A/N Thank you to all those following this story and particularly to those who have left a review.

**Warning: Bad language, mention of Abortion, miscarriage and rape.**


Chapter Four.

Hans paced the waiting room, still reeling from the shock at what had happened to his wife tonight. The tick tocking of the clock on the wall reverberated around the space, reminding Hans of how long it had been since Elsa had been rushed into surgery.

Anna was seated on one of the uncomfortable green chairs, being comforted by Kristoff. Every so often she would glare daggers at Hans as he walked by.

"Will you stop that?!" Anna hissed at him in annoyance. "No amount of pacing is going to help the situation."

"Oh I'm sorry, but that's my wife in there, fighting for her life."

Anna stood now, confronting her brother-in-law. Although he towered over her, she still knew how to make him quiver. With her cheeks flushed red in anger, the feisty redhead launched her assault. "Well, that's my sister in there. And she means more to me then you'll ever know."

This time however, Hans was on the offense instead of the defense. "Oh really? so, how come you only ever show your face when you need a favor? How many times has Elsa cried herself to sleep when you two have had a fight..or you haven't bothered to call her for weeks..or you've thrown a temper tantrum because she refuses to lend you anymore money? Sure, I'm totally feeling the sisterly love here."

"You bastard! you're the one who broke her heart when you slept with that slut Kristen behind her back, getting her pregnant and then forcing her into having an abortion just to protect your own reputation."

"One mistake, Anna. One Goddamn mistake. Are you going to punish me for the rest of my life? Elsa's forgiven me. Why can't you?"

"Because unlike my sister...I'm not convinced you've changed. Leopards never change their spots, do you know?"

"Believe what you like Anna. But I'm telling you now. I love Elsa, more then life itself. I would die for her."

"Pfft! then why didn't you tonight then? why is it, that my sister was shot and not you? why is my sister lying in there with a hole in her chest and not you? I swear to God, if she dies, I'm going to make you wish you were never born."

Kristoff could see this heated argument getting way out of hand, and this was certainly not the time or place for their little spat. He took Anna by the shoulders, attempting to calm his girlfriend.

"Hey, you guys. This isn't the time to be appointing blame. I think we're all in agreement here, that you both love Elsa. But seriously, you two need to put your differences aside and try to act civil towards one another...for Elsa's sake."

Anna huffed, crossing her arms before seating herself back down, whilst Hans did the same, and Kristoff, like always was stuck in the middle of their ongoing feud.


It was another thirty agonizing minutes, before they were finally approached by a Doctor.

"Mr Westergard?" the man in a blue coat announced.

In response, Hans immediately stood up. "Yes, that's me."

"Hello there. I'm Dr Edwards. I've been working on your wife in the ER."

Anna leapt up too, bombarding the Doctor with numerous questions. "How is she? How's my sister? is she awake? when can I see her?"

As the doctor gazed at the small ensemble gathered in the waiting area, he focused particularly on the petrified looking husband. "Mr Westergard, maybe we should go somewhere a little more private."

A soon as the Doctor had said those words, Hans was preparing himself for the worst possible news. It wouldn't come as much of a shock. After all, he had already said his own silent goodbye when she fell limp in his arms...then when she stopped breathing in the ambulance. The images of the paramedics carrying out CPR on her broken body would haunt him forever. But by some miracle, she had hung on and made it to the emergency room...alive.

"Wait, what? No!" Anna growled. "Whatever you have to say; you can say here...to the both of us."

On this occasion, Hans actually had to agree with Anna. Afterall, Elsa was her sister. It was only fair that she hear the outcome of Elsa's fate too. "She's right. Just please, tell us what is going on."

The Doctor cleared his throat, before explaining the status of Elsa's condition. "Your wife suffered a bullet wound to the chest. Luckily, it narrowly missed her heart, but it did puncture her lung, causing significant internal bleeding. We managed to get the bleeding under control and surgically repair the damage. It was touch and go for a while and she did suffer a cardiac arrest, but she's a strong woman, and I'm pleased to tell you that she's going to make a full recovery. However...I can't be so sure about the baby."

The lawyer gasped in shock. "Baby?!"

Anna's eyes widened, before mumbling disapprovingly, "oh this just get's even better."

"Yes. Your wife is pregnant." There was a momentary pause before the Doctor continued. "I take it you didn't know."

Hans shook his head. "No, I didn't. I mean, we weren't trying...but then we weren't exactly not trying, if you know what I mean?"

"You idiot," Anna snarled. "You got my sister pregnant. So what now? does this mean you're going to force her to get rid of her baby too?"

Kristoff clearly embarrassed by Anna's behavior, quickly pulled her to the side. "Anna? what is your problem?"

She pointed directly at Hans. "He is!"

After Anna's little outburst, Hans turned his attention back to Dr Edwards. "How far along is she?"

"We estimate around seven weeks gestation. The sonogram showed a strong heartbeat, but it's too early to tell what the chances of viability is. The trauma your wife suffered could easily cause her to miscarry. She will be carefully monitored, but I'm afraid if she does miscarry, there will be nothing medically that can be done to stop it."

Under any other circumstances, Hans would have been happy at such news, but tonight had proven how close he had come to loosing her. All he could focus on at this time, was that the love of his life, by the grace of God was still alive. The survival of a tiny embryo was far too insignificant for him to worry about at this point.

"Can I see her?"

"Your wife is currently in recovery, but once she is moved to a private room, then you may see her. I will have one of the nurses fetch you when she's settled."

It was yet another forty five minutes of excruciating waiting, until the nurse came for them. They followed her along numerous corridors, up a flight of stairs, until she brought them to a halt outside a rather dreary looking room.

"Now, I will have to warn you that she is still heavily sedated. She can't breathe on her own, so she's on a respirator until her lungs are strong enough to take over. There are a lot of tubes, but please don't be alarmed. They are only there to aid her recovery. Now, there is one final thing. Only immediate family will be permitted to visit her at this time."

"I guess that counts me out then," Kristoff said to Anna. "That's okay though...I understand. You go be with your sister. I'll just wait out here."

Although the lawyer had reluctantly agreed that Anna could accompany him in to see Elsa. He had also made it perfectly clear that at the first sign of any outlandish behavior from the redhead, he would have her removed, immediately.

As the two entered the sterile looking room, Anna gazed nervously at the amount of machines, whilst listening to the numerous bleeping sounds .

Hans anxiously approached his wife's bedside. Elsa was asleep, a thin sheet pulled up to her chest, her arms resting comfortably by her sides. She had a tube in her mouth and a drip in her hand, along with several other wires all measuring her vitals.

Her hair was neatly splayed out across the pillow. But her complexion was much paler then usual. After Hans pulled up a plastic chair beside her; he took her hand in his and gently kissed it.

"Oh Elsa. You really scared me baby. I thought I'd lost you forever. Please don't ever do that to me again."

Anna hesitantly positioned herself on the other side of the bed, lightly stroking her sister's platinum blonde hair. "Hey there sis."

Hans and Anna sat in silence, both looking down upon the woman they loved so dearly. Elsa was so still...so peaceful. The only indication that she was alive was the whooshing of the respirator and the constant beeping of the heart monitor.

The two of them had spent a good two hours by Elsa's side, when the door click opened and the nurse appeared, accompanied by two burly police officers.

Anna spun around, as one of the officers approached. "What do you want? can't you see this is not a good time."

The first officer spoke. "I'm sorry Mam, but we need to get a statement from Mr Westergard here."

Hans knew exactly how the system worked. Working as a lawyer, he was well aware of police procedures. However, he never thought he would be on the receiving end of one. "What more can I tell you officers? my wife was raped and shot. Why aren't you out there looking for Wesley Frost. He's the bastard who did this."

Anna couldn't believe what Hans had just declared. "Wait, what? did you just say my sister was raped?"

For a moment, Hans had forgotten Anna was still in the room. This was not how he had intended for her to find out.

"Anna...I..." but it was too late, Anna was already in a crumpled heap on the floor.


A/N More to come...