Alright, so this story is still on the backburner at the moment - but I figured I'd update since you guys are so great. Seriously, thank you for the amazing reviews and the many story alerts. For those of you who felt some people were missing in the previous three chapters, I've incorporated some Mads and Laurel will definitely be in the next chapter. Thanks again you guys, you are amazing. Keep reading and reviewing!

"Thay, I know you're worried, but you need to eat something. You'll be no good to Emma if you're stuck in a hospital bed when she wakes up." Mads sighed softly, watching her brother push his uneaten food around his plate. "You know she's going to need you."

Thayer shot a withering glance at his sister before he settled back in his chair and resorted to breaking the tongs off of his plastic fork. He knew it was childish, but he couldn't help the small grin that escaped when Mads snorted in annoyance.

"She's my friend too you know."

"I know Mads." Thayer couldn't stop the groan from slipping out from between his parted lips.

"She would want us to go home and get some rest," Mads tried yet again to get Thayer to leave the hospital. It'd been three days since Emma had been brought in – doctors say she's healing slowly and she'll wake up when she's ready, her brother refused to leave Emma's side.

"S'not going to happen, I need to be here when she wakes up." Thayer replied absently, seemingly hell bent on destroying his cheap eating utensil.

Mads rolled her eyes, "I don't see why you think you need to be here when she comes out of her coma – she knows you care about her, that's all that matters."

"You don't understand." Thayer mumbled, eyebrows knitting together as he glared at the fork, willing the damn tongs to just snap already. He felt his anger bubbling dangerously close to the surface.

"You're right, I don't understand! Maybe if you just opened up I could help!" Mads whispered furiously, her eyes shifting left and right to make sure no one within earshot was listening in on their conversation. The relatives of sick loved ones seemed to have a knack for eavesdropping and gossip.

"Let it go Mads." The older Ryback replied, closing his eyes to hide the pain he was sure was swirling in their depths. He could feel his breathing hitch and he scratched absently at his chest in an attempt to alleviate the burning caused by his own guilt. It was as if his heart were missing, and in its place sat a gaping hole, edges raw and inflamed.

"Why can't you just te—"

"It's my fault!" Thayer yelled, still not opening his eyes but his hands clutched the edge of their table in a white-knuckled grip. He can feel himself losing composure, self control rocketing out the window at lightning speed.

"Thay—"

"I should've never left her alone! It's my fault she was attacked! It's my fault she was r—" He choked on the last word, a small strangled sound emanating from the back of his throat as he fought to swallow the bile that threatened to come up.

Emma was raped.

It's my fault.

"You couldn't have known someone was going to break in and attack her Thayer! Don't blame yourself. I know Emma wouldn't blame you!" Mads argued worriedly. She looked around and saw that everyone in the hospital cafeteria was staring. Blushing, she turned back to her brother.

My fault.

Emma's hurt.

I didn't protect her.

"But I did know. I saw the overturned chair. I thought it was nothing – maybe one of them had knocked it over on their way out earlier. I should've known!" Thayer resumed shouting, his inner turmoil tearing him to pieces. His chest heaved with the effort of gasping in a breath between sobs he didn't know had started. Only now did he feel the tears that ran down his cheeks and dripped onto his collarbone.

"Oh Thay." Mads whispered, standing and pulling her brother into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his rail thin frame, tightening her grip when she felt him trembling and leaning into her comfort.

"I just want her to be okay." Thayer cried, burying his head into the crook of his sister's neck just as she used to do when they were younger. He inhaled the familiar scent of home and tried to calm his racing heart.

Mads kept her arm slung around Thayer's waist and led him out of the cafeteria slowly, ignoring all of the questioning looks and pity filled smiles. "Let's get out of here. People are too nosy for their own good."

"No! I'm not leaving!"

"Relax, I just meant let's get out of the cafeteria." Mads soothed, pulling him into the empty waiting area nearest Emma's room. Sitting down on the worn out couch, she smoothed down his dark tousled hair.

Thayer rested his head against Mads' shoulder and let his eyes drift closed, hoping that the nightmares would stay away so he could finally get some sleep. He smiled and felt his consciousness slipping as his sister hummed 'Greensleeves.'

Mads laid her cheek on the top of Thayer's head and closed her eyes, continuing to hum until they both fell asleep, awaiting the moment that Emma woke up.

Thayer made one last promise before the darkness took him under,

I'll be strong for her. I have to be.

I know Thayer seems a bit weepy but the poor guy blames himself for what happened to Emma. He's just a hot mess right now, it'll get better. ALSO - I'd love you forever if you could tell me what's happened since it came back on! I haven't been able to watch! It sucks, but I'd appreciate it if you could catch me up!

And finally, any prompts or ideas for the future plot line of this story I would love to hear. I do request that you PM me with your ideas though so if I do decide to use them, no spoilers are revealed.

Hope you enjoyed!