A Little Easier, Maybe Not

Author: Pumpkin Belly

Previously: "You were the group that came with Connor Angel, weren't you?"

"That would be us." Gunn spoke up.

"I think you should all sit down." The doctor said before stepping fully into the room to address the group.

Surprises Aren't Always Fun

The group did as the doctor told them and sat down. As the doctor began to speak they held their breath, praying to god that Connor was still alive.

"Connor obtained a broken arm and a few broken ribs. There is some internal bleeding which we suspected is the cause of his coma." The doctor took a breath looking at the faces of the group. They were a mixture of relief and shock.

"We're not sure how long he'll be in the coma, but the longer he stays in it the greater the chances of him never waking up." Angel was holding onto Dawn's hand as she tried to control her tears. "We have him on life support now, you can go in and see him if you like." He said before exiting the room.

Slowly Angel and Wesley go out of their chairs and moved into Connor's room. Fred and Gunn stayed with Dawn.

"How could I have let this happen?" Angel asked no one in particular, "Someone should have been watching, I should have been watching." When they go to Connor's room Wesley waited outside as Angel went in to see his son.

Connor's arm was in a cast and his ribs were wrapped, his various cuts and bruises we already starting to heal. Angel sat down in the chair next to him and took his hand. He couldn't help thinking how peaceful he looked. The realization that his son would never wake up hit him then and silent tears found there way down his face.

"What have I done?" Angel sighed to himself.

In Dawn's room

Fred was now holding Dawn as she cried into her shoulder. Gunn was standing off to the side of the room looking uncomfortable.

Over the few months that Dawn had been in L.A. with them, Fred and Dawn had gotten very close. There were times when Dawn and Connor would come home from a date and Dawn would race up to Fred's room to tell her all about it.

"What if he never wakes up? What if I never get to see him again?" Dawn whimpered. "No I have to stay strong." She said trying to slow her tears, "I have to stay strong for Angel."

"Oh baby," Fred said as her tears starting flowing pulling her close, "Angel understands. You don't have to hid your tears from him." She said rubbing soothing circles on her back.

A few minutes' later Dawn's tears had clamed down. A nurse appeared in the doorway. "I'm sorry to interrupt but the doctor needs me to take a blood sample."

Gunn sent a sympathetic look over to Dawn as she nodded with a pained look on her face. Dawn winced as the nurse stuck her with the needle.

"Alright all done." She said pulling the needle out. "Once the results are done and the doctor as looked them over you should be able to go home."

"Ok, thank you." Fred said, as Dawn seemed unable to respond.

Angel and Wesley returned shortly after that.

"Dawn, do you want to go see Connor?" Angel asked. She nodded once again and started to get out of the hospital bed. Fred moved to help her but she was already out of bed.

Dawn followed Angel down the hospital corridor.

As they approached the door Angel lead her in. "I'll be right out here if you need anything."

Dawn gave his hand a squeeze before entering Connor's room. The sight of him laying the bed with all the monitories hooked up to him made him look so vulnerable. Dawn moved into the seat next to Connor's bed.

"I'm so sorry. I should have helped you, called out, done something." She chocked out. "Connor I'm so sorry. If only I had done something. You wouldn't be here in a coma. I love you so much Connor you have to come back to me." Dawn said before the tears started.

She took Connor's hand in her own and gently kissed his knuckles. "I love you."

A light knock on the door startled her. "Dawn," Fred's head pocked through the doorway, "The doctor wants you back into your room now. We tried to give you more time but he was very insistent."

"Ok, I'm coming." She said, then bent down to kiss Connor's forehead before going back to her room. Fred walked back to her room with her. Gunn and Wesley had down to the cafeteria to get some food. Angel was back in Connor's room.

When Dawn got back to her room the doctor was waiting for her. Fred excused herself to get some water as Dawn got back into bed.

"We have your test results back Ms. Summers. Everything seems alright and your baby is doing just fine." He smiled at her.

The look on Dawn's face was of pure shock, "My what?"

TBC

A/N: I told you I'd have the next chapter up by the weekend. And I ended it in yet another cliffhanger. I think I know what I want to do with this story, but I have 2 ideas. Happy or sad ending? Let me know what you think.