Author's Note: I was a little evil with that cliffhanger last chapter, huh? Well, I'm not kidding when I tell you that scene basically wrote itself. That being said, this one is far less cruel. Also, if I haven't told you before, you should know I'm a pretty big fan of my OTPs having hospital scenes. Make of that what you will.

Enjoy! Oh, and if you have the time, please review. As a writer, that means a great deal to me.

The hospital hallway was a flurry of patients and doctors, traveling to and fro and stuck inside their own worlds, and as Pete clung tight to Lucas' carrier he searched frantically for a familiar face. Catching sight of Naomi near the nurses' station he quickened his pace until her reached her. "Hey, have you heard anything?"

"They're in with her now. From what I heard there hasn't been much damage, but I guess only time will tell." Naomi sighed at the worried look painted across his features. With his hair disheveled and clothes in disarray, it was clear that he'd been hurrying to get there. She pointed to the boy managing to sleep peacefully. "How is it that he can still sleep here?" she laughed, hoping to lighten the mood.

Pete sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea. I didn't want to bring him, but what else was I supposed to do?"

"Let me take him." Naomi offered. At his questioning glance, she held out her hand. "I could take him to my place. Maya's up late studying anyway and there shouldn't be a problem for her to watch him for a while. If we're here very long I'll just go and you can call me if there's any news."

It wasn't what he would have preferred, but Pete knew he didn't want to risk Lucas being exposed to whatever could have been in the air. "Sure, I guess. Thank you. I just wish I'd be able to send him to Violet in this type of situation. She's his mother."

Naomi sighed and rested her hand on his shoulder. She would have apologized or told him she still needed time, but neither seemed appropriate. "Don't worry about it. It's what I'm here for." she gestured to Lucas' sleeping form again before Pete reluctantly let go so she could take the seat from him.

"Thank you, Naomi. I mean it." Pete replied quietly. He hated feeling like the whole situation was partially his fault, and that even after that he couldn't help but think of Violet and the fact she was his son's mother. They weren't together and he didn't have any real desire to change that fact but it wouldn't change how he wished she'd want to be a part of his life. He thought of the argument he'd had with Addison just before she left and the fact Violet had been an integral part of it. While he'd been so caught up in the idea that he'd only wanted Addison, he hadn't stopped to truly consider how she probably felt about the situation.

"You okay, Pete? Maybe we should sit down. The waiting room is just down the hall." Naomi said. The blank look he'd had on his face for a moment worried her and she hoped news would come soon, just to save them all from the grief.

Lucas started shifting in his carrier, letting out a small cry.

Naomi smiled briefly before sighing. "Actually, I guess I should probably get him to my place. You sure you don't mind?"

Pete shook his head. "No, of course not. I'll call you if I hear anything." he replied. He took the diaper bag off his shoulder, shedding the 'frantic father' layer of his stressed appearance, and handed it to her. "And let me know if he's any trouble."

"Sure thing." Naomi replied, nodding in confirmation before turning to the exit.

The evening had been an interesting one to say the least and as Alex tapped his foot sitting next to Izzie in the waiting room, he knew it wasn't about to get any easier. They'd still been talking and trying to figure out what happened next when the call came. Addison had been involved in an accident and while it appeared that her injuries weren't serious, the group of concerned faces in the room were worried just the same.

"This is crazy, someone should have come out with news by now." Izzie spoke, her voice wavering a little, the words coming out more like a question than a statement. She hated feeling unsure of anything and with no update in almost an hour she was growing increasingly impatient. Her hand was gripping the arm of the chair so tight her knuckles were turning white but she didn't notice until Alex covered it with his, slowly unwrapping her fingertips and giving them a squeeze.

"Don't take it out on the chair, Iz. I'm sure they'll say something soon." Alex replied, wanting so badly to believe it himself.

Izzie bit her bottom lip and shook her head. Fear pooled in her stomach with every second that passed by. The long they waited the more she realized she wasn't exactly the only one worrying. Her gaze flitted across the busy waiting room and she wasn't surprised to see some she actually recognized, one of which was Pete, who'd refused to stop pacing back and forth. In the minute that she watched him he'd walked to and from the door twice, stopping only to pour himself a coffee. "You're going to wear a hole in the floor."

Pete jumped, apparently alarmed at a voice breaking his concentration. "Yeah. I guess. I should call Naomi, see how Lucas is doing. I didn't think it would take this long, but I'm just glad she ended up staying with him." he walked over and sank into a chair one away from where they were sitting. He could hear the clock on the far wall ticking and with every movement in the room he jerked his head up, expecting Charlotte or another familiar face that would bring news.

"Maybe someone should go ask. It couldn't hurt, right?" Violet chimed from the row opposite them. She'd been flipping through a magazine to kill time, but a mixture of her own curiosity mixed with her annoyance at Pete's impatience that fueled her need to simply know.

"No. We're good, sitting and waiting here." Pete shot down her idea. He could see the shock cross her face but averted his gaze before anything else came across. What he didn't say was that considering what they'd fought over, Addison might not be happy upon realizing Violet was there, though he wasn't about to say anything. "Sorry. I'm tired."

"Nobody blames you, Pete. It's kind of become a tradition, all of us sitting together like this, huh?" Cooper said before realizing the serious weight his words carried. "Sorry. I shouldn't have-" he stopped upon spotting Charlotte standing in the doorway.

"Montgomery's good. I say good, despite the fact it took a while to get her stable. She sustained multiple injuries, but nothing was broken." Charlotte nodded, taking a few seconds to focus on everyone sitting there before honing in on Pete. "She's in recovery now, but she asked to see you. I'll have a nurse notify you once she's been moved."

He nodded, feeling grateful that things would soon return to normal. At least in some capacity. He was also thankful that she at least wanted to talking to him-something he hadn't entirely expected considering the way she left his house a few hours before. "Hey, Charlotte?"

The blond turned around expectantly just as she was about to leave.

"Just...thank you. It means a lot." Pete replied, his face set in a firm mask of composure despite any anxiety he was feeling inside.

"I'm just doing my job, Pete. But you're welcome." Charlotte replied, sighing as she took in the defeated postures and tired expressions the group seemed to be wearing. "Now could some of you smile, maybe laugh or something? You're depressing everyone else."

Alex nudged Izzie's arm just after Charlotte left, tilting his head in the direction of the door. "I know you probably want to stay long enough to see Addison for yourself, but do you just want me to take you back to her place afterward?"

Izzie stared open-mouthed in response to his question. They were doing this. They were being civil and doing nice things for each other in ways that weren't just out of obligation. She grabbed his hand and nodded in reply. "Yeah, I think that would be okay."

Later, after the crowd from Oceanside as well as Alex and Izzie left, Pete sat at Addison's bedside while she drifted in and out of sleep. Every time she stirred he'd jump, standing to see if there was anything she needed. When she smiled and told him she had everything and that it was fine he would shrug and sit back down, only to pick up her hand once more. He ran his thumb over the surgical tape that covered her IV line, listening to the machines that beeped and whirred; a sign that they were all connected, in some way, to the woman laying in bed before him.

Addison opened her eyes, darting her tongue out to moisten her lips. The light wasn't so bad once she focused. She could feel the weight pressing against her hand and worked to turn her head, only to find Pete still sitting in the chair next to her bed. "Hey," Addison began, coughing as she tried to speak clearly.

Pete pointed to the pitcher sitting on a table next to where they sat. "Water?" he asked, and after she nodded he got up to pour her a cup. "It's good to see you awake, you know. You had me worried for a while."

Addison wrapped her fingers around the paper cup, wincing as she tried sitting up a little. She was about to give up when Pete placed his hand around the bottom, waiting patiently as she took a sip. "Thanks."

"Of course." Pete replied and placed the cup back on the table.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the pillow. A few seconds passed before she felt comfortable enough to speak. "I shouldn't have left."

"Addison-"

"No, I mean it. I should've just stayed. I should've let you explain, and if I'm being honest here, I shouldn't have let it become an issue in the first place. Violet's the mother of your child, regardless of whether or not she's interested in that facet of her life. We're friends, like you said, and-"

Pete placed a finger over her lips. "Shh. It's okay. Don't worry about it."

Addison shook her head, her auburn hair a strong contrast to the stale white of the pillowcase. "You don't have to say that, Pete. I acted stupidly and now I'm paying for it."

"You do realize this isn't your fault, don't you?" Pete asked. He waited and when she didn't speak he shook his head, unsure of what to say next. "When Naomi called me, I didn't know what to think. I mean, she was just here checking on a patient and saw you being wheeled in. The fear in her voice, Addison, I'm just-" his voice faltered and he fought to keep composure. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Addison spotted his hand laying against the crisp sheets and gripped it tight. Despite any weakness she might have had, it was still pretty strong, and as she tried to find her voice Addison hoped he'd realize that was she said next was important. "I was coming back."

It was spoken so quietly he'd barely heard. "What?"

"When the accident happened. I'd just gotten the phone call I can only assume came from you, and I realized how childish I was acting, so I was going to come back." Addison quirked half her mouth into a smile. "I guess karma decided to kick me in the ass anyway, huh?"

Pete laughed and leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead. "Well, you're fine now. That's what matters."

"I guess you could say that." Addison replied, sighing as she traced her thumb over his wrist. "I suppose you should probably get going. Lucas probably can't stand a babysitter for too long."

"He's with Naomi, actually. She offered to take care of him." Pete answered and before he could ask himself, the words were on her lips.

"So..." Addison tried to school her face into an expression that didn't look too hopeful or optimistic, but curious. "I'm not saying you should, but do you plan on staying?"

Pete shrugged and breathed out slowly, fully aware of the buzzing coming from an overhead light and the fact Addison was starting to fight to keep her eyes open. "Only if you want me to." he replied. "Do you?"

Addison's eyes drifted shut again and she quickly opened them, shaking her head in an effort to stay awake. "I think I do, yes."

"Good." Pete answered before standing up and moving the blanket.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Addison asked.

"You don't expect me to sit in that chair all night, do you? You know as well as I do how uncomfortable they can be." Pete laughed it off, though as he answered it occurred to him that maybe he shouldn't rush anything, despite what happened a few hours before. They'd connected on a level he hadn't felt in a long time and it was a good thing, but they were still on a level that required testing and figuring out boundary lines. What was okay and what wasn't. "Is that okay?"

Addison considered it for a second before wincing as she tried scooting over. It took a few minutes, but eventually they were both in a position that was comfortable. His arms were wrapped around her, and though he didn't ask or say it, she knew Pete was trying to be careful of any bruising or scratches that occurred from the accident. Her head was resting against his chest when the thought came. "Hey, Pete?"

"Hmm?" he murmured, mouth pressed against the crown of her head.

Her palm rested flat against where his heart would be and she could feel his, warm through the thin fabric of the hospital gown. "I really am sorry. I trust you and I don't want for you to ever question that."

He was careful but he still tried giving her a squeeze, wanting to assuage any fears she had. "I don't." he assured her. "You should get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."

"Good." Addison replied, her head resting against him once more. "That's really great."

Within seconds he could hear her softly snoring, but to him there couldn't have been a sweeter sound. She was alive and she was okay, despite the accident and argument that came before it. That was what mattered. They might need to talk or cross bridges when they got to them but he was content in holding her, feeling amazed at how quickly she could fall asleep. He kissed the top of her head and laughed. "God, I love you."