Hey guys!

So, I left the last chapter with a pretty depressing ending. I apologize. But, this is a depressing story... so, I can't really help ya there :D

This actually skips back to before Cybil's funeral, when everyone was back at the hospital. So this chapter, you'll find out what happens to Derek.

... well, kind of. Mwahaha.

Enjoy!

To say lives had been uprooted would be the understatement of the century.

The halls of Caduceus, once busy with friends and coworkers sharing memories, laughs, and curing the impossible, were now empty. Eerie silence filled them instead, only broken by the sound of investigators coming and going to get more information from the scene.

Those halls had been where the most harrowing event in Angeles Bay had taken place since the outbreak of GUILT. And unfortunately for the six involved, this crisis hadn't had a happy ending in the least.

Yes, be it as it may, Caduceus was empty, the last people to exit the heroic doctor and his nurse, brought out respectively in a stretcher and in the arms of an officer. Neither had woken up since that time – one was simply unconscious while the other was slipping closer and closer to death every minute.

Since she was transported there was no word on Cybil's condition either, adding to the burden of unanswered questions being asked by those who knew and loved them the most.

Friends that would normally be cracking jokes about Caduceus's ugly hallways during their daily routines were now plagued with nightmares of their experience at the hospital, making the waiting even more unbearable. Once scattered throughout the famed medical facility at any point through the day, a staff found themselves littered through a hospital once more – though it was not their own, and it was no fun.

Tyler Chase sat next to Leslie Sears in the waiting room of the OR, her head resting on his shoulder. Her arm had already been treated and was now bandaged and resting gently in a sling. Tears intermittently rolled down her face as Tyler stroked her hair softly, his cheek resting against the top of her head. His eyes shone with tears as well, but he did his best to pull himself together, keeping an optimistic attitude in the worst of times.

Victor Niguel couldn't take sitting in one place. He made loop after loop around the emergency wing, unable to remember the last time he was in a hospital for something other than work.

Robert had been brought in to help with Cybil's surgery, as Greg helped work on Derek. In Greg's current state he had not been allowed to take the reins on Derek's surgery, instead acting as an advisor to the chief surgeon from Trinity Hospital, who had been called in to help. As he repeatedly brought his gaze back to stare at Derek's pale face, he realized how unnerving it was – finally understanding just why Derek couldn't tear himself completely away when he had to save Greg's life.

Sidney was still back at the scene with the police and SWAT team, going over last minute statements and escorting them through the building. The atmosphere inside was almost too much for him to take, his nerves getting the best of him. As they ascended to the floor where it had all taken place, Sidney had vomited into a nearby trash can several times, the sight of bullet holes in the drywall and splatters of blood painting a picture of the hell his six brightest employees had faced. Once he settled down he had a thought, clearing it with an officer before he did it.

Reaching down into the grate onto the floor, Sidney pulled Tyler's blackberry from inside and stared at it. The call timer had been run up to nearly four hours, still ticking away every second. With a deep breath and a heavy heart, Sidney pressed a button, ending the call. A silence filled the air as the nearby officers watched Sidney drop his arms to his sides sadly, shaking his head as he looked down. It was over – and now began the aftermath.

And last of all, Angie Thompson laid in her hospital bed, leg bandaged up after the surgery that had just been completed on it. She was still asleep, the trauma of everything that day forcing her into a slumber that extended far past the effects of her anesthesia. She breathed in and out gently, looking peaceful on the outside… but on the inside, images of her and Derek played like a silent film in her mind, inevitably coming to the same ending over and over again. Something inside her fought for her to wake up, but it would do her no good – her deepest nightmare had become her darkest reality.

It was true – they were all scattered. Friends of the fallen all tried to cope in their own ways, holding out optimism in the increasingly bleak situation. But while they were in different physical places, their hearts were all together, hoping that it would find a way to work out.

--

"I love you…"

Leslie cocked her head up to look at her boyfriend, tears still in her eyes. "What did you say?" she questioned.

"I said I love you, Les…" he said, kissing her on the forehead. They had never exchanged the phrase before, and while it wasn't the most romantic moment in the world, Leslie felt the sincerity in his tone and smiled softly, kissing his lips.

"I love you too…" she said, resting her head back onto his shoulder with a sign. "Why… why did this have to happen?"

Tyler felt his eyes water again, hugging her tightly to offset it. "I don't know honey… I don't know…"

--

As Angie came ever closer to consciousness once again, the visions clouding her mind became more and more vivid, tormenting her in her sleep. Though she squirmed fitfully she was unable to bring herself to open her eyes, her body holding her halfway between the relaxing unconsciousness she sought and the hell that was her conscious life.

Feeling that she had squeezed her eyes tightly shut, Angie was surprised when she heard someone gently chuckle, the laugh familiar to her. With great hesitance she blinked open her eyes, noticing that it was Derek laughing. Thinking for a moment she placed them in her bedroom next to her bed, noting that she was in his arms, her body resting against him. It all flooded back after that, her mind looking at Derek and noticing the bump on his forehead he had from his "fight" with her nightstand.

But this time instead of jumping to her feet like she did in reality, she allowed herself to stay there, trading a loving smile with him as she felt him pull her closer. Leaning forward slowly Angie closed in on Derek's lips, seeing that he was smiling at the action.


Eyes closed and mouth slightly open she prepared herself to share a much-anticipated moment with her surgeon, until...

BANG!

The sudden change in scenery prompted Angie to jerk in her bed, her body absorbing the pain she felt from moving her bad leg but refusing to wake her up just yet.

And just like that she was back on the floor of Caduceus, leg bleeding out as she cried hopelessly, looking at Derek's warm gaze, who was just trying to convince her that everything would be okay – after that is, he had just seemingly sacrificed his life so she would leave unharmed.

Stare still locked with his, warm smile upon his face, Angie relapsed again into another memory.

Sitting in a chair racked with guilt, Derek looked over at her with a small smile, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait for another day? I mean, I understand..." she heard herself say, quickly tracing the moment back to after the operation that had snowballed this whole situation.

Derek just shook his head, his smile unrelenting. He turned to look at her again, his stare soft and loving.

"I think after all that's happened today, I need to spend time with someone that makes me happy..." he said gently, his smile growing.

And suddenly the smile was gone, the loving vision disappearing along with it. Instead it was replaced with the mental image of Derek slumping to the floor, his wretched scream ceasing before he hit the tile, body still.

"…No…" Angie groaned gently, thrashing about in her sleep again. "No…"

But still her body refused to give her a break, even after all that had happened. Even when she was awake she knew it would torment her, which is why she was desperate to have a plane to retreat to... though it would not be in her sleep.

Again and again Angie relived every time he smiled at her, the times they had laughed so hard they nearly cried, the times they had shared real tears... the way he swept her into his arms when she felt like the world was against her, and the way he reassured her time and time again that he would never leave her side.

His cute chuckle, his slight laziness, his cute whine, his kind heart... his determination, his brilliant mind, his skilled hands... his general loving nature and optimistic attitude...

"I'm in here... because I love her..."

"Derek…"

"Let her go –"

"…I… love you…"

"... and you can kill me."

"Unngh…"

BANG!

"NO!"

Sobbing uncontrollably Angie's body finally pulled her out of the torture she was feeling, though she didn't feel very comforted by that fact. Sitting up in her hospital bed in a cold sweat she cried hopelessly into her hands, ready to give anything to have Derek hold her and calm her like he had so many times in the past.

But he wasn't there. At the moment he was just a figment of her mind, the memories a placeholder for the one she loved so dearly.

Absolutely beside herself Angie reached over and pressed the call button. If he couldn't be there to help her, she needed someone.

--

"We need a nurse – that's Miss Thompson's room!"

Leslie and Tyler heard the cry from the attendant at the nurses station, one of the head nurses walking over to investigate.

"Go." Leslie ordered, pulling herself off of him. "She needs someone she knows, not a stranger… go."

Tyler nodded and jumped to his feet, walking briskly to the nurses station where he spoke briefly with the nurse. It didn't take much convincing and soon Tyler was sprinting down the hall toward Angie's room.

And in what seemed like his millionth loop, Victor stopped in the waiting room to see Leslie seated by herself. Scratching his head briefly he walked over and plopped down in the chair next to her, finding himself to be uncharacteristically caring and not giving a damn about it.

"How're ya feeling?" he asked Leslie quietly, looking over at her.

She tentatively returned his gaze and smiled a small smile, nodding her head. "I'm doing alright – how are you holding up?"

"I'm okay." he replied, allowing himself to remember how nice Leslie always was.

Just then he sighed and let out a small laugh, leaning forward to rest his elbows against his knees.

"Yeah, that's a lie – I'm a mess." he admitted, feeling her good hand rest on his back and rub up and down slowly, comforting him greatly.

"Me too… I know I have to stay optimistic, but I just can't help but wonder… and it scares me…" she said bluntly, feeling her eyes water again.

After a few more strokes across his back she was done, but it had done him a world of good, bringing the both of them a little more calm in the middle of this storm. And just as their bonding moment ended, Sidney walked in the front door of the hospital, scanning it over until he found the two of them, walking over and taking a seat.

--

The door to Angie's room opened slowly and before Tyler even looked inside, he could hear pained sobs coming from her bed, the sound dropping his heart even further into his stomach – a place from which it had not risen all day.

"Hey… Hey Ang, it's alright…" he cooed, walking into the room and taking a seat on the edge of her bed. Instinctively she threw herself into his arms, sobbing into his chest as he tried his hardest to fight back his own impending set of tears, inevitably failing. He held across her back with one hand, his other holding her head on his shoulder as he gently rocked back and forth, shushing her as she continued to cry until her body started to lose strength, eventually flopping back against her bed.

"T-Tyler…" she sobbed, taking in shuttering breaths as she nearly hyperventilated. "P-Please… please, j-just tell me that D-Derek is…"

She stopped herself before the end of the sentence, another round of sobs cutting her off.

Tyler sighed gently, moving himself to sit next to her. He swung his right leg up onto the bed and left his left hanging over the edge, scooting closer to her. Raising his arm up in the air he moved it until it was resting across her shoulders, pulling her into him closely. She obliged and wrapped her arm across his stomach, holding onto him for dear life – she was thankful in this moment to have someone like him to watch over her… someone who reminded her so much of Derek.

"Angie…" he started, gently brushing the fingers of the arm across her shoulders through the ends of her hair. "You need to relax and stay positive, alright?"

He felt her nod, her sobs slowing by the minute.

"…We don't know how he is, Ang. He's still in surgery right now."

"But… But, it's been hours!" she exclaimed, beginning to cry again.

Tyler just shushed her again gently, planting a gentle protective kiss on the top of her head. "Angie… remember how many hours you were in surgery with your father? That was just for his heart. There's probably more than one area they're working on…"

Angie sighed. "You're right, I'm sorry for freaking out…"

"Hey…" he said sternly, sitting up to get a look at her. "You don't have to be sorry for that – I know how it is with you two… I'm so proud at how you're holding together Angie. I don't know how you do it, frankly…"

"I know… but this is all my fault – if I wouldn't have gone back for my stupid thermos…"

"Stop Angie." he said firmly. "Just stop right there – NONE of this is your fault in any way. It didn't matter what happened… that guy wanted revenge one way or another – it was his fault, none of ours. Don't ever think that… please."

He laid back against the bed and hugged tightly around her shoulders, feeling her rest her head back against him.

"What now?" she shakily asked, hearing him taking a deep breath.

"Well…" he started, racking his brain for an appropriate answer. "You've gotta rely on love…"

The blonde furrowed her forehead in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Tyler exhaled, reaching his free hand to brush through his long hair.

"All teasing aside Ang… do you love him?"

Angie paused for a moment, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"More than anything… I never got to tell him though…" she mused sadly, averting her gaze out the window at the nearly-set sun.

"You will. You'll get to tell him – he's not going to give up on us Angie… he won't…" he reassured her, trying to convince himself of the same fact.

"How do you know?" she asked.

Tyler bit his lip, knowing that in this circumstance, Derek would've wanted her to know.

"I've known Derek for quite awhile… and through that time I've seen him truly passionate about two things. The first is wiping the word "incurable" off the face of the earth, one seemingly hopeless patient at a time."

In his pause, Angie spoke up. "And what's the second?"

The surgeon sighed with a small chuckle. "You."

Her eyes shot open, cocking her head up to look at him. "What…?" she asked quietly, tears collecting in her eyes again.

"From the moment that you two arrived at Caduceus, I could interpret that look on his face a mile away – he's absolutely enamored by you Ang… he hangs on your every word, would do anything to see you smile… would even give up his life to protect you from harm…"

Angie started to gently cry again, feeling Tyler hug her tightly once more.

"I know he would kill me if he was awake, but I also know that he'd want you to know how much you mean to him… how many times I've talked to him when he's been in some pretty deep pits – you're the thing that keeps him going Ang… you always have been… he loves you."

Angie took great comfort in his words, but now it made her wish all that much more that she could be with Derek.

"You guys have a bond unlike one I've ever seen – and I know I tease you a lot, but it's true… you're soulmates. And right now, your soulmate is depending on you… your love and support is going to be what pulls him through this."

Angie smiled a tiny smile, hugging Tyler around his stomach. She cocked her head up and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek – he had always been like a big brother to her… teasing her one minute, putting back the pieces of her broken heart the next.

"Thank you Tyler…" she whispered, leaning back against him for support.

Just then the door clicked open gently and Leslie walked in, smiling at the sight of Tyler comforting Angie as best he could. While he could be immature, childish, and annoying sometimes, he would do anything for those he loved, the big heart of his her favorite thing about him.

"Hey Ang…" she said softly, walking into the room, followed by Victor. Leslie walked to the other side of Angie's bed and sat down next to her, trading a hug with the blonde. Victor positioned himself next to the door, opening it when Sidney knocked from outside.

"Hello Angie…" he said meekly, closing the door behind him.

"Hi Chief." she replied, forcing a small smile.

Sidney stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the floor and then back up at the three situated on the bed, also centering his comment to Victor.

"Words cannot express how sorry I am for all you've experienced here today…" Sidney said gently. "Though I commend you all – you handled yourselves with the utmost integrity and bravery… I'm so proud to have you as my staff, and so relieved that you're all still here with us…"

The four traded a small smile at the commendation – Sidney rarely showed emotion like this.

"Thanks Chief…" Tyler said, stopping when another knock was heard at the door. Sidney turned around and opened it to reveal Robert, who stepped gently in the room and closed the door behind him. Everyone sat up and looked at him intently, knowing that he most likely came bearing news.

"Wait…"

Everyone turned to look at Angie at her request, her gaze fixed on Dr. Hoffman.

"I passed out today, Doctor… I never got a chance to thank you... for, what you did today. You could've thrown it in but you didn't – you kept fighting… and that's the reason that Derek is still alive right now."

Robert smirked slightly. "I appreciate it Angie… and no thanks is necessary…"

It was in trading stares with him that Angie noticed his eyes were pooled with unfallen tears, his expression incredibly worn out.

"But unfortunately… I come here to deliver some… some tragic news…" he stammered out, his voice shaking. He was a far cry from his usual polished, strong self, which showed his staff that what he was about to say was going to change their lives forever.

"We've been in surgery for hours now with both Derek and Cybil, trying to repair the damage that was done… it's been very extensive so far, and unfortunately in one, too extensive for us to fix…"

Tears began falling from every face in the room as Robert took a big breath in, exhaling with a shudder.

"We lost her…" he finally said, hearing a chorus of pained cries from everyone as they reacted to the news. Angie and Leslie leaned into each other, each woman instantly breaking into sobs as Tyler just sat there dumbfounded, tears rolling down his face. Sidney let out a deep sigh, trying to calm himself before he lost his composure – the worst pain of all was knowing that he was going to have to be the one to tell Greg that the woman he had loved was never coming back…

"…Cybil?" Victor asked shakily, his eyes wide with disbelief. She had done so much for them at Caduceus that day – her actions were probably the reason that things had not turned out worse for everyone.

Robert nodded. "We tried everything we could think of… the bullet took out several organs though – and from there, her body just… shut down…"

Victor bit his lip so hard he nearly draw blood from it, emotions running so strong through his body that he could barely breathe. He quickly darted from the room in search of some fresh air, the door slamming behind him with a loud bang.

Hope had failed them once. The question was – would it redeem itself, or completely destroy them all?

--

Two hours later Angie, Tyler, and Leslie had passed out, emotionally drained from the terrible news. Robert and Sidney sat conversing quietly in the corner, seated next to Tyler and Leslie, who were slumped over in sleep on the bench in front of Angie's window.

And back outside Victor was taking another one of his laps, numb to his previous state of blind emotional ruin the more he walked, forcing him to take his mind off of things.

Rounding the corner to the waiting room for now the twenty millionth time that day, he stopped short as he saw Greg Kasal walk out of the OR, shaking hands with who Victor recognized to be the chief of surgery from Trinity… an impressive surgeon.

And as the men stood outside and conversed Greg's attention caught Victor, excusing himself from his conversation.

"Dr. Kasal…" Victor said, outstretching his hand.

"Dr. Niguel…" Greg returned, a faint smile on his lips.

Victor gulped. "Is… is Derek…?"

Greg smiled and sighed with relief. "…We made it – he's alright."

Victor sighed, allowing a happy chuckle to escape him. "Hang on, I gotta spread the news…" he said, moving to run away.

"Oh wait – will you tell Sidney I'd like to speak with him please?" Greg asked, a hopeful glint in his eyes.

The researcher felt his stomach knot itself again as he hesitated, nodding eventually. "Sure, I'll be right back…"

Breaking into a small run Victor ran back to Angie's room, busting through the door loudly and out of breath.

"Wake UP!" he snapped, loudly rousing them all from their slumber.

"…SHUT up!" Tyler groaned. "You're SO loud…" he grumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"It's Derek, you idiot!" Victor snapped, watching as Angie's body spring up and into a sitting position, Tyler and Leslie waking completely up as well. Sidney and Robert rose to their feet.

"Well…?" Sidney asked, hands on his hips nervously.

Victor smirked. "He's alive…"

Angie's hands clasped over her face in surprise, a smile gracing her opened mouth. "WHAT?!" she shrieked happily, looking over at Tyler and Leslie who traded a surprised smile with her.

"They just finished surgery… he's okay." Victor exclaimed, seeing an instant rejoicing from people who had been put through so much pain.

But then, Victor's expression immediately turned serious as he looked at Sidney, the chief's smile fading as well.

"Greg's waiting for you outside – he has no idea." he whispered, filling the mood with a somber tone once again.

Sidney just nodded, quietly removing himself from the room. And with the door slightly opened, Victor watched as Sidney explained the situation to Greg, watching the surgeon crumple to the floor in a heap of sobs, leaning into his brother for support. He closed the door at the sight, it reminding him of what they had lost that day.

"I'm going to go get a status on Derek…" Robert said, exiting the room as well.

And with relief, the remaining four relaxed, waiting to see their friend open his eyes for another day.

Though they still had to bury someone dear to them, the Caduceus crew took some solace in knowing that they weren't going to have to do it twice – that was a hope that kept them all from breaking down completely.

…but as it turned out, the hope they felt turned out to be false in nature once again, falling through on them before they ever saw it coming.

It's things like this that make me surprised I haven't been pitchforked or something ridiculous yet. But if I didn't leave you with a cliffie, it wouldn't make you eager to read the next chapter so much, now would it?

So yeah, we're not out of the woods yet - Honestly, this is all because I still haven't made my decision on Derek yet, if you want the truth. I suck. (le sob)

I love this story too much - can't give up on it yet. Especially when I get to write totally cute scenes with Tyler and Angie... (aw)

See you next chapter!