It had been three weeks since the shooting and Derek's condition had shown little improvement. In fact two days prior he had undergone emergency surgery. The director when initially brought to the hospital had lost so much blood and the bullet was so close to his spinal cord that the doctors made the decision to focus on stabilizing him and stopping the bleeding. The bullet had remained in her husband until it began to cause an infection. The fever could not be controlled and Derek suffered a seizure as a result. Left with no alterative the doctors operated.

"I'm full on showing now," Karen informed her husband as she sat by his beside. "My stomach is round and the baby is starting to kick." She grabbed her husband's hand in hers and moved it to rest on their child. "Did you feel that? It's a fighter just like you." Tears stung her eyes but she forced herself not to cry. She needed to remain strong or the doctors wouldn't let her stay. She had already been banned by doctor's orders from staying the night so she didn't want to risk not being able to see him at all.

Derek heard his wife and he desperately wanted to see her, but for some reason his body refused to cooperate. No matter how hard he fought to open his eyes it was useless. He wasn't sure if he could continue to fight. Maybe if he just let himself go for a few minutes he could rest. He cleared his mind and decided to let the blackness take him.

Karen was grazing Derek's hand when suddenly the alarms went off and a flat line crossed the screen facing her. Doctors and nurses rushed the room and her mother who had just entered ran to hold her. Forcing her daughter to leave the room the two women watched from just outside as the hospital staff worked to bring Derek back. "I can't lose him," her daughter cried.

Contrary to what he thought, it was actually peaceful to be in the darkness. He felt relief and in the distance he could see a silhouette. He tried to call out but his voice wouldn't carry so instead he decided to close the distance. With each step he took the silhouette mimicked his action. As the figure grew closer his heart slowed "it can't be," he thought.

"Hello my darling son," his mother greeted. "I've waited so long to see you again but my child it's not time yet." She whispered.

"What do you mean?" He questioned. "You're not real. You can't be."

"I became real the moment you let yourself go into the dark." She answered. "I know it's difficult to understand but you must trust me." She reached out to graze his face but instinctively he flinched. "You don't have to be afraid; I'm not going to harm you. In fact I'm here to help you return."

"Return?" He inquired.

"You need to return to your wife and child." She informed him.

"How do you know about them?" His mother laughed at the question.

"I do get to see what happens in my children's lives." She answered. "I'm so proud of the man you have become and so happy you found Karen. I'm extremely grateful she has finally made you believe you are worthy of love." His mother proclaimed. "I failed you in that regard." She confessed with tears in her eyes.

"I never doubted your love." Derek assured her. "I understood the position father put you in." He continued. "I never meant to hurt you."

"My son; never in a million years could you hurt me. I am the one who is sorry for having been such a coward. You and Grace deserved so much better. Please tell her I'm sorry and that I am proud of the woman she is today." She squeezed his hand. "I was selfish in the past but now I have a chance to make things right. I can help you fight Theo." She calmly explained. "Your wife and child need you."

"I've tried," Derek answered "I can't open my eyes. I'm so tired."

"Nothing is impossible when love is at stake." She told him. "If my failures have taught me anything, it is that second chances aren't often given. Don't waste yours, I will walk with you." With his hand in his mother's, the two turned and began to walk in the direction Derek had come from.

"We aren't getting any activity," a nurse told the doctor.

"Get the paddles," the doctor ordered. Out of fear that the force of shock would damage Derek's spinal cord, the doctor had made every effort to avoid using the paddles. But now, with just a small window of opportunity left to save her patient the doctor; the doctor had no choice but take the risk. From the hallway Karen watched in horror as her husband's body was thrust in the air from the shock.

"It's so hard to breathe," Derek told his mother. "My legs feel are so heavy."

"I know it's a struggle but you must push through." She encouraged. "You were never one to give up." She looked at her son who was clearly battling to remain coherent. "Tell me about Karen." She suggested.

An instant smile graced his face at the mention of his wife's name. "She reminds me of you." He stated in labored speech. "She is beautiful, intelligent and the strongest woman I've ever met. She challenges me every minute of every day and I love her for it." Lost in his thoughts, the director failed to notice his mother's smile when she realized her son's steps were stronger and his breathing less labored. "She showed me it was alright to love and be loved in return. She makes me believe I will be a better father than the one I had. She is everything to me."

"Then go back to her," his mother motioned "she is waiting. All you have to do is take these last few steps alone."

Derek could hear voices and he looked to his mother unsure of what to do. "It's alright Theo; I will be waiting for you when the time is right. In the meantime my son, I will always be here." She placed her hand over his heart. He smiled and kissed his mother's cheek.

"I love you." He told her right before he turned and took the final steps.

Derek's eyes shot open and tried to gasp for air, "He's back!" the nurse exclaimed. "Mr. Wills," the doctor called trying to get his attention. "I need you to calm down so I can take the breathing tube out. Do you understand?" Derek couldn't make out who was talking but despite the pain he felt, he nodded his head in understanding.

Out in the hallway Karen looked at her mother, "am I dreaming?" she asked. "Is he awake?"

"He's awake." The older woman replied just as Grace could be seen running down the hall. Seeing her sister-in-law in tears she feared the worst.

"Oh god is he…" she couldn't complete the thought.

"No, they brought him back." Karen sobbed even harder. "He's awake." Grace gave the young woman a tight hug and together the three women watched as the doctor removed the tube and performed a series of tests. Twenty minutes later, the doctor exited the room with smile that reached from ear to ear.

"Your husband is one hell of a fighter," she informed Karen. "From what I can tell he has full function in his arms and legs. It is going to be a while for him to move his head without restriction and before he can eat solid foods; but other than that he will make a full recovery."

"Thank you," Karen said "for not giving up on him." The doctor nodded in response.

"You can see him once the nurses exit." She stated.

Karen nodded her understanding and as soon as the last nurse left her husband's room, she and Grace entered. Her mother offered to go to the waiting room. "Derek," Karen called out as she grazed his cheek. His eyes fluttered open.

"I've missed you," he whispered. Karen cried tears of relief at her husband's declaration.

"I've missed you too. I was so scared." She confessed.

"I'm sorry, please don't be mad. I love you." He replied.

"I'm not mad, I was just so afraid of losing you. I love you." She placed a kiss to his lips.

"I'm not going anywhere." He assured.

"Grace," he called. His sister moved closer.

"I'm right here Theo."

He looked at both ladies before he spoke "I saw her," he said.

"Saw who?" Grace asked.

"Mother," he answered. "She helped me get back." He could tell they doubted his words. "I know it sounds crazy but I swear to you I saw her."

"It's not crazy," they both assured.

"We lost you Theo," Grace continued. "I don't know how long you were gone but you stopped breathing." Derek tried to absorb what his sister was saying but the reality of everything was becoming overwhelming. He had thought what he experienced was a realistic dream but now he was being told he had actually died.

Karen could see the wheels turning in her husband's head. "Derek, why don't you rest and when you wake again you can tell us everything. I know it's a lot to take in right now." Karen assured. "We'd both like to hear more." Grace nodded in agreement.

"Will you stay?" He asked.

"I'm not going anywhere." She smiled. "You're stuck with me and baby."

"I wouldn't want it any other way." He answered before he drifted into sleep.