I was reconnected to the morphine drip ten minutes later and hit the button once, just to get the edge off the fire in my shoulder and let me sleep tonigh; Steve had sat on the end of my bed and grabbed my feet for a quick rub to try and soothe my nerves. I still hadn't talked about Kono or Chin being shot and that was worrying him; I had snuggled back down on the bed after going to brush my teeth and was trying to get comfy again as Steve tucked me in and kissed me, I was getting really sleepy and I looked down to find him hitting the dispenser.

"You haven't been sleeping naturally for a few days, let this be the last night you need drugs to help you sleep – once your home I can tire you out in my own special way!" he whispered.

"I didn't jump…." I murmured.

"It's alright you just sleep and we can talk about it once you're feeling better alright – sleep Sadie, you've had a rough few days and need to heal!"

I was out cold as the dispenser pushed in the last MG of morphine that had me zoned out within moments. Steve tucked the covers around me and leaned in for a final kiss and gently touched the bruises across my face.

"What am I going to do with you Sarah?" he whispered to himself.

"Hopefully marry her and have lots of babies!" a voice said.

Steve spun around and was faced by Joe who had come bearing gifts and looked like he had travelled a good distance recently; Steve walked forward and shook his hand and brought him into the room – of course Joe would find out about the raid – JSOC would have been informed regarding the SWAT detail and use of the ICON satellite.

"How Kono and Chin are, is there any word on their condition?" he whispered.

"They're stable in the ICU with positive results from all their tests, her quick actions saved them from bleeding out in the warehouse and she refused to give up on them; SWAT want to give her a medal and make her part of their primary team – after they kill her for not getting her shoulder treated by the EMS on site."

Joe smiled and shook his head, he knew what my MO was during these times.

"We both know what she is like when her family are injured, I hear she went all out and performed another miracle, not surprised she is so exhausted and didn't feel the injury until later on – she was the same on missions."

It had been the first time that Steve had heard Joe talk about me on a mission, what I was like and how I behaved – he wasn't surprised though when he heard that I would go to hell and back to save people – a few times nearly putting myself out of commission due to blood donations and pushing myself beyond breaking limit during the worst moments. He looked at Joe and saw nothing but respect as he looked at me lying on the bed with my whole shoulder and arm strapped up to my body with a lot of powerful drugs keeping the pain away so I could sleep. He put the small teddy bear down on the table along with a small bag full of gear from the base shop – he had discovered some of the visiting units had brought Irnbru with them and he snaffled a few cases.

"I spoke to Doris earlier on and she let me know you were here at the hospital, she needs to be told about Sadie's history if she is going to understand the history between you two, the options are I can tell her, or both of you can – she has been honest about the last twenty years – you two need to be honest about the last three years."

"Funny thing is we were going to tell her tonight after dinner, after the proposal," Steve replied.

Joe looked at both of us and smiled as he grasped Steve's shoulder and squeezed in support of the massive news, he was delighted for us and obviously had a question he was dying to ask either one of us.

"Was she aware you may ask, or have you suddenly come to your senses and realised that you should have done this a couple of years ago?"

Steve laughed and went for a seat in the corner of the room; he stretched and rubbed his hands over his face as he grinned while looking at me. He had been planning it for a few months and had just received the call from the jewellers about the custom ring he had ordered for me – the dinner was all booked and he knew what he wanted to say and where – now he was just thankful that I was sleeping and finally healing.

The door opened and the nurse walked back in with a change of IV's and to restock the dispenser with some milder painkillers that would keep away the aches, she busied herself about the place making sure everything was in place and checked on my shoulder wound – she frowned and both men saw the expression and stood forward.

"Nurse, what's the matter?" Joe asked first.

"She has spiked a temperature, I'll be back in a moment with the monitor and the doctor if required – don't worry, it's a common side effect of the surgery and should only be a mild spike – one moment!" she said leaving the room.

Steve went over to the bed and laid his hand across my skin and flinched back his hand, he had laid his hand on my arm that was boiling hot and he could see the tightness in my face as I was reacting to an infection in my system. Joe had noticed the same thing and checked the shoulder wound; it was red and swollen and was definitely infected – probably over taxed from earlier on when I was moving about. The nurse came back and they showed her the shoulder wound, she frowned and checked my temperature before beeping the doctor who arrived moments later with my file.

"Temperature is 103.8 and her wound is inflamed and strained, I've got cool pads being brought up but she needs antibiotics through her IV," The nurse informed Steve.

"Get a swab sent to the lab to find out where this infection came from and monitor her temperature every 10 minutes, if it goes higher than 104 then we need to get her into the ice jacket – was she feeling alright earlier?" the doctor replied.

"Yeah she was sore but the meds helped her and I pushed her enough to help her sleep, the nurse came in and then we noticed the temp and I could see the strain across her face. Her shoulder looks badly infected – was there a lot of damage internally?"

"The collar bone was a clean break and it was the shard of bone that penetrated through that was the issue; we replaced that shard with a polymer that wrapped around the break and helped stabilize the bone. The wound was then cleaned and repaired; I don't understand it either but we will get her treated. She's probably going to be delirious for a little while and I'm going to push the morphine to a higher dose for her to keep her comfortable – she's going to be rough for a day or so but try not to worry!"

"I'll take good care of her Commander, but it looks like both of you need a good rest – she isn't going anywhere anytime soon – go rest up and I'll contact you if there are any changes ok?" the nurse replied.

"Not an issue as I would rather have her back healthy, she will moan at you though – she's a combat medic and will want to do everything at home!" he replied.

"Yeah sounds like her alright, I know Sadie from overseas – she'll get a kick out of seeing me again – I was her training officer!" the nurse replied smiling.

"Oh, so you're responsible!" Joe said laughing.

The nurse nodded and laughed as she received the medical supplies and set up what was required, Joe tastefully turned his back for a few moments and talked to Steve about anything he needed for anyone and that he was there if he needed any information.

Three days later

I was grumpy and wanted home; my temp had dropped enough 24 hours ago to be considered to be released home under my own power but they were still not happy regarding some of the blood work that showed I was still anaemic and had low potassium levels – I promised them that I would set up an IV as required at home and follow the nurses orders to the letter – even let them inspect my work as required – he told me to wait and be patient on the last round of tests. I was finally off the morphine and the ache was bearable for me to just use mild muscle relaxants and cool pads to take the ache out of my shoulder and too keep the area cool and mobile – I was still strapped up though and would be for at least another week to ensure the clavicle was healing straight and not overtaxed again. The door finally opened and the doctor walked in, he nodded to me and I thanked him as I grabbed my bag and headed to get changed – he was still there when I came out looking a lot cleaner and fresher.

"Understand that I am letting you out because you can treat yourself at home, but that injury will be very tender until it is healed and you're physio has just cleared you for swimming. You cannot weight bear or lift with that arm, you must wear your sling and if there are any major changes in pain or temperature then you are ordered to come back in and page me."

"Understood and accepted doctor – can I go see my friends now?"

I hadn't seen them at all since they were rushed in by ambulance; mainly because of my injury and subsequent infection that barred me from entering their ICU room – that pissed me off since I was quarantined due to the bacteria in the wound that caused some major wound management injuries – a wonderful new scar to join my others. Thankfully the doctor nodded and after he loaded my bag with medical supplies for tonight, he pushed the wheelchair towards me, I shook my head and stared at him – I was still weak but would walk into their rooms and sit between them on sentry. The doctor rolled his eyes at me and took my arm as we made our way up to the ICU and towards my friends, he was telling me that they were both still on ventilators and hopefully within the next few days they would be strong enough to come off them; I nodded and after a quick check and putting a seat down for me, he allowed me in the room.

My heart nearly burst as I saw them both lying there wrapped up and connected to the machines that were keeping them alive; I instantly checked their monitors and made sure they were comfortable enough as I read through their charts and sat down between them. I wiped my face and sat back in the support chair for the next few hours as the hospital staff buzzed in and out of the room and made sure everyone was alright and if I needed anything.

I had gone for a small walk about the corridor later that afternoon and had arrived back in the room that was quiet apart from the machines beeping and the constant hum of the ventilator; I stood between my two friends and stretched my back, wincing as my shoulder ached – hadn't eaten yet so I couldn't take my pain meds. The doctor from earlier came in and frowned at me – he had sent me home before lunch as I needed to rest, I had ignored him and stayed instead, making sure I was out of his LOS in the corner. He turned to me and issued an order to me so I had to leave the room and he followed me into the waiting room.

"I know you want to stay with your friends Corporal but you are physically drained and need to go home to heal, I'm taking it you haven't even eaten yet because you're pale and knowing army medics you probably have enough coffee inside your stomach to keep you up for a week."

I just looked at him and he sighed.

"I'm not leaving them alone, it's been nearly a week since I have seen them and I need to know if they are doing well?" I replied.

The door swung open and Joe walked in looking slightly annoyed, he had been told by the hospital that I was being sent home and had been waiting for a couple of hours on me outside the house to ensure I had everything I needed before Steve came home from work; he looked at me and shook his head.

"It's alright doc, I'm here to take her home – any orders I need to know about?"

"I'm not leaving them Joe!" I stated clearly.

"Yes you are Corporal, you need to rest and heal or I will have Steve chew you a new one once he gets home!"

The doctor gave details of my medical plan to Joe while I said my farewells to them both and promised I would be back tomorrow once I had rested a little while; I stood up and headed off with Joe supporting my arm and we headed to the car waiting outside. Joe got me belted in and I leaned back against the seat as I soaked up the sun and held back a lot of bad language as we went over every speed bump in the car park. It was only a twenty minute drive to the house but felt like longer as neither of us were talking during the journey, it was normal for us like that – always had been during training and even now considering how close he was to the Five-O team. We eventually pulled up outside the house and I managed to get myself out the seatbelt and get onto the ground without falling flat on my face, I knew I was exhausted due to the last of the infection coming out my system and the pain, but this was ridiculous that I just wanted to snuggle up in bed and sleep when I should be at the HQ finding out how details of the raid were leaked. Joe left me to get changed and then came back with my meds and a bottle of water as I lay in bed, he watched me take them and then checked – damn SEAL trainers!

"Do you need a sleeping tablet the doctor gave you or can you fall asleep?"

"I'm good thanks Joe!" I replied.

He nodded and told me to call if I needed anything and that I was on forced bed rest until tomorrow, I yawned and he grinned as I laid my head back down and fell asleep moments later as he tucked the sheets around me and left the room.