Well... actually I finished this story till chapter 21 but somehow I wasn't satisfied with my work and changed everything... so am happy to announce that chapter 18 is now finished :) Am working on more chapter, this story is going to be a bit longer than I first thought it would be and that is all because of you, who read this story :) Thanks to you :) Actually I think I can't thank you enough for keeping me going on ;)

So, I planned a few ups and downs before the final happy ending, hope that's okay with you :)

Enjoy! I hope you like this chapter :)

Dedicated to all my readers. Without you I wouldn't this wouldn't be as much fun as it is. Without you I wouldn't keep it going on. Thanks for your support and kind words!

Chapter eighteen: Staying At His Side

Dr. Jesse Hendricks had shown me the way to Mac's room in the intensive care unit of the hospital. We were now standing in front of his room an my gaze wandered through the small window in the door to Mac's pale and unconscious frame. A look of concern covered my face as I saw all those monitors watching the vital activities of Mac. Heart rate monitor, IV tube and oxygen mask. All that looked a bit scaring.

"Well, he needs to rest for sure. Since now he's not conscious, yet. It'll take some time I guess, 'cause he's etiolated. He lost a big amount of blood that why he still has the IV tube with the blood preservation on it. When that one hanging there is empty he's gonna get some physiological saline, just be on the save side. I can't tell you when he's going to wake up, because that depends on the patient." Dr. Hendricks explained.

"What about his heart rate? It's a bit low for a normal man like him, isn't it?" I asked him.

"It's still on a critical level and to all that it's a bit instable. When he was in surgery we feared to loose him twice."

"What happened?"

"His heart rate dropped. I don't know exactly why that happened, but I think it happened because of the high blood loss."

"Thanks for being honest with me." I said in truth.

"I always ask myself in what way it would help any relative or friend or wife if I would lie to them. You're a relative of Detective Taylor?" Dr. Hendricks asked.

"We're colleagues and best friends."

"See, you're a detective, Ma'am, so you would have known if I would have lied to you."

"I would."

"Is there anyone else we should call? A relative? Parents, siblings?"

"No… thanks. I'll take care of it."

"Okay. I have that feeling that you're going to stay at his bedside till he wakes up." He mentioned and I just looked at him in surprise.

"How could you know that?" I dared to ask.

"Your eyes and your body are telling it."

"I should control myself a bit better, I think."
"Actually that's a good thing, Ms. Bonasera, shows that you really care about him. He's going to need that." Dr. Hendricks said. His eyes were calm and warm and somehow comforting.

"Sorry. It's just that I'm not used to show emotions that easily." I sighed.

"Okay, I'm letting you go to him, now. I'll check on him personally as much as possible. He was one tough case for me and I want to observe his progress myself. He'll have to stay here at least a week."

"At least?"

"Depends on how the wounds are healing and how he progresses."

"Thanks Dr. Hendricks." I said and turned to open the door. Before I enter the room I hear him call my name again and so I turn around.

"When you need something, let me know." He said, his eyes now concerned.

"I will. Thanks." I assured him and closed the door to Mac's room behind me. I stood still behind it for a few moments looking at Mac. His face was pale and it looked kinda scary with all these equipment attached to him. Slowly I walked up to his bed and stopped next to him. I looked down at him and grabbed his hand and held it firmly in mine. I felt tears threatening to build in my eyes again. I sad down in the chair next to his bed, still holding his hand. Now, the moments in the car park running through my head again. The moment I saw him breaking down to the floor, the moment I rushed to him and then the moment I tried to stop the bleeding and his blood covering my hands, before I removed my jacket. I took a deep breath while closing my eyes for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Mac… this was supposed to be me, not you… I'm so sorry…" I whispered in misery, knowing inside that I would have done the same for him, too. I gave his hand a soft squeeze.

"I'm not going to leave you alone, Mac. I'm here for you. You're going to be okay…" I whispered in his ear. I felt tears threatening to build in my eyes again, but those were happy tears because I knew he was going to be okay, although he didn't wake up yet. I leaned back in the chair, but didn't let go of his hand. My thumb softly stroke the back of his hand while I kept watching Mac for a while before my eyes slowly moved toward the monitor that was displaying his heart rate. Somehow I thought it was stronger now, than it had been, before I came in and sat down beside him, but maybe I just dreamed it.

xXxXxXxXx

I didn't know for how long I really sat at his bedside, but it was already getting dark outside, when Dr. Hendricks came into the room. He looked on the monitor and checked the IV and several other things. He gave me a small smile, after he obviously finished his job, but looked at Mac again before his gaze turned back to me.

"He's definitely going to be fine. His heart rate is much better and more constant than it was earlier. Guess he knows you're here. He didn't wake up, yet?" he asked.

"No, he didn't." I said and looked up at him. I still had Mac's hand in mine and squeezed it softly.

"Hm, that's a bit concerning, because normally a patient would have woken up by now, but maybe he just needs a bit more time to rest. No patient is like the other."

"How long has it been already?"

"About 3 hours since I brought you here." He said calmly. It indeed worried me a bit, that he hasn't opened his eyes, yet.

"Don't worry he's going to wake up. Everything's okay and there is no indication that something could be wrong with him." Dr. Hendricks said. "Gotta go… have a few other patients to check on. Will come back before I go home and take a look at him again."

"Thanks, Doc."

"Nothing to thank, Ms. Bonasera. It's my job to check on him and it's my job to make, whoever is with the patient, to feel better and in good hands." He said and left the room. I was once again all alone with Mac. I looked at his quite pale face. He somehow looked like a sleeping angel with his closed eyes and the mostly peaceful expression.

Suddenly, I was still watching him, I noticed a change in his expression. The peaceful face turned into a worried and then an angry one. I noticed his eyes moving nervously under his closed lids. Was he struggling with someone in his dream? Or was he struggling to wake up? I felt his hand tighten around mine, but not as much as it could have hurt me badly. I got up from my seat and stood close next to his bed. I put my free hand on his rough cheek and leaned down, so that my lips were near his ear.

"Mac… it's okay, I'm here. Just open your eyes… let me know you're okay, Mac…" I whispered calmly into his ear and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

I know this is a bad place to stop but I couldn't help it ;) Hope you liked it, though. Hope I can updated on a more regular basis, now :) Thank you for reading and please, let me know what you think and that you're still interested (or not?) ;)

blackrose538