He dared a peek to the left, toward the nurses station.

It was empty.

He took a deep breath and slowly turned to the right. Again, only emptiness. Using the wall for support, he inched his way toward the stairwell. He had about 30 feet to go, but it was slow going. He had barely gotten to the closed door of the room adjoining his, when he had to stop and catch his breath. The pain was stronger now and his vision was graying at the edges. C'mon, a few more steps. Don't pass out now.

Before Garret could take another step, the door to the next room opened. Amanda pulled her head up in time to avoid running into him, her face registering shock. "Garret! What the. . .just where do you think you're going? Do you have any idea-"

"Let me go," he growled, making a feeble attempt to push past her. "Just go home."

"Garret, trust me, you don't want to do this." Her brown eyes beseaching, "Trust me."

"Why?" He grabbed her arm, exposing the scars on her wrist. "Because you've been there?"

Her gaze never wavered, "As a matter of fact-"

"Save it," he mumbled. This time he managed to break free, and stumbled a few steps, before her next question stopped him.

"Aren't you going to tell her?"

"Tell who?" It was no more than a whisper. The hallway seemed to grow dimmer, and he noticed fresh blood down the front of his hospital gown. He leaned his head against the wall and squeezed his eyes shut against a fresh stab of pain in his ribs. Just leave me alone!

"Jordan. You owe her that much." Again, Amanda was at his elbow. Her voice was soft. "Look, I don't know the whole story. I don't even know where the night nurse is, for that matter! Please come back to your room. We can get Jordan here tomorrow and you can tell her yourself."

He staggered around and grabbed her by the shoulders, and she stepped back with the weight of him, unsure how long she could hold him up. His haggard face was inches from hers, a sheen of sweat on his forehead, glassy eyes out of focus. "Because it wouldn't make any difference! Damn it, it wouldn't-" He pitched forward knees buckling. The sound of Amanda calling for help a distant echo as he surrendered to the oblivion.

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He could hear her voice.

Jordan.

Consciousness was a long ways away, but he could hear her voice in the floating darkness of his world. A part of Garret wanted to drift away again, into oblivion. He was so tired. But another part of him held onto that voice. Not because he loved the rich melody that was uniquely Jordan, but because that voice was troubled.

"I get a call, it's the middle of the night. . .something about emergency surgery. . .suicide watch? I come in and you're restrained to the bed. You wouldn't believe what I had to do to get in here at this hour. Visiting hours are over they said, well maybe if the night nurse was at her station, you wouldn't have needed needed the emergency surgery in the first place!" She sighs. "Garret. Oh, Garret. I knew something was bothering you. I should have reached out. I should have done something. I guess I thought maybe you would reach out to me. I don't know, maybe you did and I was just too wrapped up in everything going on in my life. It's just-"

For a while he heard nothing else, just her breathing. He also felt her fingers entwined through his, holding on as if for dear life itself. He felt the gentle pull of deeper unconsciousness and wanted to give in, but she continued, her voice thick with emotion.

"It's just. . . I need you Garret. You have to hang on." She was crying openly now. "Woody's gone. . .He proposed to me. . .right on the helicopter. . .after we landed and the dust settled, I. . .I told him I wasn't ready. . .I mean. . .I love him, but. . .and. . .he. . .he . . .got angry. . .told me I wouldn't be happy with anyone. . .and. . .and he left. He left Boston, left the force. . .and I'm trying to wrap my head around that one. . .I mean. . .maybe he's right. . .and then. . .then, I find out about you. . .and what you did. . .and. . .and I can't lose you, Garret! I can't lose you. . .you're all I have. I love you, Garret."

He could feel her soft hair against his face, the shuddering of her sobs, the tears on his neck and he so wanted to wake up. He wanted to open his eyes, pull her into his arms and tell her he wasn't going anywhere. But this time, he was unable to fight the tide of deep sedation, and he drifted off.