"Thank you for your time, Mr. Black," The detective shut his notepad,

"Please just catch the MF who did this."

"That's our top priority," He gave the two of them both a curt nod before he turned around and walked out of his room.

"You sure you want them handling this?" Jack asked,

"I just want them to get the name of the driver and I'll let you take things from there. You have a lot going on already."

"Was that everything you told him?"

"Yea," Jace said, "Nothing out of the ordinary."

"But there's something else."

"Mark was at the club so he knew when I left."

"Are you insinuating that he..."

"...tipped someone off?" Jace asked, "Yea."

Jace sighed.
"Have you seen her?"

Jack nodded.
"She's pretty beaten up."

Jace forced a ragged breath out.
"This is all my fault."

"How is this your fault?" He asked "You just said Mark was there..."

"Yes but...we got into an argument and it distracted her. We would be fine; she would be fine if I hadn't said that stupid thing."

"You guys got into an argument?" Jack asked, surprised.

"Like I said...stupid."

"Wow! I thought you were going to stay away."

"I tried. I just couldn't."

"Obviously. I told you what would happen if you went for it, look at what's happened," Jack said, "She's losing focus already."

"I can't stay away from her, Jack," Jace looked like he was in pain, "I tried and failed and it's just not working for me. She's...she's amazing."

He nodded.
"Just make sure she's ready to take the same risks as you are."

Jace clenched his jaw.

"I'm thinking of pulling her out until she's healed and ready to continue."

"Don't!" Jace said too quickly, "I need her around."

"She would be unable to do her job properly."

"I don't need her around to do her job. I need her around to look after her. She's as stubborn as a mule and I need to be there for her. Who's she going to go back to if you pull her out?"

Jack stayed quiet knowing very well she had no one to look after her. Her only family was in a coma.
"I don't think she'll agree to this."

"She doesn't have to know."

Jack shook his head and smiled.
"You are seriously whipped."

"It's a great feeling." Jace smiled.

Ariana's eyes snapped open and it felt like she was just shoved through a dark hole. Her body ached but it wasn't a pain she wasn't already familiar with. Her eyes felt sandy and heavy, she wanted to move but her muscles just won't listen to her. There was a force trying to keep her eyes shut, lulling her back to sleep and she was trying to fight it but it felt like it was winning.

She felt like she was...

Hit by a truck.
Her subconscious provided and it all came back in a flash.

She was keeping her head above that force and winning. She tried to get up but winced in pain, it radiated through her entire body. She reached for the button on her bedside and beeped for a nurse.

She turned her gaze to the door when it clicked shut. Ariana blinked at who came towards her bed.
"Betty?" Her voice was rough and low,

"Oh, my poor child," Betty stopped at her bedside and looked at her, frowning, "You're finally awake?"

"What...what are you doing here?"

"I work here and the question should be what are you doing here? Because I remember telling you 'Be careful' and this isn't being careful."

Ariana tried to smile but couldn't even do that small thing.
"How bad is it?"

Betty sighed,
"Few scratches, fractured shoulder and..." She stopped

"And?" Ariana instigated her

"Your left leg is...not so good."

"What happened?"

"You had a scrap metal inside your calf, it went too deep. You have to be patient to get back on both your feet."

Ariana felt the tightening in her throat as she let out a ragged breath.
It was over.

Jack was going to pull her out of all operations.

Ariana nodded.
"Thank you," She said, "How long have I been here?"

"Over 24 hours."

"Dammit!" She cursed but her throat was so dry it came it cracked.

Betty reached for the glass on the table and poured her a glass of water and put a straw in making it easier for her drink. Ariana finished the glass and the one more.

"What of the other person I was brought in with?"

"Mr. Black? He's doing alright. He's been asking everyone about you and even wanted to come to see you so many times but the doctor won't let him out of bed."

"You're sure he's okay?"

"Yes. Just a few bruises."

Ariana sighed, relieved.

"Your boyfriend?"

"No. He's my client," Ariana quickly, "It's my job to protect him. I'm just worried about him."

"Looks to me like things are getting more personal. He's been acting the same way too," She smiled, "Young love."

"How's mum?" Ariana changed the topic.

"Fine."

That was code for same.

There was a knock on her door.
"Come in."

Jack came in.
"You're awake."

"Director." Ariana pushed up trying to get up.

"Please, don't." Jack put out his hand gesturing for her to stop.

Ariana stopped struggling and sank back into her bed. They both turned to look at Betty.

"That's my cue to leave," She said, "I'll be back to check on you."

Ariana smiled at her,
"Thank you."

"How are you feeling?" Jack asked when Betty left.

"Better than I deserve."

"You don't need to pretend with me. You were hit pretty bad."

Ariana just stared at him and sighed,
"I heard Ja...Mr. Black is doing alright."

Jack smiled,
"Jace is fine, thanks to you."

"I didn't do anything." Ariana looked away,

"You took more hits than he did."

"I froze." Ariana admitted, "I couldn't do anything."

"Jace tells me that you were both in an argument."

Ariana looked up at him,
"He said that."

"Want to tell me what's going on?"

"There's nothing going on," Ariana sighed, "It would be better if you pull me out and replace me with someone more capable."

Jack nodded,
"I would have done just that but Jace wants no one else. Just you."

Ariana looked at him, surprised.
"What?"

"There's clearly something going on between you two and I think you need to figure it out. So, I'm keeping you right where you should be, which means you still have to stay with him 24/7."

"But I can't do anything. I can't protect him. Not like this."

"Who said anything about protecting him?"
Jack smiled and turned around to leave.

"Sir, can I ask why you're doing this?"

"Jace has offered to get you back in shape. You'll be training with him till you're ready to get back on the field."

"Why Jace?"

"Because he knows a thing or two about getting back on one's feet."

Thanks Director. That explains a lot.

"Get well soon." Jack turned around and left.

After Jack left, Ariana made a list of things she needed to do and there were three of them.
One; see my mum. Two; see Jace, and three; get back in shape as fast as she could.

Whoever was after Jace wasn't going to take a vacation and neither was she. She'd had one thing on her mind the entire time which had been bugging her.

Why was Mark at the club?