Punk pulled off into the lot of an all night diner that was between Nebraska & Iowa. After catching a cab from the hotel he was dropped at a car rental place to pick up a car. He rested he head on the steering wheel. What was he thinking? He pulled in the lot partly because of the freak storm that seemed to have sprung up that in some ways almost seemed to mimic his turbulent heart. & mind. He was debating going in to get something to eat & drink as he couldn't remember the last time he did either. He shrugged it not caring if he got soaked he cut the engine heading for the doors. Once inside he ran a hand through his hair before heading to an empty seat at the counter.
"What I get for ya hun?" Inquired the waitress. He took the menu forgetting to look at it till now.
"Just a burger & water."
"Right way." She turned towards the back yelling the order to the cook. That time of night the place as pretty much empty. While he waited he turned in his seat watching out the window at the storm seemed to slowly grow in strength.

*Come on man get your head on straight what in the world are you doing.*A little voice spoke in his head.
*I just can't do this. I can't be the rock she needs.* He sort of responded to himself great was he going nuts arguing with himself.
*How do you know? What about last week? What about the last few weeks? Who the hell did she open up to when she couldn't trust anyone else? You that's who & what because of a few bumps in the road you are hightailing it? Some prince charming you turned out to be buddy.*
*I'm far from a prince.**Yeah I see that…so you are a small, pathetic, untrustworthy, looser.*
*Untrustworthy?*
*You don't even remember now do you buddy boy. You promised her you would not leave her until she told you to. Well sure as hell looks like you leaving her…did she tell you?*
*No…*
*Then what in the world you think you doing sitting here feeling down for yourself when your heart is laying in some hospital bed.*
*At least I hope she is.*
*You really think she would give up on you?*
*No but you saw it.*
*SO WHAT!* He cringed placing a hand to his head a moment *The time you left she was still alive. If you had answered your phone when you knew it was Shane you wouldn't be questioning yourself.*
*Even if she is alive I don't think I could stand seeing her as bad as I am sure she is.*
*once again you don't know till you GO THERE! Look at it this way, you don't go & she is fine, you will need to deal everyday with what you let fall through your fingers. You work in the same company. Screw that you work for her family.* He sighed shaking his head he didn't even fully register he had eaten most of his burger.

He motioned for the check & quickly paid it along with a tip before he headed back outside. Luckily for him the rain was already letting up some as he started the engine heading back towards Nebraska. Reaching the hospital he grabbed his cell phone now seeing two voice mails he calls to check them. He hears the first from Shane which he was expecting. The second also from Shane more worried sounding wondering where he is & hope he is OK. He glanced at the clock & it was almost 2 am. He was debating going in when that voice yelled at him to get his ass in there since Shane did say there were not limiting visiting hours that night at least.

Punk when inside after being admitted by a guard who double checked the room number marked no limit. To him the elevator ride felt like it took forever. Stepping off finally he made his way down the hall stopping when he saw Shane asleep in one of the sofas of the waiting area. He thought a moment to wake him, but then decided against it just an case he could not bring himself to stay. He reached the room freezing seeing someone sitting next to her bed. One hand was holding hers the persons other arm under their head laying it on the side of the bed. He lowered his head feeling he didn't belong there. He started to turn, but then stopped. Turning back to the room he watched her peaceful face a moment the only thing that sadly broke the illusion was the mask over her mouth & nose.

He quietly stepped into the room over to the other side of the bed away from the man holding her hand, which be now could see was Orton. He took a hand lightly brushing her hair & down the side of her face as low as he could before leaning over to whisper in her ear.
"I am sorry I am not the prince charming you thought I was." He then softly pressed his lips to the upper part of her cheek. Unknown to him was the faint movement of the hand Randy was holding. Punk turned heading slowly for the door.

"And where the hell you think you're going?" Punk turned his head to look over his shoulder seeing Randy's head was now up looking at him. Randy then stood up reluctantly letting go of her hand allowing him to walk towards Punk. "Well?"
"I don't feel I should be here."
"That's a load of crap & you know that Brooks." He stood in front of Punk studying his eyes in the dim light. "You honestly feel you don't deserve her. Well guess what boy it don't matter if you think she deserves better. It matters what she thinks. As much as I hate to admit it…she chose you over me. One clear way I know this. I spent over an hour holding her hand, talking to her, trying to encourage her. Without the slightest inclination anything was getting through. I know Shane did the same thing for who knows how long before that. Then you come along say one simple thing & she moved her hand."

Randy watched as Punk raised his head a little more. "So get your ass over by her side where it belongs. If you still feel what ever the hell it is that made you think about walking away from her right now…How about you wait till she is awake to make that final call instead of sneaking off like a coward." He saw Punk look between him & behind him at the bed. "I'll leave you alone. Grab a coffee or something." He started to walk past him towards the door. "You better still be here when I get back." Randy then headed into the hall leaving Punk with his own thoughts. He made his way over to the bed taking Jade's hand.

"Hey baby…" he lightly rubbed it with his other hand. "I am so sorry…I wish I was as strong as you need me. I just don't know if I can. You'll be fine I know that." He lightly kissed the back of the hand then looked feeing the faintest of squeezes. "Jade? Come on Jade can you do that again?" The tiniest of groans came from under the mask. "It's ok Baby take it slowly. I'll be ok…You're in a hospital, but you will be fine." He couldn't help the tears wishing to trail down his cheeks. "You'll be just fine…" Watching her face he could see her trying to open her eyes. "Just rest, please just rest & get better."

"I'll let Shane know she may be waking." Punk moved is head to the door seeing Randy was back. "Don't worry I won't tell anyone you cried." He gave a smirk before leaving the door way.
"Damn him. He always going to be a thorn in our side won't he." He wasn't sure but he could almost swear he saw a tiny smile under the mask. He was brushing her hair & side of her face lightly giving words of encouragement when Shane walked in with the doctor on call. Randy just stayed in the hall leaning on the wall sipping his coffee.

"Can I ask you two gentleman to step into the hall a moment?" Commented the Doctor. At first neither man wanted to. Punk more so when he felt her try to grab his hand tighter.
"She wants me to stay. So I'm staying."
"It could just be a muscle twitch."
"That wasn't just some twitch Doc."
"Please let him stay, I'll step out though." Shane commented with a sigh before joining Randy in the hall. Watching the door to her room getting closed. "Thanks for coming…even if I am not sure exactly how you got the info."

"You just need to know who to ask the right questions to Shane." Randy took another sip of his coffee before leaning his head back against the wall. "No offense to her, but she could do a lot better."
"What like you?"
"Yeah…like me. At least I came to see her instead of trying to run off."
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah I head him come in. I acted as though I was asleep. You know not ruin his moment. Well he came in said something & what ever it was made her squeeze my hand. Well I called him back before he could leave the room. He had the nerve to come in & say his good byes to a girl who had no way of defending herself. Down right cowardice of him. Her actions no matter how slight still shows who she picks though." He drank more of the coffee. "I will just need to respect her wishes & deal with just being a friend."

"Real gentlemanly of you Randy & I feel she may need it."
Both men moved off the wall when the door opened with the doctor stepping out. "You gentleman may head inside. Just don't try to over whelm her."
"So she is awake?" asked Shane.
"Yes at least for now. She will fall sleep again I am sure, but she is out of the coma."
"Thank you doctor." The doctor headed down the hall as they headed into the room seeing Jade hugging Punk tightly crying. Shane's face fell some. "Damn he told her." He mumbled to himself.
"It's ok baby…you heard him there are still ways…come on we will work through this."
"We?" She asked through sniffles.
"Yes we…"
"But you sa…"
"Forget what I said I was a fool." he moved to lightly kiss her.

"Hey sis." She moved her head trying to smile despite her eyes being red. He walked to the other side of the bed. After Punk let go of her Shane leaned over to give her a light hug. "So the doctor told you what happened to you?"
"Yeah..Yeah he did…to think…" she just sighed.
"Hey, as Phil said if & when you guys are ready there is ways to deal with it. Look at Stephanie. If she can so can you."
"Yeah I guess you are right."
"OK so cheer up. OK?"
"OK."
"Now that you are out of the wood how about we let you get some rest. I'll be back in a few hours to see when they want to let you out."
"Sounds good."

"You know what I think I'll stay…I don't want to go back to that room alone. You mind Jade?"
"Not at all." She gave Punk a smile as he moved back into the chair as the other guys headed out. On the elevator ride down Randy kept looking at Shane a question on his mind.
"You're not normally the silent one Randy what is it?"
"Am I reading between the lines correctly?"
"Depends, what you reading?"
"Was she…pregnant?"
"Sadly Randy was is the key word in your statement."

Reaching the ground floor both men head out to their cars to head back to the hotel. The ride back Randy was left with his thought of the events that night. He could see why Shane said she would be needed what ever friends she could get. Even to a small point could see what Punk was overwhelmed. She couldn't have been that far along. To find out you were going to be a father & have that ripped from you to the point of loosing the child & who knows about Jade. What ever happened to her made her slip into a coma over it. He when upto his room but was not able to get much sleep.