Chapter 6

"You can't leave me…you can't…you just…you can't…I love you…please don't leave me alone…" Came a voice, and suddenly she was viewing what looked like a hospital room, but it was from an odd angle. As if she were floating by the ceiling of the room, rather than viewing it from her own body. Which, she noticed with eerie calm, was lying on the bed below her. Was she dead? No, she didn't think so. For one thing, she could hear the heart monitor beeping still. She watched as Nick sobbed into his hand, grasping her hand like a lifeline. She wanted to wake up, to comfort him, to tell him it would be ok…and suddenly she felt an odd whooshing sensation, and she could feel and hear things again.

She could feel Nick's hand clasping hers, she could hear his quiet sobs, intermixed with pleas to her. She half-opened her eyes, which took as much effort as if she were lifting a hundred-pound weight. She moved her eye-line towards where she could hear Nick's sobs, and her heart soared as she saw Nick, his face hidden by his hand. She took a deep breath, and focussed her efforts down into her fingertips, willing her muscles to contract just enough. She managed a weak squeeze, and she doubted he even felt it.

It was felt, however, and he looked up, hope written all over his face and as he saw that her eyes were open, he yelled out joyfully, which hurt her ears. She winced, and he immediately started on a round of apologies, as he whacked the nurse call button with one hand, stroking her face gently with the other. When the nurse finally came, he pointed with tears of joy running down his face.

"She's awake…" He said hoarsely, and the nurse immediately ran to get the doctor, and he turned back to Dani without another thought to it, rambling on. "Thank god, Dani, you are so brave…you are so beautiful…thank you, for not leaving me…oh my god, Dani, I've missed you so much…" His voice was cracking with emotion, and she wished she could speak, but the breathing tube that was down her throat wouldn't allow it. It had been put in about a week after she'd been shot, as one of her lungs had been grazed by one of the bullets, not allowing easy breathing.

The doctor rushed in, standing on the other side of the bed and leaned over the various machinery, and nodded, looking pleased. "Good morning, Miss. Ryan. You really had us worried for a while there…but it looks like you're going to be alright." He said, smiling down at the figure, who slowly nodded, then slowly raised up one hand, trying to reach for the breathing tube, but the doctor stopped her.

"I'm sorry, but not yet, Miss. Ryan…your lung is still having trouble getting enough air on it's own, so that needs to stay in a bit longer. Maybe a week, all right? I'm going to have to paralyze you while you sleep normally, in case you dislodge it while you sleep, is that alright?" She didn't answer right away, then, after glancing at Nick, who gave her small nod and a smile and she nodded slowly.

"Alright…so, you'll call me when she falls asleep?" He glanced at Nick, who nodded quickly, and the doctor left. She gave Nick a frustrated look, which made Nick laugh.

"You really want to talk, huh?" She nodded, and he looked around, thinking, and his eyes fell upon a small pad of paper on the table, which bore the hospital name, and an idea popped into his mind. "I think I have an idea…but let me call the gang first, so that they all know you're awake…I'm sure they want to hear." He wasn't allowed to use his cell phone in the hospital, or even have it on, a rule he had kept to religiously, somehow thinking that he was somehow saving Dani's life. He gave her a soft kiss on the forehead, and waved as he walked outside into the cold Las Vegas night, but he barely felt the cold as he dialed in the number to the crime lab, relaying the latest. Grissom told him to relay his 'get well' wishes, and that he would tell the rest of the team.

Nick, as soon as he was done on the phone, he quickly shut it off and re-entered the hospital, stopping to grab a pen from the receptionist desk. Dani was still awake, and looking impatient, but couldn't summon enough energy to fidget, like she normally would. Seeing Nick, her eyes smiled, although her mouth couldn't really do more then twist up slightly at the corners, because of the breathing tube.

Nick, grabbing the paper, sat down in his chair again, and started to scribble on it, writing out his message. When he was done, he held it up, grinning, and the message made her love him, if possible, more than she ever had. It said:

If you can't speak, neither can I. I know you're frustrated,

But I love you, even if you can't speak. So I'll suffer

Through it with you. I won't even speak to the team when they

Come visit. You and I are both mute until that breathing tube is out.

I love you.

She reached for the paper and pen, wanting to write something and he gave it to her, and she started to write. She wrote slowly, because it still required a lot of effort, but she managed to write it reasonably small and neat, and she held it over for him to read, which he did. It read:

I love you, I love you, I love you,
What else can I say? You have stuck

With me through thick and through thin

And this just makes me love you more.

Thank you, for everything.

I love you.

This written exchange continued on, until Dani's eyes began to droop, and he leaned forward, softly kissing her forehead, scribbling one last message on the paper:

I love you. Sweet Dreams, I'll see you in the morning.

She nodded, and closed her eyes, seemingly content. After he was sure she was asleep, he leaned forward and tapped the button, while he scribbled the message to the doctor onto the paper. He had made a promise, and nothing was going to break it.

---------------------------------A week later----------------------------------------------------------

A week later, Dani was a lot stronger and even more impatient to start talking again. The doctor had finally conceded that her lungs could make enough air on it's own, so they were taking out the tube in her throat that day, and she was extra impatient, as was Nick. Even if he had made a promise, not talking for a whole week had been a bit trying on his patience. However, he had kept his promise, and had only communicated through hand signals and writing.

Nick, to his annoyance, was not allowed into the room while they actually took the tube out. He paced outside the room, knowing that the removal of the breathing tube was not a big procedure, but all the same, he was nervous. When the doctor finally came out, and let him in, he nearly ran him over in his hurry. He wanted to hear Dani's voice again, even if it was hoarse and cracked.

As soon as Dani saw him, she smiled, and pushed herself to a sitting position, whispering the first word she'd said in almost a month, and it was music to his ears. "Nick…" The emotion in her voice was almost tangible, as everything she wanted to say died before it reached her mouth. He moved over, enveloping her in his arms gently, knowing that her stomach and shoulder were still sore. She rested her head on his shoulder, eyes closed, and despite the fact that they could both speak again, they were both silent, communicating thousands of things.

After a few seconds, he pulled away, sitting next to the bed, gently holding both of her hands, and she started to talk slowly, whispering hoarsely, her throat sore. They talked about everything and anything, and they both said that they loved each other numerous times. The various members of the team showed up every so often, bringing gifts, including lots of gummy bears, which she adored, and cheered her up greatly. They were only stopping for a few minutes, for the case had yet to be solved. Nick was the only one off the hook, since he was obviously way too close to be working on the case. Not that he didn't want to be working on it, but he was content to just sit with Dani 24 hours a day.

((Again, trying to keep things from happening too fast, so the next chapter will be up in not too long…anyway, see you all later, and please read and review))