Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1

Lulu was in her car with her two children driving to the hospital. After Burton had told her what happened she'd asked him to put the phone on speaker in his pocket so that she'd hear what was happening and she had, she'd sat listening to Nick flatlining, she'd felt like she was dead too. She'd just sat there praying silently. It had forced her to realize again that no matter how hard she tried, she still loved him. It didn't matter what he'd done, she still loved him. His last words,

"And please tell Lulu..."

Her name had been hid very last word, she had been his very last thought. She'd cried with relief when she'd heard he was alive again and so (after grabbing the children, she couldn't leave them by themselves), she'd left for the hospital, praying silently again that Nick would still be there when she arrived.

Lulu pulled into a spot and hurriedly walked towards the hospital entrance pushing Anne and AJ in their nice new stroller, courtesy of Burton. Lulu was amazed it was such a beautiful day when such a horrible thing had happened. Nick was fighting for his life and here was the dazzlingly sun smiling in the sky, Lulu shook her head and went into the reception.

It was the typical hospital reception, busy and stinking of bleach. She made her way to the large oval desk in the corner. The receptionist was a plump black woman in, Lulu guessed her late twenties. The woman was wearing a pink cardigan with a hospital ID, currently she was on the phone and filing her nails. She'd didn't appear to have noticed Lulu at all.

"...so what did you think I did? I kicked his ass back out and told him to go back to his Mommy.." the woman was saying. It didn't sound like she was doing anything important so Lulu cleared her throat and politely interrupted.

"Excuse me?" Lulu enquired hesitantly. Instantly the woman looked up at her angrily and snapped

"What is it you want?"

"I'm trying to find someone, he was brought here from social services. He's badly injured."

"Name?" the woman said coldly looking at her computer monitor after putting the phone call on hold.

"Nick Fallin. F-A-L-L-I-N." The woman typed it in and peered at the screen then looked up shocked. Lulu's heart sank slightly. This couldn't be good.

"Fallin, Nicholas David. Caucasian male, late thirties?"

Lulu nodded and to her surprise the woman smiled at her.

"Didn't realise heroboy was married,"

"We're not married- wait did you just say heroboy?"

"Yea, don't you watch the news? I saw him live running from a collapsing building carrying some old lady, and that was after saving a bunch of other people. You're lucky. Wish I had a guy like that."

Lulu nodded still feeling shocked. That'd been broadcast live? Vaguely she wondered how Laurie was doing.

"He's in surgery at the moment. Dr. Alexander Greyson is working on him. He's one of the best surgeons around and was here for a conference, he's agreed to take heroboy's case," the woman continued happily standing up, "I'll take you to the waiting area." She came round the desk to stand beside Lulu. Lulu wondered if it was wise for the woman to leave her post but she didn't really mind, she wanted to be as close to Nick as possible.

"Are these your children?" the woman nodded to the stroller.

"Yeah," Lulu glanced at them. AJ was sleeping peacefully and Anne was content hugging her favourite blanket. They seemed fine. Completely unaware they may never see their Dad again. Anyone could see the resemblance between them and Nick. They all had the same blonde hair and Anne had her father's eyes, Lulu noticed as Anne looked at her. She almost started crying then, thinking of that. Nick was a good father to them, he adored them. At least, Lulu thought hating herself for thinking this, at least if Nick did die there'd still be a piece of him alive in his children. Lulu suddenly realized the woman was talking.

"They're beautiful children. Come on then Miss heroboy," she began to lead the way up a corridor, Lulu followed with the stroller.

"My name's Lulu, Archer. And by the way I'm sorry If I interrupted your call. I'm just worried about Nick."

"That's all right, I understand. Sometimes I just get bored and carried away talking to my sister. I'm Charlene Temple by the way."

They came to an area with a couple of chairs and Lulu noticed Burton sitting in one of them. As she approached he stood up. Lulu was shocked to see how much blood he was covered in, most of it was probably Nick's. She shivered, Nick must have lost alot of blood. That was not good.

"Hey, Lulu," Burton nodded as he came to her.

"I'll just go, I hope heroboy's okay," and with that Charlene turned and left.

"Heroboy?" Burton inquired looking dumbfounded.

"I'll tell you later, just tell me about Nick. I heard on the phone..." Lulu forced herself to continue not wanting to talk aloud about Nick's condition. Somehow it seemed to make the situation more grave.

"I heard him die, I know he was badly injured. How bad?"

"He's got some burns, cuts, bruises. Anthony says some of his ribs are broken and his right hand and wrist is completely shot to hell. Lulu, there was so much blood...so much," Burton shook himself, "Anthony says that this top surgeon guy-"

"Dr. Alexander Greyson?"

"Yeah, something like that. He says they might be able to save Nick's hand but they don't know..."

"Don't know what?"

"Anthony says he's in a bad way. He may not survive the surgery, they think his lungs punctured or something to do with smoke fumes. They don't know if he'll survive the surgery and Anthony says if Nick... dies again. He won't wake up or he'll be in a coma. He had a brain contusion too so they don't know about that either."

Lulu gasped. Nick was nowhere near safe yet. Burton bent down and picked up Anne. He held her close and gently kissed her head. Anne squealed with delight at the attention.

"Anthony says Nick's in good hands though. That guys supposed to be the best. Anthony says Nick has the best care. At least."

"Who's Anthony?" Lulu asked as they sat down in two of the seats.

"The paramedic who saved Nick's life, he's been very helpful. He says it'll be awhile before Nick's out of surgery. We just have to wait."

Lulu nodded and so they waited...