August 26-September 10, 01

<ooooo---ooooo>

George gazed across the set and glanced at Julianna, who was talking quietly to Laura Innes, their heads bent close as they conversed. He shook his head and sighed, looking back down at the script in his hand. Focus, George, focus. Stop staring at Julianna like she's the most beautiful creature you've ever seen in your entire life. He sighed and flipped to the next page of the script, silently reciting his lines in his head, trying to push the thoughts of Julianna away. Never before had it been so hard for him to study his lines.

Why was she stuck in his head so much lately? They'd worked together for three years on ER and he'd always been attracted to her, but lately, it just got worse. Like he was yearning for her. God he wanted to get his hands on her, touch her, kiss her, feel her under him. Shit, he thought and brushed his hand over his head in attempt to forget about her. He glanced over at her when he heard her husky laugh and then turned his back to her, so he couldn't glance at her anymore. He began to pace back and forth, quietly repeating his lines back and forth in his head.

"George, need some help there?" Julianna asked, looking at him a few moments later. Ah hell, he thought. "You look like you're having some line problems." He looked down at her.

"Uh, yeah, I guess I am." He replied as she took the script out of his hand and bent her head, reading the lines. He watched her curls tumble over her shoulder and felt heat creeping to his groin. Not now, dammit, not now! She looked up at him.

"Want me to help?" She asked. He shifted a bit uncomfortably on his feet and smiled at her.

"Sure, that'd be great. I can't keep forgetting my lines in front of the camera!" He said and smiled at her. She grinned and held the script out.

"Okay, ready?" She asked. He nodded. She began to recite a line of her own and he watched her, trying to focus on what she was saying. Then she looked up at him and waited and he shrugged and laughed a bit.

"I can't remember at all." He said. She let her hand, holding the script, fall to her side.

"What's up with that, George? Normally you're the one who remembers all of his lines after reading them once." She said, smiling a bit.

"It's not a particularly hard set of lines, but I'm just not having a good memory day, apparently." She smiled and leaned towards him, holding the script up for him to read his lines, but her name was called. She turned, spotting the director and nodded.

"Sorry, gotta go film." She said. He smiled and took the script.

"Thanks for trying. I'll get them." He said. She nodded, smiled, and turned to walk to the area where she was needed. This is not working. I can't work with her and continuously get aroused, he thought and sighed.

"Bad day?" Anthony Edwards asked. George looked up and nodded.

"Yeah and the day is just beginning. Can you help me with my lines? I need a Carol." He said. Anthony laughed.

"Sure, I'm feeling feminine today." He said. George smiled and handed the script over to him.

"Alright, thanks." He said and it was much easier to practice and get his lines down with a man and not Julianna.

<ooooo---ooooo>

Julianna leaned against a wall on the set, closed her eyes, and sighed deeply. She was so tired. Things at home, with Ron, weren't going so great. All they did was argue. She barely got any sleep, there was so much tension between them. And then working fourteen hour days wasn't helping that any. Lately, she'd come home and just pass out on the couch, avoiding Ron to the best of her ability.

She had slept on the couch the night before and her neck ached slightly. She reached up absently to rub and squeeze it gently. She heard George's voice and her eyes slit open just a bit. Now there's a gorgeous man if I've ever seen one, she thought as she gazed at him. She closed her eyes again, not wanting to let him enter her mind. She would admit to herself, and only to herself, that he was part of the reason she wasn't sleeping well at night. Her feelings for him were spinning out of control. It was too weird. They were best friends, thoughts like hers shouldn't be entering her head.

She let her eyes open a crack once more and watched him as he talked to one of the crewman. God, she wanted to get her lips on his, to feel those large, comforting hands on her body, doing things to her that no one else had before. Dammit, she cursed silently and forced herself to close her eyes, to stop looking, stop thinking about him. She sighed and deliberately relaxed each and every one of her body muscles and took a deep relaxing breath. Calm..

"Jules?" Every muscle in her body tightened and she jumped slightly. George chuckled and sent her heart spinning and twirling happily in her chest. "Scare ya? You were like spaced out." Getting there, she thought. She smiled.

"Yeah, trying some sort of yoga breathing exercise to get myself to relax." She said.

"Things not so good at home?" He asked. She shook her head, the corner of her mouth curving a bit and she tilted her head.

"Not really."

"Want to talk about it?" He asked. She shrugged. He smiled and took her hand, sending shivers up her arm. What the hell? She wondered to herself. He dragged her over to the crew.

"We're going to go outside for a bit. Come get us if you need us." George said. Some people nodded absently and George led her outside. He sat down on the curb of the fake ambulance bay and pulled her down with him. She sat and he let go of her hand, folding his hands up under his chin and leaning his elbows onto his knees. He looked at her and wiggled his eyebrows. "Talk to Dr. George." He joked. She grinned and leaned down, her stomach resting against her legs. She twirled her fingers through her shoelaces and sighed.

"Things just keep getting worse, y'know?" She looked at him. He smiled.

"I know." He murmured. She nodded a bit and looked away.

"It's just all going downhill. We argue all the time. There isn't a time we don't argue when we are together. We haven't even touched each other in weeks. Last night and some nights before, I've crashed on the couch because I couldn't stand the tension in our room."

"Why didn't you sleep in a guest room?" He asked.

"I guess because..If I slept on the couch, I could make it seem like I was just watching television. If I went into a guest room, it would be..I dunno, real, or something." She looked at him and he nodded. He reached over and took her hand into his and rubbed his thumb over hers.

"Do you think things will get better?" He asked. She looked down at their joined hands and shook her head.

"No." She replied. He reached out and tipped her chin up with his finger.

"Then why don't you end it?" He asked. She sighed and stared into his eyes for a few moments before glancing away, looking out across the set lot. Then she met his eyes once more.

"I'm scared to be alone." She murmured. She saw the understanding in his eyes and was relieved.

"Yeah, it can be scary sometimes." He said, looking out across the lot. "Being alone. Realizing you have no one to come home to." He sighed. "You get over it or find someone else." He smiled ironically at himself. She nodded, watching him. He glanced back at her, meeting hazel eyes with deep brown eyes. Suddenly she was caught up in him, surrounded by him and she couldn't make herself look away, it was as if she was locked in time. George reached a hand up and touched her cheek gently. Her breath caught in her throat and she struggled to free it. He leaned a fraction closer.

"George! Julianna!" Their hands came apart as they turned and looked behind them, toward the door where they had exited minutes ago.

"We're coming!" George said loudly. Laura nodded and turned, going back inside. George turned back to Julianna and smiled. "Looks like they're calling." He said. She grinned and stood, brushing her damp palms against her scrubs.

"Yup." She said. He stood and stretched slightly, smiling at her, before he headed back inside. She stood still for a moment, watching him, and wondering to herself what might have happened had Laura not come out. She shrugged and followed him inside, not allowing herself to think about it.

<ooooo---ooooo>

Julianna pushed the door to her house open, listening to the quiet silence and seeing only darkness. She smiled. Privacy. She slipped her arms out of the sleeves of her coat and hung it up in the hall closest. She slid her feet out of her shoes and left them where they were, in the foyer, and walked to the kitchen. She placed her keys on the table, switched on the overhead light, and opened up the refrigerator, pulling out a glass pitcher filled with purified water. She hummed silently under her breath as she put ice cubes into a glass and poured the water, before placing the pitcher back into the fridge.

She picked up her glass, taking a sip before she headed to the living room. She clicked on the lamp beside the couch and smiled at the picture on the corner table. She reached down and picked it up, studying it with a smile. George had one arm wrapped around her waist and a snifter of something alcoholic in his hand. The two of them were smiling at the camera and you could see they were clearly having a good time. Others were around them, smiling at the camera, but Julianna only saw herself and George. She took another sip of water.

Her mind wandered back to that night, the party at Eriq LaSalle's lake house which had taken place for his birthday. She remembered how she had had so much fun, laughing with all of her friends. She could almost smell the sweat, George's scent, and the alcohol he had had as they danced madly about to some music that had been in style then. She remembered the way George had twirled her around him, both of them just a little intoxicated. The way he had looked that night, so happy and carefree, having fun with her.

Suddenly Julianna froze. The sound of someone upstairs had caught her off guard. She had thought she was home alone. She thought it must have been Ron, but the part that made her nervous was it had sounded like a woman's laugh. Julianna quickly flipped off the lamp and placed her glass on a coaster. She slowly made her way to the stairs, her heart pounding in her throat and hands suddenly damp with sweat. She crept slowly up the stairs and saw a soft glow coming from the open door of her bedroom, just down the hall.

Then she heard it again. A soft, throaty, seductive female laugh. Julianna continued to walk slowly and quietly down the hall, coming to a stop just a foot away from her door. She paused, sighed silently and stepped forward.

Her eyes immediately fell to the bed where she saw a woman, a naked woman, with long flowing blond hair bending over Ron. Both of their bodies were covered in sheets from the waists down. Julianna watched as the woman pressed a kiss to Ron's lips and watched as he smiled when she pulled away. Julianna swallowed the lump that had suddenly risen in her throat.

"Get out." She murmured, her voice as hard as steel and as cold as ice. Immediately the blond and Ron looked over at her, taken by surprise.

"Julianna.." Ron said.

"Both of you! Get out of my house! Now!" Julianna said, walking into the room. She bent down and picked up the bundle of clothes on the floor and threw them at Ron's head. "You stupid bastard!" The blond covered her chest, but seemed somewhat amused. Julianna felt like puking, but instead turned on her heel and ran quickly down the stairs, after she heard Ron murmur something to the blond. She ran into the darkness of the den, where she could make sure they left but they wouldn't know where she was in the house exactly. Julianna closed her eyes tightly and leaned against the wall, before sliding against it, to the floor. She buried her face in her hands and let out a troubled sigh and waited.

Nearly a minute later, she heard Ron and the woman descend the stairs, murmuring quietly to each other. Julianna waited a moment more as she heard them walk past the den and into the kitchen. She strained her ears and listened until she heard the door she had come into, close behind them.

She sat for a few more moments, gathering her pride before she stood and numbly made her way to the desk. She sat down in the chair and picked up the phone, which numbers were glowing in the darkness. She quickly dialed George's number.

"Hello?" He answered and his voice comforted and calmed her slightly.

"George.."

"Jules? What's the matter?" He asked, immediately sensing something in her voice.

"Can you come over?" She asked.

"Sure, I'll be right over!" He said quickly and hung the phone up. Julianna listened to the dial tone for a few seconds before slowly placing the phone back on the cradle. She stood, as if she was moving in slow motion, and made her way into the living room. She sat slowly on the couch, acting like an old woman with arthritis in every bone. She just sat quietly, staring at one of the candles on the coffee table, remembering the single candle beside her bed which Ron had had burning for himself and his lover.

Julianna wasn't sure how long she sat there in the darkness, staring, but before she knew it, the door she had entered and Ron had exited was opening and George came in.

"Julianna?" He asked loudly and moved into the living room, immediately spotting her on the couch. He rushed around it and sat beside her, touching her face and turning it to his. "What's wrong? What is it?"

"Ron." She said quietly and burst into tears. George was taken slightly aback, wondering what she or Ron had done that had made her so upset. Had they broken up? Is that why she was upset? George wasn't sure, but he wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her face into his shoulder and she sobbed loudly, her hands clutching the front of his jacket. He wrapped his arm around her waist and rubbed her back slightly with that hand. His other hand fisted into her hair, holding her head to him as he let her cry, sob, into him.

Finally a few minutes later, she stopped and sighed loudly, shakily, into his shoulder and pushed herself away. His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb rubbing under her eye, wiping the wetness away.

"Can you tell me about it now?" He murmured. She nodded and reached up, wiping her other eye with her hand and she looked down for a moment.

"I..Came home and I thought I was home alone because the house was dark." She paused. "Ron's car was here but when I came into the dark house, I had just thought he had gone out with some friends or something. So, I got a glass of water and I came into the living room. I was daydreaming a bit," She smiled crookedly, remembering how she had been thinking about George, and continued, "when I heard a noise. It had come from upstairs. At first I thought it was Ron, but I was sure that it sounded like a woman laughing." George's heart sank, getting a clue to what she was about to tell him. "It made me a little nervous because I thought someone besides Ron was in the house. So I turned off the light and I went upstairs, going slow and being quiet. I saw a light coming from my bedroom and I heard the sound of the laughter again. It was unmistakably female." She stopped and looked down for a moment, gathering her bearings before looking back up at George.

"So, I walked into the room. There was some long-haired, blond woman, lying naked on top of Ron. She kissed him and when I recovered from the shock, I told them to get out of the house. Then I ran downstairs and went into the den so they wouldn't know where I was." She paused again. "I waited until I heard them leave and then I called you and came out here to wait." She looked at him as her eyes misted over once more. She looked down, her lip quivering. "I was going to break up with him soon," She paused, "but I..I never thought he would do that to me, y'know? Even though we were fighting." She sighed deeply. George reached up with his other hand and cupped her face, wiping away the fresh tear that fell from her eye.

"You didn't deserve that." He said. She stared into his eyes.

"It shouldn't hurt so much..Y'know? 'Cause, I mean, I didn't love him anymore and I was going to break up with him soon, I just.."

"It's allowed to hurt. You're entitled. You dated him for six years, Jules." He lifted her face towards his and smiled. She managed to return the smile, no matter how weak it was. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Do you need anything? A glass of water or something?" He asked. She shook her head.

"Could you just stay? I don't think I could be alone right now." Julianna said. He smiled and dropped his hands from her face.

"Sure. How about we pop a movie into the VCR, get a big tub of ice cream, some spoons and have a girl's night in?" He suggested and smiled at the small giggle he got out of her.

"Okay." She replied, still smiling slightly.

"Good. You pick out the movie, I'll go find us some Ben and Jerry's, and we can settle in and splurge." They stood and he smiled softly at her before heading into the kitchen. She watched him go and realized that she was in love with him, despite the fact that he had been her best friend for three years and that she should probably swear men off after today's events. She sighed and smiled a little before turning to pick out a movie.

<ooooo---ooooo>

George awoke the next morning and tried to stretch his arms, but found that one was pinned underneath something. He opened his eyes and blinked, trying to clear the haze away. Then he saw the top of Julianna's head and the entire night before came rushing back to him. He smiled and reached up with his free hand, rubbing the eye crust away away and looking more closely down at her. They had fallen asleep, watching the movie and she had somehow ended up laying on his chest in sleep. His left arm was underneath her body, curved around her. He smiled and studied her face. Her cheek was resting against his chest and her face was turned up towards him just slightly.

He studied her dark eyelashes that rested lightly against her cheeks. He studied the slope of her cheeks and the curves of her lips and somehow felt protective. How could anyone hurt a woman like her? She was an angel in every aspect. He just felt like keeping her safe and un-hurt from anything and everything.

He wondered how Ron could ever treat her badly. Why would anyone want to, need to cheat on her? There was no way she wouldn't fulfill a man in every way possible. He reached a hand up, slowly, and gently touched her cheek. She sighed a bit and shifted, turning her face into his hand, making him smile. He trailed his hand down her cheek and brushed his thumb gently over her lips. It wasn't every day he got to touch her like this, without her knowledge. Actually, until now, never had he gotten to touch her like this.

He wanted to press his own mouth to those full, naked lips but knew it would never happen without consequences. Like her waking up and slapping him. He grinned slightly and let his hand run from her cheek, into her hair, amazed at the thick mass of curls. He had always marveled at her hair, wondering what it would be like to get both of his hands into all of it as he kissed her, had her writhing under him. He sighed and pushed those thoughts away, pulling his hand out of her hair. When she was lying on top of him was probably not the best time to get aroused, under the circumstances.

He simply lay there, watching her sleep and smelling her, until nearly thirty minutes later when she began to rouse. He watched as she shifted, bringing her hand up to his chest. Then she moved her legs, curling them closer to her and into the warmth of him. She moved her head and let out a soft sigh. He watched as her eyes slowly fluttered open and met his gaze immediately, because of the direction her face was tilted.

"Hi." He murmured and smiled slightly. Her lips curved a bit and she closed her eyes, moving against him.

"How long have you been up?" She asked, her voice husky from sleep.

"Awhile." He replied.

"And you just let me lay there, squishing you?" She asked, looking up at him through her fingers as she scrubbed her hands over her face.

"You don't exactly weigh enough to squish me, but I figured you should get some sleep and if I moved you would wake up. So I stayed here." He said. She groaned and pushed herself up, sliding off of him and onto the couch by his legs.

"You're actually more comfortable then I would have thought. My body doesn't hurt anywhere." She said, grinning at him. He chuckled and sat up beside her.

"Thanks." He said, still chuckling. She grinned.

"No problem." She yawned, stifling it with her hand before she leaned back against the couch. "Ugh, what time is it?" She asked. He glanced at the clock behind her.

"5:45." He said.

"Aw, shit. We have to be at work in an hour and fifteen minutes?! I'm not gonna make it, George!" He chuckled and squeezed her shoulder with his hand as he sat up beside her.

"Go on, you go get in the shower and get ready. I'll fix us some breakfast and eat mine, then we can trade and you can eat and I'll shower." He said, standing and reaching down, lifting her up to her feet. She groaned and let her head fall to his shoulder.

"I hate you." She said and he chuckled, pulling her away, turning her towards the stairs, and giving her a little shove. She turned her head and stuck her tongue out at him as she headed toward the stairs. He shook his own head and went into the kitchen.

<ooooo---ooooo>

Later that night, Julianna stood by her bed, looking down at it. No way am I going to sleep in there anymore, she thought. She looked at it in disgust, wondering how many times they had fucked in it, and she herself had slept in it afterwards. She shuddered and turned, looking toward the window. She made her way towards it, pushing the curtains to the side and placing one hand on the frame of the window. She leaned her head against the frame and looked at the pool in the backyard, watching the way the water sparkled against the lights that had come on about an hour before, automatically.

Suddenly the phone rang. Julianna hesitated, thinking about letting it ring but thought maybe George would be calling to check up on her, even though she had seen him only forty-five minutes ago at work. She picked it up on the third ring, hoping she heard George's voice on the other end.

"Hello?" She asked.

"Julianna." She stopped and didn't say anything, didn't make a noise. "Don't hang up, please. I just need to talk to you."

"Okay, Ron, talk." She said. He paused but continued on.

"I'm sorry about what you saw.."

"But you're not sorry that you did it?" She asked, her voice icy. He didn't reply, just continued on.

"Look, Julianna, I'm sorry for what happened and I wanted to call you and see when I can come and get the rest of my stuff because I highly doubt we'll be living together anymore."

"You're right." She said. He sighed loud enough for her to hear.

"When can I come over?" He asked impatiently. Julianna stayed silent for a moment, gathering her calm before finally speaking.

"Tomorrow. I work at the normal times, so use your key whenever. But leave it on the table when you're finished with it." She said. He nodded.

"Alright. I'll have everything out by the time you get home tomorrow night." He said.

"Good." Julianna said and clicked the button, turning the phone off. She sat the cordless back into the charger and made her way out of the room. She went down the stairs and sat on the couch and her shoulders slumped. She sighed and rubbed her eyes wearily.

<ooooo---ooooo>

The next morning Julianna walked onto the set and walked over to Laura, who was already there.

"Hey Jules." Laura said and smiled at Julianna. Julianna returned the smile.

"Hey there." She replied.

"How are you?" Laura asked. Since yesterday when Julianna had told everyone about her and Ron's break up, everybody had been concerned about how she felt, how she was.

"I'm good, Laura. Everything's alright." She said, smiling. Laura nodded, smiling back at her.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that." Laura said. Julianna shook her head slightly and looked over, spotting George. Laura watched Julianna, studying her, wanting to be sure that she was really alright. Julianna had shadows under her eyes and she looked tired. When Laura saw that Julianna's gaze was focused on something off to the side, she turned her own head and spotted George, sitting and talking to Noah Wyle. Then Laura's gaze returned to Julianna's face and she saw a softness there, a yearning, a wistful yearning. Laura ticked her head in surprise. Never before had she noticed Julianna looking at George the way she was now.

Finally Julianna forced herself to turn her head back to Laura and she smiled slightly, not noticing the curious and puzzled look on Laura's face.

"I need to talk to George for a minute. I'll be back." Julianna said. Laura nodded and watched her go. Julianna curled her hand into George's arm and smiled. He smiled up at her.

"Hey." He said.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked. George nodded and got ready to stand, but Noah stood up and smiled.

"I'll leave, you stay." Noah said and chuckled under his breath. He carried his coffee cup and walked over to Laura who had been joined by Anthony. Julianna took Noah's old seat and smiled at George again.

"What's up?" He murmured, leaning forward in his seat and focusing on her. She shifted back into the chair and looked at him, meeting his gaze.

"Ron called last night." George straightened, looking at her, his body on alert.

"What did he say?" George asked.

"Well, he said he was sorry that I saw what I did but when I asked him if he was sorry that he had done it, he didn't answer. Then he asked when he could come and get his stuff since he assumed we weren't going to be living together anymore. I told him we weren't and that he could come get his stuff anytime today and that I was working the normal hours. So, he'll be gone when I get there and he's supposed to leave his copy of the key on the kitchen table." She finished.

"He didn't sound too upset about giving up the house or the car." George observed.

"I suspect his lover has a place he can stay and a vehicle he can drive." Julianna said.

"Ah, right, of course." George reached out and squeezed her hand. "Are you okay?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's a little...strange, y'know?" George nodded. "Last night I slept in the spare room because it made me sick to think about sleeping in our old room. I think I'm going to get a new bed and everything. Lucky for me, I'm not attached to that one." She said, smiling slightly. George nodded.

"Yeah..You're gonna make it, Jules." He said. She nodded and met his gaze.

"I know."

Laura watched from across the room, watching the exchange between the two of them and wondering.

<ooooo---ooooo>

Later that afternoon, Anthony and George stood, talking.

"Did you catch the Lakers game last night?" Anthony asked George. George nodded.

"Yeah, it was a good game. I figured they woulda won by more than eight points though." George said and looked over Anthony's shoulder, watching Julianna as she talked to Maria Bello. Anthony nodded.

"Did you see that slam dunk at the end, though? That was great!" George nodded, agreeing, but his mind was elsewhere, not really focused on what Anthony was saying. Anthony studied George, seeing the distraction, knowing George wasn't really paying attention to him. Anthony turned his head, looking over his shoulder, searching for what George was looking at. All he saw was Julianna and Maria, standing and talking. He turned back to George and his brows knit together in confusion, wondering why George was watching them so closely. Did he have the hots for Maria or something? Anthony studied George, but he didn't think he was looking at Maria. Yeah, he was pretty sure George was watching Julianna. Hmmmm....

"George?" Anthony asked. George looked over at him.

"Yeah?" He replied.

"What're you lookin' at?" He asked curiously.

"Oh, nothing." George smiled, forcing himself to look at Anthony and stay focused. But he couldn't help it and slipped one more glance at Julianna, watching her smile. Finally Anthony turned his head and looked back at Julianna.

"So, how's Julianna really holding up?" He asked. "You're her best friend, I assume you know." George shrugged.

"She's holding up. She's trying to act stronger than she is, I think. She hasn't been sleeping, I can tell." He replied. Anthony nodded and just put George's staring at her down as concern for a close friend.

<ooooo---ooooo>

The next morning, Anthony and Laura stood talking before work started. Laura turned to the side and glanced over at George and Julianna who were talking quietly in the corner, heads bent close.

"Have you noticed anything weird going on between them?" Laura asked Anthony. He shrugged and glanced over at the dark-haired couple.

"Not really, why?" He asked.

"I don't know." She shrugged. "It's probably nothing." She paused. "It's just that Julianna has been acting really weird when it comes to George lately. Like if I'm ever talking to her and George is in the room, it's like she can't concentrate on the conversation. She's so completely focused on George, even if he is talking to someone else across the room." Anthony nodded.

"Well, yeah, I know what you mean. Last night, I was talking to George. Julianna and Maria were across the room and George wasn't paying any attention to me. He was too busy watching Julianna over my shoulder. I couldn't even get his attention with a Lakers game and you know how he is about basketball!" Laura nodded.

"What do you think is going on there?" She asked. He shrugged.

"I don't know. They do seem to have gotten closer since she broke up with Ron a few days ago. They always seem to be talking in secret." He said. Laura nodded.

"Yeah, it's weird. The other day when I was trying to talk to her and she was watching him, she had this strange look on her face...Kind of like...she wanted him. Like, not really sexually, if you know what I mean. She was like....wishing she could be with him. Then she told me she had to talk to him for a minute and she went over. Noah came over to us and remember, they sat and talked for like five minutes...?"

"Uh-huh, I remember that." He paused. "Do you think they are doing something without telling us?" He asked. She shrugged.

"Maybe, but it doesn't seem like it, y'know? It's like she is longing for him, not like she has him." Laura sighed in frustration, hating that she couldn't get her words to form her thoughts.

"Yeah." He paused. "I think you're right. And I think we'd know for sure if they were. They'd probably tell us anyway. I mean, we work with them day in and day out, I doubt they'd wanna hide it all the time." He shrugged. "It's not really any of our business."

"No, it's not." She paused and smiled. "But isn't it damn interesting?" They chuckled at the thought of two of their close friends dancing around each other, unsure what to do about their feelings.

<ooooo---ooooo>

A few days later, Laura and Anthony came together during a break in their filming of ER.

"This is driving me nuts!" Laura exclaimed.

"What?" Anthony asked.

"The two of them. For being such good friends, they obviously can't read the others feelings for the other."

"Oh, yeah. I know what you mean. We should do something about it." Anthony said.

"Like what?" Laura asked, looking up at him. He shrugged.

"I don't know....Yet."

<ooooo---ooooo>

"Any ideas?" Anthony asked later, after some brainstorming.

"We could send secret admirer messages to the both of them." Laura suggested and grinned. Anthony chuckled.

"That's too juvenile. Any others?" He asked.

"We could just talk to them and ask them if they have noticed anything. And they'll probably say no, but it'll open their eyes about it." Laura said.

"That's too straightforward and not fun enough." Anthony said and grinned. Laura laughed.

<ooooo---ooooo>

Later that afternoon, Laura came rushing up to Anthony.

"I've got it!" She whispered in his ear. He turned and raised his eyebrows. She nodded and he coughed slightly and looked around at the crew and actors that were staring strangely at them.

"Excuse us." He said and motioned Laura with a gentle push of his hand. She walked quickly away, far enough to be out of ear's reach. "What?"

"Blind dates!" She exclaimed. She watched him puzzle over it.

"How?" He asked. She grinned like a young girl who felt superior to her little brother.

"Alright! First, I tell Julianna there's a man that I'm friends with that I think she should go out on a date with. She'll most likely refuse but with my powers of persuasion, she won't be able to resist. Plus, she owes me a favor. Anyway, then you'll tell George that there's a woman you want him to meet, considering he hasn't dated anyone in awhile. George'll refuse but you have to make him go. Anyway, so we'll arrange for them to go on a blind date and they'll realize it's each other. Then, they'll say, well, Laura and Tony noticed something, is there really something there after all? And wa-la, wedding bells!" Laura exclaimed. Anthony chuckled.

"I wouldn't take it that far. George is kind of...hesitant on that subject." Anthony said. Laura shrugged.

"Alright, so I was exaggerating but it could work." She said. He nodded and mulled over it.

"Yeah. We'll have to work out the details a bit better." He said.

"Such as?"

"Well, where they will eat. And how are we gonna get them to go to the same table at the restaurant..?" Tony asked. Laura shifted back a bit and bit her bottom lip.

"Hmm.." She said. He chuckled.

"Yeah, hmm." He said. She sighed.

"We'll figure out a way." She stated surely.

<ooooo---ooooo>

"Laura, I...appreciate the gesture, but I don't think.." Laura held up a hand.

"Stop. Jules, I'm just trying to do you a favor. You need to start dating again. Mingle with those fish in the sea." Laura said firmly.

"Laura, I'm not ready for that yet, I.."

"You owe me." Laura said.

"What?" Julianna asked.

"You owe me a favor. Remember?" Laura asked, raising her eyebrows. Julianna sighed and began to whine.

"But Laura.."

"Tim's a friend of mine. He won't do any harm. And it can't hurt for you to get out." Laura smiled sweetly. "Tim's a little lonely himself. I'm not saying you should marry him right off, just...go out with him. Once. Please?" Julianna sighed between her teeth.

"Alright."

"You'll do it?" Laura asked and grinned. This was working out perfectly.

"Yes, I'll do it. But it's blackmail." Laura laughed.

<ooooo---ooooo>

"George, I have a favor of sorts." Anthony said to George.

"What?" George asked, ready and willing to help his friend in any way.

"Well, my wife's been bugging me about her friend, Ann. Recently Ann broke up with her steady boyfriend of a few years and she's..I dunno, depressed or something." George raised his eyebrows, unsure where this was going.

"And?"

"Jeanine's been bugging me to find a date for Ann and.." George held up his hands and backed up a few steps.

"I don't do blind dates." He said.

"George, just listen. Jeanine suggested that you do it because it would most certainly cheer Ann up to go out on a date with the one and only George Clooney!" Anthony wiggled his eyebrows and grinned. "And, if you don't do it I'll be in pretty deep shit with Jeanine because I'm supposed to, I dunno, bribe you or something." Anthony sighed. "Please?" He asked. George sighed. "She's an attractive woman." Anthony paused, not sure whether to say it or not and then decided to chance it. "She looks a bit like Julianna." George cocked a brow.

"And that is supposed to lure me in?" George asked. Anthony sighed.

"I'm just trying to give you a picture in your mind. Will you help a man out or not?" Anthony asked. George sighed and paused.

"Fine. I'll do it. But you owe me big time, brother." George said. Anthony grinned and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks, man."

<ooooo---ooooo>

It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Anthony and Laura had called the restaurant personally and had said who they were. Since they themselves were frequent visitors at the certain restaurant, the manager had known who they were and had agreed to play a small practical joke on their friends. What they had done was set up the dinner reservation for 7:30. Anthony himself had seen George off, making sure he got there on time. Laura had told Julianna the reservation was at 7:45 and had also seen her off, knowing that George would get there first and tell them he had a reservation under his own name. Then Julianna would go and say she had a reservation with a Mr. Tim Matthews. And she'd be seated. With George. It worked out perfectly.

<ooooo---ooooo>

At 7:44, Julianna walked into the restaurant and smiled pleasantly at the maitre de.

"Good evening, Ms. Margulies." He smiled at her, recognizing her from previous visits. She smiled warmly, pleased that he remembered her name, even if it probably did have something to do with her fame.

"I have a reservation with Tim Matthews." She said. He grinned and chuckled secretly inside, knowing she was about to be surprised.

"Yes." He grinned. "Right this way." He said. She nodded and smiled politely and began to follow him, her purse tucked comfortably in her hands in front of her. He led her through the tables and back into the more private areas. He led her around a big leafy plant and stopped at a table. Julianna came up beside the table and had a warm smile ready for....George?

"What?" She looked at the maitre de, a bemused expression on her face. "I.." She looked at George. "What're you doing here?"

"I could say the same for you." He said. They both looked at the man standing beside her. He shrugged nonchalantly.

"This is the correct table, Ms. Margulies." He bit back a grin as she looked back at George.

"You're mistaken. This isn't...Well, Mr. Matthews." She said.

"And you're not Ann Brooks." George said. The man couldn't help it, he smiled.

"I'm sorry. If you would excuse me." He said and turned and walked away. Julianna stood beside George for a moment before slowly sliding into the chair across from him. She lay her purse on the table and folded her hands over them.

"Why do I feel like he knows something we don't?" Julianna asked. George shrugged.

"I sensed that, too." He looked at her, still puzzled. "Well, this is strange." He said. She laughed slightly.

"Yeah." She paused. "So, what are you doing here?" She asked.

"I'm supposed to be on a blind date." He said.

"Really?" She asked. He nodded. "Me too." He ticked his head.

"With who?" He asked, curiously. He wouldn't admit to anyone that he was a bit jealous. Or a lot.

"Tim Matthews. Whoever that is. He's a friend of Laura's." Julianna said.

"Well, that's odd. Anthony sent me here on a blind date with a friend of Jeanine's, Ann Brooks." Suddenly the light dawned on both of them.

"We've been set up." Julianna said.

"I'd say so." George said. Julianna chuckled and buried her face in her hands.

"Why?" She asked. He chuckled and shrugged.

"Beats me." He said. Then paused. "If it makes any difference, you look nice." He said. She lifted her head and blushed slightly. He smiled.

"Thanks. So do you. But then again, when don't you, in a suit?" She teased, pushing the blush away. He chuckled.

"I'll take that as a compliment." He said. She grinned and they didn't notice the manager peeking their way and grinning.

<ooooo---ooooo>

Throughout the dinner, which somehow managed to stretch into a few hours without the two of them noticing, there were a lot of long looks. Smiles, gentle touches of one another's hands, soft sighs, laughter over a candlelit table, good food, and great wine.

"It's going beautifully." The manager said into the phone. On the other end, Anthony grinned.

"Great."

"I've been keeping an eye on them. Lots of flirting, though I doubt they know it's happening." Anthony chuckled.

"Perfect. Thanks Carlos."

"Anytime, Tony." Anthony hung up and smiled at Laura.

"Well?" She asked.

"A-plus work for us." He said. She grinned and they high-fived.

<ooooo---ooooo>

George walked Julianna to her front porch. He smiled.

"Do you want to come in?" She asked. He paused before he shook his head.

"No, it's already pretty late. We have to be in early tomorrow." He said. She nodded.

"And we need to save our energy so we can kick Tony and Laura's asses." She said. He chuckled.

"Well, despite what they did, I had a good time tonight." He said and couldn't stop himself from brushing his fingers over her cheek. She grinned softly and nodded.

"Yeah." She sighed softly. "Me too."

"Well, goodnight Julianna." He said. She smiled.

"Night, George." He leaned over and brushed his lips against her cheek and smiled before he turned and headed back to his car. She stood on the stoop and watched him go, a smile on her face the entire time. Once he was gone she sighed and tipped her head back, closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Yup, she was definitely in love with him. No doubts about that now, she thought and laughed under her breath. Then she turned and unlocked the door, walked into the house, up the stairs and into the spare bedroom which she was now using as her own. Then she sat on the bed and lay back and grinned, one thought and one thought only on her mind.

George.

<ooooo---ooooo>

"I oughtta kill you for that." George said the next morning to Tony. Anthony chuckled.

"How was Ann?" He asked. George punched his arm playfully.

"Forget Ann. What did you mean to accomplish?" He asked. Tony grinned.

"Have you realized anything lately?" George chuckled.

"Such as?"

"How much you really, really like Julianna?" Anthony asked. George laughed slightly.

"Well, she is my best friend." George said. Anthony groaned and George laughed.

<ooooo---ooooo>

"Have fun last night?" Laura asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Thank you." Julianna murmured and grinned. Laura laughed.

"Details."

"Well, the dinner was perfect. So romantic. And it wasn't...like..planned, y'know? I mean, 'cause we were surprised in the first place, but then it just turned out wonderfully."

"What happened after dinner?" Laura asked and wiggled her eyebrows. Julianna laughed.

"Nothing. Well, he kissed my cheek, but that's it." Laura looked disappointed.

"That's it?" She asked. Julianna laughed slightly.

"That and the fact that I'm in love with him." She said. Laura's jaw dropped and then she squealed.

"That's wonderful!" She exclaimed. Julianna laughed.

"It's so..amazing. I thought I loved Ron, but this...Different." Was all she said.

"He's the one, then?" Laura asked. Julianna nodded.

"I think so. I don't know if he views it that way, but..Oh, Laura." Julianna smiled warmly.

"Yup. You're definitely head over heels." She said and they laughed as they hugged happily.

<ooooo---ooooo>

"Are you ready for this?" George asked later that day. Julianna grinned.

"I don't know if you can handle me." She teased. He chuckled.

"Oh, I've gotcha, darling, believe me." She laughed and spit her gum into the wrapper. He followed suit and they chuckled at each other.

"At least we won't taste like rotten dishes." She said and let out a small puff of minty breath. He grinned and stuck his wrapper into his coat pocket.

"Exactly." He said.

"Alright? Everything ready?" Christopher Chulack, the director of the current episode, One More for the Road, asked.

"Let's go!" George said loudly and rubbed his hands together, earning a few laughs from some of the crewman. Julianna chuckled and moved to the black car she would be exiting.

Moments later they began filming. George's pulse picked up speed and he looked at the cameras quickly. They were going to be using two different cameras, so the entire shot would only need two takes. Unless they screwed up. But he didn't plan to.

Then George began acting. He recited his dialogue on the porch exactly as he should before they called cut. Then the other cameraman brought the camera onto the porch and set up for the kissing scene. One camera would focus on George, the other on Julianna, and would film at the same time, so they would only have to do the kissing scene one time. Although George would haven't argued for more than one. He grinned quickly at Julianna before sliding into his acting mode.

"3..2..1..Action!" Chris said.

"What?" Julianna asked once and grinned slightly. George didn't reply, but his eyes focused on hers. Her pulse gained speed and began racing in her chest. "What?" Julianna asked once more, the grin fading. George stepped forward and brushed his lips against hers, whisper soft, before he pulled back. Julianna's heart pounded and she stared into his eyes, acting dumbfounded when in reality she was dumbfounded by the strength of that slight mouth against mouth. She hesitated, more as herself, than as Carol. She lifted a hand to his cheek and shuffled forward and pressed her lips to his.

Colors washed across her closed eyelids and sparks lit inside her head. Her body reacted naturally, with instinct and she moved against him. A small moan escaped her, unheard by her and felt, like a punch in the gut, by him. He wrapped her in his arms and she moaned softly once more before they were startled out of the dreamy otherworld with a loud "Cut! Wrap!" They immediately pulled away and glanced at each other. George chuckled slightly.

"That was a great job! Great kiss, guys!" Chris said and grinned at them. George smiled.

"Guys?" He asked. "I can tell you now, she's all woman." He said and looked at Julianna. She blushed and everyone laughed.

"Thanks George." She said, a bit sarcastically. He chuckled.

"No problem, Curly." He said. She rolled her eyes. Not that name again, she thought.

<ooooo---ooooo>

Later that night, George caught up to Julianna once more. "Hey, what're you doing tonight?" George asked. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Going home to celebrate my freedom." She said. He chuckled. "I have to leave to go filming the movie soon, so I don't have much of a break." She said. He nodded.

"Well, be a pal and let a guy come over for drinks." He said. She laughed.

"Miss me already, eh?" She asked. He chuckled.

"Sure." He threw an arm around her neck.

<ooooo---ooooo>

Julianna pushed the door to her house open and flipped on the light. He slipped his shoes off and hung his coat in the closest, making himself at home.

"Jules?" He asked.

"Yes?" She asked and walked toward the kitchen. He tugged on her hand and pulled her back. He swung her against the wall and pressed his body against hers. Her breath caught in her chest. "George.." She murmured. He cut her off with his lips on hers. She shifted against him, closer to him and he pressed against her. Finally he pulled away. She swallowed and stared into his eyes, surprised.

"You feel that, don't you?" He asked. She didn't answer so he kissed her again. "Tell me you do." He said. She nodded slightly, still sandwiched comfortably against him and the wall. He grinned and released one of her hands so he could stroke her cheek. "You're beautiful." He said. She blushed slightly and his mouth grazed against her cheek.

"Why are you saying this?" She asked him when she finally found her voice again.

"Because I want you." He said. Her eyes widened slightly in shock.

"You do?" She asked. He chuckled.

"Can't you tell?" He asked. She ticked her head and smiled slightly.

"Well, yeah.." She said. He grinned.

"If I tell you something, will it scare you off?" He asked. She shifted slightly.

"I suppose it depends on what you tell me." She murmured. He leaned closer to her, looking into her eyes and making sure the only thing she could see was him.

"I love you." He murmured. She froze and stared into his chocolate eyes. She saw the fear and the anticipation there. Then suddenly he saw moisture in her eyes and she managed to get her hands out from between them and she threw her arms around his neck.

"Oh, George, I love you too. I always have." She said. He chuckled.

"That's good because I've loved you since I can remember." He said and pulled her away. He cupped her face in his hands. "I don't remember a time when I didn't love you. Everything begins with you." He said. A tear slid from her eye and she could barely believe all of this was coming from George. Her no-commitments-George. He gently kissed the tear away and found his way back to her mouth. She slid her hands into his hair and hung on.

"Take me, George. Have me." She said.

"Whatever you say, darling." He said and picked her up and carried her into their future.

<ooooo---ooooo>