It wasn't until that moment that she felt the burning on her leg, elbows and the stabbing pain that shot through her every time she took in a breath. One look at odd angle of her hand told her that the wrist was broken or at least fractured. Adrenaline had coursed through her when she'd seen the car heading straight for the child. But now, after lying on the cold pavement for a while, the adrenaline high was dying and pain was invading her body. She gave a wry chuckle, her Drill Sergeants had always told her that pain was weakness leaving the body. Well there was a mass exodus from her body at the moment.

She groaned audibly. Every part of her body hurt. She closed her eyes for a moment, but opened them again when she heard that magnificent voice. Who was this man?

"Are you alright?" the voice asked.

"I'm not sure yet, but I think so," she finally managed to choke out. She tried to use her good hand to push herself up, regretting it almost immediately as her head spun and her stomach lurched. She almost fell back to the concrete, but a pair of strong hands held her upright.

"Careful! You could have internal bleeding or something! I told you the paramedics are on their way, so please don't try to move until they arrive and check you out!" the concerned voice said with a note of panic.

"I'll live," she replied weakly.

She rubbed at her eyes, hoping the fog around her brain would lift. After a moment it did, and she saw that a crowd of people had gathered around her. She couldn't identify any of them, but at least she was starting to gather her wits. She once again tried to get up, but a sharp burning pain stabbed through her leg. She never made it off the pavement. She sucked in her breath in a low hiss, the only external sign of her pain.

Erik held her still. "What's your name?" he asked, finally.

"Christina Davies." She took a few deep breaths. Deep breathing had always helped her to calm herself. She was able to really look around and see what was going on. She could see the child appeared to be unhurt except for a scraped knee. She'd taken most of the abuse herself from the moving vehicle. A man she assumed to be the driver, an older man, was looking down at her with horror in his eyes. He'd not had enough time to react when the child had darted into the street. With the rain-slick roads, he had been helpless to avoid hitting the woman who had dashed out into the street and caught the child to her just as the bumper hit her.

She'd been flipped up onto the hood by the impact and had rolled back onto the pavement. Keeping the child clutched to her chest, she had curled her body around the little girl, trying to take the brunt of the impact and spare the little one. Well she'd succeeded…

They heard sirens and a moment later an ambulance and police car came to a screeching halt. Christina clutched with her good hand at the arm that immobilized injured hand. She feared and hated doctors and hospitals…with a passion. She was not getting into that ambulance and being taken to a hospital if she could help it!

Erik looked down in surprise at the strength in the hand that clutched his own. What also surprised him was the look of absolute terror in her pain-filled eyes. As the paramedics bombarded her with questions she withdrew into herself, going silent. When they attempted to insert an IV, she went nuts! She pushed them away, forcing herself to her feet while ignoring the pain in her leg and hip.

"No! No needles, I'm fine I don't need an IV! I don't need a hospital, and I don't need a doctor!" she shouted.

The EMT tried to reason with her, as did the police officer who was speaking to all the witnesses. Christina backed away from the uniformed men, limping as she did. When they saw her 'Army' t-shirt and shorts they backed off a bit.

"Are you in the Army, Ms. Davies?" one of them asked, trying to get her to relax and trust them

"Yes I am. Please, just let me go home. I'll be fine!" she pleaded.

"Ms. Davies you have lacerations on your legs, arms and side, a fractured wrist and possible internal injuries. We highly recommend that you please let us take you to the hospital for x-rays."

Christina shook her head, tears filling her eyes. She was only vaguely aware of the arm around her waist, keeping her on her feet. Slowly she became aware of the lean, strong body next to hers and the scent of cologne invading her senses. She felt her body was on edge. Where his skin touched hers, it felt like she was on fire. She had never responded to Rodney like this!

She looked up at her mysterious rescuer, who she found was looking down at her concern in his eyes. What wonderfully beautiful eyes he had!

"Ms. Davies, you really do need medical care," he whispered softly to her.

She was about to say she couldn't afford medical care, but his voice…that voice made her think twice. Without a thought to what she was doing, she realized how much pain she was in and suddenly felt exhaustion…most likely shock was setting in. She gave no thought to what she was saying. "Only if you come with me to the hospital!"

She felt him jerk back in surprise, felt the tension in his hard body before he nodded curtly to her. She thought she could handle the discomfort of the hospital if this man, this stranger was by her side.

Erik was kicking himself the moment he agreed to accompany her. What in God's name was he thinking! He very nearly set her in the ambulance and left, but saw the look in her deep green eyes…the look of absolute trust. How could he betray that? With a deep breath he climbed in with her, not once breaking contact with her hand.

The lengthy ride to the hospital was spent in an awkward silence. The EMT who was monitoring Christina noticed her increasingly pale face with a touch of worry. The man riding with her looked about as bad, though he continually stroked the back of her uninjured hand. Once they were enroute, Brad, the EMT, had managed to convince the girl to let him give her something for the pain he knew she had to be experiencing. Between the painkiller and the movement of the ambulance she mercifully fell asleep.

The only thing Christine was aware of when she woke up was the strong smell of medicine…she hated that smell! She forced her heavy eye lids open, her vision blurry as she looked around her small room. She moved to push herself up and discovered she had a cast on her left hand; she forced her body into full consciousness as she took in her surroundings.

She was alone in a hospital room, her left leg was bandaged up and she could feel the cuts and bruises on it as she moved. Her side felt like someone had hit her with a sledgehammer. 'Well it could have been worse,' she thought to herself. Glancing down at her arm, she saw the dreaded IV in her hand. Without thinking, she yanked it out and moved to get off the bed that she felt was less comfortable than the pavement she'd hit after being hit by the car.

Immediately a nurse and two men came running into her room, the nurse looking at her irritably. One of the men she recognized instantly…her mystery man, funny…she never did find out his name. And next to him was a dark skinned man who looked a bit harassed.

The nurse began berating her for tearing out her IV. But Christina would hear none of it!

"I don't care! I don't want anymore pain medication, I want to go home and sleep in my own bed in my own home!"

The nurse bristled at Christina's harsh tone. "Now listen her, young lady, you can't just waltz out of here all high and mighty! You need medical care!"

Christina began hunting for her clothes. Spotting them folded up on a chair in the corner, she slowly and painfully made her way over and picked up her shirt.

"I'm going home; you can't force me to stay here! I'll sign whatever damned waiver I need to, to get me out of here! I'm not a child and I can take care of myself, thank you very much!" she snapped at the nurse.

Before the women started for each other's throats, Erik stepped in, trying to hide his amusement at Christina's attitude. "Perhaps it would help if I vouch for her well-being?"

The nurse looked from Erik to Christina to Erik again. "I'll get the doctor," she mumbled angrily as she stormed from the room.

Christina shot a triumphant look after her and shooed the men out of the room so she could change. AS she was shoving her feet into her sneakers she heard someone clear their throat…her mystery man.

"You're acting a bit brashly, don't you think?"

"No, I hate hospitals and I'll heal faster eating my own cooking and sleeping in my own bed. I'm fine, really." She hated it that she winced as she finished the sentence.

Erik chuckled "Of course you are, my dear." He sat in the chair next to her bed, taking great care not to touch her or look her in the eye. When he'd held her hand and touched her after the accident, he'd thought he'd die of the all-consuming desire that had ripped through his body.

Christina managed a weak grin. "You never did tell me your name…mystery man!"

"Erik, Erik Montgomery," he said, after a few moments of silence.

"Well thank you Mr. Mont-" She was interrupted by him. "Erik, please!"

"Alright, Erik. Thank you for riding here with me. You must think I'm a total nut for having a complete stranger ride with me to the hospital."

Erik found the blush creeping up her cheeks quite endearing. He had to fight the urge to pull her frail looking form into his arms. She looked so battered and bruised; it killed him to see her in so much pain. His beautiful runner…his beautiful Christina…

"Not at all. It would be quite frightening to be in the situation you were in."

Christina pushed herself off the bed as the doctor came running in with the dark skinned man close behind him.

"Ms. Davies, I have to say I'm not sure I like the idea of you leaving." He put up a hand to silence her when she opened her mouth to argue. "But Mr. Khan here has vouched for your safety on Mr. Montgomery's behalf, so there is little I can do." He produced a stack of papers for her to sign, explaining each one as he went.

"Alright, looks like everything is in order. Take care of yourself, Ms. Davies. Oh, and give this," he handed her a packet, "To your company commander. It contains my instructions as your primary physician regarding any physical activity you may be required to do during your drill weekends. You need to take it easy for a month or so."

Again he silenced her arguments. "That means no running for at least two months, and it will be longer than that before you'll be able to do any upper body exercises such as push-ups or the like."

Her lips in a thin line she nodded tersely "Fine, whatever, can I go PLEASE?"

He nodded. "You're free to go, take care."

She offered him a small smile. "Thank you doc."

With her head held high she limped out of the room. Erik left Nadir to take care of any loose ends and gathering paperwork and her discharge papers while he hurried after her. He caught up to her at the doors.

"Ms. Davies!" he called out.

She turned back to him. "Christina," she said as he approached her.

Slightly out of breath, he nodded "Very well." He paused to catch his breath. "Christina, can I give you a ride home?"

Well damn…she hadn't thought that far yet. Erik could see from her hesitation that she in fact did not have a way to get home. Having noticed how stubborn she was, she most likely would have walked!

"Allow me, it's the least I can do."

"No, I don't want to be a burden. Lord knows I've taken you away from…well from whatever, for long enough!"

"I assure you, it's no bother." He placed a tentative hand on her shoulder before jerking it back as though he'd been burned…foolish man! His mind raged at him.

"Alright, if you're sure it's not a problem," she said after a moment.

"It's no problem at all," he assured her once more.

"Cool!" She followed him, refusing to let him help her into the vehicle. She gave him directions to her townhouse. He was surprised to find out his runner lived only two miles down the road from his home!

As he drove, she let her head fall back against the seat. She was exhausted and in more pain then she'd care to admit. She just wanted to go home, curl up in bed and sleep!

Erik pulled into her driveway and got out to assist her into the house. She'd no sooner stepped out of the car when she heard a voice call.

"Christina!"

She turned around looking for the voice, her heart jumped to her throat when she saw two Marines approaching her.