AU: Disclaimer I don't own Sea Patrol or any of the Sea Patrol characters… Dr Mallard belongs to NCIS. The only characters I own are Aiden, Maria and Mark.

Thank you for everyone that has reviewed and everyone that has alerted. And Bomber Brown you will find out about Josh in this chapter… xSuperNovax I loved your review it came through the day when I was stuck in bed with a really bad batch of a cold, I could hardly move with out being in pain, your review brought a smile to my face, hearing my readers opinions on my stories is why I write them. So it is good to know that they are appreciated, I hope you enjoy the update.

I wanna say a big thank you Tayswiftfan242 my Beta Reader.

I hope you all enjoy… x

Chapter 10

Awakening

Ladies toilets

Nikki walked out the stall now dressed in a pair of jeans and tight fitting white strappy top, carrying her uniform over her arm.

"We ready to go?" Nikki asked as she came to a stop in front of Kate, who was playing with Aiden.

"Yea, I'm good to go, are you little man?" Kate asked Aiden who was sitting on her lap.

"Yea, come on mummy" Aiden yelled jumping down from Kate's lap and holding his hand for Nikki to take.

"What you want to eat?" Nikki asked picking up Aiden.

"Meaty pizza, like daddy eats" Aiden yelled excitedly bouncing in her arms.

"Well I don't know if they will do the pizza daddy likes, but they will properly have normal pizza" Nikki smiled tickling Aiden.

"You are just a little clone of your daddy aren't you squirt?" Kate laughed ruffling his hair as Nikki handed her uniform to Kate.

"Tell me about it and can you put that in the bag for me Kate?" Nikki laughed. "Come on let's get to the cafeteria and get some food"

"Right behind you" Kate laughed as she put Nikki's uniform in her bag before opening the door. "Cafeteria here we come"

"Hey it's not that bad" Nikki laughed as she walked through the door and headed to the cafeteria with Kate.

SPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSP

Waiting Room

Charge sat reading an old magazine whilst waiting for Swain to turn up; Charge just turned a page when Swain came through the door with his wife Sally and daughter Chloe.

"Uncle Charge" Chloe squealed as she ran to him and jumped on to his lap. "Hi Uncle Charge" Chloe laughed as she sat on his lap.

"Hello Chloe bug" Charge smiled as he tickled her, as Swain and Sally sat next to him. "Hey Sally how are you?" Charge asked looking at the blonde.

"Yea, I'm good. Chris told me everything that has happened, how's Nikki?" Sally asked looking at Charge.

"She's as good as can be expected" Charge smiled sadly.

"Did I miss anything" Swain asked looking around. "Where is everyone?"

"Well yea you missed Nikki flipping out and punching Buffer when he turned up, she broke his nose after he mouthed off at her father and then went to hit her son" Charge answered sighing.

"He what!" Swain asked looking at Charge in alarm.

"Nikki was screaming at Buffer to leave her alone and her dad threatened Buffer and Buffer mouthed off and went to grab Nikki, Nikki's little boy ran and stamped on Buff's foot and Buffer took a swing at him so Nikki punched him" Charge answered sadly.

"Go girl, I love Buffer but hitting a child, so not on" Sally answered looking at Charge.

"Well he was drunk" Charge defended half heartedly.

"Charge that's no defence" Swain replied looking at him.

"When is the little boy I can play with going to get here?" Chloe asked looking at Charge.

"He's in the cafeteria with his mum and Kate at the moment" Charge replied smiling.

"Oh" Chloe pouted.

"But you can keep me company until they come back, right?" Charge asked pouting at Chloe.

"Sure Uncle Charge" Chloe giggled as she hugged Charge.

"Who is with Josh then?" Swain asked looking at charge.

"Nikki's mum and dad are with him" Charge smiled happily.

"What's so funny?" Sally asked looking at Charge.

"Nikki's parents are so funny, they love Nikki to death" Charge smiled looking at Sally. "They adore Nikki's little boy and they love Josh like he was their own son"

"It's good that Nikki's parents like her other half, most in-laws hate each other" Sally said looking at Swain.

"Hey don't look at me like that I like your parents and your parents like me, plus you love my family and they love you" Swain replied raising his eyebrows at his wife.

"Well ok, most people hate there in-laws" Sally replied smiling at her husband. "Most of my girlfriends are always complaining about their other half's family" Sally finished giggling.

"Yea, Nikki and Josh don't have that problem" Charge smirked.

"I can't believe Nikki kept it all to herself, do you know why she did?" Sally asked looking at Charge as he shook his head.

"I still don't have clue" Charge sighed as he pulled a face at Chloe making her giggle. "But from what I have seen thou Nikki is an amazing mum" Charge smiled as he looked at Sally and Swain making them both smile.

Hospital Cafeteria

"Uncel Craig then went to catch the ball and he missed and it broke nana's window" Aiden giggled talking to Kate as they queued waiting to pay for the food, Kate was now holding him.

"Oh oh" Kate gasped making Nikki and Aiden giggle. "What did nanna do?" Kate asked looking shocked to entertain Aiden.

"She yelled at Uncel Craig and slapped him on the back of his head" Aiden giggled. "Then grandpa made Uncel Craig help him fix it so no one could get hurt" Aiden finished giggling.

"Tut tut" Kate laughed making a disapproving face which made Aiden giggle harder.

"Typical Uncle Craig" Nikki sighed shaking her head trying to stop herself laughing.

"Mummy when can we go see daddy?" Aiden asked looking at Nikki as she paid for the food.

"Well once we have had our food, me, you and Auntie Kate are going to go back downstairs and I am going to leave you with Auntie Kate whilst I check on daddy and then I will come and get you ok?" Nikki asked stroking his hair before picking up the tray and heading for a empty table.

"But I can see daddy" Aiden whispered looking sadly at Nikki.

"Of course baby! I just want to check on daddy first" Nikki replied stroking Aiden's blonde hair. "But first we have to eat up" Nikki laughed as she passed him two slices of pizza.

"Yay pizza!" Aiden yelled picking up a piece and shoving it to his mouth making Nikki and Kate laugh.

"Yea, he is defiantly his father's son" Kate laughed as she watched him eat his pizza, making Nikki giggle and smile.

Waiting Room (10 minutes later)

Swain and Charge had just finished telling Sally everything that happened whilst out on Patrol.

"God, so Buffer's the reason he got shot" Sally sighed.

"Well not directly" Charge sighed shifting Chloe who was snuggling on his lap. "But if he was paying attention and not arguing with Josh we would of spotted the guys before any bullets were fired" Charge sighed.

"Auntie Nikki's, little boys daddy hurt" Chloe asked looking at her dad.

"Yea, sweetie, but he will be ok" Swain smiled stroking Chloe's hair.

"Good because he shouldn't not have a dad" Chloe stated pouting as she crawled over Swain's lap and cuddled him.

"Well Aunt Nikki's little man is not going to lose his daddy, neither are you" Swain stated whispering the last part as he kissed Chloe's hair making Sally smile sadly at Charge.

Hospital Cafeteria

"Done mummy" Aiden yelled after loudly sucking all his fingers clean.

"Aiden!" Nikki said sternly at Aiden making him pout at her.

"Daddy does it!" Aiden muttered making Kate laugh which in turn made Aiden smile.

"Kate!" Nikki glared trying not to laugh or smile herself. "And you mister, just because daddy does something it doesn't mean you have too" Nikki said smiling as she bopped him on the nose. "I'm also done, so we are just waiting on Auntie Kate" Nikki finished sending a smirk at Kate.

"Come on Auntie Kate" Aiden yelled jumping off his seat and running around to Kate, making her and Nikki laugh. "I wanna go see daddy"

"Ok, ok. I'm done, how can I say no to that face" Kate sighed ruffling Aiden's hair.

"God help you when you have kids, they will just have to give you a look and they will have you wrapped around their little fingers" Nikki laughed standing up and making sure that they had everything.

"I am not that bad" Kate sighed standing up and grabbing Aiden's hand before turning and seeing the disbelieving look on Nikki's face. "Ok fine maybe I am, but you still love me" Kate finished laughing as the three of them headed out, as they reached the corner Aiden held his other hand out for Nikki, Nikki smiled as she took his hand.

"Swing" Aiden laughed making Nikki and Kate giggle.

"Ok" they sighed together. "Ready! One, two, three" they laughed as they swang Aiden forward.

"Again, again" Aiden giggled.

"Erg, you weren't kidding when you said children knackered you out" Kate sighed dramatically making Nikki laugh.

Waiting Room (5 minutes later)

"How much longer, I want someone to play with me?" Chloe pouted as she came back over from the play area to her parents and Charge.

"Not long I don't think" Swain replied as Chloe stopped between his legs.

"But I wanna play now" Chloe pouted making Swain and Sally laugh.

"Well..." Charge stopped and turned to look at the corner as Kate, Nikki and Aiden came around the corner laughing. "That's the Nikki we know" Charge muttered.

"Again, again" Aiden yelled happily. "Please" he pouted making Charge, Swain and Sally smile as they watched.

"Ok, but this is the last time" Nikki laughed as Kate nodded her head. "Ok"

"One, two, threeeee" Kate and Nikki said as they swang Aiden high making him squeal before setting his feet back on the ground, as his feet hit the floor Kate looked up.

"Oh Swain, Sally your here already" Kate smiled making Nikki look up from where she was hugging Aiden, before walking over to everyone with Kate.

"Hey again Swaino" Nikki whispered hugging him as Aiden hid behind her. "Hey Sally" Nikki smiled in greeting.

"Hey Nikki" Sally sighed as she hugged Nikki tightly. "Hang in there" she whispered.

"Thanks Sal" Nikki whispered as Swain bent down.

"Hi, you must be Aiden" Swain smiled holding his hand out to Aiden causing him to hide further behind Nikki. "Is he ok?" Swain asked looking at Nikki.

"Mate, the last adult he has never met before went to hit him" Charge sighed making Swain sigh.

"Hi, I'm not going to hurt you cutie" Swain smiled looking at Aiden who was looking at Nikki who nodded at him. "I'm Swain and this is Sally and this is Chloe" Swain said pointing everyone out.

"I'm Aiden" Aiden whispered shyly as Nikki crouched next to him.

"Hey, Chloe bug" Nikki smiled pinching Chloe's nose making her giggle as Aiden tried to snuggle into her side. "And you little man, you're not normally this shy" Nikki smiled kissing Aiden. "Swain, Sally and Chloe are friends go play with Chloe" Nikki finished pointing over to the toys and giving him a little nudge before he ran over there following Chloe.

"He's gorgeous" Sally gushed making Nikki laugh as she stood back up.

"He's a spitting image of his dad" Nikki giggled.

"That's no understatement" Kate muttered causing Charge to laugh.

"You lucky girl" Sally giggled

"Hey standing right here you know" Swain replied indignantly making everyone laugh.

"Oh, I love you sweetie" Sally laughed kissing his cheek.

"He is cute" Swain sighed.

"Thanks" Nikki laughed. "Are you guys ok watching Aiden whilst I go and check on Josh before I let Aiden see him" Nikki asked looking at the four in front of her.

"Nikki go, I told you I would watch him and I don't think Charge, Swain and Sally will mind helping" Kate laughed.

"No she's right, go make sure that little boy gets to see his dad" Sally laughed.

"Yea go" Charge laughed pointing towards the rooms.

"Fine I know where I'm not wanted" Nikki laughed as she headed down the hall, as Kate, Sally, Charge and Swain turned back and headed to sit by the play area as Aiden walked over to Chloe as two were playing apart from each other.

"I'm Aiden" he whispered looking at Chloe.

"Chloe" she giggled making the adults laugh.

"Want to play" Aiden asked watching as Chloe nodded they sat down and started playing like two best friends.

"That's so cute" Kate sighed.

Josh's Hospital Room

Mark and Maria had been sitting there talking to Josh about anything and everything when the door opened and Nikki walked in.

"As it been an hour already" Mark asked standing up and walking over to Nikki and hugging her.

"I'm not sure, but we have just come back from the cafeteria and Aiden's playing in the waiting room. I wanted to see Josh first" Nikki sighed looking at Josh.

"His ok, his doctor came in and said he could wake up at any moment" Maria smiled as she stood up and walked over to her daughter and hugging her whilst stroking her arm. "We will leave you two alone!" Maria smiled as she and Mark headed towards the door.

"Mum give me 20 minutes and then bring Aiden in please?" Nikki asked smiling at her parents.

"Course we can Nikki" Mark smiled as he and Maria left the room.

Nikki watched as the door closed behind her mum and dad, as the door clicked Nikki sighed and walked to sit on the side of Josh's bed and reached out to stroke Josh's hair out his eyes.

"You better get better mister" Nikki whispered as she leaned over and kissed his eyebrow. "I can't live without you" she finished as she stroked his hair. "You scared the hell out of me today Josh, I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything, I still love you... I never stopped; I know you properly hate me..." Nikki carried on crying not noticing that Josh's eyes fluttering as he slowly started to wake up.

Josh slowly opened his eyes to see that he was in a hospital room, he carried on looking around as he swore he could hear Nikki as he turned to his right he saw Nikki sitting on the side of the bed she was bent over slightly with her head in her hands.

"Please forgive me Josh, I'm so sorry" Nikki cried not noticing Josh looking at her worryingly.

Josh slowly raised his hand and placed it on Nikki's leg whilst whispering. "For what?"

Nikki gasped in shook and looked up and stared straight into Josh's blue eyes.

"Josh..." Nikki whispered lunging forward and hugging him hard causing him to wince as pain shot through his side causing him to hiss in pain, which caused Nikki to pull back. "Oh god sorry" Nikki whispered stroking his arm as Josh reopened his eyes.

"It's ok, the view makes up for it" Josh grinned looking at how low cut Nikki top was making Nikki giggle.

"Behave mister" Nikki giggled leaning forward and hugging him lightly as she sniffed to try and stop her tears. "You scared the hell out of me" Nikki cried turning her head into his neck as Josh wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry Nik, I never meant to scare you" Josh whispered hugging her tightly, as he breathed in the scent that was all Nikki and a smell that he had missed.

"Aiden's upset" Nikki hiccupped as she tried to stop crying. "He's also scared" Nikki finished not telling Josh about earlier with Buffer.

"Where is the squirt?" Josh asked looking around to try and spot his little boy.

"My mum should be here with him in a minute, he was playing in the waiting room with Chris's little girl when I came in" Nikki said noticing the look that was on Josh's face. "You know Swain, he was on the Hammersley boarding party, the one that took care of you" Nikki smiled as she recognised the flash in his eyes. "What are you jealous?" Nikki giggled looking at Josh's frown.

"No" Josh replied indignantly. "Why would I be?" causing Nikki to giggle as there was a knock on the door, followed by Maria entering carrying Aiden with her. "Hey" Josh whispered causing Maria to jump and Aiden to scream "DADDY"

"Oh my god, Josh you're awake" Maria exclaimed rushing to the opposite side of the bed from Nikki. "Oh, you had everyone so worried" Maria rushed out trying to cover up how upset she was.

"I'm fine, I just want a cuddle with my little man and then I will be fine" Josh smiled as he held his arms out for Aiden, Maria passed him over carefully to Josh.

"Hey squirt" Josh whispered as he had Aiden in his arms.

"Daddy" Aiden yelled flinging himself at Josh.

As Aiden attached himself to Josh's neck hugging Josh tightly, causing Josh to hiss in pain through his teeth.

"Baby, be careful remember daddy is hurt?" Nikki said picking him up and repositioning him to Josh's uninjured side, causing Josh to throw Nikki a thankful look.

"Sorry daddy" Aiden sighed hugging Josh again.

"It's ok squirt, we just have to be careful for the next few weeks, ok munchkin?" Josh replied ruffling Aiden's hair.

"Ok I'm going to get back to your father and go and grab some food" Maria said turning to the door. "No more scaring us all" Maria whispered as she leant down to hug Josh.

"I will promise to try" Josh replied smiling impishly.

"Ok good I will see you three later" Maria laughed as she kissed all three bye before leaving the little family alone.

"See even Nana is saying we have to take it easy" Josh grinned at Aiden.

"Ok daddy, I'm glad you are ok" Aiden replied looking Josh straight in the eye.

"Because I don't like mummy crying and that's all mummy has been doing since you got hurt" Aiden finished causing Nikki to blush and Josh to throw a searching look at Nikki, whilst thinking: "Maybe it's not over"

I hope you all enjoyed the update.

Please Review.

Katy xXx