Chapter 7 Answers to Why's

A/n I would like to thank everyone for reviewing. I am so so so so sorry for the long delay. I have had horrible writers block. Please continue reviewing.

Amanda guided Cheryl out of the room and held her while she cried. "Oh Amanda, why can't he catch a break? Why did he have a seizure?"

"I don't know hon, but he will be ok. I promise his brain is under a lot of stress and strain. He is strong, and he will make it through just fine," Amanda replied, trying to reassure her friend. Cheryl gave Amanda a watery smile, and then gave her a hug. Finally after about ten agonizing minutes Jesse came out and called them back in, to have the doctor explain what was going on.

"What is going on with Steve? Why did he have a seizure?" Cheryl trailed off; when she realized that she hadn't given the doctor a chance to answer.

"His brain is under a lot of stress and strain. We have increased the Mannitol and the Phenobarbital. He should be ok, but we don't know about any possible lasting affects," Dr. Rob said, answering her silent question.

"So what can we do to help him get better?" Cheryl asked softly.

"Just let him know that you're their and that he will be fine," Dr. Rob said with a small smile.

"Mike, did you sedate him?" Jesse asked.

"Yes we gave him a mild sedative. He should wake up in a few hours," Dr. Rob replied.

"When will he get to get out of the ICU?" Mark asked.

"In a few days, once I am satisfied that he is stable. Now if you will excuse me. I have to go check on a few of my patients. I will be back after a while," Dr. Rob said as he walked out, leaving the rest of them to think in silence.

A few hours had passed and finally Cheryl and Mark were the only ones left sitting by Steve's bedside. Amanda had gone home to her boys and Jesse had gone to cover what was supposed to be Steve's shift at Bobs. Mark looked up as he saw Alex walk into the room.

"Hey Cheryl, Mark how is he doing?" Alex said as he picked up Steve's chart and glanced over it.

"Hey Alex, he is doing ok. It was really scary earlier he had a seizure, but he is getting better," Mark said.

"How are you holding up Cheryl?"

"I am ok, but thanks for asking Alex."

"Do either of you want some coffee?" Alex asked with a smile. Both Cheryl and Mark nodded in agreement.

"I'll go with you, I want to get up and stretch my muscles. Do you want to come with us, Cheryl?" Mark asked glancing hopefully at Cheryl.

"No I think I will stay here with Steve," Cheryl said quietly as she reached for Steve's hand and gently rubbed her thumb across it. Mark and Alex smiled worriedly at Cheryl as they turned and headed out of the room.

"How is she really holding up Mark?" Alex asked.

"She's only left his side when I force her to. She hasn't gone home since the night of the explosion."

"Poor girl, she's going to collapse from exhaustion, and so are you." Mark smiled sheepishly at the young doctor and just kept walking towards the doctor's lounge, acknowledging people's well-wishes and concerns as he went.

Cheryl sipped her coffee as she flashed Mark a smile. "Are you going to get some sleep at all tonight Mark?"

"Yes I will as long as you do to, honey." Cheryl smiled and turned to Steve when she felt his hand move under hers.

"Mark, he's waking up," Cheryl said as she scooted back so Mark would be in Steve's eye line. Mark leaned over the bed and smiled as he saw his son open his eyes.

"Hey how are you feeling, son?"

"Ok I guess what happened, Dad?"

"You were talking to Cheryl and me then you had a pretty scary seizure. You were given a mild sedative. Do you notice anything different?"

"I don't know can I have a drink of water?" Mark nodded and filled a glass with water and handed it to Steve. Steve tried to take the glass, but he couldn't get his hand to wrap around it. Mark saw his son's struggle and helped him hold the glass. He noticed that Steve was slightly embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it, son. All of those meds and your physical condition have made you a little bit weak."

"You said I was talking to Cheryl and you. Where is Cheryl?" Mark looked around the room.

"I think she stepped out for a minute. She needed a break.

"Dad, can you answer something for me?"

"I'll try if I can," Mark said with a smile.

"What did Cheryl mean by the fact that she wouldn't have left me that night if you hadn't made her?"

"She was refusing to leave your side. She hasn't been home since the night of the explosion. She has been by your bedside ever since I called her after the code." Mark noticed that Steve had a small smile on his face. "Do you love her, Steve?"

"I don't know, maybe but what if she doesn't love me?"

"Steve! She's spent the last two days at your bedside I think she loves you," Mark said with an exasperated smile."

"Can I see her, please?" Mark nodded and walked over to the door to look for her. Thankfully Mark didn't have to look far. Cheryl was standing outside the door a little uncertain as to what she should do.

"Cheryl, Steve wants to see you. I'm going to see if I can find Alex and then call the others and let them know that Steve is awake ok?" Mark asked. Cheryl nodded and walked into the room and over to Steve's bed side.

"Hey partner, you really need to get some sleep."

"Yeah, but I didn't want to leave you. You scared me so much, Steve," Cheryl said as tears slipped down her cheeks and she began to sob.

"Shh, Cheryl it's ok. C'mere hon," Steve said as he patted the bed. Cheryl climbed on to the bed and laid her head on Steve's shoulder. Steve comforted her and stroked her hair as best as he could, despite the fact that he didn't have full use of his hands. Once Cheryl had calmed down and she had stopped crying she began to gently pull away. Steve grabbed her chin and tilted it up so he could look into her eyes. "I promise that I am ok."

"I know I just needed to hear it from you," Cheryl replied. Before she even realized what she was doing she leaned forward and captured Steve's lips with her own. At first Steve was surprised, but he soon found himself responding to the kiss. Cheryl pulled back surprised at what she had done.

"Wow that was awesome," Steve said softly.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that," Cheryl said.

"Cheryl, don't worry about it. I am glad that you did it," Steve said with a smile.

"You are?" Cheryl asked. Steve just nodded and leaned in for another kiss.

Mark had called the others and had run into Alex as he was walking back to Steve's room.

"Hey Mark, why are you out of Steve's room? Is everything ok?"

"Yes Alex, it is. Steve has woken up and other than some limited use of his hands he seems to be doing ok. Cheryl's with him now," Mark said with a smile.

"Good maybe she'll get some sleep now that she knows that he is ok."

"Yeah I hope so. Maybe I can convince her to go home," Mark replied.

"I think she will go home under one condition," Alex said.

"What would that be?" Mark asked with one eye brow raised, in a silent question.

"That you go home and get some sleep as well." Alex held up his hand to stop Mark from protesting. "Steve is in good hands, and I am on all night. Neither you nor Cheryl will do him any good if you both collapse from exhaustion," Alex said with a note of finality in his voice. Mark just smiled and nodded in defeat as they quietly opened the door to Steve's room. Both Mark and Alex chuckled at the sight that met their eyes.

"Well what did I say Steve. I told you that she liked you," Mark said with a joyful smile on his face. Cheryl and Steve sprung apart with a blush on both of their cheeks.

"I'm glad to see that you're awake," Alex said with a smile.

"Yeah it feels good to be awake, but I hate the drugged feeling that I am feeling," Steve replied.

"I can understand that, but visiting hours are well past over. Both your dad and Cheryl are going home to get some sleep."

"But Alex I want to stay, please?" Cheryl begged.

"No Cheryl Mark promised that he would go home and get some sleep, but only if you would as well," Alex said. Steve pulled Cheryl down to whisper something in her ear.

"All right I will go home and get some sleep," Cheryl said as she blushed.

"Good for you and I will be on all night, and I will call you both if anything happens," Alex replied.

"Well it will be easy to get a hold of both of us, because Cheryl is staying at the beach house," Mark said.

"Mark, I will be fine on my own," Cheryl protested.

"I'm sure that you will be, but you're staying at the beach house. We will stop at your apartment for some of your clothes and things," Mark said with his best fatherly glare.

"Give it up Cheryl, when dad has his mind set on something he won't change it," Steve said as he gave her another quick kiss and then told both his dad and her to go home and get some rest. They both complied after informing him that they would be back in the morning.

"Good night Alex," they said together as they took one last look at Steve and walked out heading to the beach house for some much needed food and sleep.