Chapter 8

"Hey," Tommy whispered softly as he closed the door behind him. His eyes were trained on his best friend's still form as he crept closer to her. "Are you awake?"

Dawn shifted at the sound of his voice. Her eyes fluttered open and she stifled a yawn. "I am now."

"Sorry," he sheepishly replied.

"It's okay," she said, sitting up straight. "I wanted to get up anyway. I woke up earlier and found Dara and Mac staring at me so I decided to fake it. I guess I actually fell asleep. So, I should thank you."

He smiled. "Well, in that case, you're welcome." He moved to sit on her bed. He pushed away a few stray hairs with careful fingers. Softly, he asked, "Are you okay? Did the rest help?"

"I guess," she shrugged. "I didn't really appreciate being doped up, but I guess I understand why your dad did it. I was pretty hysterical, huh?"

"Maybe just a little bit," he said, indicating with his thumb and forefinger. "You were entitled to a few hysterics, so don't worry about it. He said it was the shock of what happened…the gunfire—post traumatic stress."

"Yeah, I guess so." She reached for his hand as she asked, "How is Nikolas? He's okay, right? He didn't…die. Right?"

"He made it. He's in ICU now. My dad said that the first twenty-four hours are the most important, but he should pull through."

"Can I see him?"

"Dawn, I'm not too sure about that. ICU is a restricted area and I doubt if he's allowed visi-"

"Tommy," she said, more insistently as she clutched his hand. "Help me see him. I have to see him with my own two eyes to know that he's okay. I know that you know GH better than anyone. Tommy, I'm begging you-"

"Stop," he said, raising his hand to silence her. "You don’t have to beg me. I'll help you, but are you sure you're up for this? He's been shot, and he won't look like the same guy you've been drooling over for months-"

"I haven't been drooling over anyone," she corrected him. She flung the covers back and swung her legs so that she sat on the edge of the bed. "I've never drooled over him. Never. Not once. Not even when we have my fencing lessons and he wears…those…incredible…fencing…pants…"

"Oh, give me a break!" Tommy said, rolling his eyes. "Can I throw up now?"

"Oh, shut up!" she said, punching his arm. Her eyes widened when she connected with hard muscle. "Mm…been working out, have we?"

"Leave me alone," he mumbled while blushing profusely. "Are you serious about seeing Nik?"

"Very," she said, her eyes serious as she nodded her head.

"Well, we'd better head up out of here, then."

-/-

Jeffrey and Bogg found the blood bank empty of their time traveling charges. After a visit to the waiting room outside of surgery and coming up empty again, the Voyagers decided to split up. Bogg would take the lower floors while Jeffrey searched the higher ones. They would meet in an hour in the park across the street from the hospital.

Jeffrey searched one floor and headed towards the elevator to search another. A petite brunette beauty stepped out the elevator car and stopped him in his tracks

"What?" she asked, as he gaped at her. She frowned and pulled her coat closer around her. "Weirdo," she mumbled, walking away from him.

"Hey, wait!" Jeffrey said, forgetting about the elevator as the doors closed. He moved to follow the young woman. "Hey-"

"What?" She turned to face him. "Why are you chasing me?"

"I wasn't chasing you," Jeffrey told her. Embarrassment would have colored his cheeks if irritation hadn't beaten it to the punch. "I wanted to ask you a question, but if that's not something-"

"Okay, wait," Lizzie said with a set jaw. "I didn't mean to yell at you, but you were staring. I don't like that, so maybe you should ask me the question and get it over with."

"Fine! Maybe I will!" he said, folding his arms across his chest.

The two stared each other down. Their brown eyes roamed and assessed the other's attributes. A tiny smile played on Liz's full lips as she realized that she liked what she saw. The guy who stood before her with the long, curly brown hair, flashing dark eyes and husky voice was a cutie. He wasn't anything like Lucky, but he was nothing to sneeze at either. Hmm…she thought. Aloud, she said, "The question? What was it?"

"Question?" Jeffrey repeated slowly coming back to earth. The girl, whoever she was, was beautiful. Her full lips, cute little nose and the way she carried herself appealed to Jeffrey. He wanted to know more about her. He had to…but first, he should probably stop staring, he realized. Mentally shaking himself, he asked, "What question?"

"You were going to ask me one-"

"Lizzie!"

The yell jolted him. She rolled her eyes before moving to face the girl who called her. As Jeffrey watched Lizzie walk away, he hoped that the time would come where they would meet again, and without interruption.