Nikki opened her eyes and immediately regretted it. There were white lights all around, and it was just way too bright for tired eyes. She pulled her hands up in front of her face, but was stopped by the unfamiliar pull of an IV attached to her hand.

"Easy, easy," she heard a familiar soothing voice as a hand touched her arm.

"Mike," she smiled looking over to him, sitting on the chair by her bed. As she looked around she saw about twenty other familiar smiling faces. "Guys, hi, how long have I been asleep?"

"A couple hours," Mike answered. "You're parents are on their way."

"Good," she started with a sigh, leaning her head back sleepily onto the pillow. "I can't believe I'm having panic attacks again."

"Panic attack?" Rizzo questioned.

"Yea, I used to get them a lot, when I was trying to do a lot of things, like horse back riding, and singing, and dance, and competitive skating, and plays and stuff," she answered. "Every now and then, I'd just break down like I did back there. I was on medication for a while and they stopped, until now."

"You going to be okay?" he asked hopefully. She nodded.

"Yea," she promised. "Yea, I just need some sleep." She paused a moment and looked around the room. "Wait a minute how'd you all get in here?" She asked.

"We're a family, remember," Mark Johnson told her.

"What, so you just told the hospital staff you were my twenty brothers and they let you right in?" She inquired.

"Of course not," O.C. reprimanded her. "You think we're that stupid? Jimmy's your brother. Coxie's your uncle; Jannie's your god father. Christian and Morrow are your twin cousins...they're visiting from West Virginia. Strobel, Christoff, Suter and Wells are friars from the boarding school you went to."

"Friars?!" She Gapped.

"Yea, they always let clergy men into hospital rooms," he continued. "Now Silky and Pav are your second cousins on your father's side. Now Bah is your brother Jimmy's bone marrow donor, so he's practically family. Baker's your brother in law, and Rammer is his brother. Johnson is the family's trusted butler, and Mac over there is the father of your son, Buzzy."

"Buzz is my son?" She asked. "So I was having kids before I was born?"

"Technically," Jack went on. "It was a very experimental procedure that I—as your lawyer—could not disclose any information about."

"And what about Rizzo?" She asked.

"You must be sicker than we though," Mac joked. "Rizzo's your husband." She smiled and she laughed, and took his hand, when her parents came in.

"What are you all doing in here?" Herb demanded.

"We came to see Nikki," Mac put in. "We wanted to make sure she was okay."

"Well she's fine," Herb assured them. "Now you need to get out of here." So the majority of the boys filed out, save Rizzo, O.C., Jimmy, and Mac the later of whom was arguing with Coach Brooks about coming in to see Nikki as her mother went to talk with the doctor, about how she could leave tomorrow afternoon, when loud, boisterous commands were heard coming down the hall.

"Get out of my way! Coming through! We have an emergency here!" When a delicate young woman with very short, light brown hair, and deep tan skin burst into the room, closely followed by another young woman with long, curly, blond hair and a young man with dark hair, who was loaded down with get well parcels.

"Nikki!" The first girl yelled rushing over to the bed. "Oh my God what are you doing to yourself?"

"I didn't know what you'd be in the mood for so I brought flowers...and balloons...and candy...and teddy bear," the young man put in.

"Look at this, it's bigger than me." Nikki laughed holding up the big soft teddy bear. "Thanks so much, Zack," Nikki said as he leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek. "You're sweet."

"I'm alright," Nikki assured her, as she began looking around the room.

"Obviously, you've been doing very well for yourself," she noted observing the boys.

"Oh, guys," she started. "These are three of my absolute best friends in the whole wide world, Lola Mallineaux, and Zack and Jenna Hunt. Lola, Zack, Jenna, these are some of the guys from my dad's hockey team: Jimmy, Rizzo...and... O...C..."

She watched to Lola and Jack absorbed in their own little conversation at this point.

"So you play Olympic hockey," Lola was saying in a dreamy tone, leaning over onto the bed, trying to make her cleavage stand out. "I bet that's very competitive."

"It is," he agreed cockily, brushing his hair out of his face.

"I bet you've got to be in real good shape for that huh?" She went on. Nikki laughed as Herb smacked his forehead.

"O.C. get out of here," Herb ordered.

"Okay so here's my number," Lola went on taking a pen off the clipboard at the end of the bed. She jotted down a number on his hand. "Call me?"

"Absolutely," he promised, not taking his eyes off her as he walked out.

"And wash your hands!" Herb ordered.

"Sure thing coach," He answered. "I already memorized it anyway."

"Umm...that's my ride," Jimmy started.

"Bye Jimmy," Nikki cooed.

"Take it easy," he urged, patting her foot as he walked past.

"Rizzo," Herb shot. "Aren't you leaving?"

"I drove," he answered in innocent ignorance.

"Right so we came, we said hello, get well, we showered with gifts, and now we must depart," Zack added. "See you soon, sweetie." He gave Nikki another kiss, and so did the girls.

"He's so hot," Lola whispered. "Do you think he likes me?"

"I know he does," Nikki assured her.

"You take care," Lola urged. "I'll see ya'." As they slipped out of the room.

"Rizzo," Herb shot again.

"Five minutes coach," he pleaded once more.

"I am going to get Nikki's overnight bag out of the car, and when I come back, you will be gone."

"Sure thing Coach," he said as Herb left. "So, do I have some competition or what?" He began as Nikki pet her teddy bear.

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart

Without saying a word, you can light up the dark

Try as I may I could never explain

What I hear when you don't say a thing

"No," she assured him with a smile. "His dad's a doctor, and he likes to share the wealth, obviously, we were in plays together. He's a good guy. Not for me. She looked fondly at the teddy bear. "Hmm...I think I'll name him Rizzo," she mused.

"Whatever tips your cows," he told her confidently setting himself down on the bed.

"That's a cute little saying," she cooed pulling him back against her chest, and brushing his hair back. She leaned her head against his.

The smile on your face let's me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me

A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall

Yeah, you say it best when you say nothing at all

"I don't want you to go," she pleaded.

"I don't want to go." He assured her. "Maybe we can send the Rizzo bear out of the room," he suggested. "Do you think your dad would mind?"

"More than somewhat," she said, wrapping an arm around his chest and listening to him breathe soft and slow. Now she was still unsure where the warmth and the confidence Mike had came from, or why it seemed to rub off on her, but she knew it was wonderful, and perfect, and love. And after a moment of reveling in her own personal euphoria she drifted off to sleep.

All day long I can hear people talking out loud

But when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd

Old Mr. Webster could never define

What's being said between your heart and mine 1

1 When You Saw Nothing at All, written (?) and preformed by Keith Whitley. Redone by Alison Kraus...is she of any relation to Brian Kraus?