All That Matters

Spoilers: All Episodes, 4x09 William, 4x10 The Trouble with the Troubles, 4x11 Shot in the Dark preview

Disclaimer: I own nothing...

Duke Crocker moved through the hallway of the hospital with Nathan as the doctors pushed both gurneys into separate exam rooms. Audrey was on one and William on the other, doctors didn't ask about the identical gunshot wounds that were physically impossible anywhere except in Haven. Nathan stood outside the room where Audrey was, watching through the window as the doctors worked on their friend.

Making his way over he stood beside Nathan and shook his head, "what the hell is going on Nathan?"

"I wish I knew." Nathan turned to see Duke moving over to the window across the hall where William laid inside the room with his own team of medical professionals working on him. "Audrey told me he's obsessed with her, in love with a previous version of her…possibly the original."

"If anything happens to her I'm going to kill someone."

"You need to focus on Jennifer," Nathan watched his friend shake his head so he grabbed Duke's arm. "Duke trust me when I tell you that ignoring the person you love isn't what's best. Jennifer clearly thinks you are in love with Audrey, which is partially true but ignoring her will only make you lose her." Looking back at the room Audrey laid in, "don't lose a moment with her because in Haven, every day could be the last and she's good for you."

Listening to what Nathan had to say Duke sighed, "I'm not in love with Audrey but I love her, which lately has transformed from hopeful romantic to brother-sister love. As for Jennifer…you're right, plus she needs to be protected from Haven's insanity despite being born in Haven."

"Go, let Dwight know what happened and tell Vince and Dave I need Cabot's journal."

As soon as Duke left him, Nathan collapsed in the chair that was outside the room Audrey was in. Part of him wondered how he was able to stay so sane when she was in mortal danger but was uncontrollable when she was going into the safety of the Barn. He could only figure that he'd learned that being stupid didn't help the situation. Plus he knew instantly he had to figure out a way to separate William and Audrey so he could shoot the psychopath for tormenting Audrey and almost tearing Haven apart at the seams as was his goal.

What seemed like hours of pacing and waiting after Audrey had been sent to the OR, a surgeon emerged and Nathan stood ready for to hear Audrey was going to be fine. He wasn't prepared for the other option, life without her was a dark tunnel he'd already experienced once. Having to go through that permanently after spending time knowing what life could be like night and day with her, he'd probably take the gun to his head like Jennifer had suggested days before under the spell of The Troubles.

"Officer Wuornos," Nathan was aware that everyone in town who knew him knew that Audrey was his partner and, as of current, girlfriend. "She's going to make it but there was an unforeseen complication that made surgery tricky and was the reason it took longer than with Mr. Doe."

Nathan nodded, "how bad was the damage?"

"It nicked her intestines and kidney but we got the bleeding under control. It'll be a while before she's able to go home." The doctor's pager went off and he nodded, "I'm due to go check in with Mr. Doe, his anesthesia wore off quicker than with Officer Parker. I'll have a nurse take you to her room so you can sit with her."

The surgeon left him in the hall and he stood there waiting for the nurse when Duke, Jennifer and Dwight showed up. In the younger woman's hand was the journal Dave and Vince were going on about the week before. All three stopped and stared at him, no doubt seeing him in shock and it was possible they thought the worst.

"Is she…" Duke spoke without saying the words everyone feared, Jennifer gripped his hand tightly as Dwight waited quietly.

Nathan shook his head, "no they both made it."

"Officer Wuornos?" They looked up to see a nurse, "Dr. Basten asked that I show you to Officer Parker's room."

The room was softly lit when he walked in and Audrey laid asleep in bed, the anesthesia wearing off slower than normal. He was amazed to see the usual feisty and strong woman he loved just lying there prone, she was hooked up to several machines. Sitting in the chair Nathan took Audrey's hand and held it in his, relishing the feel of her touch. "I'm here Audrey." He gently kissed the back of her hand before laying a hand on her leg. "I swear I'm going to find a way to break the connection with him so we can end him."

It seemed like hours passed before her head began to move, Nathan watched as her eyes fluttered open and she grimaced in obvious pain. A smile graced her lips as her eyes found his, "Nathan…"

"I'm here Parker, you're going to make it."

"Is he…"

Nathan shook his head, "no he's alive too."

"You should have let me die, then Haven would be safe from him." Audrey whispered but Nathan clutched her hand to his lips.

"Not an option, we'd lose you too and none of us, especially not The Troubled are ready for that." Leaning up he kissed her forehead and looked into her blue eyes, still halfway drowsy from the anesthesia. "I'm not ready for that, not until we get more than a few weeks together. I lost you once and that was before we had some semblance of a life together, now I know it wouldn't be possible. Keep that in mind next time you decide to get shot."

Audrey nodded and he sat back down, "he said we…he and I, that we created The Troubles. He said I should stop trying to play savior because none of it matters, he said only he and I matter." Her eyes found his, "I should have told you but I just wanted him dead, gone before Haven is lost to his psychopathic tendencies. I also wanted him gone before he hurts the people I love, before he hurts you thinking that's how he'd get me back."

Nathan squeezed her hand, "doesn't matter, all that matters is figuring out a way to separate you two."

"And if that means killing him and by extension me…"

"Not an option." He moved closer and leaned forward so their faces were mere inches apart. "Do you remember that lecture you gave me after I realized who you were, well we were both wrong. This isn't my decision or yours, it's ours and we're going to figure this out together."

A/N: Okay so Audrey made it...and William, anyone want to guess what happens next?