Chapter Fourteen

He ran the whole way to the hospital. Danny knew that the whole process of getting the car and driving over would take longer than necessary.

He came crashing through the doors in the ambulance bay. Ian was waiting and caught him before he went too far.

"Get out of my way Da." He warned as he fought to get past him.

"Daniel." Ian cautioned him. "You won't do her any good in this state. Calm yourself."

Danny twisted free of his grasp. "I don't have time. Where is she?" His voice was frantic as he raced behind the counter at the nurse's station. "Is she in surgery or a trauma room? Where's her chart?"

"Daniel. Look at me." Ian struggled to hold his son still. He stared into Danny's eyes and spoke slowly. "When I called you all I knew is that they reported a shooting and they were bringing her in. She's alright." He whispered as he tightened his hold and shook him a bit.

Danny seemed a million miles away. His eyes were unfocused. "Daniel? Look at me." He held his chin and made him meet his gaze. "She's OK. They're fine."

"She's OK?" Danny repeated, not believing it until he saw her with his own eyes.

Ian nodded. "Now. Take a deep breath and I'll tell you what happened."

"I have to see her." Danny insisted.

"I know you do. And you will." Ian nodded again. "Come on. Sit down for a moment and let me tell you."

Danny didn't really care what happened. All he cared about was the fact that Lia was alright. "I have to see her." He repeated, beginning to walk away again.

"Sit down Daniel! I won't tell you again." Ian replied, his voice rising a bit.

He might be grown but when his father spoke in that tone of voice, Danny listened. Reluctantly he moved towards the waiting room and sat down.

He might have obeyed him, but Danny stared into Ian's eyes and promised. "You have two minutes."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rafe looked at the phone frustrated. It was the third time he'd tried to call Alison. She had call waiting; he shouldn't get a busy signal.

He clicked off the phone and it rang immediately. He noted the number and sighed.

"Who were you just talking to?" Both he and Alison said simultaneously.

Rafe sighed again. "I've been trying to call you."

"I've been trying to call YOU!" Alison replied.

Rafe decided to go first. "Abby called. Lia's at the hospital. I don't know how serious it is – Abby sounded alright, but I thought maybe since you're close…"

"Get Grant and meet us there." Alison replied.

"Angel – I don't think we all need to go there. Abby sounded OK…"

"OK." Alison said with a smile in her voice. "But I at least think this child's father should stop by and watch him or her come into the world. You know – for moral support if nothing else."

"Chloe?" Rafe was ecstatic, but he groaned. "You're going to make me deal with him aren't you?"

"Yep." Alison replied laughing. "Hurry up. She seems to be going fast." And with that she hung up on him.

Hanging up the phone himself, Rafe took a deep breath and then called out his son's name.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"From what I understand there were three gunmen." Ian began. "Lia was with Eric – who is in surgery at the moment by the way. He stood in front of her and took the hit."

"So she's alright?" Danny's voice was still edged with panic.

"If you'd take a breath and open your ears you'd realize I've told you that four times already. She was very lucky. It was a very close call. She's been nicked. Two inches to the right and she'd be the one upstairs in the OR."

Danny's heart continued to pound. He stood on shaky legs.

Ian stood as well and finished what he'd wanted to say. "She's been through a lot. She's got a mild concussion from when she fainted and she's a bit bruised and battered. But she's got a guardian angel I figure." Ian couldn't help but think of how proud Eve would be of their son. It didn't surprise him at all that Lia had come through this as well as she had. He'd bet money Eve had something to do with that.

He smiled at the memory of her and gazed over at Danny as he added. "She's been seen by both myself and Michelle and everything's fine, Daniel. They'reall doing well."

"Thank you." Danny whispered, still trying to take it all in.

Ian clapped a hand on his son's back. "You're in for it aren't you lad? Julia's a handful in herself but when I saw the sonogram…"

"The what?" Danny finally focused.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised." Ian laughed. "Twins do run in the family…"

"W-w-what are you saying?" Danny stammered. "A sonogram? Twins?"

"Did you not know?" Ian's voice was shocked. He had no idea."I'm so sorry. I didn't know I'd be ruining it. Michelle said she'd told her a few days ago…"

"Last night." Danny whispered, his face falling. "She was trying to tell me last night…"

His mind was spinning as he turned to face his father. "Oh my God." Danny's eyes flew opened wide. "Where is she?"

"Room 2…" Ian bit back a chuckle as he watched him race off.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"My dad. Please? Can you call my dad?" Chloe sobbed.

Alison pressed a kiss to her head and wheeled her further into the ER. "Of course sweetie. Let's just get you settled."

"I wanted him to be here. I thought he'd be home by now." She tried to take a deep breath in between sobs but was failing miserably. She ran a hand over her stomach. "If it's a girl we're naming her Melissa…"

"Your mom would love that, Chloe." Alison said softly. She smiled as she saw Rafe and Grant approach.

"Grant…" Chloe sighed as he crouched in front of her. Her fingers dug into his sleeve as she stared him in the eyes. "WHERE WERE YOU?"

"I was with my dad…" Grant looked at her like she was nuts. Her fingers were now digging in his arm. He winced as he added. "Clo – you told me to leave."

"That was before I realized I was in labor!" She yelled at him.

"OK. OK. Shhh. Honey. I'm here now." Grant whispered. He gazed at his parents frantically wondering if they could give him a clue as to what to do.

Rafe bit back a chuckle and put his arm around Alison's waist. She smiled up at him and then snuggled close.

Chloe meanwhile looked like she was about to scream at Grant again, but in the next instant, she burst into tears. "I'm scared." She sobbed.

Grant kissed her softly and smiled. "Me too."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

She was never more relived than when she saw him burst through the door.

"Danny…"

"Shhh. Don't…" He cautioned her as he approached. "Don't say anything. Just let me look at you."

"I'm OK." She began.

"I said be quiet." Danny warned her again. He gently ran his hands over her hair, and then his fingers slowly traced the lines of her face, his heart beating faster as he saw the scrape that covered her left cheek. He pressed a kiss to her forehead; next to a bandage that he was sure was hiding a gash.

He checked every inch of her, needing to know for sure she was as unharmed as she seemed. His hands moved down her sides, his heart pounding now as his finger caught in a bullet hole in her jacket.

"God Lia…" He whispered his voice hitching as he pulled her close. "I thought I lost you…"

"I know." She replied, her tears soaking his shoulder. "I thought so too."

"I'm so sorry." He murmured, his lips buried in her hair. "I ruined everything. You were trying to tell me last night weren't you?" Danny shook his head, still not believing. "Why didn't you tell me? I would never have left you…"

Lia guessed her dilemma as to how to bring up the subject was over. Part of her was incredibly relieved, the other disappointed that she didn't get to see the look on his face when he found out the news. "I know." She said again as he held him closer. "That's why I didn't say anything. You had to go to that dinner..."

He pulled back and stared into her eyes, tears lighting in his own. "There is nothing more important to me than you. Do you get that? NOTHING." He asked her as he gently held her chin in his hand. "I know I take you for granted Lia. Believe me I won't ever do it again." He kissed her, gently but passionately, hoping she would get the message.

She got it. Loud and clear. She sighed as he pulled away. "It's OK." She replied as she sank into his embrace.

"It's not OK." Danny insisted. Finally beginning to believe she was alright, he began to tease her a bit. "I see that you got back at me anyway. Are you kidding me? Twins - Lia?"

"I know." She said with a watery laugh. She was suddenly exhausted and the image of what was to come scared her more than the shooting. "I wasn't going to tell you that though. I had no idea it was twins until Michelle told me today…"

Danny held her tighter and tried to bring his heart rate back to normal. There was a lot to take in. Lia was in harms way and to top it all off - she was pregnant. And with her job there was no guarantee that this time would be the last. There would be a lot to discuss once she got out of the hospital.

There was time for that later. Right now he was just content to hold her in his arms.

They sat there for a few long moments before Lia spoke again, her voice tiny and almost weak.

"What about Eric? Is he OK? They wouldn't tell me…" Lia asked

Danny wasn't about to lie to her. "He's in surgery."

"He saved my life, Danny." Lia voice caught on a sob. "He has to be alright."

Danny knew how true her words were. He would be the first to thank Eric if he did actually pull through.

"I know." Danny rocked her back and forth a bit as he held her closer. "I know."