The next day, Kate's throat was a little less sore, and when the nurse asked if she was up to visitors, she smiled and murmured that she was – she'd learnt her lesson about nodding – not for a few days! Colonel Shindi and Osgood came together into the room, and she heard them both gasp. The Colonel saluted, and Kate frowned a little – she didn't know what had put her in the hospital, but in case it had been intentional, she didn't really want to draw attention to herself. Seeing that Osgood had tears in her eyes, Kate surmised that she must look at least as bad as she felt. However, Kate didn't cope very well with displays of emotions, so she tried to nip that in the bud:

"I'm fine, Osgood – don't look so glum."

The Colonel spoke up: "Thank God you're all right, Ma'am. It's …it's a miracle."

"I don't believe in miracles, Colonel – I'm a scientist, remember?"

"Yes, Ma'am , sorry – just glad you're alive."

"Me too, Colonel, believe me."

After breathing hard in her inhaler, Osgood came closer to the bed. Kate motioned her to sit down and she sank in the chair, murmuring: "Kate …We …we all thought you were dead!" Then, as if remembering who she was talking to, she quickly went on: "Sorry, Ma'am – but – when the message came, well …do you know the odds of surviving a helicopter crash?"

"Not good?"

"Well, actually, quite good – but if you add the odds of surviving in icy water, well, they get worse", replied Osgood.

"So you're telling me I was in a helicopter crash?"

Colonel Shindi and Osgood exchanged worried glances, which Kate intercepted: "It's all right, you two. The neurologist told me I would probably remember eventually. Right now, I've completely blanked out the accident. So can one of you fill me in?"

Osgood began: "Well, you were on your way back from the conference in Geneva, and …" Kate interrupted her: "Right …I remember the conference and …sorry, Osgood, I remember I promised you chocolates, I'm afraid that if I understand what you're saying correctly, they must be at the bottom of the sea – along with my laptop and …"

"Quite all right, Ma'am – I won't hold it against you" said Osgood with a wry smile.

"Thank you – so – let me try to piece it together – I remember going to the heliport, and – yes, getting in the chopper with a pilot, a captain I think …"

"Captain Thompson."

"Captain Thompson, that's it…. but after that …No, I can't remember. Did he …did he make it?"

Osgood shook her head and Kate's eyes darkened. She could see him on the tarmac, young and eager – she hated to see any of her men die, but it was harder when they were young recruits – he'd been about her eldest's age.

"Did anyone call my sons?"

"Not yet, Ma'am – we wanted to see you first," replied Colonel Shindi.

"Good man – thank you; no need to worry them. I'll call them myself. So – what happened to the chopper ?"

As Osgood summed up what they knew about the accident – which wasn't much – Kate realised that she was indeed lucky to be alive. And also that she was very, very tired. She couldn't seem to be able to keep her eyes open. Osgood saw Kate was fighting to stay awake and signalled discreetly to the Colonel that they'd better take their leave. Kate didn't even see them go – the combination of the morphine pumped into her and the last days' events had sent her into the deep oblivion of sleep.

When Bernie Wolfe came into her patient's room a few hours later, the room was in semi-darkness. She had only been back from Liverpool a few hours, but she wanted to see how the woman was doing. The surgery had been long and complicated, and she needed to check that the patient was doing okay. Serena had promised to check on her, as had Dom but …she acknowledged to herself that she wasn't good at delegating … Moreover, Serena had behaved strangely when she'd come in, almost as if she didn't want Bernie to see the patient, and Bernie was worried it meant there had been complications.

She approached the foot of the bed and peered at the patient's file, her eyes getting used to the lack of light – she didn't want to switch on the overhead lights, as she knew the woman needed all the rest she could have. Everything seemed in order, and she frowned, wondering anew about Serena's strange behaviour. Then she glanced at the sleeping woman's face and froze. For a minute, the room spun round and she reached for the back of the chair to steady her. She was looking at herself – a battered and bruised herself, but … There were probably a number of small differences hidden under the bandages and the hematoma, but the patient's face was eerily familiar. When Bernie walked back into her office, her shell-shocked expression told Serena she hadn't imagined the resemblance.

"You need coffee – or something stronger." Bernie nodded mutely and followed Serena out of the office. As they sat down on a bench outside, Bernie shivered.

"Are you all right?"

"I think so – it just feels …odd. It's not every day you meet your doppelganger."

"So she's not your sister then?"

"My sister? No – I don't have a sister. My father …he died – I never knew my father- he was a soldier, and he was killed in manoeuvre before I was born. At least, that's what my aunt told me."

Seeing Serena's interrogative glance, Bernie went on reluctantly: "My mother died giving birth to me, so I was raised by her sister and her husband. My aunt couldn't have children, so despite the circumstances, well …"

Serena's eyes filled with pity and she put a comforting hand on Bernie's shoulder. Even though her relationship with her own mother hadn't been plain sailing, at least she'd had a mother: "I'm so sorry."

Bernie smiled: "Don't be – I had a very happy childhood – my aunt and uncle were lovely people and I never doubted they loved me. And …as I never knew how it feels to have real parents, I didn't miss it." Her face clouded for a moment, and she took a sip of coffee to wash out the sudden bitter taste in her mouth. This was exactly why she didn't like to talk about herself – because despite the many happy memories she had, the saddest ones always came back too.

Serena watched her colleague attentively, and she would have said something when Fletch came through the glass doors and made a beeline for them: "Bernie! You're needed in the ward – your patient – she's burning up!"