Murphy chuckled a bit at Cass's voice and rolled his eyes. "Lass, you know it's true," he scoffed as he found his shirt and picked it up from the floor. Then he heard Lincoln's voice crack through the line and he froze, the cigarette hanging loosely from his bottom lip. He had been wondering if they would ever get that call but he hoped they wouldn't. Slowly he sunk down onto the edge of the bed, seating himself there like he was perched.

It took him a moment to come to his senses, about the same time Lincoln pleaded through the phone. "On my way English, just hold on," he said before hanging up the phone and staring at it a moment. Standing up he walked to the bathroom door and peered inside, looking at Cass and sighing sadly. "Lass, we gotta go. Lincoln just put the call in," he said before turning and looking for his boots. Hopping around as he shoved a foot into each one and picking up the keys to his bike. Turning he waited for Cass, not knowing if she was going to go with him or opt to stay behind and find Claire to hang out with for the day.

Tasha looked over towards Dr. Kumar and asked for his phone. He handed it over without question, not sure what she was up to but not about to deny her anything right then. Last requests and all. Tasha turned the phone on and then the video, holding it up she took a deep breath. "Hey baby, I don't know what is going to happen but if you are seeing this I just want you to know that I love you and I would give anything to be looking at you right now. I know this won't be easy but promise me you aren't going to let this kill everything you are. Please, go and live. For both of us. I love you.... Goodbye," she said tearfully into the camera before saving the file and handing the phone back over to Dr. Kumar. He took it, a nod of simple understanding coming from him, knowing what to do if she didn't make it.

Cass turned as she heard Murphy heading her way and blinked as she saw his face. His words cemented what she thought and she chewed her lower lip before nodding to him and getting her shit together. Hair up, clothes already on, makeup not important. She went out and grabbed her sandals which she quickly slipped on and watched Murphy as he laced his boots up. As he grabbed his keys, she grabbed her bag and made her way out with him to his bike. She wanted to grab Claire but knew that Murphy would call her if he wanted her there. Since he'd said that we got to go she figured that he wanted her there for a reason. Plus she felt bad for Tasha, she hadn't had a chance to talk to her much but she seemed super nice. And mystery hottie Lincoln might need a woman's shoulder to cry on since Murphy was more likely to talk Lincoln into a fist fight to get his emotions out fully. That definitely wasn't what they needed right now. She followed him out and was ready to go when he was.

Lincoln put his cell back in his pocket and eventually tore his eyes away from where Tasha had been. He didn't want to move from this one spot, this was where Tasha had seen him last and when she came out on the other side he'd be waiting right here for her. He bounced on the balls of his feet and wrung his hands together. His eyes darted every which way and he had to calm his breathing on multiple occasions. He saw nurses and doctors walking around, patients moving about and visitors coming and going.

He wondered who here was close to losing someone they loved. There was a young couple sitting together in a corner, a teddy bear being held between them. They looked like they were ready to break into pieces. An elderly woman sat alone by the window, her eyes seemed misty but her jaw was set in such a strong line that Lincoln wondered why her teeth weren't shattering. A teenager - no more than 16 - sat with two toddlers who were sitting on the floor playing with books and building blocks. The teenager looked ready to burst while the children were oblivious in their own little carefree world.

What he wouldn't give to be a child again. Lincoln felt his body tightening as he realised how unfair the world was. Why should good people suffer through such traumatic and unjust scenarios? Why couldn't the world give those that were worthy of good things a break? Tasha never deserved this.

Once Cass was ready to go, Murphy wasted no time to get them out to his bike and down the road towards the hospital. He thought about calling for his sister to come to but he doubted Lincoln wanted a lot of people there right then, especially people he wasn't close to. Murphy had been through this before with his aunt. He remembered how him and Claire hung to each other at the end, a few tears threatening as he thought back on it. Shaking his head he sped through the traffic that was already building on the streets with Cass's arms wrapped around his waist. He hated this, Tasha was a dear friend of his and he hated to see her wearing away each day as the disease took hold of her. He could see it in her eyes, she was tired. It was the same tired her aunt had before she gave up. He hoped that Tasha hadn't given up but he wouldn't fault her if she did.

Pulling up to the hospital he hopped off his bike and took Cass's hand and rushed into the hospital. Asking at the desk which way to go before giving a quick thanks in Hindi before heading off again with Cass in tow. Stopping suddenly as he rounded a corner he spotted Lincoln just standing there looking lost. Were they too late? No, Lincoln would be beating up some doctor right then if that were the case, he was sure of it. Sighing he looked over towards Cass before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and letting go of her hand. Slowly he walked down the hallway towards Lincoln.

"I wasn't expecting a standing ovation when I showed up, right English of you," he said, forcing a smirk to his lips. He wasn't sure what was about to happen. For all he knew Lincoln would break down or throw a punch. Either way, he would be there for his friend right then. It was odd, they were friends in their mind. Nearly best buds at this point and yet they still had no problem tearing into the other. A quick friendship formed trying to help Tasha but hell, friendships had been formed over odder circumstances.

Cass followed Murphy as he led her around and she chewed on her bottom lip as they saw Lincoln standing there. She felt Murphy letting her hand go and she took a step back as he walked towards his friend. She shifted to the side and just watched, waiting for the moment she'd need to do something for either of them.

Lincoln only snapped out of his stupor when he heard Murphy's voice behind him. He spun around so sharply he was surprised he didn't give himself whiplash. "Murph. Shut the fuck up." His voice was defeated, there was no fire there, he was just limp in every manner of the word. His body had loosened up as soon as the familiar voice had sounded. He half thought he'd get mad once Murphy showed up, take out his emotions in a fight with his friend. Sadly that would have been too normal and this situation was anything but.

"I can't..." His voice broke again and he crumpled on the spot. His knees sagged and his legs splayed out beneath him as he curled up into himself and began to sob like a baby.

Cass's eyes widened and she gaped as she saw it, she had never expected this man to crumple like paper but he just had. This was seriously bad, worse than she could have imagined... She lifted her hand and covered her mouth in shock, her eyes began to well up as she tried to stop herself from crying. Lincoln fell from his knees and lay on the floor, sobbing as if his whole world had ended and for all intents and purposes, it had. All eyes were on him then as the other visitors, patients and even staff stopped to see what the commotion was.

Murphy nodded silently, he wasn't expecting that but it didn't surprise him. With situations like this it could go so many ways. People each acted differently. There was no right or wrong way to deal with this. Seeing Lincoln crumple Murphy was quick to move and went to his friend side. Kneeling down next to him and placing his hand on his back, rubbing it slightly as he let Lincoln just let it go. Telling him to stop or that he was making a scene wouldn't help and fuck anyone that thought he should stop. Grief came out in its own way. It was better to get it out like this than to lay into people.

"Take a breath man, she'll be okay. Tasha is the damn toughest woman I ever did meet. Tougher than even me sister Claire and that be saying something. If anyone's can beat this it be Doc. Death be too scared to take her. Too afraid to deal with her for eternity, to scared that you'd come after him," he said quietly as he looked at Lincoln so broken. Murphy was surprisingly calm in the matter but that was how he was in this circumstances. He just kind of went neutral, pushing it down and burying it until it erupted. Right now Tasha needed strength and Lincoln needed it as well. Wouldn't do anyone any good if he broke down as well.

After a few minutes he pulled Lincoln's arm over his shoulder and hefted him up to his feet. "Tasha... well, I might as well do this now," he said as he helped Lincoln over to a seat and dropped him down in it. Rubbing his face he took a seat next to him and leaned back against it, letting it head fall on the wall behind him as he looked across the hall at others that were waiting on their own loved ones. "She wanted you to have this. You decide what to do with it," he said before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a familiar old worn velvet box. Turning it over in his hand before holding it out over to Lincoln and shrugging. "Personally, I think you'll be needing this soon."

Lincoln gasped for breaths as he let Murphy guide, manhandle and set him on a chair. He wiped his face with the back of his forearms and hiccuped slightly as his body shuddered with the grief that wracked him so. He wasn't sure if or when he'd stop shaking but he never thought his body could convulse more than it already was. That was right until he saw Murphy pull out that velvet box. His eyes narrowed for a second until the full recognition kicked in.

"Is that..." He could barely get the words out, his voice was rough, as if it was trying to claw it's way out of his throat. He looked up to Murphy with his puffy, red eyes and blinked before reaching out and taking the box from his hand.

Lincoln turned the box over and over between his hands and his eyes were fixated on it. He hesitated a couple times before finally opening the small box quickly and then snapping it shut again just as fast. He looked to Murphy, squared his jaw, opened his mouth and then shut it again. Rinse and repeat. Lincoln had no idea what to do, what to say, how to act... Nothing made sense to him in the moment and he wondered why Tasha hadn't pawned it. Surely it could have got good money to help pay for medical bills or something less depressing to look at?

"When did she give you this?" His voice was barely a whisper but it came out stronger than his previous mumbling. His eyes shot up from the ring box and his look was so intense that it stared into the depth of Murphy's god damn soul. His fingers curled around the box and his chest rose and fell as he took deep breaths, as if he was steeling himself for what came next.

Murphy sat there for a few minutes, letting Lincoln process the fact that he had just been handed back an engagement ring; the engagement ring. Rubbing his face he sat back in his chair and glanced down at Cass before looking back over towards Lincoln. "A couple of weeks ago, when things started getting bad," he said as he sat there. He couldn't imagine this was easy on Lincoln. It wasn't easy on him and Tasha was just a friend.

Murphy had wondered just how serious Lincoln was about Tasha when he showed up, if he would actually stand by her, if he actually cared or if it was just a personal thing to get what he wanted. It was obvious though over the past weeks that Lincoln was ridiculously in love with the doctor. He was always with her, taking care of her. Murphy hated that he had to but it put him at ease that he didn't have to worry about something else going wrong with Tasha. She was having enough to deal with and didn't need a broken heart on top of it. She, in his mind, wouldn't have fought as hard if that was the case. Murphy wasn't going to tell English this but he gave the man credit for Tasha still kicking through all this and was the main reason he felt she wouldn't be leaving them anytime soon.

"Find the good in the bad," Murphy said as he rested his head back and looked up at the ceiling. He hadn't always felt that way but Tasha's words echoed a lot these days. How she managed to do it was beyond him but the damn woman could find a silver lining to anything.

The minutes seemed to stop as they sat there, minutes turning into hours. Murphy sat, paced, tried to keep Lincoln from breaking down entirely - telling him as long as they were still working she was still alive. Outside to smoke, back in, outside again. Pulling Cass close to just hold her and be grateful she wasn't going through all this; he had become rather attached to her over the last weeks. Seeing something out of the corner of his eye Murphy turned his attention down the hall and saw Dr. Kumar standing there, still in his scrubs from surgery and looking worn and broken.

"English..." Murphy said, letting go of Cass and stepping over to his friend, standing there and waiting to catch him if he collapsed. There was no sign of Tasha yet, just the doctor standing there and then taking a few slow steps towards the small group.

Lincoln sat just staring at the box, his rough fingers sliding over the smooth velvet, his fingertips taking in the most worn parts and imagining Tasha's fingers sliding over the same spot time and time again to make it all wear away. The ring was inside, as beautiful as her eyes, as bright as the first day that he had laid his own eyes upon it. He knew what he had to do and it made him wonder on the past again. He recalled his proposal and the sheer exhilaration and joy in the answer all that time ago. But with the good memories came the bad and Lincoln was left recalling feeling the worst he had ever felt in his entire life.



The rain poured down and continued to freeze Lincoln in place, his entire body was shaking but it wasn't from the chill he was getting, no. He was shaking from grief, from being told that his life was leaving. His jeans clung to his legs and felt heavy against his skin, his knees ached but he still couldn't gather the strength to get up off the sidewalk and go back inside. The rain was getting worse and worse and frankly it fit his mind right in that very moment. Dark, dreary, wet, cold, it all made sense to him right there. The world was not a bright place; it was filled with pain and sorrow and heartache.

It took until his doorman Frank came out to check on him for Lincoln to get off his knees and head back inside. Frank wrapped him up in a warm bathrobe and helped Lincoln back to his apartment. A cup of coffee, two bottles of whiskey and a lot of tears later and Lincoln finally fell asleep. It was a restless night and he was supposed to be on duty the next day but Lincoln woke up on the hour, every hour; sometimes to be sick, others to drink some more. It was safe to say that he did not make it into work that day, or the next, or the day after that, or the day after that either.

A week passed with no communication from Lincoln to the hospital and that's when one of his co-workers, Evan, came around to his place to find out what was wrong. Of course, the news that Dr. Brinne had moved hospitals and now Lincoln not showing up for shifts, it was already a massive talking point around the hospital. No one knew what had happened but their was betting pools going on for when the real story came out. Evan wasn't a big fan of it and didn't take part, but he couldn't blame people for being curious. I mean, they had just got engaged a couple weeks ago, why would Natasha have left the hospital so suddenly?

Evan stood outside Lincoln's apartment building and hit dial on his cell. He'd tried calling him already, had left voicemail and texts but figured it was still courtesy to give a call before showing up at someone's apartment. Old school but just how he worked. When there was no answer yet again he stepped forward and walked towards the building. Frank opened the door and let him inside, glancing curiously at Evan's uniform. He of course recognised it and, against his better judgement, called after Evan as he walked inside further.

"Excuse me, are you here to see Mr. Roberts?"

Evan heard the name and frowned slightly as he turned to look at the doorman. "Yes... Has something happened?"

"Yes and no. He is in his apartment and is... safe, but he is not in a good place right now. Do you know which apartment is his?"

"I've been once or twice but can't remember the exact number, no..." Evan scratched the back of his head and looked at the ground as he admitted he was just going to go up there and start knocking on doors.

"Apartment 2-B. The door is pretty obvious. It's the one with a patched up area on it. Don't ask..." Frank sighed and shook his head as if recalling a bad moment.

"Right you are, thank you sir." Evan gave Frank a nod of approval and thanks before taking the elevator up to the second floor.

Right enough the door was glaringly obvious as the white door held a non painted area that had been patched up quickly. The area looked to be about torso level so any number of things could have caused the damage. Lifting his hand hesitantly, Evan knocked on the door hard and clear three times.

"FUCK OFF." The words were slurred, loud and angry. A thud and then shattering glass sounded from behind the front door. Brown liquid began to seep out from the bottom of the door. "Lincoln! It's Evan, buddy. Open up! The boss is wondering if you're dead or alive and if you're alive I've to come back with a reason!"

Shuffling steps could be heard, along with a clank of something metal before the footsteps grew louder and closer. A heavy hand hit the back of the door and then the locks began to sound as Lincoln worked to unlock them. The chain slid and rattled against the door and the heavy wood flew open and slammed against the wall as the back of Lincoln began to shuffle back into the apartment. Evan blinked and looked at the shattered glass on the floor, a familiar label on some a larger piece of glass showed that it had been bourbon that was inside. Stepping over the worst of it, he turned and closed the apartment door behind him and headed on inside.

"Lincoln man, what the hell happened?" His eyes scanned around the apartment. In the couple times he had been here the place was immaculate. Now? There were takeout containers, pizza boxes, empty bottles of booze, dirty clothing, bits of half eaten food and god only knows what else all over the place. It looked like a squatter had moved in and refused to leave if he was being honest.

"Lifestyle changes." Lincoln turned around and looked at Evan. His eyes were entirely bloodshot and dark circles sat beneath them. He could barely look straight, his eyes wandered to and fro as if he was looking for something but never finding it. He had a beard that was so long that Evan could barely believe it had grown in just a week. His skin looked sallow and his hair clung to his face. Honestly, the man looked like a hobo.

"Listen man, I don't know what happened and frankly it ain't none of my business."

"Yeah, y-you're d-*hic*-amn fucking ri-*hic*-i-*hic*-ight it isn't any of y-your bus-*hic*-iness!" Lincoln grabbed a bottle of beer from a nearby surface and flung himself down on the sofa. The sofa looked like he'd been using it as a bed. He swigged a mouthful from the bottle and then threw it across the room. Even though it was no where near him, Evan flinched and widened his eyes in surprise at Lincoln's attitude.

"Look, we're worried about you. The boss wants to know what's going on with you. You've left him in a bad position and he needs to know if you're going to be back into work any time soon. You've already got a week unpaid and he wants to know if you want to use any holiday time or if you're even ever coming back? He said he wouldn't blame you since Doctor Brin-"

Another bottle, full this time, flew towards Evan and hit him square on the chest. It didn't shatter against him but it hurt like a bitch. The bottle shattered as it hit the floor. "DON'T YOU FUCKING SAY THAT NAME!"

"Whoa! SHIT MAN! What the hell?! I didn't mean..." But it was too late. Lincoln was up and grabbing Evan by the back of the neck and forcefully guiding him out of his apartment and back into the hallway. "Lincoln, you're hurting me!" Evan didn't want to fight him. Something seriously wrong had happened between him and Natasha and it wasn't his place to butt in. The least he could do is to relay back to the boss and let him know that Lincoln was in a bad place and needed some more time. Evan staggered forward as Lincoln shoved him out and then slammed the door in his face.

Evan sighed and rubbed his face. The boss wasn't going to be happy but he'd tried at least. He made his way out of the building, leaving Lincoln alone to his misery.

After the door had slammed shut, Lincoln had dug out his cell from the mess that was now his apartment and hit dial on his boss's number. He listen to the ring tone and swayed from side to side and didn't even give the person on the other end of the line a chance to say anything. "I'll call when I'm coming back. So fuck off and leave me alone." He then hung up and snapped his phone in two.



That had only been the start of it all. Things had been bad, really bad, but Lincoln had managed to get himself through it. He has days where he doesn't remember anything thanks to the drink but something kept pulling him through the bad times and, even though she might have been the catalyst that set him off on that journey, Lincoln likes to think that Tasha pulled him back out of his darkness even if it was through his own wishful thinking. She was his light and now, in her time of darkness, he needed to be hers.

He had been so lost in the memories and thoughts that he had barely noticed the time moving on and it wasn't until Murphy called on him that he realised Doctor Kumar was walking slowly towards them. His heart dropped into the pit of his stomach but something inside him knew it wasn't the worst news, it was just bad news. Bad news was better than the worst news. This couldn't be the worst news, if it was Doctor Kumar wouldn't have been so hesitant.

Lincoln snapped the ring box shut again and shoved it deep into his jean pocket before standing up and walking directly over to the doctor. "Did she make it? Is she still alive?" He was cutting right through the bullshit and headed straight for the point.

Cass reached out and took Murphy's hand but let him lead her towards the doctor. She was planning on being there for him if this was going to be bad news but didn't want to stop him from being able to help his friends should they need him. She half regretted coming here as she felt like she was in the way but she was also glad to be here... just in case.

Murphy looked over to Cass, squeezing her hand slightly but keeping his other free just in case. Lincoln could end up doing something bad or just collapsing if the news was the worst. No sign of Tasha coming around the corner, no bed being pushed down the hall to a recovery room, and a doctor just standing there without saying anything. Murphy's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach, he remembered the look in the doctors eyes when his aunt died, the tension in the air. It was all too familiar right then and he found himself chewing on the inside of his mouth wishing he had a cigarette to puff on like a train.

Dr. Kumar still didn't say anything, slowly pulling the mask off his face and the paper hat from his head. The man look exhausted but that didn't surprise Murphy, he had seen Tasha come back to the hotel after long nights of surgery looking like this. It seemed to be par for the course when you spent hours on hours standing over a person whose life was in your hands. It was one reason Murphy could never work in the medical field. Granted, that wasn't the main reason. He fucking hated school, so did his twin brother. Hell Claire was the first person in the family to ever attend college and she hadn't graduated yet.

Then from down the hall and around the corner the sound of wheels squeaking could be heard and slowly a gurney was being pushed into sight. A white sheet pulled over what looked like feet, then legs, then hips as the bed was pushed around the corner and into sight. The gurney slowly sloped up to a partially seated position and a hand could be seen, then as it turned fully there was Tasha. Her head was swaddled in a single large bandage that covered her head nearly entirely and halfway down her neck, IV's were coming out of her, and a tube ran across her nose for oxygen. Yet despite all of it, her eyes were open. She looked so tired and groggy but as her bright but weary eyes spotted Lincoln the faintest of smiles came to her lips.

"We got it all," Dr Kumar said quietly as he rested his hand on Lincoln's shoulder before he stepped to the side and cleared the way between the man and Tasha.

Murphy fainted....

Lincoln stared down Doctor Kumar, waiting for his answer but even before the words left his lips, Lincoln's eyes snapped to the sound of the squeaking wheels and his eyes locked with hers and the entire world faded away right in that moment. Cass squeezed Murphy's hand back but kept herself clear just to be safe. She could see how nervous Murphy was, he was so like his little sister Claire, they had a lot of the same tells as each other. She missed Claire right then, Cass figured if anyone knew how to calm Murphy it was her. She bounced on the balls of her feet slightly as she heard the squeaking of the wheels and she got so excited for Lincoln and Murphy that she almost squealed in delight.

Lincoln was stunned, so much so that his legs couldn't move because he'd forgotten how they worked in the emotions of the whole ordeal. When his body finally caught up with his mind, Lincoln stumbled forward and began to sprint towards Tasha. He pretty much power slid to her side and he ever so carefully grabbed her hand and began to kiss every inch of skin he could. He'd have kissed her all over her face if it weren't for the fact that she had just had major surgery.

"I knew you'd fight. I love you, Tasha." Lincoln's eyes were shining with the tears that had fallen and were still falling.

There was nothing that could tear Lincoln away from Tasha's side. At least, that's what he thought. The sudden drop from Murphy caused Cass to shout out. "Irish! LINCOLN! Someone help!" Cass tried her best to keep him from slamming on the ground but all she could do was slow his descent. She at least managed to stop his head from smacking off the floor but he was going to be a little sore even still. Lincoln spun around and saw Cass struggling to hold up Murphy. He kissed Tasha quickly and then darted off to be by Murphy's side. Cass was knelt beside Murphy as she lay him on the floor. Her eyes were shining and she was chewing on her bottom lip nervously.

"Murphy! C'mon man, wake the hell up!" Lincoln leaned in close and felt the gentle breath brushing against his skin. At least he was still breathing. Doctor Kumar came over and began to carry out checks on Murphy, Lincoln swiftly shifted out of his way and let him do his job. "Is he gonnae be okay?" Cass's normally boisterous and clear voice was barely a whisper at this point. Lincoln looked over to her and gave, what he hoped, was an encouraging smile. "I'm sure he'll be okay. He's in the right place for help at any rate." He tried to give a small, light laugh but with how emotionally drained he was feeling he could barely manage a chuckle.

Cass stayed by Murphy's side and held onto his hand. She appreciated Lincoln's efforts and knew that he was right. He was in the right place for help and Doctor Kumar was already there and helping. Doctor Brinne was alive and well, it was probably just some shock that caused him to faint? She really hoped it was something as simple as that but she was still worried. Lincoln gave her a light pat on the back and then stood up and moved back over to Tasha's side. He smiled as he saw her, although not quite as brightly as before considering the joy at seeing her awake and alive had began to fade. She looked completely worn out and he just wanted to get her back to full health now. Couple his worry for Tasha with his new worry for Murphy and Lincoln was probably looking pretty worn out too.

He half wondered what else could get thrown at them next...

Tasha couldn't bring herself to say anything, just watching Lincoln as he nearly stumbled and then sprinted to her side. Her weary smile grew as he took her hand and kissed her skin. Despite the pain and grogginess she savored every touch. A tear trickling down her cheek. She had been so afraid she would never see him again and yet there he was and the pain let her know that she was alive.

Hearing the yell Tasha's eyes darted over to see Murphy pass out. Well that was a first. She tried to sit up more, the nurse placing a firm hand on her shoulder and giving her a stern you better not even fucking try look. Rolling her eyes she lay back and watched everyone rush to Murphy.

Dr. Kumar finished checking Murphy and took the smelling salts pack one of the nurses handed him. Breaking it open he shoved it under the Irishman's nose and waited. It didn't take long before Murphy's eyes slammed open and his hand pushed away the salts coughing as he sat up suddenly. "Bloody hell, I just be grabbing a nap fer fucks sake," he said brushing off the worry and refusing to acknowledge the fact he had just fainted like a girl. God he was glad Claire wasn't there, he'd never live it down.

Tasha snorted at his antics before looking back over to Lincoln. The weariness on his face worrying her as she laced her fingers through his and the nurse started to push her towards a recovery room. "You need to sleep," Tasha said in a raspy voice but it was that firm Dr. Brinne tone she always got when dealing with a patient.

Murphy looked over to Cass. "Seems the bitch is back," he laughed before standing up and pulling Cass along with him. Tasha eyed him for a moment and smirked.

"Can't wait to tell your brother Conner you fainted," she forced out. Murphy scowling at her as she looked back to Lincoln, her hand tightening on his weakly. "I love you too," she said quietly with a tired smile on her lips.

When Murphy woke and started cussing about just napping, Lincoln couldn't help but smirk. The guy had just seriously worried them all for a second and then acted like nothing had happened out of the ordinary. Cass could be seen kneeling in silence, her hand covering her mouth as she tried not to laugh too loudly now that she knew Murphy was okay. She made a mental note to tell Claire later so they could wind him up back at the hotel.

Lincoln watched Tasha's face and smiled warmly at her and he gently squeezed her fingers as they laced with his own. "I'll sleep when you sleep, I promise." He gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead and walked along with her as she was guided to a recovery room. He wasn't leaving her until he was forced to.

Cass glanced to Murphy as he spoke and she grinned, letting him guide her back up onto her feet. Cass snorted with laughter when Doctor Brinne called out about telling Conner about Murphy's fainting spell. She couldn't stop herself and she doubled over with tears rolling down her face as she imagined the reception of such news. She was definitely telling Claire later on.

Murphy looked over to Tasha with his mouth agape, God he knew she would do it too. Of course Case's doubled over laughing wasn't helping. Putting his hands on his hips he gave his best drag queen exit. "I don't have to take this, I'm getting a smoke," he said all sassy like, spinning on his heels and sashaying away.

Tasha just smirked, keeping her eyes on Lincoln as she was rolled into a recovery room. The nurse set her up and Dr. Kumar ran down the list of dos and don'ts. Do rest, do take it easy, do stay put. Don't get out of bed, don't yell, don't refuse meds. The standard but he made sure to go over them a few time before Tasha finally waved him off. It was as good of an answer as he was going to get. She was too busy taking in the sight of Lincoln right then and nothing was going to stop that.

Once the staff was gone and they were alone, Tasha let out a breath of relief, her hand tightening slightly on Lincoln's. "Wish you could hold me right now," she said softly as she lay there looking up at him. The nurse had set the bed back down and helped Tasha roll over to her side so she was putting less pressure on the surgical side of her skull. Curling up slightly, she yawned a bit. The drugs still had her feeling very groggy and it probably wouldn't be long until she was sleeping once again.

Barely able to stop her laughter for long enough to speak, Cass choked out through her snorting and guffawing. "Quit bein' such a bairn, Irish!" She followed him outside, laughing the whole way and giving a smile and wave towards Tasha and Lincoln as they disappeared around a corner towards the recovery rooms. Lincoln chuckled as he waved her away and then turned his attention fully back onto Tasha.

He could feel her eyes on him and it made him want to hold her, but he knew that wasn't possible right now. He listened to Doctor Kumar and his instructions and smirked slightly more at some parts than others as he thought about how stubborn Tasha was and how she was only going to do what she felt capable of doing. He'd do his best to help keep her right but there wasn't much else he could do if she really set her mind to doing something she wasn't supposed to.

As the medical staff left the room, Lincoln grabbed a chair and pulled it over to beside her bed. He leaned on the edge of her mattress and gently stroked her hands, arms, cheek; basically any bit of exposed skin that he felt he could touch? He touched it. It was a small gesture but he knew that it was enough to make her feel comfortable despite everything even if it wasn't perfect. He smiled at her words and nodded. "I wish I could too but we both know we can't, at least not fully..." His eyes softened some as he shifted off his chair and fell down on one knee at her bedside.

It definitely wasn't as planned out as the last time - the stolen car and missing Marco permitted - but it was the right time. He cleared his throat quietly and reached into his back pocket where he pulled out the worn velvet box. He gently placed it down beside her hands and opened it to expose the ring inside. He licked his lips as he began to speak.

"We've both been through more together and apart than any two people should ever have to go through. We've parted ways and come together again with very little planning and things didn't work out the way that either of us had expected them to. I've asked this question once before with more grandiose than I have now but the timing is better now than it was then." He slipped the finger out of the box and took Tasha's left ring finger carefully before slipping the ring onto it. His eyes looked back from the ring to her eyes, the perfect match that they were, and smiled lovingly at Tasha.

"I lost my future once. I don't want to risk losing it again. Doctor Natasha Paige Brinne, will you do me the honour of becoming my fiancee once more?"

"Soon as I can, I'm never sleeping another night not being curled against you," she said quietly as she lay there. Smiling softly as he kissed each part of her he could, her free hand coming up and threading through his hair as she watched and savored and memorized the feel of each heartfelt kiss he placed on her skin. It meant everything to her that he was there, comforting her and protecting her the best way he could. Yet she still felt an utter heel for him to have to see her like this. It was something she never wanted.

As he got down on one knee she gasped out weakly. Her eyes selling up as he spoke and proposed to her once again. She had hoped he would, hell she had been half planning on asking him, but after everything if he actually would. Especially now that he had seen what a rough road it was. She kept expecting to wake up in the morning only to find a letter telling her he couldn't watch her like this anymore, that it wasn't worth it, that now that he knew he had to step away.

Yet there he was. Looking down at the ring she let out a shaky breath and nodded as she bit her bottom lip. "Yes, God yes. Right now if we could," she let out in a half giggle as she cried softly. Reaching up, she guided him close and pressed her tear streaked lips to his.

Murphy stepped outside and lit up a cigarette, eying Cass and rolling his eyes before he started laughing a bit to himself. "Quit yer chorttling, I just needed a nap I did," he laughed before taking a long puff and letting out a sigh of relief.

Beaming with joy, Lincoln moved in close to Tasha and gave her heartfelt kisses as they just lay/sat together in the recovery room. Lincoln was so happy that he couldn't keep the tears in but at least this time the tears were for a happy reason. She had made it through the odds and she would be on the mend in no time. Lincoln would be here for her while she fought the rest of the way back to being healthy again. And this time he wouldn't let her push him away.

Cass just grinned as she let the laughter finish it's progress out of her and she wiped her eyes carefully, making sure not to smudge her mascara any more than it already was. She grinned at Murphy as he began to laugh a bit too and she walked over and nudged him playfully with her hip. "Next time ye need a nap, lemme know so 'ah can take ye tae bed, aye?" She gave him a wink and gave a little giggle. She smiled and let out a long breath. "She's alrigh', ye did good Irish. Ye can relax a wee bit now."

Tasha smiled and wiped away Lincoln's tears with the sheet on her bed before relaxing down and just staying as close to him as she possibly could. She had no intention of pulling away from him ever again. Hell, she wanted to hop a plane right then back to the states and marry him that very moment even though she knew she couldn't.

Resting there watching him as her eyes got heavy she couldn't stop smiling at the thought of marrying him. Slowly drifting off to a well needed sleep she wondered what their wedding would be like, she knew if he had any hand in it that it would probably turn out to be the most romantic wedding in history. First things first though, she had to recover. Not only for her but for him, he'd earned it more than she had in her mind.

Murphy chuckled and slipped an arm around Cass, pulling her close after he flicked his cigarette to the ground. "Doubt we'd be getting much sleep if you were taking me to bed lass," he chuckled as he bipped the tip of his nose to hers.

"Yup, English can take care of the Russian for a while. I'm wanting to test out some Scottish one on one time," he teased before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead and pulling her closer.

Happier than he had been for a very long time, Lincoln stayed nestled beside Tasha and got himself comfortable with the chair and the edge of her bed. He'd be content enough to sleep beside her even if he would end up with a crick in his neck worse than the genie from Aladdin. He half considered leaving her to rest but right now he didn't want to be away from her side. The morning had been hectic to say the least. He thought he was going to lose her forever. Well now that the worst fear was gone, he'd be here for her fight forward. He sighed contently and watched her just breathing, it was a beautiful sight. He hoped Murphy was alright and wasn't just saving face but he'd check on him later. Murphy had Cass right now and Lincoln was happy enough to leave those two violent, lovebirds alone.

Cass crinkled her nose as Murphy pressed his against hers and she stuck her tongue out at his jest in turn to her own joking suggestion. She'd been told by her best friend Claire that she was really going to like Murphy when she met him but she had no clue that it would be like this. Cass was all for having a good time but she never normally rushed into things like this, especially not since her last relationship had ended so uncomfortably. But still, it was nice having this even if it is just for fun she could handle it.

She came back to her senses when she realised what Murphy had said and she cocked her left eyebrow and smirked suggestively at the crazy man before her. "Ye'll 'ave tae book me in advance 'ahm afraid seein' as 'ahm so highly in demand..." She wiggled her eyebrows at him and grinned wider before pressing herself against him a little harder. She wrapped her arms around his waist for a second before giving him a bright smile. She still wondered what had made him faint earlier though, but now was probably not the time to ask. Unless she wanted to ruin the mood that was.

Murphy laughed as he pulled her closer and shrugged a bit. "Yer worth any mount of waiting lass, longs as I can get on the reservation list," he assured her as her ran his fingers lightly along the spanse of her back, rubbing gently as he did so. Leaning back a bit he looked down at her. "Just let me know when us can squeeze me in and I be there with bells on."

It was about that time Claire came bolting out of the parking lot, skidding to a stop on her heels or at least trying to but failing miserably as she collided hard with the backside of Cass, which pushed Murphy with a grunt into the wall. "Jesus Mary and Joseph, what the fuck Claire!"

Stumbling back and landing on her ass Claire looked up quickly. "Just got back to me our hike and Desh told me Tasha had to be rushed here and you weren't far behind. Cames to check in you bloody arse."

She smirked at his words and shuddered at his touch but Cass being who she was played it cool. Or at least she tried to, right up until her bestie ran smack bang into the back of her! Cass fell face first into Murphy's chest and felt Claire pushing against her back before she stumbled backwards and landed with a thump out of her immediate vision of Irish man breasts.

Pushing herself off from being pressed flat against Murphy, Cass turned around on the spot and bust her sides laughing as she saw Claire on her arse, sitting on the floor and looking up at them like she was a kid. "Yer trip t'ground serves ye right, ya damn rocket!" She slapped her thighs laughing before holding a hand out to Claire and hoisting her up onto her feet. "Wait 'til ye get a load of this one..." She ushered Claire in close and began to whisper so that Murphy wouldn't catch all of it. "Yer charmin' big bruv decided he fancied being a lady when Doc Brinne was wheeled out to head to recovery. Flopped over like an over-watered flower, I tell ye!" She became a little louder towards the very end and she beamed with laughter once more. Her face was fully lit up and she was bouncing on the balls of her feet having just on Murphy to Claire.

Cass then playfully punched Claire on the arm as she continued. "Best part? The doc is gonnae dog 'im in tae Conner!"