Episode 6.7 – Close Bonds

Chase signed on the line with his signature.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Asked Michelle. Chase nodded.

"Izzy said she'd be here for Jess, and the doctors say I should only need two, maybe three weeks of healing time. Can you manage without me?" He asked. Michelle nodded, and stood up.

"Good luck Chase. Hopefully we'll see you back on the team in a few weeks," said Michelle. He stopped her before they left her office.

"Don't tell Jess what I'm doing. She thinks I'm going to Canberra as part of a conference for co-ordinators. I don't want her to worry, and Kyle and Izzy will look after her." Michelle bobbed her head.

"I'll keep it a secret, as long as you tell her after it's over."

"Of course I will. No-one else knows Michelle, please. Keep it under wraps at the moment," said Chase pleadingly.

"I'm not going to tell anyone. That's up to you Chase," said Michelle. He nodded.

"I'll be back in a month or so, and hopefully I'll have good news," said Chase. Michelle gave him a quick hug.

"Keep me posted if you can, okay?" Chase nodded, and left the office. He kissed Jess, and crouched down next to her.

"I'll be away for a month, but if anything happens, I can be back here in no time at all. Kyle said he'll come and check on you, Izzy will be around, and Dad and Fiona said to ring them if you need anything at all." He kissed her baby bump, and then kissed Jess again.

"I wish you didn't have to go Chase, but it's a good opportunity for you. Stay safe," she said. Chase kissed her again, and left, passing Dean and Lara on the stairs.

"Where's he going?" Asked Dean as he made it to the second floor.

"Chase is going to Canberra for a month to do some co-ordinator training. He's leaving today." Lara crossed over to her sister-in-law, and gave her a hug.

"A month will fly by, don't worry. And you've got your baby to keep you company at night as well," said Lara. Jess laughed.

"Yeah, Izzy and Kyle are alternating the two weeks, spending time with me. Kyle's upset he didn't take the time to come up and see the boys after they were born, so he's looking forward to actually being an uncle, and spoiling them both rotten. They've started walking and talking now, and they're a little hard for me to manage, but with Kyle and Izzy there, we should be okay." Lara smiled at her.

"Mikayla's started talking as well. I've never seen Dean grin so much after he heard the word 'Daddy'. He was so excited he picked her up and whirled her around the room, practically buzzing over it. Mikayla just went along with it, but I think she's going to be a daddy's girl," said Lara wistfully. Mikky was growing up fast, with her blond curls, chubby cheeks. The only thing that even hinted to Dean not being her father was her olive complexion, but Lara didn't care. She was still her baby, no matter what.

"I can't wait for the boys to start talking," said Jess. Heidi heard this as she came up the stairs, Jordan behind her.

"No. You can wait. Once they start walking, and they start talking, they don't stop either of them. Annelise used to ring me and complain about her two girls," said Heidi, taking her seat at her desk. Jordan sat across from her.

"I remember when Emily first started talking. Mum couldn't get her to shut up after that, and Rachel was the same. If Vanessa could have tied her down and taped her mouth shut without anyone asking questions, I think she would have," said Kate as she jumped up the last step.

"You're in a good mood today," noted Michelle out loud.

"Had some good news last night," said Kate excitedly. Lachie wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Oh?" Asked Michelle, joining the others in the room. Andy and Joey slipped in at the back of the room, taking their seats. Kate glanced up at Lachie, and he smiled and nodded.

"Well, the first piece of news. They've found a home that wants to take Sam on, and care for him properly. No more hospitals, only a nice quiet building. It's about half an hour away, but I think it might be best for him." Michelle grinned.

"That's excellent news." Kate shook her head.

"No, we've got better news," she said, enthusiastic.

"What is it?" Asked Lara, leaning on Dean's chair.

"Dad woke up last night. He's talking a little, nothing major, but he's making words. He's a little groggy, and very confused, but all signs are looking good. He'll have therapy for a little while as well, but I don't care. Dad's back," said Kate. She kissed Lachie.

"That's excellent news, but when your dad comes back, what happens to Chase?" Asked Dean. Right on cue, Chase's desk phone rang. Jordan glanced around, looking for Chase, finally noticing he wasn't there.

"Where is Chase?" He asked. Jess wheeled herself over to Chase's desk.

"He's in Canberra for a month," replied Jess, picking up the receiver. She listened on the phone for a few minutes, scribbling notes on a pad. Chase had trained her well. After a few minutes, she hung up the phone.

"You guys have a callout, a motorcycle accident that also involves a busload of people."


The teams headed downstairs, grabbing medi-kits and spine boards, and took two patrols out. Dean, Lara and Heidi in the first, Kate, Jordan and Joey in the other. Lachie had requested to stay back, and Andy, whilst healing, wasn't allowed on active duty yet. They would stay back and help Jess and Michelle. As Jordan drove, Kate sat in the backseat, thinking. Something was going on with Lachie, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. He'd been staying over most nights, and almost every night he was there, he woke up screaming and kicking. It usually took Kate a while to settle him back down. It was frightening though. She'd never seen Lachie so unhinged. Each morning, as she made the girls breakfast and handed Lachie his coffee, she noticed the rings under his eyes getting darker. He was more sluggish each day as the fatigue took over him, and Kate worried that one day he might have an accident. He was trying to be upbeat this morning when she found out that her Dad had woken up, but after everyone had excitedly jumped up, he sat down on a chair and struggled not to fall asleep sitting up. Jordan pulled up at the accident site, and Joey and Kate climbed out.

"You okay Grommet?" Asked Jordan quietly, passing her a medi-pack.

"Yeah, just thinking about Lachie." Jordan nodded.

"Right team, I want Joey, Kate, Jordan and myself working on the bus, Heidi and Lara, take the female motorcycle rider." Kate, Jordan and Joey headed over to the bus. It had rolled to avoid the motorbike, and the windows had smashed. People were scattered in the bus, with varying degrees of injury. Joey helped Jordan hoist Kate up the side of the bus. She looked inside the windows, assessing the injuries she saw. It wasn't looking good for the people in the bus, but Kate was pretty sure they could get them out safely.

"Kate, what does it look like up there?" Asked Dean from the ground.

"A few impalements, a concussion or two, possibly some broken bones. Joey, try the emergency exit on the top of the bus," called Kate. Joey wrenched it open. Kate slid down the side of the bus carefully.

"If we can get in this way, we can get people out, set up a triage," said Dean. Joey ducked under, Jordan behind him. Jordan pulled out the first patient, a man with a cut to his head from the glass. Dean and Kate helped move the patient out. They worked in tandem teams, skilfully moving the passengers out of the destroyed bus. Kate worked over a man with a pole impaled in his thigh. He sucked on the green whistle, and as Kate applied pressure to the wound, he flinched. Her phone rang, and Kate pulled it out, pressing it between her ear and her shoulder.

"Hello?" she said, pulling the bandage tight around the man's leg.

"Kate, it's Michelle. I know you're working and all, but I thought I should let you know. I've sent Lachie home. He fell asleep at his desk, and he doesn't look well." Kate sighed.

"Did you get Andy to drop him at my place?" Asked Kate.

"Of course. Is everything alright with you two?" Asked Michelle.

"He's just not sleeping Michelle. He wakes up screaming every night, and he's struggling to get through every day," said Kate.

"It's alright Kate. We'll talk more about it when you get back. Just thought I should let you know," said Michelle.

"Thanks Michelle. See you when we get back." Kate closed her phone as Dean came over.

"Everything okay?" He asked. Kate exhaled heavily, and stood up.

"Yeah, it'll be okay."


Lara and Heidi crossed over to the motorbike rider. She was female, blonde, looked around seventeen. Heidi crouched down next to her. The bike was sitting on the girl's leg, and it was painfully heavy.

"Hi, I'm Heidi. Can you tell me your name?" She asked. The girl inhaled quickly, pain making it a little harder to breathe.

"Elizabeth Carson," she said. She tried to pull her leg out, and flinched. Heidi pushed her down again.

"Elizabeth, you might want to stay down. Let us work on you." Lara shook her head as she splinted up Elizabeth's swollen wrist.

"Heids, I'm pretty sure this is broken," said Lara. Heidi nodded, and looked at Elizabeth.

"Are you sure you're old enough to be riding a motorbike? You look a little young," commented Heidi. Almost instantly, the girl's temper flared.

"I'm seventeen. I'm old enough to ride a bike," she snapped. Heidi bit her lip, trying not to laugh. Lara snickered. Heidi glared at her.

"Okay, sorry for asking. How's your pain?" Asked Heidi.

"It's fine. Can you hurry up and get me out of here?" Demanded Elizabeth. Heidi glanced at Lara.

"Let's lift the bike off, and then we'll assess your leg. Stay still, okay?" Elizabeth nodded, her arms folded against her chest. She was surprisingly tolerant to the pain. Heidi counted down to one, and she and Lara lifted the bike off Elizabeth's leg. Lara dragged her medi-pack over, pulling out the necessary equipment. Heidi looked over Elizabeth's leg.

"Possible ankle fracture, some small superficial wounds. What's the hurry anyway?" Asked Heidi, taping a splint to Elizabeth's ankle.

"My parents told me a month ago that I was adopted, and I've spent time looking for my real parents. I found them the other day, and found out both of them are dead, but they have a living child, somewhere here in Sydney." Heidi nodded.

"And how do you hope to find that child? Legally, no-one can put a living relatives name forward in anything like this," commented Heidi.

"I know their last name, and Mum and Dad accidentally let slip my biological parent's daughters name. I think they were friends once upon a time," said Elizabeth smugly.

"Care to enlighten us?" Asked Heidi, Lara helping her lift Elizabeth to her feet.

"I think her name is… Lara Knight. I'm going to find her, don't you worry." Lara stopped dead in her tracks. Dean and the others were up to packing away the gear, and he crossed over to Lara and Heidi.

"Everything okay?" He asked. Heidi was speechless, looking at the girl, and then at Dean and Lara.

"What?" Asked Dean.

"Dean, this girl says she's looking for her older sister. She says her sister's name is Lara Knight," said Heidi. Dean left Lara for a second, and stared at Elizabeth.

"Relay me the story," said Dean, crossing his arms. Elizabeth looked uncomfortable.

"Look, I'm no doctor or anything, but shouldn't I be going to the hospital?" Asked Elizabeth.

"It can wait." Elizabeth sighed.

"Okay, about a month ago, my parents told me I was adopted. I started researching them, and found out my biological parents Arianne and Bill Knight had died. When I dug deeper in the documents, I found out they had another child. After some serious conversation with my parents, they let the name 'Lara' drop. They knew their mistake straightaway. The next day, I took Dad's motorbike, emptied out my savings account, and headed for Sydney. I found the name Lara Knight littered everywhere in reports involving you guys. I was planning on knocking on your door, but then I ended up in a stupid accident," said Elizabeth, leaning heavily on Heidi.

"What did you plan on doing when you found Lara?" Asked Dean. His heart was in his throat as he realised what this could mean for Lara.

"I just wanted to say hi. Ask her what Mum and Dad were like. I don't know, I didn't think this through! I just wanted to get away from my adoptive parents. They're so smothering!" Said Elizabeth. She was now seated on the curb. Dean glanced back at Lara. She'd sat down in the middle of the road, staring into nothing. A solitary tear rolled down her cheek. Elizabeth looked at the three people standing around.

"What's going on?" She asked slowly. Dean sighed, rubbing his eyes.

"Elizabeth, I don't know how to tell you this, but the Lara you're looking for is the woman sitting on the ground over there," said Dean. Elizabeth looked around him.

"There's no-one there," said Elizabeth confused. Dean spun around. Lara was gone. Dean swore under his breath.

"Heidi, get Kate to go with Elizabeth to the hospital. Elizabeth, I'm not finished with you yet. Stay at the hospital with Kate, do not go anywhere. Right?" Elizabeth nodded. Kate came running over.

"What's going on?" She asked breathlessly.

"Kate, Elizabeth. Go with her to the hospital, don't leave her. I need to talk to her after I find Lara," said Dean. Kate nodded, and a paramedic that had been waiting by patiently helped Elizabeth into the ambulance. Kate climbed in beside her, and Dean watched them leave. He turned to everyone left.

"Heidi, I want you to head back to base. Fill Michelle in on what's going on, and try calling Lara." Heidi nodded.

"Jordan, drop Heidi off at base, and then I want you to check Dad's place and my place. Check out anywhere else you can think of. Joey, you're with me," said Dean. They split off, and Joey climbed into the passenger side. Dean revved the engine, and they skidded around on the bitumen. He drove away from the city into the suburbs.

"Where are we going?" Asked Joey.

"I'm heading to the Knight's old house. It hasn't been rebuilt since the accident that killed her father and her aunt, and I think she might have gone there to think. I'm not sure; it's just a hunch," said Dean, taking the next left.

"What do you want me to do if we find her?" Asked Joey.

"I want you to stay with the patrol, radio to base that we found her, and then just wait," said Dean. He pulled up near the ruined house.

"Radio base; we've got her," said Dean. He parked the patrol, and stepped out. Lara was breathing heavily; she'd run from the accident site to here, and it was a fair hike.

"Lara?" Dean asked tentatively. She turned to him, her face red, tears streaming down her face.

"How could this happen? How could they not tell me?" Asked Lara.

"I don't know. We don't know what else happened when they had Elizabeth," said Dean softly.

"And I can't even ask them what was going on! All my life I've grown up as an only child and now, after twenty-seven years, I find out I have a sister? How should I take this Dean? What do I do?" She asked. She was near hysterics now, and Dean knew he needed to calm her down. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest.

"Talk to her. Listen to what she has to say. Talk to her adoptive parents; if they knew your name, chances are they might have known your family," said Dean.

"What do we do about her then?" Asked Lara.

"One step at a time. Talk to her first, find out what she's talking about. I'll be here every step of the way, don't worry. We'll get through this Lara." She calmed down, hiccupping a little now.

"What if she doesn't like me?" Asked Lara. Dean laughed.

"I think she's excited that she might have a sister. Take Mikayla with you, introduce her to Elizabeth. Get to know her. Something tells me she might have the same fiery attitude as you," joked Dean. He pulled her up to her feet, and they headed back to the patrol.

"Thanks Dean."


Andy poked her head into the hospital room. Elizabeth wasn't going anywhere; they'd drugged her up before they set her ankle and wrist, and she was still out of it.

"Hey. Michelle sent me over. Lachie called, said something to her, and then hung up. She wants you to check on him," said Andy.

"But Dean wants me to stay with Elizabeth," said Kate.

"Don't sweat it. I'm taking your place." Kate hugged Andy and grabbed her jacket. She caught a taxi home, and unlocked her front door. The girls were still in school, and the house was eerily quiet.

"Lachie?" She called, closing the front door. Nothing. She put her jacket and keys on the side table, and checked the kitchen. It was just as clean as when she left that morning. She checked the lounge, when she heard a thump on the stairs.

"Lachie?" She called again. He was slumped along the stairs, a bottle of pills spilt along the floor.

"Lachie? What did you do?" Demanded Kate, running over to him. She grabbed the bottle.

"You took sleeping pills?" She asked. He tried to focus on her, his world blurred.

"I just wanted… to… sleep…"


Kate dialled an ambulance straight away, and cursed herself under her breath for not seeing this sooner, for not paying more attention. After assuring the operator that she was a rescue medic, she hung up on them, and dialled Shane and Fiona. Carefully skirting the issue of what was going on, she arranged for Emily and Rachel to go there after school. She crouched down in front of Lachie.

"Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?" She asked softly. His eyes closed, and he forced them open, trying to stay awake.

"Di… Di'n't want to… to worry you…" he said haltingly. She wanted to argue with him, but knew she wouldn't get anywhere if she did. He wasn't lucid enough to fight. His lips were turning a pale shade of blue, and Kate desperately wished the ambulance would get there quickly. Hypoxia was setting in fast. A knock on the front door made Kate jump, and she ran over quickly, throwing open the front door. Two paramedics greeted her, and pushed past.

"He's on the stairs," she said breathlessly. She stood back, not wanting to be a hindrance as they took vital signs, put him on oxygen, inserted an IV drip into his arm. One of them went back out, and brought the gurney with them.

"Come on sir, you need to stand. We'll take you to the hospital, and they can make this better for you," encouraged one of the paramedics. Between the three of them, the wrestled Lachie onto the stretcher. Kate grabbed her keys and phone, and pulled the door closed behind them. She dialled Lachie's other emergency contact, and held the phone shakily to her ear.

"Dean, I don't know where you are, but I'm heading to the hospital now…" Dean cut her off.

"Kate, you're supposed to be with Elizabeth. Why aren't you there?" He demanded. He was in the patrol, after they dropped Joey back at base, and they were heading back to the hospital to talk to Elizabeth, see what information they could get out of her. Mikayla was seated firmly in the back of the patrol. Kate could feel the tears threatening to fall.

"Dean, just shut up for a second!" She said angrily. Dean was taken aback, and then passed the phone onto Lara.

"I don't believe her," he said, returning his focus onto the road. Lara sighed; sometimes Dean was insensitive, and not always willing to listen.

"Kate, it's Lara. What's going on?" She asked. Kate took a shaky breath just as Lachie's heart stopped beating.

"Oh God no, please don't let him leave," she whispered, the tears rolling thick and fast. She was frozen in place as the paramedic cleared Lachie's chest, shocking his heart.

One…

"Kate?"

Two…

"Kate? What's going on?"

Three… An erratic rhythm appeared on the screen, and Kate exhaled.

"Kate, what is it? Are you okay?" Asked Lara. Dean glanced at her, picking up on the fear and concern in Lara's voice.

"I'm fine. Lara, you need to make sure Dean makes it to the hospital. I'll explain it when you get here," said Kate, hanging up the phone. She took Lachie's hand in hers, running her fingers over his.

"Don't leave me. I don't know what I'd do without you."


Lara looked at the phone, and then at Dean.

"What is it?" He asked, pulling into the carpark. He narrowly missed being hit by a speeding ambulance as it pulled into the emergency bay.

"They're in a hurry," he commented, parking the patrol.

"Dean, Kate wanted us to come here. Something happened, I don't know what, but I think it's serious," said Lara, climbing out of the patrol. Dean unbuckled Mikky from her seat, and lifted her out.

"We'll head up and see Elizabeth, and find out why Kate's not there," said Dean. They walked inside the doors, and spoke to the duty nurse. She directed them to Elizabeth's room, and Dean found Andy and Elizabeth talking like old friends, Andy sitting on Elizabeth's bed indian-style.

"Hi guys. Have you seen Kate?" asked Andy, hopping down off the bed.

"We spoke to her a few seconds ago on the phone, but it was an odd conversation," said Dean. Andy gave Mikky a quick peck on the cheek, and farewelled the group. Elizabeth settled herself better.

"Elizabeth, this is Lara." Sitting closer to each other, it was painfully obvious that they were sisters. Same blonde hair, clear blue eyes. Lara glanced at Elizabeth.

"Hi," she said quietly. Mikayla giggled from her position on Lara's lap, and Elizabeth melted as soon as she saw her.

"Oh my gosh, she's adorable!" She exclaimed. As her face lit up with a smile, Dean couldn't help but notice she had the same dimples as Lara. Lara started to relax. A DNA test could confirm all this in a heartbeat, but Lara didn't want that. Not yet anyway. She leant forward, and the two of them started talking. Dean leant against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the exchange between the new found sisters. The door swung open behind him, and Kate appeared.

"Kate? What are you doing here?" He asked. Elizabeth and Lara looked up at Kate. Dean noted her red puffy eyes, and her tearstained cheeks.

"I had no idea it was this bad, I thought he would have told me, but he didn't, and I'm sorry Dean," babbled Kate hysterically. He took her around the shoulders, shaking her.

"Kate?! What the hell are you on about?" He demanded. She tried to pull herself together.

"Lachie. Lachie rang Michelle this afternoon, muttering about something, and then hung up. Andy came in to stay with Elizabeth, and sent me home to check on him. I… I found him on the stairs," said Kate.

"Spit it out Kate!" He roared at her, shaking at her.

"Dean! Stop it!" Said Lara, standing up.

"He's in Emergency, they're trying to get the drugs out of him," said Kate. Dean pushed her to the side, sprinting out of the room. Kate wanted to curl up in a ball and die. Lara left Mikayla on the bed with Elizabeth, and moved over to Kate. She was hiccupping and crying, the sobs wracking her body. Lara dropped down to the floor, and wrapped her arms around Kate, trying to calm her down.

"Shh. It'll be okay."


Dean tore through the hospital, corridors blurring as he ran past, avoiding people as best he could. He skidded to a halt outside the emergency department, and stepped inside, breathing heavily.

"I'm looking for Lachie Gallagher," he said breathlessly.

"He's in bay four," said the nurse, pointing down another corridor. Dean thanked her, and walked down to Lachie's bed. Lachie was pale and wan, and an oxygen mask obscured his face. Dean sat next to him, and Lachie opened his eyes groggily.

"What happened?" Asked Dean softly. There was no anger in his voice, only kind and understanding.

"I just wanted to sleep," whispered Lachie. Dean's brow furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Lachie inhaled deeply, trying to gather his thoughts.

"Every time I close my eyes, I see Mum and Richard leering at me, telling me they never wanted me, and then they try and blow me up with a bomb. I wake up kicking and screaming every night, and I just can't sleep. Thoughts just keep running through my head, and I'm powerless to stop them. I just wanted to have a few hours' sleep Dean, enough so I could come back to work. I didn't want to end up here," said Lachie, closing his eyes again.

"Lach, why didn't you come and talk to us? We're here for you, no matter what. You know that," explained Dean. Lachie nodded his head.

"You've got your own problems. I didn't want to burden you with mine." Dean shook his head.

"Don't ever think that Lachie." A knock sounded on the door. Kate stood in the doorway, face red and puffy.

"Can I see my fiancé now?" She asked haughtily. Dean realised what he had done earlier.

"Kate, I'm sorry," he said apologetically. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Forget it," she said, moving around him.

"No, Kate, honestly. I shouldn't have been so quick to anger. I was concerned for my brother…" Kate cut him off.

"Don't you think I was concerned about him too? Dean, I found him on my stairs, drugged," she stated.

"Kate, I kn…" Kate stopped him.

"Lachie, I'll come back and see you later, when you're alone." She left. Dean stood there, dumbstruck.

"You better fix it with her Dean," said Lachie. Dean was torn between finding Kate and talking to her, and heading back to Lara and Elizabeth. He sat down next to Lachie's bed, his head in his hands.

"I don't know what to do."


Elizabeth played with Mikayla for a little longer, until she crawled back to Lara's lap and fell asleep.

"So you're adopted?" Asked Lara awkwardly. Elizabeth nodded.

"I knew from a young age that I was adopted. Mum and Dad had olive skin, dark hair. I was a pale white country kid with blonde hair. It was fairly obvious to me," said Elizabeth.

"What changed?" Asked Lara.

"About a month ago, after my seventeenth birthday, I asked my parents to tell me the truth. I knew I was adopted, but I wanted to hear it from them. Mum cried and Dad looked angry, but they told me anyway. I asked them for more information, and Dad started rambling. All I heard was 'neighbours', 'Knight', and 'Sydney.' After looking through my birth documents, I ordered a new birth certificate. Arianne and Bill Knight were listed as my parents, but both were marked as deceased. I researched your family, found the obituaries from their deaths, and realised I wanted to go to Sydney. I was going to wait, but Mum and Dad were so angry, shouting, yelling. They let slip I had a sibling, a sister, and that she wouldn't want me turning up on her doorstep. I spent the night in tears after Mum let slip that she didn't really want me, and that she'd regretted taking me. I made my decision that night. I left early the next morning, emptied out my bank account, and took Dad's motorbike." Lara was shocked.

"They didn't want you?" She asked. Elizabeth shook her head.

"She took me from Arianne because she didn't want any more children. She was happy with just you. Instead of aborting me, she let the pregnancy go to term, and then handed me over to my adoptive parents. Mum said it was the stupidest thing she'd ever done, and all I'd ever been was trouble. Dad didn't say anything, just stood by her. I was happy to leave, even if it was to just get away from them," said Elizabeth sadly.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" Asked Lara. Elizabeth nodded.

"I'm supposed to be in Year Eleven, but if I'm down here, I'm clearly not at school," said Elizabeth sadly. Lara leant back, being careful to not upset Mikayla.

"So what were you hoping would happen if you came here?" Questioned Lara. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know. I didn't really think it through. I can't go back to the Carson's though. Please, don't make me," begged Elizabeth.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to make you go back," said Lara quickly. Elizabeth sighed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to dump this on all of you," apologized Elizabeth.

"It's okay. It's just a lot to take in at the moment, but it's okay," said Lara. Dean appeared at the doorway.

"You two okay?" He asked. Lara nodded, and passed Mikayla to him. He cradled her against his chest gently. A nurse came in.

"Miss Carson, I have your papers here. Sign the papers here, and you can be released," she said. Elizabeth looked at Dean and Lara, and signed the papers, uncertain of where she would go.

"I assume you'll be taking her home?" Asked the nurse. After a quick glance over to Dean, Lara nodded.

"Yes. She'll come with us," replied Lara. The nurse nodded curtly, and left the room.

"Are you sure?" Asked Elizabeth.

"Of course. I'm not about to throw you out into the street." Elizabeth smiled at her new found sibling.

"Thank you." Lara helped Elizabeth out to the patrol they'd driven over. She was exhausted, Lara could see that, and she was glad that she'd accepted her invitation to stay with her and Dean. Dean buckled Mikayla into her seat; she was still sleeping peacefully. The drive back to their place was quiet, Dean grateful for the silence. It gave him a chance to think. He'd talk to Kate tomorrow, make things better. He couldn't have her angry at him, the team wouldn't function properly. He pulled up into their driveway.

"This is your house?" Breathed Elizabeth. Lara nodded.

"Yep. You're lucky we finished decorating the spare room, or you'd be sleeping on the couch," commented Lara. Elizabeth stifled a yawn.

"Come on, I'll help you inside," said Lara, Dean going ahead to unlock the front door. He'd return for Mikayla. Elizabeth swung her legs out of the car, being mindful of the heavy walking boot that encased her lower leg. Her wrist was cast as well, and some bruising was starting to appear on her face. Lara supported her up the path into the house.

"You're going to hurt tomorrow," said Lara. Elizabeth toppled onto the bed, weary. Her eyes started to close immediately, and Lara pulled a blanket up over her little sister. She turned off the light and pulled the door to, and then said goodnight to Mikky as Dean tucked her into her crib. After he'd finished, he followed Lara into their bedroom, and they got ready for bed.

"So how are you doing?" Asked Dean, sitting on the bed.

"I don't know. Part of me is apprehensive of being a big sister, I mean, I've had no practice. Another side is excited, because I have a sister. The last side is exhausted, and thinks my mind is playing some nasty trick on me," she said, pulling the heavy quilt over her. Dean snuggled in next to her, and wrapped his arms around her.

"You handled everything fairly well today," he commented, kissing the top of her head.

"Thanks. I'm still in shock though," replied Lara sleepily.

"I imagine you will be for a little while. Don't worry about being an older sibling; I'm pretty sure you will fall into the role easily," said Dean softly. Lara said nothing, and Dean raised himself on his elbow to look at her.

She'd fallen asleep.


Lachie waited for Kate the next morning. He'd been given the all-clear from doctors, and had had a restful night's sleep. He glanced at the door every few minutes until she appeared. He jumped off the bed and embraced her tightly. She didn't return the gesture though, keeping her arms by her side. He pulled away, looking at her.

"What? What is it?" He asked. He knew something was wrong almost instantly. Kate wiped away a stray tear, and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"You didn't tell me it was this bad," said Kate. Lachie dropped his head.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I promise I won't do anything like that again," he said meaningfully. Kate shook her head.

"We're going to get married Lachie. I've told you everything in my life, everything about me. I've told you when I'm hurting, when I want to be held, even when I'm not feeling myself. I thought you would return the favour, so I can support you," she said quietly, voice choked with emotion.

"Kate, I was trying to protect you. I didn't want you to see me as weak, as a failure. I want to be your rock, always be there for you," he said desperately.

"I know that, but yesterday, you weren't my rock. You chose the option of drugging yourself over talking to someone, like me or Dean, or even a therapist. I have never seen you as a failure, ever. Even when you got shot trying to protect me, or when you were injured by that exploding bomb. But weak? I see it now. You took the cowards way out yesterday, and it nearly killed you. Actually, it did kill you. Your heart stopped in that ambulance yesterday, and for a moment, I wished mine would too. I love you Lachie, but…" Kate dissolved into tears.

"No. Please. Don't say it," begged Lachie. Kate swallowed hard. The words were hard for her to say, but she fought hard.

"Lachie, I think we need some time apart. I need time to think, get my head together. I need to know that you will be strong, and not take the coward's way out. I want to know that you'll stick up for me when Dean's being an idiot, or stand by me if something happens to Dad again. I want to know that you'll be brave enough to talk to someone when you're hurting, not do things this way," said Kate.

"I am strong Kate, and I will always be there for you, to stand by you," said Lachie, tears streaming down his face now. Kate carefully pulled the ring off her finger, and handed it to Lachie, the tears falling down her face. She hated to do this, but she didn't know what else to do. Her heart wanted her to stay with him, that things would be okay, but she couldn't be sure. She needed time to think, time away from him.

"For now, the engagements off." She kissed his cheek.

"I'm sorry Lachie. Dean will be here in a few minutes to pick you up." She left without another word, and left a heartbroken man behind. Dean opened the door not ten minutes later to see Lachie sitting on the floor staring into space, the ring firmly clenched in his hand.

"Lach? Lachie, are you alright?" Asked Dean.

"She's gone," he whispered.

"Who's gone? And why couldn't Kate pick you up?" He asked, pulling Lachie to his feet. He opened his palm wordlessly, and showed Dean the ring that Kate had returned. Dean inhaled sharply, and Lachie nodded.

"The engagement's off."