The doctor had just finished her assessment; Alice was clear to go. The only condition was for someone to pick her up. After a concussion, there was no way she would just hop on a taxi or an uber all alone. She grabbed her phone, wondering who she should call. She did not know many people since she moved to Burbanks. Her finger brushed the screen and clicked on the most recent contact that called her no longer than yesterday.

"Yes?" the grumpy voice on the other side of the phone said.

"John? It's Alice. Can you pick me up at the hospital? The doctor won't let me go if someone is not getting me," she replied.

"Are you okay? Which hospital?" he said trying to hide the worry in his voice.

"Westside Medical. Yeah, some dude crashed my car and left the scene. I am fine, just a few scratches," she lied.

"I'll be there as soon as possible," he said before hanging up.

Alice grabbed her purse and her jacket and exited her room, but the doctor stopped her.

"I can't let you go alone, I already told you Miss Miller."

"My euh.. friend is coming to get me, I was going to wait downstairs," she replied.

"Your friend will have to come up here for me to sign your release," the doctor concluded.

She walked back to her room and sat on the bed. She grabbed her phone and texted John to come up to room 406 when he'll get there.

Not more than 15 minutes later, Casey was asking for Alice at the front desk of the fourth floor.

"John?" the doctor said as she came closer.

"Ellie, what a surprise," John replied.

"So you are Alice Miller's friend?" she asked, her smile widening as she always enjoyed being the first to know all the gossips.

"Yeah, how is she?" he cut short.

"Not so bad considering her car is a total lost; mild concussion, few scratches. The police will start an investigation from what the paramedics that brought her in told me. They seem to think she was hit intentionally. After a concussion, it's better not to be alone since I do not recommend she sleeps until tonight. But knowing the police will be doing a heavier surveillance around her house, I thought it would be even better not to be alone," Ellie said.

"And you are telling me all this because she doesn't know all the details?" John asked.

"Yeah, the police officers had to leave and they will call her later today. So you are good to stay with her today?"

As he nodded, she walked him toward her room. She raised her head from the screen of her phone as his familiar figure appeared in the doorframe. His blue eyes focussed on her, scanning her from head to toes. She could not help but smile as she felt his gaze lingering on her figure. She got up as he walked toward her.

"Are you okay? You look like shit," John said.

"Charming as always. Can we go now? I just want to take a shower and sleep," she replied.

"I think we are good, right Ellie?" Casey asked

"You know each other?" Alice wondered as she heard the familiarity between them.

"Hi, let me introduce me once more; I'm Ellie Bartowski, John is my neighbor and he works with my brother Chuck."

"Nice to meet you," Alice replied.

"We are having a party for my fiance's birthday this Saturday. Of course, you are both welcome," she said warmly.

"If I am feeling better, we'll try to make it work," Alice replied, as John tried to hid the fact he wanted to roll his eyes in the back of his head.

The couple walked toward the elevator and Alice looked John up and down.

"What?" he said.

"I never thought I would say this to anyone but you look damn good in that green polo and chino pants. You never told me you worked at Buy More."

"You never asked."

"This is really far from what I pictured you doing for a living," she said laughing as the elevator doors opened. Two men in black suits exited on the fourth floor, so they moved to the side to let them pass, before they entered. John looked closely at those men, thinking it was weird.

"What did you think I do?"

"My guess would have been military. Or maybe a cop. This would normally be my type of man. You still fit that casting, you know."

"Maybe l'll dress up for you, if this is something you'd like," he whispered in her ear as they exited the elevator.

She smiled widely as they walked toward his Crown Victoria parked in front of the hospital. He held the car door open for her and scanned the perimeter as he walked around his car. A black Yukon parked in the street, with a man in a black suit again. This is weird. He mentally noted the licence plate; he would call Sarah and ask her to run it in the database in the Castle as soon as he could.