The sound of someone whistling filtered into Nick's foggy mind, and he tried to open his eyes but they felt too heavy. Something suddenly touched his chest and he jumped.

"Nick?" said Matt, removing his stethoscope. "Are you awake?"

Nick finally succeeded in opening his eyes, and he gave Matt a confused look.

Matt smiled. "It's about time you woke up! How do you feel?" he asked, placing the stethoscope on his chest again.

Nick didn't say anything, as he viewed his surroundings. He felt an oxygen tube under his nose and he tried to read what was written on the IV bag, but he felt groggy from the sedative and couldn't make out the words.

"Nick?" said Matt, still listening to his lungs.

Nick was slowly gaining more awareness, and realized that Matt was waiting for an answer. Before he had the chance to say anything, he started coughing.

Matt winced at its severity. Picking up the bed control, he hit the button to raise the head of the bed, making it easier for Nick to breathe.

Nick's head spun when he stopped coughing and he closed his eyes, trying to get his breath back. His chest was killing him, and he wondered what damage the TB had done to his lungs. He felt a hand touch his arm and he opened his eyes to see a glass of water before his face.

After he drank it, Matt put the empty glass on the night table. "You all right?"

Nick nodded. "Tell me," he whispered vaguely, not wanting to cough again.

Matt nodded, but then his serious look changed into a smile. "You don't have TB."

Nick blinked, thinking he'd heard wrong. "What?"

Matt chuckled. "You don't have TB, Nick."

Nick closed his eyes, in shocked relief.

"What you do have is a bad case of pneumonia," Matt told him. "We removed some fluid from your lungs."

That's why it hurts so much, Nick thought. After a minute, he realized something and had to stop himself from chuckling. "The thief," he said.

Matt frowned. "The bank thief?"

Nick nodded. "He gave himself up because he wanted to get away from me…when he finds out that I don't have TB…" It was a mistake to say so much at once, for it set him off coughing again.

Matt chuckled at his words, but then frowned at him. "Be quiet or you'll continue to cough like that!"

Nick winced at the pain, quickly obeying.

The door suddenly opened, admitting Rae, Jules, and Jackie.

"How you feeling, Nick?" Rae asked.

"Okay, considering," he answered.

"Did Matt tell you yet?" Jules asked.

Nick nodded, with a smile.

"I'll bet you're relieved!" said Jackie.

Nick nodded again, not wanting to talk much. "Did they tell the thief?"

Everyone looked at each other, seemingly puzzled.

"The thief is dead, Nick," said Rae. "Don't you remember, you pretended to pass out so police would have a clear shot, and they killed him."

How could I have forgotten? Nick wondered. It must be the drugs. Before he could say anything, he started coughing again.

"Awww!" said Jackie, making a face. "Poor guy!"

"I think everyone should leave Nick alone so he can rest," Matt told them.

Everyone nodded.

"Feel better soon, Nick," said Jules.

"Yeah, take it easy," said Jackie.

"Thanks," Nick said, watching as they walked out.

As expected, Rae stayed where she was.

"Not long, Rae," Matt told her, before leaving.

Rae nodded, giving Nick a sympathetic smile, but then her expression changed.

"Rae?"

She sighed. "When we thought you had TB, and then found out that you were in the bank…"

Nick caught himself before sighing, knowing that it'd only make him cough his lungs out.

"I thought you were gonna die," Rae whispered, wiping an eye.

Nick took her hand. He knew that Rae still loved him, even though they were no longer together. "Sorry."

Rae shook her head. "It's not your fault…I just can't believe it all."

Nick shook his head. He still found it hard to comprehend that he'd been a hostage in an armed bank robbery.

Rae patted his hand and started to say something else, but her pager suddenly went off. Making an exasperated sound, she grabbed it.

Nick watched as she read it. "Go ahead, I'm fine."

Rae looked at him and nodded, putting her beeper back in her pocket. "I'll be back."

Nick nodded. "I know."

Squeezing his hand, Rae backed up and turned around, leaving the room at a run; a patient needed her.

Nick waited before she was gone before letting himself cough again; if Rae had stayed any longer, he wouldn't've been able to hold it in. I don't have tuberculosis…He never thought he'd thank God that he had pneumonia, but he did just that as he drifted off to sleep.

THE END

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