Getting close for me to leave so I'm trying to wrap this up.

I know these last chapters have been a little slow, but it's going to be better soon.

I had asked the woman who had gotten me my room how to the get the hospital and I was on my way there. I was fidgeting from nerves as walked. The hospital was large brick building. The whole place had a morbid look to it. There were no people coming in or out. I felt as if this was a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from. I pulled open the heavy black door and walked in.

A male receptionist sat behind the wooden desk. "Can I help you ma'am?"

Don't cry. Don't cry. I told myself over and over, but it wasn't any use as I felt my eyes moisten. "Is Captain Joseph Shay here?"

The receptionist frowned and terror coursed through my blood. I held my breath and felt my heart skip a beat.

"Well yes, but visiting hours are over, hun." He said. I almost laughed at the relief I felt, knowing the Captain was alive. The tears that were meant to be from fear now became tears of joy. As the part about not being able to see him sunk in, I frowned slightly.

"Please, I'm his daughter."

"You'll have to wait until tomorrow. The hours are noon until two. As you can see," He pointed to a clock hung on the wall behind him. "It is 5 o'clock."

"You have to let me!" I said, getting angry.

"No." He said trying to sound like that was definite. Trust me, I wouldn't let it be.

"Listen," I got in his face and poked his chest. "You are going to let me in. I did not take a train from New York for someone to tell me I can't see my father. And even if I had, you, sir, would not want to be the person to tell me that."

"I-I can't. He's asleep." He backed away from me.

"I don't give a damn." I said through clenched teeth. In an ironically angelic voice I continued, "Now, be a peach and take me to his ward."

"Yes ma'am." He sulked, defeated. I followed him through a dull corridor. "This is his room."

"Thanks." I said shortly and pushed past him.

The ward was white and plain. The cleanliness of the air was unusual to me. The Captain was laid out on a bed while a nurse looked at his side and shook her head from the left to the right.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked. She looked startled as she noticed me for the first time.

"Who are you?" She snapped her head up, revealing soft features on a heart shaped and blond curls.

"His daughter." I quickly added, "Please don't throw me out. I won't wake him up. I haven't seen him since the accident, I was in New York."

"Well," She looked thoughtful as her sympathetic look met my my pleading one. "You can stay, but only for an hour. Don't wake him up either."

I walked further into the room and sat on a chair opposite the nurse. "Do you know what happened?"

"Yes." I looked at her expectantly. "In a shortened version, he was running several drills when a younger crew member accidentally shot him in the side."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

"Is he going to be alright?"

"I hope so. When they brought him here the wound was infected. If if heals up right, he should be back to normal within a few weeks. Until then we'll do our best to clean it up and make sure he gets plenty of rest." She said, still looking at me sympathetically.

I wasn't sure what to say, so I simply nodded.

"I suppose we'll be seeing each other often if he's your father." She said and held out a friendly hand. "I'm Charlotte."

"Mary." I took her hand and smiled even though I wanted anything as much as I wanted her to go away right then.

"I'd love to stay and chat," Oh, please don't. "But I've got to go. Lots of work to do." She left in a hurry. Once she closed the door behind her I couldn't help but think, 'Finally.'

Taking the Captain's hand in my own, I whispered "Daddy?"

His eyes blinked open immediately. "Finally, though she'd never leave." He said as if there wasn't a flesh wound in his side. I felt my eyes grow wide.

"Daddy?"

"Heh, the last time you called me daddy, you were six years old."

I shrugged. "Are you gonna be alright?" It might have been a stupid question, but if anyone besides God knew he would be that person.

He nodded reassuringly. "Can you believe me? A week in the Navy and I've already got a Purple Heart and resigned."

"You resigned? You can do that?" I asked wanting to hug him.

"I don't know but I did. I didn't sign anything yet so..." He trailed off. "Anyways, I already wrote Leo to see if he wanted to get back in business."

"Where's he been?" It should have been more odd to be having a casual conversation with him, but neither of us were much into melodrama, so it seemed natural.

"Pittsburgh, building ships."

"Oh, but of course." I laughed. I couldn't imagine Leo doing anything not related to sailing.

We talked about everything from the day we separated to that day. I made a point of leaving the incident with Skittery out. As time passed by I didn't want to leave, but eventually the nurse refused to listen to another, "Five more minutes?" from either of us.

"Goodnight Mary."

"'Night Captain. See ya tomorrow."

I left that hospital feeling the best I had in days.