Chapter 5

The hours passed and still no news came about either man. The detective had returned and briefed Eliot on what they had found at the house which was not much and then left again with Eliot promising to keep him appraised of what happened to Sterling and Nate. Finally a doctor emerged from the operating theatres and called Eliot's name.

"Yes doctor."

"Agent Spenser, I am Dr Floyd Emmerson, I operated on Agent Sterling. The bullet went straight through, passing through the left lung and bouncing off a rib before lodging in his back muscles. The operation went well with no complications, we are a little cautious on infection, however he should make a full recovery."

"That's good news doctor Eliot smiled at him. What about Nate…Mr Ford?" He asked.

"I have no knowledge of that I am sorry, I am sure that Dr Preston will be out as soon as he can to speak to you about his situation."

"Can I see my dad?" Olivia asked.

"I am afraid not today young lady he needs his rest." The doctor said then turned and left.

"Doctor I am sure you are aware of the situation regarding the two men who were brought in?"

"Yes I was told."

"We will need access to their rooms for security purposes."

"I understand. Agent Sterling is in recovery and will then be moved to ICU, you may place your security outside of the room. Once he is moved to his own private room I will allow full access of course, however please understand, the man suffered major trauma and will need to rest and not be put under any stress."

"We understand Doctor thank you." Eliot said holding out his hand to the man.

"He's going to be alright." Olivia smiled at Sophie and put her arms around her hugging her tightly.

"Yes he is." Sophie said softly, but what about Nate she thought as tears started to well again.

"I am sure Nate will be too." Olivia said as she pulled away from Sophie and looked at her seeing the angst in her eyes along with the unshed tears.

Sophie did not answer her, it had now been five hours since they had been at the hospital and still no word. Nate had taken two serious shots to the back and he had lost a terrible amount of blood. She was not convinced he was going to come back to her but had to believe he was, or she would go completely mad. Another two hours passed before a weary looking doctor approached them again calling Eliot's name. Sophie had to force herself to hold back as Eliot greeted the doctor.

"Mr Fords injuries were serious. The one bullet passed through is back causing some major trauma and damage along the way before exiting. The second bullet lodged close to the spine. He lost a lot of blood and his left lung collapsed. Now the bullet that lodged in the back we managed to remove. We are keeping him sedated to ensure that he has time to heal and will be moved to ICU in a short while and I have been briefed by Doctor Emmerson on the situation so they will be in the same ICU unit to make it easier for you to secure them."

"What are his chances doctor?" Eliot asked.

"Agent Spenser his wounds were severe, he is stable at the moment but, well the next few hours will tell us the story, all we can do now is wait." The doctor said in a very non-committal way.

"Did the bullet damage the spine?" Eliot asked and heard a gasp from Sophie at that thought.

"We do not think so, but we will only know if there was any nerve or other damage done when he wakes. I am sorry I can't tell you more now."

"Can we see him." Eliot asked more for Sophie than anybody else.

"Not now I am afraid, but my nurse will take you down to the ICU he will be moved to along with Agent Sterling, I am afraid that is the best I can do for now. They both need their rest."

"Ok thank you doctor." Eliot said shaking the man's hand before he turned and left. He watched him go then turned to Sophie.

"He made it through surgery Sophie…he's a strong man and a God knows a stubborn one, he will make it." He said seeing the look of pure anguish on the woman's face.

Sophie nodded not trusting herself to speak at that moment as she stood holding Olivia. Her father was going to make a full recovery, but the doctor could give no assurance of that about Nate and the fear that gripped her was almost overwhelming that she would never talk to him again, never get to laugh with him, love him, never say goodbye.

"Sophie…" Eliot said taking her buy the shoulders. "Look at me Sophie."

She raised her head up and locked eyes with him.

"He will come through this…he will." Eliot said

"Of course he will he is Nate and he always comes through." Parker said softly.

"Yeah man." Hardison agreed.

Sophie smiled a weak smile and then nodded again taking her seat with Olivia to wait for the nurse. An hour later found them standing outside the ICU unit looking in through the windows at both Nate and Sterling who were in separate private rooms to the side of the main ICU unit. Sterling's heart monitor and a blood pressure monitor both had readings that told Eliot that he was doing well. Nate on the other hand was surrounded by machines and he also had a few drainage tubes in him. His heart rate was erratic at best and his blood pressure was low. Eliot frowned slightly his face darkening at the sight but then schooled his features before turning to Sophie.

"Eliot?" She asked not turning away from Nate but feeling the man's eyes on her.

"He's alive Sophie, hold on to that." Eliot said. He did not want to promise her that he would be fine because he may not be, he did not want to tell her that he thought it looked bad either because he did not think she could handle that even though it was the truth.

"He saved me." Olivia's small voice cut through the silence that followed Eliot's words as they all stood and looked in at the two men.

"Olivia." Sophie said turning to the girl.

"He…he deliberately put me behind him and then instead of trying to…to get away from him he…he protected me."

"That's what Nate does." Parker said and Sophie had to smile at that.

Nate had never thought of himself as a protector, he thought of himself as a bastard. A man who would do what needed to be done to get the job done, use anybody in any way he needed to, to ensure that they won. But he was a protector, maybe not to others but to them. No matter what he had asked them to do, even when he had tricked them, lied to them, conned them, he had done it to protect them. Yes he got the job done, but they all always came out on the other side no matter what. Yes Nate was a protector, he protected those he loved, and he loved his family.

Before anybody could say anything else detective Rogers returned with four uniformed officers to assist with the protective detail. Eliot greeted the man and then explained the situation with both Nate and Sterling.

"Well at least it is looking good for Agent Sterling." Rogers said and Eliot was glad he was not looking in the direction of Sophie when he said that.

"Yes…" Eliot said forcing a smile.

"Ok well you will have a protection detail at your disposal until we get this maniac. Our CSI unit is busy going through the crime scene with a fine toothcomb but nothing yet. Seems the guy got away clean."

"I would appreciate you sharing anything…"

"Of course, of course Agent Spenser."

"Please call me Eliot."

"Right Eliot. Anyway, I must get back. I hope Agent Sterling makes a full recovery and of course Mr Ford." He said shaking Eliot's hand and then leaving.

Eliot watched him go and then looked at his team and saw the dislike on all their faces, the man was concerned about Sterling and he thought they were mainly concerned about him too as he was their 'boss' and one of their own, Nate was just a bystander who they did not really know, but he was sure that the man wished Nate well too even if it did not seem like it.

He sighed to himself and then took a seat beside Sophie offering her his silent support. All they could do now was wait, and make sure that this Perkins got nowhere near either Sterling or Nate.