Molly followed closely behind her sister as Lauren escorted her to Speed's room. Her eight-year-old mind didn't know what to think about all of this. Molly didn't know if she should even be in the same room as him, because of her cold and ear infection. She thought it might make his situation worse, but Lauren and the nurses assured her, now that she was on medication it would be okay.

Molly looked through the glass window into Speed's room. Lauren mentioned that she should prepare herself. Molly did, but it wasn't enough. Tears broke free from her sparkling green eyes. Molly reached for Lauren's waist. She could barely stand on her own two feet. "Lauren…" she sobbed.

"I know, baby. I know," Lauren said pulling Molly close to her.

"Are you sure it's okay, Lauren?" Molly sniffled.

Lauren took a deep breath and said, "Yes, Molly. It's okay. Come on let's go in." Lauren started walking toward the hospital room door with Molly sitting holding onto her, but Molly didn't move. "Honey, come let's go in. You wanted to see him."

Molly shook her head no. "No, I don't want to hurt him. What if I touched him and then he dies. I don't want him to die."

Lauren kneeled down in front of her sister. "Molly, listen to me okay. Yes, Tim is in critical condition, but you touching him will not make him die. In fact it might make him a little better."

Molly looked uncertain. "Are you sure?"

Lauren smiled. "Positive." Molly agreed and followed Lauren into Speed's hospital room.

Molly took a seat in the nearest chair while Lauren walked over to the window facing the ocean and looked out. The sun had set and the moon and stars lit up the night sky. Lauren could see the cancer constellation off in the distance. It was almost time for it to leave the Miami sky.

Lauren heard Molly pull her chair closer to Speed and begin to talk. "Hi Timmy. It's me Molly. I hope you can hear me. I know Lauren said you could, and that I would help you get better faster," Molly said softly then continued, "I'd do anything to help you come back to us." Lauren was shocked at how well her sister was holding up, given how she hadn't even wanted to be in the room a minute ago.

"Lauren told me you were shot…technically I was the first one who saw it all. I was putting some stuff in Lauren's car when I saw all these police cars and ambulances. I didn't think anything of it, even though it was shocking to see something like that. So I went back inside and Lauren asked me what was wrong. I told her and then she ran out saying something about you. My heart started to beat real fast. The next thing I remember hearing was a woman screaming bloody murder then your name. I knew it had something to do with you, and that the woman was Lauren. I've never heard her scream like that, and I don't want to ever hear it. It was so horrible," Molly said, her voice a little shaky.

Molly heard her sister sob in the background. Molly continued, "Please, Timmy don't leave us. Don't leave, Lauren. She needs you so much, and she's been through so much with our parents. Every time she's around you or talks about you, I see this sparkle in her eye that lights up the room. I see it with you too. Life won't be the same ever if you leave her. So you have to make it through this and get better. I want to see my sister walk down the aisle and marry her best friend, soul mate, and her everything." A single tear fell from Molly's eye and hit Speed's limp hand. "Well, I'm going to go for a little while, and let Lauren be with you. Just remember, Timmy, I love you very much."

Molly got up and walked up next to Lauren and hugged her. "We can't lose him," Lauren cried out. Lauren and Molly stood there, and looked up at the stars for a few minutes before Lauren escorted Molly back to the waiting room.

Lauren offered Horatio, Calleigh, Alexx, Eric, Frank, Ryan, and Yelina a chance to go see Speed for a while, but they declined telling her she could have all the time she needed. Thanking them all she headed back to Speed's room. Molly and Jen stayed behind.

Several nurse's had congregated in Speed's room when Lauren walked in. Thinking the worst, Lauren ran into the room. Lauren didn't know what to say when she walked in. She tried to find Speed in the crowd of hospital personnel.

Lauren heard one of the nurses say, "hold still, Officer Speedle, and we'll take the breathing tube out. We don't want to rupture anything," and another say, "Mark, hold his arm down." Speed was awake; Lauren needed to help them.

"Here let me help," Lauren said pushing her way up to Speed's hospital bed.

"No ma'am you need to wait outside," Mark shouted.

"No, let her help!" Dr. Wonka said firmly. Lauren thanked him and made herself know to Speed.

Lauren took a hold of Speed's hand and said, "Tim, you need to relax. They can't take it out unless you hold still." She sat down on the bed and began to caress his good shoulder. The look on his face broke her heart. Speed looked terrified, and didn't know what was going on. "Come on baby relax okay. You're okay." He began to relax just enough for the nurse to take the breathing tube out.

Speed began to cough and gasp for air as he attempted to sit up. "Tim, lie back, honey. Just relax and take deep breaths," Lauren said. She could feel his strong grip on her hand; her fingers were beginning to hurt, but she didn't care. He did as she said just as an oxygen mask was put on him. He tried pushing it away, but one look at Lauren made him rethink his actions.

"Just take deep breaths, Officer Speedle. It'll help you. After a few minutes we'll get the more comfortable oxygen," Dr. Wonka said. "I'll give you two a few minutes alone and then I'll be back to check him once he's relaxed.

"Okay, thank you Dr. Wonka," Lauren said with a small smile. She watched him walk out of sight before turning back to Speed. He was staring at her as if he was trying to find some answers. "Do you remember what happened?" Lauren asked

Speed looked to his left and a shooting pain rain down his arm; he winced in pain. It was all coming back to him now. "I cleaned it Lauren. I swear," he rasped.

Lauren frowned. "I know baby. I know you cleaned it." She began to run her fingers through Speed's hair. His body immediately relaxed. It was the one thing that always helped him unwind after a rough day at work.

"How about you just sit back and get some rest. You have a whole group of people waiting to see you." She smiled. He smiled back. "Tom, Melissa, and you parents are on their way down her. They should be here in about a few hours." He took a deep breath and nodded.

The two sat in silence for the next couple minutes letting Speed rest until Dr. Wonka came back in. "Miss Schneider, Officer Speedle how are we doing? Are we calmed down any?"

Lauren scrunched up her nose at his comment taking a little offense to it, but answered calmly, "Yes."

"Okay. I'm going to have to ask you to step out for a few minutes if that's all right."

"That's fine," Lauren said standing up. "I'll be back in a little bit, babe." She kissed him on the forehead. "So be nice and listen to the doctors and nurses. I love you."

"Love you," he quietly said.

The waiting room was surprisingly cheery when Lauren returned. Everyone was telling happy stories about their fellow colleague. "You tellin' stories about my man?" Lauren asked with a smile. "I hope it's nothing bad." She winked.

"Is Timmy okay, Lauren?" Molly asked running over to her sister.

Lauren looked down at Molly and then at Speed's colleagues. "He's awake."

"What?" they all said in unison.

Smiling from ear to ear, Lauren said. "Yeah. He's awake and being… well… his old self."

"Can we go see him?" Eric asked.

"In a minute or two. The doctor is doing the doctor type things. I wanted to stay just to make sure Tim didn't injure the poor doctor and nurses." Lauren laughed. "But just give them a few minutes then we all can go down. I know he wants to see you guys."

It was like a breath of fresh air hearing that Speed was awake and acting normal. Everything was going to be just fine.