Chapter 27

Sue was sitting on one of the chairs in the I.C.U. waiting room with Bobby and Jack on either side of her. She had been upset about the condition they would found Tara in, so the guys had tried to be comforting. Now that she had come to grips with her friend's injuries, Jack and Bobby's attention was a bit overwhelming.

Over the years they worked together, Sue had gotten used to Jack's protectiveness and while at times she was flattered and other times it bother her, she'd learned a long time ago to ignore it. However, Bobby was like a pit bull when it came to the women in the unit hurting. Since he couldn't do anything right now for Tara, all of his concentration was focused on Sue and she found it quite claustrophobic. Knowing the men were just concerned about their friends, she decided to let it slide.

As one, the two men eyed the door when they heard it opening, hoping for some news since it had been so long since they had been kicked out of Tara's room. Seeing the change in the others' interest, Sue followed their gazes and saw Myles slowly being wheeled through by one of the nurses. Before they could make their way over to him, Myles had waved his hand for them to stay seated, allowing the nurse to push him in front of them in the waiting room.

"Thank you, Nurse Damre," Myles turned over his shoulder to give a half-hearted smile to the pretty woman behind him. "I'll get one of them to take me back in a minute," he assured her.

"I told you Agent Leland to call me Tracey," the nurse told him firmly. "Remember, Dr. Stevens said you are to get some rest in YOUR room now and you can come back to visit later today."

"I know," Myles sighed reluctantly, watching her return to the I.C.U. before turning back to his friends, waiting for the questions.

"How's Tara?" Jack asked eagerly.

"Fine, they took the breathing tube out and she's sleeping now," he groaned tiredly. "Hopefully, she'll be asleep for a while; she's been through a lot."

"Well, you don't look like you've been to a Sunday picnic either, mate,"

"I'll be fine," Myles shrugged nonchalantly. "Interesting last couple of days," he admitted.

"So what happened, Myles?" Sue questioned, practically begging for answers. "You were only sent to Pittsburgh to testify in the Dickerson case. How did it go from that to this?" she indicated the I.C.U. doors with her hand.

With a sigh, Myles began explaining the last several days to his friends. He watched the various emotions pass across their faces as he told them of the accident and the run in with the deputy. Myles had to hold back his amusement, and embarrassment, as he recalled the way Tara, Danni, and Annie had successfully apprehended both the men.

"Woohoo, you mean three shelias had to save you, Harvard?" Bobby teased, earning himself a glare from Jack and Myles. Sue did not see what he had said but looking at the other men's faces, she stopped herself from asking him to repeat it.

"So what happened to Deputy Webster and that other man?" Sue asked, trying not to smile at Bobby's red face as he realized what he had said. Bobby always liked to joke around with Myles, but he never would purposely say anything to hurt him and he obviously was in pain now, not all of it physical.

"When we were finally able to get off the mountain, Danni, Craig, and Annie took care of turning them over to the State Police," Myles continued slowly, turning back to Sue. "Tara had been unconscious for a while so they loaded us up in a helicopter and brought us down here. I didn't think she was going to make it," he admitted, lowering his eyes to his hands as he choked on the emotions returning.

What would I have done if I had lost her? Myles wondered as he struggled to restrain the feelings surging inside him. He hated losing control in front of the others. It was so unlike him. What does Tara really mean to me? he thought. Can it be more than just friendship?

"Hey, Bobby," Sue called as she watched the waves of emotion passing over the blonde agent's features. With a meaningful look at Jack, she requested of the tall Aussie next to her, "Come, buy me a coffee in the cafeteria."

Before Bobby could protest, Sue had grabbed him by the arm and was pulling him towards the elevator. With a worried glance over her shoulder, Sue stepped into the elevator, her arm wrapped through Bobby's as he looked at her in confusion.

"Okay, Myles, it's just us now," Jack began as the elevator doors slide shut. "Talk to me. I've never seen you this agitated before," he stated concerned. Everyone was troubled by Tara's condition but for Myles, it seemed to be more.

"It's just been very trying," Myles muttered softly, refusing to look at the dark haired man across from him. "Maybe I should go back to my room and get some sleep before Tara wakes up," he asserted hoping that Jack would let it drop.

"Okay," Jack agreed, but instead of getting up, he continued to sit staring at the other man. "But first I need to know something from you," Jack waited for him to look up. "What exactly is the relationship between you and Tara?" he questioned firmly.

"Ah, we're friends," Myles stammered surprised by this line of questioning. Too close to what he was wondering himself, Myles wanted to flee so he didn't have to confront his feelings.

"Something else is going on, Myles, and I want an explanation," Jack demanded causing the other man to look up at him sharply. "The way we found you asleep with your head on her bed, the way you were looking at each other back there," he paused, searching Myles' face. "Are you sure there's nothing romantically going on?"

Myles stared a Jack, a bit rattled by his questions. They were so close to what he was feeling inside that it scared him. What would happen to our careers if I did pursue these feelings? he wondered. Does Tara even feel the same way?