It took all his considerable charms to make it this far.

Reaching for her hand he stroked it gently, running his finger down over her knuckle and along her little finger. Her hand was warm and soft and unmarked and for that he was grateful.

"You know you shouldn't be here?"

He didn't even look at the voice. "Yes I should. Someone told me once, you shouldn't be alone or wake up alone."

"She's not waking up tonight."

Adam flicked his eyes to her face, it was still. "Doesn't matter, she'll know I am here." He breathed a sigh of relief to see that she had no physical injuries that he could see.

The nurse sighed slightly. "Let me get you a chair." She didn't know the story; she didn't know what had happened other than her patient was a cop and had been shot during a hostage resolution situation. The guy standing beside her bed she had no idea about but even though his face was bruised and battered there was just something there, the way he stood, the way he talked and the way he was looking at her.

While it was quiet she allowed him to stay. Adam thanked her for the chair. "What ward are you from?"

"Don't know."

"Come on, the deal is I'll let you sit here only if I can let your ward know where you are. They'll be looking for you I am sure."

He held up his arm to show her his wrist band, it had all his information on it. "Okay." He still didn't take his eyes off her. "Is she okay?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary. Everything is as expected."

"Great." Adam nodded. "And thanks."

"Behave." She warned him playfully. "Or I will send you back from where you came."

He just sat there, dozing occasionally and the nurse, who he now knew as Rosie worked around him and also checked his obs. For anyone else they wouldn't allow it but First responders deserved a bit of leeway and it wasn't taking long for the gossip train to work its way around the hospital and they were learning what Ruzek had done to protect the other hostages.

"So?" Rosie asked as she worked to empty the drain and catheter bag that Kim had insitu. "What's the story?"

"There is no story."

"Ha, you forget I've seen this all before. I get to read people." She chuckled. "I'm pretty good at it too."

"I think we are trying to get all our shit in one pile, we've got like three piles. Her pile, my pile and this little mound in the middle that is growing slowly, way too slowly for my liking. It's time to get the big assed shovel out and shove all our shit together." Adam rambled.

"Never heard love described like that before, that's a new one."

"Well we are different. I'm not sure love is the right word."

"I think you are lying to yourself."

"Nah, not me." His eyes closed slowly and he re-opened them suddenly as his head dipped.

Rosie noticed it. "Adam, you need to sleep too, you can't help her if you can barely function."

"I've barely functioned for two years." He muttered but he did agree, he was wrecked. He rested his head on the edge of her bed and looked anything but comfortable but he wasn't moving so Rosie gave him a pillow and covered him with a blanket and he never let go of her hand.

Every time someone came into the room though he woke, checked on her and then went back to sleep. That's where Voight found him. He had stopped by early on his way into work to see how they both were. When he found Adam's room empty he didn't even need to ask the nurses where he was. He touched Adam's shoulder lightly making him jump.

"How is she?"

"No change." He had stiffened up overnight and moved slowly. "That's good I guess. The best we can hope for."

"Did you get much sleep?"

"Yeah, all night."

"Bullshit Ruzek." Voight rubbed his shoulder. "Come on, let's get you back to your room. I'll sit with her for a bit."

"I want to stay."

"Hey, I'll stay, I can't be two officers down. I need you back sooner rather than later."

"I'm good to go Boss as soon as I get out of here."

"You've got the rest of the week off. Doctor's orders."

"But…" Adam just wanted to get back to work, that's how he dealt with things, he just got on with the next job that crossed their desks. Sitting around stewing on things didn't help anyone. It gave him too much time to think and thinking was his enemy at the moment.

"Okay, my orders then." Voight knew exactly where he was going to be all week anyway. He'd be useless to him in the Unit. "You'll be needed elsewhere." He inclined his head slightly in Burgess's direction.

Reluctantly Adam was taken back to his room. "Well, well, look who has returned." His nurse admonished him. "Have a nice night?"

"I did thank you."

"Right, into bed and pretend like you've been here all night. If my nurse manager finds out that you went walkabout I'll be fired."

"I promise to tell her how good a nurse you are." Adam did as he was told. He knew he was lucky to have gotten away with his vanishing act. Now he just wanted to be discharged so he could go back upstairs. "When's the Doc due?"

"Keen to get away from us?"

"Yes."

Voight stood by her bed and rubbed his thumb over her forehead before taking Ruzek's vacant seat. He wasn't surprised that he'd spent the night here, actually he would have been surprised if he hadn't. He'd observed them from afar, not really getting involved in their personal lives bar making sure it didn't affect their work and it never had. That's all he asked, but by sitting back and watching he saw it. It reminded him of Camille and the early years of the life they shared when things were simple and easy.

"You're Kim's family?" He was dragged out of his musings by the arrival of a team of Doctors and her nurse.

"Yep."

"Real family or work family?" He had noticed his badge and gun.

"What does it matter?"

"Legally."

"Real family then, if that helps."

The Doctor sighed; it didn't matter to these people which was surprising since they were the law but he'd long got used to the tight knit family units that First Responders shared. "It doesn't. So all I can tell you is that she's recovering well and I am happy with her progress."

"Great, thanks." Voight didn't need the details. "When will she be able to be back at work? I mean I need to know if I have to replace her for a while."

"A couple of weeks all going well. She can resume light duties in about two weeks, full duty in about six."

"Thanks Doc." He shook his hand. "Much appreciated." Voight knew how to play the game, although when it involved his team it wasn't really a game. This was about a serious as it could get. Two officers in hospital, not much was worse than that, except the obvious.

He resumed his position until he heard footsteps behind him. "How is she?"

"Still out of it." He didn't even need to turn around. He knew it was Platt. "But Doc says she's going to be fine."

"Can't keep a good woman down."

"Not this one anyway. Are you gonna stay? I need to get to the District and I want to check on Ruzek before I leave."

"Yeah, I'll stay." Out of her bag she pulled some breakfast, a few magazines, her phone and charger and put it next to her coffee. Trudy had come prepared for the day. "All set."

"Thanks Trudy." He squeezed her shoulder on the way out. "Call me if anything changes or let me know when she's awake."