"Nikki, Dr McGrath will be here shortly."

"Lori," Pam calls in over the intercom, "Dr McGrath ordered a stat H & H, a unit of blood, and a unit of fresh frozen plasma to be hung asap. I've called the blood bank."

"Thanks, Pam. Let me know as soon as it's here." Then Lori drew some blood for the lab and called Pam back, "Pam, the labs ready to go…"

"I'll be right there."

Josh was standing by her bedside, stroking her head and holding her hand. (Dear God, will this nightmare ever end?)

Five minutes later, Dr McGrath arrived and was talking with Josh while Lori hung the blood.

When she examined Nikki, she found her abdomen to be tender and tight.

"Nikki, I am sorry to say that it looks like that liver laceration is giving you a problem. I'm going to book you for surgery straight away. What I'll do is have a look using a camera and telescope to see what's happening. Hopefully, it's just a small area, and I can take care of it using the scope. That's the best case; it will allow for a quick recovery and shouldn't set you back. If that doesn't work out or the area is too large, I will have to open and do a full abdominal surgery. Do you understand what I have explained to you?"

"Yes," Josh said; Nikki just nodded.

"Good, alright, I'll book a suite and be right back with the consent form. Shouldn't take more than 15 mins to get you in."

Dr McGrath returned with the surgical consent just as the surgical orderlies arrived with a gurney.

"Josh, I need you to sign; it looks as if Nikki is not able to."

"Of course."

Josh went with her as far as the Theater doors, kissed her, " I'll see you soon, Luv."

"Love you," Nikki managed to get out and then was promptly rolled through the doors.

Making his way to the surgical waiting room, Josh sat and called Dom and Sophia.

"We'll be right there, Son. We'll get a taxi."

"There's a number for one on the side of the fridge."

"Alright, where will we find you?"

"Surgical waiting."

Hanging up, he leaned over, putting his head in his hands as tears ran down his cheeks. He was still sitting like that when Sophia and Dom walked in.

"Josh," Dom puts his hand on his shoulder.

Looking up, his eyes red, "she's in surgery. If her doctor can repair the laceration using the telescope, it should only be an hour or so. If not, it could be hours."

"How long has it been?" Sophia asks.

"About 20 mins."

They sat next to Josh and waited. An hour and a half later, Dr McGrath found them in the waiting area. "Josh," she started.

"Dr McGrath, these are Nikki's parents, Dom and Sophia Caetano."

"Pleased. Now, Nikki's liver laceration had pretty much healed except for one stubborn section. It probably opened up with a cough or the like. I was able to cauterize it and then seal it with some fibrin glue, all while using the scope. The surgery shouldn't be a setback to her recovery at all as there isn't an incision, just a few puncture wounds for the instruments and scope, minimal scarring."

" I couldn't give a care about that," Josh replies.

"Yes, I'm sure. Now, tomorrow I'm going to have her go for a head CT scan to check that injury. If all goes well, and I am fairly sure that it will, I will transfer her from the ICU to a regular surgical bed, and she can start eating. Ortho will have to wait one more day as we make sure that everything is settled."

"She's okay?"

"She'll be fine, Josh. She's in recovery and asking for you; I'll take you to her."

Josh looked at the Caetano's; Sophie reached out and touched his arm. "Go to her, Josh, call us when she's back in her room."

" I will."

Josh left with Nikki's surgeon while the Caetano's went looking for a brew and something to eat.

Sitting at a table in the cafe with their brew and muffins, Sophia looks at her husband and touches his arm. "Dom, I think that our girl found herself someone very special."

"That she did."

Early the next morning, an orderly came for Nikki to take her for her CT scan. Josh gave her a kiss and went to get cleaned up while she was gone. Later that morning, they were napping when Dr McGrath came in. Josh woke when he heard her approach the bed.

"I'll let her sleep," she said, speaking softly. "The CT scan showed that the contusion on her brain has resolved. I'm going to start her on light meals, clear liquids at first, and then advance her diet. Tomorrow she'll be moved to a regular surgical floor.

Once ortho has taken care of her fracture, on their time table, she'll be ready to go home."

Feeling a huge weight lifting, Josh finally sees an end to the nightmare. "Dr McGrath, thank you just isn't enough."

"No worries, Josh, but you're not done with me quite yet," she added with a smile. "I'll make sure that she has a tray for lunch."

Two days later, Nikki had surgery for her fracture and two days after that, she was discharged from the hospital. The Hammersley crew sent a large arrangement of flowers to their home. Mike and Kate sent flowers and chocolate, dark not milk and Josh made sure that there was a large frangipani arrangement in the bedroom.

Sophia and Dom had waited at the townhouse while Josh brought her home.

"Mum! Is that lasagna I can smell?" Nikki called out as she went up the stairs.

"With sausage and meat sauce."

"Fantastic, I'm starving!" Then looking around, " My God! The flowers, they're wonderful!"

Josh saw her settled on the patio lounge, "can I get you anything?"

Grinning, "Navigator brew and some Tim Tams."

Josh laughed; it felt so good, having not laughed in over a week. "As you wish, Princess," kissing the top of her head.

A few days later, Nikki relaxed outside on the lounge chair when her mum came out to join her. Josh had just approached the open balcony door with coffees and pastry when he overheard Sophia. Feeling only slightly guilty, he hung back out of sight for a moment and listened.

"Nikki, honey, how are you feeling?" Sophia started.

"A lot better, Mum."

"Have you and Josh discussed a date?"

Nikki looks confused.

" For your wedding."

" No, not really. Josh only just left the Navy; we're still getting settled. Why?"

"Well...You're living together…" frowning, being an old fashioned Catholic.

" Mum, it's what couples usually do now."

"Humpft… Do you plan on leaving the Navy after you're married? I can't imagine that it would be good for a marriage for you to be gone all the time."

"No, Mum, I won't be leaving the Navy."

"What does Josh say to that?"

"First, Mum, it's my decision which we have, of course, talked about. Josh loves me, and he knows how much I love the Navy. He wants me to be happy. I hope to rise in rank at some point, and Josh supports my career 100%."

Sophia, not letting up, " What about children? Will you stay in the Navy then?"

"Most likely. Josh is planning on getting his teaching certificate before we start a family. Then, he will be at home, and we'll have a Nanny while he's at school."

"Nikki! You would leave your babies!? Go out on those boats and leave your babies?"

"They'll be with their father while I'm at sea, just as a man would be leaving his children with his wife."

"You're a woman! You'll be a mother! You belong with your children!"

"And Josh will be a father. Look, Mum, that's the plan for now. If it doesn't work out, it may change."

"And Josh is on board with this?"

"Completely."

Not letting it drop, "They'll hardly know their mother!"

"When I'm home, I'll be all in. When I'm at sea, Josh and I talk every day and sometimes more. We video chat at least once a week when we can. The kids will be able to see me, and I will be able to see them. It will be fine, Mum. Now… how about a change of subject."

Josh had a dopey grin on his face as he stepped through the door with the tray of coffees… ( my feisty Nikki is back!).