The monitors are gone when I get to the clinic, but Melissa is still sitting where's she's been for most of the past two days, other than when she needs to use the restroom. Jeff's gone home, but we're still being cautious. At least, I don't think there's any other hospital room in the area where the bedside guest is carrying a pistol.

“How's he doing?” I ask, sitting down next to Melissa. “He looks stronger.”

“The staff says that he should be waking up any time now. They left the IVs in just to let him stay hydrated, but they stopped the antibiotics and other stuff,” Melissa says, not taking her eyes off of Nathan. “I keep seeing his eyes flutter, like he's having a dream, so when he starts to sound like he's in trouble, I'm helping him out. Kind of like how you do for me.”

“I gotcha,” I reply, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees. “It'll be nice to see him up and about, that's for sure.”

“I know. By the way, Katrina called earlier, said you went with Andrea to talk to Peter DeLaCoeur. How'd that go?”

“About how you'd expect. We warned him to stay away, he swore there'd be repercussions, that sort of stuff. I hope, but I'm not going to expect that it's over with him.”

“Which is why you want Nathan back,” Melissa says, looking over when I shake my head. “What?”

“I like the man. He's got a calm presence, and he's good to have around. Also, if you don't mind me saying, you seem to like him, too.”

Melissa gives me a sad little smirk and shakes her head. “It doesn't matter whether I do or not. I'm pretty sure it's one-sided on my part. Why worry about if I like him or not?”

“Because your happiness is my concern,” I tell her. “It always has been. I love you, 'Lissa. And I'll let you in on a little thing I've seen.”

“What?” she asks, still so shy.

“There's an old saying, right? Still waters run deep. Nathan's a very, very still man. But I've seen some things from him that give me hope.”

Melissa smiles, then shakes her head. “You're just being nice.”

It's my turn to shake my head, smiling in return. “Nope,” I say, before growing serious. “But I do have something that I need to talk to you about.”

Melissa gives me a worried look, and I want to reassure her, but I'm too nervous myself to even make a weak attempt. “What's going on, Carson? Is it something with the house? The gallery?”

“No... it's Andrea,” I say, looking down. “Something's happened between us.”

“Oh no,” Melissa says, saddened. “Please tell me you two didn't fight and she's angry at us.”

“No, no, it's not that,” I quickly say, shaking my head. “Uh... 'Lissa, Andrea and I have feelings for one another.”

Melissa nods, not understanding what I'm actually getting at. “Well of course you do, you're family and... oh.” Realization slowly dawns on her face.

“Yeah. Not the brother-sister kind.”

“Well now,” Melissa replies, looking forward. “This is different.”

“Tell me about it,” I say, getting up and walking to the window. “I mean, it's not like I planned this, 'Lissa. I mean, I'm not saying I never wanted to fall in love, but I certainly didn't expect this.”

“I wouldn't think you would,” Melissa says primly, then sighs. “Sorry. I didn't mean to come off as bitchy. Just... Carson, I mean, I understand. Andrea's a great girl, and the way she and I bonded so quickly, I guess it's not out of the question.”

“It's more than that, 'Lissa,” I counter, turning around. “It's the way she moves, the way she smiles, the way she and I just have this pull on each other. When I was facing Vadim Orloff, I was certain that everything would work out because I glanced in her eyes, and in that instant we communicated everything that needed to happen. I could see she trusted me totally, and that we were on one single, permanent wavelength. Even more than the night before...”

“You two…” Melissa starts to ask, and I nod. “I see. Go on.”

“Melissa, I know this is hard. I know this is weird,” I plead. “But I need you to be okay with this. I love you 'Lissa, and you know I'll never, ever leave you or abandon you. You've been my rock for twenty-three years. We're a team. But... is there room in your heart for me to be part of another team too?”

Before Melissa can answer, Nathan stirs on the bed, opening his eyes. “If I were you, I'd say yes. Andrea is a great person.”

Melissa smiles, looking down on Nathan, and reaches out, taking his hand. “Glad to have you back with us.”

“Thanks,” Nathan rasps, clearing his throat. “Think I can get some water?”

Melissa jumps up, rushing to get him a cup of water, while I help him to a sitting position. The clinic doesn't have powered beds. “Hey big man, how're you feeling?”

“Like I have been sleeping for three or four days,” Nathan says, groaning as I help him up. “How long was I out?”

“Four actually. Good guess,” I inform him, giving him a small smile. “So how much did you hear?”

“Enough to know that you and Andrea are finally being honest with each other. Thanks,” Nathan says, taking the cup from Melissa and sipping gratefully. He clears his throat, grateful when he finishes his sip. “That's better. So Melissa, how long were you sitting here?”

Melissa goes red and doesn't answer, and I take her hand. In a welcome sign, she accepts it, and lets me pull her in for a hug. “She's been here the whole time.”

“Thank you,” he says sincerely. “So fill me in.”

“Well, everyone's alive, Vadim Orloff's dead, Peter DeLaCoeur's in the hospital waiting on skin grafts and has been re-arrested, and Katrina's father might turn state's evidence on him,” I tell him, keeping it short and sweet. “The house has been repainted, and I took care of Maverick. When you get out of here, I'll show you where he is, and we can talk about a permanent headstone or something.”

Nathan nods, and holds his hand out. We shake, and he swallows thickly. “Thank you, Carson. I would appreciate whatever you want to do for Maverick.”

“Well, we'll have time to think about it,” I tell him, smiling. “You want to tell him, 'Lissa?”

“Tell him what?” Nathan asks, and Melissa smiles hopefully.

“Nathan, Carson and I talked about it while you were out, and we were thinking... well, you need a place to convalesce, and Carson needs to spend a lot of time at the gallery now, after all this craziness. And having you around helps me, and then there's the matter of security and...”

“And what my sister is trying to say is that we'd be honored if you'd stay with us, at least until you're totally recovered,” I tell him, cutting her off before she babbles herself into an anxiety attack. “We've got the spare bedrooms, so you don't have to sleep on the couch anymore either.”

Nathan nods, then looks at Melissa warmly. “I would be happy to. Now, there is something I need to know though.”

“What?” Melissa asks, trying to contain her happiness and failing pretty badly.

“Are you okay with Carson and Andrea? I always had a soft spot for Andi, even though I didn't always show it to her. I can’t think of anyone finer for you to fall in love with, Carson.”

I look at Melissa, who sighs and nods. “Okay, okay. Carson, I'm not saying I don't feel a little weird about this. You're my brother, and you're dating my sister. That in and of itself just makes me want to look around for someone to start playing Dueling Banjos. But I know that it's just words, and I know the reality of the relationships. Just promise me that I'm not going to find myself thrown out on the street and forgotten because of this?”

“Thrown out on the street?” I ask, chuckling. “'Lissa, I figure that the next time you get nightmares, if Andrea's around, you're going to find yourself the middle of a family sandwich, keeping you safe the whole time. How's that sound?”

Melissa smiles, nodding. “Okay, I think I can get used to that. Glad I have a king-size bed then. I think we'll need to buy some more pillows though.”

“I'm pretty sure we can do that.”