranger around her?”

“Yes in other words. You have to give it time and start from the beginning with her. You just can’t jump back into the relation with her again unless her memory comes back but that is not the situation right now.”

“Alright” Aaron nodded and stood up, absorbing the psychiatrist’s words. He hoped to heaven that this worked because the present scenario with her was driving him crazy. He couldn’t stand the thought that she saw that asshole Costello him in.

Aaron slipped into his car.

“To the office sir?”

“I don’t know. Just drive around for now.”

“Of course sir”

His phone rang out and he pulled it out to see Sam calling him.

“Hello Sam”

“Hey.”

“How is she?”

“Asleep. The dose they gave her could knock out a horse.”

“What did her therapist say?”

“She said she needs to be away from all of this. Like take her on some vacation. I am so scared.”

“I am on it. Don’t worry”

“What?” Sam asked but Aaron hung up and called up his lawyer.

“Hello Sawyer. You free?”

“Yes. What’s up?”

“How are the proceedings for the trial going?”

“The trial is set to six weeks. That sly ass of a lawyer is pulling out a “consensual sexual activity” card”

“What the fuck Sawyer? It was clear cut case of…rape…” Aaron closed his eyes as the image of Elaine from that day flashed across his eyes.

“Don’t worry that will not hold up in the court. There is too much evidence. He is going in for good.”

“How long do we have before we need to be on the case for statements and all?”

“You still have 2-3 weeks before I start calling up all you guys. Right now is just all procedural work and collecting plus documenting the evidence. Everything okay?”

“It won’t be an issue if Elaine and I went out of the country for a week or so?”

“Of course not but make sure to be back before deposition notices come out.”

“So two weeks?”

“Give or take”

“Okay. Thanks”

“No problem. Gotta rush”

“Sure” Aaron hung up the phone.

A smile formed in his lips as an idea came up in his head. This was the most positive he felt ever since that night.

“WHAT?” Sam yelled and then looked around and lowered her voice. “You out of your fuckin’ mind?”

Aaron gritted his teeth. This woman was slapping away his good mood. He had called her up and asked her to meet him at the café across from her building.

“Look, you yourself said that her therapist suggested a vacation and I think this is the best idea.” Aaron explained what his therapist told him; well he left out the part about Dr. Ashford.

“Yes I know her therapist said that but Aaron, I know this is difficult for you, however what is your idea backfires? You have already seen how she reacts around you.”

Aaron flinched at that remark.

"Yes I do know."

"Oh god. I didnt mean that" Sam instantly regretted it as she saw the hurt on his face.

“I will stay at a distance. Trust me Sam. I love her. I won’t let anything wrong happen.”

Sam looked at all the hope and determination in his steel grey eyes and sighed.

“Alright I will talk to her and her doctors and let you know.”

“By tomorrow afternoon. We only have two weeks.”

“Okay.”

Aaron leaned back and smiled as Sam got up and left.

She was in a bed, a soft bed when she felt strong arms snake around her waist and pulled her close. Elaine smiled as she felt his warmth against her. How she loved being next to him.

“I love you beautiful.” He whispered in her ear and she turned around to look at him but he was no longer there and she was freezing.

Elaine shot up in her bed gasping. What the hell was going on?

Aaron paced his living room waiting for Sam to call.

A moment later his phone rang out.

“It is all set from our side. I talked to her and the doctors. Let me know the further details.” Sam said.

“Thank you so much and yes I will get back to as soon as I have all the arrangements made. We will leave by tomorrow evening.”

“Okay. Talk to you later.” Sam replied and hung up.

Aaron closed his eyes in relief. Now all he hoped was it all worked out as he planned.