Linden Cullen went and collapsed into the seat in his office. He removed his glasses, and rubbed his eyes before kneading his forehead; it had been a hard shift, especially with Maddy's arrival back at the hospital. With a start, he replaced his glasses onto his face, and stood up before striding out of the doors to AAU – there was somewhere important he had to be.

The corridors were a blur to him as he walked through them, the nurses becoming part of the walls. He sidestepped the trolleys and the day-to-day bustle of the hospital, nothing could stop him from where he was going. Even when Mark tried to talk to him, he wafted a hand in his direction and simply said, 'Later'. Only once he reached the bed on Keller that was Maddy's did Linden Cullen finally slow down. With a sideways look around the ward, he went through the curtain and sat on the edge of the bed; he briefly touched his fingers to her cheek before regaining composure. With his rosary beads in one hand, and Maddy's hand in the other, he began talking; at first it was more at her, but as he relaxed his conversation became a lot less formal and more like it was being held between two friends.

'Look Maddy, I know that you probably can't hear this, and for that small mercy I should probably be thankful. I wasn't exactly friendly when I first came in, but I hope this is both better, and might make up for it. Since I heard that you had been admitted into the hospital, I've been worried; of course, you'll be able to see it more in perspective when I say I've been more detached and colder towards our colleagues.

'I'm not trying to blame you, but I'm afraid it's the effect you have on me. Of course though, I can't say this to anyone working on AAU, they'd think I'd had a personality transplant or something similar... I wasn't always like this you know. There was a time when I wouldn't have hesitated to say I was interested, that I thought you were beautiful, that you caught my attention when you were anywhere near me. I would have shown or told you somehow, no matter how nerdy or Scottish it was.

'That version of me went with my wife. Everything's been harder since she left; I'm torn up – I don't want to lose or forget her, but this has pulled me once again – I don't think I could stand losing you, despite the fact that nothing's happened between us; as least I have memories of my wife and I together.'

Linden put his rosary beads into his pocket and moved a little closer to Maddy, placing on hand on her cheek and keeping hold of her hand with his other.

'Saying this feels like such a betrayal to Olivia, but I can't not say it. Madeleine Young, you're one of the most beautiful, happy people that I know and I'm so glad that I work with you. Even if nothing happens, I'll treasure you as my friend, and hopefully one day, when I get my act together, I'll summon up the courage to tell you this all in person.'

Gently, the doctor brushed a curl from Maddy's face and bent over to lightly kiss her forehead.

'I'll be back soon I promise, and definitely for when you've woken up.'

Linden got off the bed with as little disturbance as was possible, and turned to go. He paused momentarily as the machines changed their rate of beeping, and figured it was within the normal range so he made to move again. When a hand clutched at his arm and scrubs and a choking sound filled his ears, he whirled around to see Maddy opening her eyes and grimacing.

'Maddy, calm down, I need you to listen okay? You've had surgery and been intubated. Just lie still, and I'll take the tube out for you. On the count of three, I need you to exhale, okay? Alright then, one... two... three, there we go.'

Linden placed the tube on a surface on the other side of the room. He gently helped Maddy up into a sitting position, resulting in holding her close to him for a moment while he arranged the pillows. Once she was comfortable, he retook his seat on the bed, and looked deeply into her brown eyes.

'I need you to just stay as still as possible – you've had both general surgery, and CT surgery, so you'll be a bit sore for a while, and you need to let someone know if the pain is too much, okay? Good girl, now then, have a quick sip of water... Can you remember any of what happened to you?'

'I... I was out. End of... shift. Car park, by... ED? Two boys, one was hurt. I went over, then, then... he, he stabbed... me. It, it went cold...'

'It's okay, you're okay now.'

Maddy's voice grew a bit stronger as she became more aware of her surroundings and more awake. Evidently more was coming back to her, and her stats were going down as time passed – something that pleased Linden no end.

'I remember, here, Maria and Donna talking... Can't remember all of what they said, but... but then you came, and it made sense...'

She pulled a confused face, trying hard to remember what her friends had told her. a smile graced her lips as something struck her, and as she giggled a little she grimaced in pain.

'They said something about you and me, and...For some reason some mini-us'. They went though, I'm not too sure why and things went fuzzy.'

Suddenly, something struck Linden and he felt his cheeks go red as he spoke to Maddy.

'Did, did you hear anything I said before you woke up?'


OKay, so that's my bit done once again =) CassidyTVNut will be sending me her bit at some point - we both have exams going on at the moment, so please be understanding. However, I wouldn't rule out the possiblility of reviews spurring us on... Either way, reviews are feedback - whether you love it or hate it. So please, I beg you, just a line or two - we live on feeback.

Thanks, Woody2792x