Back at the Squad, everybody was waiting for a word on how Alex was doing. It was quiet in the firehouse. Nobody could think about preparing lunch, let alone eat it. DK got up to get yet another cup of coffee. His mouth already felt as if little furry animals were using his tongue as a camp site. But at least it gave him something to do. Even if it was just for a few seconds.

"Dammit!" Lombardo cursed, making everybody jump.

"They have to know something by now!"

Doc shook his head.
"This kind of surgery always takes a while…"

"But there has to be something we can do…anything…" DK said.

They all looked up when Lieutenant Johnson was coming out of his office. He, too, looked tired, worried.

"I talked to dispatch. We're covered for a while. If you wanna go back to Mercy…"

Within moments, everybody was in the truck, with Logan driving this time, since their chauffeur was at Mercy Hospital as well.

Walsh woke with a start. It took him a moment to realise where he was. How long had he been sleeping? He could feel his heart pounding. The neck of the jacket was clam with sweat. Billy turned around to see DK next to him. Johnson was there too, as well as the rest of the Squad. The waiting area was crowded with FDNY.

Then it hit him. He had to tell them. Tell them that Alex Taylor was dead. Billy didn't know how or if he would have the strength to do that. But maybe they already knew. Maybe that was why they were here.

He sat up straight, as if to try to strengthen himself for the task that lay before him.

"Alex…she…" He couldn't. Couldn't bring himself to say it. As if it would become real if he would say it out loud. But before he could say anything more, a doctor approached them. He was wearing blue scrubs, just like the one before. Billy felt trapped in a major déjà-vu.

"Are you with Ms Taylor?" the doctor asked.

Johnson stepped aside, so Billy could come forward. They all knew how much Alex meant to Walsh, so he should be the one to hear first. The rest of the Squad moved behind him.

"She was seriously injured. We had to revive her…"

Billy shook his head. He could see that man's lips moving, but the words didn't make any sense. He had been through this before. He turned around to face Johnson. His Lieutenant always gave him strength, just by being there.

"She's in recovery now."

"What?" Billy thought he had heard wrongly.
"We're sure she will make a full recovery, although it will take a while…," the doctor added.

"You don't know our Alex, doc!" DK said and smiled.

"Can…can I see her…please?" Billy had found his voice back. It had been a dream, all a bad dream. Alex was alive and he needed to see her to believe it.

"No visitors allowed in recovery," the doctor started, but when he saw Walsh's face and the hopeful faces of the others surrounding him, he sighed.

"Only a few minutes, okay!"