When Mark woke he found Susan standing by his bed, watching him.

"Hey." She came closer when she saw his eyes open.

"What happened?" he asked groggily.

She swallowed. "You got shot." She took a deep breath. "They took out your spleen. A guy came into the ER with a gun."

"It's okay, I remember." He stopped her.

"Don't do that again." She shook her head, unable to keep emotion at bay.

"He was going to kill you."

"And he could have killed you."

"I'm fine."

She sighed and let silence fill the space between them. She didn't want to fight with him.

"Hey, weren't you meant to catch a train today?"

"Yesterday. It's two a.m."

"You're not going?" his voice gave away how pleased the prospect made him.

"I have to." She whispered and sat down.

"Yeah. I know. Suzie needs you."

"How are you feeling?" She didn't want to think about leaving.

"Like I got shot." He didn't want to think about the hold up.

"Why did you have to jump in? The cops were only a minute away."

"I don't know... I didn't think... I just did it..." He sighed. He could tell her the truth. What's the worst that could happen? She could leave. Hell, the worst was happening anyway. He met her eyes. She looked so sad and confused and concerned. "He was about to kill you."

"I know. I was there. The gun was pressed into my neck. Kinda hard to ignore."

"So you expect me to just watch that? Susan, I love you." The words left his mouth and he was almost as shocked to hear them as she was. "I mean..." he sighed. "There, I said it. I love you. If I'd watched him shoot you I would have died anyway."

She shook her head in disbelief. "Why?"

"Are you kidding? You're so beautiful. You're an amazing doctor. You're my best friend." He smiled, "I've never had that before."

She didn't reply. She didn't know what to say.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. But at least you know the truth. And there was a slim to none chance that you might feel the same way and stay... what can I say? It was worth the risk."

"Mark, I do love you." The words came so easily. She took his hand as his eyes registered her words and silent tears ran down her face.

He smiled slightly. "Then stay."

"I can't." she looked away.

The silence was deadly. He knew she meant it. "I should get some sleep." He said coldly.

She tore herself away, refusing to meet his eyes, walking away like she had some place else to be. Outside the room she stopped and leant back on the door, forgetting it had a window in it.

He watched her drop her head into her hands, her shoulders shaking.