A/N: Thank you all so much for all the reviews! I couldn't be mean and make you guys wait too much longer to find out who's in the bed (though some of you already know). See the first chapter for the disclaimer. I hope you guys enjoy, and please review. :)

Chapter One

Linda made her way back to the bed with a basin full of soapy water and a few linens. Though some the staff on her unit had initially offered some resistance toward her request, they conceded when they realized that she was more interested in caring for him than anything else. She rolled her eyes, shaking her head at the politics of hospital life.

The ventilator clicked on, reminding her of why she was here- to take care of him.

"Don't worry," she told him softly. "We'll get you lookin' as good as new."

She wet a face cloth, working through the exposed hair. Hair that was discolored a deep auburn by the blood contained within. She cleaned out as much as she could get to, knowing that there was more under the bandages.

Bandages she wasn't going to move.

She dried his hair as best she could before grabbing another face cloth. She wet it before cleaning up his face, covered with scabs that she cared not to pull off. The bruises stood out amongst his pale skin, marring an otherwise good-looking complexion. His entire posture looked so peaceful, so restful, that she almost thought he was just sleeping.

Until the ventilator clicked on again, reminding her that he wasn't doing so well.

Once she was done, she put the used face cloths in the dirty towel, wrapping them into a little ball before heading out of the room to throw them in the linen basket. Then, she walked back in, emptying out the basin. She checked the bandages, finding them to be dry. She glanced up at the machine measuring his vitals as soon as the blood pressure cuff stopped its reading.

99/72.

Linda sighed softly. He'd been up on the floor for almost three hours, and he still hadn't gotten above 100. She knew the nurses were aware, as was the resident on the floor, but the risk of him going too high was greater than the benefits the medications could temporarily afford him. Especially since the cause of his low blood pressure was easily explained.

Blood loss from extensive injuries and a long surgical session.

Out of habit, she glanced at the IV sites on his arms before sitting down beside him on the bed. Blood was hanging right now, but would be done within the hour. Then more lab work to see where his blood counts were, how his electrolytes were doing…

Mostly to see what else the vitals couldn't tell.

She frowned, putting her hand over his quietly. The cast prevented her from doing more than that. She bit her lip as she shook her head slowly. "They'll find out who did this to you," she told the unconscious man before her.

The only response came from the ventilator.

Sarah, one of her colleagues, walked in, giving Linda a sympathetic look. "How's he doing?" she asked.

"'Bout the same," Linda replied sadly.

"Only been three hours."

"I know." Linda scoffed slightly. "Try explainin' that to my husband, though."

Sarah smirked lightly. "Yeah, I bet." She looked closer at the EKG machine. "From what you've said about your in-laws, I'm surprised they're not all here."

Linda shrugged. "Erin just left. I asked her to give me a few minutes to clean up his hair, but her, Frank, and Henry are probably all in the waiting room. Nicki's got the boys at home. And Danny… Danny's out tryin' to find the son-of-a-bitch who did this."

"May God help them if he does."

Linda laughed slightly. "You have no idea."

Sarah nodded with a smile. "You holdin' up okay?"

Linda looked down at Jamie's unmoving form. "Yeah. Thanks."

"Of course," Sarah said. "You need anything else, you let me know."

"Will do."

"Any clue who's coming in next?"

Linda tilted her head back and forth as she turned to Sarah. "Probably Henry. Frank'll insist on it."

"Should we set up a cot in here tonight?"

Linda shrugged. "Might as well. No way in hell he's gonna be by himself here tonight. Especially because whoever did this to him is still out there."

"Hence the extra security."

Linda nodded. "NYPD'll post someone outside the door. Either Frank, Henry, or Danny'll stay inside. And tell night shift that they're gonna have to identify themselves and wear their badges every night, because I know sometimes they don't."

"Yeah," Sarah said. "You gonna go home now that you're done?"

Linda shrugged. "At least to grab a shower and feed the kids."

Sarah nodded sadly.

"Then… I don't know. I gotta work that out with Erin."

Sarah reached out, squeezing Linda's shoulder gently. "You take care of yourself," she said. "I've got your brother-in-law for the night."

Linda nodded, patting Jamie's hand as she stood. "I'm gonna head out," she said softly. "I'll see you later."

Sarah nodded, watching quietly as Linda made her way out of the room before turning to Jamie. "You've got a great family," she said softly. "You might wanna come back to them."

The ventilator responded for him.