Baby hurried and got ready the next morning. She was glad it was Saturday and she actually didn't have to work with the Habitat for Humanity. She was going to hurry up and get ready, run by Johnny's, and then on to the hospital. She just had to apologize to Johnny for standing him up but he would have done the same if it was one of his best friends. Plus she was dying to meet Jonathon.

Baby's phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. It was Patrick. "Baby, you need to get to the hospital right away."

"Patrick what is it?" Baby asked quickly.

"Just get down here now." Patrick insisted.

"I will but tell me what is going on first." Baby said sternly.

There was a long silence before he spoke. "Amanda has slipped into a coma."

Coma? How? Baby couldn't believe the words that Patrick had just spoken. "Oh no. I am on my way."

When Baby reached the hospital she was able to go on back to Amanda's room. She had no idea what to expect. When she reached the room, only Jackie and Patrick were there. Baby glanced over at Amanda's sleeping body. She looked peaceful. She looked as if nothing was wrong except for the iv in her hand.

"What caused this?" Baby asked them.

"Swelling. Her brain started swelling again last night. It seems to be down now but it caused her to go into a coma." Jackie said as she sat by Amanda's bedside.

"I can't believe that." Baby said astonished.

"Me either. I just knew she would pull out quick." Patrick said as she walked over to hug Baby.

"They ever say anything else about spinal injury?" Baby asked.

"At least that was good news. Said everything appeared normal when they checked her last night. She was awake for about an hour and then sometime through the night she slipped into the coma." Jackie gently stroked Amanda's hand. "You know they told me she might be able to hear us."

Patrick looked over at Baby with a sad expression when he heard Jackie say those words. It was hard to sit there and watch a mother heart break. Baby could only imagine what Jackie was going through. It's a bond between a mother and a daughter that is unbreakable.

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As Baby and Patrick walked toward the elevator her mind drifted to Johnny. She had to talk to him. There was no telling what he might be thinking. He had to be thinking that she stood him up. She could never do that to Johnny. After all these years he still had her heart.

"It's been another long day." Patrick said as he and Baby entered the elevator.

"Yes it has. I am tired." Baby said looking down at her watch. "It's already 7 p.m."

"Yeah today flew by. I just hope things are looking better tomorrow." Patrick said as he looked toward the floor. "I don't know what I would do if I lost her. I love her to death."

"I know what you mean." Baby said grabbing Patrick's hand. "I love her too. We can only pray she makes it through."

Patrick squeezed Baby's hand tights. "She's a fighter."

"That she is now, a fighter all the way." Baby could feel tears coming on. "She means so much to me."

Patrick pulled Baby close to him. He held on to her tight and gave her a sense of security. "We just have to pray like you said."

"I know." Baby sighed.

"And don't worry about work. Take as long as you need to be with Amanda. I know I am going to be her every chance I can get." Patrick told Baby as the exited the hospital. "Speaking of work, I forgot to get that article done on the Chesterton Hotel Grand Opening. Shit!"

"When was it running in the paper?" Baby asked Patrick.

"Tomorrow's. I guess I need to go in and work on it. Haven't even got an outline yet." Patrick told Baby with a little frustration in his voice.

"Need any help with it?" Baby offered.

"Nah, you go home and get some rest." He told her as they reached her car.

"Hey, two heads are better than one. I don't mind and plus you will get it done quicker." Baby insisted.

"Weren't you going to see someone?" Patrick asked her.

"Yeah, but I can help you and then run to see him." Baby told him as she gave him a quick wink.

"Well, how about this. Run to see whoever it is you need to see and then meet me at the office. I'll grab us some take out on my way in and we can meet in about an hour or so." The idea popped into Patrick's head.

Baby now could finally break free to go see Johnny and she couldn't wait to see him. She needed to feel his arms around her to help ease the pain of Amanda's accident.

She drove as fast as she could and finally reached Johnny's apartment. She wondered what him and Jonathon could be doing at this very minute. She quickly made it up the stairs and to his apartment door.

She knocked and waited.....she knocked again.....nothing. It would be her luck that Johnny wouldn't be home. She wondered if she had a piece of paper to leave him a note. She scrambled through her pocketbook and finally found a piece of paper.

Johnny,

Sorry about last night.

I will explain everything soon.

Headed to the office.

Call me.

Baby

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"We make a great team." Patrick said as he finished proof reading the article.

"Not the way I wanted to spend my Saturday night." Baby said picking at Patrick as she took a seat on her desk.

"Yeah, well, you were right. Two heads are better than one." Patrick gave Baby a mischievous grin.

"Think it's too late to call and check on Amanda?" Baby asked.

"I would think so. We can go tomorrow." He said to her.

"I plan too."

"Good, I will come pick you up." Patrick said as he walked closer to Baby. "You holding up okay?"

"Yeah as good as I can be I guess." Baby sighed as she looked toward the ground.

Patrick gently touched Baby's cheek and lifted her head up. "You are so beautiful."

Baby noticed the expression on Patrick face had changed. He was now looking at her in a different way. "What?"

"How come you never gave me a chance?" Patrick asked as she caressed her face.

"Oh, Patrick, come on now." Baby said as she darted her eyes way from his.

"What?" Patrick asked. "I have always wondered that."

"You're my boss!" Baby reminded him.

"Humor me here. What if I wasn't your boss?" Patrick asked her with one eyebrow cocked.

"Patrick, stop now." Baby smirked at him.

"I have loved you since the first day I saw you." Patrick blurted out.

Baby's mind was blown with that statement. She had no idea that Patrick had been in love with her for five years now. Sure he would hit on her but she didn't take it as anything serious. "Patrick I had no idea."

"Really?" Patrick moved closer to Baby. "All you had to do was look into my eyes.

Baby was no starting to feel uncomfortable. She didn't want to give Patrick the wrong idea. "Maybe we should call it a night."

"Just one more thing." Patrick said right before he crashed his lips onto hers.

Baby was stunned. She couldn't move. She was so shocked she couldn't respond to him. It seemed like forever before Patrick backed away from her.

"I couldn't help myself." Patrick said with a huge grin on his face.

"Patrick, I--" Baby's words were interrupted as she noticed the elevator doors starting to close. There she saw Johnny's face start to disappear with the closing of the doors.

He had seen the whole thing! Oh God! He saw me kiss Patrick. Baby started freaking as she ran to catch the elevator. Too late! The doors had closed and the elevator was heading down.

Baby hit the stairs as fast as she could. Flight after flight she ran. She ran as fast as she could. They seemed never ending. She cursed for being twelve floors up. She had to explain everything to Johnny. There was no telling what he was assuming right now.

She reached the first floor and realized that the elevator had beaten her down. She looked everywhere for Johnny. Then she saw him walking to his car outside.

"Johnny!" Baby screamed as he never made an attempt to turn around. "Johnny, please stop!"

Johnny walked faster now as Baby hurriedly tried to catch up. She grabbed him by his arm as she forcefully pulled it away. "Let me explain."

"I don't want t hear a damn word you have to say." Johnny said not slowing his pace.

"Please, Johnny, it wasn't what it looked like." Baby pleaded as she reached for Johnny's arm again.

Johnny stayed quite till they reached his car. Immediately Baby leaned against the driver's side door. "Move Baby."

"Not till you listen to me." Baby said with tears streaming down her face.

Johnny shot her a hateful look. "Move."

"Johnny, you need to let me explain." Baby told him as she shook her head in disbelief.

"You don't have to I know what I saw and I know you stood me up last night for him!" Johnny was raising his voice louder now. "So, what's to explain?"

"That is not it at all!" Baby pleaded. "It is a big misunderstanding!"

"Right, and let me guess, your lips touching his was a big misunderstanding. Oh, stupid me. I understand now." Johnny said making fun of Baby's words.

"Johnny, Amanda was in a wreck last night. Patrick and I were with her. I didn't stand you up on purpose." Baby reached out for Johnny but he resisted.

"Patrick is his name huh?" Johnny rubbed his forehead not even hearing the comment about Amanda. "You know, I was wrong for trying to start something up with you."

"No don't say that!" Baby said trying to hold the tears back.

"I have had a lot of people run over me in the past and I never thought you would be one of them." Johnny shot Baby another hateful look. "We should have left things in the past. Now move away from my car and leave me the hell alone."

"Johnny, please!" Baby's voice was sounding chocked up.

"We had only been around each other for almost a week. Its not like we could have had anything important between us anyway." Johnny said as she pushed Baby away from his car door. "I gotta get back to Jonathon."

"No, Johnny, don't go. Please, don't go." Nerves were getting the best of Baby.

She watched Johnny open his car door and all the sudden stopped and turned to her. "I don't want to see you again. I never thought I could say those words to you but I mean them. Please honor them."

With tears steaming down her face Baby nodded that she understood. "Oh God Johnny!"

She watched Johnny climb in and squeal tires as the drove off. All she could do was stand there and watch till his tails lights disappeared in the darkness.