Author's notes: Thanks to everyone for your reviews of the last chapter. And I really mean it. I usually love writing but lately it's been a bit of a struggle, and if weren't for your loyal support, I may have given up, and right now, to finish this story for you, keeps me going and I'm sure things will get better soon, and my enthusiasm will be back. So thank you reviewers, followers and readers. I hope you like this chapter.

The nurse holds the door open and he steps inside. She smiles at him and she receives a fleeting smile in return. He nods his head.

"Thank you. How's Teresa? "

" Worried about you, feeling like she's failed you, on top of worrying about Austin. Similar to what you're feeling I imagine."

The nurses tone is softer.

"She needs more than I can give, they all do. "

" You're being too hard on yourself. You've done all the right things. This is difficult, and with the position your family are in, it's almost impossible. But you're doing a great job. "

" It seems to me I'm messing everything up."

"Only if you walk away."

Patrick slumps against the elevator wall, almost wishing for the abruptness the nurse showed earlier, it was easier to deal with. Why is it easier to accept that he's messing up? Is he scared of the commitment? Is he scared of the work? His eyes are closed but he feels the elevator slow and the nurses voice.

"You can do this."

Patrick opens his eyes and stands up straight, pushing his tiredness to the back of his mind. The nurse nods her approval as the doors open.

"Let's see if Austin's back."

Once they're on the ward, Patrick can see people in Austin's room, he quickens his pace. He almost bumps in to the portor in the doorway, a nurse is writing on his chart. Austin is still unconscious, lying still on the bed. The nurse looks at him when he enters and smiles.

"The doctor will be up shortly to talk to you and your wife. He's studying the results at the moment."

Patrick nods his head in acknowledgement, moves closer to Austin and takes his hand, which is laying on top of the covers, he hears the nurse leave. He returns to his thoughts in the elevator as he looks at his son. He knows that none of that is correct, he scared of failing them, losing them, hurting them. Isn't that exactly what he's doing if he walks away?

Teresa's eyes are closed, but she's not asleep. She wishes she could fall asleep and not wake up until everything was fine again. Austin was well and Patrick was her husband once more. But there's a painful lump in her chest stopping oblivion from coming, and it has nothing to do with her injuries. She fears she's alone, that she's lost him. He needs her so much. Finding his Angela and Charlotte slaughtered, and the reasons why, had sent him in to a mental facility for six months, what is it doing to him now? She seen the haunted look in his eyes, the terrible guilt he'd carried for so many years and she sent him away. He had never needed her more and she'd sent him away. She'd knew what she needed to do but she couldn't. It was, as it, there was nothing left in her to give, she couldn't blame him for never coming back.

She opens her eyes immediately on hearing the door open, but disappointment crushes her as the nurse enters with a wheelchair.

"Austin's back and the doctor will be down in a few minutes to talk to you and your husband."

Hope leaps in Teresa's heart.

"Is Patrick here?"

The nurse beams at her.

"Of course, I've never lost a husband yet and I'm certainly not starting with this one."

Images flash across his mind once more, his hand reaching out to touch a baby's hand, the name tag in view. Austin curls his tiny hand around his finger, he hears a woman's soft laugh mingled with a sob. He moves but Austin refuses to let go, he gently removes his tiny fingers and then carefully lifts him out of the incubator. as he does so, Austin lets out a cry, he moves him to his shoulder and bops up and down and he's quickly comforted. He then turns and Teresa is sitting next to him in a wheelchair, smiling at him, with tears in her eyes, he cradles Austin's head and hands him into Teresa out stretched arms.

More images flash before his eyes as he hears the door open, he turns and the nurse from the roof is pushing Teresa in to the room. Once she's next to Patrick, the nurse leaves. Teresa is sat just in front of him, she reaches out and lays her hand on Austin's arm. Patrick releases his hold on his hand.

"Here, you can hold his hand, I'm sure he's missing his Mother's touch."

something in Patrick's voice causes Teresa to look at him. She can't read his face.

"Is everything all right? I'm sorry about bef..."

Patrick cuts her off.

"Please don't apologise, you have nothing to apologise for."

Patrick's gaze moves to Austin causing Teresa to turn from him and look at him too. There's silence for a few moments as they watch their still son. Patrick fingers the blanket covering Austin, his thoughts racing. He closes his eyes and mentally takes a deep breath, deciding to jump in. He coughs, his voice is soft and thick:

"You had me bring two outfits to the hospital, as you couldn't decide which one you wanted to take him home in. After trying them both on him, you decided on a blue trousers and waistcoat, all in one thing, with a white shirt underneath. It was a present from the Rigsby's, that was someone we worked with at the CBI. I remember you mentioning their names."

Teresa hasn't breathed since she realised what he's talking about.

She turns slowly towards him, tears in her eyes making it impossible to make out his face clearly.

"You remember?"

"He reaches out and takes her gently by the arms, pulling her out of the chair towards him."

"It's just that one thing, but..but.."

She reaches out and touches his face as he struggles to talk, he leans in to her hand, she feels tears on his face too. He pulls her closer, squeezing her tight, bury his head in her hair. Teresa closes her eyes and drinks in the feel of his body pressing against hers. The familiar scent, it was as if nothing had changed, but everything has. She wants to trust what's happening, but knowing the vulnerable, emotional state Patrick is in, she needs to be sure.

She pulls back and he loosens his grip. He's looking at her puzzled and hurt, it takes all her willpower not to move back into his arms. She squeezes his hands.

"Patrick, it's wonderful that you remember.."

She smiles at him and cups his face with her hand.

"You said it's the one thing. How much do you remember, just what you've told me?"

He gives a small nod.

"Austin's my son, I saw his name tag, I held him, cuddled him."

"How does it make you feel?"

He looks at her questioningly.

"I thought I showed that."

She searches his face.

"Do you know that I'm your wife? Do you love me Patrick?"

He looks at her and then at the floor.

"I want the truth. We can work with the truth. We can build on it. It's understandable why this memory has come back to you and I hope it's a start of many...of you coming back to me, to us. But..."

"I know Austin's my son, I have memories of the feelings of that time. I know you're my wife, I gave you Austin, we dressed him together, you teased me about why you chose the outfit. It's true I don't love you. yet. I admit that, but..."

He looks down at his feet, gathering the courage he needs, he steps a little closer to her.

"On the roof just now, I thought about jumping off, I wanted to join Angela and Charlotte, the thought of living with the guilt, the horror..."

He shakes his head.

"but I couldn't. I couldn't and it was because of you, and Austin and Maddy. I don't want to fail my second family. I like you, and the children and enjoy being with you. I know it's not a lot, but I promise I won't leave you, I want to work this out, I want to be with you all. I care about you, about Maddy and about Austin and I think my actions have proved that. I think you can believe in that."

He glance towards Austin as he's speaking, and then does a double take. Austin's eyes are open, and just then the Doctor enters the room.