Chapter 1

The summer was hot and so were the tempers at the lavish Crane apartment…

"What bothers you the most, Gwen, is knowing that your husband is in love with another woman. Your husband is in love with me," Theresa said as she pointed her finger at Gwen before turning and walking away.

It was as if a fire had been lit inside of Gwen as she leapt for Theresa in rage. Gwen jumped on top of Theresa and grabbed her neck. Gwen's hand clamped down and squeezed hard. "DAMN YOU, THERESA! DAMN YOU TO HELL!" she yelled loud enough to be heard upstairs.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the apartment, the yelling resounded slowly, but it wasn't long before Ethan and Fox recognized the voices.

'DAMN YOU, THERESA! DAMN YOU TO HELL!'

Ethan looked up. "That sounded like Gwen."

"I thought she was told to stay in the hospital," Fox responded.

"She was, but…" Ethan's eyes flashed in terror. "Oh, my God. Theresa…"

Ethan and Fox ran out into the hall and jammed at the button for the elevator.

Theresa's windpipe contracted at the sudden tightness and her lungs were soon screaming for more oxygen. "Gw… Gwen…" Theresa managed to get out. "Gwen… you're…. you're choking… me…"

"That's the idea," Gwen breathed out, exhausting herself, but nonetheless, she squeezed Theresa's neck harder.

The elevator just decided to take its sweet time and Ethan and Fox were losing all patience.

"C'mon! C'mon! Damn it!" Ethan yelled. "We have to take the stairs."

Ethan and Fox practically slid their way down the stairs with one thought in mind, get them apart. They both had seen enough Gwen and Theresa fights to know that they'd fight to the death. And they might just make it this time…

Theresa began to lose consciousness as her eyes fluttered; her brain was trying to save as much oxygen as possible. Theresa's body became even more limp and stopped fighting. Gwen smiled to herself. Gwen put her fingers to Theresa's pulse. It was there, but barely. "I'm going to get rid of you once and for all, you bitch." Gwen looked down at the pool and plunged Theresa in. Theresa's left temple crashed to the pool floor, followed by her shoulder. An immediate crack sounded. Theresa's body floated to the top of the water, and Gwen could see the cut on her head.

Quickly, Gwen grabbed Theresa's neck once again and held in under water, making sure that she wouldn't receive any oxygen.

Ethan and Fox finally reached the ground floor, breathless. What Ethan saw made his heart stop. "Gwen! Gwen!" Ethan screamed as he ran to her. He used all of his strength to get her off of Theresa. "Fox, get Theresa."

Fox ran to her and dragged her out of the water. "Oh, my God. Theresa." He put his ear to her face. "She not breathing. Ethan! She's not breathing!"

Ethan turned and ran to Theresa. "Oh, my God!"

"I don't know CPR," Fox said frantically.

"Take care of Gwen," Ethan instructed.

Ethan rushed over and took Theresa in his arms. He could see the blood coming from the massive cut on her head. He wasn't certified anymore, but he'd be damned if he was just going to let Theresa die.

Not here. Not now.

"Fox, call the paramedics!"

Fox whipped out his cell phone and made the call. All the while standing if front of Gwen, keeping her away from the unconscious Theresa.

Ethan began compressing Theresa's chest. He counted. "1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5.. 6.. 7.. 8.. 9.. 10.. 11.. 12.. 13.. 14.. 15.." He breathed in her mouth and saw her chest go up. Again. "1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5.. 6.. 7.. 8.. 9.. 10.. 11.. 12.. 13.. 14.. 15..Come on, Theresa. Breathe! Come one, please! Theresa! Don't do this! Not now!" He breathed in her mouth again. "Theresa, come on. Don't do this. Don't you die on me! You can't leave Little Ethan. Theresa!"

She still wasn't breathing and her pulse was extremely faint. Just then, the paramedics crashed through the doors and ran to Theresa, taking her from Ethan's arms.

"Excuse me, sir." An EMT said. "Let us do our job." Ethan backed away and heard the same man say: "BP 90 over 50. Her vitals are dropping fast."

They heaved her onto the stretcher. The EMTs worked at an amazing pace, hooking her up to different things, and took her out of the building.

Ethan hadn't realized it until he stood, he was crying. His eyes, red and swollen, turned to Gwen. He couldn't even find the words. "How… How… How could you?"

"I…I…," she tried.

Ethan put his hand up to refrain her from speaking. "No, don't. I have to get the hospital. Fox, call them." Fox nodded. "And, Fox, make the other call." At first Fox looked confused, but then he understood. Again he nodded.

Ethan walked out and made his way to the hospital and to Theresa.

The Los Angeles Hospital was extremely busy but it didn't keep Ethan from running onto an elevator and up to the eleventh floor.

Ethan ran into the front counter, bruising his ribs. "Excuse me. A woman was just brought in. Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald."

"Yes, sir," a petite nurse said. "Sorry, she's in the ER right now. You'll have to wait."

"But is she-"

"I'm sorry, sir. Please have a seat."

Ethan knew he wasn't going to get anymore out of her and did as he was told.

An hour passed by and Ethan was loosing patience. Fox had come to join him in waiting.

"So, how is she? Have you heard anything?" Fox asked concerned.

"No, they won't say anything."

Ethan stood, trying to maintain his composure.

It wasn't working.

"I just… I can't lose her," Ethan whispered to himself.

Fox looked up, a confused look on his face. "Um, sorry, half-bro, but um, she's not exactly yours to lose."

"Fox, don't start. Whether we're together or not, she can't die. My life would be empty without her. I don't know what I'd do if she did."

"She won't," Fox assured. "Theresa's strong. She'll fight this with every stubborn, headstrong bone in her body."

Ethan smiled. "She is pretty stubborn, isn't she?"

Fox nodded. "Mmm hmmm. Like a rock."

Ethan turned to Fox, an expression that Fox has never seen before on his face. "You know, a long time ago, she wouldn't give up until I finally admitted that I loved her." Tears welled in Ethan's eyes at the memory and he pinched them away.

"You still love her, don't you?"

Ethan turned to Fox. Slowly he nodded. "How can anyone love Theresa like I did and just stop loving her?"

"If you could go back and change things, would you?" Fox asked him.

"What d'you mean?"

"I mean, marry her when you had the chance to years ago."

"I-" Ethan began but was interrupted when a man in a white coat approached them.

"Excuse me, I'm Dr. Callahan. Are you related to Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald?"

Fox looked up at the doctor. "No, we're friends."

"Is she alright?" Ethan asked quickly.

"It's too soon to tell. I just wanted to let you know that she won't wake up for a while. Perhaps it's best if you leave for the night."

"Yeah, okay," Fox said, standing and resting a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "I guess we should get going."

"Can I see her?" Ethan asked, hopeful.

"I'm sorry. Not until tomorrow. She's still unconscious." The doctor replied.

"C'mon, Ethan. Let's go."

Ethan didn't move, despite Fox's urgings. "Is it alright if I stay here tonight?"

"I guess. But, like I said, you won't be able to see her until tomorrow. But, I assure you, she's getting everything she needs."

"Thank you," Ethan said as he watched Dr. Callahan walk away. "I think I'm going to stay here for the night…"

"Are you sure?" Fox asked. "You heard the doctor. You can't see her until tomorrow anyway."

"I know. I just want to be close to her. She'll know I'm here."

"Well, if you insist. I'm gonna head back to the apartment."

"Okay," Ethan said sadly. Fox hugged Ethan goodbye. "Thanks, Fox. Thank you for being here."

Fox smiled. "Don't worry. She's gonna pull through."