I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew the door was opening. I knew I didn't need to reach for my gun; no one would get past the two guards outside the door. Looking up, I saw Rodriguez and Stitch. I wasn't really surprised to see them, but it was interesting that they came together.

Stitch came over to Steph's bed and looked at her sleeping, "How's she doing?" he whispered.

"No change really." Looking at Rodriguez and back to Stitch I commented "Surprised to see you two here together."

Both men kept to themselves. Stitch had been Army for two years before he received a medical discharge. He'd been captured and tortured to the point that his leg had to be amputated and his arm was stitched back on; hence the name Stitch. He didn't like to talk to people; everyone always wanted to know about his injuries and how he obtained his name. He rarely ever left the building because every time he did, people would either stare at him or want to talk. For that reason, he worked the night shift.

Rodriguez, well, he just preferred to be left alone. He wasn't a people person. According to him, growing up in an orphanage will do that to you. He didn't really know how to carry on a conversation with anyone. He was shy around people and preferred to do his work on a computer, again, at night.

Stitch stood there staring at Stephanie, "She has to pull through this. We need her at the office." That was the most I'd ever heard him say at once and I was shocked. I didn't think he really knew her.

Rodriguez stepped up and touched her right leg, "We may not see her often, but the few times I've been on the floor during the time she was there, she's always been the light of the office. The guys flock to her just to see a smile."

Stitch walked to the door, "Come on, man. It's our turn to guard her." As they both walked out the door, Vince and Manny walked in. Seemed that all night, someone was coming in every four hours. The two coming to relieve the guards would come say hi to her and the two leaving would come to see if there was any change and to tell her good-bye and they'd be back. I could have easily been jealous; no one ever really came to see me anytime I'd been in the hospital. But, I knew these guys loved her like a sister and they were worried about her.

Sometime around 0700 Lester showed back up looking like he'd been through Hell. He sat in the chair next to the bed and leaned his forehead on her blanket, "I need you to be okay, Beautiful. I…" he stopped talking and took a deep breath. I wasn't sure if he would continue or not but knew something heavy was on his mind.

When it was clear he wasn't going to continue, I took a chance, "Les, man. What's going on? You look like shit."

Without looking at me, he began talking, "Did you know the asswipe that hit her wasn't even of legal drinking age?"

Um, no, wasn't told that. "No, I just assumed it was some usual drunk."

"No, he's only seventeen. I went to the station and talked to Big Dog and Eddie. Kid doesn't know why he's there. Says he doesn't remember hitting anyone."

How drunk did you have to be to not remember hitting someone with your car? Where the hell did he get the alcohol? I'm pretty sure I didn't speak those questions out loud, but when Les answered, I had to wonder.

"His parents took off for vacation yesterday morning leaving him alone. He broke into their liquor cabinet. Said he doesn't remember how much he drunk, but it was gone, so he was going out to replenish the stash. Don't know who he was going to get to sell to him, but he never made it. His parents are on their way back and pissed as hell."

Well, that answered how he got the alcohol. Wonder what the parents were going to do to him. If he were my son, I'd beat his ass, make him attend AA meetings, counsel kids on the dangers of drinking, then ship his ass off to the military.

Les stood up, kissed Steph's forehead, nodded at me, and then left. He still wasn't right, but I knew he had to work this out on his own. When he was ready for help, he'd ask.

The day continued on just as the night had; every four hours was the change of the guards and time for four visitors. Finally around eight at night, I felt Stephanie squeeze my hand. Feeling her hand move was enough to jolt me from the slight rest I was attempting to gain.

"Hey there, Honey. Open those eyes for me," I begged. I didn't care if anyone heard me beg, I just needed to see that she was going to be okay.

Her eyes fluttered like she was fighting to open them and finally, after what seemed like hours, her eyes popped open and I could see the questions in her eyes. "You were in an accident. Someone ran a light and smashed into you. You had surgery and will be sore for a few days, so keep the movement to a minimum."

She looked down her body and saw the cast, "What's that for?" she asked with a quiet hoarse voice.

I reached over to the table and grabbed her cup with ice chips. Spooning a few into her mouth, I explained, "You have a few cracked ribs. They had to remove your spleen. You have a broken left leg, and some screws and a rod in your left arm."

I saw the tears and hated that I was the cause of them. No, I didn't cause her physical pain, but I was the one that explained what happened and caused this emotional pain. I wanted to crawl up in bed with her, hold her to me, and take her pain away. If I could do it without hurting her, I'd have been up there this whole time.

Before she could ask more, the door opened and a nurse, along with Chase, walked in. "How's she doing?" the nurse asked as she approached the bed. "Oh, I see you're awake. That's good." She looked at the monitors and wrote down some information. "How are you feeling? What's the pain on a scale of one to ten?"

I saw Stephanie close her eyes and I hope she wasn't going to play it off. I could see the pain in her eyes and if she didn't admit it, then I was going to speak up. I hated seeing her in pain before she was my wife, but now I had the ability to do something about it.

Luckily, Steph opened her eyes and looked at the nurse, "When I try to move, it's about an eight. If I lay still, I'd say a six."

The nurse looked at her and smiled, "I'll get some pain meds and be back. Anything else I can get for either of you?"

Steph and I both said no and waited for the nurse to leave. I pulled my wife's hand to my lips and kissed her knuckles. Before we had a chance to talk, the door opened again. Turning my head, I saw Chase enter the room. Stephanie turned her head and looked at my brother. I couldn't tell if she was wondering who he was or if she remembered him and just wondered why he was here.

Chase walked to the foot of the bed and smiled at her, "I see you're awake." She didn't say anything, just nodded. "I guess I should introduce myself.'

"No need. You are Matthew's brother, Michael. But, you probably prefer I call you Chase, right?"

Chase smiled even more, "You, my sweet, may call me either."

"Back off, Chase. She's my wife," I growled at him.

"I know. However, it would have been nice had I been told when it happened, or even invited to the wedding," he teased. I saw Steph instantly look ashamed and I wasn't having that.

"Stop teasing her. She's in pain and if I have to move from here, I'll kick your ass." I looked at Steph when she pulled on my hand, "Yes?"

"Does everyone know?"

Now it was my turn to look ashamed. I knew she wanted the truth, but I wasn't sure how to tell her how everyone found out. Knowing that honesty was the safest bet with her, I decided to just lay it all on the line.

"Yes, they all know. When I went back to the office yesterday, I found out you'd been in an accident. No page was sent out, so I had no idea until you'd already been at the hospital and in surgery for a while. I came here as soon as I found out."

"When I saw the guys in the waiting room, I laid into them wanting to know why a page wasn't sent out or why I wasn't called. One of the guys asked what my problem was. I sort of just blurted out that it was my problem because my wife was in an accident and I wasn't informed."

Leaning my head down, I kissed her knuckles again, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive you for. I understand. Had the roles been reversed, I'd have done the exact same thing. So, how'd they take it?"

I had to laugh at the point. "I think half of them are still in shock and the other half is ready to take my ass to the mats."

Chase's phone rang, so he left the room. As soon as the door shut, Steph was pulling my arm up to her, "Come lay with me."

I looked at the bed and back at my wife. While the bed was small, I knew it would make her happy if I was up there with her. I didn't want to jar her arm or leg or hurt her stitches, but I wasn't sure how to get up there without moving her some. "I'm not sure I can, Honey."

Of course, my wife being Steph, she wasn't taking no for an answer. She carefully slid herself over some and made room. If I laid on my side, I'd fit up there with her and she'd still have room for her left leg and arm. As soon as I was next to her, she pulled my arm across her and snuggled her head into my shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?" I honestly couldn't figure out what she was thanking me for. But, if she told me, then I'd make sure to do it for her as much as I could if it were something she wanted, needed, or desired.

"For laying here with me. I need you here right now."

"I'll always be here for you. I love you, Steph."

"I love you, too, Matthew." She sighed and drifted off to sleep next to me and I was content to do the same thing.