A/n – ok, so the rubber band thing is totally childish, but it was just so much fun to write and I think I got Beth's response on target too so I just had to keep it in, and I could totally see Mick pulling something like that, with a bit of egging on from his accomplice of course! Struggling with writer's block and lost my way a bit, so another chapter I'm not happy with, but still determined to finish this, probably two more chapters to go. And then possibly another Mick/Lee story in the works.

Lee and Mick had been split up on reaching the med centre, Lee heading off to a treatment room with a nurse. Whilst Mick was taken straight through to X-ray so they could make sure there was no bone damage from the pellets. On his way back to a treatment room he passed Lee sat in the waiting room, she was on her own. Mick figured she'd probably smiled and told everyone she was ok and sent the deputy off to the station, Mick knew that was the kind of thing he'd have done. But he could see that she was far from fine, the smile they exchanged as he passed her, with no time to speak, was strained on her part.

He wanted her to be with him so he could make her laugh, pull her out of brooding on her thoughts, but it was probably best she stay away for the moment. She'd shown no sign of trouble at the sight of blood so far, but even Mick had to admit that the little plinking sound each pellet made as it hit the kidney dish would be a difficult sound for anyone to take. Finally the last pellet hit the dish.

"An even dozen, he got you good, but no real damage done," the doctor smiled at him "you'll be up and about in no time, we'll give you a shot of antibiotics and some more to take with you along with some pain killers. Stay off of that leg for a week or so and as long as there are no complications you'll be right as rain. Jo'll get this cleaned up and find you some crutches."

"Thanks Doc."

"You're welcome young man."

The nurse, Jo, took his place, clearing up the bloodied cloths beneath Mick's leg before bandaging it up efficiently, she did as good a job as Lee had and at least this time his leg wasn't wrapped in day-glow pink, that brought his thoughts back to Lee.

"Hey doc, could you send Mrs Morgan in?" he caught the man as he opened the door.

"Lee? Sure I'll ask her."

Lee came through the door as Jo left, the two women exchanged smiles, but then Lee stood by the door awkwardly, Mick motioned her over.

"I won't break, come on or are you planning on guarding the door to make sure I don't escape?"

That earnt him a half hearted smile, but at least she came closer, moving to sit at the bedside chair. She wouldn't meet his gaze, Mick narrowed his eyes, wondering what could be playing on her mind now.

"How are you feeling?" He'd decided on a straightforward approach.

"Not entirely sure to be honest, I mean, I guess I should feel bad about killing him, but I don't know how I feel."

"You're not doing back flips or boasting about it, so I'd say your reaction was ok, as long you don't plan on doing it again?" he asked cheekily.

"If I spend too much time around you, I just might feel the urge."

Mick mock pouted, secretly pleased at the show of spirit, "Aw you don't really mean that." The light moment had passed again though and she looked sombre, "so what's really eating at you?"

She took a deep breath, "how it could have ended differently, I was so scared, if I hadn't taken the shot," Mick could see her hands trembling and he couldn't see her face as she stared down at them, but he could hear her voice breaking. "if I'd missed, if I'd gotten it wrong, god Mick..."

"Hey, come here." Mick half pulled her up onto the bed next to him and wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed into his shoulder. "Why are you worrying? You did it, I'm still alive thanks to you. I meant what I said, John would be proud of you. Hell, I'm proud of you. You did good back there."

The crying subsided, but Lee stayed where she was, Mick made no move to push her away, instead he found himself not wanting her to leave.

They were still in that position a few moments later when Sam appeared at the door, he looked at Mick concerned, but Mick just nodded and gave him a small smile, Sam figured things were ok so he left Mick to it. Wanting to give him some space, Sam decided to go find the doctor on the pretext of getting Mick's medical details from an unimpeachable source, chances were Mick would only give him the highlights, leaving out on-going 'unimportant' things like pain killers and antibiotics.

Mission accomplished Sam returned to the treatment room, Lee had departed to find the ladies and the nurse had returned with Mick's tablets, which Sam took immediate charge of, and a pair of crutches. The latter Mick took with a mixture of annoyance and childish glee which caused Sam to roll his eyes, an injured and restless Mick was going to be, well, Sam decided to go with 'interesting' to have around.

The doctor had given Mick the all clear to leave, so Sam waited for Lee to return and offered to take them both back to the station to give their statements. Watching the two of them on the journey Sam couldn't help but notice how protective they both seemed of the other, Mick glancing across to Lee to see that she was happy and not brooding again, Lee fussing over Mick, holding doors and making sure he wasn't in danger of knocking his bandaged leg.

Over all of this the banter had begun between them again, Lee giving as much as she got, the two seemed unusually comfortable together Sam mused. For all of Mick's gregarious seeming nature it actually covered the fact that the younger man could be shy around others, Sam knew that outside of the team and his military buddies there were few people that Mick felt comfortable enough to be himself around when the situation wasn't work related. It was interesting to see him react this way so quickly to someone outside of that.

The station only had the one interview room so Prophet took Lee into it to get her verbal statement, whilst Sam would get Mick's more through report in an office, though when Sam had been distracted for moment on the way there he found the younger man wasn't following him and had disappeared from the bull pen.

He hadn't gone far, wanting to be sure that Lee was settled Mick had gone to the one way mirror outside the interview room where Beth stood, wanting to get the full story herself. Of course Prophet was a total gentleman, making sure Lee was comfortable, even so Mick was glad he'd come for a look see as he hit the jackpot. As Simms began the interview Mick's earlier idea regarding Lee's name proved correct.

"Leticia!" Mick whooped, "I knew it!"

He'd spoken loudly enough to be heard in the interview room and Lee looked up, eye's narrowing.

"Ooh, you are sooo busted!" Beth teased him.

Sam had also chosen that moment to track him down, so looking decidedly guilty and hoping Lee would have forgotten about this by the time they'd finished, Mick followed his boss out.

Interviews over and paperwork signed, Mick had been joined in the office with Lee. He was supposed to be resting, but banter and boredom between the two had rapidly devolved into a rubber band flinging competition. Fortunately the target was a bin, although trick shots had been introduced and so there were a great many bands that hadn't made it which were scattered around the floor, walls and even one hanging from the ceiling. An incident which had led to considerable good natured arguments between the two as to whose band that one had been. Both swearing it belonged to the other, before declaring an amnesty and continuing the band contest.

"Er, shouldn't we put a stop to that?" Beth asked, eyebrow raised.

"No, let them have some fun, they both had a tough day today." Sam responded, wondering as he watched which of them was getting the most out of the entertainment, he was pleased to see Mick relaxing and was prepared to put up with some raucousness if it meant he was ok. Looking at the tolerant grins on the rest of the team's faces it was clear they felt the same. "They'll run out of rubber bands soon enough."

Beth sighed "That's what's worrying me!" she half joked, wondering what they'd find to get up to when that happened.

Coop looked at them again and grimaced. "Yeah, you could be right." There was no telling what entertainment Mick might think up next. "By the looks of things they've finished with their statements, I'll get one of the officers to take Lee home. Let's head back to the hotel and finish this off in the morning, we can't fly out until the afternoon anyway so there's no rush."

He didn't get any arguments from them, though Mick looked disappointed to lose his willing accomplice, hugging Lee goodbye before she left.