Panting by the time she reached the foyer she turned to go into her office stopping dead in her tracks as she caught sight of the man propped up against her secretary's desk trying to reach the phone.

'Gavin-' she started, unspeakably relieved at finding him alive.

'Meredith' he cut her off, closing his eyes and gulping hard, the excruciating pain overcoming him for a second, as he staggered toward her.

'I'm here!' she gushed, taking his arm and throwing it round her shoulder to support him, squeezing his hand so tightly the blood rushing to his fingertips 'Thank god your alright, if anything had...'

'I know, I know' he soothed, running the fingers on his other hand through her hair, fondly kissing the top of her head, before wrapping his arm round her waist, as the nausea intensified. 'Well, not quite alright' he reluctantly admitted, gazing into her eyes as his vision blurred momentarily, before indicating to the gaping gash in his side.

'Gavin!' Meredith gasped, he was bleeding heavily from his left side, just below the ribs. 'What has he done?!'

'Ill be alright, I could just do with a sit down'

'Here, let me help you' she offered, shuffling towards one of her luxury Italian white sofas, but as she tried to turn him to seat him down, the dizziness overcame them both, initially landing on the couch as planned, but subsequently sliding off onto the floor.

When he was sitting, leaning as steadily as she could hope for against the sofa, she braved a closer look at his wound. Gulping hard, unfastened the bottom few buttons on his shirt, an undertaking she performed more carefully than usual, and on lifting his shirt up, gasped, immediately letting the material drop from her fingers to draw her gravely injured lover into her arms.

'Hey, steady on, its not as bad as it looks you know, just a nick' he joked, but unable to hide this burdensome task

'Don't give me that Gavin, it looks pretty deep from where I'm sitting!' she scolded as she rose up onto her knees grabbing at one of the miniature cushions now not so neatly arranged on the sofa behind them, and pressing it hard against his side, suppressing a satisfied smile as he winced. 'I need to apply some pressure'

'I know'

'Of course, this isn't the first time you've tried to play the hardman and got yourself shot is it?' she said, rather more harshly than she intended to, but it was a good indicator of the fury she felt at him having to have this cavalier attitude.

'Well no...' he began sheepishly 'But I wasn't trying to play the hard man, or the hero before you even start, I was just trying to save the woman and .... ahhh' he didn't get chance to finish his sentence, as a paralysing pain shot through him, his handsome face clouded in confusion and agony as he realised that his injury may not be as superficial as first thought.

Evidently now under intense strain, he continued 'Look, despite everything that's gone on-'

'Shhhh, theres no need-' she assured him, tenderly placing two fingers over his lips to silence him voicing any apologies, there were none needed.

Tentatively planting a faint kiss, before dragging her hand away, determined to say his piece. 'Theres every need, I need you to do something for me.'

'Anything, of course.' She started, missing completely his more earnest tone. 'Water?' she suggested, coaxing him with a nervous nod, before attempting to whirl around, 'Don't worry, Giles has already rung for the ambulance ...' Meredith trailed off, reaching out for the water jig on her desk.

However, she only managed to budge a few inches, as Gavin, his breathing now seriously laboured and at great personal discomfort threw himself forward to grasp her hand tightly. 'Leave it!' he cried frustratedly, so much so, Meredith's head shot towards him, her expression shocked.

'Please?' he added graciously, loosening his iron grip to caress her palm, before threading his fingers through hers, which to his delight brought that unforgettable smile back.

'Now, I need you to do something, because I'm not sure if ...' he trailed off she still managed to captivate him with her wide-eyed gaze. 'Promise me, that our child ...' pausing again, placing his hand on her womb, as Meredith took in a deep breath, that moment filled her with the most extraordinary sense of completeness, but that was before his next words threatened to shatter this. '...will know who their father was?'

'Was?' she retorted, for a moment, utterly bemused at his use of the past tense, nervously exhaling, shaking her head furiously, only slowing when she looked deep into his eyes, which led hers to her hand, covered in his thick crimson blood, his Armani shirt now sodden, her white carpet beginning to resemble a bloodbath. If the fear in his eyes hadn't told her enough, this sight instantly plunged her into turmoil, as she realised the gravity of the situation, an eventuality she couldn't bring herself to contemplate, the thought of which leading to a torrent tearful outburst.

'Nu-uh, NO, you are NOT getting out of it that easily, not when I need you the most!' she cried, without thinking taking her hand from his side, clasping his head in her hands, placing the most passionate of desperation- fuelled kisses on his lips. The second she removed her right hand, the blood gushed out of his open lesion, with a terrible shot of pain invoking a painful groan, which Gavin quickly disguised as one of pleasure as he arduously wrapped his arms around Meredith's waist, and with all his remaining strength pulled her next to him, gripping her shoulder blades.

However, the throbbing rapidly became too much, forcing him to release her, to cover the bullet hole himself. Finally relinquishing his lips, Meredith realised what she'd done, placing her hands on his, applying pressure to the gash in a bid to relieve as much suffering as she could. 'Darling I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to I just ... I ... I!' she trailed off, her feeling of helplessness diminishing her power of speech, now she all she could do was sob.

On seeing her distress, is own hurting intensified (if that was possible when you've just been shot), but stifling this, and his own thoughts of impending doom, in typical Gavin Cochran style, he tried putting her at ease 'Don't be, I'm rather glad you did!' Giving her a brave smile and a crafty wink, as by now this was all the movement he could muster.

Despite invoking a giggle, his attempt did little to lighten her mood, as she took one of her hands off the top of the pile to clasp her mouth to hide her cries of premature grief from him. However, the tell tale tears were streaming down her face, now pooling against her thumb and forefinger. They weren't easily disguised either, as funnily enough she hadn't had the foresight to wear waterproof mascara, not that she owned any, never having cried, well in public at least.

Realising that sarcasm was most certainly not the order of this day, Gavin took a deep breath, and decided to take the leap over to sincerity. 'You don't need me.' At this, Meredith stopped whining, her eyes widening at such a bold statement. 'You never needed me-'

'I do, I can't do this on my own, not without you!'

'You can, you can my love (frailly stroking her arm, before taking a firmer hold) ... you'll make a wonderful mother... (this was too much for her, as she let out a little yelp) ... your strong, your brilliant ... beautiful (raising it to trace the out line of her face, his eyes longingly raking over her striking features, as if for the last time) ... so beautiful!'

Meredith curled her hand around his against her cheek, not even batting an eyelid as she moved to kiss his blood stained hand, her eyes locked on his, which to her horror, soon after slightly rolled back, as his eyelids closed. For a second she just froze, entirely unable to function, her heart skipping several beats as she automatically assumed the worst. He wasn't moving, he wasn't speaking, he wasn't ... she didn't have the strength to check if he was still breathing. 'My god' she spluttered , doing everything she could to stop herself hurling. 'GAVIN!' she screamed at the motionless father of her child.

However, he didn't remain motionless for very long, as she grabbed his shoulders, vigorously shaking him, as she continued 'Don't you dare, DON'T YOU FUCKING WELL DARE, LEAVE ME HERE LIKE THIS GAVIN COCHRAN! Do you hear me? DO YOU HEAR ME?!'

Giles who had just about managed to clear the gallery and had waited at its door for the paramedics to arrive, increased his speed as he could hear her screams from the office, crashing thought the door shortly followed by the ambulance crew, flying passed John Raymont who hadn't moved since the first shots rang out, to Meredith. She now had her arms around Gavin's neck, her head resting on his shoulder, whispering into his ear 'Please, please don't leave me.'

As she was clearly obstructing the medical professionals from doing their job, Giles slowly loosened her constricted grip, pulling her back kicking and screaming, as she heard an electronical whirring, before one of the paramedics yelled 'clear' and there was a flash and out the corner of her eye, she caught Gavin's body, reacting to the shock.

Giles desperately tried to get a hold of his distraught friend, when he'd managed it, he held he firmly (though not squeezing her stomach too tightly), suddenly coming out with the most ludicrous of reassurances 'Its alright, its going to be alright, just calm down'

This did not have the intended effect, the opposite being amplified as there was a second call of 'clear' shortly followed by another of the team shouting to Giles 'Can we get her out of here?'

'NO we cant get HER out of here!' Meredith seethed, running her clawed fingers through her hair, Giles approaching her once again her trying to edge her towards the door, stepping back slightly as she thrust her hands out to stop him. 'NO! I'm not going ANYWHERE without him, how can things ever be alright when he's lying THERE?!'

Suddenly, much to Giles amazement, she stumbled over to one of the glorious post-modern canvas works on her wall and with a large zipping sound, tore a huge rip down the centre of it, and was about to do the same to its twin, the other side of the door.

''WHAT are you doing?!' Giles cried, aghast at this butchery.

'It means NOTHING Giles, all of this means absolutely NOTHING with out him!' she declared as she turned around, pointing to Gavin.

However, when she looked, she saw that the person she was actually pointing at was a in a fluorescent yellow uniform. 'Miss?' he enquired

'Get out of my way!' Meredith warned, assuming he'd been sent to anaesthetise her or something.

'We've found a pulse, its somewhat faint, but its steady, its healthy' he assured her.

Dumbstruck, Meredith peered round the portly gentleman skimming over the two paramedics who were stretchering the Guardian's former Art Critic away, before seeing a lady packing away the electro-pads and another placing a mask, attached to a mobile respirator over Gavin's face. A moment ago, she had not very gallantly resigned herself to the fact that the person she had that very evening realised she couldn't be without, she would have to live without but now... now she went weak at the knees, a quick thinking Giles once again there to catch her, as she collapsed against him.

'We'll get him on to a stretcher now and whisk him off to Kensington AE.' the man informed Giles. 'The wife I presume? Better get her on some Prozac!'

'Well actually, she's not the wife...' Giles started.

'Ah I see, excuse me, would you like anything then?' he asked a stunned Giles.

'Um no, No! I don't think you understand, she's not his wife, well, not yet anyway - he was about to do the honours ... and she's pregnant, so possibly not Prozac.'

'Ahhhh I see, don't worry sir, take it from me, they're always over- emotional at the best of times, we'll just give her time to come round' he smiled, turning back to help his colleague manoeuvre Gavin.

'But I can go in the ambulance cant I?' a more calm and collected, yet still tearful Meredith spoke up, wrenching her head from Giles' chest.

'If you behave yourself!' he answered, nodding at the new improvement to her artwork, before taking hold of Gavin's shoulders and after '1,2,3' sliding him onto the stretcher.

'Well, that's easier said than done isn't it M?' Giles taunted, for which he received a playful punch, followed by a bone-crunching hug, before Meredith dashed to Gavin's side, thanking each of the medical team in turn, with such sincerity and warm-feeling he had never seen her display to strangers.

Once in the Ambulance, the pair were left alone, well, except for one of the female crew who Meredith was more than grateful to be at their side, just incase things took a turn for the worst. However, thankfully it was a relatively uneventful journey, until as they drew into the hospital grounds, there came a faint 'Don't be ridiculous woman, they're worth millions.'

Meredith carefully opened her eyes, her head resting on her folded arms which one hand resting on the bar of Gavin's bed, the other interlocked with his, now experiencing a soft squeeze. Initially she thought she was dreaming, or that the mild sedative they'd given her was actually pretty strong stuff.

She couldn't have been more wrong, as an unmistakable voice croaked out 'Don't worry about the Matisse, I've got a Mondrian that was made to hang on that wall.'

'You bastard! Do you have any idea what I've been through?!' Meredith hollered, resisting the temptation to add a head injury to his current list of ailments.

'Indeed, I and half of the Northern Hemisphere heard you!' Gavin retorted cheekily, glancing at the woman paramedic sat next to her, who couldn't help but agree with him, before getting up and moving passed the pair to open the doors.

'Well if you think that was bad enough, you wanna see what you've done to my "Alpine Snow" carpet!' scolded Meredith, seizing her opportunity to run her free hand through his hair, placing a lingering kiss his forehead, as his breathing still required some assistance.

'Funny, I didn't notice, I'll just have to thoroughly assess the damage, close up, next time we're there' he added looking up into her eyes for the first time since regaining consciousness.

'We?' she scoffed as the paramedic crossed between them to seize the bed, pushing it through the open doors into the waiting arms of the casualty team.

'Aren't married couples supposed to try 'new' things together?' he called out, turning his head to the side to gauge her reassuringly relaxed reaction before being swept off into the hospital.

'Mrs Cochrane?'

'Yes?' Meredith found herself replying, without hesitance.

I'll show you to the relatives' room, your husband is in very good hands.' The polite young porter assured her, as she descended from the ambulance. 'Right this way.'

- - - -

"DCI Carol Jordan, this is DS Merrick we're here to speak to a Mr Gavin Cochran!" The female detective instructed as she flashed her badge at the ward's night sister.

"Urghh, well I'll have to check if he's out of surgery..." The nurse stuttered, fumbling around with a large green file. "No he went in an hour ago....And it'll be quite some time before he is properly conscious, it might be better if you came back in the morning."

"We need to speak to him as soon as possible, we'll wait!" Carol snapped waving Don over and storming off to the relatives room a scowl on her usually attractive face, this was all she needed to loose yet another nights sleep over Cochrane, but this time in an uncomfortable waiting room drinking vile vending machine coffee, by now she should really know better and bring her own flask of espresso. Pushing open the door she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.

"Ms Gates!" Carol gasped out; Meredith was the last person she expected to see.

"DCI Jordan." Meredith relied coolly, sitting back into her seat as she sipped at a glass of water.

"What are you doing here?" Carol blurted out, at once her trained eye noting the extensive bloodstains on the other woman's designer dress and she had to resist the desire to smirk, there was no way even dry cleaning would get that lot out.

"Well this is the relative's room is it not...So let us assume my presence here means I'm visiting a relative." Meredith retorted smoothly, causing Carol's eyebrow to automatically shoot up, Meredith had obvious spent far too much time around Gavin as she had picked up his deliberately obtuse form of answering.

"I wasn't aware you and Mr Cochrane were related?" Carol queried.

"Oh we are...You see he's my fiancé and the father of my child." Meredith rebutted watching as that news sank in before continuing. "And you're here because...?"

"We need to talk to him about tonight's events and his group's unplanned intervention..."

"Not his group!" Meredith snapped. "He had nothing to with that debacle!"

"But he was placed at the scene..."

"Oh I don't suppose you would have heard but before his arrival at the 'scene' there was a little internal restructuring. The man you're looking for is Danny Abrams."

"Danny is now in charge!" Carol exclaimed.

"Yes, although I am surprised you didn't realise this when Danny was brought in the ambulance, there were plenty of witnesses that will attest it was him and not Gavin, even with a mask on there are notable differences."

"Like height for example." Carol needled, watching as Meredith defensively bristled.

"Well now that you know why don't you go question Abrams and leave the rest of us in peace?"

"Oh we'll get to him...But first I'd like to talk to you about one John Raymont."

- - - -

A few hours later a still somewhat groggy Gavin began to drift back into consciousness, at first all he could make out were patches of light and dark but then after a few minutes of staring his vision grew clearer and he was able to make out the distinctive flash of jet black curls against the stark white of the hospital sheets. Reaching out he ignored the sting of the needle in the back of his hand and deliberately ran his fingers through her hair, smiling to himself as Meredith reflexively moaned and nuzzled into his touch.

"Wake up sleepy head." Gavin mumbled teasingly, stroking the side of her face and watching as she slowly came around, and it suddenly struck him this was the first time in their entire relationship he had watched her wake up.

"Too Early...." Meredith mumbled rubbing her eyes with the sleeve of his jacket that was still slung around her shoulders.

"Oh well if you don't want to talk to me and make sure I'm alright..." Gavin trailed off, watching with delight as his words sank in and Meredith suddenly realised both when and where she was.

"Gavin you're awake!"

"Well yes that much is self evident!" He began playfully only cut off when an extremely relieved Meredith threw herself at him pulling the still sore Gavin into a crushing embrace. "Darling I know you were worried but surely suffocating me is hardly going to help matters..."

"DON'T YOU EVER, EVER, DO THAT TO ME AGAIN GAVIN COCHRANE!" Meredith exclaimed bossily watching as her fiancé nodded amiably ignoring her irritated tone and still grinning benignly at her which only added fuel to the fire. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes dear." Gavin sniggered. "I am just so delighted that you've slipped into the role of wife so easily, I mean nagging already and we aren't even married."

"Yes and with cheek like that we may never be!" Meredith warned.

"Oh no you're not backing out of this now, you got your hand on it it's a gentleman's agreement a verbal contract and I have witnesses..."

"So even if I change my mind you're determined to hold me to my word is that it?"

"You bet it baby!" Gavin added softly seizing her hand and holding it prisoner in his, although Meredith didn't appear to object in the slightest. "You and me...and the little one of course, against the whole world!"

"Including certain ex-employees of yours and some particularly belligerent police detectives..." Meredith added tersely.

"Oh let me guess DCI Jordon!" Gavin spat, his eyes widening in surprise when out of the ether a certain recognisable voice rang out.

"I never knew psychic was on your list of qualifications Mr Cochran?" Carol's voice rang out.

"Well if it is then official party pooper must be on yours." Gavin retorted evilly. "What is it now DCI Jordan got another unsolved crime you want to pin on me rather than take the time to find the real killers?"

"Oh no not this time Mr Cochran, this time we're only interested in charging with crimes we know you've committed!"

"Oh really?" Gavin scoffed. "What is it this time, kidnapping the Easter bunny?"

"No...Gavin Cochran I'm arresting you for the unlawful killing of a one John Raymont, you do not have to say anything but anything you do say may be taken down and used against you in a court of law. Now Mr Cochran you have the right to legal representation..."

"No..." Meredith exclaimed getting to her feet. "You can't do this I told you it was an accident he saved my life! You told me it would be alright that there would be no reason to charge him!"

"A man is still dead Ms Gates and someone is accountable, now if you would be so kind as to step outside we have some questions we need to ask Mr Cochran."

"I'm not leaving, he's in no fit state and he has the right to have a solicitor present, you can't question him until he does!" Meredith hissed deliberately moving to block them from the still weak Gavin.

"Meredith." Gavin whispered warningly reaching over and tugging on her nearest hand.

"No Gavin, I will not let her do this!" Meredith replied softly giving his hand a loving squeeze before turning her death glare back on DCI Jordan.

"Ms Gates if you don't leave willingly then I will have to arrest you for obstructing police business!" Carol warned.

"Then that's what you'll have to do because you are not questioning him until his solicitor is here as his next of kin I flatly refuse to allow it and I can assure you his doctors will not permit it either!"

"Fine!" Carol snapped turning on her heel and indicating for Don to proceed her out of the room. "But we will be just outside the door; I suggest you get right on the phone to that solicitor because the moment the doctors give the ok we'll be moving you to the station."

"Ahh Home from home!" Gavin retorted mockingly.

"Just don't go getting comfortable!" Carol snapped before leaving and slamming the door behind her.

"Gavin what..." Meredith began tearfully but one look from her fiancé silenced her and instead she sat gingerly down beside him on the bed covering his hand with her own and bringing it up to her lips.

"It'll be fine!" Gavin insisted. "This isn't your fault, if it wasn't me then they'd try and pin this on you, anything to make themselves look better after there initial blunder, it'll be another matter entirely in court so don't worry I'll be there only until I can get a bail hearing."

"But that could be days, weeks even!" Meredith whimpered.

"We've been through worse!" Gavin retorted. "What's a few more weeks? That is unless you can't wait for me any longer?"

"Of course I will, it's just I thought that would be the end of it."

"And it will! I promise!" Gavin whispered.

"Then it'll be all behind us, all of it?" Meredith asked. "Even Abrams and that thirst for revenge I can see burning away."

"I swear, the police can deal with him, we'll get through this Raymont business and before you know it we'll be home and looking forward to our baby...Now take my organiser and go phone my solicitor we need to start getting this sorted!"

Sighing Meredith leant forward and kissed him tenderly on the lips, unable to suppress a giggle when Gavin automatically deepened it.

"I thought you were supposed to be playing ill for the doctors?"

"Well if you don't go telling them..." Gavin whispered pulling her back into his embrace, until moments later she reluctantly pulled away heading towards the door before blowing him a kiss.

"Don't go anywhere!" Meredith cooed.

"I'll try not to!" Gavin retorted cheekily, winking at her as she slipped out into the corridor.

"Is he ready to talk yet?" Don's voice rang out as soon as Meredith stepped out into the sterilised corridor.

"Not to you he's not...Why don't you go hassle Abrams, surely he is more important at the moment?" Meredith snapped.

"Oh we would if we could!" Don replied cryptically.

"What?" Meredith demanded whirling round her eyes wide with fright. "He's not..."

"Dead? No...Missing is what he is, mysteriously disappeared from A & E, we've got people out searching...." Don trailed off.

"So he's still out there, he could be anywhere...." Meredith trailed off the rest of her words catching in her throat as the realisation struck her, it wasn't over, it might never be really over.