Mared sat down next to where Tom lay in the ER patient room as the hospital ran tests on Tom to further assess his condition. His vitals were OK. Tom looked only half-awake as he was gazing at Mared. He didn't say anything but Mared looked down and watched as Tom slowly and softly took her hand in his and managed a gentle smile as a thank you.

An old doctor walked in and caught the tender moment between them. "Hello, are you Mrs. Mathias?"

"Uh," Mared quickly blushed as she glanced at the doctor, "no, we work together..."

"Doctor, she's the one that brought him back to life..." The nurse cut in.

"Ah, I see. You were the angel there in time, then...Good on you." The doctor then looked at the nurse. "Has family been contacted?"

Tom shook his head. "She's the family I've got here."

"Ok, then. You'd be the one I'd need to discuss his evaluation with, then? Good news is we have made the determination that there is no internal bleeding. Blood pressure is regular, but there is lots of bruising over his body and a few serious rib fractures..." This doctor continued and was very thorough with his explanation...even to the point of a physical display..."If you would allow me, Sir...". He then drew Tom's patient gown down forward to Tom's waist to explain which ribs and show Mared the bruising. He turned Tom over on his side to display the severe bruising and scrapes on his back. Mared physically ached and tried to remain unemotional during this, but it was impossible. Her eyes watered and turned their brightest shade of green, and she frowned subtly. She swallowed trying to rid herself of the choked up feeling. This doctor seemed to have a very dry and blunt bedside manner about him which annoyed her as well. Though most of the time Mared herself appeared stoic-never where it concerned Tom. That seemed to be the first clue as to her intimate and personal feelings for Tom. Now, there was an ache at her very core. Realising that she almost lost Tom and bringing him back to life caused her to acknowledge the strong feelings that she developed for him. Those feelings seem to have been released from the cage she kept them in.

"It may be some time before he can comfortably sleep without assistance. Pain meds, I mean. Also, anti-inflammatories will be in order. He has suffered a slight concussion, and as far as the strangulation and to monitor the condition of his lungs, heart, and his breathing, we will be keeping him overnight at least."

"Thank you, Doctor." Mared replied, her speech slightly quieter in tone.

Tom was moved to a hospital room for the night.

The doctor left the nurse to tend to the patient.

The nurse pulled down Tom's gown to his waist once more to reveal his entire upper body. Her intentions were to leave a more massive ice pack for treatment upon his injuries. The nurse applied an oversized-extended length iced/cold compression pack to Tom's rib cage area.

"All right. Keep that there," The nurse muttered. Then she brought Tom's gown up over him again.

Mared stared contemplatively. Tom just looked so helpless when the doctors and nurses handled his injuries and poked and prodded at him. Mared was losing her calm having to witness this.

The nurse walked around adjusting other equipment in the room. "Buzz me back in, if you need anything. I'll be back a bit later.

Tom then spoke, seemingly much more alert in tone, "I'm...sorry...Mared. You were forced into looking at me...my injuries...repulsive for you, I bet...He shouldn't have made you see all of that." Tom tried to joke to lighten the mood.

"Tom...It's not that...I'm just...Inside, I feel...I don't know if it's the adrenaline still...I...thought I lost you. I ache...for you." Tom then held a slightly confused expression upon his face...as if waiting for her to go on...And just when she thought she would let all of the words spill out from her soul, Mared panicked. "It's...I mean, I need you...at my side every day...at work...I mean. We all need you. What would we do without you?" She placed both of her hands in his.