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Chapter Eighteen;
The Best There Ever Was

When Max woke his eyes burned and everything felt so wrong. The last thing he could remember was coming face-to-face with a large, brutish man with a baseball bat. After that was darkness. The brute had clearly taken out that gap in between.

Opening his eyes slowly he looked up at the white ceiling above him and registered the beeping machine nearby. The hospital. He'd been found. Well, that was a vast improvement on death at least, and he let out a soft sigh, causing his chest to stab at him with a ferocity that made Max actually jolt up to a full waking state. His rib. Damn he didn't need a broken rib right now.

As he moved he saw her, her orange hair tied up in a ponytail, facing away from him. She seemed to be asleep, lying on the bed, breathing softly. He let her for a minute, waiting to see if his movement would rouse her, and then he whispered her name. "Millie." Nothing. "Mill?" Deeming her fast asleep, he touched her softly, feeling the warmth of her head beneath her thin hair. That seemed to wake her and she moved, Max pulling his hand back instinctively. He was unsure why he was so worried about getting caught, she was his wife for god's sake, but he crossed his arms stupidly as she murmured and awoke, turning her head to face him, her eyes flickering open quickly. "Hey."

She smiled. "Hey yourself." Using the bed as support, she pushed herself back into her chair and yawned. "What's the time?" She looked at her watch and frowned.

"How long have you been here?" Max's eyes were caught up in a crease on her cheek that came from lying against the bunched-up covers. She'd been there a while according to that alone.

She yawned again, this time not covering her mouth. "Since you came in yesterday." But she avoided a proper answer and Max was surprised by how much it hurt to have his question remain unanswered and for a second appreciated just how frustrating he must be. "Why didn't you tell anyone you were going after Stamos Max? You were lucky you weren't killed." He shrugged and she answered for him. "Because that's what you do, isn't it?" She sighed and looked away. "Have I told you how impossible you are?" But there was almost a smile in her voice and he could tell she was just happy he was all right, too pleased to be angry with him for now. He took his chance to stay in the good books for a little longer.

"I'm sorry." She caught his eye and gave him a soft smile. "Do you want me to say I won't do it again?"

She shook her head. "Don't even try, I know when you're lying." They stayed silent for a moment, Millie forcing back a few more yawns, before she continued. "They still haven't found him." Max glanced up. "Stamos. After he gave you the kicking you deserved," Max faux-frowned as she grinned, "he disappeared. I haven't had any word from the station so I'm going to assume they still haven't found him."

"It doesn't matter, he doesn't know anything." Max sighed. "He wanted to make that obvious as he was kicking me. Of course he knows Jankowski, but says he's not involved. I believe him."

"So why beat you up then?"

"I was there, I'm a copper. What more reasons do you want?" He gave a soft laugh but as he did his rib hurt again and he grabbed it, pulling a face. "How many broken ribs?"

"Three. Two right, one left. You were lucky not to puncture a lung."

"Yeah, that's me, lucky." Max muttered facetiously, frowning as Millie put a hand on his.

"You were lucky. Lucky Roger found you when he did." Max nodded slowly and squeezed her hand. She smiled. "Stop causing everyone grief!"

"It's good advice." The two of them glanced up as a nurse joined them. "I'm sorry to disturb you but you have another X-ray now."

Max motioned to his ribs. "I don't need an X-ray to tell you they hurt like hell." Millie stood with a smile, her hand still in his.

"No Mr. Carter, you've fractured your leg in three places. Didn't even feel it did you? We had to give you some local for the pain."

"You were whinging like a little girl." Millie teased. He pouted and she just smiled. "You couldn't give him anything for his ribs could you?"

"I'm fine," Max grumbled.

"We'll get you something after the X-ray." The nurse smiled as two orderlies joined her and started unlocking the bed from its base. "If you want to wait here Mrs. Carter he'll be about twenty-five, thirty minutes."

"Mrs. Carter?" Max teased. Millie ignored him.

"I'll come back this afternoon." She removed her hand from his and grabbed her bag. "Don't terrorise the staff."

"I'll try," he returned. With a grin she left, his eyes on her until she was out of sight.

"She wouldn't leave your side. Has been here since seven yesterday morning." Max caught sight of her watch. It was a little after 10. 27 hours. She'd stayed with him for 27 hours and refused to leave? "She's a good woman."

Max gave a small smile. "She's the best."