Kirsten couldn't stop pacing, she literally had to keep going or she might have broken down. And she couldn't break down, not now, her family needed her. There was no news, nobody knew anything. Seth was being seen to and she wasn't allowed in, Sandy and her father-in-law were on the way to the hospital. Who was hurt? Both or by some miracle neither? Nobody knew or at least that's what they said to her. Why was it taking so long for them to arrive? Or was it that she had no real concept of time at the moment and in fact it wasn't really that long ago that she and Seth had arrived. She hated the fact that there was no one there she could talk to. No Ryan to stay strong for, no Julie to lean on and no Caleb who she knew would have annoyed her about something but at least it would have taken her mind off what was going on or her lack of knowledge about what was going on. She had missed her father greatly over the past year but now more than ever she could really use that squeeze on the shoulder that rarely came but was greatly appreciated when it did.

Her pacing came to an abrupt halt as two doctors rushed pashed her in a hurry to get to someone. Anyone she knew? She had no idea. The nurse came out and told her she could go and see Seth and yes she too didn't know about her husband or his father but she would try and find out. Kirsten knew that one or both had to have arrived by now because the clock on the wall when the doctors ran past had said it was ten past one and when the nurse came out it was twenty to two. She and Seth must have arrived at the hospital before one so they had to be here by now. If there was nothing wrong with Sandy he would have found her by now even if he hadn't come in the ambulance he would have come with the police to the hospital and found her. That's what he's like, he would have wanted to know how Seth was. How she was. This meant only one thing. He had been hurt. Hurt, not necessarily shot but certainly hurt enough to stop him coming to her and their son.

Seth was sleeping; it was the best thing for him. He was going to feel pretty awful when he woke up and he would only be facing the same worry as Kirsten was right now. She held his hand, she hadn't done that in so long, well the last time she held it for more than a second was when he and Ryan had led her into the kitchen when she had got back from rehab. She used to hold his hand when he was little when she was home early enough to read him a bedtime story. She loved it when he got into scarier stories and he would tighten his grip of her hand letting her know how much he needed her and relied on her. As the years went on Kirsten got to read to him less and his need for her became less. At least that was how it felt to her. At two thirty there was a knock on the door and the man outside gestured for Kirsten to come outside.

"Mrs Cohen?" The man looked pretty glum, at least that's what Kirsten thought. Given that she didn't know him he could always look like this.

"Yes I'm Kirsten Cohen." She was getting worried. He'd surely look happier if everything was alright.

"Mrs Cohen I'm nurse Harper I believe the doctors and I have been working on your husband, Sandy and his father."

"Daniel Cohen, yes that's right. How are they? Can I see my husband?"

"Not just yet Mrs Cohen your husband is being prepped for surgery. He was in a bad way when he came in but we've managed to stabilize him for now and we're hoping that once we open him up we can totally stop the bleeding. He is in good hands." Kirsten couldn't breathe. This is what life would be like with no Sandy, life with no air. No life. The doctor grabbed her arm and sat her down before she fell down.

"Is there anyway I could see him before surgery?"

"I can check. Would you like to know how your father-in-law is doing?"

"Yes, yes sorry."

"No apologies needed this is a very difficult time for you. It appears Daniel tried to take the bullets for his son but his plan didn't go as he'd hoped. He is conscious but we are going to take him to surgery soon as he has a part of a bullet lodged just below his shoulder. Other than that he just has some bruises. He has asked to speak to you we haven't told him about your husband yet we'll do whatever you want."

"I'd like you to tell him about Sandy I just can't do it right now but tell him I will come and see him soon. I need to call our other son in California and Seth will wake up soon. Will you check if I can see Sandy first before you do anything?"

"I'm going to do that right now." He left Kirsten sat alone outside her son's room, for the first time that day she sobbed. Not cried, not shed a tear but sobbed. How was she going to explain this to Seth and Ryan and the Nana? The man was back just a few minutes later still looking glum.

"I'm afraid it won't be possible as your husband is already in surgery." He saw the panic surge through the blonde woman. "Don't take this as a bad sign it just means that they are working quick to fix the problem." The most Kirsten could muster was a small smile. After a minute he left her alone. She knew this probably meant they didn't have much time to fix the problem, that they had to get him into surgery as quick as possible or his chances of making it would be extremely slim.

Having made sure that Seth was still asleep Kirsten went outside. Picking up her cell she decided that it was now or never. She had to just do it.

"Hey Ryan, it's me."

"Kirsten, hey. Any news? I rang Sandy's cell before but it went straight to the answer service."

"Seth's okay. He's in hospital, he's been severely beaten but he's as quick as ever you know him nothing keeps him don for long. He's just sleeping now." She needed him to hear the good news first at least. The news about Seth was great, he would make a full recovery and sure he might need some help to get over such a traumatic event but she kenw he would. She knew he's never get over it if his father died though.

"That's great. When will you be coming back then? I could still come over there if it's going to be a few days." Ryan was desperate to see them all which he had to admit surprised him slightly even after three years of them being his family.

"The thing is Ryan, Sandy, erm Sandy he's he's been shot." There was silence on the other end of the phone as the news sunk in. Kirsten could hear the Nana asking Ryan if it was Sandy on the phone. "He's in surgery right now I'm sure he's going to be fine. He was trying to help Seth and well it was complicated. Ryan are you still there?" She knew he was but she needed him to say something. Anything.

"I'm here but I'm coming over. We'll all come over."

"Ryan its okay but I need to talk to Sophie. Is she there?"

"She's here. We're coming over I'm going to check the flights now." He didn't give her a chance to respond. The next voice she heard was the Nana's.

"Kirsten what's going on? Is it Seth?" Where did she start!

"Sophie I need you to just let me tell you everything I know and then you can ask whatever you want although I'm not sure I'll be able to answer you." She had never been so assertive with her mother-in-law. "Seth is okay, he's in hospital but he's going to be okay. The people that had him, well the man that was responsible for his abduction knew Daniel, your husband I mean ex oh well I'm sure you know who I mean." Kirsten couldn't believe that Sophie was actually letting her speak without interruption. It must have been the shock. "Daniel spoke to Sandy this morning and Sandy decided to go and save Seth himself. Daniel and I tried to stop him but it was too late they let Seth go because they had Sandy instead. Daniel went in after him. They shot Sandy and Daniel. Sandy is in surgery right now I don't know much more than that. Daniel is conscious but has part of a bullet in his shoulder so he will need to surgery too. He tried to take the bullets for Sandy but" She didn't know what else to say, she was surprised she had managed to get that all out without breaking down. The tears were close though.

"Kirsten, don't worry. We'll be there soon. That boy of mine is strong, stronger than you think. Us New Yorkers don't give up without a fight. He's got everything to fight for. You mark my words he'll be fine. Probably awake by the time we get there and if he is I don't want you two all over each other in front of my poor grandson." Kirsten actually managed a small laugh and smile. Sophie was actually making her feel better.

"I know, he's going to be just fine. He'll be glad to see you all though. Sophie?"

"Yes?"

"Look after Ryan for me, he'll pretend that he's fine and that he's strong but I know how much he looks up to Sandy."

"Of course, my dear. We'll let you know what flight we're on. Keep us updated." They said their goodbyes and Kirsten was on her own again but this time she felt much better. She knew that Sandy was strong, that he wouldn't give up on life, on his marriage, on their family. It just wasn't him, he was a fighter. He had fought for their relationship, their marriage, Ryan and God knows he had fought her dad for years. They were going to get through this, as a family and maybe Sandy would actually get to know his father after all these years. You never know, anything is possible.