So...this fic is winding down. I wanted to give you guys a proper heads up, I've got a semi solid idea of where I want the rest of it to go and I'm not sure exactly how many more chapters that is going to take; but I wanted to give you some warning first. I am gonna try to get it finished before the new year (hopefully before christmas but who knows). Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter, and thank you for your comments and reviews and sticking with this story with me:)

Myka never knew her body could hurt this much. She'd been in the hospital for five days now and while the pain was becoming more manageable, everything still hurt. Thankfully, the pain medication she was being giving was strong, but she hated how it made everything hazy. Mostly she was just tired and constantly uncomfortable. Leena, Claudia, Pete, her father, HG and more doctors and nurses than Myka could count had been constantly in and out of Myka's room over the last few days. While she appreciated the concern, it was becoming harder to see everyone and Myka welcomed the peace and quiet when they left.

She pushed herself to get up and walk through the pain everyday. She knew that some of the doctors thought she should be taking it a little easier, but Myka was determined to get better and back to work as soon as possible. Unfortunately, doing even simple tasks for herself was incredibly difficult. Three days before her doctor had scolded her for trying to crawl out of bed and take a shower on her own. She had fallen down, ripped some of her stitches and nearly passed out.

"Myka, I've patched up my fair share of cops and I've seen all of them do this; you need to take it easy. You will get back to work, you're gonna be fine if you listen to me. I know all of you are notoriously horrible at letting people help you, but that's what you're going to have to do. It's going to take time for you to get back to full health, and you're going to need help. Now, do you have someone who can stay with you?"

"My dad offered." Myka admitted. Her doctor waited and Myka sighed. "I don't know if it's a great idea he's...he's not entirely sober right now. I doubt this is going to help, I'd probably end up taking care of him."

"No, that's not good is there anyone else?"

"I can probably have my friend Pete check in on me. I'll be fine. Can I go home today?"

"Myka, I'm not talking about having friends check in on their lunch breaks, I'm talking about someone there with you most of the day. I'm not releasing you to try and do this on your own. Ideally, I'd keep you here a few more days."

"No! Please I...look all of you have been incredibly wonderful but if I don't get out of here soon I'm going to go insane."

"Find someone to stay with and I will sign you out, otherwise that bed is yours until I say so." He said with a smile.

"If I had full use of my arms, I might punch you." Myka admitted.

"You are not the first patient to say so." He grinned. "I'll be back this afternoon. You can take a walk, with a nurse in an hour otherwise stay in bed."

Myka slumped down. "Fine." She couldn't imagine letting anyone help her besides her father or Pete. Her dad was decidedly not an option. Tempted as she was, Myka knew that wouldn't be good for her even if she was healthy right now. Her father had visited once in the last five days, the day after she had woken up; and she could smell the bourbon on him when he kissed her forehead. To his credit, he had barely appeared drunk but Myka knew the signs. If he had been sober before – which she doubted – her getting shot had ruined that. Myka knew she wasn't supposed to blame herself, her father's sobriety was on him, not her but it was hard not too. Myka wasn't going to put herself back in that environment.

There was a chance she could make it look like Pete would be helping her out more than she would really let him. But her doctor wasn't an idiot, maybe if she told him Pete was going to take some sick days and hang around with her he'd go for it.

There was a knock on the doorframe and Myka looked up, expecting to see Anita, the nurse who had been walking with her the last few days; instead HG smiled back at her. "Hi." Myka stammered. She hadn't been alone with HG once in the last five days, usually Pete or Claudia had been with her.

Myka didn't know how to react to the woman anymore. She had woken up and remembered HG declaring her love to her. But HG thought Myka had been asleep and frankly, Myka had no idea what to do with the information. She had realized her feelings went beyond friendship a while ago, but she had been doing her damnedest to avoid them. HG had mostly ruined that when she kissed her goodnight days before, and she shattered it when she said 'I love you'.

HG wasn't acting any different than usual, but Myka seemed hyper aware of everything HG did. Every smile, every look, every touch seemed...more somehow. Myka hadn't felt this awkward since middle school. Add to the pain in her chest – and her entire body – Myka had never been so uncomfortable in her life.

"Hello Myka." HG greeted her with a warm smile, but remained standing in the doorway. "The nurse said it was time for your walk. I told her I'd take you, if you don't mind."

"Umm...I've got to get a hold of Pete actually. If I ever want to get out of here, I've got to crash at his place. I think I'll walk later, I'm kind of tired."

HG frowned at her a little and entered the room. "You're going to stay at Pete's?"

"I've got to, the doc won't release me otherwise. If he asks, Pete's taking sick days."

"Oh is he?"

"That's what we're telling the doctor so I can get the hell out of here."

HG sat down in the chair opposite Myka's bed. "So...you're going to lie to your doctor and tell him you have more help than you actually do while possibly endangering your health?"

"Oh don't say it like that. I'm fine, I can take care of myself." Myka insisted.

"Oh sure, you've only been shot in the chest and dead for an entire minute, clearly your in impeccable health."

Myka shot her a look. "I am fine."

"Well, hop on out of that bed and walk the halls all by yourself then." HG sat back and crossed her arms with a smirk. Myka huffed a little and gritted her teeth before rising out of the bed. Every inch of her body screamed in protest but Myka refused to give in. By the time she was standing she was already out of breath. To her credit, HG tried to hide her smile.

Anita appeared in the doorway. "You said you were going to help her." She accused HG.

"She's apparently Wonder Woman."

Myka sighed and glared at them both. "I can walk on my own." She insisted.

"You're gonna fall on your ass and bleed to death and I'm gonna get blamed for it." Anita said. HG stifled a laugh.

"You're bedside manner sucks." Myka told her as she used the bar above her bed to pull herself fully upright.

"My bedside manner's perfect, you're a shitty patient."

HG didn't bother hiding her laughter this time.

"I hate both of you." Myka huffed. She was trying very hard to remain standing without holding onto anything, but she figured if she didn't get the both of them out of this room in the next minute she was going to fall over.

Anita pushed the walker over towards Myka and waited. Myka kept her hands firmly clasped into fists at her side. Anita stood in front of her, the walker between the two of them. "Your friend Pete called."

"Shit." Myka said.

"He doesn't have any sick days to take, he was rather surprised when I mentioned them. He also only has a futon mattress and a fridge full of only beer."

Myka bit her lip and tried to focus on breathing and not passing out.

"You're here for the rest of the week, start listening to me."

"Myka darling, I have an extra bedroom and I work from home. You can stay with me." HG insisted.

"Oh no HG I don't want to put you out."

"You won't."

"I..." Myka fell backwards into the bed. Anita quickly moved the walker out of the way and checked her pulse. "I'm fine." She protested.

"You gonna admit you need help now?" She asked as she swatted Myka's hands out of the way. Myka only nodded once and refused to look either one of them in the eye. Anita exaggeratedly pushed the walker back in front of Myka as she walked out of the room. "If she tries to get out of bed by herself, you have my permission to tackle her. I'll keep the defibrillators right outside." Anita told HG as she walked out of the room. "I'll tell the doc he can sign you out when he gets back."

"She's a horrible nurse." Myka said after Anita had left the room.

"I don't know, I quite like her." HG smiled.

"HG...I don't have to stay with you. You can just drop me off at home and I'll be fine, Pete can check in on me."

"Myka I'm not going to help you lie to the doctor. And if your little display just now showed us anything you can't even stand without help for more than a few minutes. It's really no trouble at all to have you, and it's either stay with me or stay with Anita. I can assure you, I'm nicer."

Myka let out a sigh. "I don't want anyone to have to help me." She admitted.

"I know." HG walked around the bed and grabbed Myka's hands, helping her stand. "But darling, you need it and it's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"I can use the walker." Myka gently pulled her arms away from HG and griped the sides tightly. HG stepped back but followed closely next to her, ready to grab her at any moment. "HG, you're hovering."

"Sorry I just don't want you to fall."

"I can walk, I just have to lean on this stupid thing."

"Well, if it's all the same to you, I'm going to be ready to catch you anyway. Pete said you fell when he walked with you on Tuesday."

"Asshole."

"Me?"

"No, Pete. He promised not to tell anyone."

"Ah, well darling we're all just worried about you."

"I know, it's annoying."

HG looked a little hurt.

"I didn't mean it like that, I just...I can't stand not being able to do things myself and being in the hospital is driving me crazy."

"Well, in a matter of hours you will be out of here but you are going to have to learn to accept some help."

"HG, I'm warning you I really am a shitty patient."

"I've got thick skin and an adorable daughter who you won't be able to yell at. I'll just make her help you when you get cranky."

"Oh god." Myka started laughing. "Don't do that, it hurts to laugh."

"Sorry." HG grinned.

Christina poked her head around the doorframe of the guest bedroom. She quickly ran back into the kitchen and climbed up on one of the stools. "She's still asleep." She reported to her mother.

"Oh good. Now darling, we are going to have to make sure she gets enough sleep this weekend. She's going to need a lot of it, the medicine she takes makes her very sleepy and that's how her body heals itself."

"Was she really dead?" Christina asked softly. She watched as her mother visibly winced. "Sorry." Christina picked up an apple and nibbled it. "I just...it's so weird and kinda scary."

"It was very frightening." Helena agreed. "I'll answer any questions you have sweetheart but be careful of what you say around Myka."

"How long is she going to be staying here?"

"A few weeks probably, you said you didn't mind when I asked." Helena reminded her. "I'm going to need your help."

"Mom, I'm better at this stuff than you are. You tried to feed her doughnuts yesterday morning I'm the one who made her a vegetable omelet."

"Right. I'll be your assistant then."

Christina grinned. "I'm gonna go give her her medicine. You have three chapters to write."

"What! No, I'm taking care of an invalid I can't worry about writing now."

Christina climbed down and grabbed her mother's arm, pulling her along. "Mom, it's the weekend and you were supposed to give Gina those chapters last week but Myka got shot. Now that she's okay, you have to write and I can take care of Myka."

"Christina..."

"Mom, it's not hard. I give her the medicine, I get her breakfast, I make sure she gets up and walks around, and I make sure to let her get some sleep. You write." Christina shoved her mother into her office and shut the door.

"You're a little brat!" Helena called through the door.

"Love you too Mom!" Christina yelled back. She grabbed Myka's medication and breakfast and walked into the guest room. Myka was sitting up and grimacing as she tried to reach the glass of water on the nightstand. "I'll get it." Christina offered. She set the plate down in front of Myka and grabbed the glass, handing Myka the pills first.

"Thanks Christina. Did you make me another omelet?" She asked in surprise.

"And half a grapefruit, coffee, black with one sugar but only a small cup because you're not allowed to really have caffeine. I called Doctor Martin and made sure it was alright. He said one small cup a morning is okay."

"You called my doctor?"

"I wanted to make sure it was okay." Christina said as she gently climbed onto the end of the bed.

Myka smiled at her. "Thanks sweetie." She took a bite of her omelet. "Where's your mom?"

"I shut her in her office. She owes Gina three chapters, plus she's driving you crazy."

"I never said..."

Christina cut her off. "I know what people look like when my mom is driving them crazy. Plus, I know what she's like when she takes care of you. A couple of months ago I had a really bad cold, and she's great at first but she gets nuts after a while."

Myka smiled at her.

"You are quite the kid Christina."

"I try."

Myka laughed and picked at her breakfast. Christina studied her. She was curious about this woman. She had been in her life to some degree for over a a year, but now she was about to be living with her for the next few weeks. Christina had heard her mother talk about her many times in the last few months but she had only actually interacted with Myka herself a few times. Christina had woken up the morning after Myka got shot to her mother in her bed, hugging her tightly. She had been crying and acted weird the entire morning. Christina had never seen her so shaken. She had suspected that maybe her mother liked Detective Bering as more than just a friend a few months ago, but now she was sure. The only thing she wasn't sure about was how Myka felt about her mother.

"Detective?"

"Christina, call me Myka."

"Sorry, Myka?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever dated a woman?"

Myka choked on a piece of grapefruit. Christina jumped off the bed and handed Myka her glass of water. "Um...no why...why do you ask?" Myka finally answered.

"Well, I was thinking about it and I think maybe you should date my mom. You've known her for a long time now and you haven't killed her yet. Some people who are allowed to use guns would have already. But, you guys are still friends, and she acts way different around you than anyone else. Like, I think she likes you more than she ever liked Gina, or my dad. Plus, she seems happier when she talks about you. So, now that you're not dead, I think you guys should be girlfriends. Also, if you go on dates, I can hang out with Grams and we can preform plays without her laughing at us."

Myka stayed still and didn't answer her for a minute or so. "Um...I'm not sure if..."

"It's just an idea." Christina shrugged. "I know grownups are weird about this stuff. Oh, also I rented four movies for us to watch but we have to walk around the apartment first and you're supposed to eat all the food."

"Okay."

"Do you have to pee?"

Myka bit her lip. "I can do it, thanks though."

"Your doctor said I have to help."

Myka slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed. Christina jumped up and held her arms out to help. "How about you just help me walk to the bathroom?" Myka asked.

"Okay, but you have to hold my hands when we walk around the apartment." Christina ordered.

"Alright." Myka smiled and shut the door on Christina with a wave.

"I'm gonna wait right here!" She yelled.

"I figured." Myka called back.

Myka had been staying at HG's apartment for a week and a half. She could now pee all on her own and walk around without having to hold onto other people or use a walker. She was embarrassed that she was proud of this. She was equally embarrassed at the way HG and Christina – and Martha – all hovered around her. It had taken her a few days to actually allow them to help her with anything significant. But by day three, her chest hurt so badly and at her doctor's appointment he actually told her she was getting worse instead of better. She finally broke down and let HG help her bathe. It had been mortifying, but only because Myka made it so. HG had been incredibly mindful of how much Myka hated this the entire time and tried to make it as painless as possible. The minute HG had helped her wrap herself into a towel, she excused herself and left Myka alone.

Myka sat at the edge of the tub. She glanced up at the mirror above the sink. It had been over two weeks since she had been shot, and she had yet to look at her wound. The doctor's had replaced her bandages two days ago but she hadn't been able to look.

Myka stood up and walked over to the sink. She lowered her towel and picked at the edge of her bandage. She had only peeled a corner up when HG rapped lightly on the door.

"Myka, are you alright?"

"Fine." She called. Myka pressed the bandage back without looking and pulled her underwear on then managed to get her pants most of the way up. "HG?" She called.

"Need help?"

"Please."

HG opened the door and thankfully didn't say a thing. She instantly moved forward and helped Myka get her pants on while Myka held her towel in place. Myka reluctantly let go of the towel as HG held a soft t-shirt out and helped her get it on. Her chest still hurt, but it was moving her arms around too much that caused most of the pain. It was annoying.

HG squeezed the last bit of water out of Myka's hair and then picked up a brush and lightly began to run it through Myka's hair. "Darling, this is going to take a while it's full of knots."

Myka scoffed and stood up, walking out of the bathroom and sitting down on the bed. HG made herself comfortable behind her and got back to brushing her hair. "You go over a week without washing or brushing your hair and see what it looks like. I can't move my arms that high."

"Pouting looks adorable on you darling."

"Oh shut up."

"Hum, I take it back."

Myka chose not to respond. She closed her eyes and relished in HG brushing her hair. She couldn't remember the last time someone had done this for her. It had to have been her mother. "Helena, thank you." She whispered.

HG's hand's froze in place. Myka was about to apologize for whatever it was that she did, but HG relaxed. "Well, Christina likes it when I brush her hair too." She said with a small laugh.

"No I meant...I mean for everything. Letting me stay here, helping me freaking bathe, everything."

"It's been my pleasure Myka." HG began to braid her hair as they heard Christina burst into the apartment.

"MOM!" Christina yelled. "OH, SORRY." She ran down the hall. "Is she asleep? Oh...you're awake, good!"

"Darling, she might have been asleep you can't yell as you come home." HG chided.

"She's right here and she's awake."

"Did you take your medication?" Christina asked.

"I did."

"Did you eat all of the lunch I made you?"

"Yes I did."

"She's lying darling, she only ate half." HG tattled. Myka turned around and glared at her.

"Myka! You are supposed to eat even if you're not hungry." Christina scolded. "I'm going to go make you a snack."

"No Christina I don't need..." Myka dropped off as Christina ran out of the room.

"You have my permission to give her a light slap whenever she starts driving you nuts." HG offered.

"Mother of the year you are."

"I am indeed."

Myka rolled her eyes as HG stood and went to go make sure Christina didn't make Myka a three course meal. Myka hadn't forgotten the fact that HG had declared her love, or that Christina was trying to set her up with her mother; but she had pushed both things out of her mind as much as possible. It was hard enough just to breathe without her chest stinging, she had nightmares of being shot almost every single night; romance was even more terrifying. She had to admit, the longer she stayed here, the more difficult it was not to dwell on her feelings.

She cared about Helena. She just didn't know what to do about it. Since her mother's murder her father had lived in an almost permanent stupor to dull the pain. The only person she had ever really loved, Sam, had died practically right in front of her; and not even three full weeks ago, she had almost died herself. It was part of her job, it could happen again. Everything frightened her, she jumped at loud noises, she was doing her best to hide it from Helena and Christina but she knew they had both noticed. Myka couldn't stay with Helena anymore, it was too confusing. She had called Pete earlier that morning and asked if he would bunk with her for the next few days or so. She just had to tell Helena and Christina. Myka sighed and stood up, walking slowly into the kitchen. She would eat all of whatever Christina made for her, whether she was hungry or not.