Mike stumbled full speed down the hallway of the hospital, blindly reaching out against the wall to stop himself barraging into it.

"Sir?" came a hesitant voice ahead, the captain's vision focusing suddenly on the young nurse stood before him.

"My wife" he managed to blurt out, drawing in a deep breath as his heart beat rapidly against his chest.

"My wife and son were in an accident this morning"

Mike swallowed suddenly as the impact of the words washed over him for the first time, closing in on his mind as he once more held out a hand to steady himself.

"Sir, how about you take a seat and I'll try and find them?" suggested the young woman, jumping slightly as the shaken mans gaze met her own unexpectedly.

"I need to know now" he pleaded, reaching out a hand to gasp her own.

"Mr Flynn?" questioned a voice from behind, causing both the captain and nurse to spin around quickly.

"Yes" replied Mike hastily, walking towards the doctor clad in a white coat.

"How are they?" he asked, charging straight to the point of the matter. The doctor smiled slightly, trying to calm the obviously scared man before him

"No one could tell me anything; only that they'd both been taken here" he added in a hushed tone, wiping his face tiredly.

"Firstly, Thomas is fine, currently charming the nurses"

The doctor laid a comforting hand on Mike's shoulder, watching him exhale the breathe he had been unknowingly holding, a small smile gracing his features as tears of relief glistened around the rims of his eyes.

"And Kate?" he choked, startling the doctor with the vulnerability his gaze openly displayed.

"Has a sore arm and head but other than that she's going to be fine as well"

Mike all but collapsed in exhaustion, his mind surrendering to the tears he had held back on the journey to shore and the hospital.

"Can I see them?" he asked; voice barely above a whisper.

"Thomas has been asking for you all afternoon" smiled the doctor, holding an arm out to lead the way.

---

"Daddy look!" commanded Thomas, pointing to the band aid stuck across his forehead.

Mike rushed towards his son, pausing suddenly to take in the band aids and bruises adorning the little boy seated in the hospital bed.

The man glanced over at the nurse, motioning to pick the child up but afraid he'd hurt him.

The nurse barely had time to nod before Thomas had lifted his arms up and Mike had crushed him against his chest, collapsing against the side of the bed as Thomas snuggled deeper into his fathers embrace, both the Flynn boys sighing happily at being safe in the others arms.

"Are you okay little man?" whispered Mike against Thomas' forehead, brushing a stray lock of hair away and kissing the soft skin that lay unharmed there.

"Look" commanded the two year old again, leaning back in his fathers embrace to point to the band aid on the other side of his head.

"I can see" breathed out Mike, trying to ignore the purple bruise forming there.

"Your safe now bub" he hushed, running a hand up and down Thomas back as the boy snuggled against him once more.

"Your safe, daddy's here"

Thomas' solemn gaze met Mike's own before the little boys eyes filled with tears and he burst out crying, throwing himself back against his fathers shoulder as the shock of the days events overwhelmed him once more.

Mike staggered towards the chair by the bed, easing himself into it whilst shifting Thomas as close to him as possible.

He whispered comfortingly into the boy's ear as he sobbed, his tiny hands gripping his fathers shirt tightly.

"You're safe Tommy, safe with daddy"

---

Hours later Mike sat back on the hospital bed with Thomas curled fast asleep against his chest. His gaze however was fixed steadily on the sleeping form metres away, his wife's chest rising rhythmically with the beeps resonating from the machines surrounding her.

After much work and negotiation Mike had managed to convince the doctors to bring Thomas up to Kate's room; the man not willing to separate himself from his son any time soon but aching for the sight of his wife and the knowledge that she was safe and alive by his side.

The sheets beside him rustled suddenly as he glanced towards the blonde head of his wife, now shifting as she woke.

"Thomas?" croaked Kate groggily, blindly holding up one hand to reach for the little boy.

Quick as lightening Mike manoeuvred his way out of bed, keeping Thomas firm against his chest as he sat in the chair besides Kate's bed.

"We're both here gorgeous" he whispered softly, grasping the blinking woman's good hand tightly and rubbing his fingers across her white knuckles.

"Mike?" she asked yearningly, rolling her neck to glance up at him. She let out a sob at the site of both her boys before her, leaning over as far as she could to run a hand up and down Thomas' back.

"I missed you earlier" she mumbled, smiling up at her husband once she was sure Thomas' figure was not an illusion.

"I was so scared that I'd lost the two of you" whispered Mike in response. He leaned over and brushed a kiss against Kate's forehead, wary of Thomas but wanting to feel his wife's warm skin against his own.

"Don't ever do that to me again" he added with a smile. He rested his forehead against Kate's for a second as she ran a hand up his arm, brining comfort to them both.

"Never" she agreed, sharing his smile.

Thomas shifted slightly in Mike's arms, causing the man to lean back into the chair.

"You're both going to be alright" nodded Mike, more to himself than anyone else as Kate's eye lids fluttered sleepily.

"You'll be here?" she asked, barely managing to finish the sentence before dropping back to sleep.

"I'll be here" agreed Mike, grasping her hand once more.

"And I'm not leaving again"