Sorry for taking a little longer with the new chapter. Busy+no idea what to write+typing with jammed fingers=SLOW!

"What?! Oh, God!" Erica sank back into her pillow. Kate was hit in the lung. The lung! She could've died!

"Erica, it's ok! Kate's going to be fine." Lily offered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, luv. We talked to the surgeon. She said that Kate should make a full recovery!" Nigel used his winning smile, but like Kate, Erica had a knack for seeing through those.

"What else did she say?" She was serious. Nigel flustered.

"What? What makes you think she said something else?" Nigel sensed what was coming next. The Stare. Why, oh why, did it have to run in the family?! And Erica did a good one, too. Nigel was down within a few seconds, and Lily was obviously uncomfortable. "OK, ok, yes! She did say something else. But don't freak out, ok? Kate is... unstable right now, and there's not much room for errors." Erica groaned. She was a surgeon, she knew how bad "unstable" really was.

"Damn it!" She said quietly, but fiercely. She was a doctor! But all she could do was sit there while her sister could be dying!

"Erica, I promise, everything's going to be fine." Lily was completely sincere. Her heart went out to Erica. Erica just replied without hurry, sounding broken.

"Yeah. I used to say that, too. I had to stop, though. Realized I was lying most of the time."

"What?" Nigel was lost for a moment, but then remembered she was a doctor. The kind for live people, at that. "Oh." Lily was quiet for awhile.

"Then you'll just have to trust me."

XXX

"Mr. Townsend?!" A nurse yelled curtly across the lobby. Nigel got up and walked quickly over.

"Yes?" He asked anxiously. Bug had followed him close behind and escaped detection.

"Miss Switzer just woke up. She asked for you." Nigel wanted to hug that grouchy old nurse, but restrained for his dignity's sake. "But only you. Dr. Sanches doesn't want her getting overwhelmed, so the rest will have to stay out here and go in one at a time."

"Thank you!" Before following her down the hall, he turned to tell everyone, but bumped right into Bug. "Whoa! Where did you come from, mate?" He said laughing as they pulled each other off the ground.

"What? I can't eavesdrop once in awhile?" Bug answered playfully. "Well, what are you waiting for?" Nigel realized that the nurse had started down the hall without him.

"OH, thanks mate!" He turned quickly and ran to catch up with her. Bug just laughed.

Nigel followed in the nurse's wake, which was adequately large, to say the least. Finally coming to room 913, she stopped and gently opened the door. Sticking her head in, she spoke in a soft voice.

"Miss Switzer? Mr. Townsend's here to see you." Nigel couldn't see through the door, but when the nurse stepped aside, she whispered sternly, "Don't expect miracles the first day."

Nigel nodded politely, though with a flare of disagreement, and walked through the doorway. The old nurse sighed and shook her head, deciding to just walked away.

When Nigel saw Kate in the hospital bed, it was like his heart stopped. She was lying there, her face pale and ashy, her eyes weak. She had an oxygen mask over her mouth and nose, an IV in her arm, and what seemed to be a million different machines surrounding her. Her eyes flicked towards him, and with a labored grunt, she reached up and pulled the mask off. Her breathing was labored, but seemed to be grateful for an excuse to remove the nuisance. Kate spoke tiredly.

"Hey." Nigel walked quickly over, talking as he went.

"Kate, I don't think you should take that-" Kate raised a hand, stopping him.

"I know. But I'm not going to try to talk with the damn thing on." Obviously, she was in a bad mood. Nigel protested a little more, but eventually stopped and sat down next to her bed.

"So how are you feeling?" He asked shakily. Yeah he scared, but he had every right to be. Kate sighed, looking up at the ceiling without lifting her head from the pillow, then closing her eyes.

"Like I was shot in the lung." Her voice was so weak, but still had her sarcasm. "How's Erica?" Now more urgent.

"Oh, she's doing fine, luv. Should be out in a few days. She's been really worried about you, Kate." Kate smiled faintly. She was tired as hell, but Erica was ok.

"Good. I just wish I could see her again."

XXX

"Why are you so grumpy looking?" A young intern asked. The old hospital veteran, or The Grumpy Old Nurse, as people liked to call her, answered back sharply over her shoulder as she walked.

"I told the guy only 30 minutes! It's been an hour, and I still haven't seen him come out of her room!" She stormed down the hall. Pulling the door wide, she went in and prepared for a rant, but stopped. She put down her raised hand, initially intended to shoo him out, and rested it on her hip. Even she had enough heart not to wake them up.

The tall, lanky man with the British accent had his chair up against the wall so he was parallel with Miss Switzer. His head was leaning between the wall and bed, and he slouched in his chair enough to look comfortable. She was sleeping with her head facing him, a look of content seemingly enveloping her. The nurse's eyes ran over the picture, a smile kinda-sorta-maybe crossing her face. Her gaze stopped between them. There, on the edge of the bed, their fingers intertwined. He was holding on to her, and she was holding on to him.