A/N: Updates will not come as often due to schedules. I'm really sorry, but please be patient. Go check out the new The Kovac Series website ~ www.geocities.com/thekovacseries. It is still in major progress but there is a new interactive page you all might want to check out. The song used in this is "If You Sleep" by Tal Bachman.

If You Sleep

Mariana leaned against Mitchell, closing her eyes. Don't think of him leaving…forever. Just think of being with him here, right now.

Her body nestled into his perfectly. They were a perfect match, so why couldn't they be together forever?

~*~*~*~*~

Figure of divine perfection

No ones left with more affection

Soul to soul we've breathed

Oh, I won't let the fates succeed

~*~*~*~*~

"Oh! Hi Dr. Carter," Alexandria exclaimed wearily as she walked into her sisters room. Carter looked up from the copy of the New England Journal of Medicine that he was reading.

"Hi, Alexandria. How are you holding up?" Carter asked.

Alexandria sighed and shut her eyes to block the tears. "Not well. I just can't stop thinking about her."

Carter nodded. "That's completely normal Alexandria. You're holding up quite well for what you've been through in the last six months. Your sister was stabbed and you had to go through that. You were kidnapped, you were raped, you became pregnant…and now this, your sister knocking on deaths door, even while we speak."

Alexandria sighed. "More than anything I want Ana to wake up. But, it's been four days and she hasn't moved an inch. If she would be physically all right once she woke up, I want her to wake up now. But if she won't, I don't want her to live a life of hell on this earth. But you know what? I just want her to do something. I'm tired of waiting, I can't wait much longer. I'd always thought that waiting for a teacher to hand out a graded test was too hard…but this, this is much harder."

Carter nodded. "Waiting is the hard part. I wish we could tell you that your sister is going to be all right when she wakes up Alexandria, but we can't. Are you getting sleep? Are you eating?"

"I haven't gotten much sleep since the shooting, even though I've tried. And I haven't eaten anything since," Alexandria replied.

"I'm going to go down to the cafeteria and get you something," Carter said as he got out of the chair. "Those babies need food. And you should try getting more sleep. Those babies need you to rest too."

"I know," Alexandria nodded as she sat down next to the bed.

~*~*~*~*~

Worried hours of contemplation

Whispered bits of conversation

Unaffected orderlies

Disinfected rooms and hallways

~*~*~*~*~

"I love you Ana," Mitchell whispered into her ear. Mariana smiled at the sound of his voice and the feel of his breath lightly caressing her ear.

"I love you too Mitchell," she replied.

There was a moment of silence before she said, "Mitchell, I'm in this state because there's a possibility I could go back to my life. If you're here, why isn't there a chance for you to come back too?"

"Because my injuries were far worse than yours, baby. I didn't spend much time in this state. I was already passed this state, but then I came back here to make sure you went back to your life. I don't want you to die, Ana," Mitchell told her.

"I don't want to live without you!" Mariana cried.

Mitchell kissed the tears off her cheeks. "You have a promising future ahead of you. I wish I could be there while you experience life, but I can't. And I'll be here waiting for you when your time comes. But your time isn't now, love."

"I just can't imagine life without you."

~*~*~*~*~

And if you sleep, you sleep with God

And if I cry, it's for my heart

Why should I hope you make it through?

'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep, too

~*~*~*~*~

There was a knock and a woman poked her head in. "Alexandria?"

Alexandria turned around and smiled slightly when she saw who was at the door. She got up and walked over, holding it open. "Hi, Mrs. Evans. How are you doing?"

The woman sighed tiredly. Her face was pale and drawn, black circles rimmed the bottom of her eyes. "I'm doing okay now, I guess. How are you holding up?"

"I don't know," Alexandria replied honestly shutting the door softly behind her.

"How's Mariana doing?" Mrs. Evans gazed at Mariana.

"Her test results are showing brain activity. But she's not doing anything," Alexandria replied, letting Mrs. Evans walk over to Mariana's bedside.

Tears welled up in Mrs. Evans's eyes as she gazed at Mariana's frail body lying on the bed. "I love her like a daughter. I always thought she would become my daughter."

Alexandria nodded. "I know how you feel, Mitchell was like a brother to me. I'm so sorry, Mrs. Evans."

"Thank you," Mrs. Evans replied quietly as she patted Mariana's hand.

"We scheduled Mitchell's funeral in four days. I'm hoping Mariana will be awake. I don't know if she'll be able to attend, but I'm hoping she will be," Mrs. Evans said. "I was on my way to the funeral home to make some arrangements and passed the hospital on my way. I decided to check in. I should get going now."

Alexandria nodded. "Thanks for stopping by. It means a lot to me, and I know it will mean a lot to Ana too."

Mrs. Evans smiled shakily and walked out. "Take care of yourself Alexandria. I hope to see you at Mitchell's…Mitchell's…" her voice trailed off.

"I'll be there," Alexandria said taking her spot by her sister's bed once more. But, this time the eerie sound of the respirator hissing and her sister's lifeless body before her was too much. Walking out of the room she quickly ran down the stairs and out of the hospital, passing Carter by the elevator on the way.

Outside the world was happy. The sun was shining and people were walking around, laughing and having a good time. The world had gone back to normal.

~*~*~*~*~

Jagged thorns and pretty petals

Butterflies and stinging nettles

Sunny days and nights of blackness

But where's the joy to cure my sadness?

~*~*~*~*~

"I have to go soon, baby," Mitchell whispered and Mariana could hear the tears in his voice.

"Why? Why can't we just stay here forever?" Mariana asked.

"Because, I have to go. And you have to return to Alexandria and Dr. Kovac and your niece or nephew," Mitchell whispered and more quietly added, "And your future husband."

"No, there will be no future husband. You were my only future husband," Mariana said.

Mitchell nodded. "As much as I want to keep you for myself, I'm not going to be there Ana. I want you to find someone else."

"No, Mitch."

"Someone who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated…"

"There's no one else but you," Mariana reinforced her decision.

"Someone who loves you as much as I do," Mitchell continued.

"No one could love me as much as you do," Mariana said. "And there will never be anyone but you."

Mitchell sighed. "Don't swear off love forever baby. Here in my arms isn't the best place to make that decision. You have a long, full life ahead of you. A life where you can become a singer or an actress or both. A life where you can marry some other man who love you and care for you as I have, because after all you've been through lately you deserve someone who will take care of you."

"I've always wanted you to be the one who would take care of me," Mariana told him.

"And I've always looked forward to the day when I could take care of you. But, I can't now," Mitchell said. "Please, Ana, wait awhile to decide. Date before you make a final decision never to marry. Do that for me, please."

Ana nodded. "I'll do that…for you."

"I have to go soon."

~*~*~*~*~

And if you sleep, you sleep with God

And if I cry, it's for my heart

Why should I hope to make it through?

'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep, too

~*~*~*~*~

Alexandria just let her feet guide her. Lost in thought she didn't realize where she was until she stopped in front of a large fence. Inside was a cemetery.

She walked in and walked along the black path until she came to two graves. Her parents. Alexandria knelt down. "Hi mommy, hi d-daddy."

Alexandria lifted her up until her face was pointing towards the sky. "Where would we put her? Here by mom and dad, in a new Kovac grave plot or would we put her by Mitchell?"

Alexandria looked around the cemetery and saw a few grave plots away a white mark. Alexandria walked over and saw a large rectangle drawn on in white marker. Looking at the headstone she saw the name 'Evans.' This is where Mitchell would be buried.

Quickly Alexandria turned and ran from the cemetery back to her sisters room at the hospital.

~*~*~*~*~

Gleaming cars and covered faces

Teary eyes in hallowed places

Grass and granite stone

No one's been more all alone

~*~*~*~*~

Mitchell stirred slightly and reluctantly put his hands on Mariana's shoulders and pushed her away gently. He stood up and then helped her up as well. Pulling her towards him he wrapped his arms around her in a big hug. "I have to go now, Mariana. I love you."

Tears began to drip from Mariana's eyes. "I love you Mitchell."

Mitchell pulled back and smiled at her. "You'll be okay."

And if you sleep, you sleep with God

And if I cry, it's for my heart

"Mitchell! Please! Come back!" Mariana yelled as tears streamed down her face. She dropped to her knees.

"Oh, God! Please, Mitchell, come back baby! Please, I can't go on without you! Mitchell, come back!"

Mitchell turned around and Mariana saw tears flowing freely down his face as well. "We can't stay here forever darling. I wish we could, but we can't. We both have to go now."

"Why?"

"Because, it's just the way it is. I wish I could stay by your side forever, darling. But I can't. Just remember Ana, always remember, that I love you," Mitchell said and turned around, walking away once more.

Why should I hope to make it through?

"I'm sorry, Al," Mariana said quietly, looking down towards her bed at her sister who just rushed in by her side.

Turning towards Mitchell she said, "Mitchell, I can't go on without you."

Mitchell turned back around. "Sure you can sweetheart."

"Don't you want me with you?" Mariana asked.

"Of course I do. But you have the chance to live a full life, and I want you to live life as long as you can. Life is a great thing, live it as long as you can," Mitchell told her.

"I can't live it any longer without you," Mariana said.

There was silence for a moment and when Mariana realized he wasn't going to say anything, he was just going to wait and see what he'd do, she said, "I just can't."

And she took her first step towards him.

'Cause if you sleep, I'll sleep, too.

By the bed, Mariana's heart monitor flatlined.