A/N: Thank you for the reviews. Again a little bit of Italian thrown in. I hope you enjoy and sorry it is so long, but I made a promise so I had to keep it.

A/N2: Things in single quotes and italics are thoughts

Disclaimer: I own nothing Flashpoint related.

Disclaimer 2: I do not own or plan to make money on any of the songs in this story...Those responsible have been noted at the end.

It's a Second Chance

Chapter 25

The Waiting Game

Spike spent the rest of the evening listening to music and researching spinal cord injuries...from best case scenarios to worst case scenarios. Best case being that once the swelling was down there would be no long-term damage to the cord and thus Anisa would regain full function of her limbs. Worst case would permanent paralysis from the chest down.

The more that he read about that scenario the more his heart ached. She had already been through so much tragedy in her life. This might be more than she could bear. He decided in that moment that he would be the one to bear as much burden as he could. He would be there for her through her triumphs and challenges.

He continued his research on things that could make living easier for a paraplegic. He wanted to know everything he could about the situation so he could be a resource to her.

Spike started to yawn and realized that he was cold so he got up and went to the cupboard to get a blanket. As he pulled one off the shelf, he noticed a bag of belongings on the lowest shelf. Curiosity overtook him so he opened it. Inside he found the clothes she had been wearing, her shoes and a small baggie. He looked in the baggie and saw what appeared to be the earrings she must have been wearing yesterday. Also in the baggie was the gold chain that bore the wedding ring that she had given to Sean McConnell. He rubbed the ring with his thumb through the bag and his heart felt heavy again. 'So much sadness for one person', he thought. He tucked the baggie into the bottom of the bag of her belongings, so they wouldn't be lost. He closed the cabinet and made his way back to his chair with the blanket. Shortly after that, a nurse entered the room quietly to check her vitals.

She saw Spike and smiled and said, "Hi, I'm Karen. You must be Spike."

Spike gave her a sweet smile and nodded, "Hi, Karen."

"Do you need anything?" she asked as she went about the task of taking Anisa's vitals.

"Nah, I'm good." replied Spike readjusting his position. He watched as the nurse took Anisa's pulse and blood pressure and checked her breathing. "How is she doing?"

Karen smiled reassuringly at the Italian and said, "Good. She is stable. Her breathing numbers are improving consistently."

That brought a dimple-revealing smile to Spike's face, "That's good to hear." He knew from his research that the more breathing she was doing on her own, the less chance that there was any paralysis above the chest region.

"It's getting late, so if you want to turn down the lights, the button is on that wall by the door," offered Karen. "I will be happy to turn the lights down on my way out if you want."

"Yeah, sure that would be fine," said Spike. Once she had left the room, the only light in the room came from the glow of the buttons on the monitors and his computer. It was serene and a little eerie. It wasn't long until he felt himself dozing. He shook himself awake and moved closer to Anisa. He watched as her chest moved up and down in rhythm with the machine helping her breathe. He reached out to wrap her hand in his.

"Come on, baby. You can do this. You are stronger than you think." He absently rubbed her hand with his thumb. He closed his eyes and slept.

Anisa could hear music. It was a sweet woman's voice singing. She listened to the lyrics:

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more**

Anisa listened to the words of the song. She thought she felt a tear coming to her eye. She could feel the cold air on the track it took as it trickled down her cheek.

"Mike! Please... can you hear me?" but there was no response. "I love you..." she whispered knowing that he couldn't hear him. She faded...

Spike awoke to the sound of Karen entering the room to check Anisa's vitals. He watched her a moment before saying anything. She quietly went about her work trying not wake him not knowing that he was already awake.

"Hi, Karen, how's she doing?"

"Oh, hi. Sorry if I woke you. She is doing really well. Her numbers keep improving." Karen said softly with a smile. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good." said Spike garnering a questioning eyebrow from Karen. "OK, maybe a little tired."

"I bet. I'll tell you what. This will be the last time that I will interrupt your beauty sleep tonight. But you have to promise to try to go back to sleep."

"Haha. OK, deal" answered Spike. Karen filled out the chart and smiled at Spike as she walked out of the room.

Spike stretched out trying to get some shut eye before the sun came up. It seemed as though he had only been asleep for 15 minutes when the sun peeked through the blinds. He stretched in his seat then got up and walked over to the window. He opened the blinds a little, just enough that he could see the sky changing from the crimson and orange to the soft yellow and pink of the morning. He looked closely and saw a hint of lavender below the pink. That made him smile a little because purple, any shade, seemed to signify hope. He was standing there when the door to the room opened and Karen entered. Her eyes scanned the room and found his figure by the window. He looked over at her and smiled.

"Good morning," she greeted and began her duties of checking Anisa's vital signs.

"Morning," he responded walking over to fold the blanket he had used.

"Hmm," Karen uttered as she lifted Anisa's hand to take her pulse.

Spike was on high alert, "What is it?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's nothing," she responded, but looking in his eyes, she knew that answer wouldn't suffice. "Her hand just seems warmer than it did before."

"What does that mean?" questioned Spike.

"It may mean nothing. She doesn't have a fever, so that is a good sign. Dr. Pradeep just started his rounds and should be here soon." She could see the hope growing in the young man's face. "Spike, it may mean something but it may also mean nothing. I want you to understand that, OK?" Spike knew she was trying to prevent him from getting his hopes up so he just nodded.

"There is fresh coffee at the nurses station, can I get you a cup?" offered Karen as she opened the door to leave.

"Thanks, but I'll get a cup in a minute," said Spike with a smile. Once the nurse had left the room he walked up to Anisa's face and kissed her on the cheek.

"Buongiorno, tesoro. You are doing really well today. Today is going to be a really good day. I can feel it, can't you? I'm going to get a cup of coffee, but I will be right back. Don't go anywhere." He chuckled at his little joke. He slowly left her side and went out to get a coffee.

'It is starting to get a little bright in here,' thought Anisa. She thought she heard some classical music, but then there were some voices. One was a female voice and the other was Mike. Her right hand felt funny, strange, odd.

Then she felt something on her cheek and she knew it was Mike. She tried to prolong the touch because it felt warm, it felt good, but he pulled away and said good morning in Italian. She knew that word, because her father, who had been a world traveler, used to greet her in the morning with that word. He had loved the sound of it and so she had come to love the sound of it, too. " Buongiorno" she replied but knew he wouldn't be able to hear her. She had given up trying to communicate with anyone. 'What was the point? They couldn't hear her.' Then Mike was gone. 'If It's Love', by Train was the next song to play. She listened to the lyrics. They were hopeful and she began to feel that maybe everything would be alright...that maybe she and Mike could be happy together, forever. That was the last thing she remembered.

Spike picked up a newspaper when he had gotten his coffee. He was reading the headlines to Anisa when he came across a story about TJ Ward. The headline read "Former SRU Officer Arrested for Kidnapping and Attempted Murder." Spike read the article to himself. It outlined what Ward had done to him and Natalie, but left out the game he had played with Anisa. Spike was glad for that. He had moved on to the Sports page when the door to the room opened up again. Sam and Jules walked in.

"Hey, guys," said Spike putting the paper down and turning to his friends who were entering the room.

"Hi, Spike," said Jules coming over and giving him a hug.

"Hey, Spike," said Sam tossing him a small bag.

Spike opened the bag saying, "What's this?" Looking inside, he answered his own question. He smiled as he withdrew a shaving kit from the bag.

"You can't carry off the scruffy look as well as I can. You look more like a deadbeat gangster." Spike chuckled because he knew his friend was right. He hated that 5 o'clock shadow he was prone to get. Sometimes he even shaved twice a day. He hadn't looked at himself in a mirror since the previous day. He reached up to his chin and felt the rough stubble on his face and winced. As if reading his mind, Sam confirmed, "Yep, you look like crap. Go and take some personal pride in your grooming habits. We will stay here with her."

Spike smiled at his friends. He knew Sam's joking was his way of showing he cared. Spike also knew that Jules would want to spend some time with her friend. Spike left the two of them with Anisa and went in search of a place to clean up a bit. When he found a bathroom with a mirror he stared at his reflection. He had deep circles under his eyes, not to mention bruises. Sam was right the heavy stubble made him look like a gangster...not in a 'good way' he smirked to himself. After rinsing and drying his face, Spike looked at himself again. Not great, but definitely better than before.

Anisa felt the fog lifting a little again as she heard more music. It sounded like a country song. It was pretty.

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you ***

Then she heard Mike, he was reading the news out loud. That is weird she thought. Then she heard more voices but they were farther away so she could not hear what they were saying. 'Was that Jules' voice she heard? And Sam?' She wanted to scream "Hello" to her friends, but she knew they wouldn't respond, they couldn't hear her. Her hand felt strange again, but now it was creeping up her arm. She heard a door close and then she heard Jules offering encouraging words. She was getting sick of hearing pity in people's voices. When would all this make sense? She must be in pretty bad shape, but she still couldn't understand why she couldn't open her eyes or why she could hear people but they couldn't hear her.

Then she heard the door open again and Mike's voice. It always made her calm to hear him. She started to fade again.

Spike re-entered the room and saw Jules standing next Anisa's bed her hand mindlessly touching Anisa's arm. Sam's arm was loosely draped over Jules' shoulder. Spike thought about how great they looked together and hoped that one day they would be able to openly be together.

"Hey guys," greeted Spike. Sam dropped his arm automatically but then saw Spike smirk at him and he chuckled.

"Much better," said Jules touching his cheek. "Anisa likes the clean-shaven Spike," she said with a smile. That made the Italian blush a little.

"Any change?" He asked with just a note of desperation in his voice.

Jules looked down and shook her head. She felt like she needed to be strong and encouraging for her friend. "Spike, she is going to be OK. I know it. She is strong." She wasn't quite sure who she was trying to convince.

"I know," Spike said softly looking at Anisa. Jules looked at Sam and they said their good byes and headed in to work.

Spike went up to Anisa and kissed her cheek gently rubbing his freshly shaved cheek against her face. "I shaved just for you, because I have a feeling I'm going to see those deep blue eyes today. I can feel it." There was something inside him that made him feel that way.

He took her left hand in his and gently rubbed her fingers. He brought them to his lips. He was sure that they felt warmer than they did before. He closed his eyes and for the first time prayed. A moment later the door opened and Dr. Pradeep entered the room.

"Good morning, Spike."

"Morning, Doc," answered Spike reluctantly releasing her hand.

"How's our patient doing?" asked Dr. Pradeep offering a small smile.

Spike smiled weakly and said, "She is getting stronger I think."

"Let's see," said the doctor as he read her chart and then went through the drill of checking all of her vitals. When he checked her charts, he nodded his head and said, "her breathing looks very good. She is doing most of her breathing on her own. I think we will be able to extubate her today. I want to give her another few hours to regain a little more strength."

"Really? That's great news." Spike was ecstatic. "I knew she was getting better." His smile went from ear to ear. He tried to summon the nerve to ask the question that was gnawing at his mind. "Doc, when do you think we will be able to pull her back from the coma?"

Dr. Pradeep couldn't help but feel for this young man who has been tirelessly by his patient's side. "I'll tell you what. Once we are sure she is able to breathe on her own, we can take her to MRI and check the spinal swelling. If the swelling is down, we can talk about it then, OK?"

Spike nodded, "Yeah. Thanks, Doc."

A couple of hours later, Spike was reading Abraham Lincoln when the door opened and Sarah walked in.

"Hi, Spike. How was your night?" asked Sarah cheerily.

"Hi, Sarah, you back on duty?"

"Yep and Dr. P told me the good news. He will be in shortly and will remove the breathing tube. We will need to keep a close watch for at least an hour to make sure that she is breathing OK on her own," reported Sarah with a big smile.

Spike could only smile back. "Is there anything I can do?"

Sarah looked Spike and saw the hope in his eyes. "Nothing other than what you have been doing. It's not very scientific, but I know that your love and prayers have helped her improve as quickly as she has." Spike just smiled and looked at Anisa.

He went up to her and whispered in her ear, "You are doing so well that you even surprised the doctor with your progress. I told you you were amazing!" He gently kissed her.

Dr. Pradeep walked in and asked, "So, are we ready?" He pulled on some latex gloves as did Sarah. Spike stepped back out of the way to watch.

She felt something on her cheek and then recognized his scent. She wanted to smile and say, "Mike, you are my light!" but she knew that he wouldn't hear her so she just inhaled his scent and savored the feel of his soft skin against her cheek. Then she felt something on her hand. It started to feel strange...warm. Yes that was it, it felt warm.

There is that other male voice again. 'Who was that?' She felt Mike step away. "Come back, honey. Keep me safe." More talking and then quiet. 'Was Mike reading Abraham Lincoln again?' She was fading again.

Anisa then heard a female voice talking to Mike. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but they sounded happy. 'Good' she thought, 'Mike should be happy.' She thought about his smile and great it was because it reached up to his eyes and revealed those dimples that took her breath away. She was lost thinking about that when she heard that other male voice. 'Did he just ask if we were ready? Ready for what?'

She felt something touching her face, but she knew it wasn't Mike because Mike was gentler. Then before she knew what was happening, she felt as though she were choking on something. That sensation only lasted for a couple of seconds. She could hear people talking, but she could understand what they were saying because she was concentrating on the burning sensation now in her throat. The good news is that she could breathe again. But she felt very tired.

Spike's eyes grew wide as he watched the doctor and nurse remove the breathing tube from Anisa. Once the tube was out, three sets of eyes watched the machine that monitored her breathing. It blipped once and then seemed to take on more steady rhythm. Spike was holding his breath as if that might somehow help Anisa breathe. He finally exhaled as her breathing pattern became steady. The doctor nodded his head to himself and gave some instructions to Sarah.

Addressing Spike, he said, "Now we will giver her a couple of hours to establish her breathing and then if all goes well, we will take her to imaging for an MRI of her spine."

"Sounds good," said Spike with eagerness and hope in his voice. Dr. Pradeep nodded and walked out of the room followed shortly by Sarah.

When Spike was alone, he took the opportunity to call Ryan with the update. Ryan was ecstatic and promised to be there as soon as he could. After he hung up, Spike looked at Anisa. He noticed that the color had begun to return to her face and that her features had a more normal appearance without the tube protruding from her mouth. He brought his hand up to her cheek and gently traced line of jaw. He bent down and brought his lips to hers. He so wanted to feel her respond to the kiss, but there was nothing. Then the rational part of his brain took over and reminded him that she was still in the coma. He gently kissed her nose and then sat back down in his chair. For the first time he was afraid... Afraid that she might not make it...Afraid that she would be paralyzed...Afraid of what her reaction would be if she had permanent nerve damage... Afraid that she didn't love him. He closed his eyes and tried to rid himself of those thoughts.

When the door opened with Sarah's entry into the room, Spike sat up trying to shake the sleep out of his head.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," Sarah said to Spike. "She seems to be breathing well so I am going to take her to imaging. She will be gone for about and hour or an hour and a half. Why don't you go get something to eat?"

Spike stood stretching a bit. "Yeah, that is probably a good idea. Will you call me if …. anything changes?"

"You bet"

While Spike was in the cafeteria, he called his mother and Greg to give them updates. Since he had brought his laptop with him, he also did some research on the cage that was protecting Anisa's spine. It was apparently made from some type of ultra strong polymer that was rigid enough to protect, but flexible enough move with her when necessary. He was rubbing his eyes when he noticed a figure approaching him.

"Hey, Spike. How are you doing?" asked Lambert.

"Hi, Ryan. I'm good. How did you find me?" Asked Spike.

"I went to her room and she wasn't there, but I saw you speakers and stuff so I knew you hadn't left and that they hadn't moved her. The nurse told me that Anisa was having an MRI and that she had sent you to get somethings to eat. That was when I had to use my detective skills to determine you were here," joked, Lambert. Spike chuckled at the little joke. "How long has she been gone?"

Spike looked at his watch and said, "A little over an hour. Want to head back up there? She should be finished soon."

"Sure," answered the detective following Spike to the elevator.

Once they got back to the room, Lambert turned to Spike and asked, "You OK? You look like crap. Not just tired, like something's on your mind."

Spike inhaled and flopped into the chair. He wished that he was better at hiding his emotions. "I guess I'm a little worried," he said.

Ryan knew how he was feeling, so he nodded his head. "She is really tough, you know that right? She is going to wake up from that coma."

It was Spike's turn to nod. "Yeah, I know." He paused a moment then said, "I'm worried about how she will feel once she wakes up. How she will react."

Ryan looked at him quizzically, "What do you mean 'how she will react'?"

Spike rubbed his eyes, "You know how she is... If there is any long-term damage...she has already been through so much. I don't want her to give up."

Ryan now understood what Spike was getting at. He remembered how she fell into darkness after Sean died. "I know what you are saying, Spike, but this time she has something to live for." The two men looked at each other. Spike nodded hoping Ryan was right.

Sarah opened the door and held it open. She nodded in greeting to the two men sitting in the room. A couple of orderlies rolled Anisa's bed back into the room and to the spot where it had previously been and then left.

"How's she doing?" asked Spike.

"Good," answered Sarah. "Her breathing is getting stronger. Dr. P should be in shortly with the results of the MRI." As she finished the last word, the door opened and Dr. Pradeep entered.

Upon seeing Ryan, he extended his hand and said, "I'm Dr. Pradeep, I don't think we have met."

"Ryan Lambert, I'm her partner," said Ryan shaking the doctor's hand.

"OK, well our patient did really well. Her breathing continues to improve and that's a great sign. The MRI showed that the swelling has decreased enough that we should be able to pull her back from the coma," said the doctor looking at the anxious faces of the men before him. "I have to let you know that this part of the process can be the longest. Once we stop the medicine that is keeping her in that state it could take hours or it could take days for the patient to regain consciousness."

Spike pursed his lips and nodded. He wasn't sure what to say so he just said, "OK. That's good."

The doctor looked at the two men and said, "Do either of you have any questions?"

Ryan asked, "Will she be in pain?"

Dr. P answered, "I do not think so. She will still be strapped down for stabilization until we know the extent of her injuries, however she should not be in pain except for the lacerations on her arm and face. Maybe from bruising when she fell but it is unlikely that she will be in pain due to the spinal injury." Ryan nodded in understanding.

"Will it make a difference in her long term prognosis … how long she remains comatose?" Spike was worried that if she did not wake up right away that there might be some more permanent spinal/nerve damage.

"No it shouldn't make a difference," responded Dr. Pradeep. When he saw there were no further questions, he walked over to his patient and removed the medication that was feeding in through her IV. Ryan, Spike, Sarah and Dr. Pradeep all looked at Anisa and then back and forth to one another. It was quiet for a moment.

Dr. Pradeep broke the silence. He looked at Spike and handed him a business card and said, "I will be on call all night, but call me on my mobile number if there is a change or if you have any other questions."

Spike gave him a smile and said, "Thanks, Doc," as he took the card. Sarah and Doctor Pradeep left the two police officers alone in the room with Anisa. The two men just sat in silence, neither one of them sure what to do.

After about an hour of sitting in virtual silence, Ryan's phone rang. It was Melanie so he stepped out to take the call. Spike took this opportunity to give Anisa a kiss.

"Sweet thing, I love you and I want you to know that no matter what, I am now and always will be here with you. Just come back to me. I need to see your eyes and your smile." He closed his eyes and nuzzled her chin. He stood back up when he heard the door open again. Ryan walked in and saw Spike stepping away from the bed. He knew that he had interrupted an intimate moment, but it was too late to retreat.

"Sorry, Spike,"

"No … um... I was just straightening her hair. It's OK," said Spike trying to recover.

"Listen that was Mel. She asked if I could come home for dinner... would you mind? I hate to leave you alone since you haven't had a break."

"No, go, be with your family. I'll call you if there is a change," said Spike.

Ryan pulled Spike into a manly embrace and said, "You guys are lucky to have each other. Remember, I can be here in 20 minutes."

"Thanks, Buddy. I'll call if there is a change," Said Spike as he watch Ryan walk out the door.

Spike sat down and wrapped Anisa's hand in his, gently caressing it. He was so anxious that he couldn't concentrate on anything so he just sat there holding her hand and thinking about the happy times they had spent together. He closed his eyes.

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly, madly, deeply do
I will be strong I will be faithful
'cause I'm counting on
A new beginning
A reason for living
A deeper meaning, yeah

I want to stand with you on
a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

And when the stars are shining
brightly in the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish send it to heaven
Then make you want to cry
The tears of joy for all the
pleasure and the certainty
That we're surrounded by the
comfort and protection of

The highest powers
In lonely hours
The tears devour you

Oh can you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
'Cause it's standing right
before you
All that you need will surely come

I'll be your dream I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly, madly, deeply do

I want to stand with you on a
mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to live like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me ****

Anisa heard music again. 'What a pretty song'..she loved Savage Garden. She listened to the words and thought about Mike. She felt that way about him...she had never felt this way before. She wanted to tell him. But he couldn't hear her...could he? She decided to try one more time. "I love you...forever."

Spike had fallen asleep. He had no idea how long he had been asleep when he was awoken by a sound. He couldn't tell what it was because he had been in a deep sleep. He opened his eyes and glanced at Anisa's face. He was squeezing her hand gently.

"Come on baby, please come back to me." said Spike trying to hide the desperation in his voice. His eyes drifted to her face. He studied it. 'Wait, did he just see her eyes flutter?' His eyes were glued to her face watching for even the slightest movement.

"I know you're there, sweetheart. Let me see your beautiful eyes," encouraged Spike. That time he knew he saw her eyes flutter. His heart started pounding.

"Come, on honey," he uttered. Slowly her eyes opened. His smile got so big that his cheeks started to hurt.

"Mike," her voice sounded like a whisper.

"I'm here, babe,"

"You're OK," she said weakly and smiled. She tried to turn her head to face him but she couldn't move it. She tried to lift her hand, but it wouldn't move either. Spike saw her expression change from happiness to frustration then fear. She looked around her room. She saw part of the halo structure around her head and it started to make sense to her. She now understood why she couldn't move. 'Oh no...not that! Please … I couldn't have broken my back. I can't be paralyzed.' she said to herself. Tears were burning the backs of her eyes. She clenched her eyes closed as a tear escaped and rolled down her face.

** Song: "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri

*** Song: "God Gave Me You" Lyrics by Dave Barnes

**** Song: "Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Savage Garden

"Buongiorno, tesoro" - Good morning, Sweetie

A/N: Sorry for the angsty cliff hanger, but I promised she would wake up and the chapter got really long! Stay tuned.