Disclaimers standards apply, I only own Kayla. Early Edition is not mine, and this is only a story.

A/n: yes another one of my romances, as always, but don't complain...

Chapter 2

He passed back and forth across that same spot for what seamed like hours. After her little spell of sorts, the girl had finally been taken to the hospital. Gary felt nervous for her safety and guilty for not listening to Merissa sooner. "Calm down Gary." Merissa said trying to comfort him as best she could. She had joined him having a feeling he would need the extra person.

"Its, I just should have taken her right a way, but then.." Gary started to say finding that once again he was at a loss for words.

"I understand that, but what is done is done, and you can't change the past." she had repeated for what felt like the thousandth time that day.

"I know... I just.." he said again once again starting to repeat himself. He also then started again glancing at the paper for answers again, after all it led her to him, maybe it was their answer to all this mess. Yet nothing he saw turned out to be right. In fact, the paper didn't have anything earth shattering to report. With a heavey sigh he slumped down in the waiting area.

"I'm going to get some coffee, can I get you anything?" Merissa asked trying to get his mind off the strange woman.

"no, but thanks." Gary had said and left it to to that. He just wanted to stop and think, and figure a way around or rather how to save her again that day, but nothing turned up. In fact he had even failed to realize that he had fallen asleep.

The sound of a thud and a meow woke gary that next morning, but he didn't hear his radio. It was then did he realize that he was still at the hospital, and had spent the night there. Once he sat up he saw his paper along with the cat, even though hospital staff were quickly trying to catch the cat and deposit it outside. Gary rubbed the sleep from his eyes and picked up the paper searching for any sign from it. Yet, nothing seemed to show up good or bad.

: finally: gary thought when his eyes spoted a headline that looked promising. Just as he had read it, a doctor came over to him. "How are you related to the woman you brought in...?" he had asked.

Gary sighed and looked at the man that stood before him. "I am not related to her as far as I know, as far as I know she is all alone. " gary responded as questions flooded his mind. "Is she going to be alright, what happened?"

"She will make it, she seems to have a strong will to live.and, if you want, you can see her now." the doctor explained as he whent over the details of what they had found thus far. "She broke her leg in three places, and has been put back on medicine for her seasers. No telling yet though how often they will occour."

Gary nodded in understand allowing the doctor to lead him back to where Kayla lie in bed. Her eyes remained closed as wires and tubes fed her and recorded her vitals. After a few minutes, she begunn to turn her head and open her eyes. For the first time he could see her eyes. So deep brown yet so lifeless, or full of life depending on how one looked at it. "Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked his voice calm and relaxed.

A small smile crossed her lips at how soft and gentle this man sounded. She could faintly remember his voice, but for the life of her she couldn't quite know where from. Then the events of the previous day hit her like a ton of bricks. "I've been better." she responded her voice dry from the lack of use.

"Here is some water." Gary offered and she responded by reaching her hand out as if searching for it. Normally she hated water, but at this point she would have taken anything.

"Thats much beter." she said after downing over half the glass.

"The doctors say your going to be fine, He started but then a tinge of sadness and regret filtered into his voice, "I'm just sorry that I couldn't have saved you in time. You know, before you got hurt like this."

A look of confusion splayed across her features as she tried to think of something to say. "Why..what do you mean...?" was all she could think of to say.

"I know you might think me crazy, completely nuts, but dispite that, I had to help you the best that I could. I know that I'm sure your wondering why you deserve to be saved, and to that I don't have the answer. I just know that if I can prevent a tragic event, I'm going to do my damdest to try." he told her and with those words something had sparked within her. It reminded her so much of herself.

Her fingers toyed with the I.V. Drip in her arm as she begun to claw it out, or try to rather. A new set of tears filled her eyes and slowly begun to leak from her clinched eyes. "I'm not worth it, and I was getting what I deserve."

"No...thats not true, I am sure you have a lot to live for hon...please don't give up." gary sighed as he started to wipe away some of her tears. He gasped seconds later though when she launched herself into his arms and he found himself stroking and holding her until her sobs subsided.

He really didn't know what else to do, or what he was going to do. He worried about her, and knew that she held back more then she should. Yet despite this he felt compled to help her in any possible. "hey, do you like muffins, I brought some if you did...?" Gary spoke up after she calmed down enough.

"OOOOOO what kind!" the girl grinned her mood doing a complete 180.

Gary had to blink at this change. He had heard of women having mood swings, but he didn't expect them to be quite like this. "here you go..." he offered pacing them on the bedside table that the hospital provided then sliding it in front of her. With her free arm she reached for them and slowly investigated it with her fingers before almost litarly diving on them. Gary had to laugh at the sight because he had never seen anyone quite like her.

"Slow down before you choke."" Gary urged, but she didn't listen.

"Oh I am so sorry, I'm sure I have failed to give you my name. Its Kayla Tsukino." she introduced feeling some what ashamed for not speaking up sooner.

"Its alright, I'm Gary, Hobson." Gary said as his voice reflected that of a smile.

Just as the two were starting to get to know each other a doctor burst in with news on Kayla. She sighed as always fearing the worst knowing what she had and would be doomed to have for the remainder of her life, but what shocked her more was what the doctor had to say. "you can go home, at any time, but I recommend that you stay with someone. Maybe a local mental ward would be willing to take you in."

"I don't need a baby-sitter I am perfectly fine." she growled as she once again started to claw at her I.V. Drip.

"I'm quite sure your capable of taking care of yourself mam, but..." the doctor started, but by that time kayla had pealed most if not all of the tubes and wires going to her arms and chest. "Ok, you leave me no choice, I hear by order it." the doctor confirmed rather firmly.

"I am a grown woman sir, and you are sure as hell not telling me what I fucking can and cant do!" she hissed. I hate people judging me before they even get the chance to know me, and for you to waltz right in here and say I am not sane enough to take care of myself is quite rediculous..." she spat out.

"Tell me mis, how are you going to get around with a cast going up the grater part of your leg...?" the doctor inquired enjoying this fight with the young woman.

"In a wheelchair of chorse..." she stated dully as if this was nothing new.

"How are you going to remember your meds and what to do?" the doctor pressed.

"the same as I always have, moron." she retorted. Gary only watched slightly amused at the banter going on between this young lady and her doctor. Although he did find it kind of odd that this man would get so personal with her Gary then glanced at his paper. "Hey buddy don't you think your getting just a tad bit personal?" Gary interjected.

"I don't think this is any of your business. Your not a doctor, and you can't make that dision for me." the man turned on gary with an ice cold dangerous glare.

Gary inwardly shuttered at the sight, but for Kayla's sake kept his cool. "You know she is right and from our conversation thus far, she seems mentle stable enough to take care of herself. If she wishes to come stay with me, I have no problem with it, but if you think your going to have any interaction with her once she leaves this hospital, then that will be a mater for the police.

Kayla listened to Gary arguing with this man that gave her the same uneasy feeling, but she couldn't understand why... All she could do was muster a smile once she realized that Gary once again tried protecting her. "I'm so sorry... I shouldn't have..." Gary cut in on himself turning his attetion back to Kayla once the man had left.

"For what?" she wondered with a child like look of confustion on her face.

"For speaking for you when I should have kept my mouth shut." Gary stated.

"Ah, its nothing, and as for staying with you, I'd love to take up on that offer, that is if your the one offering it..." she looked down after speaking fingering the tubes that she pulled out of her arm slowly picking off the tape that held it to her skin.

"If its your choice, I'd love to have you. I mean,..." gary seemed to be at a loss for words, for one thing he had to wonder just what exactly he would be getting into if he took this girl down, but one look into her eyes gave him all the answers he needed. Something about her smile, her will to live, her fight, made him want to learn even more.

"Really?" she asked mealy.

"Yes, really as long as you promise not to try and hurt yourself again." Gary promised.

She nodded. "I'm sorry, its just...well... you've gotten a taste of what my life has been like, and, thats what drove me to do it. But, I don't know now... there is just something about how your treating me that makes me not want to as much." she replied trying to look up at him.

It was then that gary had come to the realization that this woman that he rescued could be blind like Merissa, but he couldn't just out right ask her. He took his hand, and slowly begun to stroke some of the loser strands of hair from her face. "What do you say lets see if we can get you out of here." he suggested.

For the second time that morning Kayla launched herself into his arms and hugged him with all of her might. "Anywhere has to be better then here..."

To this Gary simply nodded in agreement. He then started to tell her a little more about himself but made sure to leave out the details about the "paper." he didn't know if she needed to hear it, more over would she believe such a story. He had been getting the dam thing for little over three nows, and even at times he could scarcely believe it himself.

Kayla sighed once again her wheelchair and on her way out the door. She didn't know what direction her life would take from now, nor did she really want to know, but what ever life handed her, she'd take it with a grain of salt. The biggest thing so far, that she had trouble getting over seemed to be how, now when she had given up complete hope in the world, a man who she didn't know from adom was helping her.

"Want to stop for a bite to eat?" Gary offered as he pushed her out the hospital doors his paper safely tucked away in his back pants pocket.. "I know where to find some real good food, and its right below where I live."

"Sounds good to me, anything beets hospital food." Kayla half joked starving because she refused to touch the stuff they called food.

Gary laughed knowing and guessing that Kayla had most likely not eaten in a good while. Well if the way she scarfed down the muffins that he brought were any indication, she could be one of those hevey eaters. Either that or just seriously hungry from lack of eating in so long. What ever the reason, Gary would make sure that she didn't starve.

She smile at him, her sightless brown eyes so full of life, a huge difference from the lack of life they once held. A smile seemed to preferment be plastered on her face as she allowed Gary to show her the rest of the world out side of that hospital. Starting with the place where which they currently sat while she chowed down on a few select items.