Disclaimer: Common, everyone already knows I don't own anything. That's pretty much a given.

*                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *

            Death. To Adam, that was what this place was. The smell, feel, everything about the hospital resembled death for him. But he was here none the less. Because Joan needed him. He stopped as he got closer to her and watched as she stared into space, into nothing. He knew what was going through her head right now, he'd felt the same way. Joan had already been in to see her mother and hadn't spoken since. She hadn't said a word, hadn't shed a tear. All she had done was nod her head and pretend to be calm since she'd received the phone call from her father that morning. Chief Girardi had come home from work to find her on the floor at the bottom of the stairs unconscious, laundry lying scattered next to her. They thought that she had fallen down the stairs while trying to take the pile of dirty laundry to the laundry room. Mr.Girardi didn't know how long she'd been lying there. Mrs.Girardi had been unconscious since she'd arrived in the Emergency Room via ambulance seven hours earlier. They'd treated her with four broken ribs, a broken arm, a concussion, a sprained ankle, and twelve stitches on the back of her head. The doctors had no idea when or if she would wake up, and if she did, what kind of head injuries she'd received. Chief Girardi's voice broke Adam's thoughts as he came up behind him.

"Take her home Adam." Adam turned around to see his worried face. For once, Adam saw Mr.Girardi's age on him. All of the lines from years of stress and worry had become suddenly prominent. Each line told some type of story.

"Are you sure?"

"Take her home son. Hele-Mrs.Girardi will be fine," Will attempted to smile, but Adam could see the concern in his eyes.

"Sure thing Chief Girardi."

Will patted Adam's back as he walked past him to Joan. He knelt down in front of her and looked to be explaining it to her. Joan just nodded, gave him a quick hug and got up to leave. They drove all the way to her house in silence and Adam wanted to say something, but Joan quickly climbed out of the truck as soon as he pulled in the driveway. He followed her inside, but stopped, as Joan had halted in the middle of the hall. The laundry was still sitting in the hall. They both stared at it for what felt like hours. Suddenly, Joan bent down and began to pick it up. Adam approached her carefully.

"Jane," his voice was no more than a whisper.

"What are you doing?"

            "Picking up the laundry. Someone has to do it….because…she-she can't and…" Adam heard her voice beginning to crack as she stood there holding bits of the laundry.

"See…it's my laundry, she was doing m-my laundry. If I had…if I had of been here…" Adam stood in front of her and began gently trying to pry the laundry from her hands, but she held on tight.

"I SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE!" Joan screamed and broke down sobbing. Adam took the laundry from her hands and threw it back on the floor. He drew her into his arms and held her as her body shook from her cries.

            "It's not your fault Joan, never think that."

*                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *

            Luke and Grace sat on the front porch of the Girardi house in silence as the sun went down. Grace didn't know what to say to Luke to possibly help him. Grace never liked to admit that she got attached to people, but Mrs.Girardi had grown on her and Grace saw her as kind of a mother. While she knew she had to be strong for Luke, she was finding it hard to be strong for herself right now. She reached out and took hold of Luke's hand.

            "I'm sorry, I don't know how to help you…" she trailed off. He turned to her and gave her a sad smile.

            "You being here is enough, that helps me."

            "She's gonna be okay Luke, your mom doesn't give up that easily. Not on Joan, or Rove, or…me. She'll pull through this," Grace nodded, staring straight ahead. She was trying harder to reassure herself.

            "Yeah," Luke laughed softly.

"She's like that isn't she."

            Grace saw a tear rolling down his cheek and he sniffled quietly. She knew he was trying not to cry in front of her.

            "Hey," she whispered. He turned to face her and she pulled him into a hug. Luke let out a muffled sob and Grace pulled him closer, attempting to comfort him in the only way she knew how.

            "She's like that, always worrying about us first," Luke cried. Grace didn't know how to respond to that, so she did the only thing she could think of, she held him tighter.

*                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *

            The clock read 2 am when Joan finally woke up. She remembered Adam carrying her up to her room, but nothing after that. She rolled over in her bed to see him asleep in a chair beside her bed. She carefully climbed out of bed and tiptoed into the hall. Peering down the stairs, she saw that Grace and Luke were asleep on the couch in the living room. Rebecca had called Mr.Girardi at the hospital and said that Kevin was at their apartment and he was a wreck, so she would bring him by tomorrow. Joan washed her face and got a drink before heading back to her room. She leaned down and kissed Adam's forehead, causing him to stir awake.

            "Hi," he whispered and pulled her into his lap.

"How are you feeling?" Joan shrugged and rested her head on his shoulder.

            "I have a headache," she rasped. Joan buried her face in Adam's hoodie and breathed in his scent.

            "You should get back into bed, it's late and you need to rest," he said and ushered her back into bed, tucking her in. She grabbed his hand as he went to go back to the chair.

            "It's big enough for both of us."

            "Jane, I-"

"I don't want to sleep alone tonight. I don't think I can. Please Adam, just stay with me."

Adam sighed and slipped off his shoes. He lifted the covers and climbed in next to her. She nestled up against him as he drew her into his arms.

"Adam."

"Hmmmm."

"I'm scarred."

"Me too Jane, me too. It's going to be ok though. I promise."

"Yeah. Thanks for everything…night."

"Night."

"Adam?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

            Adam was in complete and total shock. That had certainly woken him up. It took him a few moments to gather himself before he could finally speak again.

            "I love you too Jane."

*                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *

Author's Note:

Ok, this is a short chapter, I know. I'm sorry for it's length; it's just a filler until later in the week when I can write more. I'm in the middle of getting over the flu, studying for a massive history test, and writing a history paper. It sucks, but I am happy because I HAVE TICKETS TO ROONEY!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOO HOOOO!!!!! Sorry 'bout that, I'm just extremely excited! I adore Rooney! Anywaz, so glad they finally fixed the site! I thought no one was reviewing my story and it made me sad L But I am good now. Well, review this one and let me know how you think this idea is going. Thanks again to everyone who's been reviewing!

Arwen5      aKa SkEtChY jAnE

P.S.- Joan and Adam DID NOT I repeat DID NOT "sleep together". It was a simple gesture of Adam trying to protect her. Just for those of you who possibly got the wrong idea. I don't believe in pre-marital sex.