She was asleep. She knew it, and she didn't want it to end. When you're asleep, you don't have to face the world. But she could hear talking, bits and pieces of a conversation. She realized that she didn't know where she was, didn't remember anything. So she listened to the voices, hoping they would give her clues as she feigned sleep.

"What in the world happened?"

"I don't know! She saw the vic, and started to get freaked out! The next thing I know she passes out in my arms."

Passed out? Kate was still confused.

"Well, who is the guy?" She was starting to recognize voices now. Garrett sounded worried. Nigel, the one he was questioning, obviously, sounded worse. Why was he so worried about her?

"I don't know yet. The only thing we know was that he was strangled with some kind of wire."

Oh, God. Oh, God! She remembered now! He's dead. But why in the world did she care so damn much? Her mind was racing, and she couldn't keep her act up. She had to say something.

"His name is Alexander Johansen!"

The two men were shocked, they hadn't realized she was awake. Nigel rushed to her side, kneeling down so he was right next to her. Garrett was quick to follow on the other side, but refrained from bending down, wanting to give her space.

"It's ok, Kate. Calm down. Can you tell me where you know him from?" Nigel cooed softly, but Kate didn't object to the childish treatment. She swallowed her pride, and, for the first time that she could remember, didn't care who she poured her heart out to.

"He's my ex." She wasn't as upset as before, but her voice still sounded broken. "We were getting married. It was supposed to be the happiest time of my life, but I was still worried since my first engagement was a disaster! I went to talk to him the night before the wedding and I found him with someone else! Why did he have to go and ruin everything?!" She tried to go on, but had to stop to control the threat of tears.

"Kate..." Garrett was at a loss for words. He knew what it was like to have your heart split in two, but the night before your wedding? No wonder Kate could seem inhuman. Her heart had been ripped out.

Nigel just stood there, holding her hand as she choked back emotions, wanting to beg her to let them out, but knowing that wasn't going to happen.

XXX

Bug and Lily were the first ones to get to the hospital. While Bug got the story from Nigel, Lily tried to work some of her magic on Kate, and it seemed to help, if only a little. Woody and Jordan arrived about an hour later.

"How is she now?" Jordan asked, more emotional than expected.

"She's ok. Broken, but physically ok. The doctor said she just had an anxiety attack that was combined with low iron levels." Garret answered.

"What caused the attack?"

Garrett sighed.

"The victim that she and Nigel were sent to pick up turned out to be her ex-fiance. And of course it didn't help that the man cheated on her the night before what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life." He told the story in his almost matter-of-fact/mono-toned voice, the one that he used when telling bad news to people at the morgue.

Jordan winced, on the outside and on the inside. Then, Nigel decided to break in.

"Actually, that was her 2nd wedding. Her father ruined her 1st one. Poor Kate." he looked toward her room. She would be getting ready to leave soon. He wanted to take her home, to hold her until everything really was alright. It was Woody that eventually broke his train of thoughts.

"Speaking of family, do you think we should call anyone for her? Tell them what happened? Do you know if she has any siblings?"

Everyone looked at each other. No one knew, or anything else about her, for that matter. Garrett stopped a nurse walking by, flashed his badge and whispered a request. She walked off, then returned a minute later with a file. She stood in the background, waiting for it's return. Garrett flipped through Kate's record, and finally stopped at a page.

"She's got a brother and sister, Ben and Erica, both younger. There's a number listed for Erica. Looks like an international number." He was satisfied, but not really looking forward to invading Kate's privacy and calling her sister.

"I can call her." Lily volunteered, with a small thanks from Garrett.

Unknown to the rest of the group, Jordan had slipped away, quietly entering Kate's room. She was sitting up, but with eyes closed. She was thinking, silently going over what had happened, and giving herself her own grief counseling. When she heard Jordan, she opened her eyes quickly and looked up.

"Hi Jordan... what are you doing here?" She said, surprised.

"Well, actually, I came to ask if I can borrow your car while you're in the hospital." Jordan said slyly, trying to joke her way into a conversation. To her surprise, it worked. Kate smiled and laughed a little.

"Good luck with that. Besides, I'm getting out of here in a few hours." Kate stated, almost playful. Jordan sat in a chair next to her bed. She wanted to talk, but try to keep Kate's mind away from her ex.

"So, how's Binky? Won any good shows lately?"

"Oh, as fluffy as ever. If he wins the next show, he'll get into the World Championship." She said with endearment, loving the idea of him being Champion.

"Haha, well best to him!"

They talked into the evening, with not a subject in the world escaping their conversing. Jordan knew she had made a friend, and so did Kate.