Chapter 38

Movement by the wall startled Sue as Myles stepped out of the shadows. His drawn face and tired eyes propelled her forward to pull him into a comforting embrace. They stood there for several minutes, just taking solace in each other's arms while the others watch silently from the door.

Stepping back, Sue pulled him into the light so she could see him better. Brushing a hand through his sleep disheveled hair, Myles took her hands in his, thankful for the contact, uncaring who was watching.

"Are you okay?" Sue asked, the pain was evident in the tall agent's eyes as he looked at her. Her heart broke at the anguish she knew he must be feeling.

"I should have been there," he insisted quietly. "When Tara needed me most, I wasn't there," he desperately blinked back the tears that threatened.

"You were there when she needed you…up on the mountain," Sue maintained, squeezing his hands reassuringly. "You couldn't have known what was going to happen last night," she told him. "You're still recovering yourself so you needed your rest too."

"But…" Myles started only to have Sue put her hand up cutting him off.

Before she could say anything, Sue saw his eyes widen and his head snap around. Following his eyes to the bed, she saw him take Tara's outstretched hand in both of his, bringing them to his lips.

"Sue's right, Myles," Tara stated firmly, her hazel eyes locking with his. "You've been my salvation…my hero while I was hurt in the mountains, and the first couple of days here at the hospital, but you're not perfect…no matter how hard you try," she grinned slightly, but her eyes full of resolve.

"Better not argue with her, Myles," Jack quipped, placing his hand on Sue's shoulder letting her know he was talking. "Looks like she might just get out of that bed and take you out if you do," he smirked, pulling Sue close in a friendly embrace noticing her watery smile at his comment.

"I wouldn't think of it," Myles whispered for Tara's ears only, forgetting momentarily that Sue could read what he said as he stepped into the light shining around her bed.

"What do we have to do, sheila, to keep you out of trouble?" Bobby beamed from beside Jack, waving his hand unconsciously to get Sue's attention. "I'd have thought a twenty-four hour guard would have done it, but you've got to go and prove that theory wrong, don't you," he said trying to keep the conversation light.

"Truthfully, I thought THAT would do it too," Tara agreed wirily. "I'm just thankful Shelby came in when she did or I'd be flambéed now," she stated solemnly, indicating the woman in the bed beside her.

Sue stepped closer to bed where the woman slept, both hands wrapped in thick white gauze. Her brunette hair stood out in stark contrast to her pale face, marred only by a bruise to her forehead.

"Is she going to be okay?" Sue asked, turning back to Tara and Myles. The young girl had been so pleasant to Sue when she stayed with Tara, and now to have hurt herself saving one of her best friends, Sue hoped the injuries weren't serious.

"Shelby burnt her hands pretty bad in the fire trying to get Tara untangled from all the machines she was hooked up to," Myles finally tore his eyes away from the blonde in the bed to look at Sue. "She'd gotten Tara out and went back to turn off the oxygen regulator in the panel just outside the room, when the oxygen exploded, throwing her against the wall," he informed them, his eyes darting quickly over the still form they all had to thank for saving the petite agent.

"She'd gotten the regulator off so the fire didn't spread through the walls via the oxygen tanks, but she's got a concussion and a few cracked ribs," Tara supplied. "If not for her, the damage would have been a lot more, and we could have had several fatalities," she finished, looking at Shelby, knowing she owed her life to the young woman.

"They've sedated her because of the pain from the burns, but she should be fine in a few weeks," Myles continued. "Jack, is there something we can do for her while she recovers?" he asked all of the sudden.

"She's going to have a hard time until her hands heal," Tara concurred, her eyes looking pleadingly at Jack.

"I'll talk to Garrett and see what we can do for her," Jack promised. "Thank God she was there when she was," his eyes skimming the sleeping woman, knowing everyone else in the room agreed.