.

Brodi had nodded to indicate that he understood, but Elise wasn't sure. And she wasn't sure it was important, considering how many drugs were flowing through his body at the moment. Even if he understood her perfectly, she doubted he'd remember it next time he woke up. She had just wanted to talk to him. He seemed to visibly relax when she talked to him, so she just kept talking until he seemed to be falling asleep.

It was then that she sat down and fell asleep herself. She had just settled into a good relaxation when she was startled awake with a soft knock at the door.

"Elise?"

Elise stretched and yawned, then looked up. "Nate?" She looked over at Brodi, who seemed to still be sleeping. "What are you doing here?"

He knelt in front of her and opened up his medtech case. "I heard about earlier. I came to see if you were OK. Give me your arm."

Elise wasn't sure why she complied, but she held out her arm for him. "Who put you up to this? Damn it, I told Zoe and Moby I was OK."

"Well," he hesitated as he adjusted a blood pressure cuff to her arm. "It wasn't them, really. Yeah, they did tell me. But Rahzel and Atomika were also there, and they wanted me to check you out since you refused medical care. Never let anyone know you've had any kind of medical training, right?"

Elise chuckled and then winced as the cuff tightened. Then Nate started releasing the pressure and watched the gauge.

"142/87" he rattled off as it finished. "A little high, but not unexpected considering today's events. Plus I just surprised the hell out of you."

Nate began massaging Elise's hand for her, and she leaned back and began to relax when, "OW!"

Nate couldn't help but grin as he tipped a drop of blood onto a test strip that he had somehow shoved into a glucose meter under the radar. "Sorry, doll. I didn't think you'd let me do it."

She let him clean her finger off with an alcohol swab, then she jerked her hand away from him. "I wouldn't have. Jerk! Sheesh."

"Hey now. Let's play nice. HOLY CRAP girl, when did you last eat?"

Elise looked around, but of course there was no clock in the room. "Uhm, what time is it?"

"Just after 7."

"I, uhm, ate about 3:30. Well, sort of. Moby gave me a candy bar after I passed out."

"You ate a candy bar almost 4 hours ago, nothing since, and your blood sugar is 62. That's on the low side, my dear. Come on, you're coming with me. I'm going to get you some dinner."

"I'm not leaving Brodi. And why haven't you asked about him or so much as looked at him?"

"I got a full update. I checked on him before I woke you. And don't forget that I was first on scene. Besides, he's been stabilized and is being taken care of. It's YOU we need to keep out of the admitting office. You need to EAT, Princess. If I let you slip into a sugar coma, I'm not going to face even a peace-loving surf-crazed Buddhist if he's 6'4" and 204 lbs."

Elise had to smirk at that.

"So come on…I'm getting you a cheeseburger."

"A cheeseburger?"

"You'd prefer pizza? I can do that too. You need cheese, meat…lots of protein, lady. And you ARE going to eat something."

"I'm not…"

"Go…eat"

They both looked around, and Elise rushed to Brodi's side. His voice had been barely audible, and even at that had been muffled further by the oxygen mask, but he had definitely spoken.

"Hi, sweetie. Did we wake you? I'm sorry."

Brodi moved his head in one short 'no' motion, obviously still bothered by moving his head.

"Hey, dude. How ya feeling? That was quite a ride you took today. I think Rahzel and Atomika are probably still needing nitrogen tablets."

Brodi lifted his hand and made a "so-so" motion.

Nate nodded. "Hang in there, bud. Look, I'm gonna steal your girl for a bit if that's OK? I promise I'll bring her back."

Nate grinned as Brodi gave him the thumbs up signal.

"Brodi, I don't want to leave you."

"I'm….fine. You…eat."

She leaned in and kissed his forehead, giving his hand a final squeeze before Nate gripped her shoulders and guided her away from the bed. "Won't be long, pal. Promise."