Author note - Hmmm…shall I put you out of your misery?

Katelyn stood at the door to Eli's hospital room, the doctor's words ringing out in her head "very lucky…injuries not as severe as we first thought…expected to make a full recovery…" She'd barely registered the news at first, her heart and mind fixed on hearing the worst.

She pushed open the door and stepped inside quietly.

There was a gash on his forehead that they had cleaned and fixed with butterfly strips and an oxygen mask covered his mouth and nose to help his breathing as he'd broken a few ribs and suffered a punctured lung. She could see the large dressing covering his chest where a chunk of bus stop metal had pierced his right shoulder.

Katelyn allowed herself a small smile at the coincidence - they would have complimenting scars.

She stared briefly at the angry purple bruise that spread out from his shoulder and down under the sheets - the doctors had said the bruising would make his injuries look worse and they were right. She swallowed, a lump appearing in her throat as her eyes took in the sight of him. She'd prepared herself for far worse but she still felt a heaviness in her chest as the images of the wreckage and the worried faces of her colleagues flashed through her mind.

Katelyn sat down next to his bedside and slipped her fingers carefully in between his. Eli began to stir and slowly opened his eyes, the usual light wasn't there but her heart did a small somersault when he smiled at her from behind the mask. He squeezed her hand lightly then unwrapped his fingers from hers and went to take the mask down.

"I'm sorry."

Katelyn half laughed and sobbed at the same time, "What for?"

"For making…you worry…about me."

She shook her head but couldn't find the words to express the relief she felt. Instead she gently took his hand again and placed her lips against his palm, his fingers lightly caressing her cheek as he wiped away the fresh tears.

"Lightman…has a really…good car."

Trust him to start making jokes. In truth it had been the car that had saved them - the bus stop had stood no chance - the lightweight metal had been forced out of shape and twisted beyond recognition in seconds. The car on the other hand, despite its broken windows and some fairly serious denting, had remained structurally intact for the most part.

She could see Eli trying to read her and she could have chosen to match his surprisingly positive mood, but the day's events had taken their toll and she felt utterly drained. Katelyn let him see the mixture of emotions she was feeling; she tried to hold back the immense fear and pain she had felt so strongly only minutes earlier but as ever Eli could see her struggle.

"I'm not…going…anywhere…I promise."

"I know." her voice was quiet as she leaned into his palm, so grateful that he was still with her. She relished in the feel of his touch against her skin as he stroked her cheek having feared she would never feel it again.

There was a soft knock at the door and Foster appeared followed by Lightman, Torres and Max.

"Hope we're not interrupting, we just wanted to see how you were doing. The doctors said you'd been really lucky." Foster's voice echoed her concern.

Eli attempted one of his usual grins - they all knew it was forced but they all let it slide in the knowledge that their friend would be ok.

"I was just…telling Kate that…she should go home…and get some rest…then bring me back…my favourite t-shirt…I don't look…good in hospital fashion."

Katelyn laughed softly, she knew which t-shirt he meant - it was the one she had taken to wearing at night not long after their after their fifth date. He always said it was his favourite because it looked good on both of them but because she wore it more often it smelt like her. However she didn't want to leave him, he'd only been awake a short while and she immediatly went to protest.

"Come on Kate, you know you should get some sleep, and anyway who's going to wait on him hand and foot when he gets out of here if you're exhausted?" said Max silencing her before she'd even started.

"Exactly" Eli nodded his thanks to Max before his gaze fell on Lightman's own injuries.

"Don't you worry, I'm good." Lightman quickly read Eli's concern despite his foggy head. "Foster's making sure I behave myself."

Eli seemed satisfied and he looked back to Katelyn, she let out a soft sigh and rose from her chair obediently. Despite wanting to curl up on the bed next to him, she knew she should go home and get some sleep, it was getting late and she could feel her body resisting her desire to keep going - plus it wasn't just herself she needed to look after anymore.

Carefully she leant over the bed to place a gentle kiss on Eli's lips before she replaced the oxygen mask across his face. If she could she would have taken him into her arms and never let go but instead she held onto the fact that he hadn't left her, he would be waiting for her when she came back and he would be alright.

Author note - all better? :) I'm not THAT evil really.