COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer returned to the Senate late Thursday afternoon, nine days after surviving a fiery plane crash, to preside over the session's last scheduled day.

"I didn't want the session to end without coming back in and seeing all my old friends," Bauer said after taking the podium about 4:30 p.m. to rounds of applause.

If I haven't told you, I love you."

Senators sent him their love too.

"We want to tell you we're so appreciative you survived. We love you too," said Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville.

We do appreciate you."

Bauer, 37, and his passenger, 77-year-old John Leonhardt Sr. of Columbia, were injured May 23 when Bauer's plane went down and caught fire last week after taking off from a private airstrip near Blacksburg along the North Carolina state line.

As he lay in a helicopter on his way to the hospital Bauer said: "I didn't think I'd ever be with y'all again."

Leonhardt was released Friday from Spartanburg Memorial Hospital. Bauer was released the following day from Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Bauer leaned to one side, holding the sides of the podium, a cut on his head from the crash still evident. He would grimace as he shifted positions.

"This has been a very moving experience for me. I've done a lot of soul searching, a lot of questioning the man upstairs and what his plans truly are for me," Bauer said.