He could feel his heart beating strongly in his throat. His intestines were beginning to tie themselves in knots as his mind confirmed to him what he was going to do. He knew he shouldn't be here, that he was walking right into the lion's den, a sacrificial lamb lining himself up for the slaughter with open arms but he knew he had to do this. No matter what was said, no matter what happened he had to do this, there was no turning back. He'd come this far and he had to go through with what he'd planned. If he turned back now he would fail himself and those he was trying so hard to help. It didn't matter whether they appreciated his help or not, he just had to know that he'd done something. Raising his hand to knock on the door he had come level with in the wide, quiet corridor he saw that it was trembling. An outside indicator of what he was feeling inside. He lowered his hand a moment, taking in a deep breath to stop the shaking, and when he felt ready to try once more.

A grumble from the other side of the door told him to enter. As he pulled down the handle he could feel the tremor returning to his hands. It was too late to go back now even if he had wanted to. The door was open, he'd stepped through. He'd been seen. Keeping his eyes to the ground he closed the door, he was ready to look into those eyes, to see that face, he shuddered to think of speaking in fear of what would be said to him.

"What is this? Unwelcome visitor day? First Sportacus comes in and now you." Kit asked all and none.

Ziggy dared to look up at his reluctant host, "Robbie would have come himself but he couldn't. I'm here because of Robyn."

"What have you done to her now!" Kit snapped, angry at any possible negative involvement Ziggy had had with his love, "If you've laid one finger on her I swear-"

"I haven't touched her. Alright, maybe I did but I had no choice. If you hear me out instead of trying to find any gap you can to jump in and threaten me you might find out why."

Sulking like a child who had had his favourite toy taken away from him, Kit sat back on his pillows and folded his arms, allowing Ziggy to proceed.

"Thank you," Ziggy said before continuing, "I don't know what's been going on between Robyn and Sportacus recently and I don't want to know but something happened in town. I was out taking a walk to find my favourite lollipop, which I'd managed to misplace earlier, it was all yellow and blue, not my usual flavour but it was new and on sale so I thought I'd try it and it was sweet and I liked it but it must have fallen out of my pocket and landed on the ground somewhere while I was walking home and I wanted to go back and find it-"

"Ziggy," Kit interrupted a smile on his face reminiscent of earlier times in their friendship and his voice in a tone long unused, "Back to the point please."

"Oh, sorry, well, I saw Sportacus getting out of a car and expected Robyn to be there to greet him so I looked for her. Eventually I spotted her walking towards him but I could tell that there wasn't something right with her. She looked mad, really mad. She also didn't seem to be all there, like there was really something on her mind that she couldn't get rid of. Anyway, she stopped in front of Sportacus and I knew that something bad was going to happen. I could see Robbie and Doctor Malone running up, at first I didn't know why but by the looks on their faces I could tell they knew something was about to kick off and it did. Sportacus must have said something to Robyn that she didn't like and she shouted at him, something like 'keep it' and then she…she-"

"She what, Ziggy?"

"She punched him, knocked him over. She was going to go for him but I ran over and grabbed her, all three of us did; Robbie, the Doctor and me."

Kit's smile faded into a frown. His deep brown eyes read Ziggy's face like an open book and painted a picture that illustrated just what had happened as a result of that. Indignation began to spark in his belly but he subdued its taunting heat, there was more he wanted to know before he acted. Once he knew the answers he would allow nothing to stop him on the path he chose to follow.

"Why didn't Robbie tell me this himself?" He asked keeping his tone deceptively level.

"He would have but he was afraid of what you would say to him. He doesn't want you upset."

Kit laughed momentarily, harshly. "Lovely! Well it's a bit late for that! Thanks very much, Ziggy, now if you don't mind,"

Ziggy watched as Kit sat himself up in bed. It became very quickly evident what was about to happen and he knew that it was something he couldn't allow to transpire. Not knowing what else to do and not willing to take the risk of leaving Kit alone he moved to stand in the way. This was evidently a bad move as Kit shot him a black look that made the tremble return to his hands and journey down to his knees, something that wasn't missed by the person he was trying so hard to stand up to.

"Are you frightened of me, Ziggy?" The question was simple and right on the target.

Ziggy shook his head, "No,"

"It doesn't look like it from where I'm sitting. You couldn't be shaking more if you saw Bessie in a mini skirt and bikini top. What have I ever done to frighten you? I've never laid a finger on you, never. I won't deny I've wanted to and could have done on one particular occasion you know well about but I didn't."

"Only because Robyn told you not to."

It was Kit's turn to shake his head, "Robyn said nothing of the sort. Don't look so surprised, after what you did she was more than happy for me to go over to your house and give you a damn good slap."

"Then why didn't you?"

"I'll level with you, Ziggy," Kit's visage became grave, "And this doesn't make us friends because what you did was unforgivable, you hurt Robyn and you crossed the line. I didn't hit you and I'm only doing this because you know what it's like to love her. To want to do anything for her, even trying to stop the world with your bare hands and make it turn the other way to see her smile, despite how impossible it may seem. And you know what it's like to lose her. You're a better man than me for coming through it, I couldn't. If I lost her it would kill me and I've come close enough to losing her to know that. Now you know why I do everything I can to take care of her, to be there for her when she needs me. Now you know why I'm going to get out of this bed and out of this hospital whether you're standing in the way of me or not. Get out of my way, Ziggy, or I'll make you get out of my way."

"I don't think you could if you wanted to. You're hurting, Kit, I can see it."

"I might be down but I'm not beaten. I'm getting out of here, Ziggy, whether you like it or not."

It took a few moments for Ziggy to respond, he seemed to be forming his answer in his mind, "Then let me help you."

"Why?" Kit's brown creased in a frown of confusion.

"Because I know what it's like to love Robyn and if I was in your place I'd probably feel the same."

A smile brushed Kit's lips and he offered his hand to Ziggy who took it and helped him to stand up. Once Kit was upright and had gained his balance he looped his arm over his shoulder bracing the slightly younger man against him. When he was satisfied that Kit was ready to move he started walking. Kit felt stiff but made little in the way of indicating it or the pain he felt, he tried to ignore it for Robyn's sake. He had to know what was happening back in town.

Both men stopped dead in their tracks when the door opened before Ziggy had had a chance to lift his hand to the handle and revealed a rather stern looking Doctor Cole behind who stood Doctor Malone.

"Where do you think you're going?" Doctor Cole asked looking squarely at Kit.

Kit met the Doctor's gaze, "Home. I'm sure Doc Malone's told you why."

"He has." Doctor Cole sighed briefly, "Go on."

"What?"

"Go, before I change my mind. Rory, make sure they get there and that Kathleen gets home."

Doctor Malone looked rather shocked but held his tongue, "I will." Was all he said.

With this agreement Doctor Cole stood aside to let Kit and Ziggy pass. Kit smiled his thanks and had almost passed the Doctor when he felt the man's hand brush his arm.

"You can stay home for the time being, I'll be along in the morning to check on you and her."

"Thanks, Doc."

Kit turned to go but paused. Looking at the Doctor once more he released his arm from around Ziggy's shoulder and hugged the man. This seemed to rather surprise the Doctor but he returned the hug after overcoming that. When Kit had let him go he smiled and bending over whispered in Kit's ear.

"Put your bum away, you're scaring the public."

Frowning a little with puzzlement Kit craned his neck to see what the Doctor meant and noticed that his gown had flopped open at the back to the view of several nurses and patients walking around the ward. Doing what came naturally to him, Kit laughed. With one of his hands he held his gown shut while with his other he gripped Ziggy's shoulder.

Nodding at both Doctors, Kit signalled to Ziggy that they should start moving. They were on their way home.