I have finally shaken off my writer's block! Thank you, thank you. (bowing) Oh, I'm just kidding. I'm not that cocky! (or am I?)

They sat on her bed, attempting to stare each other down. The intense, overly aggressive, yet calm Looks seemed to be bouncing off the walls. It all came down to this.

"You're bluffing."

"So what if I am?"

Both were unwilling to give in. Kate laid down her hand.

"A full house!" She said as she sat back, triumphant. Erica looked unnervingly calm.

"Ha! Read 'em and weep, sis!" She put down her straight flush and used her arm to scrape the jackpot of M&M's into her hand.

"You little...!" Kate said, but smiling and laughing.

"Hey, don't hate just because I can kick your ass at poker!" Erica giggled as she popped an M&M in her mouth.

"Dr. Sanches is going to have a fit when she finds you eating chocolate!"

"She can have a fit if she wants to, but I've been stuck in that room for a week. I was playing out of necessity!" She choked a little on a candy, causing Kate to almost keel over laughing. "Why do you laugh at my pain?" She asked, though laughing at herself, once she recovered.

"Me laugh at your pain? What about that time when I walked into that glass door?! You laughed so hard I almost had to give you CPR!" Erica starting laughing right there.

"Oh my God, you should have seen yourself!"

"No, I should've seen that door!" Kate said, laughing too.

The sisters talked and talked, laughing all the time. When Dr. Sanches poked her head into the room, she just smiled and left them alone. Even for a strict doctor, she knew laughter was the best medicine.

XXX

"Hello, ladies!" Nigel burst through the door, his normal happy self. He was carrying a giant vase overloaded with flowers, mainly roses and baby's breath. Kate looked at him, blushing furiously. Erica snuck her an eyebrow raise.

"What are those for, Nigel?" He smiled.

"Well for you, of course! I thought this boring little room needed some color." He set the vase on the table next to the bed, and plopped himself into a seat. Kate was still blushing, but hiding it well.

"Thank you, they're beautiful. How did you know roses were my favorite?" She asked. Erica looked up at the ceiling, pretending not to be there. Nigel shrugged.

"Lucky guess?" Kate smiled. "Oh, almost forgot, luv. I saw your doctor coming in, and she said you could leave Monday." Kate thought for a moment. It was Saturday, so only 2 more days.

"Finally!" Nigel turned to Erica.

"And you get out tomorrow."

"Jeez, took them long enough!" She rolled her eyes, peeved since she'd been feeling fine for days. She adjusted the IV tube dangling from her arm and brought her legs up unto the bed, Indian style.

Nigel looked around the room. Books were stacked on the table, along with cards and M&M's. He laughed a little.

"Have you two been playing poker?" They both grinned sheepishly.

"I won." Erica said with exaggerated pride. The sisters started to fight playfully.

"Barely!"

"Yeah, well it's still winning!"

"I say again: barely!"

Nigel watched for awhile longer. They were so happy. After everything that had happened, even knowing that their brother was in Iraq, they could still laugh like little girls. He hadn't seen that side of Kate yet. The mood was broken by the Grumpy One.

"Miss Switzer, it's time for your physical therapy." Kate looked unhappy.

"Uhh, worst timing in the world." She wasn't talking to the nurse, but in general.

"Yeah, well the world can't wait on your schedule." She brought over a wheelchair, which Kate was reluctant to get into. But with some prodding, she got in, and with some goodbyes, she was wheeled off. That left Erica and Nigel. She turned all business.

"So. You and Kate?" Nigel blushed, stammering a bit.

"You mean like, together? Oh, no. Nothing like that." Erica raised her eyebrow in her signature fashion.

"Really? Because I seem to recall you blushing like you are now when you asked me what flowers she likes."

"Well, I don't know..." He was lost again. "maybe we..." Erica smiled knowingly.

"Look, Nige. I know you two have a thing going on, but the only problem is that I don't think you two know it yet! So let me give you some advice: Kate has feelings for you, and you have feelings for her. So stop denying it!" Nigel was blown away. Erica had been here only for a week, and had hit the nail on the head. And she was definitely right. Why was he trying to deny it, anyway?

XXX

Nigel walked off the elevator, through the lobby, and into Trace. Jordan and Woody were waiting for him.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. Talked with Erica for awhile." He snapped on some gloves and retrieved the samples Jordan was holding.

"How are they doing?" Woody asked.

"Oh, fine. Erica gets out tomorrow, Kate on Monday."

"Finally!" Nigel smiled at the likeness of Jordan's words with Kate's as he started making magic. (a.k.a. "science") Jordan's cell rang, and after a brief talk she hung up.

"Gotta go. Suicide down the block." She kissed Woody and left. Woody watched her go, and then turned to Nigel, grinning.

"Ok, spill." Nigel, once again, blushed.

"What are you talking about?" Woody rolled his eyes.

"Oh, just the fact that you came in looking like you were walking on air."

"I honestly don't know what you're talking about."

"Please, Nigel, spare me the excuses." He was still smiling that all-knowing smile.

"So I was happy, so what?"

"Mm-hm." Woody just nodded and walked out, hands in his pockets and looking in all ways the victor.