Unexpected Suprises

Disclaimer: Same as before.

A/N: Okay, I promise that this chapter will pick up speed, compared to the other chapters. Thanks for bearing with me.

Chapter 5: Roads to Recovery

Nigel and Lindsey practically ran to ICU. Lindsey had no idea where she was going, as she had never been in this hospital before. It wasn't unlike the hospital from her hometown, just bigger. Nigel guided her through what seemed like an endless maze of doorways and corridors. Finally, they found Syd and Claudia sitting in the waiting room. They both stood up as Nigel and Lindsey came into the room. Lindsey had long black streaks down her cheeks, a giveaway that she had been crying. Her bruising seemed to look better, and Sydney guessed that they didn't bother her so much. Sydney was the first to speak.

"The doctor just brought her into surgery. The procedure is extremely complicated, and very risky. She may not pull through." With that statement, she watched as the tears attempted to claim Lindsey's face for the second time that night, but Lindsey didn't give in. Sydney hated giving news like this. It was one of the few times she felt completely helpless. She dealt with dangers and possiblity of death all of the time, and she could always manage to save herself (and often times Nigel and someone else, too), but now, all she could do was offer the greiving girl a warm embrace.

"But, the doctor did say that if she made it through the surgery, odds are she'll recover." Now came the hard part. "But, the doctor doesn't know how much brain damaged was caused, and if she does live, he doesn't know what kind of state she'll be in." Lindsey lost it then, and Nigel pulled her into an embrace. Lindsey reminded Sydney alot of herself. She was strong willed, and incredibly intelligent. And, she was a perfect match for Nigel. At one time, Sydney had thought of herself as a perfect match for Nigel, but she had quickly parished the thought, realizing that Nigel needed someone more like himself...someone more gentle...someone like Lindsey.

Sydney and Claudia helped Lindsey to a chair, and Nigel went to get everyone some coffee. Lindsey had stopped crying aloud, and her tears had just resorted to filling her eyes and falling down her cheeks in quiet columns. Nigel returned with the coffee, and she graciously took it. Nigel, Sydney, and Claudia were starting to worry about her. She hadn't said anything since she got there. Finally she spoke.

"That should have been me." Lindsey said quietly, never looking up from her coffee. "That guy was looking for me, not her. If I had just been there..." Lindsey's voice trailed off as the tears choked off her words.

"Lindsey, you being there wouldn't have changed anything. Jen and Jake would still have come in, and instead of the two of them injured, it would be the three of you." Claudia said, trying her best comfort Lindsey. She looked at Nigel, who had a pained expression on his face. Lindsey was in a lot of pain, and he couldn't help her. In all of his years and experience as a relic hunter, he couldn't think of a time when he felt more helpless than now. Helpless seemed to be a popular feeling this night.

"Claudia's right, you know. It's not your fault." Nigel offered, trying to do all that he could to help her. He was hurting too. Jen was more than a student to him, to Sydney and Claudia, too. She was a collegue of sorts, a neighbor, and a friend. "She's so young," he thought to himself. He was secretly blaming himself. He knew it was ridiculous, but if he had never brought those manuscripts to Lindsey, Jen wouldn't be in this situation now.

As if reading his mind, Lindsey spoke, "It's not your fault, you know." He looked over at Lindsey's face. It was covered with bruises and smeared mascara. She her bruises shone more readily now because they were healing, and her pale complexion set off the patches of black and blue that adorned her pretty face. She looked exhausted, but she was still absolutely beautiful.

"If you can fault within yourself, then I can easily find it within me." Nigel stopped explaining at the look on Lindsey's face. Lindsey took a quick glance at the sleeping forms of Sydney and Claudia before continuing.

"Nigel, I know that it's not my fault. But I can't help but feel responsible. All my life, I've been the one out of the group that always acted as the "parent." I was the voice of reason. I have always been protective of my family and friends, and this time I couldn't stop it. I just keep thinking that if I hadn't come here, she'd still be okay." Lindsey didn't break down in sobs this time. She wasn't going to allow herself that luxury. She felt that she didn't deserve it. Nigel could see the torment in her eyes.

"That's ridiculous, Lindsey. You didn't know that this was going to happen. It's not your fault, and I don't want to hear another word about it." Nigel had a bit of strictness in his voice that indicated that the subject had been brought to a close. Lindsey looked at him for a moment, a bit shocked at the parental tone of voice. She looked up at his face, and really studied it. His hair had fallen into his eyes. She gently moved the piece, letting her hand cup his cheek. It suddenly dawned on her that she had no idea how old he was. He looked like he was still in his twenties, but she couldn't be sure. Not that it mattered. She was curious now, and for a few minutes, she forgot her grief.

"How old are you, Nigel?" Lindsey asked. The look on Nigel's face suggested that she had completely taken him by suprise. "I just realized that I have no idea how old you are," Lindsey said with an almost laugh.

"Well, I'm 25. How old are you?" Nigel looked back at her with inquizitive eyes.

"I'm twenty-one. I won't be twenty-two until September." The shocked expression on Nigel's face made her laugh.

"I didn't realize that you were so young," came Nigel's reply. "You sure you don't mind being seen with an "old man" like myself?" Nigel looked at her and smiled. It was nice to see her smile.

"I think I can deal with it." Lindsey laughed. Just then, the doctor came in the room with an expression that Lindsey couldn't read. Nigel took her hand and gave it a squeeze, as she prepared herself for whatever news he was coming to give her.

"Jen pulled through the surgery quite well. I was able to repair most of the damage caused by the bullet, but there was minimal brain damage. She'll probably just have to learn to walk again, which is quite lucky considering what could have happened. She's still asleep now, and probably won't wake up until the morning." The doctor was now wearing a smile. Lindsey could have kissed that man. She began to cry again, this time out of joy, and hugged the doctor, who was completely dumbfounded when this young girl threw her arms around his neck and squeezed her barely audible thank you's. He walked away with a smile on his face, and Lindsey turned to Nigel, who had gotten to his feet. He was waking up Syd and Claudia, telling them the news. Then he turned to Lindsey.

"I should get you back to the hotel." Lindsey had the same look of defiance that he had seen in Sydney so many times. He knew that this battle would not be easily won.

"No, Nigel. Not until she wakes up and I get to see her. Then I'll go home." There was a stubborness in her tone that Nigel knew better than to try to undermine. He turned around to pick up the pillow that had fallen to the floor, and turned back to see Lindsey talking to Claudia and Sydney.

"You guys should really go home and get some "real" rest. I appreciate you guys staying here with me, but I'm okay now, and y'all need to get some rest." Lindsey looked over the two women, and glanced at Nigel. He knew that this included him too. Sydney and Claudia both began to voice their protests, but Nigel quickly stepped in.

"She's right, ladies. You need to go home. Sydney, you have class in the morning. I'll stay here with Lindsey, so you guys don't need to worry about her." Nigel looked over at Lindsey, who looked as if she were going to say something.

"Nigel, I ment you too. You need to go home and get some rest. I'll be fine here by myself." Lindsey's voice held concern for the Englishman. Nigel realized how right Jen had been. "She's always concerned with everyone else's well-being before she is her own..." Nigel smiled at the memory. He hadn't met Lindsey then, but now that he had, he could see that Jen's statement was no exaggeration. "No, Lindsey, I'm not. I'm gonna stay with you. You don't need to be alone. If you get to be stubborn, then so do I." He looked at her, and she could tell that she wasn't going to be able to dissuade him. "Sydney, Claudia, go home and get some rest."

"Okay, we will." Sydney said. "Just call us if you get any information."

"I will, I promise," Lindsey said. And with that, Syd and Claudia were gone. "Well, I guess we have nothing to do now but wait." Lindsey said. And with that, she promptly pulled a notebook from the bag she was carrying, and pulled a piece of paper out of one of the pockets. Nigel recognized the notebook immediately.

"You didn't?" Nigel asked incredulously. Surely she hadn't brought the manuscripts with her. "Well, you would have, Nigel." He thought to himself.

"You didn't expect me to just leave them around, did you? These documents have caused enough trouble as it is, and if anymore trouble is gonna come, then it's coming to me." Lindsey eyes flashed a look of anger, although the anger wasn't directed toward Nigel. It was almost if she were daring whomever was after those manuscripts to come after her again. "Plus, we have some time, we need to get busy. We haven't gotten very far on these, and we've spent the better part of two days on them."

"You're right. We'll work on them until Jen wakes up, but I still think that you need to get some sleep," he told her. The look she gave him told him that he might as well stop that argument now. She wasn't going to give in. They spent the next six hours pouring over the ancient texts. When the doctor came in, they were both asleep, Lindsey's head on Nigel's chest with one of his arms circling around her and his other hand on top of hers.

"Excuse me, Ms. Pierce?" The doctor gently shook Lindsey, and her eyes opened. "Good morning." He said with a smile. "Jen's awake now, and she's asking to see you. I wouldn't have woken you up, but I thought that you would want to see her." Lindsey sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked at her watch. It was only 8:30.

"Thank you, doctor. What room is she in?" Lindsey asked, upset at herself for falling asleep. She gave a quick look at Nigel, who was already awake and standing up.

"She's in room 2234. It's right down the hall and to the right." The doctor just looked at her. Lindsey began to stand up, but her legs wouldn't support her and she almost fell. Nigel was quick to catch her. "Are you going to be okay?" the doctor asked. He and Nigel looked at her with concern.

"I'm fine. I just lost my balance, that's all." Lindsey was too stubborn to let a little lightheadedness keep her from her cousin.

"I'd like to check you out, Ms. Pierce. It wouldn't take but a few minutes," the doctor offered.

"No, I'm fine. Really. I just want to see my cousin." There was a bit of agitation in Lindsey's voice now. Nigel spoke up.

"I'll make sure she gets to you as soon as she's finished seeing Jen, Doctor." Nigel spoke. Lindsey opened her mouth to protest, but the look Nigel flashed her stopped her words. She was finding out she wasn't the only one who could be absolutely stubborn.

"Just page me. I'll be right there." And with that, the doctor was gone. Lindsey looked at Nigel with a soft look. He could see the pain in her eyes and squeezed her hand. She began to walk towards the door, but she stumbled again, and Nigel aided her the rest of the way to Jen's room. When they entered, Jen was sitting there, her hands in her lap, looking out of the window. Her tanned skin looked unusually pale, obviously from the entire ordeal. She looked over at them when she heard the door shut.

"Lindsey!! Nigel!!! I'm so happy to see you guys!!!" Jen said, tears welling up in her eyes. Lindsey ran to her cousin, and took her in her arms.

"Jen, I'm so sorry!!" Lindsey sobbed into Jen's shoulder. She couldn't let the girl go. Jen looked at Nigel with a shocked expression on her face.

"LINDSEY NICOLE PIERCE!!! You don't mean to tell me you blame yourself for this, do you?" Jen almost shouted. "I'm the one who foolishly went back into the apartment. I shouldn't have done it." Jen looked at her cousin. Lindsey's bruises were still quite evident, but they were fading. Jen suddenly realized the pain Lindsey must be in right now...Lindsey being attacked, and she and Jake being attacked. It must have really taken a toll on her.

"How are your legs?" Lindsey asked her. She already knew the answer.

"The doctors say that I will walk again, but it'll take patience and work." Jen smiled at her cousin. "You need to stop worrying about me and worry more about yourself."

Lindsey just smiled at her cousin. With that, Lindsey, Nigel, and Jen sat and talked for two hours. They would have talked for more, but the nurse came in and took Jen to her first physical therapy session. Lindsey was heading towards the door when Nigel gently touched her shoulder and spun her around.

"Not so fast, young lady. You still have to see the doctor." Nigel's words sounded almost parental. "I told the doctor you would, and you are going to do just that." Lindsey was beginning to wonder if she sounded that annoying when she played parent, but the doctor coming around the corner interrupted her thoughts.

"Let's get you into a room and checked up, shall we?" the doctor asked. Lindsey relcutantly agreed. After about fifteen minutes of being examined, the doctor determined hunger to be the culprit, and the growling in her stomach told her that he was right. Lindsey was given a clean bill of health, but was under direct orders of the doctor to get some food ASAP. Lindsey and Nigel got back to the hotel room, and ordered Chinese. They spent the rest of the day looking over the manuscripts. They were not much further in figuring the short one out. Lindsey had finally had enough.

"AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH" Lindsey screamed standing up and putting her head in her hands. Nigel nearly dropped his cup of tea. He came running over, took her in his arms, and they both sat down.

"What is it, Lindsey?" Nigel asked concerned. She looked up at him with this helplessness that he's never seen before, and then put her head back down on his chest.

"Why can't I figure this out?" Lindsey sobbed into Nigel's chest. She looked up at him. "You're an expert in Ancient Languages, and I'm an expert on Thespis and Sophocles. Between the two of us, we should have had this figured out by now." Lindsey's eyes looked pleading, and he knew that she wasn't blaming him. He was just as frustrated.

"We will, we will. It just takes time, love." Nigel held her close against him and just comforted her. She soon fell asleep, and he realized that she must be exhausted. It wasn't but 2:30 in the afternoon and they weren't due back at the hospital until 6:00, so he just let her sleep. Around 5:30 he woke her up, and they went to the hospital, visited Jen, came home, worked on the manuscripts, and slept. They both went back to school the next day, at Jen's insistance, so, for the next month, Lindsey and Nigel went to school, went to see Jen, came back to the hotel, completed school assignments, worked on the manuscripts, and slept, if they could. Then, Jen was able to come home, and she stayed with Jake. She did most of her school work there, and since most of her classes came from the Ancient Studies department, Sydney, Claudia, and Nigel were always happy to help her. Nearly two months after the attacks, Lindsey discovered something.

"Nigel, I think I've got it !!!" Lindsey shouted. Nigel bolted over there. He gave it a quick look over, and seeing no flaws, took her into his arms, spun her around, and planted her firmly back on the ground. He never took his arm from around her waist.

"I can't believe it. Two months, and you've done it!!!" Nigel looked at her. Lindsey's face was glowing and her eyes were dancing with excitement. She actually looked happy, the first time he'd seen her look happy in two months. He looked deep into her eyes. He couldn't fight what he was feeling anymore.

"Nigel, what's wrong?" Lindsey asked, a worried look on her face. He just smiled.

"Nothing's wrong." Nigel said, as he leaned in and kissed her. She kissed him back, with all that she had, and he knew that she felt the same way. Nigel cut the kiss short and just looked into Lindsey's eyes. He had to tell her. "Lindsey..." "Oh, come on Nigel, just say it." he thought. "Lindsey, I love you."

"Nigel...I..." Lindsey began, but Nigel didn't like the way that sounded. He'd heard it before. The "Nigel-I'm-flattered-but-not-in-love-with-you" speech was not one he was interested in hearing again. Amanda had given him that speech, and he was not about to hear it from Lindsey. Not when he knew that she felt the same way.

"Lindsey, I love you, and I know that you feel the same way about me." Nigel was getting bolder by the second. "That kiss told me all that I need to know. You can't fake something like that." Nigel took her hands in his. "I love you, Lindsey, and whether you like it or not, you know that you love me too." Where had that audacity come from? He knew he was probably seconds away from being slapped, but he had to say it. No guts, no glory, right?

"But, Nigel, You don't want to love someone like me. I'm not good enough for you." Lindsey looked down at her hands in his. He had soft hands, very masculine hands, no doubt, but soft nevertheless. She loved Nigel with everything that she was. She had from the very beginning, but he would be much happier with someone else, or so she thought. It was clear that Nigel had very different ideas.

"That couldn't be further from the truth. If anything, It's I that's not good enough for you." He raised her face up to look at his. "Lindsey, these last two months have been incredible. I mean, I'm not happy about what happened to Jen, Jake, or you, but being with you made the unbearable bearable." Nigel could see the tears welling up in her eyes. She was scared. It was the first time since the night he found her on the floor that he had seen real, unadultered fear in her eyes. He knew that Declan had left her with no self-esteem, no sense of self-worth, and he promised himself that if he ever got his hands on that Declan guy, he'd rip him from limb to limb. He carressed her cheek, and she turned into his hand,closing her eyes, placing her hand on his, and lightly kissing the inside of his palm. He could feel the warmth of her tears on his hand. This sent a pleasantly electrifying feeling through his arm and straight to his heart. God, how he loved this woman. Lindsey looked at him with tears streaming down her cheeks. She was determined to tell him.

"Nigel, I love you too." She said. She looked up and smiled at Nigel, who was already smiling. He gently wiped the tears from her face, and leaned in to kiss her. This time, he did not back away, but was completely taken his feelings for her. He knew that they would not make love that night, or any night for that matter, and while he wanted to do nothing more, and knew that she felt the same, they would wait. She wanted to wait, and that was more than okay with him. While Nigel wasn't exactly a virgin, he had a deep respect for Lindsey, who he still saw as a virgin, even though her innocence had been violated. As they kissed, the manuscript lay forgotten on the table. On a sheet of paper next to it, written in Lindsey's neat script was the translation that had taken two months to accomplish:

In the heart of the theatre, In the place where scenes are born, And where they come to die, Lies a performer's heart Until sweet death allows his soul to reclaim it. **************************************************************************** *

"Flight 265 to Athens now boarding." Lindsey heard the announcer call. She and Nigel had already checked their luggage. Nigel had no problem getting the school to give him excused leave to find this relic, but Lindsey on the other hand, was a different story. She laughed at the memory of Nigel and Professor Fox talking to the president of the university.

"You don't understand. This young lady has done so much work already on this project, and she would be invaluable in the field, and her expertise could help speed up our trip." Professor Fox pleaded.

"Yeah, not to mention that the dean of the theatre department eagerly agreed to allow the leave, after seeing Lindsey's work, but as you are aware, it has to be approved through you as well. This find will not only change the face of theatre history and the theatre movement, but the history of Ancient Greece as well. Sophocles's plays give us such an intricate look into their society, that it would be a disgrace not to find this book." Nigel had spilled much of that out in one breath. He looked incredibly flustered and nervous, but still, strikingly handsome. He had his glasses on the bridge of his nose and his hair had fallen hopelessly in his face.

He looked then much like he looked now, only 3 days later. As she gathered up her carry-on bag and purse, she thought of Jen. She had felt awful for leaving her, but Jen wouldn't hear of her staying. "If you don't go, I'm never going to talk to you again, Lindsey Pierce. Jake will take good care of me. Now, if you don't hurry, you'll be late. Nigel, you make sure she doesn't worry about me too much, okay?" Lindsey smiled at this memory. She loved her cousin very much, and was glad that Jen had Jake to take care of her. Lindsey looked at Nigel, and was suddenly grateful that she had someone to take care of her.

"Are you ready for your first relic hunt, Lindsey?" Professor Fox asked, bringing Lindsey back from her thoughts, as she, Lindsey, and Nigel handed their tickets to the attendant at the gate.

"As ready as I'll ever be, Professor Fox." Lindsey said with a bit of uncertainty.

"Sydney. Call me Sydney." Sydney looked at Lindsey with a warm smile.

"Oh, but Professor Fox, I..." Lindsey didn't get a chance to finish before Sydney interrupted her.

"Lindsey, you are one of us. I don't answer to 'Professor Fox' with them, and I won't do it with you anymore. So it's either call me 'Syd' or 'Sydney', or you won't get answered at all." Sydney laughed.

"Okay...Sydney." Lindsey said. It would take some getting used to, but she knew that it would come easily soon. Nigel just stared at two of the four women he cared the most for. Jen and Claudia, the other two, were staying back to help out in the office while they were gone. It was good that they would be there, as they would probably need extra research, like they often did. He grabbed Lindsey's hand and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Come on, love, let's go get this book." He smiled. "And don't worry about Jen. She'll be fine." Nigel looked at her, knowing that his last two statements would go unheard. Lindsey just looked at Nigel. He was right. Jen was on a road to recovery, and along with Sydney and Nigel, Lindsey was on a road to recovery of her own.
A/N: Okay, i'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. School has been absolutely horrible. I guess that's what you get for trying to futher your education...lol. Thank all of you so very much for your nice reviews. It really encourages me. I know the riddle probably sounds a bit corny, and not very mystifying, so I apologize. I'm not very good at creating riddles. I'm better at solving them...=). Please R&R.