This is Prompt 73-Hours

When Shane was finally allowed into Mitchie's room, he darted past the women coming out of the room and sank down on the side of Mitchie's bed, angling away from the bandages that covered her one arm. He stroked her hair, which was now matted and tangled from her thrashing, and felt a stinging rush of water flowing through his eyes as he gazed at her face. The features there were so innocent, so perfect, in Shane's thinking, but there were underlying shadows that would cross her face, causing her to frown or to toss her head to the side in pain.

The door creaked open and Caitlyn slipped inside, her eyes taking in her brother-in-law, now seated in a chair, and holding Mitchie's good hand. "Hi," she said softly, her eyes flickering to Shane's face.

"Hi," he said in return, patting the empty chair next to him in a motion for Caitlyn to sit with him.

She moved next to him without speaking, her eyes moving over Mitchie's form, checking, no doubt, for any signs of fever or infection. She found none, for she turned cheerfully to Shane and asked, "How're you doing?"

Shane shrugged. "I'm fine," he said.

"You should go and get some more rest," Caitlyn prompted. "That was a difficult assignment." She grinned weakly, trying a tactic that she knew would make Shane pay attention. "Your hair's a mess."

To her utter shock, Shane just shrugged again. "Doesn't matter," he muttered, his eyes still fixed on Mitchie's small form. "No one's going to see me."

Caitlyn sat there for a while, simply blinking at Shane. Then, she turned her gaze back once again to Mitchie and lost herself in thought. If this girl had so captivated Shane in the few minutes they had had together that he didn't even care anymore about the state of his hair, Caitlyn knew that she couldn't wait to meet her. "You're right," she agreed with a nod.

Shane acknowledged her acquiescence with a nod and stroked Mitchie's hand with his thumb. There was a long silence, a hesitance in his voice, before he said, "I love her."

Caitlyn smiled. "I know."

Shane turned to her, slightly surprised. He had figured that Nate's comment two weeks ago about him being in love had simply been brushed off by everyone as an over exaggeration. "You do?" Caitlyn nodded and he asked, "How?"

Caitlyn motioned to the girl on the bed. "By watching you with her." Her voice held a soft, unhurried edge that Shane had rarely ever heard from her. "By seeing that you really care for her. She's changed you Shane." She couldn't hold back a giggle. "I never thought I'd see the day when you cared about someone more than your hair!"

Shane tried to look injured, but he knew it was true. "She's different," was all he said. "Good different."

Caitlyn smiled and stood. "You'd better get something to eat," she told him. "You really look tired." She poked him playfully in the ribs. "Those muscles you love so much will be the first things to go if you start wasting away because you won't eat."

Shane glanced toward Mitchie. "But what if she wakes up?" he asked.

Caitlyn shook her head. "She'll be fine for a few minutes. You, on the other hand, won't be if you don't come right now."

Shane glanced again toward the young woman in the bed and started again, "But-"

Caitlyn sighed, trying to look annoyed, yet secretly thrilled that Shane was so attached to this girl already. "Fine," she huffed. "I surrender." She strode to the door and turned back to smile kindly at Shane. "I'll have someone bring a tray for you."

Shane smiled, pleased at her thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Caitlyn," he said quietly.

A/N: Another one of those short chapters that fits in, I promise! Please review! :D