Author's note: I know I said I would be busy for a week and a half but my teaching assistant, Joe, managed at the end of the day to spill a large glass of water all over my paperwork, twice. While I waited for the paper to dry so that I could write on it with out destroying the paper I chose to knock out the next chapter. Hope there's no objections, if there are you can always wait till next week to read it.

Chapter 20

The gurney began to move toward the treatment room Dr. Early looked over his patient as they moved and thought about the consultation he and Dr. Brackett had had before he convinced his friend to give up and go to his office to get some sleep. Joe looked on the teddy bear once again and smiled, Kell had been right Laura's husband knew how to deal with her when she was exhausted and sedated. Joe then looked at Laura's list of injuries and contemplated the issue of not being allowed to take x-rays. There wasn't a reason to take any that he could see at the moment but why would she not want to have any x-rays?

Twice in route to the exam room Laura's eyes flew open in panic, each time Mike just brushed the side of her face with his fingers as he walked along side and her eyes would droop and slip closed once again.

Suddenly Joe had an idea why Laura wouldn't want x-rays but chose to keep it to himself, he'd treat her injuries first by then she should be awake enough to talk with.

Mike helped lift Laura from the stretcher to the treatment cot and watched as a sheet was thrown over her, covering just above her breasts, before the disposable exam gown she was wearing was torn from her shoulders and tossed in the trash. The look of the abrasion burns on her shoulders brought a cringe to Mike's face and he understood why she had gasped when he touched her. He made a mental note not to touch her there again before she was healed.

As the sheet was tucked in around her exposing her arms and hands and Mike saw the two white clubs at the end of her arms.

"How bad are her hands burned?" Mike questioned as he took a single step backwards to get out of the way of the nurse that was moving by.

"The report says only second degree," Dr. Early reported becoming aware that they would need to send Mike out while they treated his wife. He could already see threads and fibers in the wounds on Laura's shoulders and knew he was going to have to clean everything out before he bandaged her up. "I'll look them over good myself after I take care of her shoulders."

Laura started to moan and roll her head, "got, got 'a keep moving, fire's coming this way, can't rest now." she mumbled out raspy commands as she tried to sit up on the table.

While the doctor and nurses applied hands to push her back down Mike pulled the zipper on the bag over his shoulder and pulled the teddy bear from the bag. Flipping the switch that turned the recording of the heart beat on Mike stepped forward and lay the bear across her stomach lifting one bandaged hand and setting it on top of the bear. Laura calmed right down.

Joe just smiled and shook his head, "Kell was right, you do know how she ticks and how to settle her down."

Mike let a sheepish smile creep over his rapidly flushing face, "all you have to do is read her books and she tells you what works for her and others like her."

"You mean there are others like her," Joe asked in surprise.

"Yeah, people like you call them rescue workers," Mike once again remembered he and Laura's first meeting where she referred to them as, people like 'us'.

"I guess I need to make time to read those books," Joe responded before giving instructions for the supplies that he needed and giving the head nurse a nod that she knew to mean it was time for Mike to go.

-0-

Mike was led to the waiting room, the duffle bag still hanging from his shoulder, the nurse waited for him to take a seat before offering him a cup of coffee which he turned down.

Mike sat calmly remembering his time with Laura as he watched the treatment room door. He knew now she was alright, even the left side of her, he smiled at the joke.

As he was visiting memory lane and watching down the hall he notice Johnny running down the hall alongside a patient, followed moments later by Don Mathews, the other medic they pulled in so Roy could drive the rig, he too was running alongside a gurney holding two IV bottles high in his hands.

Mike remembered talking with Roy when he turned down his promotion and knew Roy was having issues staying with the engine while others treated the patients.

To Mike's surprise the next gurney that was raced down the hall had Roy at its side holding two IV bags high as they moved at a fast pace. A sleepy Dr. Brackett was seen coming out of his office looking as if he had just been woken up from a deep sleep and Mike knew that whatever the guys back at the station had gotten into, it must have been bad.

One by one the three paramedics came out of their respective treatment rooms and seeing Mike both John and Roy made their way to his side to inquire about Laura.

"She's going to be fine," Mike reported calmly, "she tied two stokes together and placed the ropes over her shoulders to help carry them out, now she has some rope burns on her shoulders they need to clean up, she's also burned her hands and got a few bruises. Nothing to serious but she's exhausted from carrying the patients out and dehydrated. I thought Roy was driving the rig?"

"Oh he is," John was quick to answer with a cheesy grin on his face, "this last accident we needed another medic quick so Cap took over so Roy could help out with the patients." "Don't worry they'll be able to fix big red up as good as new in no time."

"It wasn't my fault," Roy quickly defended himself as Mike realized that Johnny was more than joking and started to turn pale as he stared at Roy for an explanation.

"It's really no big deal Mike; it's just glass." Roy started talking fast. "See we responded to a trash fire just after you left and before they got it out there was something in the dumpster that exploded and hit the lower windshield. Charlie said he'd have it fixed later tonight or tomorrow, just as soon as he can get the glass."

Mike was just starting to calm down when Chet walked in, "Well guys, which one of you is going to get tied on the back, I'm not sure there's going to be room for all of us." It appeared Chet had been assigned to drive the squad in. He then turned to Mike, "Hey Mikey you better hurry back before they have to retire Big Bed before her time. We've only had two runs since you left this morning and both times Big Red got an owwie."

"That's not tr. . ." Roy started to deny the accusations then turned suddenly silent at the look on Chet's face, "What happened?"

"Since you weren't there to move the rig out of his way, the tow truck driver backed into her," Chet at least had the good grace to grimace with the news he was sharing.

Roy sunk into the chair behind him his face in his hands and Mike who was still in his uniform just hung his head, Laura was still his priority but he needed to get back to protect his engine as soon as he could.

The four men left deciding Johnny could sit on Roy's lap till they got back to the station and deciding not to call themselves available until they got there. The guys had been gone for nearly five minutes before Mike let out a deep breath and gave a smirk. He felt for Roy and knew from what was said that it was nothing more than body work and that it would be taken care of soon. Still he felt a need to get back to work.

It was just a short time later that Nurse Carol came out to talk with Mike, "Dr. Early sent me to tell you that all is going well. That teddy bear is really doing the trick, I don't think I've ever seen Laura so calm and relaxed. She's waking up more and more and has been talking back and forth with us for a while now.

"Dr Early noticed that you were still in uniform and wanted to know if there was any way that someone could stay with her once she's released. It's common knowledge that she doesn't rest well around here with the comings and goings and the PA system and all, and with both of her hands totally bandaged she's going to need some help for a few days. Dr. Early wondered if there was a member of your family who could stay with her while you're on duty?"

At the mention of his family Mike was suddenly aware that his mother would have heard about the crash on the news and should be called and told that everything was alright, and left, so Mike headed quickly to the nearest phone.

As was suspected his mother had heard about the downed aircraft and had even heard a news report that identified her daughter-in-law as one of the crew members on the helicopter. She had also heard that they had been found. That was when Mike re-called watching a report given by the reporter that had been on the helicopter telling the harrowing tale of how they escaped the gapping jaws of the fire. To Mike's surprise his Mother was reporting that the reporter was giving all the credit for their survival to Laura. When Mike was finished filling his mother in on Laura's condition she volunteered to come out and take care of her for a few days and his sister Sarah was already half packed to come along.

Knowing his wife was going to be well taken care of Mike stood by the now hung up phone and decided he better make one more phone call. Mike was surprised by the anxious voice that answered the phone at the Garcia residents.

"She's going to be just fine Carlos," Mike said even before he said hello, "She walked a good part of the way out and did everything right to get not only herself but everyone else out safely." "No I have no idea how many times she's done that before, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's lost count herself."

Mike spent the next ten minutes telling Carlos about Laura's injuries and over all condition and listened happily to the relieved sigh's that came back to him through the phone.

When Mike hung up the phone he turned to see Dr. Early waiting on him. "How bad are the hands?" Was Mike's first question, he had seen most everything else and knew it was nothing a good bath and a couple of days rest wouldn't take care of.

"They're just second degree burns, nothing that won't heal on their own in a few days but I was unable to safely give her even as much as a thumb to use in any way. Were you able to make arrangements for someone to stay with her?"

"Yeah, my Mom and Sister volunteered to stay with her. They both want to see for themselves that she's alright ," Mike paused to snicker as he remembered Laura's response to being 'all right', "anyway they were on their way weather we needed some help or not, they should be at our house in about an hour and a half to two hours, will that be soon enough?"

Dr. Early smiled, "I think that teddy bear you brought for her will keep her calm that long. I must admit I was really impressed, Dix said they're getting one to keep in the ER for other rescue workers and to have on hand for Laura."

Mike could only smile as he was clearly waiting for a full report on his wife.

"Let's sit down here for a minute," Dr. Early suggested and Mike was quick to sit but his eyes never left the doctor as he found the next seat. "Your wife is really doing well," Dr. Early tried to quickly put the man before him at ease.

"When we cleaned her up and washed out her hair we found a small laceration on her scalp, I've watched her a few times when she's done her thing using the hair and tried to do that myself. It's nowhere near as neat but I think it will do the trick. We'll need to keep an eye on it to make sure it stays closed. I'd really like to take a few x-rays before I let her go, but she says she needs to talk with you first."

Mike was stunned with this news then remembered her saying the same thing when she was first brought in.

"I'm sure there is nothing serious but it is a precaution I would like to take in light of the fact that she was in a very serious crash. I'm told that helicopter was in several pieces and has no hope of flying again." Dr. Early clarified.

Mike thought on what he was being told and took in then let out a deep breath, "so what do you want me to do?"

Dr. Early smiled and started to rub his hand with the other. "I think the first thing you should do is go talk with her. She's more awake now but she's still really tired. Sill I suspect you'll be able to talk her into what we need done without much trouble, and then we'll go from there."

Dr. Early then walked Mike to the exam room and once they were inside he invited the nurse at Laura's side to join him in the hall to give the couple some privacy.

Laura was resting on the exam table, the head was raised and her head was lolled to the side with her eyes closed, her teddy bear remained on her stomach with her arm around it as the other arm lay straight to maintain the IV's. Mike stepped up to the side of the bed and just looked for a few moments. She was cleaned up now, her newly shampooed hair pulled up over the back of the exam table, the place where Dr Early tied her laceration together looking snarled and tangled, and her black eye looking painful and purple.

Laura's shoulders were now bandaged and the roller gauze had been taken alternately under her arms and then across her chest, the only thing Mike could think of at the moment was the 'cross your heart bra'. A sheet covered the rest of Laura's body tucked in just above her breasts and it was clear there was nothing more underneath. A warmed blanket draped over the sheet.

Sensing a presence Laura rolled her head and opened her eyes, "HI there,"

"HI there to you," Mike smiled and began to caress the side of her face. "How ya feeling now that you're all bandaged up?"

"I'm not sure; I'm going to have to figure that one out." Laura smiled warmly at her husband and started to raise her arms in a gesture for a hug but grimaced as she thought better of that.

"Dr Early said I could take you home as soon as he gets some x-rays to make sure your head is really as hard as we all think it is," Mike started to persuade.

"Um, Mike about that," Laura painfully shifted in the bed to turn more toward Mike. "I a, well I know we haven't talked about this, Mike please don't be upset with me, but I think maybe, well what I'm trying to say is that I might be kinda pregnant."

Mike froze at Laura's side looking into her eyes; His were a bit larger than usual. Slowly the corners of Mike's mouth flowed higher and higher, and his eyes began to sparkle, "A baby, you, me, us, a baby!"

Mike looked like a little boy on Christmas morning and Laura started to cry uncontrollably.

Instantly the photo's Carlos had shown him flashed through Mike's mind, the same photo's that were now in his locker at work still tucked in his duffle bag.

"It's okay sweetheart," Mike carefully pulled Laura into his arms and tenderly started rubbing her back. "I think the first thing we need to do here is find out for sure. And either way I love you more than anything."

Carefully Laura pulled away, just enough to look into Mike's eyes. "You're alright with this?"

Mike continued to smile happily as he cradled his wife's head in his hand and carefully lowered her back to the pillow. "More than all right, remember after I had my appendix out and we talked about this. I would be honored to be the father of a child with you."

Carefully sitting on the side of the exam table at Laura's side Mike placed a hand across her stomach and rested it on her side. "How long have you been thinking you might be pregnant?"

"Not long really," Laura placed one bandaged hand into Mike's lap and turned tearful eyes up to his.

"When we were walking out I was getting tired faster than I thought I should have, while we were walking I remembered that I hadn't been feeling particularly well for a while and got to thinking that I needed to get some blood work done when I got to the hospital. Before they picked us up I was thinking I was going into shock but when they took my vitals and they weren't nearly as bad as I was feeling. So I got to thinking I might be coming down with something until I was talking to you and you said something about teddy bear time." Laura looked so ashamed. "You know this guy here, (she gave the stuffed bear in her arms a squeeze,) is my second favorite teddy bear don't you?"

Mike took in the pleading look in her eyes and smiled his own eyes starting to fill with tears, "Yeah, I've known that for a while."

"You sure you're not mad at me?"

"Never," Mike answered calmly as he ran his fingers through the hair at the side of Laura's head, "Never."

It was at that moment that Dr. Early pushed the door open and walked into the room, "Have we agreed to get some x-rays yet?"

Mike smiled at his wife and Laura nodded her head then whipped her moist eyes with her bandaged hand before turning to Dr. Early. "What are the chances of running a pregnancy test around here without the whole hospital finding out the results before I do?"

Dr. Early hung his head to hide his smile, everything was just as he had suspected. "I just might be able to work something out."