The police car pulled up in front of the Venturi-McDonald house while Casey was still on the phone with Sam. One look at the man's face and Nora knew that something terrible had happened.

"Does a Derek Venturi still live at this address? It was the one listed on his driver's license," the officer said.

Casey ran to the door. "Derek hasn't had his address changed yet, but I'm his wife, Casey."

"Your husband's been in an accident down by the bridge. Not his fault. The other guy's responsible. But Mr. Venturi is hurt pretty bad. I'll get you over to the hospital."

Lizzie burst into tears and Casey patted her hand as she got up and went with the officer. Suddenly, it was very important that she think clearly, that she do things right.

"Go along Casey. We'll get the kids situated and we'll be there," George said.

When they arrived she raced through the emergency room entrance looking for anyone who could give her answers.

"Mrs. Venturi?" a kind voice beside her made her jump.

"Yes?" Her blue eyes, shining with tears, took in a young doctor in a white coat.

"You can see him now, but not for very long. He's extremely weak, and we've got him on some pretty powerful medication."

"Thank you."

The doctor touched her arm. "Are you going to be able to take this? It's a little difficult…" he trailed off.

"Yes, thank you," she said staunchly, trying to keep her knees from shaking. "I can manage." She started down the corridor with the doctor, the same corridor she had paced hours ago when she was waiting for her incorrigible husband, who was always late, to come and pick her up.

"Derek was in a private room, lying in a pristine white bed, nearly invisible from all the machines and tubes and bandages on him. His face was completely swathed in white gauze, and both his legs and arms were in plaster casts.

She steadied herself at the door. She couldn't fall apart, not now. She had to be brave and strong --- for him. "Sweetie, it's me. I'm here."

She saw his parched lips move and she rushed to him, not wanting him to exert himself. "You don't have to talk. Just be still."

"Mmm. Honey, bad. I'm so dumb."

"No! It wasn't you. The policeman told me. The other guy was responsible. And he wasn't even hurt." She felt the anger surge in her again, just the way it had when the officer first told her. Some awful, terrible driver who just wasn't looking had walked away from the bridge, and Derek was lying there in a mess of bandages.

"We should never be separated," she whispered to him. "If I'd been with you----"

"Uh-Uh. No way. Then both would be here. Not to romantic." It was all he could do to get the words out.

"Oh, I love you so much!" She sobbed, finally letting the rush of tears claim her. She was so grateful it hadn't been worse, but so miserable to see him in crumbled pieces.

"Love yah Sweetie. Gotta sleep."

"I know. You rest and get well, okay? I will be here the second you wake up." She touched his forehead, or the place where it usually was. All she felt was tape and gauze, but she knew exactly what was underneath the bandages. She remembered, just last night, sitting on their couch together, his head resting in her lap, as she stroked that forehead gently and they talked about the day. It had been so wonderful. And she had taken it for granted.

She walked down the corridor to find their parents, and was stunned to see a familiar face at the end of the hall. Sam rushed towards her, taking her hands in his.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Casey shook her head yes but it was all she could do to keep from screaming. She was thrilled to see Sam. Sam, so good and kind, always there when you needed him, Derek's best friend. His kind face was creased with concern --- for both her and Derek.

"Yes, yes, I think so. Oh, Sam, I just saw him and he's such a mess. There's no part of him that isn't all wrapped up, and he can hardly talk, and I'm so worried, and I should have been with him, and…" she rushed on, all her words and thoughts hurtling out into space.

"Whoa! Don't do this to yourself, Casey. Derek was on his way to see me, to do me a favor. That's all. You aren't supposed to be with him every hour or every day, you know. You're married to him, not attached at the hip."

Guilt was a very powerful feeling, and Casey had never experienced it as keenly as she did that very minute.

"I'm part of his life. I'm his wife. I'm supposed to be there when he needs me, not laughing with my little sister!" She let down all her defenses and wept in his arms, and only when she had calmed down a little bit did he even bother to try and console her.

"He needs you now, more than he ever has in his life, and you're right here. From the looks of it, you're not going anywhere. Now you can eat yourself alive with 'should have' and 'why didn't I', but believe me Casey, that's not going to do anybody any good. Derek Venturi isn't the type of guy who needs a weepy wife smothering him with pity. He needs your love and your support, and most of all, your strength."

All tears spent, she looked up into his eyes and nodded. "You're right. Let's go back. He's all alone in that room."

Sam walked with her to the door and peered in. The machines buzzed softly, but above that mechanical noise, they could hear the easy breathing of a person asleep. He looked so peaceful, so still, that the two of them just stood there a moment, studying him. Derek was always on the go, the most physical person either of them had ever known. Even in his sleep, he was usually restless. But tonight, it was different. Everything was.

"Let's go get a cup of coffee at the cafeteria and come back," Sam suggested.

Casey nodded in agreement, and together they went down the hall. She felt the distance from Derek tug at her heart, and the coffee tasted bitter to her, mixed with all her doubts and fears.

"Has---has anyone said anything about how bad it is?" Sam asked when they wandered back to Derek's room. "Maybe we should try to find out."

She gave him a pained look. "I don't think I want to know."

"Hey, he may be dancing in a week, Casey," Sam suggested with a half-hearted laugh. "You'll never know anything until you ask a few questions to the people in charge. We could be getting all bent out of shape over nothing."

She smiled a little, for the first time in hours. She sighed, linking her arm through his. "You're a great friend Sam. I don't know what we'd do without you." They turned and walked back to the nurse's station.

"There --- that's one of the doctors. I saw him before. Let's ask him," Casey said.

The man had his back to the two of them, and he was leaning over towards one of the nurses, deep in conversation, so he didn't see Sam and Casey approaching.

"Well, I'll tell you," the doctor was saying, "you see everything in this business, so it shouldn't surprise me. But a kid like that, it's criminal. If that boy ever walks again, it'll be a miracle."

Casey lost her footing and stumbled. She wasn't aware of Sam coaxing her to come and sit down beside him. She didn't see the doctor turn to her and shake his head apologetically. She was devastated by what she had just heard, by the words that had just changed her life irrevocably.