Tom frowned opening his eyes the next morning to fond that he was still in the nasty smelling horribly cold hospital room. "I was hoping it was just a nightmare." He mumbled to himself.

"I'm afraid not man." Doug's reply nearly made the man in the bed jump right out of his covers.

"I didn't know anyone was in here." Hanson turned his head as the bathroom door opened and Penhall emerged.

"I told you we wouldn't leave you didn't I? Ioki, Fuller and Hoffs just went to get some coffee.."

"Oh."

"Did you sleep alright?" Doug asked resuming his seat next to the bed.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"This isn't about me now is it?"

"No. But I just, I feel bad. Your-"

"Don't even start with me Tom, it's fine really, I wouldn't do it if I didn't want to, it's not like its in my job discription or anything."

"I know..." Tom shifted slightly in the bed before groaning under his breath.

"What what is it man are you gonna pass out again or something?"

"No it's nothing like that..."

"Well what is it then?"

Drawing his lip into his mouth and sighing Tom rolled his eyes "I have to piss man."

"Ok so..."

"I'm worried about the draft, I mean... what if Judy walks in?"

Doug couldn't help but begin to laugh covering his mouth at his friends refering to the open backed hospital gown. "I'm sure she would get quite the eyeful!"

"HEY!"

"Sorry... sorry, do you want me to hold it closed for you? Or you could always use the bed pan."

"Bed Pan? Please at least let me keep a little dignity here Penhall!"

"Alright Alright, here let me give you a hand." He stood up once more and pulled the blankets down off his friends body.

"I'm gonna owe you big for all this help you know?"

"Oh no no..." He took his hand pulling him up and helping him off the bed. "Your first born should cover it."

"Well that's good to kno- Woooah." Tom blinked Gripping Dougs arm his feet wavering.

"It's alright I gottcha," He slid his arm around Tom's waist gripping the back of his gown, "Take it nice and easy... just set the pace..."

"My heads swimming..."

"That's because they've been flooding you with fluids..."

"Well if they flood me with any more of them Imight drowned."

"I doubt it." Doug laughed stepping forward and opening the bathroom door once they reached it. "Can you handle this?... Hold on to the side there..."

"Got it." Tom nodded as the door closed behind him and he began to do his business.

"You know fuller was telling me last night as soon as your ready he has the perfect case for us... Down at Hamilton there's some pretty heavy trafficing going on... We're gonna need a real thick cover..."

"You Don't mean..."

"THE MCQUAID BROTHERS HEH!" Both men said in unison as the toilet bowl flushed and Tom slowly emerged.

"Did you tell him we'd take it?"

"I told him I didn't think you would turn it down..."

"But?"

"But admission is next week."

"So?"

"I don't know if your going to be well enough." Doug gripped the back of the gown as the two men made it back towards the bed.

"I'll be ready..."

"Don't push yourself."

"I won't, but even you know I'm doing much better..."

"We have Coffee!" Hoffs voice sounded from the door way and both men turned to see her standing there.

A smile creeping across her face as she startled Penhall who accidently let go of the back of Hanson's gown.

"Doug!" Hanson growled suddenly feeling a draft working up his back side.

"What...Oh...oh god sorry man..."

Tom didn't answer with more than a glare as his cheeks reddened with embarrassment taking note of both Ioki and Fuller now staning behind his female co-worker.

"Oh come on Hanson. you act like we've never seen an ass before." Judy joked trying to make him feel better.

"Not mine you haven't." He snapped climbing into bed.

"This is true."

"So when-uh when can I go home?" He asked sheepishly wanting to change the subject.

"Doctor Carver said he'sd be bringing your papers in in about an hour then your free to go, how are you feeling?" Fuller asked stepping inside.

"Perfect coach!" Tom Grinned big showing more than a little falsity.

"Mhm. So I see Penhall told you about the Hamilton Case?"

"He did." Tom confirmed sitting up a little.

"I can always send Ioki in if your not ready to go back to work by then."

"NO! I'll be fine." He turned to Harry. "No offense man, but I've been dying to get my nose wet... I want back in the field so bad it's killing me."

"I know man"

"If your ready..."

"I will be." Tomstated again, "I'm feeling much better,..."

"The arrest of Mark Rafferty is scheduled for 2 days from now, I also figued you would want to be there for that, you know you''d want to watch"

"No coach, I don't want to watch... "

"You don't?"

"I want to be the one to arrest him." He stated matter of factly.

"That's my boy!" Penhall smiled crossing his arms over his chest grinning happy to be seeing this... to be experiancing this again, as he looked down at his best friend and for the first time in weeks... he truly knew everything was going to be alright.

11111111

Stay tuned for the conclusion! And I'm going to be Starting Single Bullet Tonight as well... so it will be here soon.