"What are you doing here, Ray?"
"I came to apologize, I didn't think you'd be here," he responded to Hannah. Nick stood up and walked over to Big Cat.
"You shouldn't be here."
"Nick, man, look, I'm just coming to tell Eddie I'm sorry."
"Well, you can't do that right now, because he's in surgery. And even if he wasn't, he's been unconscious thanks to you. So unless you want to join him, I'd clear out." Ray started to back up.
"I've had some time to think, things got out of hand, I realize I was wrong," he looked to Hannah. "I'm sorry."
"You had time to think? You've had less than 24 hours in a jail cell, Ray. I doubt you've had enough time to turn your life around. You're still the same person you were last night, the same person you were twenty years ago," Nick responded.
"I wanted to make amends," he said. "I guess it's a bad time."
"Amends? Are you kidding me? Is that what your lawyer told you to do?"
"No, he actually advised me not to come."
"Well," Owen said, standing, "you should have listened to him." Ray nodded, making a start to walk away.
"At least tell me if he's going to be all right?" He spoke up.
"Why do you care, Big Cat?"
"I care, all right?" He yelled angrily.
"Woah, watch that temper. Don't want to add aggravated assault to that growing list of offenses," Nick said.
"I never meant for this to happen, I didn't plan for--."
"Really? You didn't plan to get your friends to wait for Eddie outside Sully's, bring a crowbar, and beat him within inches of his life?"
"That's enough," Hannah said, stepping between Nick and Ray. "Don't come around here, Ray. I mean it, you need to leave."
"Hannah Jane, please let me talk to you." She sighed in response. "You owe me that." She looked taken aback.
"I owe you that? No, Ray, I don't owe you anything. What we had? It's gone, dead in the water. If I never see you again, it'll be too soon." With that he walked away defeated, leaving the group in a state of awkward silence again. Nick walked away from the scene toward the vending room. A beat later, Hannah followed him.
Nick slammed his fist against the vending machine, Hannah came up behind him and offered a dollar.
"Need a buck?" She asked gently.
"It ate my money already," he shook the machine and kept his hands on it and looked over to Hannah.
"Sorry he came here," she said.
"It's not your fault, Hannah." They stood in silence for a moment.
"I got a job offer. In California."
"Are you going to take it?"
"No."
"Then why are you telling me this?"
"A few days ago, I thought I would take the job. Things here, they were getting too complicated. The Commander's sick. The business isn't doing as well as I thought it would. You're with Ray. Sorry, were with Ray."
"Nick Garret, if you run away from this, I'll never forgive you." He looked up to her.
"I said I wasn't going to take it."
"And I hope you don't. You can't run away from life, Nick. Things change, just look at me and Ray. Your dad's going to be ok. The business is going to be ok. Eddie's going to be ok. You need some faith."
"All my faith died ten years ago," he started to walk away, but Hannah tugged his arm.
"A day like today should prove we need you here. We're a family."
"A family that keeps getting broken. Just when I think things are going to work out, everything changes."
"Without you holding us together, there's no hope for any of us." They were inches apart, but as quickly as the moment had come it was gone as Owen came around the corner.
"Guys, he's out of surgery." They glanced at each other and hurried behind Owen back to the waiting room, where Janet was talking to the doctor. The doctor shook her hand and she turned around with a smile.
"He's awake," she grinned. Everyone celebrated, Hannah pulled her best friend into a hug and Nick embraced Owen. Phil and Ikey shook hands and smiles were all around.
"So surgery's all good, he's all good?" Ikey asked over the group.
"They need to keep him here for a bit, but yeah, he's groggy and tired, but awake. We're in the clear."
"Go on, Janet. Go see him." Nick touched her arm gently. "Tell him we're all out here." She exhaled with relife and hurried along the corridor to his room. She peeked her head in the doorway and saw him in the bed.
She watched him for a moment before he realized he wasn't alone. His head turned slightly and he saw her from the corner of his bruised eye. He smiled. A smile she would never forget.
"Hey you," she said in shaky voice.
"Hey," he croaked out in a hoarse whisper. She walked up to him and kissed his forehead.
"I missed you," she was on the edge of tears. He looked up to her, his brow furrowing.
"Who are you?"
Janet stepped back and her world stopped.
"Eddie, it's me," she smiled. "Janet." He stared up blankly at her, recognizing the smile she had seen before to be an awkward one.
"I—I'm sorry. I don't know you." She brought her hand to her mouth and let out a quick sob.
"Eddie, come on. I'm your girlfriend. Why don't you remember?" At that moment, Nick came in with a smile.
"Hey man! You gave us a scare!" He said, going in for a hug with his best friend. Eddie looked confused again and Nick noticed Janet's horrified gaze.
"What goes on?" He said concerned. Janet couldn't form the words. Eddie was about to speak when the rest of the group entered the room, equipped with balloons and flowers. They all murmured well wishes and had grins plastered on their faces. Eddie seemed overwhelmed, he sat there, with Nick and Janet staring at him while the rest seemed so happy to see him. The noise quieted down and they all looked to him.
"Who are you people?" He asked, and in that simple question, crushed everyone's spirit.