A/N: Wow. This came together quickly. I know its a tad on the short side, but I really like where it ended and trying to squeeze something else in would've been hard. the next chapter won't be up this quickly because I lost my cousin today and I have a severe lack of motivation. And, alack(that's Shakespearian for alas, I like it better), my ultimate plan for world domination has been foiled, due to my inability to kidnap Shane Brennan. So I still don't own NCIS: Los Angeles, The Characters, The Little Mermaid, or Kiss the Girl. A girl can dream, can't she?

Eric's POV:

At first all I could sense was darkness. It was as though I was suspended is Jell-o. Mmmm. Could this be death? A giant swimming pool filled with Jell-o? I didn't feel hurt. I just felt alone, empty. I tried to form a thought, speak a single word. It didn't work. Damn. I tried to move my hand. It didn't work. Damn. I'm not positive how long

I was like that, but it was definitely an extended period of time. I drifted in and out of semi- consciousness. And then I heard a voice. It was calming, sweet, and I couldn't believe it. Nell was saying all these things, abut me, about her, about us. She said they were unplugging me. I couldn't let that happen. I struggled. I tried to open my eyes, come out of the darkness. I finally succeeded, but it was hazy. I remember little. Just Nell screaming and my parents

gushing.

General Perspective:

Nell's heart flipped. When Eric revealed his baby blues. "Hey, there, Rock star" he said groggily.

"Doctor! Nurse! Eric's awake!" she screamed. Personnel flooded in, and the rest of the day burred away. It wasn't until hours later that she got the chance to talk to Eric alone. He was sitting up in his bed, studying his Jell-o pensively. Nell blamed it on the drugs, rolling her eyes at him.

"Good read?" she joked.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny... No. I'm just thinking. When I was unconscious it felt like I was floating in Jell-o. It was weird." Eric set the wiggly desert down and studied her face to read her emotions.

"Did you, did you here what I said? When I thought you were going to

die?" She asked, not sure what she wanted the answer to be.

"Do you want me to have heard it?" Eric asked

"Why would I tell you something I didn't want you to hear?" she asked.

"I heard. I'm sorry, about everything. I screwed up big time... and I'd

really like to say I reciprocate your feelings, but-" Nell cut him

off.

"You're damn right you screwed up. Do you have any idea what its like to know you could've stopped the potential murder of your close friend you happen to be in love with, and that you'll never see his sparkling blue eyes again, or share a cookie and a joke with him? And then he does wake up except he doesn't love you back." Eric was quiet, his words caught in his throat. "Well, do you?" Nell asked again.

"I, uh, No I don't. I never said I didn't love you back. I said your feelings weren't , I only meant that there is no way

you can love me as much as I love you. I should've just been straight. I just, I have no idea what possessed me to say that. Morphine? Maybe. The fact that I can't think straight around you, drugged or not? Highly plausible. The fact that you make me so nervous I sweat in places that don't even have sweat glands? The fact you are my everything? My

Rock star?"

Nell smiled and leaned over the bed to kiss him. She had barely reached his lips when a voice sailed through the room.

"Someone's feeling better." Deeks quipped.

"Oh, like you were any better after you got shot." Kensi retorted. "Nurse Debbie, I'm ready for my sponge bath." she mocked him and then muttered, "Gag me with a spoon." Deeks grinned.

"Jealous, much?"

"Not in your life time"

"Suuuure. You just keep telling yourself that" The two began to bicker and Callen pushed Sam to discipline them.

"Children, don't make me separate you. Squabbling in front of a gunshot victim is very rude." Sam said sarcastically informative .Callen was the first of the team to address Eric specifically.

"How are you feeling?" Callen asked, sympathetic to the situation.

"Okay, I guess. I'd be a lot better if I knew what happened to my attempted murderer." Eric replied. It was Hetty who replied.

"John Gallagher and Ricky Martinez, A.K.A Flotsam and Jetsam, guns for hire. We got Martinez, but Gallagher, the one who shot you, is still in the wind. I'm sorry for that, Mr. Beale. After he shot you he vanished from the premises. No one has heard a thing about him. Believe me, I tried." Worry was evident on Hetty's features. "NCIS regulations frown on fraternizing with other agents or employees. Miss Jones, Mr. Beale,

I hope this doesn't effect the job." The duo was slightly shocked by Hetty's comment, the old woman's face softened and she spoke again, "I trust you won't, and so I am glad to see the two of you find each other, but Mr. Beale?" Eric furrowed his brow. "Yes?" he asked tentively, watching Hetty stand up and make her way out of the room.

"Try no to get yourself shot the next time you need a date" on those words the four foot ninja left the room. As Eric drifted back to sleep, her words echoed in his head. Somehow he didn't think he'd need a date for a long time