"She…..she's what?" Nigel finally stammered after Bug told him the news.

"That should have been me in there!" Nigel's voice grew louder. "I don't know why but that should have been me! THAT BASTARD CAME TO KILL ME AND ENDED UP POSSIBLE KILLING MY NIECE! BLOODY HELL, BUG! SHE'S LIKE MY OWN…" Nigel stopped short. He slumped onto the floor in despair. "And now I can't do anything."

"The formula is time-released. We can try to take the bullet out, which would maybe give her a better chance…"
"For survival or a whole slew of other effects…infection, complications with some sort of medieval dark-aged surgery, in a MORGUE no less…bugger all. How am I going to tell her?"

"Dr. Macy is telling her right now."
"WHY…." he stopped to think a minute, "well, I guess that's alright. But I need to talk to her before…who's doing this 'operation' anyway?"

"Dr. M and I are, if that's alright."
Nigel nodded. "I trust you, you know that. Uh….where's Jordan going to be?"

Bug noticed his hesitation. "Right now, she's preparing autopsy, making it a little less, well you know. She'll just watch."

Nigel nodded again, letting out a small sigh of relief. Garret walked up and put his hand on Nigel's shoulder.

"I need to talk to her a minute" Nigel started. Garret held up a hand, stopping him.
"Go ahead, but try to be quick."

Nigel went into the office, leaving Garret, Bug, and a pondering Lily.

"What do you think he meant?" she wondered out loud.

"About what?"

"He said, "she's like my own…" His own what?"

Bug shrugged, quietly wondering the same thing. Garret offered a possible answer.

"His own daughter?"

"WHAT?" Lily and Bug shouted simultaneously. Garret then went on to explain what he had just been told by Julia.

Nigel closed the office door behind him and sat down next to Julia.

"You didn't wallop Bug did you?" Julia asked jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. Nigel smirked.

"No, I was good. Might have yelled a bit, but what can you expect when your best mate tells you your niece, who he doesn't really know is more like your daughter, is possibly…" His voice caught in his throat. Julia extended a feeble hand slowly toward him. Nigel took her hand and, with his free hand, brushed the hair out of her eyes. He put his head down towards her, kissing her forehead. He looked at her with tear-filled eyes. She looked back, her eyes the same.

"Don't leave me" Julia quietly pleaded to her uncle.

"Oh Julia, I'm never leaving you, and you're never leaving me." Nigel whispered. "We'll beat this. No one is leaving."

A quiet tap was heard at the door. It opened slightly. Lily poked her head in the room.

"Um, Bug and Garret said they're ready if you are."

Nigel nodded. "We'll be there in a minute, luv."

Lily stepped back and closed the door.

"You ready?"

Julia nodded. "Are you?"

Nigel gently smiled and nodded in return. With strong, protective arms, he picked up his niece and carried her to the waiting Bug and Garret.