Over the next few weeks there is little improvement in Graham's condition, though the Doctor was able to coax Ace out of the hospital a few times. "Ace?"

"Yes Professor?" The Doctor and Ace are walking around outside.

"What are you going to do when Graham wakes up?"

Ace stops by a tree and leans up against it, "I will help Ryan take care of him when he gets out of the hospital."

"Are you going back to UNIT and A Charitable Earth? I also know you have to be itching to make more Nitro-999."

"I am planning to go back to both, but only when I know Graham is 100% better."

"Or when you get tired of him."

"If I get tired of him. Professor, I only started to get tired of you when you started to play those mind games, and I don't feel the same way about you that I do Graham."

"He is special to you?"

"He is, I look forward to getting to know him better."

"You know he may recall a few of the things you have told him when he wakes up," Ace blushes at that fact. "No need to blush at it Ace."

"I told him I would wait to date him until he is ready to move on from Grace."

"I know."

"How do you know that?" Ace starts to get worried.

"Yaz, Ryan and I were watching and listening to you while we were in the TARDIS."

"What?! Ryan heard me, I didn't want him to learn that way."

"Learn what, that you have feelings for Graham."

"Correct."

"Ace, my dear, it has been written all over your face since the moment everything happened."

"I used to be able to hide these things."

The Doctor laughs a little bit, "not really. I knew you loved my dad jokes."

"Some of the time I didn't try to hide it, Professor."

"You know the companions to the last body in my first regeneration cycle have you to thank for my love of bow ties, fezes, and the word geronimo, well even Yaz, Ryan and Graham with some between will probably say something along the lines of you are the reason the Doctor has many fezes." It starts to rain a little bit, "we should head inside."

As Ace and the Doctor walk into Graham's room they see doctors around Graham's bed. Ace's heart starts to beat fast, "what is going on?"

"Everything is more than ok Ace," she can hear the smile in Ryan's voice as one of the doctors moves to the side. Ace can see Graham's eyes open.

"Graham."

"Hello Ace," though his voice is raspy from just waking up Ace still loves to hear it. "Doc?"

"It's me, saw the TARDIS?"

"No, I just know there are not many that can draw Ace away from someone she cares about." He starts to cough, Ace makes a move, but one of his doctors beats her to it.

"You need to limit your talking Mr. O'Brien for a little bit."

"How do you know that, you have been out for almost a month."

"I told him about Manisha and how I vowed at that age that I would visit the hospital every chance I got if someone I cared about was in the same position."

Ryan deciding to be snarky, "you have been more than visiting, Ace, you have barely left." Graham looks at Ace who just shrugs her shoulders. After the doctors finish checking Graham over and leave Ace goes back to the side of the bed that is unofficially her side while she has been in the room. Graham holds out his hand and Ace takes it.

"Thank you."

"You never need to thank me for being there for you Graham, you are one of my mates."

Ryan stands next to the Doctor and whispers in their ear, "I am glad that Tegan isn't here right now.''

"She would have said the same thing you did."

"I have a feeling she would say something about what is going on in front of our eyes right now."

"That she would."

Ace looking up to one of her oldest friends and a newer one with a smile that reaches her eyes for the first time since everything happened. "What are you two talking about?"

"Tegan." Ace looks past them hoping her friend isn't there. "Don't worry she is off with UNIT right now."

"Professor, I don't know how I didn't realize this before, but you also stayed the whole time."

"Two well three," the Doctor looks at Ryan, "people that I care about were not in the best state to be left alone."

"Thank you Doc." Graham says finally taking his eyes off Ace, remembering not only his dream of Grace and everything Ace told him while in his coma.

"I am the Doctor, my job is to care."

"Good one Professor," Ace says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"Is Ace laughing," Tegan who has finished what Kate wanted her to say as she pops in. She looks at the bed. "Graham, you are awake."

"He has been for about 10 minutes while Ace and the Doctor were taking a small walk."

"Why didn't you call one of us?" Ace, slightly angry, asks Ryan.

"I called his doctors first and they needed to look him over first, and I knew you would be nearly bouncing until you got to sit right next to him."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"Tegan, why don't you call everyone to tell them that Graham is awake," Ace wants to get rid of her friend before even more teasing starts.

"I know when I am not welcome," Tegan retorts teasingly and walks off to make the calls. Graham looks into Ace's eyes and sees a battle inside them. He holds her hand tighter, feeling the warmth is all too familiar. He then sees the battle finish as Ace smiles softly at him which he returns. Ryan watches and sees the connection that everyone has been talking about.

"So Grandad," Graham looks up as Ryan approaches his side, "have a nice sleep?" Graham nods his head. "Heeding the real doctor's advice.

"Oi, I am right here you know. I am the reason half you know the other."

Ace getting some of her spark back, "you picked that name as a title, Professor, what is your doctorate in actually?"

"I got one while in Gallifrey."

Not where Professor, what is it?"

Mumbling, "I have many, but one in fez making."

"Really?"

"No, it's a PhD ok? That is still a doctorate right."

"It is."

"Good, now can we stop taking the mickey out of me?"

Tegan comes in, "ok I made the calls, we are taking the mickey out of the Doctor now," she rubs her hands together. The Doctor's eyes go wide, "where can I start?"

"No where."

"I think you mean everywhere Doctor. Let's see you have this weird obsession with collecting young women."

"They are less likely to hit."

"Really Professor you are saying that with me right here."

"What was one of my favorite things to say to you Ace?"

"Ace's are rare."

"Ohh, let's not forget your clothing choices half the time."

Ryan pops up, "do you still get fezzes delivered."

"Should I point you to the reason I like fezzes?"

"I will remind you, that you are the one who put it on my head."

Graham looks towards Ace, "they made you wear a fez?"

"Ace, who can force you to do anything," the Doctor adds.

"Do I have to remind you of the Victorian dress you had picked out for me while we were in 1883?"

"What about that suit you wore, before that?" Ace makes a face at him, her hand still in Graham's which Tegan doesn't fail to notice.

"Let's change the subject," Tegan says.