Angel walked into Jeremy's room, closing the door behind her. Shae and Janelle had agreed to wait for her outside. She walked over to a chair near his bed and sat down. She studied his face which was covered in random nicks and scratches. There was a white bandage wrapped around Jeremy's forehead. His right hand was in a cast. He looked so pale.

Angel took his good hand in hers and stroked it gently with her thumb, "Hi," she said in a voice just above a whisper, "It's me. You have to wake up, okay? I can't…I can't eat, I can't sleep. I don't know what to do with myself. You have to be okay…you have to." She brought his cold hand to her lips and kissed it, allowing her lips to linger.

"I love you, Jeremy," she whispered before standing up and exiting the room. She walked outside past Janelle and Shae who exchanged concerned looks before getting up to follow their friend.

Melinda walked into a cozy diner to meet Fin for lunch. She spotted him near the back in a booth. She walked over and sat down across from him.

"Hey," she greeted as she slid into the booth.

"Hey," Fin said, handing her a menu.

"How's Jeremy doing?" Melinda asked. Janelle had told her about his situation earlier that day.

"No change," Fin said sadly, "How's your day been?"

Melinda tilted her head, "As good as you can expect when you cut up dead bodies."

Fin laughed, "That's nasty. I was wonderin' if you'd wanna have dinner at my place with Janelle later this week."

Melinda smile, "That would be great." Without even thinking, she reached across the table to give Fin a peck on the lips. She sat back and they stared at each other before breaking out into smiles.

Madison skipped into the kitchen where her grandmother was cooking breakfast. Joseph was giving Zachary a bath. Olivia and Elliot had long since gone to work. Madison stood on her tip toes in an attempt to say what her grandmother was cooking.

"What are you making?"

"An omelet," Caroline replied, moving the spatula.

"Grandma the guardian angel worked!" Madison exclaimed excitedly, "It protected me!"

Caroline smiled, "Did it now? I knew it would."

Madison nodded eagerly, "The bad man's gone now."

"That's good to hear, Madison," Caroline said, "Sit down and I'll give you some breakfast, okay?"

For two weeks, Angel was an absolute wreck. Jeremy still hadn't woken up. She wasn't eating or sleeping. Her grades were slipping and she was constantly skipping class. She didn't hang out with her friends and was very hostile to her parents and brothers.

Casey was in the kitchen, watching the boys eat lunch after school one day when Jonah gestured for her to come over, "What is it?" she asked.

"Angel skipped class again," Jonah said, "I just got off the phone with the principal. He said if she skips one more time he'll suspend her."

Casey sighed and covered her eyes. The front door opened and slammed, followed by the sound of footsteps stomping upstairs.

The red head glanced at her husband, "Speak of the devil."

They walked upstairs to Angel's room. She was on her bed with her iPod, looking out her window. Suddenly, the earphones were yanked from her ears. She glared up at Casey and Jonah, "What the hell are you doing?"

"This behavior is stopping today, Angel," Jonah said sternly, "I just got a call from your principal saying that you skipped class again. Would you like to explain that to me?"

Angel crossed her arms across her chest and looked the other way.

"Hey," Casey snapped, "Don't ignore your father when he's talking to you."

Angel got up from her bed, putting her face right up to Casey's, "You're not my mother, so stop trying to act like it." With that said, she walked away.

Casey was shocked. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Jonah put a hand on her shoulder, "Casey…"

She put a hand up to stop him, "I'm fine; she didn't mean it. She's just angry."

Jonah sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "What are we going to do?"

Elliot watched as Shae and Andrew played tag with Madison in the backyard. Andrew had, had dinner with the Stabler's because Shae felt that he should get to know her family. Caroline and Joe had gone home, their visit ending. Madison shrieked with glee as Andrew gave her a piggyback ride.

"Hey." Elliot turned around to see Olivia behind him.

"Hi," he replied.

She peered out the window, "What're you looking at?"

"Shae and Andrew are playing tag with Maddie. She was begging them so much that they finally caved."

Olivia laughed, "That's Maddie, stubborn just like her father."

Elliot raised an eyebrow, "I'm stubborn? If anyone's stubborn it's you."

Olivia scoffed, "I am not."

"Really?" Elliot raised an eyebrow, "This coming from the woman who wouldn't let her broken arm get checked until she caught the guy who made her break it?"

"I wasn't gonna let him go!" Olivia defended herself, "And I didn't break my arm, I fractured it."

Elliot chuckled and kissed her, "You're crazy, you know that right?"

Olivia grinned and pressed herself up against her husband, "I know you are but what am I?"

Elliot kissed her hard, "Impossible," he murmured into her ear.

Casey and Jonah were in their bed, talking, when Angel appeared in the doorway. She looked disheveled and her cheeks were wet with tears.

"Angel? What's wrong, Baby?" Casey asked with concern. The teenager walked over to her mother's side of the bed.

"I-I'm so s-sorry, Mom," she sobbed, "I'm s-sorry."

Casey pulled Angel into her arms, rubbing her back, "Shh…" she soothed, "It's okay."

"I didn't m-mean it," Angel gasped out, "I love you, M-Mom. I'm s-so sorry."

Casey continued to calm Angel down while Jonah stood up and walked to the other side of the bed. He kneeled down by his wife and daughter, "Do you want to tell us what's going on?" he asked softly, rubbing her arm.

Angel took a shaky breath and wiped her eyes, "Jeremy's been in a coma for almost three weeks now and I can't take it! I can't keep living like this, wondering if he'll ever wake up. I love him so much and I don't know what I'll do if he doesn't get through this."

Jonah tucked a curl behind Angel's ear, "I know you're upset, Baby, but acting out isn't gonna make him get better any sooner."

"I know," Angel said, "I just can't stand feeling like this anymore."

Casey kissed Angel's head, "How about you sleep in here tonight, okay?" She pulled the covers over the both of them. Jonah turned off the lights and climbed into bed. Angel wrapped her arms around her mother and laid her head on her shoulder. Casey let out a breath and stroked Angel's hair softly.

Wanna hear a story?

So I've needed a wallet very badly for a few months now. I haven't been able to find one anywhere, it was crazy. So finally I go to the mall and buy this black wallet that pops open and clicks close. I bring it home but I don't show it to my mom because she hates that style wallet and I knew she wouldn't like it. So yesterday my mom goes to the city and comes home and is like, "Olivia, guess what I bought you? A wallet!"

Outside: "Oh my god, really?"

Inside: "Oh. Shit."

So she pulls it out and hands it to me and of course it's friggin gorgeous and then she's like, "Be careful with it, it wasn't cheap." I look at the receipt and guess how much it cost? Fifty freakin dollars. The other wallet I got was ten. Needless to say I'm taking my ass back to the mall to return Wallet #1 before my mom ever finds out about it.

*SIGH* Life is so complicated.

-serenityrayne417