Nick is still in the hallway when I emerge from the ladies room where I have been pacing and hyperventilating for at least half an hour, trying to get myself together. He is not alone, and I am somewhat embarrassed by the way I ran from Gail earlier. As I come closer a cheer goes up from the knot of gathered officers, and I notice they are intently watching something on Chris's phone.

"Whoa Dude!" Dove exclaims as he and Nick high-five.

"So I guess you guys are buyin' tonight, or whenever we get outta here…" I hear Nick say.

"Definitely!" Chris exclaims "Gail is gonna be so stoked when she sees this!"

"Sees what?" Steve asks as he joins them.

"Check it out!" Dov grabs Steve by the arm and brings him into their circle.

They all lean in closer, and watch it again with rapt delight.

"Oof!" Steve breathes out puckering his lips and wincing, "Damn! Nice landing!" He leans over to high-five Nick too.

As I get closer I see Oliver not so subtly elbow Chris in the ribs. They all look up at me, and Chris's phone disappears into his pocket. I swear they look like naughty children who have been caught sneaking cookies before supper.

"Hey guys," I say carefully, edging closer, "What are you watching?"

"Uhummm…. the Olympics?" Chris offers.

I know my face must be saying I know BS when I hear it.

"Chris!" Dov hisses at him, "That's not on for another two weeks!"

"Oh." Chris looks deflated "Ah, well…umm.."

Oh really. I give him a look of death ala Gail, and he knows the game is up. "Chris?" I ask arching my eyebrows at him.

"Ok." He concedes, "So, the uh, guys from the traffic copter caught the entire incident with Nick and Gail on camera. And it's going to be on the seven o'clock news." He is fidgeting and blushing furiously.

Nick, Dov, and Oliver are having a hard time keeping their faces serious. Then Nick starts to giggle nervously into his pillow, and they all crack up. I feel someone standing behind me, and a friendly hand on my shoulder. It surprises me to hear Andy say, "Jesus guys! That's not funny!"

Andy and Gail have had a strained history, and I know Andy has never quite been sure how to act toward me. She has always been polite and professional in the lab and tentatively friendly when we have met during social occasions, but this show of warmth and support is unprecedented – and I am grateful. I slip my arm around her waist and give a little squeeze, which is returned by the hand on my shoulder.

"Ok, Andy, ok…" Nick holds up his hands in surrender and smiles at her.

Just then a man in a white coat and blue bowtie strides toward us.

"Excuse me." He inquires looking around the group of gathered officers, "Dr. Stewart?"

"Uh, yes?" I reply

"Dr. Patel would like to see you in her office right away." He says to me, and then turns to hand Nick a pint container of Coffee flavored Barium solution. "And you! You need to dismiss your little fan club and drink this! This is a hospital you know!" He snaps.

I feel the color drain slightly from my face. Andy gives my shoulder another squeeze and lets go as I follow him down the hall.

Dr. Patel's office is large and bright. She gets up from behind her desk and comes around to greet me.

"Dr. Stewart, the results on Ms. Peck's MRI and CT Scans are in. Won't you please sit down." She motions to a chair in front of her desk.

"Uh, thank you." I say as I sit.

She leans on her desk holding Gail's chart. "As you may know, you are named as Ms. Peck's Medical Power of Attorney, and as such are responsible for making all medical decisions for her if she is unable to do so herself."

I didn't know that, but it makes sense, so I nod.

"It seems that her injuries are somewhat more extensive than we originally anticipated." She continues.

I brace myself for what may be coming.

"As well as the injury to her shoulder, she has hairline fractures of her L3 and R4 ribs, and her liver and spleen have extensive bruising and swelling. We are also seeing some swelling of the disk between C7 and T1, but we are hoping these issues will resolve themselves given time and rest." She explains.

"Ok…" I say cautiously

"Basically, in about three to six months time, with the right care, she should be as good as new." Dr. Patel concludes with a warm smile.

"Thank you doctor!" I smile back at her.

"It's the least I can do. " She shakes my hand as I get up to go, "Officer Peck is being admitted now. Why don't you get yourself a cup of coffee. You should be able to go up and see her in about an hour."

"You're The Top! You're Miss Pinkham's tonic…"

I can hear Gail singing all the way out in the hall. I smile to myself.

"You're The Top! You're a high colonic… You're the rhythmic beat of a bridal suite in use …"

I stand in the doorway watching a very high Gail singing into her toothbrush like a microphone.

"Gail…" I begin.

"You're the mound of Venus! You're King Kong's penis! You're self-abuse!"

"Gail…" In spite of it all, I am trying not to laugh. Leave it to Gail to know the special Cole Porter verses.

She grips her I.V. pole and swings her legs off the side of the bed to sit up facing me.

"You're the arch, in the Rome collection! You're the starch, in a groom's erection…"

"Oh really?" I smile at her.

"I'm a eunuch who has just been through an op… But if lady I'm a bottom, you're a top.." She winks playfully at me.

"Gail." I sigh, and shake my head at her, "Enjoying your pain medication?"

"Yup!" She pops the "P" at the end of the word. Her right arm is strapped to her body under her hospital Johnny. She tries to get up but winces in pain.

"Just how much are you on?" I inquire with a raised eyebrow.

"I donno…" she says dreamily, "A lot…"

"Okey dokey. Let's just get you back into bed before you hurt yourself even more." I walk toward her and try to get her to swing her feet back up onto the bed.

"Oh, Holly! Here? Now? I just love it when you're forceful…" She teases and refuses to move.

"Come on Gail. Please?" I plead with her.

"Noooooo!" She whines. "I gotta pee, and they'll make me use that icky, germy, thing!" She makes a sour face and wobbles to her feet.

I sigh, and remember how she took care of me when I was in the hospital. "Ok, I'm going to help you to the toilet, and then can you please go back to bed?"

"Ok!" She chirps, and smiles a big toothy grin.

God, she's a handful! I am waiting for her to call me back into the bathroom when none other than Elaine Peck appears in the doorway. She is not in uniform, but she might as well be. Her crisp white tailored shirt is tucked neatly into the top of navy slacks which break perfectly over her chocolate brown ankle boots with stiletto heals. Her red hair is pulled back in a slightly messy ponytail in a bad attempt to appear more casual. Her sharp blue eyes narrow as she sees me.

"Hello Holly." She smiles without warmth, sizing up both me, and the situation at hand.

"Hello Elaine." I push off from the wall where I am leaning and meet her cold hard gaze.

"Where is our girl? And how is she doing?" She practically purrs.

I hear the toilet flush behind me and hear Gail call out. "Holly? Holly, you can come get me now."

"A mother can help, can't she?" Elaine says, as she roughly pushes past me into the bathroom.

"Elaine…" I try to stop her.

"MOTHER!" I hear Gail's indignant voice shout from behind the door.

"Great." I sag back against the wall.

They emerge moments later, Gail blushing crimson, looking at her feet as she shuffles into the room, Elaine guiding her with a hand on her waist.

"Ok darling. Stay right there!" Elaine says, as she leaves Gail standing in the middle of the room, clutching her I.V. pole for support, to go fluff the pillows, and straighten out the covers on the bed.

Gail sways slightly, and I rush forward to catch her from behind. She leans back into my body, and whispers "help me!" into my ear.

We stand there for what seems like an eternity while Elaine fusses with the sheets. Finally, she pulls back the covers, pats the bed and says, "Ok darling, come on! We can't have you using up all of your strength before your surgery tomorrow, now can we?"

"Mother, I'm fine, really." Gail protests.

"Of course you are darling!" Elaine continues.

But Gail is not fine. I can see the lines of pain and fatigue around her eyes and the slight grey tint around her lips as I help her back into bed. She sighs deeply and closes her eyes, leaning back into those meticulously fluffed pillows. I sit in the chair next to the bed.

"Well Gail, I'm going to go find the nurse to see if there is anything I need to know." Elaine states briskly, and leaves the room.

The minute she is gone Gail opens her eyes and says, "Oh my God! She is going to have a fit when she finds out you're in charge of my care!"

I smile a little at the thought. "Don't worry Gail." I say with a smirk "I got you, I got this!" and I lean over to kiss her lips gently.

She reaches for my hand. "I need you Holly! Please don't leave me." She sighs.

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere!" I give her hand a little squeeze.

"Good!" She mumbles, and promptly falls asleep.