Wordy slide down into one of the plastic chairs situated just outside the Critical Care Unit, he had given the emergency medical team all the information that he could, then he had watched as Eddie had disappeared down the corridor and as the doors closed he was left alone reliving the events of the last few hours flicking through his mind.

All of a sudden he remembered who Ed had been talking to on the phone and panic started to set in how much had Clark heard of the attack on his father? grabbing his phone he dialled the all to familiar number.

"Wordy what's happening I heard noises and then I got cut off and when I trying redialling dad back his phone goes straight to voicemail"

"Yeah sorry buddy"... Wordy struggled to continue... "There's been an incident... your... hum...dad's phone got broken"...

"What sort of incident...has dad been hurt"? came Clark's frightened reply

"Yes... sorry... Clark he has... I'm at St Simon's with him now... so I'm gonna send a car to pick you and your mom up and bring you straight here" Wordy could hear Clark's ragged breathing on the other end of the phone.

"Is it bad?"

Leaning his head back against the wall and closing his eyes Wordy answered Clark's question with the truth..."I'm sorry buddy I don't know...I don't know."

Eddie felt like he was he floating through a sea of mind numbing darkness, it shrouded every inch of him dulling all his senses, as he struggled to swim up and break the surface he tried to remember why he was feeling like he was but it stood on the edge of his conscious and try as hard as he might he couldn't bring it into focus.

As the darkness and numbness slowly started to fade in crept the pain, there wasn't a part of his body that wasn't screaming in protest at whatever was touching it.

The pain in his head was unbearable and as Eddie tried to opened his eyes to the light that was filtering through the darkness only made it sky rocket even more resulting in him trying to turn away from its source and moaning in agony.

Riding the pain as best he could and waiting for the dizziness to slow Ed tried to speak only for his words to come out in a muffled slur.

As he tried again a face came into his limited view, it was blurred and swam in front of him making his stomach turn and his mouth water, god he was going to be sick. Within seconds his gag reflex was in full motion causing his eyes to water and chest heave.

Feeling something cold placed under his chin and hearing words of encouragement Eddie finally let go of the mixture of blood and bile that had been building up.

"That's better glad to see you are finally coming back to us...now slow your breathing down as you are verging on the brink of a panic attack and with everything else that's the last thing you need" came soft voice immediately to Eddie's left.

Tentatively turn in the direction of the welcoming voice Ed did as he was asked...after a few minutes things started to become a little clearer, he was obviously in a hospital but he still couldn't remember why.

"Can you tell me your full name"?

"S...or..ry...hummmmmmm" Ed hesitated for a while fighting to speak throught the pain in his mouth "E..d...Edw..ard...Tuck...er... La..ne"

"Hey don't worry your not the first person to throw up in your condition, now can you tell where you are?"

"Ho...sp...it...al"

"Good and can you remember how you came be here?"

Closing his eyes Ed gently shook his head and immediately regretted it, as another wave of nausea threatened to bring on another embarrassing episode.

Seeing Ed's discomfort the young Dr continued for him.

"You were attacked and took a vicious beating Mr Lane, you have trauma and swelling to your mouth hence the problems with your speech and a deep laceration above your right eye which required extensive stitching and I'm afraid you have a sever concussion that's why you are feeling nauseous but that will pass in time"

Watching Eddie taking in as much of the information as he could she continued.

"You have sustand other injuries mainly to your kidneys but nothing life threatening it looks like your tac-vest although it doesn't feel like it at the moment obsorbed a lot of the punishment with that and the fact that your attacker seemed to know just how much force to use without causing you any permanent damage which is strange"

Listening to the Dr's account of his injuries Ed had an uneasy feeling he knew he was missing something important...gradually snippets drifted back he remembered a building...talking on the phone...Wordy shouting....why was Wordy shouting?...he was on the floor...there was blood and then someone hissing in his ear.

"Mes..sa...ge" he whispered trying to get up off the bed, only to fall back as the room spin around him like he was on some form of our of control merry-go-round.

Quickly leaning forward the Dr place both hands on Ed's shoulders to steady him tutting while she did so.

"Stop...stop...where do you think your going, you're in no condition to go off delivering messages just yet?"

Trying to steady himself by taking in as much air as his lung would allow Eddie asked for his team.

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea you need to lay still and give the medication a chance to work...you will be staying with us for at least 48hrs so there will be plenty of time to see your team later but I will allow a visit from your wife and son"

Trying again Eddie tried to make his voice more forceful..."I...need...to...see...my...team...NOW...PLEASE"

By the look on Eddie's face the Dr got the feeling that he wasn't about the take no for an answer and holding her hands up she delivered an ultimatum.

"OK I have to go and give them an update on your condition then once you are settled in your room I will allow them in for a few minutes but after that you must rest...agreed?"

Trying to smile and then thinking better of it Eddie replied "Agreed."

As the team sat in the waiting room outside two uniformed office escorted Sophie and Clark in.

"Greg what happend?"

"Hey Soph...Clark" Greg replied while placing his arms around them in a comforting hug..."We're not sure yet we are still waiting on the Dr but Ed was involved in some sort of fight"

Swallowing the lump in her throat Sophie went to reply only to stop as the doors to the Critial Care Unit opened and Ed's attending Dr came forward.

"Hi I'm Dr Hughes and I'm assuming you are all here for Officer Lane?"

Greg stepped forward taking off his cap..."Yes I'm Greg Parker and this is Ed's wife and son Sophie and Clark...how is he?"

"He's stable but in a lot of pain, our main concern after dealing with the trauma to Edward's mouth was the laceration above his eye this resulted in a sever concussion but a CT scan showed no fracture to his skull so with rest, the avoidance of stress situations and no contact sports for at least 3 weeks he will make a full recovery but saying that we are still going to keep him here for 48hrs under observation."

Letting out a collective sigh Sophie, Clark and the team relaxed slightly all except Wordy who hesitantly hung back.

"Are you sure Dr there was so much blood?" he nervously asked.

Giving Wordy a smile of reassurance the Dr Hughes continued "That's not unusal the head is one of the extremities that bleed the most profusely so it can look a lot worse then it is, but I understand it can be very frightening...they have just moved Edward to a room and he is asking to see, but please only stay a few minutes I can't stress enough how much he needs to rest."

Still verging on the edge of panic Sophie voiced her "thank yous"

Just before they got to Ed's room Dr Hughes stopped again "Right please remember what I said so if some of you would like to wait and take turns going in that would be better and please don't let Edward's appearance or slurred speech scare you the swelling with go down over the next few days...so if you will excuse me I have other patients to see too, but I will be back to check on him later"

After Dr Hughes left Sophie and Clark made their way to stand in front of the closed door to Eddie's room, placing her hand on the door handle Sophie turn around.

"Greg?"

Looking at Sophie's face and seeing that her and Clark were on the edge of collapsing in on themselves Greg pushed the door open and seeing his friend stopped in his tracks.

"Son of a bitch"