Sorry to keep you all in suspense. I hope you all are enjoying my story so far. I swear I'm going to get to how Karen is doing. Just hang in there. Please keep the reviews coming. Again thanks to Soldier Heart for being my beta reader. I really appreciate your help! Sit back and enjoy.

"Hank, can you hear me?"

Hank heard the distant voice as consciousness returned to him. He opened his eyes to a bright light that seemed to bore its way through his skull. He put a hand up to shield his eyes.

"Yeah. What's going on?" he asked, blinking and trying to sit up. Two pairs of hands helped ease him back.

"Well, that's what we are trying to figure out," Kel Brackett replied, shining his pen light in Hank's eyes to check his pupil responses. "What's the last thing you remember Hank?"

"Heading to my car," Cap replied, trying to close his eyes to the offending light. "What happened, anyway? How did I end up in here?" Cap asked, looking around in confusion.

"Johnny was coming in early to see Karen and looking for a spot when he saw something sticking out between two parked cars. When he got closer, he saw it was a shoe. He stopped his truck and jumped out to check the area. He just about had a heart attack when he saw the foot belonged to you. You were sprawled out face down on the pavement. He tried to wake you, but couldn't, so he put you in his truck and brought you in the emergency entrance. Needless to say the 5 guys of your command are camping out outside the door to this room to see how you are doing. Marco, Mike and Chet must have broken the law to get here as fast as they did," Joe Early said as he was testing Hank's reflexes.

"I remember walking out to my car and getting light headed. After that, it's a total blank," Hank said as Dixie raised the head of the bed for Hank to sit up.

"Well, we are trying to find out why you passed out," Kel replied as a nurse came in with a folder.

"Here is the lab reports, doctor," the nurse said, handing the folder to Brackett and leaving the room.

Kel and Joe looked over the report. "Everything looks good, except your blood sugar level. It's down quite a bit, Hank. Have you eaten or drank anything since yesterday?"

Hank thought for a moment before he said, "Last time I ate was at the station. Marco had cooked lunch. About two hours later Karen was here in the hospital. I've been here the whole time. I don't remember eating or drinking anything after we got here." He flinched slightly as Dixie took his BP again.

"I figured as much. I'm surprised I didn't have a room full of firefighters passing out from low blood sugar levels," Kel replied, putting the report down.

"Do I have stay, doc?" Hank asked, hoping the answer would be no.

"Just for a few hours. I want to make sure we get your blood sugar level up," Kel replied as he walked to the door of the exam room.

"But I think a few visitors are just what the doctor ordered."

Kel opened the door to the exam room, motioned, and the 5 remaining crew members entered the room. All were silent for a moment.

"Cap, you really had us worried," Roy said, speaking for the guys.

Joe, Dixie and Kel quietly left the room to give the A shift crew a few private moments together.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I guess between the stress of Karen's accident and not eating caused this. Thanks Johnny for coming in early. I might not have been found until hours later had it not been for you."

"You scared me to death Cap. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. But I'm glad you're going to be okay," Johnny replied, standing next to the medicine cabinet.

"Did any one call Emily?" Cap asked, shifting slightly on the exam table.

"Yeah, I did. She's on her way over," Mike said.

"I bet she's worried sick," Cap replied.

"She is, but she's a strong woman. She'll be here soon," Mike said.

"I'm here," a voice from the door quietly. All looked to see Emily Stanley standing at the door.

"Hi Mrs. Emily," Marco said.

"Hi guys," Emily said as she walked over and stood by her husband's side.

"Well Cap, if you're okay, we'll be going," Chet said, heading for the door.

"I'll be fine. And thanks guys," Cap replied.

A chorus of "See you, Cap"s followed and then silence and the 5 crew members left the room.

Hank looked at his hands, refusing to meet his wife's eyes. "I'm sorry Em."

"For what Hank?" Emily replied, raising her husband's head by his chin, looking her husband in the eye and wiping away a lock of his brown hair from his forehead.

"For getting myself in here. I didn't mean to worry you hon," Hank replied, holding Emily's hand.

"Hank, judging by the phone call I got last night, you were worried sick about Karen. You go through this anytime one of the guys gets hurt. You don't eat, you don't drink and you get stressed to the max. This time you went too long without eating or drinking. Yes, I was worried, but being worried comes with being in love," Emily said, still looking Hank in the eyes.

"Have you told the girls?" Hank asked.

"No. They were asleep when you called and by the time they were ready for school, the bus was waiting for them. I'll tell them tonight," Emily said, letting a tear fall.

"Oh, Em, we thought we were going to loose her. It's been bad. There is no change. We could loose her. I hope she comes through."

"What's her prognosis?" Emily asked.

"Not good. She's pretty battered and listed as critical."

"You have to stay, don't you?"

"Just for a couple of hours. Then…"

"Then you are going home to rest overnight before we come to visit Karen tomorrow. No ifs, ands or buts," Emily said her hands on her hips.

"Okay, but please go check on her," Hank said, a pleading look in his eyes.

"Sure honey. Just relax and I'll be back to stay with you until you are released," Emily said, grabbing her purse.

"Okay. I won't be going anywhere," Hank said smiling faintly.

Emily walked out the door of her husbands room, leaving Hank alone.

He took a deep breath, looked toward the ceiling and let his breath out. His mind was replaying the accident again for the hundredth time that had put Karen into the hospital.

He was lost in thought, but was brought back abruptly when he heard over the loud speaker, "Code Blue, ICU unit 3. I repeat, Code Blue, ICU unit 3."

"Oh, God! Karen!" Hank said aloud.

"Dear God, please don't take her yet! Please let her pull through. Please!" Hank prayed silently.

He bowed his head as the tears fell again. His only thought was that Karen was about to leave them for good. He realized that only a miracle would keep her with them.