Eli had been in the hospital for a just over a week, he was healing up well and the doctors had it in mind to let him go home in a few days time providing he took is easy. The bruising across his chest was still extensive but had changed from the angry purple shades to more green and yellow tones. He was still struggling to move his right arm but he was coping with his good hand and the glint in his eyes had returned.

Katelyn pushed the wheelchair into the hospital room and was pleased to see him sitting up, she was not pleased however to see him looking over case notes.

"Where did you get those?"

"Erm…case note fairy?" He tried to look sheepish, hoping she wouldn't take them off him.

"Torres or Lightman?" She knew it wouldn't have been Foster, she had too much of the mothering instinct to actively go against doctors orders.

"Lightman." Katelyn rolled her eyes selecting the most likely culprit.

"Since when have you been able to read people?" Eli challenged her wondering what he'd done to help her pick out who had smuggled in the notes.

She laughed, "I can't - not like you anyway. But Lightman did mention that you'd be particularly interested in our current case because of something to do with herd mentality and some kind of animal."

Eli gave one of his usual grins - the case was interesting and he was rather desperate to see the footage that went with it. It would help his ongoing study to do with…He snapped out of his thoughts as he spotted the wheelchair.

"What's that for?"

"I have a surprise for you, but you're not walking to it."

"Ooh, I like surprises."

Katelyn was enjoying seeing his usual energy and lighthearted personality reappear. For the first few days, although he'd been talking she could tell he wasn't feeling like himself. There hadn't been much of the banter that she was so used to and she had missed it so it felt good to see him returning to his normal self. Katelyn helped him out of bed and into the chair which he promptly grumbled about as he felt that she shouldn't be pushing him around. Nevertheless he still hadn't done much more walking than a lap or two round his room so she ignored his protests and wheeled him though the corridors towards the day clinic.

She sat patiently in the waiting room with Eli's wheelchair parked up beside her.

"Can I get out of this thing now?

"No"

"But its been over a week." He continued his earlier protest.

"I don't care, no."

He stuck his tongue out at her and tried to fold his good arm into his bad one to make himself look as sulky as possible. It didn't work and he winced in pain.

"Behave yourself please, the doctor says you're healing really well."

He used his hand to mimic her talking, not satisfied that his earlier attempt at the impression of a petulant child had failed. She laughed at him and he grinned back.

"What are we doing here anyway, is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine, it's a surprise."

"Do I need to have some test that I'd rather not have? That wouldn't be a nice suprise."

"I'm not saying anything." Katelyn could feel his eyes scanning her face and she deliberately looked away to hide the smile that was threatening to break out.

"Katelyn Loker?" the nurses voice rang out across the waiting room.

She stood up and pushed Eli into the treatment room, again parking him up at her side as she sat down on the small bed. She'd spoken with the nurse beforehand and told her to just get on with it without saying anything so the nurse diligently started the session as requested.

Wordlessly but with a small smile, the nurse indicated for Katelyn to lean back and lift up her top. She smeared on the cold gel and began the ultrasound scan.

Katelyn watched Eli's face as the nurse moved the device around her stomach. He was looking between the screen and her, his brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to figure out what was going on.

"Ok then, here we are." the nurse stopped her movements and turned a dial up on the machine allowing a soft watery thumping noise to fill the room.

"I would definitely say you're around nine weeks and that is a really nice strong heartbeat."

Eli's jaw had dropped open slightly as his eyes became fixed on the screen.

"Is that…"

Katelyn let him work his way through the realisation of the news that was staring him in the face. She took a moment for herself to listen to the heartbeat that seemed to fill the room as she waited for him to speak.

"Is that…our baby?"

Katelyn nodded finally letting her smile and elation come through. She'd been holding onto the secret for what seemed like forever not feeling that it was the right time to tell him after the accident. Eli had been so tired she'd wanted him to have full focus on getting well and although she thought the news may have helped him, she also knew he would have been worried about her being home alone and would have felt like he was missing out in some way.

"I'll give you two a minute." the nurse captured the image on the screen and set the device on the side before she left the room.

"We're having a baby?"

"Yes, in about seven months."

"A baby?"

She laughed out loud but she could tell by the look on his face that although he was a little shocked, he was also pleased. Katelyn sat up slightly and reached for the wipes on a small moveable table next to her. She carefully wiped off the gel and lowered her top as she waited for Eli to fully absorb the news.

He was just staring at the image on the screen which to be fair didn't resemble a baby as such. It was only a few centimetres big and the grainy image didn't really allow for identification of key body parts but it was their baby.

The next thing she knew he had stood up from his wheelchair and had gathered her up into his arms, his lips finding hers. She quickly made sure she wasn't hurting him and gladly let him kiss her. He lowered his good arm until his palm had made its way underneath her top and was resting on her 'bump to be'.

He pulled back slowly and looked into her eyes.

"When did you find out?"

She hesitated for a moment wondering if she should tell him or not, but unwittingly her hesitation answered his question.

"Oh Kate I'm sorry."

"You keep apologising for something that wasn't your fault. Please stop." Her voice choked up instantly as the memories appeared in her mind.

He sighed softly and drew her back to him, his good arm moving from her front to hold her tightly against his body. It was the first opportunity she'd had to be in his arms properly since the accident and she could feel the flood of emotions building up inside her again.

"I know it wasn't my fault, but I know that it must have been so hard for you and I hate that you had to go through it."

Katelyn tried to pull herself together not wanting him to see that she was still finding it difficult to cope, but she failed as she felt his heart beating through his t-shirt and the realisation of how close she had come to losing him crept back over her. Eli just held her tightly as she sobbed against him, letting her get it all out. After a few minutes she pulled back and looked up into his eyes seeing nothing but love looking back at her.

"I love you Kate." his voice was strong and sincere.

"I love you too."

He suddenly knelt down in front of her to address her midriff, "And I love you too little bump."

Katelyn laughed as the mood in the room lightened instantly and she began to feel for the first time in the last week that things would be ok. Eli stood up from the floor and placed another kiss on her lips.

"I need to get you back to your room, they'll be thinking you've done a runner."

"Do I have to go back in the wheelchair?" He pouted as he asked the question, pushing his bottom lip out.

"You really should…"

"Oh please Kate…I'll take it slow I promise and I'll go in it as soon as I get tired."

"Geez, how many kids am I going to have after the baby's born?" she replied mocking his pleading.

"Just the one, honest. I've got seven months to grow up."

Author note: A big thank you to my lovely reviewers, I really do appreciate your comments.

This story is nearly at its end and I'm thinking there will only be maybe one more chapter left. I hope you've enjoyed reading :)