It was just reaching the early hours of the morning when the doctor re-entered; both Harry and Leo were weighed down with fatigue but were wide awake when they saw the doctor enter the room

"She pulled through" Doctor Smith told them and Leo's face reflected utter relief "It was touch and go for a while but she kept hanging on in there. She's a real fighter"

"You're telling me!" Harry quipped

"She's in intensive care at the moment and we've put her on a ventilator to help with her breathing so we're keeping her sedated for the time being"

"What's the damage?" Harry asked

"There was some quite severe internal bleeding and she's sustained some broke ribs as well as a broken wrist. But we've patched her up and although she's got a long way to go she's over the worst of it"

"Can I see her?" Leo asked

The Doctor nodded "Of course"

Harry took Leo aside for a moment "I'll go back to Nikki now, give you and Erin some time alone"

Leo nodded his thanks and followed the Doctor down a maze of corridors until they reached the intensive care unit.

Leo stepped into the room and sighed loudly when he saw Erin; hooked up to numerous monitors Erin was lying very still in the bed. The only movement was from her chest as it gently rose and fell as the ventilator took over her breathing for her. Leo could see numerous cuts and bruises over her face which had been treated and her arm was encased in a cast as one of the nurses's propped it up on a pillow

"We're hoping she comes round in the next couple of days" the Doctor told him as he exited the room to give father and daughter some time alone

Leo sat down on a stool next to the bed and wrapped Erin's uninjured hand in his, careful not to dislodge any of the drips inserted there

"Oh Erin…" he whispered "What has she done to you?"


When Harry opened the front door he was met by Nikki who flung her arms around him. They passionately embraced and when he pulled away slightly for some air, he noticed tears streaming down Nikki's face

"She's going to be okay" he told her

Nikki nodded but still clung onto Harry tightly as he led her into the warmth of their house

"Is Alice asleep?" he asked looking upstairs

Nikki nodded "Out like a light as soon as I put her down"

"That's my girl" Harry smiled as he sat down on the sofa curled up against Nikki

"I missed you" Nikki said leaning in close to him

"I know…" Harry grinned

Nikki hit him on the chest "You're supposed to say I missed you too"

"Yes dear!" Harry replied

"And don't just say that to shut me up" Nikki protested "I know you too well Harry Cunningham…"

"And I love you too Mrs Cunningham" Harry said slipping his arms around Nikki's waist and pulling her back down onto the sofa when she tried to stand up

"Harry!" she squealed "You'll wake Alice"

"She's fast asleep you said so yourself" He protested kissing her neck

Nikki was about to reply when the sound of crying reached them. She looked at him in an 'I told you so' way and Harry sighed loudly

"I'll go shall I?" he said uncurling himself from Nikki

"She's your little girl, you said so yourself" Nikki teased

Harry just shook his head but the smile creeping onto his face gave him away

"If you settle her down, then maybe we'll have more time together tonight…" Nikki grinned

Harry paused for a moment before her clocked what she was getting at "Five minutes?" he asked

"It'll be fifteen knowing how long it takes you to get her back to sleep" Nikki said as she left the room with a smile on her face


The hospital room was silent as Leo sat at a constant vigil by Erin's bedside. She looked so pale and fragile lying there in the bed and all Leo wanted to do was hug her and tell her it was okay. Doctors and Nurses had been coming in to check on Erin and each time they told Leo she was making good progress but Leo just needed Erin back with him.

"Erin" he said taking her hand "I don't know if you can here me but I just want you to know that it's all right and everything's going to be fine"

"She'll be relieved to know that" a nurse said coming into the room "She'll probably be able to hear you right now and it does wonders for a patient to have people they love around them"

Leo nodded and gave Erin's hand a gentle squeeze

"She's been through the wars hasn't she?" the nurse gave Leo a gentle smile

"Erin's a little fighter" Leo said proudly

"So I hear" the nurse nodded "The Doctor said he's never seen anyone as stubborn as Erin. She just kept holding on in there"

"She's certainly that" Leo let out a weak laugh

"She'll come round before you know it" the nurse assured him

"I hope so" Leo nodded "She's got a lot of people who are worried about her right now"

The nurse checked one of the monitors "Her heart rate is back coming up nicely and her blood pressure is nearly back to normal. That's a good sign" she blushed slightly "Of course you know all this"

Leo smiled gratefully in return

Suddenly Leo's pager bleeped and he grimaced as he pulled it out of his pocket. It was a new case and Leo knew that technically he was on call tonight

"I can sit with her if you want" the nurse said sensing Leo's dilemma

"I can't leave her" Leo shook his head

"You're exhausted, if you don't go for your pager, at least go for yourself. You don't want Erin to wake up and find that the person she cares about most has made themselves ill. She's going to need you"

"I'll be back as soon as I can" he assured the nurse

"Take your time" she said and Leo nodded his thanks as he left the room taking a last glance at Erin who was lying motionless in the bed.