The hospital was bouncing with energy as the paramedics wheeled a critically injured Aidan down the hallway to the emergency room. Ralph and Pam were told by the nurse at the desk to wait in the waiting room until the doctor could tell them about her condition. Tony talked to security and asked them to keep an eye on Aidan's room to make sure no one intruded.

A few minutes had passed when Ralph and Pam heard a noise behind them. "Ralph? Pam?" said Dylan as he entered the waiting room. "How's she doing?"

"We don't know yet," said Ralph. "Last thing we've heard is she's still unconscious and the doctors were examining her."

"What happened? I mean Aidan invited me to dinner and…"

Pam decided to continue. "Aidan went outside to go home when a car sped out of control and hit her," she said worriedly. "Ralph and I heard a noise and Tony yelled out for us. We went outside and found her on the ground, called an ambulance and well, here we are."

Dylan was about to say something when they saw a gurney carrying Aidan be pushed past the room. She was strapped to a backboard with a few cuts and scrapes on her face and hands. While that was scary, the group shuddered at what was possibly wrong inside when they saw Aidan's eyes were rolled back in her head and unresponsive to any of the doctors' commands. Noticing Dylan's brief smirk, Ralph and Pam had to fight to not slug the man there.

A doctor quickly went over to Ralph and Pam. "Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley? I'm Doctor Braden, and I'm taking care of Aidan."

"How's she doing?" said Pam.

"We're taking her to the OR for emergency surgery. She has internal bleeding and a possible cerebral hemorrhage. Mr. Hinkley, since she is unconscious and you are her emergency contact, we need you to sign the consent forms."

Ralph nodded and quickly signed the paperwork. As Braden rushed off, Ralph put an arm around Pam's shoulders and the group went to the chairs, sitting down.

Ralph and Pam, though worried, decided to talk to ease the tension. "You know, Aidan's been talking a lot about you Dylan," said Pam. "She went on for about an hour yesterday on her way home."

Dylan's chuckled softly. "What did she say?"

"Well, she said she was embarrassed for having the allergic reaction and scaring you, but was determined to make it up to you," said Ralph, clearing his throat. "She told me too she was considering letting you be a part of her family again."

"She was?!" he said, feigning surprise.

"Yes. You see Dylan, as far as her family, it's been pretty much Ralph and me," said Pam gently. "Misha was the only one on that side of the family who really spoke to Ade until she died. She's been wanting to know more about her dad's side of the family for many years."

"But why was she so rude to me at the school?"

"Well, it's been 12 years, Dylan, and we've all changed, so you took her by surprise. She's also very protective of the students, so she saw you and thought intruder. I'd done the same if I saw you walking around without a name badge," said Ralph.

"Oh. So, what else has she said…" said Dylan and the three continued chatting as though nothing was wrong. They shared stories about Aidan's past as well and what she was teaching at the school.

About an hour and a half later, Dr. Braden returned to the waiting room. Ralph and Pam took a deep breath and got up, waiting for what he was about to say.

"Dr. Braden, how is she…" said Ralph hesitantly.

Braden glanced downward and shook his head softly. "I'm sorry, she didn't make it. There was too much damage and…" he stopped when Ralph staggered into him, nearly fainting from the shock.

Braden caught Ralph to keep him from falling, and both he and Pam helped Ralph sit down in a chair. Ralph buried his face in his hands as he recovered. Pam sat down and the two then held each other as they began sobbing. Braden kneeled to make sure Ralph was going to be all right. "Did she suffer?" said Pam, wiping away some tears.

"No. She never regained consciousness."

"We didn't even get to say goodbye… I want to see her," said Ralph firmly in spite of the tears.

Braden nodded softly as he checked Ralph's pulse. "I understand, but your heartbeat is too fast that you could have a syncope… sorry fainting spell if you see her now. I want you to wait for a few minutes before you stand up again," he said.

Seeing Ralph and Pam's glare at having to wait, he softened his tone. He had a daughter as well and couldn't imagine how he'd feel if he was in their shoes. "Also, a nurse is cleaning her up now, and when she's done, you can come in and say your goodbyes."

Ralph and Pam nodded and continued hugging and consoling each other as the doctor left. Dylan went over to the two and sat down. He didn't cry, but he knew that Ralph and Pam would think it was that he wasn't as close to Aidan. "I… I don't know what to say," said Dylan.

"We never thought this'd happen again… not after losing M'Lynn and Austin this way. It took years to tell Aidan everything about that night," said Ralph. "And now… she was so young, and some idiot cut her life short."

Dylan nodded and put a "consoling" hand on Ralph and Pam's shoulders. A few minutes later, a nurse came in. "Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley, she's ready. You can go see her," said the nurse simply.

Ralph and Pam nodded and slowly stood up to head out the door. Dylan followed, but the nurse stopped him. "I'm sorry, but family only," she said.

"I am family," said Dylan.

Ralph shook his head. "Dylan you're not, and rules are rules. Although Aidan was considering to have you as part of her family again, she didn't say she was certain. She was legally a Hinkley when she died and you're an Onyxsard, and she didn't want them to see her in the hospital if something happened to her. I have to respect her wishes." he said, then softened his voice. "Listen, Pam and I've got to make the funeral arrangements, and when we have everything ready, we'll let you know when the visitation is."

Dylan nodded as the two headed out the waiting room toward a room to see Aidan. He then went outside the hospital to his car. Getting inside, he smiled and gave a slight whoop of victory. "The little brat is dead," he said as he turned over the ignition. "Payday will be coming soon."