**EX**

O.o Looky, another update. Maybe my muse came back . . .or maybe I have a lot of free time. Either way, you should all be happy. I was trying to have this one out sooner, but Pirates got in my way. I mean Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. . .and guh.

Chapter 8

Paloma watched as the ambulance drove off, carrying Kay and Shylah. Antonio stood a few feet away more then a little confused. Before he could question his sister a cop car drove up. Luis stepped out and walked towards his two siblings.

"Luis!" Paloma hugged her brother, relieved to see him. He always kept a cool head, and was good at calming her down.

"Hey Paloma. What's going on?" Luis looked around and saw a rescue team clearing up the tree.

"A tree fell on Shylah, The paramedics took her to the hospital. They think her leg's broken." Paloma explained.

"Who's Shylah?" Luis asked, more then a little confused.

"I think she's Kay's daughter." Antonio said.

Turning to his brother, Luis saw the confusion and worry that marred his brother's face, "Kay Bennett?" He asked.

"Do you know any other?" Antonio responded, "What I want to know is how you knew who that kid was." Turning to his sister he gave her a questioning gaze.

Before Paloma could respond Fox ran up and threw his arms around her, "Jesus Paloma I thought you were in trouble."

~*~

Sheridan stood in the background watching Luis interact with his brother. He hadn't changed a bit. If she only had the courage to go and talk to him, but she knew that if she did her secret would be exposed and Beth would have a field day doing it.

The car pulled up next to her and Gwen motioned for her to get in, "Come on Sheridan. Kay needs us."

After one last longing look at Luis, she reluctantly got into the car.

~*~

He felt it. He wasn't sure what it was, but something was pulling him in another direction. It was a strong feeling that he hadn't had in a long time. It was Sheridan. He was sure of it.

Then as quickly as the feeling came, it was gone. Replaced with a desire to be with his wife, Sheridan Crane was a distant memory.

"Luis?" Antonio grabbed his attention, by the tone of his voice, it seemed it wasn't the first time he'd tried to get his attention.

"Yeah?" Luis turned to his brother and found that his sister was gone, "Where's Paloma?"

"Her and Fox went back to the house, she said she was going to go to the hospital to check up on Kay. I was telling you that I was going to go too. Are you staying around here?"

Morphing into professional mode, Luis nodded sternly, "I need to make sure that what happened here tonight was an accident. I'm sure I won't find anything incriminating, but I need to make sure. Proper protocol and all."

Antonio nodded gruffly, "I understand. I'll talk to you later."

Luis watched as Antonio made his way to the Crane Mansion, as soon as he was out of sight Luis began making his way to his car. He needed to go home and be with his wife, and he needed to be there soon. The thoughts of Sheridan, albeit briefly made him feel dirty and wrong, he was betraying Beth and he needed to make it up to her.

~*~

Kay paced nervously around the waiting room, she kept glancing up too see if a nurse was coming. Time moved so slowly it felt as if she'd been waiting alone for hours, when it had only been about 15 minutes.

"Kay!" Sam approached his daughter and looked at her worried face, "It's going to be alright. You know Eve is the best doctor we have in Harmony."

*cough only doctor cough*

"I know daddy, I'm just so worried about Shy." Tears ran down Kay's face as she threw herself into Sam's arms.

~*~

"Hi, I'm looking for Shylah Bennett?"

The receptionist gave Gwen a blank stare, "I'm sorry?"

"Shylah Bennett, she was just admitted here, a little girl, a tree fell on her?" Gwen growled impatiently.

"Oh, I'm sorry, that information is confidential, unless you're family." Smiling she turned away and began filing.

"Look Lady, my NIECE is in there and I want to go see her. So tell me what room she's in or I'll get you FIRED."

"Uh, Gwen. . ." Sheridan started.

"Darling what's the problem?" Hank came up behind Gwen and put his arm around her.

"Mr. Bennett! Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't realize they were with you!"

"Well my wife has a bit of a temper, but she means well. Now, what room is Shylah in?" Hank asked, sending the receptionist a charming smile.

"She's in the ER right now, but her mother and your brother are in the waiting room on level three, waiting room four."

"Thank you." As Hank dragged a speechless Gwen to the elevators, he called back, "If anyone else comes in looking for Shylah, please direct them to us! Thanks!"

Mika and Sheridan stepped in and as the doors closed Gwen snapped out of her reverie, "Where do you get off?! Pretending to be my HUSBAND!? I don't need your help!"

"Gwen, calm down!" Sheridan said in her best 'mommy' voice.

"I'm sorry, but that lady is horribly rude, I knew you'd be there for awhile if I didn't stop and help out. It's not a big deal."

Before Gwen could argue the doors opened and they spotted Kay.

Mika looked around suddenly distressed, "Mommy, where's Shylah?"

Hank looked over and saw the little girl for the first time, his eyes widened as it dawned on him just who she was, "Oh my lord."

Sheridan looked at Hank as the realization washed over him, "Oh no."

"Sheridan. . ."

She cut him off, "I'll tell you everything later, one crisis at a time." Taking Mika's hand she sat her down and began trying to explain what happened.

Gwen made her way over to Kay and began comforting her, "It'll be alright, she's strong Kay, just like her mother."

Sam saw Hank waiting around and he pulled him aside, the two began talking about what had happened.

Everyone had soon settled down when the elevator doors opened again, a gaggle of Lopez-Fitzgerald's stepped out. First Antonio followed by Pilar, then Theresa and Ethan and finally Paloma and Fox.

Paloma and Fox were holding massive amounts of coffee, "Thought you guys might be able to use a little boost." She said, smiling weakly.

"Thanks Paloma." Sam said taking two cups, he brought one over to where Kay was now sitting and was urging her to drink some.

Kay looked up and her eyes met Antonio's momentarily, she looked away and concentrated on her coffee and praying.

Gwen's head shot up when she heard Ethan's 'Thank you' and her eyes filled with what could only be seen as terror. She made no move as she saw him approaching Sheridan, Theresa stood to the side talking with Hank.

~*~

"Sheridan?" Ethan said warily.

Sheridan's face broke out into a smile when she saw her 'nephew', "Ethan!" She gave him a relieved hug, "What are you doing here?"

"Paloma called me." He said simply.

"I think Kay will be glad to see you." Sheridan said smiling slightly.

Ethan glanced over to where Gwen sat as the words, 'But Gwen won't.' hung in the air, unsaid, but unneeded.

"This is Mika." Sheridan said suddenly, introducing her daughter.

"Very nice to meet you." Ethan stuck out his hand.

Mika looked at him cryptically for a minute, looked at her mother, who nodded, then shook his hand.

~*~

Hank excused himself from Theresa and walked over to Gwen, "Are you alright?"

She looked up suddenly, "I'm fine."

He looked at her cryptically for a moment and motioned to the vacant seat next to her, "Can I sit?"

"Go ahead, not my hospital." Gwen replied.

Sitting down he turned to her, "I know what happened with Ethan hurt you bad, but think about it this way. Wouldn't you rather he left you before you were married and pregnant?"

Gwen bit her lip, and sighed, "Hank I think you're misinterpreting what I'm feeling."

"Aren't you still pining over Ethan?"

"No. I'm not still in love with him, I'm angry at him." She said suddenly.

"Angry at him?" He repeated.

"Yes, well angry and a little jealous. Here he is, always so indecisive between Theresa and me, going back and forth between us like a seesaw. When he finally did choose me, it turns out Little Ethan is his son after all. So, on our wedding day he picks her over me. And I wind up leaving town. It's not like I wanted to come back and see him broke and unhappy, but something wrong with his life would be nice. But, no, he's got a little boy with another kid on the way. They're the perfect little family and I'm alone." She stopped and sighed again, "I know this sounds petty, but I want him to be alone and miserable. That's what he deserves."

"That doesn't sound petty Gwen, Ethan," Before Hank could say exactly what Ethan was Eve walked out of the ER.

Kay shot up, "What happened Dr. Russell? Is my daughter going to be alright?"

"It's Dr. Crane now." Fox said under his breath, which earned him a swift elbow in the stomach from Paloma.

"She's still unconscious which isn't good, she could go into a coma if she doesn't wake up soon, but there's no lasting damage from her injuries physically. We moved her to a room and you can go see her Kay, but I'm going to have to ask the rest of you not to. I don't want to disturb her condition by overwhelming her." As soon as Eve finished her beeper went off, she checked it quickly and with a quick good-bye, she was gone.

~*~

My next update probably won't be anytime soon, because school starts for me Monday. Depressing. But, it's ok. Next year will be my last so I don't have to worry for too much longer.

I've been trying to portray Sheridan as a good mother, but sometimes she gets a little out of it and starts focusing on Luis. I'm trying to keep a good balance.

Please let me know what you think!

Also I changed my screen name because I didn't like being Thalia1. So it's now mooseyfate.