“Excuse me,” Laura said as she approached Gertrude and Gerry.

Gerry, who had closed his eyes in the hopes of helping the pounding in his head, opened them and smiled winningly at Laura, while Gertrude just fixed her with a glare and said nothing.

“Fenton’s out of surgery.”

The change that came over Gertrude was immediate. She was on her feet, her eyes worried as they focused all her attention on the girl.  “How is he?”

Laura smiled.  “He’s going to be fine.”

Gertrude sighed, and the relief that crossed her face removed the years the worry had put there.  Looking at Laura, she said – her voice soft and genuine, “Thank you.”

Laura’s smile grew larger and as if on cue, the elevator door opened behind them and Dr. Scott walked out of it and towards them.

Seeing his daughter, he smiled.  “That young man’s almost as tough as you are.”

Grinning, Laura turned to Gertrude.  “Dad, this is Fenton’s sister, Gertrude Hardy. This is my father, Dr. Scott.”

For once the older Hardy was speechless. Dr. Scott was her idol…and then she recovered, and smiled as he extended his hand to shake hers.  “Dr. Scott, it’s a pleasure.”

He nodded curtly, returned the smile and said, “Your brother was hit in the back by a bullet that then exited through his chest an inch above his heart. But thankfully enough, while it did cause extensive bleeding, the entry and exit wounds were nice and clean. He was very lucky - this time - as the bullet managed to miss anything that would have been instantly fatal. He’s in recovery right now, but he could be moved to a regular room within the next couple of hours, providing there are no complications.”

Seeing his daughter’s face pale, he reassured her, “But I’m not anticipating any.”

Laura threw her arms around her father and gave him a tight hug.  “Oh, thank you Daddy…thank you!”

Dr. Scott blushed slightly, although he felt warmed inside to hear her call him ‘daddy;’ it had been a long time since either of his children had referred to him with that much affection.

Releasing his daughter, he caught his son’s gaze.  “Why don’t you take your sister—” he glanced at Gertrude, “and Ms. Hardy upstairs for something to eat?  On me. You can’t see him yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as he’s being moved.”

“What about me?” Gerry’s voice cut in, and the doctor looked at him.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Fenton’s partner – and I was shot too.”  He indicated his head.

Out of the corner of his eye, the surgeon saw his daughter make a face, and he cleared his throat to keep from chuckling. He was always amazed at the child that still resided inside the young woman – and he savored her. “Actually Officer, I think it would be better if you stayed here. Come with me, I’ll find you a nice stretcher to lie down on – you’re looking a bit pale.”

Laura flashed her father a relieved smile, as Paul turned away so no one would see his smile. That was pathetic sounding, even to him.

Gerry couldn’t argue with the surgeon, but that didn’t stop him from grumbling as he followed the shorter man.

Dr. Scott glanced back at him. “What was that – I didn’t quite hear what you were saying?”

The cop blushed and hastily answered, “Nothing, sorry sir,” and then followed the doctor out of the room.

* * *

Slowly Fenton opened his eyes.

Where was he? It took him a few moments to remember what had happened. He had been shot.

Damn it, he groaned as he felt a tightness in his chest and realized he was heavily bandaged, didn’t see that one coming….

“Fenton?”

Blinking to help focus his eyes, he saw Gertrude leaning over him.  And he was shocked by the look on her face. He had never seen such blatant worry on his normally stoic sister’s features.

“You ‘kay?” he managed, instantly concerned that there was something wrong – other then the obvious.

She snorted, even as she answered, “That’s what I was going to ask you.” And then, relieved that he was awake and talking to her, Gertrude retreated behind her usual reserved mask and added, “Fool brother of mine. What right did you to have to go and get yourself shot?  I told you this job was too dangerous!”

Fenton gave a wan smile – there, now that sounded more like the Gertrude he knew.  And then he looked around and managed, “Is… is Laura here?”

Gertrude’s face hardened slightly, but then she sighed – he was persistent about this if nothing else – and nodded.   “Yeah, she’s in the hallway.”

The older Hardy had actually spent the last four hours talking to Laura and her brother, and to the older woman’s chagrin, she found it hard not to like the two.

She could see why Fenton was infatuated with the young girl – but that didn’t do anything to help how Gertrude felt.  She still resented this newcomer in Fenton’s life.

“Mom and Dad are on their way up,” Gertrude added, trying to distract her brother and he nodded but then said,

“Can I see her?”

“Who, Mom?” Gertrude feigned ignorance. “She isn’t here yet.”

“Not Mom,” Fenton said, recognizing the stall tactic and wondering what was going on. “Laura….I have to ask her something.”

Gertrude looked like she was going to protest, but then she sighed and moved away from his bed.  “Okay, I’ll get her.”  She almost said ‘stay right there’ but one look at Fenton told her he wasn’t going to be going anywhere for a while.

* * *

Laura was pacing. She wished she could be in the room with Fenton…but Gertrude was his sister, and Laura….Well, Laura was really no one.

Not really even a girlfriend, she mused miserably. That would imply we had at least one date! Then she stopped and a small smile crept across her fine features.  But we did have a kiss…actually two….

And then the door to Fenton’s room opened, interrupting her musing, and she saw Gertrude come out.

Instantly alarmed that something was wrong, Laura’s face paled, but Gertrude reassured her with a wan smile, “He’s awake…and wants to see you.”

* * *

Fenton smiled when he saw his angel.  Laura was here.

With an air of uncertainty, Laura stood in the doorway for a moment taking a long look at Fenton. And as she saw all the tubing, and bandages, it reinforced for her that Fenton had almost died. She had almost lost him, and there had been nothing she could do.

“You coming in…or what?” he asked hoarsely, and she glanced around once more before approaching the bed.

“Do you need a drink?” Laura asked, having heard the dryness of his voice.

Fenton nodded and then accepted the drink she offered him.

“Little sips,” she said gently, and then put the drink down and smiled at him.  “Sorry I didn’t call,” she said as she looked deeply into his warm brown eyes, “but you never gave me your number.”

Fenton laughed and then groaned.  “Oh man….Must remember not to laugh!” and then, once the pain subsided, he added, “I wondered why you didn’t call.”

Once again she looked at him uncertainly, and Fenton saw a hesitation on her face that he had never seen before.  She actually looked uncomfortable to be around him.

“What’s wrong?” he pressed after a moment, when she didn’t say anything but just stared at him.

“Nothing,” she said, and then reached down and took his hand in hers.  “I was just really worried about you…that’s all.”

Closing his eyes briefly as he felt her soft hand in his, he made his decision.  He had almost died today…and she would have never known….

“Laura Scott….”  He waited until her gaze was locked on his again.  “I love you.”  And then before she could respond, he swallowed the lump in his throat and just blurted out, “Will you…will you marry me?”