A/N: After waiting quite some time since my laptop broke, I've finally decided to rewrite this on my new one. I haven't had the chance to get my files transferred from my old laptop's hard drive onto this one, and I'm itching to get Borderline finished. There will be one or two more chapters after this one, so… yep. We're in the closing chapters. Enjoy.

xxx

After waiting around his home for about half an hour, Andelko decided to head back to the hospital, though he knew Novak wouldn't yet be awake from his anesthesia.

Upon entering the doors of the ER, he spotted Antonio speaking with Pavla at the reception desk. They were going over some papers, most likely going over the changes in her duties from receptionist to ER Trauma Nurse, which was a lot to go over, considering it was a big jump from sitting at a desk all day to saving the lives of those in critical condition.

He ventured past the front desk, into the ER, sighing slightly. There was so much that had gone on in this very ER that had changed his life; from day one, the Croat knew it was going to be an experience all its own, but to think that it would cause a shift in his very sanity was beyond him.

Upon entering the main area of the ER, Andelko spotted Elizibeta sitting at her desk, typing on her computer, reading off of a chart next to her keyboard. He approached her.

"I'm back, Liz." He said, leaning against the desk with a tired smile.

"Welcome back. I checked on Novak while you were gone; he's still not awake. His vitals are well-stabilized… I'm putting his information into our database so if anything happens, we'll know everything we need to know. It's hard to believe I could get his medical records from Serbia so easily… I plugged his name into the system, and it came up from a database in a hospital in Belgrade. As it turns out, the surgery on his leg to put the prosthetic was pretty… gruesome, from what the records say. He had a whole hell of a lot of complications. Multiple visits to the hospital after his initial surgeries to put the osseointegrated prosthetic in…"

"Really now? Do you think I could take a look at these records later?"

"Sure. I'll print them out for you so you can read them when you're at home. These have to remain confidential, blah, blah, blah; you know the ropes, Andy."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm totally going to ruin Novak's life with records of his hospital visits in Serbia." Andelko chuckled. "Sometimes I question the protocol we have to follow."

"I know, right?" Elizibeta looked up from her computer screen and blinked silently in surprise at Andelko.

"What?"

"Your face. You shaved. The world is ending."

Andelko laughed and smacked her arm lightly. "I don't think so."

Elizibeta laughed. "Hey now, men shouldn't hit women."

"I'm not your usual man, though." Andelko smirked.

"So true. So true. Well, Andy, I have some more work to do, so you go on ahead and head to the ICU where Novak is…." Elizibeta trailed off as she read a notice she had just received on her computer. "Well, well… Looks like Zlatko is wanting to speak to you, Andelko. May as well stop by his recovery room on your way to the ICU. It's rare enough that he talks, let alone wants to speak with anyone."

"Alright. Can I ask what room he's in, as well as Novak?"

"Zlatko is in Recovery Room 27, if I remember correctly, and Novak is in ICU Room 1."

"Alright. Thanks."

"Not a problem, Andy." Elizibeta smiled at the Croatian doctor before going back to her work. Andelko left the area, heading down some halls, eventually arriving at Zlatko's.

"Doctor Pilav?" He asked as he walked in. Zlatko turned his head to face the Croat.

"Good evening, Doctor Begovich… How are you?" The Bosnian asked quietly, voice weak. It had been a little over a week since his accident, and Andelko knew the man was still in rough shape.

"I'm alright, I guess. How're you feeling?" Andelko responded as he pulled up a chair beside the bed of the injured man.

"Like hell… but it's not so bad. I… I honestly can't remember much about the crash, but… I talked to Elizibeta not too long ago… She told me what happened to you after you guys helped me out…"

"Stress can be a hell all on its own."

"Yeah… but she also visited about twenty minutes ago… Told me that your boyfriend was the victim of a stabbing…"

Andelko nodded a bit. "My boyfriend was involved in some… unlawful activity when he was younger, and he suffered the repercussions earlier today."

"I know it must have been a harrowing task to save him under such conditions we have here in this hospital… I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for not being able to assist in the operation… I also want you to wish your boyfriend the best of recoveries from his injuries. It is the least I could do, doctor."

Andelko was touched by the other's words. "I… Zlatko… I forgive you, and I'll be sure to tell him your sympathies… You two are in similar situations, you know… You both were near death, and now you both… You both are on the road to recovery."

"It's a rocky road, though… The risk of complications is high."

"Yeah… but if there's anyone who can make it through any complications that arise, it's you, Zlatko… You're the quiet one. They always say the strongest people are the quiet ones that have the harshest backgrounds. You became an ER Nurse, saving lives on a day to day basis, without care to your own situations or your past. I know you must have had it rough growing up in Bosnia during the war. It means more to me than you think to have you on my Trauma Team. To have such a strong person, with such a rough past, standing beside me, aiding to save the lives of those who deserve it most… It's an honor, Zlatko."

Zlatko chuckled slightly, smiling. "It's my honor, Andelko… I may have had a rough past with the war, but all I've ever wanted to do is help the world become a better place. All I want is to save lives, not end them. The war… it changed my perspective on a lot of things. It made me who I am today; I'm a nurse because of the sacrifices my country's people made back then… all the death could have been prevented, if one kind soul did something differently… One person can make a difference in this world, and being an ER Nurse… I feel like I'm helping change things. Maybe the people we save, maybe they'll open their eyes and see the world from a different point of view… That it's not all about them; that others need help… A single kind gesture can lead to thousands more. Even at the cost of myself, I'll help others… That's the reason I work so hard, and work these crazy hours… That's why I fell asleep and crashed my car. I had been working so long, striving to help others… I don't regret a thing. All the pain in the world couldn't make me regret helping others that night."

Andelko felt tears well up in his chocolate-brown eyes and drip down his cheeks, his very soul touched by the words the usually quiet Bosnian lying before him said.

"That… Wow, I've… I've never heard anything that… emotional in my life, Zlatko…" He muttered, reaching up and wiping his tears away. Zlatko sighed peacefully, reaching over and placing his hand on the Croat's shoulder to comfort him.

"Thank you, for stopping by, Andelko… Means a lot to me that you could come chat for a bit."

"You're welcome, Zlatko… You're very welcome." Andelko stated, standing and leaning over the hospital bed, hugging the Bosnian man. "I wish you the best of luck with your recovery… I hope to see you back in the Trauma Center in a few months."

"Yeah. I'll see you leading us, as always, Andelko. Take it easy."

Andelko nodded, letting go of Zlatko and turning to leave the room. As he exited, he accidentally bumped into a man who was entering the room.

"Huh? Oh, Doctor Adnan. How are you?" Andelko asked, looking to the Turkish man, who sighed tiredly.

"I'm drained, but whatever. Uh, listen… You did a good job earlier with Novak Novkovic. I… well, I can understand the pressure that's put on your mind, and I can understand entirely why you kind of lost it when he died on us… I know what it's like to lose a loved one, and that's why I worked as hard as I did to save him. I don't want anyone else suffering the heartbreak I did ten years ago. When I was your age, I was madly in love with this guy, and… before I could even tell him I loved him, he got into a car accident and died. I pretty much lost my mind when that happened, and I'm still finding it hard to recover fully. But, uh… yeah… God, it's awkward talking to you like this…"

Andelko laughed a bit. "Don't worry about it, Sadik. I understand, and thanks. I know without you, Novak wouldn't have lived through the operation, so… Yeah."

"You're welcome. I'm guessing you're off to see him, then?"

"Yeah. He's probably not awake, but at least he's alive."

"Yep. And Andelko?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't take for granted the time you have with him."

"I won't."

"Good. Now get going. I've got to assess Zlatko's progress for the day."

"See you, Sadik."

"Yeah. See you too, kid."

Andelko smiled slightly and walked off down the halls, eventually arriving at the ICU, where Novak was. He entered the dim room quietly, seeing the blonde Serb lying in the hospital bed, blanket over his legs and lower torso. Standing beside the bed, he ghosted his fingertips across the man's unshaven cheek, staring somberly at the closed emerald eyes he wished to see open.

"… Doctor Begovich?"

Andelko looked over his shoulder to see who had said his name. Standing in the doorway was Lillian, who was holding Novak's wallet and cell phone in a zip-lock bag. There was blood smeared on the items, which sent chills down Andelko's spine.

"Hello, Lillian." Andelko greeted.

"Am I interrupting something, or is it alright for me to be here?"

"It's alright. You're not interrupting anything. Are those Novak's things?" Andelko asked, turning around to face the young college student.

"Yeah. Doctor Hedervary told me to run them over here."

"Just set them on the counter for now." Andelko stated. Lillian nodded and placed the items on a counter by the door.

"How's your shadowing been going, by the way?" Andelko asked, smiling at the girl.

"It's exhausting sometimes, but it's pretty good. I've gotten a lot of experience in emergency situations here at St. Vargas'. It's definitely going to help me in my future career."

"That's good to hear. If there's ever anything you need help understanding, you can always turn to one of us doctors if you'd like, as well as the nurses."

"I always ask Doctor Hedervary for help, if I need it. She's very willing to help when she has the time. She's becoming something like a big sister to me."

Andelko chuckled. "Is that so? She's kind of a younger sister to me, you know. She and I are very close friends. She actually shadowed me when she was in college."

"She's mentioned that once or twice when we've talked."

"I see. Well, I best not keep you from your duties. I'll see you around, Lillian."

"Of course, doctor. See you." Lillian smiled politely at Andelko before exiting the room. Andelko went over to the counter and sighed, removing the items the college student had dropped off,

Andelko first removed Novak's things from his blood-stained wallet. The leather itself had absorbed the blood, so it wasn't of any good to keep. Andelko placed the Serb's ID and a credit card aside, along with a few dollar bills and some blood-soaked business cards. He washed off The ID and the credit card, drying them off with a paper towel. Knowing the blood-soaked dollar bills and business cards would raise questions if exchanged with anyone, Andelko disposed of them in a garbage can.

He took Novak's cell phone, and after wiping the blood off of the outside, he looked through the messages. A single one from a restricted number alarmed him greatly.

'This is it, Novak. Six years with no payment? You're dead to us.'

That must have been the text message Novak received before he was assaulted. Glancing back at the Serbian, who still lay unconscious in his bed, Andelko noted the small scrapes and cuts on his bare hands and arms that were most likely defensive wounds.

He looked back to the cell phone, closing it and setting it aside. He shook his head slightly, sighing heavily. He couldn't have imagined what it was like for Novak to have been so brutally assaulted. To be stabbed twenty-three times, and receive a huge gash in your only good leg? No one could imagine such a feeling.

After waiting around for a few minutes, enveloped in his own spiraling thoughts, finally, there was movement from the bed, and a groan from an obviously in-pain Serb. Andelko turned and went to the side of the bed, grabbing a hold of Novak's hand.

"You're awake… How do you feel?" He asked.

"… How do you think… I feel?" Novak muttered, squeezing Andelko's hand weakly. "I'm glad I woke up to you though… You can take care of me…"

Andelko chuckled a bit. "Just relax, Novak… I'll get some painkillers for you to take." Andelko went to turn and walk away, but Novak's grip on his hand tightened.

"Can't you just press the call button? I… I don't want to be alone right now…" Novak muttered. Andelko nodded, turning back to face the other man.

"Alright…" Andelko said softly, bringing Novak's hand to his lips, kissing the man's knuckles gently. He pressed the button on the railing of the bed, alerting a nurse at one of the main desks of the ER.

"Why did I expect to get a call from this bed soon?"

Andelko chuckled; it was Liz.

"Hey Liz. Novak just woke up, and he's in some pain. Care to bring some painkillers… Actually, do we have any paracetamol IVs available?" He asked.

"Of course we do, Andy. This is a hospital."

"Yeah, yeah. Just bring one up. I'll administer it so you can get back to your job."

"Alright. I'll be there in a minute or so."

After a few moments of waiting, Elizibeta arrived with the IV fluid bag. Novak already had one IV in his left wrist that was giving his body much-needed blood.

"Looks like we'll have to put this one in the crook of your left elbow." Andelko said. "Or would you prefer we put it in your other arm?"

"Put it in my other arm, please. I'd like to be able to use my arms after this hospital visit… It's not like these damn stickers on my chest limit my movement in this bed enough. Just put more tubes and wires into me, why don't you? What do these sticker thingies do anyways?" Novak complained, his ramblings not making too much sense to the doctors. It was probably the anesthesia's after-effects.

"Now, now, Novak; complaining isn't going to get you anywhere." Elizibeta scolded. "Those "sticker thingies" monitor your heart, which was close to being hit by the knife that was lodged in your chest. We want to make sure that you stay alive and well. Soon we'll get that transfusion IV out of your left arm. Your intake level on that drip seems to be decreasing, so you should be returning back to typical blood levels soon."

Novak simply nodded a bit, leaning his head back on the pillow under it.

"I'll take it from here, Liz." Andelko said, smiling at the Hungarian.

"Alright. Take it easy, you two. I'll be back in about an hour to check up on you. I know it won't be needed since you're here, Andy, but I'll need some kind of excuse to get away from my desk for at least a little bit." Elizibeta laughed a bit.

"I know what you mean, Liz. See you later." Andelko said, chuckling.

"See you." With that, Elizibeta exited, leaving Andelko to administer the IV to Novak. The Croatian doctor sighed and went over to a cabinet, retrieving some latex gloves.

"You're really putting on gloves for this?" Novak asked.

"It's just a protocol that I follow… If I didn't do it, it'd be like… Like a Catholic priest worshipping Satan." Andelko replied, chuckling and retrieving a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. He went over to Novak's side after dampening the cotton ball in the rubbing alcohol.

"Hold out your arm, please." He said. Novak held out his left arm, and Andelko rubbed the cotton ball against the skin of the inside of the other's elbow. He then took an elastic band and wrapped it around the man's upper-bicep.

"Squeeze your hand a few times."

Novak listened, and Andelko sighed a bit. "You know, I never imagined I'd ever have to administer such strong painkillers to my boyfriend via IV." He muttered.

"Shit happens… Stupid shit, at that…" Novak responded, half scolding himself.

"It was a mistake you made when you weren't the mature, knowledgeable man you are now." Andelko replied, leaning down and placing a kiss on the blonde's forehead. He then grabbed the IV needle, looking for a vein in the Serb's skin, before puncturing the skin, inserting the IV into the vein. Novak only cringed a bit, probably used to pains far greater than an IV.

Andelko taped the needle to the man's skin with some medical tape, and then hooked it up to the paracetamol drip, removing the elastic band from Novak's arm, and completing the process of administering the IV to the man.

"There you go. With this IV, the pain should subside fairly quickly. It's a pretty strong painkiller, too, so… if you get a bit loopy; just blame it on the paracetamol." The Croat explained as he removed his latex gloves, tossing them in a garbage bin, along with the cotton ball he had used.

"Great… so half the time I'm conscious, I'm not going to be normal. I'm going to be high off of IV-administered painkillers."

"Well, that's the way it works around here, especially when you've had such serious injuries as you did."

"Can I… Can I ask what happened after I passed out at the apartment? I mean… I remember when Liz found me, and… I remember her calling the paramedics, then calling you… But once I passed out… Yeah…"

"Well… I was pretty much in shock, but… I knew I had to come here and do what I could to save your life…" Andelko started, pulling up a chair to the side of the bed and sitting down, grabbing a hold of the other man's hand. "I… I got here, and immediately, things were kind of chaotic… but we were orderly until… until…" The doctor hesitated, choking up slightly.

"Until…?"

Andelko sighed shakily. "U-Until you died. I… I couldn't take the… the sight of you dead. I-I ran out of there, trying to run from my fears in a-a stroke of insanity… I-I sat out on the floor against the reception desk, and cried… Pavla came around, a-and… I explained to her what had happened… I… She was able to get me to recover just enough to decide to head back to the trauma center… Apostle was the one who got your heart beating again… n-not me… I… I worked to close the wound in your leg, a-and… then we took you to radiology t-to see how deep the knife was in your chest… D-Do you remember waking up when we were taking you there?"

Novak thought for a moment. "I… I only remember a bit…"

"I-I see… but, anyways… we took you there and got you scanned, then got you re-anesthesiated. The knife was a few centimeters away from your heart… I-It was safe to take out, so we got it removed, but… we realized you weren't stabilizing… S-So we had to cut you open and see… what damage was done internally… a-and… there wasn't too much there, but… an artery had been hit. It wasn't major, but it was something that needed to be fixed… We did what we could for your wounds, and… closed you up. You began stabilizing, and now you're here."

"Have you been here since then?"

"No… I went home to try to clear my head a bit and get something to eat… Took a shower, changed my clothes… Then came back here to see if you were awake. I figure I should tell you this… I… before I left the hospital after your operation, I talked to Liz, and… she told me it's possible that I've developed post-traumatic stress disorder from all that I've been through… I wasn't too sure, but then I went to talk with my boss, Antonio, about me coming back here and about Elizibeta suspecting me of having PTSD… I had a conversation with him, and he said that I can leave work for as long as I need in order to recover from my mental breakdown last week… I… I asked him about the possibility of PTSD, and he said that there's a high possibility. He gave me the number of a psychiatrist he trusts… I… I guess I'll be seeing a psychiatrist sometime soon."

Novak squeezed the man's hand slightly. "If it helps you recover, then I'm all for it… I know I'll be in this hospital for a while recovering from my own type of injuries, but I always say; recovering from physical injuries is far less important than recovering from mental ones."

Andelko chuckled. "You sure you want to be with a guy who has PTSD?"

"I plan on being with you for a long while, Andelko… You're the only man who has ever… made me truly feel happiness… When I see you, I don't worry about anything… I feel safe around you, and I don't feel ridiculed for being handicapped like I am."

"What're you getting at?"

"Andelko… I love you."