A/N: 6 of 6 'ER Of Love' Series for TLS Valentine's Extravaganza 2022. Maybe the night isn't a total bust for Mike...


Nightcap


Mike had planned to workout for an hour, have a scotch and some take away from one of his top 5 favourite restaurants before turning in. Nothing special, just the same routine but he'd been looking forward to it after enduring a day of having everyone's Valentine's plans shoved in his face. All reminding him how painfully alone he was. But it turned out Valentine's wasn't all it was cracked up to be, as all his friends were laid up in hospital. It made him feel strangely lucky until the doors to the ER opened.

"Let me guess, I'm your emergency contact too." Mike said exasperated as Maddie Rawlings A.K.A. Brawler was wheeled into the ER from the ambulance. Mike really couldn't get out of this place, no matter how hard he tried. Now, yet another member of the Nathan James crew appeared. Of course, her time on Nathan James was short lived but after tonight, he wouldn't be surprised if he was the emergency contact for the entire Navy.

"No, my emergency contact is MIA." Maddie told him with a mildly amused expression before she grimaced in pain. The paramedics parked her to the side as they went to the front desk to do some paperwork.

Mike drank in the sight of her as she was dressed in a burgundy v-neck jumpsuit, she held a gold sparkly heel in one hand as her right foot was swollen. Her dark brown hair was loose around her shoulders.

"Do you need one as I'm apparently the emergency contact for every patient in the ER." Mike told her. He hadn't seen her since the war ended. She was more beautiful than he remembered, back then he had to tamp down on that attraction as fraternising was a no-go for him. But now she was so far removed from his chain of command that he could entertain some mild flirtation. It was Valentine's day after all. Maddie smiled and shook her head.

"It's just a broken ankle, I'm sure I'm clear headed to make my own medical decisions. But thank you for the offer." she said.

"How did you break it?" He asked out of curiosity and because he didn't want to leave now that she was here.

"The heel of my shoes got caught in the wooden decking down at the pier and my ankle snapped along with the heel. The same shoes my date complained about all night were emasculating him." Maddie said, she gave an annoyed huff as she looked at the shoe in her hand.

"Asshole." Mike said, he spoke his thoughts. He didn't get the appeal of high heels but if Maddie felt beautiful in them, they made her happy then so be it. He never understood men who felt the need to tear a woman down to make themselves feel like a man.

"I thought the same thing too. But my friend set us up, so I felt obligated to suffer through the date." Maddie said.

"Clearly a mistake." Mike remarked. Maddie tilted her head from side to side in a 'Yes', 'no' gesture.

"Maybe not, you could turn my night around… if you give me your phone number." She asked with a hopeful yet flirtatious smile.

"To be your emergency contact?" Mike asked, a smile played across his lips as he liked how forward she was.

"Hmm, no, I'll need a ride home." Maddie drawled.

"Oh, now I'm a taxi service." Mike said in amusement.

"Well, I was thinking we could go to my place and hang out. I have hot pockets and a nice chardonnay chilling in my fridge at home." Maddie said, a beautiful smile on her lips as she offered him an interesting invitation. He had to admit no one had ever asked him to their place for hot pockets and wine. But something in Maddie's expression told him, there would be more than a meal.

"How much morphine they got you on?" He asked, he didn't want to take advantage of a woman high on drugs.

"None, I have a high pain threshold. So, your phone number?" she asked as she pulled her phone from her pocket and held it out to him.

"How can I say 'no' to hot pockets and chardonnay?" Mike said, he took her phone and added his number to her phone. He handed it back to her. She dialled it, and Mike's phone rang. He pulled it out his pocket and assumed she was calling him as she ended the call and his phone stopped ringing.

"Just checking." Maddie said with a grin.

"Admiral Slattery, if you'll follow me. The doctor wants to speak to you about your friends." A nurse said, interrupting them.

"I gotta go, but I'll be back. I have to check in with all my idiotic friends." Mike told her.

"I'll be here, with my broken foot." Maddie assured him, Mike nodded and left her.

3 hours later, Mike was finally off the hook for all his responsibilities. Wolf was admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay in the Men's health ward. Burk and Tex were in the same ward as both were recovering from their respective surgeries. All their partners watching over them. Sasha had been discharged and had gone home with Tom. Kara had a baby girl, both mother and daughter were in good health if somewhat exhausted. Danny was with them which meant Mike was free to salvage what was left of his night with Maddie.

He came down to the ER department and saw Maddie in the waiting area, her right foot was in a cast as she had her handbag and shoe in a plastic bag as she stood on crutches.

"Perfect timing. They just discharged me." Maddie told him.

"Let's go." Mike said, he took her bag of personal belongings and they headed out into the night.