Jude didn't notice the nurse walk in until she introduced herself. Jude looked up and the nurse gave her a look full of sympathy.

"I'm Leila," the nurse said softly as she walked over to Tommy.

"I'm Jude. Wh...why does he make those noise?" she timidly asked as a weak groan was emitted from Tommy's body.

"He's probably in pain," she said as she upped the dosage of morphine on the IV pole.

"Oh. Can you help him?"

"I increased his morphine intake. Did the doctor ever tell you what's going on?"

Jude shook her head.

"The bullet grazed his heart and it's lodged in his spinal chord," she said grimly, watching Jude's face turn a pale shade of green.

"So he could be paralyzed?"

The nurse nodded and proceeded to take Tommy's vitals. "Jude, I'm going to be quite frank with you. This is going to sound harsh and cruel, but I'm going to tell you what the doctor's won't. It's very unlikely Tommy will ever wake up, and if he does he probably won't make a full recovery."

"No," she murmured quietly.

"I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but I know the doctors won't and you need to know. You can't have false hope. I'm not saying he'll never wake up and I'm not saying that he won't get better, it's just very unlikely."

"Thank you," Jude said as she squeezed his hand again.

The nurse finished her duties and stepped out of the room, leaving Jude alone with Tommy.

She brought his cold hand up to her mouth and gently kissed it. She couldn't lose Tommy, not now, not ever. Tears sliped down her cheeks and her heart broke in two. She gently brushed a few locks of hair out of his closed eyes and smiled. Her gentle, loving Tommy was helpless all because of his brother.

She must have fallen asleep at some point because she looked up and saw a tall man standing on the opposite side of the bed. He had dark hair with a few gray streaks. The shimmering blue eyes told Jude who this man was.

"Hello," he said gruffly.

"Hi, I'm Jude Harrison."

"I know who you are."

"Oh."

"Jack Quincy."

"Tommy's father."

"And Ryan's."

"Ryan shot your son."

"I won't deny what he did, but he did it because of some stupid girl."

Jude was taken aback by Jack Quincy's statement. She was about to make a nasty retort when Kwest came in.

"I see you've met each other."

"Unfortunately," Jude said.

"Uh, Jude why don't you come with me."

"No, I want to stay with Tommy."

"Jude, now."

Jude looked at Kwest, Jack, and then Tommy. She gently bent over to kiss Tommy's forehead before leaving.

"Such a loving father," Jude said through clenched teeth, when they exited the room.

"Jack never was one to show his emotions, even before the fire."

"His son is dying! Now you tell me why you wouldn't show any emotion what-so-ever, and instead make snide comments to his girlfriend!"

"Tommy's not dying Jude," Kwest said.

"Yes, he is," Jude said.

"What?"

"Yeah," she said, a wave of emotion coming over her.

Kwest wrapped his arms around her and let himself cry. Even though crying wasn't the "manly" thing to do, he didn't even care anymore.

Jude wiped her eyes and pulled away from Kwest, noticing a glassy look on his face. He was exactly like Tommy when it came to masking their emotions. She couldn't read Kwest any better than she could Tommy. She frowned and turned around when she heard a voice.

"Oh honey," a woman in her mid to late 60's said as she pulled Jude into a hug.

Jude gave Kwest a help me look as she awkwardly accepted the hug.

"Hello Mr. Quincy," Kwest greeted the man that came with the lady. They shook hands for a moment before the man spoke.

"Hello Kwest. It's been awhile, how've you been son?"

"I've been better," he said.

"Oh Kwest. I can't believe this happened to Tommy," the woman said, releasing Jude to hug Kwest.

"So you're the Jude Harrison my grandson in always talking about when he calls us," the man said, shaking her hand. "You'll have to excues my wife, she's a bit overzealous in emotional situations like these."

Jude half smiled and nodded. She already liked the old man, she just wished they had met under better circumstances. "It's fine really. "

"Tommy's told us a lot about you," the woman said.

"Good I hope."

"Of course my dear girl. He said you were the prettiest girl on earth, with the voice of an angel.

Jude smiled absentmindedly. "Tommy's good at stretching the truth."

"Well we've heard you're voice on your CD and while it's no music from my time, it's pretty good," Mr Quincy said.

"And you're a very beautiful woman," Mrs. Quincy added.

"Thank you."

"Jude!" Leila called. "Tommy opened his eyes."