A/N: This was posted on SD-1 a few weeks ago, but due to poor internet access I was unable to post here.

Also please note that I will only be posting this story here for archival purposes from now on.

Thanks.

Chapter 22

Sydney entered Michael's hospital room slowly, her hand resting ever so slightly on her swollen belly. Madeline was staying with her Grandparents for a couple of days, Sydney having finally admitted that she needed help with her daughter. Michael was still at his Physio session when she arrived, so she lowered herself carefully into the chair that was a permanent fixture next to his bed. She'd been sitting there for almost twenty minutes when Michael was bought back into the room and a nurse and an orderly carefully helped him into the bed. "Hey baby," Michael said to Sydney when he noticed her sitting there, observing his reactions to the slight movements he made as he settled back into his bed. "Hi," Sydney replied, offering her hand. He placed a soft kiss there, seeming to miss being able to perform the simple gesture that he used to do almost daily. She kissed his knuckles lightly in return and she pulled his hand over to rest his hand at the top of the swell of her well-defined bump. He smiled to himself as he felt their unborn child shift slightly, softly kicking his the palm of his hand. "Still active huh?" he asked, not really attuned to the foetus' movements.

"Yeah, usually around this time, and most of the night, baby doesn't want me to get any sleep while I'm carrying it either," Sydney commented, watching as her husband smiled warmly in return. "Where's Madeline?"

"Still with Mum and Dad, I've enjoyed the break, as much as I want to spend time with her, it's harder when I'm alone."

"I wish I could be there for you, to help, to let you rest," he said regretfully.

"Hey, I don't blame you, I blame that ass who hit you. None of this is your fault and I don't want you to dwell too much on the past, you're here and you're getting better. That's what matters now, concentrating on getting better and coming home to me, Madeline and this little one." His eyes welled up with tears, the emotion of the past few weeks finally catching up with him, as he allowed himself to cry for the first time since the accident.

Later that afternoon Sydney left, intending to pick her daughter up from her parent's house across town. After a prolonged farewell kiss, and promises to bring Madeline in the next day, Michael finally relinquished her from his grip, watching sadly as she once again left him alone in the bland hospital room. Michael's regular nurse came in a little after six with his dinner. Sliding the tray onto the small table that adjusted so it was perched over his lap, she took up her usual position to help her patient eat. "Hey Michael, how ya feeling?" he shook his head at the casual way she'd adopted in order to get information out of him.

"I'm alright, a little sore after this mornings session, but otherwise I'm not too bad." She nodded quickly and shifted the conversation slightly, "Did Sydney come in today?"

"For a bit yeah, but she had to leave early to go and pick Madeline up from her parents place, they've been looking after her for a few days."

"How's Squirt?" she asked, using the adopted nickname for their unborn child.

"Good, Syd's due for another check up next week I think. Sydney said she's not getting much sleep between Madeline and Squirt though."

"It's always the way, I had next to no sleep my entire pregnancy. It takes a lot out of you. Sydney seems to be doing ok though, as tired as she looks sometimes, she's always cheerful, and the fact that you guys have all the support from your families, I'm sure would make it just a little bit easier for her."

"I hope it does, I can't imagine how hard it's gonna be when I go home, I don't want to be an extra burden on her."

"You won't Michael, if she needs help, she'll ask."

"That's what I'm afraid of, that she won't admit she needs help. I've known her long enough to know that even when she's in over her head, she won't always admit she can't do it on her own, she's too stubborn."

"Michael, I'm sure it's all gonna be fine," she told him, clearing away the empty plate, "I've got other patients to see. Do me a favour, don't over think everything, and I'll see you later." She squeezed his hand lightly and picked up the empty tray, taking it over to food cart.

Four days later as Sydney came down the hall, pushing Madeline in her stroller, she was surprised to see her husband slowly making his way down the hall on his specially modified crutches. He looked up, a look of pure determination on his face, when he noticed his wife and daughter coming towards him. Madeline, who recognised her Daddy, started pulling at her restraints and whimpering. As they approached each other, Sydney stopped, taking her husband in her arms, as he leaned heavily on her for support. As they stood there, Michael looked down at his wife, and wiped away the tears that were falling, and kissed her forehead happily. Madeline, feeling left out, began crying loudly, upset that her mother hadn't let her cuddle her Daddy yet. "Daddy…" she wined, pulling hard against her restraints. Noticing the little girls struggle, Michael's physio leaned down to free the little girl, lifting her up so she could kiss and hug her Daddy. "Thank you," Sydney said, smiling happily at the woman who was helping her husband with his recovery, "It's getting a little difficult to pick her up now," she said, motioning to her stomach.

"That's quite alright, I just didn't want her to hurt herself. By the way, I'm Linda."

"Sydney, and this is Madeline," Sydney said, offering her hand for the younger woman to shake. "Michael and I were just heading back to his room, if you wanted to walk with us."

"Yeah ok. Is that alright baby?" Sydney asked her husband, who was still leaning against her. "Of course. Might take a while though."

"You take as long as you need." Fifteen minutes later they arrived at Michael's room, Linda helping him back onto his bed, "I'll see you again same time tomorrow Michael. It was nice to meet you Sydney."

"Likewise," she replied, watching as Linda vacated the room.

Several hours later Sydney was sitting quietly in Michael's room, watching as her husband and daughter slept peacefully on the bed before her. Eyeing the sleeping pair closely she saw Michael slowly beginning to wake, turning his head so he faced her. "How long did I sleep?" he asked groggily.

"Not long, maybe an hour or two. The Doctor was looking for you before, do you want me to get him?"

"Yeah, I guess." Sydney stood up carefully, her hands automatically moulding into the curve of her back as her fingers massaged it lightly in an effort to relieve the ever-present ache. She came back in a few minutes later, Michael's Doctor in tow. "How are you feeling Michael?" he questioned, as he read over the chart that was hanging at the end of the bed. "I'm alright, pretty tired after Physio this morning."

"That's to be expected, remember you haven't had any exercise for a while. Eventually you will get back to normal though. Are any of the exercises causing you discomfort or additional pain?"

Michael shook his head, "No, I'm starting to get used to the exercises now, though it was a little uncomfortable with the crutches this morning but I worked through it."

"Ok good, I'll get some more x-rays on Friday and we'll do a full check up, and providing we don't find any problems, then I think you can go home a week from Friday."

"Really?" Michael asked, disbelieving.

"Providing there are no problems I don't see why not, you should be independent enough, I'll add in a couple of extra hours of physio once we get all the results back, but I don't anticipate there being any problems."

"Thank you Doctor," Sydney said, shaking his hand.

"My pleasure Mrs. Vaughn. Of course he will need to take it easy for the first few weeks."

"Of course. I'll look after him." Sydney said with certainty.

"I have no doubt you will. If you'll excuse me, I have other patients to see." As soon as they were alone, Sydney shifted closer to the bed, giving her husband a quick kiss, "I can't believe you're coming home…"