Author's Note

This is just a random idea for a story I had, I'm not giving up on Commander In Chief in fact I was working on the next chapter as I thought of this and just decided to write it down. I don't know how good it will be but I hope you like it! Review!

Summary: AU of some sorts, basically the same as the original books up until Ty's accident with some changes. Brad Baldwin, a lawyer, is away on a business trip when he receives the news that his son was involved in an accident at Heartland. Without alerting anyone at Heartland Brad transfers Ty to the Mayo Clinic Hospital (a/n: it's a real hospital, I've been there,) in Arizona as soon as he returns from his trip. Brad moves his family out to Scottsdale, Arizona because a big firm offered him a job there. When Ty wakes up from his coma he gives up his life with horses and settles into his new home and school (he never dropped out and he's 15, Amy is 14) and his new role on the football team. Two years later when Ty is 17 and Amy is 16 Amy goes to Arizona for his sister, Lou's wedding to Scott Trewin, Heartland's vet. A few days before the wedding Amy is at the mall with Soroya, who Lou had invited, when a group of rowdy teenagers passes them, one looks strangely familiar—like a ghost from the past.

Disclaimer: Everything recognizable belongs to Lauren Brooke.

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Chapter 1

Two years ago

The barn roof creaked ominously as the two teenagers walked into the shaky structure.

"Ty did you hear that?" Amy asked nervously as she shinned her flashlight up into the rafters where you could clearly see the large tree that had crushed half of the barns roof.

"Yeah but this is our only chance to get Candy and Dylan out of here," Ty told her as he made his way over to Dylan's stall where the big bay was pacing the small space nervously.

"But Ty shouldn't we wait for the emergency vehicles to get here?"

"The roof might not hold out that long," Ty reasoned calmly as he shinned his flashlight into Dylan's stall. The bright light startled the young jumper more than ever and he reared up, striking the walls in fear. The old, damaged barn seemed to shudder at the impact.

"Ty please!" Amy pleaded with him desperately. "At least wait until Grandpa has the emergency generator turned on!"

The roof groaned again. "We don't have time," Ty remarked as he looked up into tree that was hanging above his head. "Dylan and Candy are right under it, we have to get them out. Now," he added firmly. "I'll get Dylan," he said as he put his hand on the latch of Dylan's stall. "You get Candy."

Amy reluctantly walked over to the mare's stall knowing that Ty was too stubborn to argue with. Ty had started helping out at Heartland 2 years ago when he was 13 and since than they had become best friends. They knew each other inside and out.

"Whoa boy. Easy boy," she heard Ty's calm voice come from the stall next to her and he slowly entered with his hands held in front of chest, he was taking slow steps towards to quivering young horse.

Amy looked into Candy's stall. The black mare was standing in the corner nervously her big brown eyes reflecting her fear. Amy put her hand on the latch and slowly pulled it back.

"Hey Dy," Ty said affectionately to Dylan. He'd worked a lot with Dylan since he had been sent to Heartland by the famous show jumper, Nick Halliwell, to cure him of him clumsiness. Dylan would have already been back home if he hadn't contracted a bought of the Equine Flu that was currently spreading around Heartland. "We're gonna get you oughta here and get you some nice warm blankets. How's that sound?" Ty put his hand gently on the gelding's neck and waited for him to accept his touch. He quickly did and when he did Ty slipped his hand inside his halter and slowly turned him around and led him to the stall door. Ty swung the half door open as Amy led Candy out into the aisle.

Candy stumbled on her way out of the stall and bumped into the wooden side. Candy jerked back on her lead rope and shied away as the rough wood connected with her side. "Whoa Candy whoa," Amy exclaimed desperately to the mare as she pranced around uncomfortably.

"Are you okay?" Ty asked her sounding concerned and she turned to see him peering out of the neighboring stall.

Amy smiled shakily at him and replied, "Yeah I'm fine."

Ty nodded and turned his attention back to Dylan who refused to move through the opening of the stall. "Come on buddy, nothing's going to hurt you…" Ty was cut short as Dylan gave a high pitched squeal as a block of wood fell from the roof overhead and landed squarely on his back. "Whoa!" Ty exclaimed and tried to grab Dylan's halter but Dylan barged past him sending him slamming into the still open stall door.

Startled by Dylan's noise Candy became more and more agitated. "TY!" Amy screamed as she tried to sooth the antsy mare. "Are you okay?"

Ty groaned and rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah I'm okay."

"I…" Amy began but stopped when a loud creak and groan echoed off the barns walls. "Ty we have to get out of here," Amy said slowly and nervously. That last creak was louder than any other there had been and it sounded like the barns roof would give away at any minute.

Ty opened him mouth to respond but he never got the chance. A loud clap of thunder sounded over head and the sky turned bright through the damaged roof. Dylan screamed and struck the wall behind him with his back hooves. The structure of the barn swayed and the beams started to fall. Ty was just getting up and tried to move out of the way but he wasn't fast enough.

Amy screamed as everything in sight was engulfed with falling beams. Candy's lead rope fell from her hands as Amy ran forward panicky, "Ty!" she yelled out looking around. She hoped that Ty would emerge from one of the stalls laughing like it was just a big joke. She wouldn't even get mad at him like she normally did when he did something like this, she'd even laugh when he yelled out, "Amy Fleming you've just been punked!" she'd probably throw her arms around him in relief.

The next thing Amy new something hit her in the head hard and she fell to the cold, wet floor bellow, immediately unconscious.

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When Amy's eyes fluttered open a few hours later she was confused. Where was she? What just happened? Why did her head feel so funny? She looked around at the totally white room in confusion. Grandpa and Lou rushed over to her side as soon as they saw she was awake.

They each gave her a crushing hug. When they let go Amy slowly sat up in the strange bed and immediately felt dizzy and lightheaded. She put her hand to her forehead and felt a large, puffy bandage covering it. "Where am I?" she asked in confusion.

"You're in the hospital," Lou informed her. "Do you remember what happened?" Amy was silent and Lou continued, "The barn roof collapsed while you and… while you and Ty were inside, do you remember?" Sadness filled her aqua blue eyes.

The events swirled through Amy's head but she managed to piece them together into chronological order. "Oh my god are Candy and Dylan okay? Ty had Dylan; I had Candy, are they alright? Did they get out of the barn safe?" she looked around the room, "Did Ty go home already?"

"Amy," Lou silenced her.

"What?" Amy asked questioningly.

"Ty is…" Lou trailed off as tears slid down her rosy cheeks.

"Ty's what?" Amy asked nervously feeling as though something bad was coming.

"Amy," grandpa continued for Lou. "I need you to listen to me. Ty never came out of the barn last night, we found you lying on the ground. We figured that maybe he had gone back outside and was in another barn but we couldn't find him Amy. When the rescue workers and ambulance got there they… they found Ty's body in the rubble."

"No!" Amy gasped. "Is he… is he…" Amy trailed off; she couldn't bring herself to say it.

"He's not dead Amy but…" Amy sighed in relief. That meant he had to be okay, right? "Amy I need you to listen to me closely," Grandpa said and Amy turned back to him surprised at the pain filled expression on his face making him look older and more worn than he actually was. "Once we got here the paramedics rushed Ty to the ER. He had a lot of internal bleeding but the surgeons managed to stop that."

"Can we go see him?" Amy asked. "We could get him some flowers. I know he doesn't really like…"

"Amy I wasn't finished. Ty has a broken leg and a broken neck. Either when he fell or when the roof collapsed he hit his head and has suffered incredible trauma to the head. You took a plank to the head and have been out for two days, Ty hasn't yet regained consciousness. Amy, to put it simply Ty is in a coma."

"Well when's he going to wake up?"

"They don't know Amy," Lou put in wearily. "There's no way to tell. It could be tomorrow or the next day or in a week." Lou looked at Amy critically, "But Amy, it's important for you to know, he might not wake up at all."

Tears slid down Amy's face as she listened to what Lou said. She brought her knees up to her chest and buried her face in the blankets and sobbed. Lou came and sat next to her running a comforting hand in circles along her back. "It's not your fault," she said soothingly, "You couldn't have done anything.

This only increased Amy's sobs, "Yes I could have! I heard the roof creak I should have called him back!"

"You know how stubborn Ty is Amy," grandpa said.

"But I could have convinced him!" Amy wailed.

Grandpa and Lou held her and tried to sooth her as she cried. After about 15 minutes Amy's sobs quieted a bit and she picked her head up. Her face was red and her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. "Can… can we go see him?" she asked quietly.

Lou and grandpa looked at each other. "Well the doctor has to check you first to make sure you're okay but…" Lou stopped uncertainly. "If the doctor says you're up to it than you can see him."

Amy nodded; the tears welled up in her eyes again and threatened to spill over the edges.

For the next 20 minutes Lou and grandpa filled her in on the horses. Candy and Dylan had both managed to get out okay, which calmed Amy a little. The doctor finally arrived, walking into the room briskly in his white lab coat, stethoscope around his neck and clip board tucked under his arm. When he saw that Amt was sitting up in the hospital bed he smiled widely and said, "Oh good you're awake!" he checked his chart before introducing himself to Amy, "Hi I'm Doctor Rothstein," he stuck out his hand and shook Amy's firmly. "How are you feeling Amy?"

"Um okay I guess," Amy responded quietly.

"Well I'm just going to give you a little checkup so we can see if you're good so we can get you out of here okay?"

"Sure," Amy replied. Doctor Rothstein checked Amy's heart beat and all of the various machines she was hooked to.

Doctor Rothstein looked up and smiled, "Well everything looks good here. I recommend that you lie down when you get home, you may be still be a little dizzy."

Amy looked over at Lou urging her with her expression to ask the question she wanted an answer to. "Doctor Rothstein?" Lou said.

"Yes?"

"Amy was wondering if she could go and visit Ty?"

Doctor Rothstein paused from whatever he was writing and set his clipboard on a table. He looked up grimly, "Ah of course. Ty's parents are with him now but I don't see why you couldn't go see him for a few minutes. You're friends right?"

Amy only managed to nod her head as her eyes filled with tears again.

"Here," Lou said quickly, thrusting a pile of something at Amy. "I brought you some clothes."

"Thanks Lou," Amy replied weakly.

"The bathroom is right over there," Doctor Rothstein said pointing to a door on the other side of the room. "You can get changed in there."

Amy slowly pushed back the covers to reveal her hospital gown. She slowly swung her legs over the side if the bed and carefully stood up. She felt immediately lightheaded and even dizzier than before. After her head cleared and she could see straight again she picked her clothes and walked unsteadily to the bathroom. Once in the bathroom she sat down on the closed lid of the toilet and put her head in her hands. Finally she was able to slip off the hospital gown and put on the underwear, jeans, t-shirt, socks, sweatshirt and shoes Lou had brought her. She looked in the mirror and brushed her long, light brown hair as best she could. Once she was finished in the bathroom she made to open the door but stopped when she heard Lou, grandpa and Doctor Rothstein talking outside.

"Is there any change in his condition doctor?" Grandpa asked.

"No," Doctor Rothstein answered, "But if he makes it through the rest of the week than he should have a good chance of pulling through. How good of friends were they?" he asked referring to Amy and Ty's relationship.

"Well," Lou started, "Ty started helping us around Heartland, my families horse farm, about two years ago so they're pretty close."

That was all it took for the tears to start flowing again for Amy. She felt guilty, guilty that she was here wake, walking, talking when Ty couldn't do any of that… maybe he never will a voice whispered inside her head. Ty was her best friend, sometimes they were even closer than Amy and Soroya, she needed him to be with her. He was the one who had saved Heartland while she was still mourning her mother's death. Heartland needed Ty… Amy needed Ty.

There was a rap on the door, "Amy?" Lou asked loudly. "Are you okay in there?"

"Um yeah!" Amy called back, whipping her tears away with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. "I'll be right out."

Amy quickly washed off her face, trying her best to make it look like she hadn't just been crying her eyes out. After a minute she slowly opened the door and walked back over to Lou, grandpa and Doctor Rothstein.

Her grandpa opened his arms to Amy and Amy rushed into them, burying her head in his shoulder, breathing in the familiar, comforting sent of his flannel shirt. Jack's arms closed around her and held her tightly, "I'm so glad you're okay," he whispered into her hair.

"So you can follow me, I'll take you to Ty's room," Doctor Rothstein said once grandfather and granddaughter broke apart.

Amy, Lou and Jack followed Doctor Rothstein down white halls until he finally stopped in front of a door that looked just like all the others but inside held someone very close to Amy. The doctor opened the door and ushered them inside. The room looked just like the one she had just come from. Lying on the bed was Ty, he was hooked to a bunch a different machines that were silently doing their job of monitoring his heart rate, blood pressure, feeding him and doing a lot of other things. Ty was deathly pale and there was a big neck brace around his neck. Ty's mom, Lisa, was sitting by her son's side clutching his hand and looking at him in despair. She didn't look like she'd slept for the past few days. Facing the window with his back turned to them was Brad, Ty's dad. He was talking on a black RAZR and was wearing an expensively tailored suit, he'd probably just gotten back form that business trip to Arizona that Ty had told Amy about.

Brad was talking loudly and Amy was able to hear what he was saying even though none of it made sense or even registered to her. "Get the helicopter here as soon as possible… two days?... Okay that's great…" he turned around and saw the room's new arrivals, "I've got to go, see you soon," he snapped the phone shut without waiting for a reply from whoever he'd been talking to. "Oh… hello Amy, Jack, Lou," Brad acknowledged them.

"Hello Brad," Jack greeted.

"Here to see Ty?" Brad asked facing Amy.

Amy just nodded; it was the best she could manage, with her eyes still glued to Ty's still body lying in the white bed, under the white blankets in the white room.

"Oh hello dear," Lisa turned to face her. Ty's mom had always seemed more accepting of Amy and of Heartland than Ty's dad ever had. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm okay," Amy answered. She wanted to move forward to Ty, to hold his hand, to see his face but she was rooted to her spot near the door.

Doctor Rothstein stepped forward and said, "I'll just go ahead and check on Ty." He checked all the readings on the machines and marked them all down on his clipboard. After he checked the last monitor he stood up with a shake of his head.

"Has anything changed doctor?" Lisa asked frantically practically hovering over Doctor Rothstein's shoulder the whole time he was taking the readings.

"I'm afraid not, everything's the same," Doctor Rothstein replied.

"Are you sure?" Lisa asked hysterically, tears brimming in her soft brown eyes as she looked down at the still figure of her son. "Nothings changed? Not even something small?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.

Brad came up behind her and put and arm around his wife's shoulders.

"I'm sorry," Doctor Rothstein said again. "I'll come back in a couple of hours but everything's the same for now."

"Thank you doctor," Brad said as he tried to comfort his sobbing wife.

"I'm here to help," Doctor Rothstein said easily. "Why don't you go down to the cafeteria to get something to eat?" he suggested.

"That would be nice," Brad answered and tried to steer Lisa away from the bed but she refused to move. "Come on honey you need to eat something. Ty will be okay, we'll only be five minutes." Lisa surrendered and allowed herself to be led out of the room.

"If you don't have any questions than I'll leave you to your visit," Doctor Rothstein said.

"Um," Amy said uncertainly. "Will he… will he remember anything when he wakes up?"

"It varies with all coma patients. Some remember everything, some remember something's and some remember nothing."

"So he might not remember Heartland? Or… me?" Amy asked sadly.

"It's impossible to say what the effects the coma will have on patients. There is no medical technology available that lets us determine that kind of information."

"Okay," Amy said softly, praying beyond hope that Ty wouldn't forget her or Heartland. The fact that he might brought tears to her eyes yet again. "Can he hear us?"

"Again we cannot say some coma patients wake up and say they were aware of everything happening around them and others wake up and tell us they weren't aware of anything. You should talk to him though; tell him what's going on in your life or at Heartland. Now if there are no more questions I will leave you to have some privacy."

"Thank you for all the help doctor," Jack said sincerely.

"I'm happy to help. I'll see you in about a week to check on that head okay Amy?" Amy nodded in response and than with their final goodbyes Doctor Rothstein walked out of the room.

Amy walked forward slowly until she was right in front of Ty's bed. She knelt down on the floor next to him and took a hold of the hand that was lying on top of the blankets. As she looked down at his peaceful, familiar face she felt fresh tears spill down her face. Lou came and sat on the chair next to Amy and put a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder.

"He'll be okay Amy, you'll see. Soon you'll both be back at Heartland and he'll be goofing off just like he always is."

"I hope so…" Amy said softly watching the rhythmic movement the blanket made up and down with every small breath Ty took.

"You have to keep up hope," Lou told her. "Be positive."

That was hard for Amy to do when her best friend was lying in the hospital and she didn't know if he'd ever wake up. Suddenly a strong desire to hear him laugh or see him smile filled her body.

"I'm sorry Ty," Amy whispered softly so that no one could hear her. "I'm sorry that this happened to you but please please wake up soon. Heartland needs you Ty… I need you…"

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Two days later

Two days later Amy made her way through the hospitals front entrance on her way to see Ty. She hadn't been able to come yesterday because she was helping with the horses at Heartland and the cleaning up from the storm. This time she brought flowers for Ty, a bouquet of an assortment of different types of flowers in gold's, reds, oranges and yellows, they reminded Amy of the sun and of all the times they'd spent outside together or going on trail rides in the bright sunlight.

Lou had dropped Amy off and left her to go up to Ty's room while she parked the car in the parking garage.

Amy looked around wondering where to go. She walked over to the reception desk, "Excuse me?" she said hesitantly to the lady who was behind the counter doing something on the computer.

The woman looked up and smiled brightly, she was in her middle ages and had a kind, motherly face. Her long hair was pulled into a bun behind her head and she was wearing hospital scrubs that had different Looney Toons characters on the top and sea green pants. "Can I help you dear?" she asked Amy. "Are you lost?"

"Um yeah, sorry."

"It's no problem. Where do you need to be?"

"I was going to go visit my friend, Ty Baldwin," she told the lady whose name tag said 'Amanda.'

"Okay hold on just a sec while I look up what room he's in," she said and turned back to her computer and began tapping on the keyboard. "Hmmm…" she said after a moment, her eyebrows furrowed. "What did you say his name was again sweetie?"

"Ty Baldwin."

She tapped on the keyboard again, "Is that his full name?"

"Well his whole first name is Tyler…" Amy said uncertainly wondering what the problem was.

"Can you spell his last name for me?" she asked after a minute.

"Um sure, it's B-A-L-D-W-I-N," Amy spelled out for her.

"I'm sorry hon but there's no Baldwin in this hospital…"

A/n: So what did you think? It will get better and I'll try to update regularly. Review!