Author's note: First up just a reminder that I did change my pen name. So if you've favorite this story, you might not get alerts now. I think you have to re-select it due to the change. A friend and I have some ridiculous dreams for the future and my old pen name was from highschool.
Now on to the business! I've had the chance to start hand writing the chapters during my lunches and other various times during my jobs. I have the next two chapters fully written and will be posting them soon. I've started work on the final chapter and it will NOT disappoint! It includes quite possibly one of the best jokes said friend and I have made at Crockett's expense. Thank you for all of the reviews! The next chapter will be up in the next few days! As always, click on that little button at the bottom, leave me some love, and enjoy!

But I know if I could do it over
I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart
That I left unspoken

What hurts the most
Is being so close
And having so much to say (much to say)
And watching you walk away
And never knowing
What could have been...

~Rascal Flatts~ What Hurts The Most~

Freshly showered and in a new set of scrubs, Crockett exited back into the ED and immediately came face to face with Natalie.
" Is he awake?" she asked anxiously.

" He is. Well he was. Will woke up in a fair amount of pain so I administered pain meds and it didn't him long to fall back asleep. Not before calling me Crockpot though…" Natalie did her best to stifle her laughter.
" I think I'm going to go upstairs real quick and just sit with him for awhile then. Let Maggie know where I went." Crockett watched her walk away, wondering what the future held for her and Will. He didn't have much time to ponder though as his cellphone began ringing. Crockett pulled it out of his back pocket, the screen showing an incoming call from Jay.

" How's he doing?" Jay asked, sounding much more awake than he had the previous night.

" Well he rudely woke me up about 30 minutes ago by kicking my feet off the bed. His vitals have improved. I have him scheduled to receive another transfusion to replace the lost blood and also plan on getting a chest X-Ray to see how his lungs look before I make any other decisions."

" But he's okay?"

" A smartass, but yes. We're headed in the right direction. I'll know more once I get all of the results back."

" Good. I've got a few things to do work wise and then I'll head that way."

" Sounds good," replied Crockett, pocketing his phone before heading back to the lounge for a fresh cup of coffee.

Natalie's heart grew heavy as she stepped into Will's room in the ICU and took a seat beside his bed. She felt so guilty. Like she was the one responsible for what had happened to him. How could she have been so blind? From the beginning Will had warned Natalie about Phillip. In fact, it seemed as if everyone had warned her about him. The truth was that she had been in love with Will since the very first day she had met him. They had been through so much. When Will had needed her most, she had treated him like shit. At the same time, Natalie knew that he had been just as equally guilty by lying to her. God. Everything was so messed up now. Why had she told him to get out of her life? Natalie's pager buzzed, signaling that she was needed back in the ED. She leaned in and whispered into his ear.
" I didn't mean what I said." Natalie gave him another quick kiss on the cheek then headed downstairs.

It hadn't taken much convincing on Jay's part for Voight to allow him the time to visit Will. When Jay arrived, his brother was sound asleep. It was around noon when Will began to stir.

" Shouldn't you be at work?" he aske sleepily.

" They can survive without me for a few hours," Jay replied.

How are you feeling?"

" Like crap, but that's to be expected," stated Will.

" Has Marcel been back?"

" I've been out all morning I think," he said. Jay looked out the door and happened to see the surgeon coming down the hall.
" Looks like he's coming this way right now actually."

" Hey. Lean in. I need to tell you something." Jay cracked a smile as Will whispered into his ear.
" Good. You're awake," said Crockett as he entered Will's room.
" Marcel. How's your grandma?"

" Excuse me?"

" Your grandma. Betty Crocker. How is she doing?" Jay asked, completely straight faced.
" Funny. Real funny," he replied as the two brother looked at each other and instantly burst into laughter. Crockett ignored the two, instead focusing on the tablet in his hands.

" So the good news is that your blood counts are up. I want to do one more transfusion which should bring your counts up to or near therapeutic levels. If that winds up being the case I'll probably pull your central line tonight."

" Chest tube?" asked Will.
" Unfortunately that's going to have to stay in a bit longer. Your output is significantly lower, but there still is a somewhat steady amount coming out. If everything else continues to go well, I want to transition you to oral pain meds today as well."

" That sounds like a lot," Jay said.

" If I didn't think his body could handle it, I wouldn't be doing so."

" He's right admitted Will.
" At least one of you is smart," Crockett muttered.
" Hey now. I heard that," remarked Jay.

" Good. I meant for you to. I'll check back in after your transfusion to check the lab work."

" Sounds like a plan," Will declared, watching as Crockett left, leaving his tablet at the nurse's station.

Jay's phone buzzed, indicating he had a new text message.

" Phillip Davis has been arraigned and is being held without bail," the detective proclaimed.

" Without bail? It's not like he killed me."

" You forget who I work for. String were undoubtedly pulled. Sophie is currently in the custody of his sister. From what I understand they have already started the petition to adopt her."

" That's good," Will replied, yawning.
" You need to rest. I'll stop by after I get off work tonight." Though Jay wasn't really one to be affectionate, he leaned and carefully hugged his brother.
" I didn't die. Don't get all soft on me."

" Hey Maggie. I'm going to go upstairs to see Will. My patient in Exam 6 is waiting to be discharged," explained Natalie.
" Tell Big Red I said hi," said the nurse, watching as Natalie walked away.

It was just a few short minutes later before Natalie was stepping off the elevator. She was pleasantly surprised to find Will awake as she entered his ICU room.

" Hey. You're awake," she said with a smile.

" I am."

" How are you feeling?" she asked awkwardly, sitting down beside his bed.

" I've been better." Silence. Natalie began to open her mouth to say speak, but Will beat her to it.
" I remember you being here last night."

" You do?"

" I do."

" What do you remember?" inquired Natalie nervously.

" Just that you were crying...and that you kissed me."

" I also told you something before I left." Natalie paused.

" That night. When you confronted Phillip and I. I said things in the heat of the moment. I was so angry with Phillip. With myself. I didn't mean what I said to you."

" Natalie," he started.
" Wait. Let me finish. I remember that night. The night of the accident. Will, I was coming to tell you I'm still madly in love with you. I was coming to tell you that I wanted to work on our relationship. I want us to be us again. When I found out that you had been attacked, I was scared I'd never be able to tell you how I truly feel. It's also why I punched Phillip."

" You punched Phillip?" asked a surprised Will.

" That's beside the point. Will, I still love you. I needed you to be able to hear that." Will sighed, trying to process everything.

" Nat, I'd be lying if I said I didn't still love you. I...when you told me you wanted me out of your life, it killed me inside. I was crushed. I love you, but I can't keep doing this."

" Doing what?"

" Running back together after you hurt me. I know I'm equally guilty and I've hurt you too." Natalie nodded, knowing if she said anything that she'd instantly start crying.

I need time. Time to deal with everything. Time to figure things out. Natalie, the last thing I want to do is hurt you any more. I'm afraid if I say yes right now all it's going to do is hurt us both."

" I understand. I wish I could stay longer, but I need to get back to the ED. I told Maggie I wouldn't be gone long," she said, standing up suddenly.

I'll try and come back later if there's time."

Natalie left his room and made an immediate beeline for the closest on-call room which was thankfully empty. She closed the door and managed to lock it before breaking down in tears. She slid down a wall, hugging her knees to her chest. Natalie felt like it was shattering into a million pieces. What had she done?