Author's Note:

A big thank you to everyone who reviewed/faved/followed!

I originally was going to wait a bit longer to post this chapter, but I didn't want you guys to worry about Amy too much. My love for Amy is what's holding me to this earth, I'm not going to kill her off. But if you're not following me on tumblr you might not have realized that.

Anyway, fair warning, don't get used to weekly updates. Between working full-time and planning a move, this probably isn't going to happen too often, I'm sorry to say. But I will still be writing when I can.

I hope you all like this chapter. Let me know!


Chapter Two


Amy cracked her eyes open, then immediately screwed them shut again, her face scrunching up in discomfort. Her whole body felt achy and she didn't know where she was, but wherever it was, it seemed to be blinding white.

Several seconds passed before she tried again, slower this time, just one eye to start. Now that she knew what to expect, it wasn't as bad. Both eyes open now and squinting, her arm instinctually reached out for her glasses on her nightstand, but her nightstand wasn't there. She wasn't in her bedroom. The movement made her aware of the IV lines hooked up to her, and then things started making some sense.

A hospital. She was in the hospital. In addition to the IV, she noticed one leg was also in a cast. Something must have happened to her, but she couldn't remember what. Without her glasses, she was forced to keep squinting around the room for clues. Amy startled a little when she looked to her other side and found she wasn't alone.

"Sheldon?" she asked, her voice weak and raspy. He was sitting in a chair, his body leaning forward so his folded arms rested on the bed next to her, and his head rested on his arms. He didn't stir at her call. Amy turned towards him a little more and watched him for a moment, touched that he not only braved a germ-invested environment to visit her, he apparently stayed long enough to fall asleep. Part of her was tempted to leave him be and go back to sleep herself, but the position he was in didn't look comfortable, and she needed some answers. Carefully, she reached out to gently nudge his shoulder.

"Sheldon?" she tried again, and this time her voice was stronger.

"Mm, Amy," he spoke her name, audibly sleep-addled. His head rose up a little and his arms stretched a bit, one hand coming up to rub his face. When he glanced at her and their eyes met, Sheldon bolted upright. "Amy!"

"Sheldon, wha-"

She didn't get the question out before he launched himself at her, his arms wrapping around her as best they could while she remained reclined in the bed, pressing his face into her neck. That would have been shocking enough on its own, but Amy was doubly alarmed to feel moisture against her skin. Was he really crying?

"You're awake," he murmured. "I can't believe you're really awake."

She hesitantly placed one hand on his back, returning his embrace.

"Sheldon, what happened?" she finally asked after it became clear he didn't intend to let go of her anytime soon. "How did I get here?"

Sheldon pulled away slowly, but took one of her hands in both of his, apparently reluctant to break the contact. Her gazed flicked down to their entwined hands before going back to his face. She wished she could see his expression, but without her glasses he was mostly a blur. He seemed to gather himself, taking a deep breath before answering her.

"You were driving to an interview. A truck lost control and hit your car. It was . . ." He stopped for a moment and cleared his throat. "For a while we thought . . ." He looked away from her, and from the way his grip on her hand tightened, Amy knew how those sentences ended.

"How long have I been in the hospital?" She was a little afraid to ask it, and from the way Sheldon tensed up, it seemed like he was afraid to answer it. When he didn't respond for a few seconds, she tried a different question.

"Did I miss the wedding?"

"What wedding?" he asked, which made her laugh a little.

"Howard and Bernadette's wedding, of course. Who else would have gotten married?"

All she got in response was stunned silence.

"I did miss it, didn't I?" she continued, pouting a little. She was so looking forward to being Bernadette's maid of honor. It just figured something like this would happen to her to take it away. Almost a reverse of what happened when she was supposed to do it for her cousin Irene.

"Amy, what, um . . ."

Amy squinted at him, trying again to read his expression. It was rare to hear him so inarticulate. She looked back down at their joined hands and found herself wondering again what happened to her. There had to be something he wasn't saying, but before she could ask again he abruptly stood up, dropping her hand.

"I should let the doctor know you're awake," Sheldon said as he walked quickly out the door, leaving her all alone to contemplate her situation. She absently clasped her hands together, already missing his touch. In all the confusion, she hadn't taken the time to really appreciate it, and now she didn't know when she would feel it again. She ran her thumb over her knuckles and bumped into her rings.

Amy froze.

Since when did she wear rings?