Author's Note: With it being Christmas in Australia I decided to drop the second chapter as a gift. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas when it eventually arrives in your neck of the woods. Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Chapter Two: Fatherly Advice

He'd been about to say something when Tyler noticed the change in Shay's breathing that generally signified she'd once again fallen asleep against his shoulder. It never ceased to amaze him how easily she could just fall asleep in the strangest of places when exhausted.

At six four tall Tyler had a good foot in height over Shay who only stood at five four. This height difference at least made it easier for him to lift and carry her from whatever strange position she'd fallen asleep in this time.

Deciding it was best to get her settled into one of the bunks, Tyler shifted in order to lift Shay from the couch before standing and heading for the bunk room with long easy strides.

Once he was sure that Shay was settled and still sleeping on the bunk Tyler decided it would be a good time to try and get some information on their last pick up. When they'd found the guy he'd looked like he'd seen better days, when Shay had removed his t-shirt they'd found a number of injuries, the worst being a gun shot wound to his left shoulder. As well as the shoulder wound he'd seen at least three stab wounds of varying depths.

Several hours later Tyler returned to the bunk room with a notebook stuffed under his arm and more than a little bleary eyed, he'd fallen asleep, albeit briefly, at the computer while doing research, not that he'd ever actually admit that to anyone. His blue eyes drifted immediately to the bunk he'd left Shay upon, only to find it vacant and neatly made.

Truthfully he hadn't expected her to still be there, he knew it was rare for her to sleep more than four hours at a time and if she did happen to she often suffered from nightmares. Tyler had found himself on more than one occasion having to wake a flailing Shay from her sleep, the first such attempt ending with him sprawled on the bunk room floor with blood gushing from his nose after a lucky left hook had caught him off guard.

Turning to leave the room, Tyler made his way down to the station house's gym. Odds were good that Shay would either be here or off raiding the kitchen. If you asked him, he'd honestly admit he loved his partner like the daughter he'd never had, hell even his own sons who were fire fighters in the same station house looked out for her like a sister.

Pushing through the door of the gym Tyler wasn't surprised to find Shay in the corner of the gym lashing out at the punching bag. At least this time she'd remembered, for which he said a silent prayer of thanks, to tape her hands. The last time he'd found her, the skin of the knuckles of both hands had been bloody and red raw.

"Seriously girl, don't you ever get a decent night's sleep?" Crossing the gym to the bag in the corner, Tyler dropped the notebook on top of Shay's discarded hoodie and stepped behind the bag to brace it. Though when he caught sight of the wicked glint in those chocolate eyes, he suspected that he wasn't about to like the retort that was about to come flying back.

"Depends, usually I sleep pretty good if I've been well and truly fucked. Or after Sam's thanksgiving dinner. I swear your wife makes the best damn turkey and pumpkin pies I've ever eaten." The happy teasing grin that Shay wore didn't quite make it to her eyes, Tyler noticed. With a slight shake of his head he tightened his grip on the bag as the punches continued and were joined by an occasional elbow strike.

"That was more information than I needed to know, though I'm sure Sam would welcome the compliment." Tyler glanced around the bag to Shay as she blew out a frustrated breath.

"Grab your hoodie, we're taking a trip." Stepping out from behind the bag Tyler collected his notebook, waiting by the door for Shay to follow. When she stopped beside him he inclined his head toward the door, as they made their way out of the station house and over to his pickup truck he handed her the notebook.

"So, while you were resting I did a little research on your possible soulmate. Turns out this Walsh used to be a Major League Baseball player in his early twenties." Turning his attention from Shay to the road Tyler pulled the pickup out into traffic. From the corner of his eye he saw the map light turn on above Shay and heard the sound of turning pages as she flipped through his notes.

"Huh. He went from being a baseball player to being a cop? That's a massive career switch."

Tyler could hear the confusion in her tone; he'd actually had a similar query when he'd discovered the switch. "It appears so. I couldn't seem to find anything on the reason behind the occupation change though."

Pulling his pickup truck into the parking lot of the hospital, Tyler shut off the ignition. As he opened the door his gaze turned to Shay. "Come on, you have someone to go visit. I figure you need to check on him, as well as seeing for yourself if he's got the same marking. Otherwise you're just going to drive all of us, including yourself, crazy with the mystery."

It didn't escape his notice that Shay was fidgeting with the sleeves of her hoodie as they made their way into the hospital. After a brief flirtatious chat with one of the nurses Tyler managed to find out where they needed to go and guided Shay into the elevator.

"So, while you go and check on this guy's condition and examine him for this mark," Tyler gestured towards her wrist then before continuing. "I'll stand guard by the door and distract any of the nursing staff who happen to come by." Guiding her down the hallway Tyler had to stop suddenly as Shay stalled. The look on her face was something reminiscent of a deer facing oncoming headlights.

Turning to face Shay and placing his hands on her shoulders Tyler took a deep breath before speaking. "Take a slow breath, you can do this. All you're doing is checking in on someone who may or may not be your soulmate, but was definitely a patient. You're not doing anything wrong."

With a gentle nudge he urged Shay into the room before stepping in after her, silently shutting the door and propping himself by the wall just inside. With a slight tilt of his head Tyler nodded to the curtain, indicating for her to step through.

It was a couple of minutes after Shay disappeared behind the curtains that Tyler heard a rough gravelly voice rumble "I know I'm sexy, but generally I do like girls to buy me dinner first before I let them get into my pants."

Mary Mother of God, what had that girl done now?