10

Matt sat on the plastic chair staring at his feet. He hated hospitals, had done since Jules had been born. Since then her early years seemed to be visiting one eye doctor after another, visiting his own mom in the cancer ward or getting patched up from his latest hockey injury. He didn't expect to be sat in the ER waiting room trying to block the day's events out of his mind as Angie had been rushed from the ambulance into the Trauma area of the department. He sighed as he felt rather than saw his friend sit next to him.

"Danica."

"He has been charged with attempted murder, money laundering, blackmail and a heap of fraud and taz related stuff." She answered his unasked question. "Maz is still at the station."

"Thanks."

"Matt?" She rested a hand on his back as he closed his eyes. "You ok?"

"I was too slow." He paused. "She has a bullet in her. They think she lost way too much blood and I was too slow."

"Don't talk like that. These doctors see gun shot wounds more than you know. They will know what to do." She smiled slightly. "Angie will be home before you know it."

"Oh yeah?" Matt sighed before turning to face her. "How do you do it?"

"What?"

"Stay so upbeat? So positive."

"Its just the way I am." She smiled at him. "I know you did everything you could to keep Angie safe. You know she is in the best hands. We just gotta leave it to them now."

Matt nodded. He liked the young detective, she was a different character to Maz. Less likely to go along with their schemes or help them without questioning. He had to admit he admired her for that, even if it did drive him crazy at times. He closed his eyes once more, wishing his dad was with him, knowing the older Shade man would know what to say. His dad always seeme to have the answer for any situation. Sat in the cold plastic chair he realised Angie had probably always thought that about her own father, as Jules probably did when it came to him.

"I'll wait with you." Danica rested her hands in her lap. He shot her a look. "She is my friend too. Plus, I know Maz would want me to be here if he can't be. The Captain is making him process all of this by the book." She paused. "She can be quite, er, difficult."

"That she can." Matt had to agree as he looked up to see a nurse approach him.

"Hi, are you with Angela Everett?"

"Yes." Danica answered as the colour seemed to drain out of Matt's face. She nudged him so he stood up. "I'm her friend. This is her partner Matt." The younger man nodded.

"Ok, would you like to follow me?"

Danica smiled as she realised it was the first time Matt hadn't explained that they were business partners rather than partners in any other sense. She bit her lip, hoping that at least now Matt would be honest and tell the detective how he felt about her. She knew he had promised Conroy he would but it seemed that since they had fished him and Conroy out of the lake he was more scared than ever to admit how he felt. Minutes later she was thanking the doctor and ushering Matt towards the room where Angie was recovering from surgery. Leaving the couple she decided to try to find a phone, knowing Maz and Zoe would be worried.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Hey." Matt stood in the doorway.

"Hi." Angie was clearly still having trouble with her arm. The limb and most of her chest seemed to be heavily bandaged but she was awake and looking at him. So, he guessed everything had gone well. He stepped into the room.

"You looked lost." Angie sighed as he sat next to her bed.

"Eh? I did? When?"

"When I was." She paused. "Before, when you were trying to stop me bleeding. I have never seen you looking more lost or afraid."

"Angie, I."

"Its ok." She smiled as her eyelids grew heavier. He squeezed her hand. "I guess I'm a little lost without you too." She drifted off to sleep as Matt smiled, determined that he would never come so close to losing her again.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxtheendxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx