Kim considered herself to be a reasonable and patient person; most of the time. She knew that the nursing staff was spot on that Adam may take longer to fully come around and she knew that rest was good for him. Once he was fully awake and aware his mind would be bouncing in so many directions, wanting answers that she didn't have and worrying about things that he shouldn't have to. It didn't mean waiting was easy. She longed to see those brown eyes of his again. It was long past visiting hours and everyone else was made to leave but she was able to make a deal with the staff that she'd head home once she was able to see him awake.

She had been alternating resting against his shoulder and studying his face when she felt his left arm tense and his left hand twitch.

"Adam?" She'd been here before. It was always hard to remember all of it but she knew that it was always confusing waking up from anesthesia. She noticed his face start to scrunch just before his eyes opened just barely. "Hey, hey, it's ok, you're ok. Just breathe ok. You're at Med, you're ok, everyone's ok"

He didn't respond verbally but through the cobwebs in his mind he seemed to register what she was saying. After about a minute he was a bit more alert as his left hand came up to tug at the nasal prongs he still wore.

"Nope, don't play with those. Your nurse said she'd take them off once you woke up but you get to leave those there for a few more minutes." Kim was gentle but assertive at the same time. This was the first time Adam had had any form of major surgery, she knew there was a good chance he'd take some time to fully comprehend things.

"Pinches" The raspiness of his voice seemed to startle him.

"Yea, they pinch your nose pretty good. Here, try some small sips of water; it'll help your throat"

"I got shot." It wasn't a question but it did make Kim wonder how much he remembered after.

"Yea, you did. You're going to be ok though. You lost a good amount of blood and they had to transfuse you but the bullet didn't do any major damage. You also have some fractured ribs so just watch out when you shift around ok?" She didn't really want to go too deep into the conversation right now. Tomorrow he'd have plenty of time to ask and answer questions about this whole thing. But she also knew Adam. Part of the reason she wanted to be here when he woke up was this very moment.

He closed his eyes and in that moment she knew he was trying to replay what he could remember in his mind. "Sam left me, Voight found me. You were with me"

"Hey, how about we wait on all of that stuff? Tomorrow and for who knows how many days after there'll be plenty of time for all that. How about we get you back to resting? I told the nurse I'd call her when you woke up; she's not going to let me stick around much longer."

"Yea, ok" And she didn't miss the small pout from him when she told him that she'd eventually have to leave. "Where's the button?"

"I've got it, it's right here" She reached for the nurse's call button and gave it a push. Within seconds his nurse appeared. Kim liked her; she was Chicago born and raised, around their same age and had played college basketball at UIC. Kim knew that Adam wouldn't be able to use his puppy dog eyes to get away with anything with her.

"Seems like I finally get to meet my patient! How're you doing Adam? I'm Shauna; I'll be here through tomorrow morning and then I'll be back tomorrow night as well so if you need anything you just let me know, ok?" When Adam nodded in response she made her way around to the empty left side of his bed. "Up to answering a couple more questions for me? Actually gonna need to hear your voice here?"

"Yea" He responded with a slight chuckle

"Good - pain level. On a scale of 0 - 10?"

"About a 5 maybe a 6? I feel like it should be worse"

"No it actually shouldn't; your injury was pretty straightforward. Which means the surgeons were able to use something called Exparel when they closed you up. It's an extended release local anesthetic so less of a need for heavy dose opioids and at best no need at all. The pain or discomfort you have right now is probably the rib fractures. We'll give you some ibuprofen in a moment if you want." She answered as she removed his nasal cannula

Kim sat, focused on his face, ensuring that he was understanding everything that he was being told. Despite his earlier enthusiasm for talking it seemed like that initial buzz of energy was wearing thin fast. He looked at her as if he were looking for an answer.

"Don't look at me. I'm not the one in the bed."

"Yea, yea I'll take some."

"I think that's the best idea. You should start off with as restful sleep as you can get. Now before all of that happens I get to see if I can get you to do one more thing. How do you feel about trying to stand up and take a few steps?"

"What? Now?"

"Yep, there is no risk to your injuries, those are all nicely sealed up. You've got some internal stitches that will dissolve on their own and then its skin glue on the exterior. It'll flake off in about 2 weeks; try not to pick at it. We worry about blood clots so the more we get you moving and not laying on your back the better. Also, and I think you'll like this, if you can stand up and take a couple of steps then tomorrow morning that most annoying line you've got can go away" She explained and finished by pointing to his waist

"I'm definitely on board with that last part"

"Figured you would; so we use the bed to your advantage. Shift a bit on your side and use your arms to push you away from the bed. Once you are sitting all that's left is to stand. But take it slowly; sit for a few seconds then stand. Kim you can come over on the other side, as support if you want?"

Kim was happy to help; she said she'd be by his side and she meant it. She was impressed by him; he was doing well and being a good patient. She watched as he smiled when he was able to stand. His steps were mere shuffles of his feet but compared to earlier that day she'd take him shuffling and vertical over being wheeled horizontally on a stretcher. Kim and Shauna helped him back into bed and Shauna did a quick vitals check before leaving to grab the much promised ibuprofen. Kim knew that meant her visiting time had come to an end but she was grateful to have been able to literally and figuratively walk him through the opening of his recovery.

"I'm going to have to go soon. You'll be ok, get plenty of rest" She said as she played with his hair. If he was tired before now he was exhausted. But he also felt like he had accomplished something. Recovering from this seemed all that more possible.

"You'll be back?"

"Adam, of course. Tomorrow morning, as soon as they let me. Kevin has Makayla for the night, he's been checking in and says he'll watch her for as long as we need him too. I know you want to see her. So how about we see how the morning goes and then give Kevin a call and he can bring her by."

"I'd like that. What does she know?"

"Just that we got caught up at work with your case. I'll meet Kevin in the lobby and tell her that the bad guys hurt her dad but that we got them. But first you need to get some rest."

"I will." He said sleepily. Shauna had come back with the ibuprofen already and Kim was content leaving knowing that Adam was calm and in good spirits.

Kim leaned over him to give him a quick kiss on the forehead, followed by one on his lips. Adding just loud enough for him to still hear it "Oh and Adam, I love you too"

She knew he had heard her, that what she said had registered. That he remembered their trip in the ambulance. She had refused to acknowledge his declaration at the time. But she wanted to make sure he knew now exactly how she felt. And he did because just prior to falling asleep he leaned his head into her hand that had been bracing his face and mumbled it back to her.