A/N So apparently it's Sarge, I thought so but since non off you commented I figured I was either right or you don't care. Sarge from now on.

Yes, you get two updates today, because FF is in a way other timezone than me and says it updated yesterday instead of today (which I guess for some is yesterday..) So if the Previously doesn't sound familiar, go back a chapt.

Previously:

Hours had passed, each and every one of the SRU-members had dropped by today to check on her. He checked his watch. 25 hours since she went into surgery. Crap.

…

"Greg." Nothing. "Greg, come on. You can stay with either us." No reaction whatsoever. "Greg it's been 30 hours."

"No, I want to be here in case she wakes up."

"How long are you going to stay here if she doesn't?"

"As long as it takes, Spike."

"Greg, maybe she isn't going to wake up." Ed had tried to keep faith all this time, but it was now time to realize she probably wasn't going to wake up.

"You kept telling me to have faith, I'm having faith." He was holding her hand. "Her heart is beating, she isn't as pale anymore and her hands are warm. She will wake up." Ed and Spike looked at each other for a second. Both didn't know what to say or do.

"Do you want a coffee?" Spike asked him.

"Yeah, that'd be good." Spike nodded before looking at Ed.

"No thanks." Spike walked off to get coffee and a sandwich for Greg. He was sure he hadn't been eating, at all.

…

"I'm not hungry Spike." Greg said when Spike handed him the sandwich.

"You're not going to get your coffee until you eat it." Spike challenged him.

Greg thought for a second, he really wanted that coffee. He took a bite, after a few he actually started to enjoy the sandwich, and it was soon finished.

"Here" Spike handed him the coffee.

"Thanks, guys. For being here."

"Don't mention it."

They had to leave an hour or so later.

…

Pain, it was all Zoë could feel. She opened her eyes, trying not to grunt. She could feel a weight on her side, she figured it would be Greg. She blinked a couple of times, adjusting to the light. She looked left and right. She was in the hospital, good. But the pain was overwhelming. She glanced down to see Greg. She smiled a little. She lifted her right arm and stroked his cheek gently. It looked like he hadn't shaved in a while, how long has she been out?

Greg could feel someone gently stroking his cheek, he opened his eyes to see beautiful blues looking back, a small smile on her lips.

"Zoë?"

"Yeah." She sounded hoarse.

"Oh god, I'm so glad you're awake." He grabbed her hand in his, tears streaming down his face. She raised her left arm but quickly dropped it back down as pain shot through her body.

"It's okay, I'm awake." She freed her hand from his and wiped away his tears. "You look like you've been here a while."

"Yeah."

"I like the stubble." He smiled at her.

"Hey, Greg. Sophie wanted me to.." He stopped mid sentence as he noticed Zoë was awake. "Zoë, hey." He sounded very relieved. "Called the nurse yet?" He turned to Greg.

"Not yet." Ed nodded, she would be whisked away for tests as soon as he called one.

"How long have I been here?" Greg glanced at the clock.

"42 hours."

"How long have you been here?" Greg didn't answer, knowing she wouldn't approve.

"42 hours." Ed said before pushing the call button for the nurse.

"Baby, go home." He looked up. "I'm here, I'm awake, I'm fine. I won't go anywhere. Now you, you need to take a shower, eat, sleep a little. You look like you haven't been taking care of yourself."

"The guys have."

"Then they did a poor job." She joked hoping to get a small smile, it worked.

"I don't want to." She had never seen him this vulnerable.

"I know, but they need to do all kinds of tests. You'll only be sitting in this room by yourself. Go home. Ed, can you drive him?" The nurse entered and paged Dr Hunt when he noticed Zoë was awake.

"I can drive myself."

"You're sleep deprived. Don't want you wrapping your car around a tree. Go."

She didn't show how much pain she was in. As long as she lay still she could handle it. But just breathing hurt, if she didn't know any better she would stop breathing.

"Okay." He got up and gently kissed her.

"Do I have my phone here? And my gun?"

"Yes, to both. In the drawer on you left."

"Can you hand me my phone? It hurts reaching to the left."

"Yes, of course." He walked around the bed and handed her the phone, they had turned it off so the battery wasn't dead. "I'll bring you the charger." He stroked her cheek, still not believing she was awake. "Don't slip back okay." He whispered so Ed wouldn't hear him.

"I won't. I promise." She smiled as he left the room, he would be back within an hour. "Ed." He turned and walked towards her.

"Thanks, for looking after him."

"You're welcome, I'm just glad you're awake. I have to admit, I was starting to think you wouldn't." The nurse waited for them to leave.

"How are you feeling, Zoë?" He had been her nurse when she got shot in the mall.

"I'm good, Eli."

"I paged Dr. Hunt, he should be here any minute." Zoë nodded. "Want some painkillers?" Owen hadn't ordered any, knowing she would yell at him if she woke up.

"No, I'm good." Eli nodded and left. She then grabbed her phone.

"Zoë?" She could hear a lot of noise on the background.

"Hey, Spikey."

"You're awake?" The background was turning silent.

"Yeah."

"Wait, let me put you on speaker. I'm with the guys." Zoë checked the clock, 5 AM. Oops, she was lucky he wasn't sleeping.

"You hear me?"

"You should drink some water, you sound hoarse."

"Wow, thanks Spike. You sound good too." She heard him snicker "I don't have any yet. They just paged Owen, so he should be here soon."

"How are you feeling?"

"Great. Guys, thanks for looking after Greg. I know he can be stubborn."

"We're happy to." That sounded like wordy.

"How's work going?"

"It's boring without you." Owen and a doctor she hadn't seen before walked in.

"Got to go guys. I'll talk to you later."

"We'll come visit."

"Just don't come all at once, okay?"

"Okay, but only because you got shot." She could hear the smile in Spike's voice before she hung up.

"Hey." Owen walked towards her and grabbed a small flashlight from his pocket.

"Hey, heard I've had quite the beauty sleep."

"That you have, worked though. You look much better then you did when you came in." He checked her pupillary response. "This is Dr Yang." Zoë smiled. "She's going to take you for a brain scan."

"Dr Yang?" He nodded. "Christina, Yang?" She looked at Owen, amused. Christina had no idea what was going on and looked a little confused.

"Be nice." Owen warned her.

"I'm always nice."

"No you're not." He smiled at her and explained exactly what had happened during surgery. "I have to go check on other patients, you're safe with her." He wasn't sure who he said it to and smiled at them both before walking out.

"So, Dr Yang." Zoë smiled.

"Yes." Christina had no idea what was so funny.

"You're engaged to Owen, yes?"

"Yes."

…

The brain scan was taken. Dr Shepherd, the neurosurgeon, would take a look at it and come to talk to her later today. Christina rolled her into the room, Greg was already sitting in a chair. Christina helped her back in bed.

"I'll go get you some painkillers."

"No." Zoë said quickly.

"But you're in pain."

"I don't want painkillers."

"I'll talk to Dr Hunt." She said before turning around.

"Fine, you go do that." She pulled the blankets up over her hips and adjust the bed so she could sit up straight. "You're back quick."

"Yeah. I missed you." He moved the chair back to her bed. "Zoë, I'm sorry." He looked so vulnerable, hurt.

"For what?"

"I love you, I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Will you still have me?"

"Still have you?" She didn't believe this.

"I promise, I will never take off my vest again. You were right, it's dangerous enough if you keep it on."

"You think I care about that anymore?" She took his hand. "I love you, I was dying and all I could think about was you. For the first time in my life, I was scared to die. Because I knew I would leave someone behind this time."

Eli knocked and walked in with a tray of food.

"Eli, do you think you can get me a bed for Greg? I've got a feeling he won't be going home anytime soon." Eli put the food on her bedside table.

"Of course." He walked out.

"I called the guys, make sure they're not worrying." They were quiet for a few minutes. Just enjoying seeing each other.

"I was so scared I was going to lose you." Greg admitted.

"You didn't. I'm right here." She tried to lean forward so she could kiss him but her side started screaming. He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her.

"Am I interrupting?" Spike said from the doorway. Greg pulled back and they smiled at each other.

"No."

"Yes." They said it simultaneously and smiled.

"I'll go get some coffee, you want anything?"

"Nah, I'll go eat my lunch." She smiled as Greg left.

"Looks like you made up." He sat down in the chair.

"Guess there's no better wakeup call than almost dying."

"It was really close wasn't it?" Zoë nodded.

"Apparently it's a miracle I'm not a vegetable. How are things going with you?"

"It's okay, my mom asked when you were coming by to visit."

"Tell you what, I've got about two or three months before I can go back to work. I'll come by sometime." Spike's dad was getting sicker every day.

"That would be good. My mom has seen you like three times and keeps asking about you. It seems you made quite the impression."

"What can I say, mothers love me." Spike smiled. "Except Greg's.."

"Why?"

"She's his mother. And I'm too young.. and just, you know.." He nodded. "You dating someone yet?"

"No, not yet. Now you start to sound like her."

"My bad. She's nice though."

"She's Italian." As if that would say it all.

"At least she's a good cook, right?" He nodded.

Owen knocked before walking in.

"Finally convinced him to go?"

"No, I expect him back anytime. I got a feeling he's going to keep an eagle's eye on me."

"Christina said you didn't want any painkillers?"

"You know I don't." The man she had almost killed when she was on painkillers in Iraq was one of his.

"Just a little? Just enough to take the edge off?"

"No, thanks Owen. But I'll be fine." He nodded.

"I need to check your stitches, but I can come back?" Spike got up.

"I need to go anyway. Mom will have dinner ready soon. She will be glad to hear you are okay."

"Say hi for me." Spike smiled and walked away.

Owen checked her stitches.

"Don't you have Christina for this?"

"Christina didn't want to come back. What did you say to her?"

"Nothing." She said innocently.

"Did you question her?"

"No, of course not." She didn't even try to lie well.

"It all looks good. You should be able to get out of here in a day or two. Dr Shepherd will be by in an hour or so." She nodded.

"She's nice, Christina. A little.. distant, but nice."

"She's not easy to get to know. That's for sure. You mind if I eat my lunch with you? We haven't talked for a while."

"Sure. Who were my surgeons? Just you and Dr Yang?"

"Hmm, I forgot to tell you. Teddy."

"Teddy? Iraq, Teddy?" He nodded. "Haven't seen her since, well Iraq."

"She said she would drop by later."

…

They heard someone knock and enter. It was a doctor she didn't know or recognized. He was handsome, blue eyes and that hair..

"I'm Dr Shepherd."

"Neuro?" Greg asked, he nodded. Greg had come back about half an hour ago.

"Ms Washburn."

"Please, Zoë." He nodded.

"Zoë, I have taken a look at your scans. They're clean, no brain bleeds or abnormalities. I'm going to give you three words, I need you to remember them." She nodded. "Dog, Car, Spoon" She nodded. He grabbed a flashlight and checked her pupils. "Follow my finger." She did as told. "Can you hold out both hands straight in front of you?" She held out her hands. They weren't shaking or unsteady. "Do you remember those words?"

"Dog, car, spoon." He nodded. "Was that right?" He nodded.

"It was, can you tell me where you were born and how old you are?"

"Utrecht, 25." He looked at Greg who confirmed this with a nod.

"Good, long- and short-term memory is good. Looks you don't have any brain damage." Greg let out a breath.

"Thanks, Dr Shepherd." He smiled at her.

"You're welcome, take it easy though. Owen told me you tend to overdo things." She looked at Owen and smiled.

"I will." Dr Shepherd smiled once more before leaving. "So, neuro cleared me?" Owen nodded. "How long do you want to keep me here?"

"I know you want to leave yesterday, but I'm comfortable with discharging you tomorrow. As long as Greg keeps an eye on you, you will be on bed rest."

"I'm sure he'll handcuff me to the bed if I even look like I'm getting up."

…

"Zoë, you up for a visitor?" Zoë had sent Greg home half an hour ago. Asking him to get her some clothes, she would be discharged in the next couple of hours.

"Sophie, for you always." She had Izzie with her. "Can I hold her?" Sophie smiled and nodded.

"Are you sure you're not hurting too much?" Zoë scooted over a little.

"If you can put her on the bed, I'll make sure she doesn't fall off." Sophie nodded and put her on the bed. Zoë was glad she wasn't much of a cry baby.

"Makes you want one, right?" Zoë glanced up at Sophie.

"That is does. It's just, this job. It's dangerous." Izzie started whining a little. "Hungry cry, right?" Sophie nodded.

"Do you want to feed her?"

"Can I?" Sophie nodded and handed her a bottle.

…

Owen had come in shortly after Sophie arrived. He had brought the discharge papers with him.

"You have to come back in a few days to take out the stitches." Zoë nodded and finished the paperwork. "Also, you can't have any kind of physical activity for the next three weeks." She smiled at the way he emphasised 'any'. She glanced at Sophie and smiled.

"Owen, you can say it." Owen looked at her and smiled, but kept quiet. "I can't work out or have sex. Right?" He nodded. "I would think being a doctor you should be able to say it." He was saved when Greg knocked on the door. Owen turned to him.

"Bed rest, and no physical activities." Greg nodded. "I'm telling you because I know she'll.." Greg nodded knowingly. "5 days bed rest, then go come here to take the stitches out. Three weeks no physical activities."

"Including sex?" Zoë and Sophie burst into laughter.

"Yes." Greg looked surprised at Zoë and Sophie.

"Thanks Owen." Zoë smiled. "We free to go?" He nodded.

"Good luck."

"Thanks." She got up and grabbed the beg Greg had brought with him.

"I got to go, Clark will be home from school soon." Sophie said.

"Thanks for stopping by Sophie." Sophie nodded and walked away. Zoë headed towards the bathroom so she could change. She was happy to see Greg had brought sweats and a hoodie.

She walked out, Eli was standing there with a wheelchair.

"No." She said.

"Protocol. You know that." Zoë sighed and sat down in the wheelchair.

…

They walked through their front door.

"Go sit on the couch." Greg ordered her. She raised an eyebrow. "I'm not kidding, go or I'll cuff you to it." She smiled and sat down. "I'll go get some pillows and blankets, for later."

He returned carrying the items and put them on the other side of the couch.

"You need anything?"

"You, come here. How about we watch TV?" He smiled and sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders carefully. She leaned in to him. "I love you."

"I love you too."

A/N I couldn't let her die! Aren't you glad. (I'm hoping you weren't hoping for her to die..) Personally I thinks it's one of my lesser chapters. Let me know if you agree.