Carrie heard the explosion from inside. She had known that a bus exploded but she didn't know Jackson was anywhere near it. When she heard that he was hurt, she took off running. The hospital was dark but she figured it out. The Emergency Room was the only place that seemed to be loud so she just followed the sound.

Jackson had insisted she come to work with him that day. The storm was going to be bad and he wanted to keep an eye on her. Carrie understood that he didn't want to be worrying about her all day but the hospital wasn't her favourite place. She found it boring but Jackson thought it was the best time for her to get caught up on her classes.

Carrie had failed two courses and Jackson was making her retake them during the summer so she wasn't behind. She hadn't decided what she wanted to do yet and Jackson was okay with that. But he wasn't okay with her failing classes. Even though she didn't want to be a doctor, she might want to do something else in the health or sciences field and that would require her first year courses.

Carrie wasn't happy about it, but she knew Jackson was right. So she was retaking Calculus and Chemistry. It wasn't going to be the most fun summer but at least she had Jackson to help her with school and she didn't feel trapped or have much anxiety about school anymore.

Carrie rounded the corner of the ER and stood in the room by the nurse's station and looked around. Callie saw her and watched her for a moment. She could tell Carrie was looking for Jackson by the panicked expression on her face. She wasn't sure how she found it but she deserved to know what happened.

"He's okay," Callie said as she approached her. "His left shoulder is dislocated and his right wrist is sprained. Other than being a bit banged up he is fine."

Carrie nodded but didn't relax. "Can I see him?"

"Yeah, of course."

Carrie followed Callie to the area where Jackson was. He wasn't in a room because the hospital was full, but he was separated by curtains from the other patients. April came out of the closure just as they reached it. She looked a Callie for a moment before quickly turning and walking away in the other direction. Callie looked less than pleased with April, but she put on a smile as she opened up the curtain.

"Up for a visitor?" She asked Jackson.

He frowned. "Who?"

Callie nodded and Carrie stepped into the room as Callie closed the curtain behind her. Jackson's expression changed to worried when he saw Carrie standing there. He could tell she was worried about him but he could also see the fear in her eyes. "Come here, Carebear." He said softly as he held out his right arm.

Carrie began to cry as she walked over to the side of the bed and lay down beside him. She laid on her side as he wrapped his good arm tightly around her neck and shoulders. He couldn't see her face, as it was buried in his arm, but he could feel her tears and the soft sobs racking her body.

"It's okay Care," He said softly as he dropped a kiss to her head. "I'm okay."

"You could have died." She mumbled through tears. "They thought you died. They said you were at the bus when it exploded."

"It looked worse than it was," He tried to explain. "I saved a little girl who would have died without my help."

"I would have no one if you would have died." She continued to mumble and Jackson realized how scared she really was. "I'm so glad you're letting me stay with you and helping me with school. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you. I can't go home Jackson."

"Carrie," He said in a soothing voice. "I'm okay. Everything will be okay. Nothing is going to happen to me or to you. I promise, alright?"

She nodded and was quiet for a few moments. "I'm sorry if I ever made you this scared."

Her words tugged at his heart strings and he squeezed her a little tighter. "I promise you aren't going to lose me. Not without one hell of a fight."

"Are they going to make me leave?" She asked in a small voice. "I don't want to leave."

Jackson frowned. "You can stay right here. I don't want you out of my sight during this storm, especially with the power out."

"I know I'm acting more like an eight year old, than eighteen." She said. "But I just need my big brother right now."

Jackson smiled. "I'm right here, Care. I'm not going anywhere."

They both drifted off into sleep shortly after. It was late and the day had been hectic and tiring for everyone. Jackson drifted in and out of sleep but Carrie had been sound asleep for hours, still by his side. Jackson was awake when Callie stopped in to check on him. She smiled at Carrie sleeping beside him and grinned back at her.

"She's out," He said. "Has been for hours."

"Do you want me to get her a cot?" She asked. "I can get Owen to help me move her."

"Nah," Jackson shook his head. "She's okay and she isn't bothering me. I'd rather her just get some sleep."

"I'll at least get you a blanket." Callie said as she grabbed one from outside and threw it over both of them.

"Thanks, Callie." Jackson nodded.

Jackson was woken up but Carrie having a nightmare. She was mumbled something and she started moving around. Jackson tried to get her to calm down without waking her up but she only seemed to get worse. He tried to listen to what she was saying but he couldn't make it out.

"Carrie," He said as he shook her. "Carrie wake up."

"Jackson?" She said sleepily.

"You were having a nightmare." Jackson moved his arm as she sat up. He watched the frown creep into her forehead and he couldn't help but frown himself. "What is it kiddo?"

She shook her head. "Nothing, just a stupid dream."

"Are you sure?" He raised his eyebrows. "You can tell me."

"It was nothing," She assured him. He didn't believe her, but he didn't want to put her right now. "What was April doing in here earlier?"

Jackson sighed. "If I tell you, you cannot say one word about it, ever."

Carrie nodded. "Okay."

"I mean it." He said.

"I won't say anything."

"So April and I used to date," He started.

"What?" Carried asked in complete shock. If she wasn't awake a minute ago, she was wide awake now. "No way!"

Jackson grinned. "We were best friends and then it was more than that for a while, and then it ended."

"Why did it end?"

"Well," Jackson hesitated as he tried to explain. "April is a Christian and I may have been her first."

Carrie smirked. "You took her v-card?"

"V-card?" Jackson said with raised eyebrows before shaking his head. "Anyway, she failed her boards and kind of blamed me saying God was punishing her for what we did."

"Wow, real winner there."

Jackson frowned. "Hey, she is a great person with morals. There is nothing wrong with wanting to wait until marriage. I'd be thrilled if that was your plan."

"Yeah, well," Carrie wrinkled her nose and looked away. "Kind of not possible."

"I'm really not ready to have this talk with you." Jackson sighed. "Do we have to have a talk?"

"No we do not." She said quickly. "I'm responsible and smart."

"And in love, I hope."

"Jackson," She whined. "I can't have this conversation with my brother."

"Carrie," Jackson looked at her. "I am a lot older than you and I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I know, but I still don't feel like talking about it right now." She sighed. "So you and April."

Jackson decided to drop the subject for now because he didn't really want to talk about it either. "Right, so after she failed her boards, she got fired and went back home. She kind of fell apart but long story short, she came back, we became friends again, she met Matthew and got engaged."

"Okay," Carrie frowned.

"So, she saw the explosion happen and thought I died." He explained. "I don't know what happened but I guess she felt something when she thought I was dead. She came into my room and basically said she wouldn't get married if I gave her reason not to."

"Oh my God," Carrie said. "So she wants to be with you?"

Jackson shrugged. "I don't know. I guess so."

"Do you want to be with her?"

"I'm not sure." He sighed. "It's all very confusing. I had strong feeling for April, I still do, but I don't know, Care. It's a tough call and maybe she's just confused. She thought I died, anyone would have crazy emotions and regrets if they thought their ex died. Matthew is a good guy and probably the right guy for her."

"You're a good person too." Carrie said. "Is she right for you, though?"

"I have no idea, Carrie." He said honestly.

"Well she needs to make up her own mind." She insisted. "She can't put that decision on you. She either loves Matthew and wants to be with him forever or she doesn't. Shouldn't that be an easy decision?"

"I think it's a very hard decision and not one we are going to figure out tonight." He sighed. "Come on, let's go back to sleep."

She hesitated laying back down. "Am I hurting you?"

He frowned with a grin. "Care, you're like a hundred and fifteen pounds."

"Well yeah, but it's a small bed and I was lying on your arm, that can't be comfortable."

"I'm fine." He said simply.

She lay back down but this time on her back. Her head was slightly resting between his shoulder and his chest and he once again wrapped his arm around her. As she drifted back to sleep she felt safe and secure in his embrace.