Sorry for the long wait! Thank you to hope4sall, Soccer-Bitch, katydid13, curlytopkristi, and cherryspark101 for your reviews! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. As I always say, let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with CSI: NY.


Chapter 7

Don walked into the ICU room with Nora, Andrew, and Chris; but he hung back by the sliding glass door, wanting to give the family a moment. Nora sniffed as she walked around the bed and took Madalynn's right hand into hers. Andrew was at his wife's side, his hands on her shoulders. Chris stood at the foot of Madalynn's bed, his eyes trained on her and slowly Don looked at Madalynn's unconscious form.

Her skin that was usually pale seemed almost transparent and a tube was hanging out of her mouth supported by medical tape. Her dark hair was matted in slight knots bout her head and the only signs that she was alive was the beeping of the monitor and the gentle rise and fall of her chest. The doctor told them they had managed to stop the bleeding after removing her spleen. Thankfully no additional organs had been ruptured but she had lost a great deal of blood. So much so that she had needed three transfusions while on the operating table.

"Don, you can come in you know," Chris said and Don looked up from Madalynn's face and at Chris. Don nodded and walked over to Madalynn's bedside, taking her left hand into his as he reached out and ran his fingers through her hair, untangling some of the knots before he brought his right hand to their joined one and covered her hand with his. They all stood in silence just looking at Madalynn or glancing at the monitors around the bed before Chris finally broke the silence. "She'll be okay," he said, although unlike earlier he didn't seem as convinced as he had been.

"She's a fighter," Andrew said. "Plus she's too stubborn to listen to what the doctor's say." Don smiled as he nodded, but kept his eyes on Madalynn. Nora let out a shaky breath as she sniffed and rubbed her face with her free hand. "Nora, let's go get something to drink, maybe a bite to eat." Nora nodded quietly and looked at Don, but he knew what she was about to ask.

"I'm not going anywhere, Mrs. Foster," he assured her and she smiled at him before she left with her husband and Chris walked around to the side of the bed his parents just vacated. "I'm sorry, Chris," Don said after a moment and Chris looked at him, but Don's eyes were on Madalynn.

"Don't Don, like dad said there wasn't anything you would have been able to do," Chris said. "Look, I'm going to run downstairs get us both some of the sludge this place probably calls coffee and I'll be right back." Don looked at him and nodded before he was alone with Madalynn. Don sighed and leaned down, hovering over Madalynn's face before he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Come on Mads," he whispered, his right hand going to her hair once more. "You still have to meet my parents," he managed with a grin and he kissed her forehead once more. "I don't know what I'll do if I lose you, Madalynn. I love you." The beeping sounds of the machine next to Don started to increase and he frowned as he looked towards the machine only to read that her heart rate was increasing from the slow rhythm it had been settled at. It hadn't increased by much, but her heartbeat was stronger and steadier, which made him smile and look down at her. "That's my girl, keep fighting."


It had been three days since the shooting at the drug store and Madalynn was still unconscious and in ICU. The doctors told them they believed her condition was due to the slight brain damage she sustained as a result of the two minutes she had stopped breathing in the bus on the way to St. Vincent's. The damage wasn't severe, but it was enough to keep her in a mild coma.

Don had been keeping himself busy at work and getting information out of Danny and Stella about the drugstore case. Stella had told him that morning that they tracked down one of the suspects and they were bringing him in for questioning. Don made sure that he was nowhere near the precinct when they did because he knew he wouldn't be able to control himself the second he saw him. So, he clocked out and went to St. Vincent to relieve Chris of his shift at the hospital.

"How is she?" Don asked as he put his jacket on the empty chair next to Chris and the other man looked up from the book in his lap.

"Same, but the nurses removed the ventilator just after mom and dad left," Chris said. "That's a good sign at least."

"Yeah that's a good sign," Don said quietly as he looked at Madalynn. "Who braided her hair?" Don asked when he noticed that her hair was gathered on her right shoulder and rested over her shoulder in a braid.

"Mom," Chris said. "She always used to braid Maddie's hair when she was little, it was the only time that mom could get Maddie to hold still. The rest of the time she was chasing after us. She's the baby and the only girl, so, of course she wanted to be in on everything." Don turned his eyes from Madalynn and looked at Chris. His brother in blue looked just as tired and haggard as Don felt and he knew that despite the cool demeanor he presented the man was torn up inside.

"Chris, man, why don't you go and get some rest," Don said as he put his hand on Chris' shoulder. "You know I'll call you the second anything changes." Chris nodded and stood, holding the book he was reading tightly in his hands. He slowly looked from Madalynn and at Don; and it was then that Don realized that Chris' eyes were even with his. Obviously, Madalynn got her height from Nora, who was much shorter than both her son and husband.

"Have they found anything yet?" Chris asked and Don knew immediately what he was talking about.

"They've got a suspect and they brought him in today," Don said and Chris raised an eyebrow. "I thought it best that I get out of the station before they brought him in."

"Can't say I blame you," Chris said quietly before he sighed and ran his hand down his face. "I'll see you tomorrow, Don." Don nodded and Chris walked over to Madalynn, kissed her cheek and whispered something quietly to her before he walked out of the room, through the nurses' station, and down the corridor.

Don sighed as he looked at Madalynn and pulled the chair that Chris just vacated over to Madalynn's bed side. He sat down and took her right hand into his hands, rubbing his thumbs against the back of her hand. He took a deep breath and looked at her face once more. He sat there for a while, just looking at her and holding her hand in his. She had seemed so pale the day before, but there was more color to her cheeks that night.

"Do you think you can put me out of my misery sometime soon, Mads?" he asked her gently, finally breaking the long silence he had settled into. "I really didn't realize how much I'd miss you hogging the bed until now," he teased, but she didn't respond, which made him sigh once more before he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "I love you," he whispered as he looked at her sleeping face. He closed his eyes, lowered his head so he was facing the floor, and pressed her hand to his forehead. After a moment, he thought he heard something but he didn't look. He figured it was just his imagination.

"Don?" a crackled and slightly out of it sounding voice asked and his head shot up, his eyes wide and his heart suddenly racing. Madalynn's hazel eyes were open and looking at him with deep confusion in their murky depths.

"Thank god," he whispered before he stood and held her hand tightly in his right before he raised his left to her face. "Don't you go anywhere; I'm getting your nurse." She gave him a small nod and he leaned in, kissed her on the corner of her mouth and rushed from the room even though he didn't have to move far. "She's awake," he said quickly with a smile and the nurse stood and followed him into Madalynn's room.

"Miss Foster," the nurse said as she walked over to Madalynn's bedside and checked her eyes and her pulse. "How are you feeling?"

"A little," her voice cracked and she licked her lips before she cleared her throat but Don was quick with a glass of water for her. She smiled at him and took a small sip before she handed the glass back to him. "A little fuzzy and confused."

"Any pain?" the nurse asked.

"Some, but nothing I can't handle," she said and the nurse smiled before she nodded her head.

"I'm going to page Dr. Samuels and he'll be in to give you the once over," the nurse said before she patted Madalynn's hand and walked from the room. Madalynn turned her eyes to Don, who had a death grip on her right hand after he put down the glass he had handed her. She was surprised to see tears in his eyes, but she knew he wasn't going to let them fall.

"How are you really?" he asked as he moved one of his hands to her face and ran his thumb across her cheek. Her stomach and back ached a bit, she felt a little dizzy, and her head was pounding, but she wouldn't make him worry. To her, it looked like he hadn't slept for a while.

"I'm okay, Don," she said weakly. "Everything's just a little fuzzy. What happened?" Don sighed and shook his head.

"Not yet," he said and she frowned, but before she could ask why the doctor came into the room. "I'm going to call your parents and Chris." He kissed her chastely before he squeezed her hand and walked out of the room pulling his cell phone from his pants pocket. I walked out of the ICU department and turned his phone on before he dialed the number that memorized over the last few days.

"Don? Is everything all right?" came Chris' nervous voice.

"Chris, everything's fine," Don assured him doing his best to keep his emotions level. "She's awake."

"We'll be there in twenty minutes," Chris said before the line went dead and Don chuckled quietly as he turned off his phone and rubbed his eyes. He was doing his best not to cry but Madalynn was awake and he had never been happier or more relieved in his entire life.


Madalynn was overwhelmed with everything that was happening. She had been moved to a private room the following morning and her parents and Chris were fussing over her. All she really wanted was Don, but he had been called into work that morning on a homicide in lower Manhattan. "Mom, I'm okay," Madalynn said tiredly as she laid her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. "I really don't need any water or ice or anything. I just want to relax."

"I'm just trying to make you comfortable, Madalynn," Nora said and Madalynn sighed quietly as she opened her eyes and looked at her mother.

"I know, mom, and I appreciate it very much," Madalynn said. "I do, but I'm okay." Nora smiled at her daughter and patted her hand, making Madalynn turn her hand and hold onto her mom's hand tightly.

"You had us all worried sick," Nora admitted as she pushed some of Madalynn's hair from her face. Nora looked at her daughter who gave her a weak smile and Nora returned it with one of her own.

"Everything happened so quickly," Madalynn admitted, her voice shaking slightly, and Nora shook her head.

"You don't have to say anything right now, Maddie," Nora said. Madalynn sighed and closed her eyes. She wanted to know if there had been any arrests, but she hadn't had much time with Don since she woke up and she didn't get the chance to ask him. The door to her room opened and Madalynn opened her eyes only to smile fully when Don walked into the room carrying a small bouquet of white irises in a crystal vase.

"Don," Madalynn breathed as she held out her hand to him and he smiled, once again flashing his dimples before he walked over to her and took her hand. He leaned down and placed a kiss upon her lips and sighed as he pulled back.

"Hey Mads," he whispered and she couldn't stop smiling as she looked up at him.

"I'm just going to get a bite to eat," Nora said and both Madalynn and Don looked at her. "I'll be back in a bit." Nora winked at her daughter and Madalynn rolled her eyes before she looked at a chuckling Don.

"These are for you," Don said as he put the flowers on the bedside table right next to Madalynn's bed.

"White irises, you remembered my favorite flowers," she said fondly as she looked from the beautiful flowers and up at Don.

"I remembered," he said as he tightened his hold on her hand. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better now," she said and he smiled.

"Any pain?"

"A little, but I don't want too many pain killers. They make me all fuzzy," Madalynn said. "How are you?" she asked and he looked at her curiously. "Chris told me how you spent your nights with me. That he'd come in early just so he could make sure you got up and on your way so you'd make it to work on time."

"I'm fine, Mads," he said as he rubbed his thumb on her hand. "I just could sleep with the whole bed to myself. I'm used to you hogging the thing." He was teasing, repeating what he had said the night before, to lighten the mood; and it worked for Madalynn smiled and laughed quietly. However, her laughter turned into a wince when pain rippled through her stomach. "Madalynn?" he asked and she shook her head.

"I'm okay, Don, don't worry," she said quietly, her smile returning but a little more forced than the last time. "And I do not hog the bed."

"Yes you do," Don said, still worrying that she was in pain and not telling him.

"I do not," she said more easily and Don rolled his eyes.

"Face it, Mads, you hog the bed. There isn't a spot I can move where you're not practically laying on top of me."

"That's because you're the best pillow," she teased and Don laughed. She slowly moved over in the small hospital bed and tugged on his hand. "Lay with me?" she asked and Don hesitated.

"You're ma is going to come back in here and have my head if she catches me in bed with her daughter and your nurses probably wouldn't like it either," he said. "I could bump your stomach and cause more harm than good."

"Don," she said firmly, "I'm not made of glass. I won't break, and right now I don't give a damn what my mom thinks about us. I need you to hold me. Please." Don let go of her hand, took off his jacket, suit jacket, and then climbed onto the bed, careful not to bump her waste. She moved closer to him and pulled his arm so his hand rested on her right hip. "Sorry if I smell. They let me shower this morning, but the soaps aren't the most appealing of scents." Don laughed and shook his head before he kissed her forehead.

"You smell fine, Mads," he whispered as she pressed her head against his chest and closed her eyes. He was lying on his side and was sort of propped up by his right arm while Madalynn burrowed her aching body against his. He sighed quietly and moved his right hand from the side of his head and reached down to toy with her hair. Madalynn sighed contentedly as she was wrapped in Don's scent and the warmth of his body warded off the chill of the room. "Are you comfortable?" he asked and Madalynn nodded her head slightly. She closed her eyes and took a slow deep breath.

"Very comfortable," she said quietly with a small smile and Don laughed before he kissed the top of her head.

"They got the guys, Mads," he whispered after a long moment of just holding her and she lifted her head so she was looking up at his face.

"What?" she asked and he continued to play with her hair, however, his blue eyes met her hazel.

"The lab tracked down the guys that robbed the store," he told her and Madalynn sighed heavily.

"How?" she asked.

"Our unmatched skills in solving the unsolvable," supplied a familiar voice from the doorway and both Madalynn and Don looked to the door to see Danny, Stella, Lindsay, and Hawkes standing there with smiles on their faces. Don cleared his throat and carefully climbed from Madalynn's bed adjusting his clothes as he did so. Madalynn smiled at the four newcomers, but wished that they hadn't come even though they obviously came because they cared about her. "Sorry to interrupt, but we wanted to pop in and see how you were doing," Danny said as he walked further into the room and smiled as he stopped at the foot of Madalynn's bed.

"It's alright," Madalynn said as Don took her hand. She looked up at Don before she laughed and looked back at her new friends. "And to answer your question, I'm doing much better. The doctor's said I'll be able to go home tomorrow, they just want to keep me one more night."

"That's great," Stella said and Madalynn smiled at her.

"Oh, did I go into the wrong room?" came Nora's voice and everyone looked to the door; Stella, Lindsay, Hawkes, and Danny turning to see the petite woman looking slightly flustered.

"No, mom, you got the right one," Madalynn said and Nora walked into the room and around the small group of people in her daughter's room before she settled herself on the other side of Madalynn's bed and looked at the new faces. She then looked at Madalynn expectantly making her laugh. "Don, I'll let you do the introductions," she said as she looked up at the dark haired detective who gave her a wink before he introduced his friends to Nora's mother.