Disclaimer: Don't own the guardian and get no money from this
Author's Note: Sorry that I haven't updated in a few days but I am ill. Thank you again to all my readers and especially to hgriss, you're a star! Thank you so much for reviewing, glad to know somebody likes it.
"Hey Nick," Burton said as he returned to Nick's room in the hospital, "Lulu," he added nodding at her. Nick and Lulu both looked questionably at the file in his hands, he pretended not to notice their curious looks.
"Why did it take you two hours to go to the bathroom?" Nick asked bluntly.
"I wasn't in the bathroom, I was working,"
"Working?"
"Yes. That woman from LSP, Emily came by to get some help with cases. I didn't really wanna bother you guys so I kinda volunteered. I was in court representing this kid," Nick and Lulu both looked at him then laughed until Nick put the mask back on.
"I'm serious!" Burton protested, they seemed to sober up.
"You're always going on about being short-staffed so I'm gonna help out. Just until you're back on your feet. How hard can it be?"
"It's very different than being a corporate lawyer," Nick told him removing the mask again.
"You use to be a corperate lawyer and so did Emily, it can't be that hard,"
"Okay, okay you can help out. But it's still very different, you have been warned,"
"Knock knock," they all turned to look at the door, Laurie was standing there. She looked reasonably normal considering. She was wearing a hospital gown and robe and her left arm was in a sling and a cut on her face.
"Lorry!" applauded Anne, Burton couldn't help but smile at her.
"Hi Laurie," Lulu smiled kindly and patted the seat beside her, "come sit," Laurie returned the smile and sat next to her.
"How are you doing Laurie?" Nick asked concerned.
"Fine, well few cuts and that plus a broken arm but I think its much better than being dead. How are you?"
Nick shrugged, "I'll recover, glad you're okay,"
"Likewise, I would have visited you sooner but I wasn't allowed to leave my bed,"
"I know how that feels," Nick glanced at his cast which was suspended in the air by wires.
"I wanted to thank you, for saving my life,"
"Your welcome I guess, but it wasn't that big a deal,"
"It was my life Nick, that's a big deal to me," Burton was amused as Nick's cheeks burned red with embarrassment.
"Hey, are you Nicholas Fallin?" said a young man in the doorway.
"Err.... yeah,"
"I'm Brad Wintrough, from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, I'd like to interview you,"
"Why?" Nick looked dumbfounded as he put the mask back on. Crap, he and Lulu hadn't gotten round to telling him about being on the news yet.
"Well, you are a hero. People like reading interviews with heroes," Nick looked even more confused as he took off the mask again, Burton hoped this wasn't tiring him to much.
"How am I a hero exactly?"
"Well you saved 9 people from a collapsing building hit by an airplane. You don't see that everyday,"
"Firefighters save people all the time, go bug them,"
"Not on live TV they don't,"
"Live TV!?"
"Err... yeah, didn't you know? You're the most famous person in Pittsburgh right now,"
"I don't really wanna be interviewed, right now," Nick said composing himself slightly.
"Please Mr. Fallin? My editor will be so pleased if I get to interview you,"
"No,"
"No?"
"No, now leave my son alone you rotten leech!"
"If I could just have five minutes-"
"No!" Nick said more forcefully then coughed and put the mask on. Wintrough looked slightly guilty.
"Some other time then," he said slinking away like the slimy bastard he was, for crying out loud! Nick had died two days ago, bloody media, Burton thought bitterly. He went tell Nick this and saw he was asleep. Oh well, he needed his rest. Sitting back in the chair Burton picked up the file.
"What's with the file?"
"Haven't you heard? Burton's working at LSP temporarily,"
"Really?" Laurie laughed. Why did everyone keep acting that? She must have seen his annoyed expression for she said, "well they're always short staffed, it's good that they'll get the extra help,"
He nodded and smiled at her as she began chatting to Lulu, Burton turned back to his file and began to read...
