AN: So this will wrap up my little trio of drabbles. This one goes with drabbles #75 and #79. I think even Melissa will be satisfied with this conclusion.

Nathan watched as Faith secured the bandage around his hand. "Keep this covered and I want to see you daily for the next few days so I can keep an eye on this," the doctor told him.

"Is that really necessary?" Nathan asked. It hadn't looked like that bad a cut.

"Yes," Faith told him. "Don't make me come looking for you tomorrow," she said, leveling a stare at him.

"I won't," Nathan promised her with a smile. A smile that immediately faded as the infirmary door opened and in walked Elizabeth. He heaved a hug sigh even as he managed to speak. "It has been a long day Elizabeth. I don't think I have the strength to deal with one of your verbal attacks today," he said, anticipating the words themselves to set the woman off.

To his surprise, Elizabeth remained calm, the expression on her face, contrite. "I deserve that. I haven't been kind to you with my words. May I have just a few moments of your time, Nathan?"

Surprised that she was asking and not demanding of him, Nathan nodded, keeping his heart guarded still.

As Faith turned toward the paperwork on her desk, Elizabeth came toward him and surprised him by kneeling down in front of him. She looked up at him with that contrite expression and sorrowful eyes, and Nathan felt a spark of Hope inside him. Was the Elizabeth he had first met finding her way out of the darkness?

"I am sorry that you were one of the targets of my mixed-up emotions. I was running from love in fear, and I have hurt so many in that process including my son, Allie and you. It isn't you that reminds me of Jack," she said, a hand reaching out to gently finger the cuff of his serge. "It is the uniform."

"I am more than the uniform, Elizabeth," Nathan reminded her.

"I know," Elizabeth said, looking up at him.

He reached out with his bandaged hand, to brush her cheek with his fingertips. "I meant what I said about giving up the uniform for you, Elizabeth. I still would."

"Even after all I have done?" she asked, her eyes searching out the answer in his.

"If you promised to stop using your grief and fear to keep me at bay and confide in me instead, yes," Nathan told her. "Grief and guilt are heavy burdens to carry alone. They change who you are," he said. A recent comment Allie had said about missing his humming during the day had mad him realize it was true of him as well.

Reaching up, Elizabeth gently took the bandaged hand and pressed a kiss to it. "I can promise that. I'm tried of being in the darkness."

Nathan pressed a kiss to the top of Elizabeth's head and then standing, helped the woman to her feet. He tucked her hand in the crook of one arm, and reached for the Stetson that sat at the foot of the cot.

"I will see you tomorrow, Dr. Carter. Thank you for your medical expertise."

Faith turned, a smile on her face. "You're welcome. The both of you have a good evening."

Nathan nodded while Elizabeth murmured her thanks and then the Mountie led the schoolteacher from the infirmary to their future.