Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination.

a/n:Thank you everyone for Follows and the feedback it means a lot.


Gabby's POV

I was standing behind Matt when he told us the news. As soon as the words escaped his mouth, the tears started to fall down my cheeks. Shay instantly took me in her arms.

"It'll be ok sweetie. Mills is tough, he'll get through this." She was gently rubbing my back. We were eventually led to a lounge that was normally reserved to the staff but since we were so many, they didn't mind since the normal waiting room was packed. Mills and I had been together for a few months now, no one knowing about it and yet, no one was really surprised when they found out. Abbey had taken the new just as bad if not worst. If Matt hadn't prevented her from collapsing when he first told her the news, she probably would have ended up with a concussion from her fall. As soon as she had heard what Cruz had reported from the nurse, the only thing her stomach could do was empty itself on the floor. As for me, a strangled choke escaped my lips as I sobs in Shay's arms. I was an experienced paramedic who had seen this happen before and although I knew time was ticking and that my boyfriend was hanging in the balance, things from her perspective were different. Peter was her best friend and he was hers. The only one who had been with her through all she had lost and that she couldn't lose too. Chief signalled for everyone to return to the station since nothing could be done for Peter at the moment. Plus calls had been redirected long enough. When he was moved to the ICU, the four of us headed towards a waiting area with couches that we could sit on and wait. We entered the room together but Shay and Matt stopped when Abbey spoke for what seemed like forever.

"Can we talk Gabriella?" She pulled her IV pole with her and sat down.

"Sure." I tried to wipe the tears that were falling but they just kept going. I looked at Shay and Matt to say it was ok so they walked back out and gave us a moment.

"I want to apologize for my behaviour. It was stupid and I acted like a spoiled kid throwing a tantrum." I went and sat down next to her. She just took her head in her hands and looked at the floor.

"It's ok."

"No it's not. He's my best friend and I was hurt that he didn't tell me but I had no right to take it out on either of you and now he's hurt and I can't tell him I'm sorry unless he wakes up and I'm just sorry." she sobbed. I could see her shoulders move with her sobs and I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to me. I closed my eyes trying to will the tears to stop but failed again.

"It's going to be ok. It's Mills." I chuckled. "You know he'll get through this and then we can go back to normal. You'll have your best friend back because it's all you two can be."

"And you can have your boy back." I could feel her smile against me. "You know I'm happy it's you. You're badass, you kick ass and you're beautiful and i'm happy for the two of you. Just take care of his heart please, you wont regret it."

"Thanks. And I congratulations are in order. I seem to have noticed you managed to grab yourself a lieutenant." She removed herself from me, sat back up and a bright red colour managed to make its way onto her face.

"It's pretty new, we're taking it slow. We didn't want to say anything because of the fact that he's a superior and I'm new in the house."

"You don't have to worry about that." I reassured her. I guess our laughter was heard on the other side of the door because both Shay and Matt came walking back inside and we sat opposite each other. Abbey had already fallen asleep with her knees up to her chin and her head against Casey. I could feel my eyes fall as my head was resting in Shay's lap. I must of been having a nightmare during the night because Shay managed to wake me up asking me if I was ok while I found Matt looking at me with a worried glance, Abbey still against his shoulder.

"Yeah I'm ok." I wiped tears from my eyes.

"Those are not ok eyes Gabs. What did you see?" Shay inquired.

I looked at the floor before answering. "I dreamt he hadn't made it. That the injury was too severe and he died." I sobbed louder as Shay pulled me close to her telling me soothing words. I managed to fall back asleep after several minutes and was woken the next morning by Shay telling me they were moving Peter to a more quiet bed on the floor. And as promised, we were able to come sit with him. Abbey seemed to feel much better because a nurse came and removed her IV.

"You should go first Gabby." she said.

"Nah, you go first. I'll go get us some coffee. She smiled at me and slowly made her way closer to him and sat on a chair holding his hand.

Abbey's POV

It had been two days since the fire and Mills still wasn't awake. The doctors had told us it would take 24 to 48 hours and time was starting to be against us. I sat next to his bed the whole day and the whole night, only getting up when I was forced to eat and shower. But even then I didn't want to leave the hospital. The morning was almost done when Matt tried to coaks me away from Mills's side.

"Come on. Why don't I take you home for a few hours?"

"I can't. I have to be here when he wakes up." I objected.

"Abbey, please. You haven't had proper sleep in two days and I know you barely ate anything. Just let me take you home so I can make you some real food and you can take a shower and have real sleep." He had knelt down next to me and his hand was on my leg. I looked at him with bloodshot eyes. I knew he was right and right now I'm not sure I had it in me to argue with him. "I'll bring you back after diner I promise."

"Ok." I gave up. I got up and put a CFD sweatshirt that was Mills before we left. Gabby was coming back from her place herself. Apologies had been exchanged between us the very day of the accident. "I'm going home for a bit. Call me if something changes?"

"I will." She smiled at me. "He'll need the both of us when he wakes up." She rubbed my arm and we left. The ride towards my house was mainly silent. Matt held my hand the whole way, running his thumb over my knuckles. As soon as I removed my shoes, the silence just hit me. Apart from at night, this place was always busting with noise from one of us. It felt bad to be here when he couldn't.

"How about you head in the shower while I fix you something to eat?" Matt offered.

"Ok." I kissed his cheek and slowly headed up the stairs. I turned the water as hot as my body could handle and let the water fall against my body. I faced the shower head and put my hands against the wall and suddenly my body needed to get it out. The tears started to fall mixed with the water. I cried for what seemed like forever until I decided to just sit on the floor, my legs not wanting to holding me up anymore. I quickly washed and then just let the water run on me some more. I must have been in the shower for a while because then I heard a knock.

"Babe, are you ok in there?"

"I'm fine. Just give me a few minutes and I'll be out." I called through the door.

"Ok because lunch is ready." he replied before going back down. I stayed a few more minutes before getting out. I had laid out some grey sweatpants and put on a blue hoodie so I put them on and put my hair in a wet messy bun before going down to the kitchen.

"What's on the menu?" I asked wrapping my arms around Matt's mid section and just let my cheek rest against his back.

"I found some of your pasta sauce in the fridge." He was putting the pasta in a bowl and still I didn't move from my position. I closed my eyes and revelled in the smell of his shampoo and cologne.

"Thank you." I mumbled into his shirt from behind. He put the bowl down and turned around in my arms.

"Thank you for what?" He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head.

"Taking care of me. I don't know how I would be able to deal with all of this without you."

"You don't need to thank me. You're my girl and I'll always be there for you."

"Your girl. I like the sound of that." I mumbled in his shirt and then at the smell of the sauce, my stomach offered a grumble.

"Looks like someone is hungry."

"STARVING." I exaggerated pulling away from him. We sat down at the table with our food and ate in a comfortable silence. When we were done, I did the little dishes there was and as soon as I was done drying my hands I saw the screen flash with Gabriella's number on it. I hurried to pick it up. "Is something wrong?" panic was starting to settle in.

"No. They did a brain scan and they want to remove his breathing tube. We're waiting for you." Gabby's voice settled the panic and made my heart thump harder.

"We're on our way. Thanks Gabby." I looked up at Matt with a smile. "They want to remove his breathing tube and wake him up."

"Lets go." He took my keys off the counter and we made our way towards the hospital.

Gabby's POV

Abbey had been gone for only few minutes when I sat back down in the chair that was previously occupied by her and took Peter's hand in mine.

"Hey baby it's me."I knew I wouldn't get a response but I thought he'd hear me talk so I just did. "Come on. Open up your eyes please, I miss you. You've slept enough and everyone wants you to come back." I put my head against his hand and kept talking. "I know this is not how I imagined myself telling you this but I'm hoping it will help you wake up. I love you Peter Mills. I love you and I want to be able to tell you every day so please wake up." That's when it happened. The monitor was getting excited so I left the room to call the nurse to come check it out. She came back with a doctor and he looked at the monitor and gave his instructions.

"His brain activity in increasing so we'll get him prepped for a brain scan and if everything looks good we'll be removing the breathing tube so he can wake up." Dr Taylor said and the nurse prepped him and within five minutes he was gone for the scan. I decided to wait after the scan before calling Abbey because I didn't want to get her hopes up. He came back in the room about thirty minutes later and the doc followed maybe ten after that. "So I looked over the scans and everything seems fine. The swelling has gone down to where we want it to be so I think that we can proceed with removing the tubing. He was starting to get ready when I stopped him.

"Please. Let me call Abbey, she's his best friend. She'll want to be here for this." I requested.

"No problem. As soon as she gets here, ask for the nurse to page me.

"Thank you." He turned around and he was out the door. I pulled my cellphone out and dailed Abbey's number. As soon as she picked up, I could hear the panic seep in her voice.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. They did a brain scan and they want to remove his breathing tube. We're waiting for you." I could hear the breath she exhaled through the phone.

"We're on our way. Thanks Gabby." she said quickly before hanging up. Less than twenty minutes later, she came walking in Peter's room.

"I'm here." She said breathless.

"Let me get the doctor." I said exiting the room to tell a nurse we were ready. Dr Taylor was back within a few minutes. He placed himself on the other side of the bed while I was still sitting in the chair holding his hand and Abbey was at the end of the bed with Matt's hands on her shoulders offering support. The doc looked at all of us before gently pulling the tube from Mills's throat.

"This could take a few minutes like it would take a few hours." He explained. "I'll give the nurse some more instructions if he wakes up while i'm with another patient." He walked out after we had thanked him.

"Come on Mills, I want my roommate back." Abbey whispered in the increasing silence. I was still holding his hand hoping to feel it move.

"Please baby, wake up." Ingrid and Michelle arrived just in time because a few seconds after they walked in, I felt his hand twitch.

Abbey's POV

The doctor slowly removed the tube from Peter's throat and Matt offered my shoulders a gentle squeeze. I had texted my mother and Ingrid as soon as Gabby had called me so they were already on their way. When they walked into the room, Ingrid went straight to his bedside while my mom took my hand and offered me a smile that held so many meaning. I knew she was in search of confirmation of a boy status since Matt was in so close proximity to me. It took only a few seconds before I saw it happen. His hand had twitched.

"Peter, honey, it's mom. Move your hand again." Ingrid pleaded with him.

"Come on." I whispered fidgeting in place and Matt squeezed again trying to calm my nerves and my moms hand did the same to mine.

"He squeezed it, someone call the doctor please." Gabby asked and my mom let go of my hand to go get the nurse. She came in and changed an IV bag.

"I'll go page Dr Taylor, he'll want to check Mr Mills out." She informed us leaving the room again. The doctor came in soon after.

"I hear Mr Mills is starting to come to." He looked at the monitor and everything seemed normal. It took a few more minutes before Mills finally opened his eyes. "Welcome back son." the doctor smiled at him. Gabby started to cry and kissed his hand.

"Hey baby." she smiled and gave him a gentle kiss on the mouth to which he responded.

"Welcome back honey. You scared us." Ingrid said and he offered his mother a smile and mine just smiled at him.

"Welcome back buddy." Matt said from behind me. All I could do was let the tears fall from my eyes.

"Peter." I smiled at him.

"Come here." His voice was hoarse from the tube that was just removed. It only took me three long strides before I pressed myself into him and his arms wrapped around my body.

"I'm sorry." I cried into his chest. Never in my life had I ever been happy to see him awake.

"I got you." he ran his right hand in my hair and let me cry.


a/n: Mills in finally awake. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and will leave reviews. Coming up will be Peters recovery and both relationships coming to light in the house.