Alana moved her chair closer to her husband's bed and sighed. Her two children had gone home with Naima an hour earlier, and she had just received a text to say they were finally sleeping. Knowing they were okay had eased her worries just the tiniest fraction, and now she was focused solely on Jason.

"Jason, I really need you to wake up now," she said softly. "I don't know what I would do if I was to lose you, and I'd really rather not find out. We were supposed to grow old together, remember? You promised me that on our wedding day. I need you to keep that promise."

Alana didn't really expect any kind of a response, so she wasn't shocked when there was no movement or any indication that her husband had heard her words, but it still broke her heart. The man she loved with all her heart was injured, possibly with no chance of recovering, and she didn't know how to handle that right then. Tears started to roll down her cheeks as she sat there, silent, praying that Jason would wake up.


After what felt like forever, but in reality was only a few hours, Alana opened her eyes. Something had shocked her awake, but she didn't know what had done it. Alana grabbed her phone from the drawers next to Jason's hospital bed, she checked the time. Surprised at the early hour, Alana first thought that that was why she had woken suddenly. She had fallen asleep in a chair, and she never slept well if she wasn't laying in a bed.

"Owww..."

Alana's head snapped up so fast, she knew she had given herself whiplash, even before the pain started. That didn't matter, though, not when she heard a groan again. There was no mistaking the noise- that groan had come from her husband.

"Jason?" Alana asked, standing up and gently grabbing her husband's hand. "Jason, it's Alana. Can you hear me?"

The only response was another pain-filled groan, but Alana smiled anyway. Any noise was better than silence, and she hoped that if she could get through to him, Jason would wake up.

"Jase, the nurse is coming," Alana said as she pressed a button on the wall behind Jason's bed, "just open your eyes for me."

A couple more groans filled the room, but then Alana spotted the tiniest fraction of brown. Relief filled her as she watched her husband open his eyes further.

"Hey, Jason, it's okay. I'm right here," Alana whispered as she used her free hand to stroke his head. "I'm here."

"Lana..." croaked Jason.

"I'm here."

"Hurts..."

"I don't doubt that, Jase. I'm sure the nurse can fix the pain when they get here. You're meant to be the tough guy, why are you whinging about a little pain?" Alana teased.

Something like a smile flittered across Jason's features at the gentle teasing from Alana. It was gone a second later, and he mumbled, "love you..."

"I love you, too, Jason Hayes. More than you could ever know."

"Well, I'm sorry to interrupt..." a voice said from the doorway, "but I believe someone asked for a nurse in here."

Alana looked over at the door and smiled. Relief flooded through her at the sight of Naima, and when she looked back at Jason, Alana could see that he looked happier and more relieved than a moment ago.

"You should have said you were working today, I would have gone home, Naima," said Alana as her friend came over to the bed and went about checking Jason.

"The babysitter came and said she was happy to watch Mikey and Emma until school starts this morning," replied Naima with a shrug.

"I feel bad."

"Why? You need to be here, Alana. Your kids understand that you had to stay here with Jason. They just made me promise to tell you that they want to be here after school finishes today."

"Of course! I'll pick them up. Who's going to pick up Jameela?"

"The babysitter. I finish at four, so she's going to pick up Jameela and RJ and bring them home for me." Naima looked at Jason. "How's the pain, Jase?"

"Everything hurts," said Jason softly.

"Let's fix that, hey? I'll be right back with something to ease the pain. Do not fall asleep until I get back, understood?"

"Sure." Jason turned to look at Alana. "How...?"

"How? Do you mean how did you get to DC?" Alana asked, sitting on the bed. Jason nodded. "Well, they flew you back here a couple days ago. You're really hurt, so they wanted you to have proper medical care."

"Team?"

"Still in Afghanistan. When Blackburn called me to tell me you were injured, he said they had about two weeks left, which tracks with what Emma, Mikey and I worked out."

"Lana..."

"What is it, Jase?"

"Sorry to interrupt again," said Naima, "I have the pain relief for Jason. It'll probably knock you out for a while, so don't fight it if you feel sleepy. I'll let the doctor know that you're conscious when I head out."

Alana watched as Naima quickly injected the contents of a syringe into Jason's IV and left.

"What did you want to tell me?" she asked once she noticed that Jason had relaxed.

"Didn't listen to me..." mumbled Jason as his eyes started to close.

"Who didn't listen to you?"

"They didn't listen, Alana..."

"I heard that. Tell me who you're talking about." Alana glanced at the door to see if anyone was listening and when she looked back, Jason was fast asleep.