Sorry this chapter is kinda short!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own SWAC


Chad's POV:

I couldn't be away from her. I needed to be near her at all times, touching her whenever possible. I felt so responsible for her condition. I could have stopped James sooner. I almost cried when they loaded her into the ambulance. She looked so fragile and broken. My heart ached every time I looked at her. Luckily, I was able to ride in the back with Sonny on the way to the hospital.

I felt the need to be touching her all the time. Like if I let go of her, she would get hurt again, or worse. I mostly held onto her hand, but sometimes I couldn't resist stroking her bruised face softly with my fingers. How could I have let this happen?

I was now in the hospital with her. Her parents had come and gone already. I was sitting in a chair next to Sonny's bed, still holding her hand. It was about 1:30 in the morning. I was just about to fall asleep when pressure was applied to my hand, and I was instantly awake. A moment later, I heard the sweetest sound.

"Chad?" she murmured, almost unintelligible. Hearing my name roll off her tongue sent sparks through my veins. My breath caught in the back of my throat before I could answer her. The sound of her voice suddenly made it hard to even think.

"S-S-Sonny, you're awake. H-How are you feeling?" I managed to choke out.

She thought for a moment, and I waited patiently. "Good I suppose. Tired, sore, and in shock a little I think." I stood up to press the button to call a nurse, but she tugged lightly on my hand, stopping me in my tracks. "No, please don't. I'm fine." What?! She is not fine! How could she say that?! Anger coursed through my blood. I sat again before I spoke through my teeth.

"You're not fine Sonny. Look at yourself. You're covered in black and blue. You have a fractured rib and a broken arm." It hit me all at once. She was hurt, bad. All of my anger vanished within seconds, and my voice softened considerably. "You're not fine." I repeated and paused then, remembering how she got this way, and cringed.

"What?! What's wrong? Are you okay?" Sonny asked worriedly. She was worried about me? But I felt too guilty to get mad.

"I could have stopped him earlier. You wouldn't be in here if I went in there sooner." I couldn't bear to look into her big brown eyes for the next part. "You're in this bed because of me," I whispered.

I heard her gasp. "No! Don't think that! This is my own fault. I didn't do what he wanted me to. He just has a bit of a temper." Now I was mad.

"'A bit of a temper' Sonny?! You call beating you 'a bit of a temper?' Just stop it. Don't defend him, he's not worth that. You deserve so much better than him. He's a…" I couldn't even think of a word to describe him.

I noticed that the monitor measuring her heart was beeping faster. "We're not talking about this anymore. Just please calm down. Rest. Please Sonny," I pleaded. She seemed to listen to me, and her heart rate lowered back to normal.

"Chad, why are you still here? Go home; you don't need to be here. You look tired. Get some sleep." Her words stung. I looked back in her eyes and realized that there was no way I could leave her. Not like this. All thoughts disappeared as I melted into her beautiful chocolate eyes.

"I'm not leaving you Sonny," I spoke with confidence and comfort. A small smile spread across her face. I couldn't help but be overjoyed that I put it there. Her eyelids drooped heavily. "Go back to sleep Sonny," I told her.

"Will you be here when I wake up again?" she asked, almost sounding like a plea.

"Always."