Okay, sorry I have not been able to update. It has been crazy around here. Anyway, thanks to all who reviewed. I'm glad everyone is still hanging on to my story, even though it has taken me foreve to write.

Thanks again to Soldier Heart for being my beta reader. I do not own the guys, wish I did.

Please, sit back and enjoy. You may want to have a few tissues ready. And please review.

Captain Hank Stanley walked into Rampart, the conversation he had on the phone with Dixie running through his head. He was worried about the youngest member of his crew.

Hank entered Karen's hospital room, not quite sure what to expect. The first thing he saw was Dixie sitting by Karen's bedside, brushing a lock of Karen's light brown hair out of her face.

"Dixie, is she doing okay?" he asked as Dix looked up.

"I don't think so. Mentally anyway. I think she's had a nightmare about the accident and it's scared her. I told her if she needed someone to talk to, you would be the one. You understand her pretty well."

"Yeah, I do. She does confide in John and Roy all the time, but she really pours her heart out to me and Emily. I know this accident had to be tough on her. I know it has been for me."

"You can say that again," Dix said smiling at Hank and standing up. "I have to head back and finish my shift. I don't know if you want to wake her up or not, either way, you can stay as long as you need to. She is going to need someone to talk to."

Dixie was walking out of the room as Hank said, "Thanks Dix."

He turned his attention to the injured young girl who had stolen his heart. Hank remembered when he met Karen; she was a shy yet vibrant young lady. It was hard having a woman work with them, but everyone adjusted pretty quickly.

He remembered that no matter what, even if she was laughing, a look of sadness and pain was always in Karen's eyes. He wondered why that look was there, but never asked.

She told him and Emily one day, after a run.

Hank had gone home, glad to be away from work. The last run had been particularly bad. They had responded to a MVA call that had been tragic. Despite their efforts, the man and woman had died. Their daughter had been in the back seat of the car during the accident. The young girl had been injured badly.

Karen stayed with the young girl the whole way to the hospital. Hank looked at his youngest crewmember before she got into the ambulance with the little girl. Karen's eyes were dark with emotion. Hank decided to let it go.

He didn't see Karen again that morning, the squad had not returned when his replacement had come.

Emily listened to Hank as he told her about the accident. She cried with him as he cried over the young injured girl who had lost her parents.

That afternoon, there was a knock at their door.

Hank went and answered the door. He was shocked at who was standing there.

Karen was standing on their front porch, her eyes glassy and red rimmed in a way Hank had never seen them. He could tell she had been drinking and crying.

"Cap. I need to talk to you," was all she said between the sobs.

Hank pulled her in the house and wrapped his arms around the vulnerable young girl.

"Hank? Who is it?" Emily asked coming in the living room. She stopped when she saw her husband hugging Karen. She saw that Karen was crying. Her husband looked her way; she raised her eyebrow to him, empathy going out to the young girl.

"She's had a little too much to drink and she needs to talk," was all that Hank could say.

"I need to talk to someone," Karen said, looking from Hank to Emily.

"Okay, let's go into the living room," Emily said.

Hank led Karen to the living room to a chair. Hank sat down next to Emily.

At that point, Karen broke down and began to talk.

He looked again at the young girl, who had lost both of her parents tragically and had just been in a terrible hit and run accident. His heart still pained to see Karen in so may casts and bruises.

He realized that Karen had woken up and was looking at him. The look in her eyes was the same one that had been there that day she showed up at his house.

"Cap. I'm glad you came," Karen said as a tear fell down her face.

"I came as fast as I could. Emily had to wait for the girls to come home from school. She wanted me to tell you she was going to come by tomorrow to see how you were and visit you." Hank brushed the tears off Karen's face.

"I appreciate all that you and Emily have done for me. I know I can talk to you Cap. I'm scared."

"What are you scared of?"

"Dying I guess. Cap, I don't want to die," Karen said, beginning to cry.

"Oh, sweetie. It's okay. Your going to be fine. But I understand you're scared," Cap said, stroking Karen's hair as tears fell onto her pillow.

"I know, but what if..."

"No what ifs. You are a strong, caring and brave young lady and one of the best paramedics I have ever seen. You are going to be fine. We, me, Emily and the guys at the station, as your family are going to see you through this no matter what." Cap's voice cracked slightly from emotion as a tear slid down his face.

"Thank you Cap. You guys have been there for me, considering I have only been with you for a short while."

"I know, but you are already like one of my kids. I promise, we are going to be there for you," Cap said as Karen yawned. "I think you need to get some sleep, so I'd better get going."

"Please don't go yet. Can you stay at least until I fall asleep?" Karen asked as she yawned again, tears still falling down her face.

"Yes, I can do that. You need some sleep. I promise me and Emily will come by tomorrow to see you."

"Okay. Thank you Cap, for everything," Karen said as her eyelids slid closed.

As Karen fell asleep, her breathing became even. She fell into a gentle, healing sleep, with her hand still in Cap's, the tears she had shed drying on her face.

Cap stayed until Karen fell asleep, keeping to his word. He cried softly, his heart breaking for the scared young paramedic that had finally gotten peace of mind by talking to her captain.

As he left the room, wiping away the tears falling down his face, he looked back to see Karen still asleep, a small smile on her bruised face.

In his heart, he knew what he needed to do. He needed to go talk to the Chief.