Back in his pick-up truck, Casey leaned his head back, closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. A hand squeezed his shoulder and he looked to his right to see the radiant smile of Sylvie Brett.

"Just a concussion. It was just a concussion. Looks like 51 is stuck with me a little longer."

I'm really happy for you, Matt." She paused, then added. "But you heard what Dr Abrams said, there is no such thing as 'just a concussion'. Next time, you can't wait this long to get it checked out.."

"I'm not planning on any next time…" He watched as she frowned at him. "Fine. I promise." he said, smiling back at her.

There was so much he wanted to tell her. How thankful he was for her. How much it meant that she was here with him. How much she meant to him. He'd come to terms with the fact that was hopelessly in love with Sylvie Brett for a while now, since the passionate kiss they had shared in her apartment that one night, months ago. The intensity of what he had felt when their lips touched had taken him completely by surprise so, when she had asked him about Dawson, he'd been left unable to sort through his feelings. He was still kicking himself for answering the way he did. The look in her eyes, the way she thanked him for his honesty even though she was heartbroken, how she couldn't quite meet his eyes as she asked him to leave still haunted him. All he had wanted at this moment was to hold her tight and comfort her. Instead, he had gotten up and let himself out.

He briefly considered telling her how he truly felt right then, in the car but she was with someone else now and she seemed happy. She deserved to be happy. She deserved everything.

"Thank you, Sylvie. For not backing out, for being here. If it wasn't for you, I'm not sure I would have done it." he simply said instead.

"Always." she whispered.

Their eyes locked. Her hand was still on his shoulder and he reached to cover it with his. For a second, he thought she was about to say something else.

An ambulance rolled into the ER bay, sirens blaring. Startled, they let go of each other. Matt started the truck.

"You hungry? How about lunch? My treat." he offered.

"You really don't have to."

"Please. It's the least I can do. Unless you have other plans?"

"No. Nothing. Well, since you're buying… I'd love to."