Chapter 25

"Here you go two steaming hot cups of world famous hospital coffee." Lincoln said placing the two cups on the table in front of Sara.

"Thanks." she said as she took a sip.

Lincoln winced as he sampled his own cup "That's disgusting."

Sara let out a small chuckle before she turned serious again "Can I ask you something Linc?"

He nodded his approval and she continued "How has he been? I mean besides getting shot."

Lincoln shook his head "I don't think we should be talking about this Sara."

"Lincoln, please. I just wanna know if he's been okay, because to tell you the truth I'm scared to death that when he wakes up he's not going to want to even look at me." She looked down at the cup nestled in her hands.

"When he came back he was okay at first." Lincoln started, staring at the wall at the far side of the cafeteria. "I mean don't get me wrong he wasn't all smiles and puppy dogs but you could tell that there was something there. I think maybe it was hope. Hope you would come back or maybe it was all some horrible dream he was waiting to wake up from, I don't know. Everyday he just sat on the couch staring at the front door. He wouldn't eat anything, wouldn't sleep, wouldn't budge from that couch. Time went on and I think he realized you weren't coming back and this wasn't a dream he would wake up from. He quit his job and spent his days hauled up in his room building model airplanes and crap like that. You really put him through hell."

Lincoln took a deep breath and continued "But despite all of that...I don't doubt for even a second that Michael will be happy to see you again."

"I don't understand though, how could he just do that? I mean from what you said it sounds like I really hurt him. How could he just forget about all of that and just forgive me?"

"Because you mean the world to him Sara. And when you love someone as much as Michael loves you, you tend to let go of things a lot easier if it means that the end result is being with you."

Sara looked away from him and back down to the table. She still didn't understand how Michael could just forgive and forget like that. They had been in the same type of situation a year ago, he had really hurt her and it took her 'til just a few weeks ago to truly forgive him. With Michael it seemed to just take a matter of seconds and she was sure the level of pain she had caused him had been worse than what he had done to her.

"I just hope..." Lincoln continued suddenly "That the feeling is mutual."

Sara looked back up to him and met his gaze. "It is."

-----Back In Michael's Room-----

The nurses had just wheeled Michael back into his room. Moments later someone else slipped through the door. She stepped fully into the room and took in Michael's still sleeping form. She turned around and ran a hand over the wall as she made her way to the chair in the corner.

Feeling her curiosity get the better of her she decided to snoop around in the bag Lincoln had left for him earlier that day. Her hand drifted through the carelessly thrown in articles of clothing. She stopped when her fingers hit a small velvety box near the bottom of the bag.

She pulled it out and carefully opened it up. In the center sat the most beautiful, yet simplistic diamond engagement ring she had ever seen. She read the inscription: To My One and Only.

She was startled by the sound of movement coming from the bed behind her. She turned around, quickly shoving the ring behind her back as she did.

Michael stirred awake as he opened his eyes and took in the small hospital room he was in. His eyes scanned carefully over every inch of the room until his eyes landed on the girl standing in the corner. His eyes filled with confusion "Who are you?"

She saw her opportunity and decided to take it, carefully slipping the ring onto her finger.

She held up her hand as evidence "I'm Emily, your fiancée."

-Sorry for the long wait. There'll probably be one more chapter after this.-