Disclaimer: Still don't own anything but the plot, otherwise I'd make half of those guys on GH mine...

A/N: So sorry it took so long to update, been wicked busy with school and work and fighting both to have some semblance of a life of my very own. I'm stretched for time and my Fiction Writing class is giving me and icreasing amount of writer's block...plot stealing pain in the arse...But I'll be sad when it's over. Anys, I know this chapter is rather short for the amount of time I made you wait, but it's the best i can do right now and I wanted to let you know that I'm still alive.

A/N Continued: So Thanks SOO much to all of my lovely reviewers: Jase Lover, AngelTears123, theblondeone07, me-luv-GH, Cena's Girl, Lily, warrior of the shadow, Liz, angle445, jmluver14, CalJenn (are you CaliJenn too, dontyousassmemister828(love the name, btw), leprechaun-chick17, Angel1178, michelle20072000, ImJustKidding89, Soapy2199, Kathryn, Journey Fan, Lizabella, and Ashton 91. I love you all and thanks for stickin with me! I hope it's worth it! On with the story!

Monica slipped through the doors of the ER and tiptoed over to Courtney's friends and family. Jax was sleeping with his forehead in his hand, Mike had fallen asleep on a couch across the room, Sonny was sleeping with Carly on another couch, Carly's head on his chest and her fingers intertwined with his, Jason was nowhere to be seen. Monica hesitated, unsure of whether or not to wake them. It had been over six hours since Courtney was brought in. Monica had just decided to turn around when she felt a hand grasp her shoulder. She gasped and whirled around, meeting Jason's inquiring eyes.

"Sorry," he mumbled, steadying her as she caught her breath. Carly had started awake at the sound of Monica's gasp. A mother's trained ears granted her light sleep when necessary. She turned slightly and rubbed Sonny's arm. He mumbled something and pried open his eyes. Upon seeing Monica, he woke up fully and awakened Jax and Mike. "How is she?" Jason asked once everyone was conscious.

"She's out of surgery and has been placed in the ICU. Her condition is currently stable, but it hasn't held yet. We are, however, still hoping for the best as far as that's concerned. Anyways, her condition is still very serious; there was a lot of internal damage done. All we can do now is wait; I'm sorry, that's all I've got for right now."

"Can we see her?" Carly asked.

"Yes, but only one at a time and only for a few minutes. What she needs now is rest." The others nodded at her words and Monica turned to leave.

"Hey, Mo-," Jason called after her. She turned her head back to him. "Thank you," he continued awkwardly. She blinked in surprise. Had he been about to call her… "Mom"? No…that couldn't be…he hadn't called her that since the accident…Damn. Sometimes she hated that her name started with the same two letters as Mom.

"Don't thank me yet." She smiled slightly and continued on her way.

The small band of people made their way up to the ICU and shuffled their feet uncomfortably in front of Courtney's door for several minutes before Sonny finally cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

"Who's going in first?" He asked quietly.

"Jason is," Carly announced before anyone else could speak.

"Me?" he asked, startled. "Why me?"

"Just go Jase." She replied evenly, knowing that he wanted to go first with all his heart but would never say it. He nodded and pushed through the door.

The breath caught in his throat as his eyes fell upon her. How could she look so different? She was so pale, golden blonde hair only making her look whiter. Her lips were the only hint at color on her face, shockingly pink in their lightness against the snow of her skin. Long eyelashes lay against her cheeks over closed eyes. And IV was taped in her arm and a heart monitor beeped steadily in the gloomy silence of her white-walled chamber. Jason inhaled deeply and let it out in a sigh before going to her.

He sank into a chair at her bedside and gingerly took her hand in his. She was cold, skin icy against the warmth of his own flesh, proof of the blood loss. He let out another shuddering breath. He couldn't stand seeing her like this: so helpless, reliant on others for survival. Courtney had always hated dependency as much as he did. It was one of the things they'd always had in common. Talk to her, idiot, you're not going to do any good just sitting here, he told himself sternly.

"Hey Courtney…" He scrubbed at his short hair, messing it up more than it usually was. "God, how did it come to this? You were trying to get out. You were out… Why would someone drag you back in? And like this? The worst way possible. I'm so sorry, Courtney. I never meant to drag you down this deep."

He paused, sighing against and brushing the backs of his knuckles over her pale cheek. He kissed her hand gently before continuing. "I made a promise to God, you know. Yeah, I know, I sound like Sonny, right? But I told Him that I'd give up the Business if he let you live. You probably don't believe me, huh?" He laughed bitterly, knowing that she would've laughed with him. "I think I meant it, Courtney, I really do. I love you…so much…those feelings never went away. And if I quit then you and I could be free. Free to be together like we always wanted, without the danger and the bodyguards and the guns. Just us." He exhaled slowly.

"Maybe you don't want that anymore. I don't know. What I do know is that if you make it through this, I'll do my best to make you happy, to love you the way I should've before...if it's still what you want.

"Don't leave me Courtney. Even if you wake up to go running back to Jax," Jason said his name bitterly, as if it burned his tongue to say it. "Then I guess I'll live with that. But I'll do it outside the business, because if you live, I'm through with all of it. And that's a promise, and you know I never lie."

He got up from the chair, leaned down and kissed her forehead, then walked out of the room, straight past the crowd by the door, and out of eyesight. The others looked at each other, perplexed, for a moment, before Mike slipped into the room. Then Sonny, then Carly, and last went Jax, rather awkwardly, shuffling past her family with rebellious eyes and a determined grimace on his face. He would not let them intimidate him.

Jason slipped like a shadow into the hospital church. He went to the front and lit a candle for Courtney before sliding back into the darkest corner. He knelt and squeezed his eyes shut. You heard my promise. You know what I'm willing to give up for her. Whether she comes back to me or not, the world deserves to have her in it. Don't you dare take her away. Last chance to prove yourself here, God. Don't screw with my faith again. This may be the only chance you've got to get it back.

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: Hope you liked it! Review to let me know if you did!