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Music Disclaimer: Lyrics used in this song are by Nick Lachey and no copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: John has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison and away from the woman he loves. Trish is adapting to life without John, trying to stay strong for the sake of their newfound love. Can they survive the ultimate test to their relationship, one that neither of them expects or is prepared to fight?

Like a hunger,
Like a burning,

She flew through the emergency room doors, the ones that she knew so well and immediately ran up to the nurses station, the same nurse who had been there the last time she had been checking on John met her with a smile.

"I didn't think I'd ever see you again dear. What was he brought in for this time?" she asked with a slight knowing smile, that told Trish silently that boys would be boys. Trish wanted to acknowledge the woman but knew that the most important thing in that moment was finding out where John was and if he was alright. Everything else in the world could cease to exist now for all she cared. She just wanted to see the man she loved.

"He was in a fight and apparently was beaten pretty bad. Please tell me where he is..." she said, tears starting to stream down her face, the pain of the past few months of her life finally taking hold. The flood gates had been opened and there was no stopping them now. Just what had her life become?

"I'll take you to him right now dear, don't worry your pretty heart no longer." The woman grabbed her arm, squeezing it gently for support and took off at a brisk pace down the hall, Trish left to use all of her willpower to keep up and not be dragged behind.

They reached a room door and the nurse left her side and went in to check on the patient and make sure all was clear for Trish to enter. She knew this wasn't a traditional room, the same kind that she had been in the last time she had been there for John. This one was different in that it looked like an operating room. The nurse came out then and motioned for her to enter and the minute she did, and smelt the heavy stench of antiseptic she knew it even smelled differently from the last room as well. This room smelled of death, something she hoped was not the case here.

She saw John then, lying flat on his back on the operating table, having been stabilized, the IV running through his arms and the leads stuck to his chest. Obviously it had been used to jump start his heart. The tears from before continued to fall as she felt her throat start to seize up on her. Just what had happened in the prison fight and why had it caused John to need this much medical attention.

She damned herself internally for not asking for more information over the telephone when the Warden had called her. Before she could make her way over to John, to hold his hand and in some small way let him know she was there with him the nurse stopped her.

"I am not supposed to allow people in here but since he has a few minutes before he is being moved to the Intensive Care wing, I think you have enough time to let him know he isn't alone here anymore."

Trish squeezed the womans hand tightly and watched as she walked away. She went to him then and grabbing his stale hand and placing it within hers, she gave him as much of her body heat as she could. His hands were cold and clammy, not the normal warmth she had come to know when touching him and she felt sick to her stomach. God how she wished she could go back in time and make all of this right again. Stop him from going to AA before he was ready, stop him from drinking and driving, God all of it.

"John, it's Wish." she said, using his nickname for her, hoping in some small way it might help him wake up and come around. "I got here as soon as I could. Baby you need to wake up now alright, you need to come back to me so that I can tell you what an asshole you are for kicking me and our child out of your life. If you don't wake up I can't do that.." she laughed lightly in spite of herself and the moment she was now caught in.

She did want to tell him just what she thought about him pushing her away but knew the time for that would come later, much later. Right now she just had to remain calm and hope for the best. He was at the very least breathing on his own and fighting and that was all she could ask for.

The door opened then and orderlies, doctors and a few nurses she didn't recognize came flooding into the room, complete with a gurney to place him on so that he could be moved to a private room. She backed away from them and let them do their work, all the while praying that this wasn't the last time they would ever be together. He had to fight to stay alive, he just had too. He wasn't alone anymore and he had a family to think about. Because whether he wanted her to be or not, she was indeed the only family he had in that moment and she wasn't going anywhere.

She watched him take the blanket out of the bag and began to unfold it, her eyes glued to his hands and the way they seemed to master just about anything he touched. The past twenty four hours had been a roller coaster ride of emotions but she wouldn't change a thing. Standing here now in the middle of the night, all that was surrounding them was darkness and the light of the moon, it was right where she wanted to be.

No matter what happened tomorrow when he turned himself in, they had tonight and if what had happened so far was any indication, this was going to be one hell of a memory.

"Should we have taken pillows?" John asked her then, bringing her about face and remembering that he was still working away across from her.

"I don't think I want my pillows filled with sand. I want to remember this night, not carry about souvenirs of it." she said, trying to contain the laughter that was threatening to bubble over in her throat. Sometimes without even trying he could be down right funny. The best part about it was that she never seemed to see it coming. It was nice.

"You mean you don't want a message in a bottle of sand out of the ocean from me?" he said, his blue eyes shining with humor, pouting his lips in defeat, all aimed in her direction. He had finished with the blanket and the wine bucket and ice and he came up behind her and wrapped his arms tenderly around her shoulders, trying to keep her warm from the chill of the lake before them.

"It is so serene out here tonight John. It's like the perfect night."

"It isn't the night that makes it so perfect Trish but I do agree with you that the night is pretty perfect."

She snuggled deeper into his arms as they stood looking out over the vast land before them. In the midst of all this beauty it was amazing that they were a part of it. Such small beings as themselves were such a point of the bigger picture. "Well if the night isn't what makes this perfect then what exactly does Mr. Cena?" she asked coyly, itching for him to say the words that were sure to warm her heart. And he did not disappoint.

"You."

It was so vivid in his mind, he could see it just as if he was happening again right in front of him. He wanted to reach out to touch her, to tell her that he was alright and that he knew that she was there with him now but using his mind to move his fingers, he found it too hard and stopped fighting in anger.

That night on the beach had been the best memory that he had of of their short time together and one that on the cold lonely nights in jail had kept him warm. That was until he had pushed her away from him, telling her that their baby and her were better off without him.

Why couldn't he just wake up now, look into her eyes and tell her just what a horrible mistake he had made throwing her out of his life the way he had. Why couldn't he tell her that he did love her, had always known he loved her and from this day forward he was never going to let her forget just how much he cared.

He realization hit him then. He knew why he couldn't open his eyes and all he could have was the images of past events with her to keep him warm. He couldn't see Trish right now and tell her he loved her because of one simple event.

He had almost been killed in a prison fight.