Nigel gingerly put his niece down onto the gurney, Garret and Bug standing by wearing scrubs, gloves, and masks. Jordan had gone to help Woody with the identification of the shooter. Lily was standing watch outside.
"Here," Bug handed Nigel a mask, which he quickly put on.
"Alright, since this isn't a hospital, we unfortunately have no anesthesia." Garret began to explain. Nigel muttered something about reverting back to the dark ages. Garret glanced at Nigel, who quickly fell silent. "I don't like this anymore than you. We'll go along as quickly and carefully as possible…"

"And I'll be here the entire time." Nigel interjected.

"Well, we better get started. Nigel, sit there on her right and make sure there's minimal movement. Bug, give me a hand when I say. Julia, try not to focus on what's happening… just look at your uncle. Are we all ready?" Bug nodded a yes.

"Wait a sec," Nigel said as he took off his watch and sheepishly offered it to his niece, "maybe it'll help?"

Julia took the watch and gripped the band with her teeth. Her uncle smiled, approvingly.

"We're ready." Nigel said to Garret.

Julia turned her head toward Nigel, who took her hand in an arm-wrestling position to steady her. Garret began to prod the wound, searching for the bullet. Julia quietly moaned, biting increasingly harder. The pain caused her to break into fever. The color from her face drained. Nigel mopped her pale forehead and face of the perspiration, looking on, concerned, yet with firm assurance that he would let nothing more harmful happen to his beloved niece. Bug offered help when needed, all the while watching his friend, trying to make sure he would hold up. As the minutes passed, he became aware of something new that had come over Nigel. It was somewhat a sense of duty, making him vehemently protective, compassionate, warm, but at the same time, terrified of the possibility of loosing someone so close to him it made him ache.

Finally, the bullet was successfully extracted and the wound patched up. The gurney Julia lay on was wheeled back to Garret's office, and, ever so carefully, Nigel and Bug placed her back onto the couch, being sure not to rip the stitching, attempted to make her as comfortable as possible. Exhausted from the surgery, Julia tried to go to sleep, but the pain made it close to impossible. After everyone left the office, Nigel sat next to his niece, comforting her, trying to get her fever down by patting down her forehead, face, and neck with a cold, damp cloth.

"You really should get some sleep." Nigel chided warmly.

"I…"
"Shhhh, come now. You must'n talk, save your strength. Here" Nigel got up from his chair, carefully propped Julia up, and sat on the couch, placing a cushion on his lap and then her head on it. "There, that's better isn't it."

Julia smiled feebly. Nigel smiled back, looking down warmly on her. He softly began to sing 'Scarbourgh Fair' to calm her. Memories of years before flooded back to both their minds. Slowly, Julia drifted off to sleep, feeling completely safe and secure in her uncle's protective arms. Nigel smiled, somewhat content, and watched her sleep.