“Liam? Can you hear me, sweetheart?” she asked and he blinked up at her.

“Dr. Park?” he mumbled through dry lips.

“Yes, it´s me. How are you feeling?”

“Like I´ve been hit by a truck. My head hurts.”

“I can imagine. Do you know what happened?” she asked him and Liam frowned.

“It´s blurry. I´m not sure. I remember something about a blond woman and a van. And…oh, I jumped, didn´t I?”

“Yes, you did. You hit your head when you did that and as a result now have a slight concussion. You´ve also re-opened the wound in your shoulder. But all in all, you could be doing a lot worse. You´ll be as good as new if you take it easy for a couple of weeks.”

“Did Renee Palmer get away?”

“Yes, she should be safe. And you´re safe too, now that you´re here.”

“Is Sandoval still here?” Liam asked.

“Sadly, yes. I´ve told him to back off for the moment and to let you get some rest. I don´t want you harassed by him or his goons until tomorrow morning at the earliest.”

“How did he take it?”

“Not very well, but he doesn´t really have a choice. In this hospital I have jurisdiction and he knows it. If he gives me any trouble at all I´ll have him removed by security.”

“That´s something I´d like to see,” Liam smiled and Melissa grinned at him.

“Would you like something to drink before you go back to sleep again?” she asked him, but Liam did not answer her. He closed his eyes as the room suddenly spun out of control and his stomach clenched. Pain flashed behind his eyes. Groaning he brought his right hand to his face only to have it intercepted by Melissa.

“No, don´t do that or you might damage the IV line in your arm. What´s wrong, Liam?” her voice said somewhere above him and he opened his mouth to answer her. The pain in his head and the sudden nausea made it difficult though.

“…sick…” he managed to say, before bile rose to his throat.

Above him Melissa saw his already pale face become a ghostly white and she brought the bowl to his bedside only just in time. Liam doubled over onto his side and vomited noisily. When he was done she helped him to roll onto his back again and she wiped his sweaty face with a damp cloth.

Liam was barely aware of her. The whole world was spinning out of control and he couldn´t focus. The pain in his head had increased tenfold and he still felt very sick to his stomach. Darkness gathered at the edge of his field of vision and he welcomed its soothing, painless embrace.

Melissa saw his eyes close a moment before his tense body suddenly went completely limp. He had fainted. Smiling slightly she gently wiped some stray hair away from his warm forehead. Getting up form the side of the bed she picked up the syringe she´d had Sandy prepare for her earlier. Carefully she injected the strong sedative into Liam´s upper right arm. Considering his exhaustion and the still persistent fever she estimated it would knock him out at least 24 hours, maybe even longer. And that happened to be just what the doctor ordered.

Nodding her satisfaction she placed a tender kiss on his brow and got up. She adjusted his drip and looked at the readings on the medical monitor in the wall next to his bed. Yes, he would be fine. That did not stop her from worrying though. The worries would be with her always.

Sighing she picked up the bowl and killed the lights, before leaving the room. Stepping out into the hallway she nearly yelped when she found herself face to face with a young and fully armed Volunteer. The young man instantly smiled an apology.

“Sorry to frighten you, Dr. Park.”

“That´s quite alright. What are you doing here?”

“Agent Sandoval thought it best to keep Major Kincaid under guard. He fears the Resistance might strike again.”

“When they´ve just released him? Highly unlikely, even for the Resistance. If you ask me Agent Sandoval sees ghosts where there are none. But don´t tell him I said that.” Melissa smiled, but her mind raced. Sandoval did not fear another attack by the Resistance. He wanted Liam under observation for vastly different reasons. Did he suspect Liam´s loyalties? Had he somehow figured out his Resistance ties? The voice of the young Volunteer brought her back to the present and she found him looking at her with worry.

“Are you okay, Dr. Park?”

“Yes, I´m fine. I just need to get some sleep before I keel over. It has been a very long day. Goodnight, Volunteer.”

“You too, Dr. Park.”