Meant to get this out Sunday but time ran away with me! Thanks for all your reviews, am still working on parts 5 & probbaly 6 but will try to get them out by the end of the week!

Part 4

A half-smile curved the lips and suddenly he was asleep again. She sat back down on the chair and as she did so, the nurse entered, "How's he doing?" the nurse asked.

"He woke up briefly," Brianna said, "recognised me. I think he also recognised this-" she held up the Rosary "and then he went back to sleep."

"That's normal," the nurse smiled, "and he's on a pretty hefty cocktail of painkillers. Don't worry, he's regained consciousness and he knew you – and knew what that was. He'll be fine."

"I hope so," Brianna murmured softly, "I like this guy." She gently stroked the top of his head and bent to kiss his forehead. The nurse watched her quietly and suppressed a smile.

"Why don't you go home," the nurse suggested, "He'll probably sleep for the rest of the day now."

Brianna sat up and stretched, she smiled at the nurse, "I'll wait for Inspector Lewis, thanks all the same."

"Fair enough," the nurse responded, "I'll see about getting you a cup of tea."

The nurse was as good as her word, Brianna sipped her tea and noticed with a certain amount of satisfaction that the cup and saucer were still the horrible vitreous green she remembered from her previous stay in hospital. She was reciting her Rosary again for want of something to do when he grated, "Am I at death's door then?"

She almost dropped it and then spluttered, "You're awake!"

He managed a crooked smile and replied, "You were saying the Rosary earlier, I heard you."

"You were holding it for a while," she said softly, "Feeling better?"

"Sore." He replied, "A little dopey."

"That's probably to be expected," Brianna smiled, "but I'm glad to see you awake at long last."

"That makes two of us, Sergeant," Lewis replied, he'd just stepped into the room. "We were all worried about you."

"Sir," Hathaway croaked.

"Get some rest, Sergeant," Lewis smiled, "And as you might have surmised, Dr Talbot, I need to get a statement from you."

"Thought as much," Brianna replied, she gently replaced the Rosary beads in Hathaway's hand, "You hold onto them for me," she said, "give me a reason to come back."

Lewis saw the smile spread across Hathaway's face as he dropped back into slumber and was suddenly profoundly grateful to the young woman standing in front of him, she turned and he saw the same smile on her face, "Shall we go, Inspector?" she enquired.

"Right," Lewis scanned the statement and passed it across for her to sign, "Thanks for that, Dr Talbot."

Brianna quickly read through her statement and then picking up the pen, signed her name at the foot of the final page. She looked up as she pushed it back to him, "Do stop calling me Doctor," she said, "It makes me sound horrendously old. I'd appreciate it if you called me, Ms, at least."

"Want me to take you back to the hospital?" Lewis asked.

"I've got my presentation," Brianna replied, "much as I don't want to do it, I rather think that people will be disappointed if I don't."

"I'll see you later this evening then," Lewis said, "take you to the Radcliffe, you'll want your Rosary back."

"Well it would be nice," Brianna responded, "but I'd prefer to see your Sergeant."

"Well that was a given, Ms Talbot." Lewis responded, a smile creasing the tired face.

"You know he owes you his life, don't you?"

"If you say so, Inspector," Brianna smiled, "I was operating on automatic to be honest and not removing the knife was just fluke. I simply remembered what I'd read in that novel."

"Well he still owes you his life," Lewis replied, "I won't interfere but there is something I want to tell you."

"And that is?" Brianna asked quietly.

"Don't hurt him any more than you have to," Lewis replied, "he's very fragile at the moment."

"If I can help it Inspector, I won't hurt him at all." Brianna replied. "But I accept that he's fragile, I can see it."

Hathaway was looking remarkably improved when they entered the hospital room, he was propped up on half a dozen pillows and the dreadful waxen whiteness had disappeared.

"And I thought you two weren't going to bother," he said, a broad smile lighting his face.

"Well I wanted my Rosary beads back and Inspector Lewis was kind enough to drive me," Brianna replied, she bent down to retrieve them and as their eyes met she said very softly, almost too softly for Lewis to hear, "And I wanted to see you again."

"Ah flattery," Hathaway replied, "the doctor told me that I owe Ms Talbot my life."

"He exaggerates," Brianna replied.

"When are they letting you out?" Lewis asked.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Hathaway said slowly, "They'll let me go home tomorrow if someone will be there to take care of me."

Lewis regarded his Sergeant quizzically, "Not me, Sergeant."

"No, sir. Her." He said gesturing to Brianna.

"Me?" Brianna looked nonplussed, "I wouldn't say that I'm the best at taking care of anyone."

"You won't have to tuck me into bed or anything," Hathaway explained, "Just make sure that I'm safe." He looked so like a little lost puppy that Brianna couldn't help but smile.

"Why me? What about family?"

"My parents are too far away and to be honest I just want to be in my own bed to rest and relax. Please?"

"All right," Brianna sighed, "I always did have a penchant for lame ducks."

The next day, Lewis carefully supported his Sergeant up the stairs and into his flat. Despite his protests, Lewis carefully manoeuvred Hathaway into the bedroom and began to remove his clothes.

"Sir!" Hathaway began in protest and then stopped when he saw the extent of the bruising on his right side and leg.

"You'll be better off resting today, Sergeant. You'll be all right with him?" this last was to Brianna.