Chapter 427 - Mystery Location

Days passed one by one, turning into weeks without anyone noticing.

Just as Liz guessed, with every passing day, Irene was fading out of everyone's thoughts and more than once, Liz wondered why she has so much security around. Of course, none of them were sticking close to her, but she knew their faces and she would see them in the area whenever she was out of the apartment.

On the second week of March, Liz had a checkup for her shoulder at the Franciscan Medical Center, and Dr. Wass told her that she healed well, but due to the nature of the injury, he recommended that she wears the shoulder-brace until her next checkup which was scheduled a week later.

Max was excited that the shoulder-brace will come off because that means that Liz will be able to resume conducting surgeries, and he knew that she is missing that part of her life.

"I might need to go through rehabilitation.", Liz said dejectedly.

"That is not a big deal.", Max did his best to cheer her up. "Your fingers are moving fine and at most, you will need a week or two of light exercise to improve strength in the arm which was resting so far. It will pass quickly, and you won't notice…"

Liz forced a smile and didn't interrupt him. She will need to see the physiotherapist in order to confirm the functionality of her arm and fingers, but she didn't want to dampen his mood.

This was not about one or three weeks.

Liz was frustrated because she felt that her injury came at a critical time in her career. Instead of showing her skills and earning that invitation to the symposium of neurosurgeons, she ended up seeing patients in the office and sticking to plain lab tests with her interns. With every passing day, Liz felt how that coveted invitation is fading away into nothingness. Of course, she can buy a ticket to attend the conference and join as part of the audience, because anyone who is interested in what neurosurgeons have to say can do that. And sure, there is always next year, but she wanted it to be this year so that she can prove to Isaac and to herself that she can accomplish the goals she set for herself.

Liz had difficulty coping with this failure because it was her first one. So far, everything she wanted came to her easily, especially if it was related to her education and career, and this… was not normal.

Max noticed that Liz's mood is dropping with each passing day, and he asked her more than once to share her grievances with him, but she didn't want to, out of fear that he would blame himself. He said a thousand times that he is sorry she got shot, and she does not want to give him another reason to think that it was his fault in any way. She does not want him to believe how her career is negatively impacted because of him.

Liz was aware that it was all her fault, and it was all because of decisions she made, and she does not want Max or anyone else to feel guilty about it. She was rash and didn't think things through, and she needed to learn to cope with it, no matter how hard it was. The only good thing was that no one else got hurt and that Dr. Thomas managed to get out of that place.

Dr. Thomas stayed in touch with Liz and they chatted at least once a week. Dr. Thomas also said many times that she was sorry, and Liz was tired of everyone feeling sorry for something she did herself.

Without performing surgeries and the prospect of being invited as a speaker at the conference of neurosurgeons becoming non-existent, Liz's days became bland. The only thing that prevented her from plunging into depression completely was Max. He was super sweet and supportive, and he made sure that they meet with their friends at least a few times a week, and Liz forced herself to keep on moving so that he can keep on smiling.

On the third week of March, Liz went for her final checkup. Max was with her, as usually, and he snapped a photo when the brace came off for the last time.

Under the watchful eyes of Dr. Wass and Max, Liz lifted her right arm and made a full circle slowly before moving it left-right and up-down, to confirm that there is no pain.

Once the movements were done, she looked at Max and smiled, silently telling him that it's all fine.

"We are done.", Dr. Wass announced, and a second later, Liz hopped off the examination table and went to Max.

Her arms wrapped around him perfectly and she hid her face in his chest.

"I waited weeks to do this.", she mumbled while tightening her hold on Max with both hands.

Max hugged her back and returned the hug. He missed her as well.

Liz looked up at Max and met his smile.

"Let's celebrate!", Max said.

"Don't you need to work?"

Max shook his head. "I took the day off."

Liz melted from the sweetness Max showered her with and she would kiss him right there, but Dr. Wass was behind her, and he is her coworker, and her checkup was still not over. It will be over when she leaves his office.

Max and Liz walked to the parking lot in a good mood. He helped her settle in the front passenger's seat before looking at her with a hint of nervousness.

"I made plans.", Max said. "And I would like to make it a surprise. Do you mind if I tie this over your eyes?"

Liz looked at the silk scarf in his hand and gulped softly. The idea of him tying up any part of her body brought up several naughty images in her mind and she pressed her thighs together.

"OK.", she breathed, unaware that her cheeks flushed already.

One scarf would probably not make her thoughts go wild so much, but since the shooting incident (about five weeks prior), Max didn't touch her. They would hug and kiss and then he would tuck her in the bed and that's it. More than once Liz wanted to initiate intimacy, but Max refused with an explanation that she is hurt, and he does not want to risk her injury getting worse. However, now the brace is gone, as a symbol that the healing is over and there is a scarf that Max tied around her head to cover up her eyes, and Liz couldn't stop the arousal which was building up inside her.

The car started and Max held her left hand in his. Their fingers interlaced as he drove her to the mystery location. She could hear the music from the radio and feel Max's thumb caressing the back of her palm and she smiled.

Liz was not sure how long the ride lasted. She leaned in her car seat and possibly dozed off for a while when she heard Max's voice close to her ear.

"We are here…"

"When can I remove the blindfold?"

"Keep it on. I will tell you when to remove it.", Max responded, and she could hear that he was smiling.

Liz hummed in agreement and listened to the sounds of Max exiting the car, and getting to her side.

He helped her unbuckle before holding her hand in his while she got out of the car.

"Watch your step."

"Don't you think it's weird if people see me like this?", Liz asked.

"No one will see you. It's just us, love."

Liz smiled while wondering where they are.

The length of his arm rested on her upper back as his palm landed on her shoulder and he guided her which way to go.

She could smell the fresh air, and feel the light breeze on her cheeks, and the ground she moved on was paved. Liz analyzed… They are not near the ocean, because she does not smell the saltiness, and not in the city either because the air is fresh with a hint of sweetness... flowers?

About twenty steps later, the crunching under their shoes told Liz that they are walking on fine gravel.

Are they in a park, or in a forest? She felt the warmth of the March sun on her cheeks, so it can't be a forest because the forest provides shade. Maybe.

The light sound of water sprinkling got her attention. Is that a fountain? Sounds like it, so… the forest is definitely off the list.

Ah, it's a mystery!

In the absence of knowing where she is, Liz realized that she is not anxious. If this is Liz from before, she would freak out with her need to control everything. The lack of control terrified her. Max changed that.

Step by step, Liz moved over the gravel, without fear of the unknown because of the fact that Max is by her side. Her every cell knew that he will not allow her to be hurt and she relaxed naturally. Max is amazing.

"A bit more. We are almost there…", Max encouraged Liz.

"It's OK. I am fine…", Liz assured him.

They took a flight of stairs up and a few steps later, Max announced: "We are here."

Liz took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent and she noticed the absence of noise. There were no waves and no traffic, and she was eager to find out where they are.

A light tug at the back of her head signaled that the scarf came off and that she can open her eyes.

Several blinks later, Liz's eyes filled with tears.

"Oh, Max…"

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