”A couple stitches, a shot or two, and some antibiotics and we will have you fixed up as good as new." The kindly emergency room doctor patted her on the arm. "You probably should have come in a little bit sooner, young lady."

"We were on a case," Nikki replied.

"Was it worth risking your life to a case of tetanus?"

"Yes."

The doctor chuckled. "I suspected you would say that. Dedication to the job is something I can surely understand. I'll be back in a jiffy to get you stitched up once the nurse cleans out the wound for you."

"Thank you, doctor."

The soft-spoken man left the curtained space. Nikki leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes. She was so tired. Keegan had wanted to come into the room with her but she had asked him to wait out in the sitting area. So many things had happened in such a short amount of time, she needed time to process it all. When Keegan was nearby, she had trouble thinking straight. No man had ever had that influence on her before. It threw her off her game and pissed her off.

"You ready for me to clean that mess up?" one of the nurses asked as she pushed aside the curtain. Did everyone at this hospital smile all the time?

"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

"My name is Sabrina. This might be a little uncomfortable but I'll be as gentle as I can, I promise."

"I'm tough. Just do what you need to," Nikki replied.

Sabrina nodded and started readying a tray with a shallow bowl, some sterile water, tweezers, gauze and a few other little items. She pushed a rolling table over the bed and set her tools on it. "Okay, young lady, let me see that hand."

Nikki held out her injured hand. Sabrina inspected the wound. "This is pretty nasty. How did it happen?"

"Rusty screwdriver."

"Is that the newest in law enforcement tools?"

Nikki laughed. She liked Sabrina. "I suppose. Comes in handy when someone whacks you on the head, stuffs you in a trunk, and tries to drive you to Mexico. I used it to pry open the trunk lock. As you can see, it slipped."

Sabrina dumped some of the chilly water on her hand making Nikki shiver. "I know, it's cold. It helps a little with the pain."

"Don't worry about it. I just want to get out of here."

"That your hottie out there in the waiting room pacing a hole in the linoleum?"

Her hottie? Was Keegan hers? Did she want him to be?

"We work together."

The nurse nodded and smiled. "Ah, partners with benefits?"

"We aren't partners. This was a sort of joint task force case. Multiple agencies were involved."

"Even better. No company policy against dating then."

"We're not dating. We just met a few days ago."

"Does the hottie know that? Because I could swear that man was in love with you."

"You know this because he is in the waiting room?"

"I know this because of the fear in his eyes when he brought you in and the hurt when you told him to wait outside."

"Oh." Nikki frowned. "He is a pretty intense guy."

"I know I'm just here to clean out your wound but since you're a captive audience at the moment, I'm going to offer my advice based on my own experiences. Free of charge, of course." Sabrina smiled as she patted the wound dry after washing it with saline.

"It's not—"

"Like I said, it's just based on my personal experience. The world we live in is not conducive to finding love. I suspect that in your career, it's even harder. So, when that one opportunity presents itself for something really great, you should treat it like the golden ticket and hold on tight. Give the guy a chance. I can see you really like him too."

"I do. A lot. That might be what scares me the most."

"Fear of the unknown. I get it. You take down bad guys with rusty screw drivers though. Surely you can handle a little love? That man out there is hot with a capital H. If nothing else, you get to look at him anytime you want. That would keep me going for months." Sabrina laughed and patted her palm with some gauze. "I'm going to send the doctor in to do the stitches. Think about what I said."

Nikki nodded. As she was about to tell the nurse to send Keegan in, the curtain flew open.

"Henry! What are you doing here?"

"Are you okay?" Henry's ruddy complexion was an unhealthy shade of pale and the lines around his eyes were deep with worry.

"I'm fine. You didn't have to drive all the way out here, you know."

Sabrina looked from Nikki to Henry and back again. "Another one?" she whispered. "Damn, girl, I want some of whatever it is you got."

Before Nikki could reply, Sabrina slipped out of the space. Henry pulled up a chair by the bed and took her uninjured hand in his. "I'm sorry, Nik."

"For what? This is nothing."

"Not for that. For everything. For what happened at your house and—just everything."

Henry looked at her, his eyes so sad and distraught that her heart went out to him. "Don't worry about it, Henry, really."

"Want me to take you back to Virginia Beach?"

Good question. If she went back with Henry, she could avoid talking to Keegan. Of course, she was pretty sure he would hunt her down. Running away hadn't served her well before. She ended up kidnapped and injured.

"No. I'm fine. I'll ride back with Keegan and his brother."

A hint of sadness flashed across his face before Henry squared his shoulders and rose from the chair. "Okay. I figured as much. I’m glad you're okay, Nik. Give your pop a call, he is worried about you."

"You told him I was missing?"

"I thought he should know. I also told him they found you but he will want to hear your voice."

The doctor entered the room then. "It's time. Oh, hi. Are you her father?"

Henry smiled and stepped through the curtain. "Nope. Her boss. Just checking in. I'll be leaving now. Take good care of her, Doc."

"Sure will."