Nick shook his head, horrified and angered at what the man had enscribed into Zoe's flesh. Zoe had never murdered anyone, and she never will. Well, she hadn't told him that she had.

Nick continued to think and he felt Zoe shift about on the bed uncomfortably. She opened her eyes and groaned.

"How are you feeling?" He asked her, seeing as she was still extremely groggy.

"In pain." She muttered back. "Ouch."

"Zo." Nick said, making her look at him.

"What?" She asked.

"You didn't..." He started. "Kill, anyone did you?"

"What?" she started to laugh but saw that he wasn't laughing with her. In fact, he was quite serious. "You are really asking me that?"

"I have to." Nick said.

"I would never kill anyone Nick." Zoe said, appalled that he had even seriously asked her. "Why? Did you think I did?"

"No." he shook his head. "Its just something he...said."

"He didn't say anything to you." Zoe shook her head as tears formed in her eyes. "It's what he wrote on my back isn't it?"

"Now Zoe don't cry..." Nick said, trying to calm her down.

"What did he write Nick?" She asked.

"Guilty of murder." Nick said, and she cringed as a tear fell down her cheek.

"I'm not guilty of murder." Zoe said through clenched teeth. "He called me a murderer because I couldn't bring his son back to life."

"You knew him?" Nick asked.

"I treated his son." Zoe said. "He was drink driving, and crashed the car

his son was brain dead."

"Did you tell him?" He asked.

"Of course I told him!" Zoe said. "Why would I want him to cut me open? I tried telling him but he wasn't having any of it."

"Alright, I only asked!" He held up his hands as if to surrender.

"What are you doing here anyway?" She asked. "I thought it was your day off." she wiped her eyes on the back of her hand.

"I came to get something from my locker but this happened." He explained.

"I mean't," She started. "Why are you still here?"

"I wanted to make she that you were okay." Nick said, and she looked into his eyes.

"You didn't have to stay." She said quietly.

"I wanted to." He replied and took hold of her hand again.

"Why?" she asked, as he ran his thumb over the back of her hand.

"Because what you went through was horrendous." He told her.

"I don't think i'll ever forget it." Zoe shook her head and wiped her eyes again.

"How's the pain now?" Nick asked, his voice full of sympathy.

"It's not too bad." She smiled a little. "Only when I move."

"Oh." He replied and looked at her neck. "You were lucky with that cut."

"I know..." Zoe said. "It felt deep."

"A few more millimeters and then that would have been it Zoe." He said. "I would have never have seen you again."

She looked down and slightly scared.

"I was really worried that I wouldn't get to see you again when we found that you were trapped in that room with that man." He continued to explain. "I thought I had lost you."

"Well i'm still here." She smiled slightly and put her other hand on top of his. "and I always will be."

"It killed me seeng you tied up like that..." Nick said, shutting his eyes as the memory appeared.

"Nick..." Zoe said. "Don't worry now. I'm fine."

"And i'm glad." He smiled and kissed her softly. "I love you."

"I love you too." Zoe smiled, and they kissed for a second time.

(THE END)