"Okay Nina, I'm almost done here," said Dr Fine. "I just need to write down your blood pressure."
It had been fifteen minutes since Jack had left Nina, but, somehow, the kind-hearted doctor had made Nina feel so much more comfortable and so much safer than she would have thought possible.
"Okay." Nina relaxed against the soft, fluffy pillow behind her back while she waited for the doctor to finish.
"There we go. Done. How are you feeling?"
"Tired. It has been a long day. Can I go home now?"
"As soon as we get some clothes for you. I'm sure you don't want to wear that gown home."
"Definitely not," agreed Nina. She smiled. "Thank you for believing me."
"No problem. I figure, the best person to know how you're feeling, is you."
"You are so right."
The doctor laughed before someone knocked on the door. "Are you okay if that's your partner?"
"Yes. Even if it's my step-dad, it's okay."
Dr Fine laughed. She opened the door and found a nurse there.
"Sorry Doctor Fine. I was just checking to see if your patient is ready for a visitor."
"That's okay. Who is it?"
"He said his name is Lou Carpenter, and that she would know him."
"Nina, do you know a Lou Carpenter?"
"He's my stepdad," said Nina. "I want him," she added, sounding a lot like a little girl suddenly.
"Send him in. And when Jack Scully returns, let him in too please."
The nurse left, returning a moment later with Lou in tow.
"Sweetheart, are you alright?" he asked, moving straight to Nina's side.
"Yes. I told you I was. But don't go anywhere, okay?"
"I won't. Jack sent me a text, he's just leaving home now."
"Good. I want him."
Lou smiled. "I think everyone knows that. He's going to bring someone with him."
"Who?"
"You'll see soon enough."
"Lou."
"Nina."
"Tell me."
"Sorry, I promised I would keep it a secret."
"Fine. Then tell me how you two knew where to find me. I never told Jack where I was working."
"No. Jack wants to be the one to explain that, which is fine with me."
"Are you going to tell me anything then?"
"Probably not."
Nina laughed. She reached out and hugged Lou, holding onto him tightly. "Thanks for the honesty."
"Hey, I've never lied to you before, I'm not going to start now."
"Thank you."
"Now, can we take Nina home?" Lou asked the doctor.
"We're just waiting for Mr Scully to return with some clothes, and then, yes, Nina can go home."
"Okay, thank you. Does she have any injuries or anything?"
"No, she's fine," smiled the doctor. "Maybe just a little shaken up from what I can tell."
Lou nodded his understanding and thanked the doctor for her help. He sat next to Nina and hugged her.
Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and Jack came in. Nina brightened up as soon as she saw Jack, and threw her arms around him when he sat with her.
"Did you bring clothes?" asked Nina.
"I did." He held up a bag. "Get changed and we'll go home."
"Thank you. Who did you bring with you?"
"Oh, he's with Lou at the moment. After you change, we'll go out to them."
Nina agreed with him and disappeared into the bathroom to change. She came back out five minutes later, wearing her own clothes and feeling a lot better. She took Jack's hand and let him lead her out to the waiting room where Lou was standing with a smile on his face.
"Let's get you home Nina," said Lou protectively.
"Not until I know who else is here," replied Nina.
Someone stood up behind Lou. Nina recognised him immediately and hugged him tightly.
"Hi Harold," she said happily.
"Hey Nina. How are you feeling? Lou told me what was going on, and I told him I wanted to help."
"I'm okay. I just want to go home. To Erinsborough."
Harold grinned. "Then let's go pack and take you home. You can stay with me if you like."
"I have a house now. Lou is living there at the moment."
Harold nodded. "Then all we need to do is pack and go."
Nina laughed. "Not until I deal with this stuff here. I don't want to be constantly traveling back and forth."
"Don't you want to come back again?"
"Well, yeah, eventually, but I need some space, I need time to think, time to get over this. I want to get married in Erinsborough, with all my friends there. I want a normal life for a little while."
Jack put his arm around her. "As soon as the police don't need us, we'll go. I promise you that if you want a normal life, then a normal life is what you'll get."
"Thank you Jack," Nina whispered as they walked out to his car. "For everything."
"Hey, I love you, and nothing will ever change that. Even you hating me didn't change it. So, I am going to do everything I can to make sure you are happy and if that means living in a small neighbourhood with no secrets ever, then that's what we'll do."