"This is the third time I've had to sit in the hospital for Cole."

Waverly looked over at Tommy. The Sheriff had taken off his jacket but will still twirling his Stetson absently in his hands.

He smiled when he saw her looking at him expectantly.

"First time was when she was born." His eyes went distant with the memory. "Everyone who saw me thought I was the father with all the pacing I was doing in the waiting room." His gaze dropped and he shook his head. "My brother made me wait until all of his wife's family had their chance, but I finally got to see her in the nursery through the glass."

Waverly gaped. "He didn't let you hold her?"

He shook his head and sighed. "There was already bad blood between us. I think if they thought they could have gotten away with it in front of her family they probably would have sent me away." His mouth twisted in distaste. "Would have looked bad to not let the uncle in, I guess. Have to keep up appearances."

Waverly seethed and he chuckled, seeing her sour expression.

"Well, turns out that once they discovered she was a colicky baby they were more than happy to let me babysit. She was always fussing. My sister in law had planned on always taking her to church and bible study and all the other pious things she thought to do, but wouldn't dream of having anything less than a perfect baby with her." He grinned. "So they stuck me with her." He looked over at Waverly, a real smile on his face. "Joke was on them — she always quieted down when it was just the two of us."

Waverly blinked, then laughed softly. "Guess you two were always meant to be." She reached across Nicole's knees to take his hand. "She thinks so highly of you. It's clear that you mean the world to her."

Tommy rubbed his eyes as he went on. "It got ugly when Nicole turned four, and she had to go to Sunday school." He cleared his throat then smiled faintly. "She'd kick up such a fuss or try to sneak out. They finally started bribing her though it just about killed my sister in law to do it."

"With what, ice cream?"

There was a slow exhale and they both turned to see Nicole blinking blearily at them. "If I behaved at church I could spend the afternoon with him," she rasped.

"Hey Cole," Tommy breathed in obvious relief. He gave her closest hand, swathed in a cast, a gentle pat. "You put the scare in me this time, girl."

Nicole eyes were still a little unfocused, but a small smile graced her lips. "Didn't stop you from gossiping about me, did it?"

His face took on an injured expression. "I never gossip."

Waverly choked back a laugh and Nicole's eyes flickered over to see her sitting there. She visibly relaxed.

"Waves," she said, her voice still hoarse. "You're here."

Waverly swallowed hard and brushed a lock of hair off Nicole's forehead. "I promised you, Nicky. I'm not going anywhere." She lifted bruised knuckles and kissed them. "We're going to help you heal up, okay?" She reached out and tapped the red-headed woman's forehead. "You just have to let us, you stubborn pain in my ass."

Nicole briefly closed her eyes, but not before a few tears leaked out.

"You listen to this young lady, Deputy," said Tommy gruffly. "She's got a good head on her."

Nicole nodded and bit her lip. "Yeah she does."

The duty nurse came bustling in with a fresh IV bag. "Oh, you're awake! Welcome back, Miss Haught." She checked all the monitors and beamed. "Everything is looking really good. I'll let the doctor know."

Waverly looked down at the sensation of Nicole squeezing Waverly's hand, then raised her eyes to meet a shy gaze.

"You don't have to stay right now, you know," said Nicole. "I'll probably just fall asleep again soon."

"I'm not going anywhere," Waverly told her firmly. "Shut up." She turned to the grizzled man across from her. "You however, have been here all day and I know you haven't eaten. Please go eat. I'll make sure she doesn't sneak out in the meantime."

He looked back and forth between the two of them then scowled at a loud rumble from his stomach. Standing up he settled his hat on his head with a grunt. "Fine," he groused. "I'm going." He paused in the doorway and fixed Nicole with a stern glare. "But I'll be back."

"Can't wait, Sheriff," she murmured tiredly, but with a flash of dimples that made Tommy and Waverly sigh with relief.

The path to healing had officially begun.

—

Nicole was frowning at the cards in her hand, pondering the potential for rummy, when she heard shouting in the hallway. Waverly hurriedly put her own cards down and was half out of her chair when the door burst open, revealing Wynonna, Dolls, a bevy of outraged nurses in blue battle scrubs, and a wildly wriggling pit bull.

"Rowdy!" Nicole gasped with delight. The dog flung himself forward and Waverly gasped at the thought of him leaping on the bed but instead he skidded to a seated stop next to her hand. His tail wagged so fast it was a blur against the tile and he whined loudly as Nicole reached out to rub his head. "I missed you so much buddy," she crooned.

He licked her fingers frantically, but stayed firmly on the ground to Waverly's extreme relief.

"I said," the lead nurse said loudly. "No dogs in the hospital!"

"Relax, lady," Wynonna drawled. "He's a freakin' police officer."

The nurses stopped and stared.

Wynonna winked at Nicole then said, "Rowdy come give me some."

Rowdy woofed, ran over to Wynonna and sat up on his hind legs, his front paws waving excitedly. She high-fived him with a grin, pointing her chin at where his badge glittered in the fluorescent light, leaving the nurses flustered. Then they looked at Nicole who had an exasperated look on her face.

"Wynonna, what the hell are you teaching him? He really is a police dog," she then explained sheepishly to the nurses. "And he's my partner. He even has a medal for bravery in the line of duty."

The nurses all leaned forward to see the honor patch on his harness.

There was a collective coo.

"Well," the lead nurse said, clearly softening. "Far from me to eject a police officer."

He rose up on his hind legs and placed a lick on her cheek.

The nurses behind her cooed again.

"Rowdy," groaned Nicole. "Stand down."

He turned and sat back down next to the hospital bed, his whole body quivering in excitement. Nicole's eyes were pleading when she looked at Waverly, then flickered her gaze down at the dog.

The smaller woman smiled at the nurses. "We'll call you if there's a problem?" She tried to keep her voice calm and friendly.

"The minute there's an issue, hit the button," the lead nurse said firmly, but her eyes stayed soft as she looked at the dog. "And no barking, please."

"Not at all," Nicole swore.

As the door closed behind them, Wynonna did a little dance.

"How much do I rock, huh, Haught-ness?"

Dolls rolled his eyes.

Nicole grinned happily. "You not only rock, but you roll," she assured the bounty hunter. "I would go so far as to say you are completely metal."

Wynonna beamed. "You hear that, Xavier? I totally rule."

Nicole turned her pleading eyes back onto Waverly, who sighed.

"Are you sure this isn't going to hurt you?"

"Positive."

With a few grunts and one muttered curse Waverly eased Nicole over to one side of the hospital bed. Then, with careful slowness, Rowdy eased his way onto the bed, tucking himself into Nicole's side. They both breathed big sighs of relief.

"You're the best dog," Nicole hummed happily, her voice once again drowsy with fatigue.

Rowdy woofed.

Waverly turned at the sound of a click to see Wynonna standing with her phone in her hand.

"Another blackmail pic," she whispered gleefully.

Waverly sighed. "Wynonna."

"Yeah Waves?"

"Out."

"Awwww, come on…"

"OUT!"

Dolls pulled her through the door by one ear, giving a wink to the two women as he wrestled his protesting partner away.

"See you later, Waves," he called.

The door hadn't finished closing before it opened again, letting Tommy back into the room, followed by a doctor Waverly hadn't seen before. She had olive skin and dark hair messily tied in a bun. Tommy looked over at Nicole and his eyebrows raised at the sight of Rowdy sprawled next to her.

The doctor coughed at the sight of the dog on the hospital bed.

"Wynonna?" Tommy asked quietly.

Waverly rolled her eyes. "Who else?"

He shook his head with a chuckle. "Well, I expect they'll be out for a while at this point." He gave her a more direct look. "I surely would like a chance to talk to you more privately, if you'd be so kind."

She nodded as she tucked an extra blanket over the sleeping pair and gave them both a kiss on the head. The doctor opened her mouth as if to protest then shrugged and led them to a nearby waiting room.

"Waverly," Tommy rumbled. "This is Doctor Martinez."

"Hello," Waverly replied uncertainly. "I thought Nicole's doctor was Doctor Peterson?"

Doctor Martinez nodded pleasantly. "He is her primary physician overseeing her physical recovery. My specialty is mental health. Based on what we have learned of the events leading up to the accident, Miss Haught has been placed under a temporary psychiatric hold until we can assess her mental state."

"What does that mean?" She looked between Tommy and Doctor Martinez in confusion.

"It means they won't let her out until they know she's no longer a danger to herself or others," Tommy said solemnly. "She also has to be discharged into supervision."

Waverly shot to her feet, furious. "You're going to have her committed!"

"No, ma'am," Tommy rose with her, his hands raised entreatingly. "That's not what it means, I swear."

Doctor Martinez smiled sympathetically. "While in some cases that would a more common outcome, Sheriff Haught has convinced me and my staff that appropriate supervision can be provided without the need for temporary institutionalization."

Tommy grinned hopefully at her. "Your sister mentioned Cole had been staying with you out a your homestead. She thought I might like to come out and stay as well, for a while." He patted her shoulder. "Seems like she's found herself some good folks out here, and Lord knows I could use a vacation. If that's okay with you."

Waverly felt her cheeks warm as she quickly nodded. "I think that would be wonderful."