Disclaimer: See chapter 1

------------------

Kelly Heath secured a bandaid over the former IV site where she had just removed the plastic cannula. "There you go Dr. Reid, no more IV medications. You'll still have to take oral medications for about another month or two. Dr. Kimura wants to be extremely cautious."

"Thank you," he said as he waited, impatiently tapping his foot, for Linda Kimura to show up. Hopefully, now that his IV was out, she would release him.

"You're very welcome Dr. Reid," Kelly said as she turned to leave the room, wheeling the IV pole in front of her. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

"No Kelly, thanks, I'm fine," Reid replied as he sat on the edge of the bed. Maybe he should move to the recliner. He might look less like a patient in need of care and more like a man who was ready to get on with his life.

Since the night he'd talked to Linda about Georgia and the aftermath, none of the nurses had offered him any narcotics. Had she said something to them he wondered? They never mentioned anything and he didn't have the nerve to ask. He pulled his medallion from the pocket of his brown terrycloth robe and fingered it as a voice from the doorway said, "You're not looking too worse for wear."

"John," Reid's eyes opened wide in surprise. "What are you doing here, sir?"

"I heard about what happened of course. I didn't want to come when I might run into your team but they're presently out of town and keeping technical analyst Garcia busy so I thought it was safe to pay you a visit. How are you doing?"

"Good, I'm doing much better."

"And…any problems?"

"You mean other than the fact that my lungs were bleeding, I was coughing up blood and lost the ability to speak coherently for a while?"

"Yeah, other than that."

"I didn't allow them to give me any narcotics if that's what you're asking, not that the nurses weren't constantly offering."

"How did you feel about it?" John asked as he sat in one of the chairs for visitors.

"I felt good. I was happy I was strong enough to get through it. I mean, if a guy ever had an excuse, this was it, so I was really relieved when the worst passed and I got this back," he held up the medallion. "But I still can't wait to get out of here and go to a meeting."

"We'll be overjoyed to have you back. A few of the guys were wondering about you. They know it's not like you to miss many meetings. I couldn't say anything, of course, and wouldn't have even if I could. In any case they'll be really glad to see you."

Reid nodded. "I'll be glad to see them too."

John stood. "I better get going. I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing. I hope the doctor gives you your walking papers soon." He turned and headed for the door. At the door he turned back, "Spencer, that was a very brave thing you did. You saved a lot of lives. Take care of yourself. I'll see you soon." He turned again and headed out the door.

-------------------------

Linda Kimura entered his room clad today in black slacks and a black blouse contrasted with a crisp white lab coat. Her stethoscope again entwined around her neck. Her hair was wound in its familiar chignon. "So, how are you feeling this afternoon?" she asked.

"I'm feeling great. I can't wait to get out of here. Now that I no longer have the IV, I figure that's the next step," Reid said excitedly deciding that he liked it better when she wore her hair down. He'd also it liked when she'd worn the skirt. Even if she didn't have long legs that stretched on for what seemed like forever, they were very shapely. And why was she hiding herself under that lab coat. Geez, she's your doctor and a colleague; you shouldn't be thinking like that… pervert!

The doctor's face, the entire length of her 5'2" body in fact, seemed to deflate. "Uh…not so fast mister," she said brightly.

"What…what do you mean by not so fast? My blood work is great. My oxygen saturation levels are in the high nineties. I'm not coughing anymore. My chest x-rays are good. Like I said, I feel great."

"I know," she put her hands up to forestall any objection. "I know," she said again, "but you just got your IV out and are going to switch to oral medications. I just want to make sure everything's good with that before I discharge you."

"So, how long is it going to take to 'make sure everything's good'?"

"I don't know, no more than a day or…or two. That won't be so bad, will it?" she added quickly.

"A day or two, okay, then that's it right? I can't wait to get back to work."

"Oh no, you can't go back to work right away. I might discharge you but you can't just go back to work like nothing has happened. You'll have to recuperate at home for a couple of weeks anyway," she stated bluntly.

"A couple of weeks," Reid squeaked.

Linda Kimura put her head down trying to stifle the little grin that came to her face. Why did she always find it so adorable when he squeaked? She raised her head again, schooling her face to be emotionless and professional. "You just suffered a near fatal infection by a weaponized pathogen. It took a lot out of you. Of course you feel fine sitting here doing nothing but you might not be ready to be thrown back into work full time. At least not for two weeks and that's final." She turned on her heel and sped from the room before he could reply.

Linda rushed past the nurses' station as Kelly was getting ready to give her shift report to Sandy, Shirley and Beth on the evening shift. "What's up with that?" Kelly asked Lena who was finishing her charting as Dr. Kimura hurried by.

"Beth told me they were talking the other night in the day room and when she came back from there her eyes were all red, like she'd been crying. That's when she wrote this," Lena pointed to the doctor's orders on the chart.

Discontinue all Morphine

Discontinue Zopiclone and Lorazepam

If patient experiences any discomfort, beep me immediately

"What's going on?" Sandy asked as she collected the nursing care plan to make out her worksheet for the evening.

Kelly leaned over to Sandy and laughed quietly. "It looks like Dr. Reid and Dr. Kimura may have had their first fight."

Had she been too abrupt with Spencer, Linda thought as she entered her office? She just couldn't send him home until she was positive he was alright. She was only being thorough wasn't she? Perhaps she should go back and apologize to him. She turned around and left the office heading down the hallway once again towards Reid's room. As she passed the nurses' station, Kelly's voice drifted over to her.

"It looks like Dr. Reid and Dr. Kimura may have had their first fight."

Oh my God, were her feelings that clear to everyone? She turned for a second time in as many minutes and headed back to her office, glad that none of the nurses had seen her. If the nurses were aware of her feelings, did Spencer see it too? Did he think she just wanted him to stay so she could be close to him? She sat in her chair resting her elbows on her desk and her head in her hands. How would she ever face him now?