Author's notes: Thank you for your reviews and to everyone reading the story.

"Don't be like that Nick."

"How do you expect me to be, you choked, knifed and shot me."

"It wasn't anything personal, as I told you Nick, I like you."

"Wasn't anything personal! There was nothing to gain by shooting me, if you had your way I'd be dead."

"I explained to you Nick that I have to keep my word, it's the only way to survive. Where I'm going people have to believe that you'll do what you say."

"That's suppose to make me feel better."

Warren holds his hands up in a consillitary gesture.

"I know, I know. You have a right to be angry. I'm glad you're not dead and that you're little girl still has her Daddy."

Nick talks through gritted teeth.

"Don't bring Anne into this. Dad's right I shouldn't have come."

Nick head towards the door.

"Stop Nick, don't go. I know it's not much, but I am sorry. I'm sorry for everything I put you through. Please don't go."

Nick stops and turns around. His anger's gone as quickly as it flared, the energy required for the intense emotion draining him.

"Is that the best reason you have for shooting me?"

"I wish I could give you something better. I'm a bad man Nick. I do bad things and when cornered I'm at my worst. Just stay a little while."

Nick walks back towards the bed.

"I don't expect your forgiveness Nick, but I can tell that you're a decent man, I want to ask you for a favour."

Nick stares at him without answering, Warren's request fueling the anger once more.

"My ex wife isn't allowing my daughter to come visit me, which I can understand, but would you deliver a letter to her."

"Can't you just mail it?"

"There's every chance her Mother would tear it up before Anthea even saw it."

"I'm not going to give it to her behind her mother's back."

Warren shakes his head

"No I didn't think you would and I'm not going to ask you too, but since it's coming from you, she might let her have it."

"So I'm not just doing you a favour, you're using me. If his victim is willing to do this for him, then he can't be that bad. Is that you're thinking?"

Warren doesn't have the grace to look sheepish.

"Exactly. But the favour isn't for me Nick it's for Anthea. Even if she doesn't read it now, she will one day and I want her to know how much I love her."

Nick visibly let's out a sigh.

"On one condition. I read the letter first. I want to make sure that's all that's in there."

"You don't trust me Nick?"

"I read the letter."

"Okay."

"I'll write it today you can stop by tomorrow before you leave."

"I won't be stopping by again Warren."

"Nick don't be like that."

"I'm not your friend Warren, I'm your captive."

Nick can tell his words have finally affected the man. He can see him visibly deflate. Nick's finally understood why he felt the need to see him.

"I've heard about Stockholm syndrome, haven't truly understood it, until now. I guess I believed you when you told me that you didn't want to hurt me, that you liked me. As we talked about our daughters I felt we connected in some way, when you cared for my injuries I thought you had concern for my welfare and I felt grateful. But I see now that I was clutching at straws to give myself hope that I would get out of the situation alive It was all about saving your own skin.. You put me in a hospital bed, I was only a short time away from bleeding to death, and yet I've felt concern for you. I felt relief that you weren't dead, I felt concern about your daughter and that you wouldn't lose her."

"I do like you Nick and I'm sorry for what I did to you, I was only trying to survive."

"Maybe in some distorted fashion you do like me. You may say you feel sorry but you would do it all again. You only know to look out for number one, which is you.

"No one else will Nick."

"Maybe you need to ask yourself why. Be very careful what you put in that letter. It's about your daughter, not about you."

Nick suddenly feels weary, tiredness overwhelming him. He just wants out.

Warren sees a change in Nick, he's face has turned white and he looks unsteady on his feet.

"Are you all right? Sit down I'll call for help."

Nick waves a hand dismissively.

"I'll be fine, I have a wheelchair just outside the door."

As Nick turns to go the room spins. He puts a hand out towards the bed to steady himself. Warren pushes the call button.

"Nick sit down."

Warren looks on helplessly as Nick falls to the floor. The cop and the porter rush in but are too late to catch him. At the porters shout, nurses and a passing doctor rush in to help. Nick is already coming round. After taking his blood pressure and other vitals and checking his shoulder they pronounce him fine, except for his blood pressure being low. Nick bawks at the appearance of a bed, already feeling embarrassed at the commotion he's caused, and insists on taking the wheelchair back to his room. They help him on to his feet and in to the chair. The doctors says he'll ring down to his ward and tell them what's happened and suggests he stays in bed for the rest of the day. As he's being wheeled out the room Warren yells:

"Nick I'll get that letter to you. Take care of yourself."

As the porter pushes Nick back to his room he beginning to feel a little better. The dizziness at least has stopped. he closes his eyes and tries not to think of the reception he'll receive from his Dad.