He'd been staring blankly at the television in the doctor's lounge now for over an hour. Troy and Trina sat next to him, his mother sending him worried looks, his dad busy on his phone. Caroline's parents had been in there ever since the hospital staff ushered the Crosby family into the doctor's lounge where they would be more comfortable and away from the excitement of the waiting room. The real VIP treatment. It was a kind gesture, Sid was just too distracted to appreciate it. The lounge was quiet and while his parents were quick to ask questions when he emerged from Caroline's room, the heavy sigh as their only son fell into an uncomfortable chair alerted them to tread carefully. With a weary voice Sid explained what he could to his parents. He left out the part about telling Caroline that he didn't want her to work at Garfield any longer. It had been an unexpected outburst, he knew that. Everything that came out of his mouth was always thought out. Careful and calculated, the epitome of PC. But when it came to Caroline, all that flew out the window. This incident had rattled him to his core. When Caroline asked when she could go back there, Sid didn't think, he just spoke. It was unfair of him to tell her what to do. He knew she loved her job and her kids were incredible. He had visited a few times and had often thought about how rough the neighborhood seemed, but the school was a safe haven for all students, staff and faculty. Until now.

He could do it though. What he'd said. Take care of her. Without a second thought. Life without Caroline just didn't exist for him anymore. If he had his way she would be at the Sewickley house and wearing that ring right now. But he had promised to move at a pace she was comfortable with and the rocky road they have traveled the past few weeks wasn't helping that pace move any faster.

His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Caroline's parents, as they wandered into the doctor's lounge, looking a little lost. Sid sat up quickly and looked expectantly at Mr. and Mrs. Reid. They both looked tired and worn. Mrs. Reid's eyes were bloodshot and Mr. Reid looked drained.

"She's asleep." Mr. Reid said wearily.

"My poor girl, she is so worn out," Mrs. Reid interjected, her eyes already filling again. The emotional night continuing to take its toll. "We were so frightened."

Join the club Sid thought.

Sid stood and motioned to his parents behind him, who were very eager to hear what the Reids had to say.

"Mr. and Mrs. Reid, these are my parents Trina and Troy. Mom, Dad, these are the Reids. Michael and Wendy." He was awkward with his introductions. Emotionally and physically exhausted, he lacked the grace he usually exhibited when speaking. The men shook hands and the women lightly embraced. The pair of parents immediately began chatting. It was not under the circumstances that anyone had wanted to meet, but seeing that their children were so serious about one another, the foursome were glad the time had come. The conversation ping ponged everywhere from Caroline's condition to awkward conversation about the weather in Nova Scotia. Sidney tried to stay engaged but his mind just kept wandering. Finally the conversation trailed off as the nurse came in to check on the families and let them know visiting hours were ending. The Reids were staying at Caroline's, the Crosbys would head back to Sewickley. The team was leaving for Long Island tomorrow, after morning practice, however Sid had texted Dan and Ray asking if he could arrive Saturday evening. He would pay for the charter, he told them. He wanted to make sure Caroline was ok before leaving so abruptly. They had agreed, although Sid wondered how many favors he had left.

Troy and Trina began to walk out with the Reids, expecting their son was right behind them, but he stayed standing in the lounge.

"I'm not going," he said.

The parents looked confused. "But visiting hours are over," started Trina.

"I know, but I'm going to see if they will let me stay. There is a couch in the room. I don't want to leave her here alone." His voice was strong, resolute.

Wendy's eyes got misty, Sid was starting to see where Caroline's emotional side came from.

"She's lucky to have you," Mrs. Reid said kindly.

Sid almost laughed. Not lately, he thought.

Instead he gave a small smile and hugged Mrs. Reid tightly.

He shook Mr. Reid's hand firmly and said goodbye to his parents, ignoring the voiced concerns of Troy, who felt like his son needed a good night sleep at home, instead of on a couch in a hospital room.

Twenty minutes later, after a lot schmoozing, a few killer smiles and a round of autographs, he was in.

The room was dark and silent save for the machines that whooshed and ticked in the background. Caroline was asleep. Her head lolled to the side, her breathing steady. She had been so fired up when he left. She was stubborn. She didn't back down from him either, it was something he'd grown to love most about her. He loved that she didn't see him as Sidney Crosby. Whether she was angry, happy, confused…aroused. It was always the same. She saw him, just him. And the guilt that he had taken that for granted surrounded him.

Sid bent forward and brushed his lips against her forehead, "Night, Care" he whispered.

He made his way towards the couch and kicked off his shoes and socks. Laying down on the small and uncomfortable couch and pulled a thin blanket on top of him. He moved around a lot, trying to find a comfortable position before the events of the day finally caught up with him and he fell into a deep sleep.

She was surrounded. Their faces were fuzzy and they came at her in blurred figures. She was being thrown from person to person, her feet unable to keep up as she stumbled into them. There was a lot of noise, nothing she could make out, just shouts and cruel laughter. She was spinning, disoriented. Confused. Finally a figure came into view. He was standing outside of the circle, unmoving. She couldn't see his face at first, but then it came into focus. It was Sid! She was saved. She tried to call out to him but when she opened her mouth, nothing came out. She tried to scream, but it was useless. Surely he saw her. The spinning was getting harder, suddenly she felt a blow to her face. Someone had hit her. Her head whipped to the side. Then another blow and her head flew back in the other direction. She could feel pain. She could feel the warm blood trailing down her cheek. She tried waving her arms to get his attention, but he wouldn't move. Why couldn't he see her? Finally with a burst of energy she broke free. She ran towards him but he never seemed to get any closer. She kept running and running trying to get away, trying to get help, until finally her legs could no longer hold her and she fell to the ground. And then he was there, calling her name, "Care, care, care." With the tiny speck of energy she had left, she turned to look at him. His face was close but where his eyes should have been, there was just blackness.

She screamed and this time she was heard.

"Care, care! Wake up, you're ok, you're safe."

Caroline bolted up in bed, drenched in sweat, tears pouring down her face, her lungs screaming for air. Her head throbbed and all she could see was darkness. Caroline looked around wildly, still disoriented and confused. She felt arms come around her and she clawed at his hold, unsure of what was going on.

"Care, it's me. It's Sid, I'm here sweetheart, you're ok. Please Care, look at me," his voice was gentle but insistent.

Caroline found it hard to focus, but as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, his face came into view. She could see his eyes. They were wide and worried, his whole face was washed in concern.

She gulped desperately for air as she stared at him. Then burst into tears.

He'd awoken to the sound of whimpering. Sitting up, he looked over at Caroline and saw her tossing and turning. He'd gotten up to make sure she was ok, but as her face came into focus he saw the tears running down her cheeks. The whimpering continued and he shook her shoulder gently, trying to wake her. Instead, the noises grew louder and her tossing and turning turned to thrashing. He watched as her chest heaved up and down, as if straining for air.

That's when he'd finally been able to wake her. Now she clutched at him, her head burrowed into his neck, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, as sobs wracked her entire body.

A nurse came into the room and turned on the light. Caroline didn't seem to notice, but Sid put a hand up stopping the nurse in her tracks. He gave her a pleading look, indicating everything was ok, but that they needed to be alone. To his relief she nodded, turned off the light and left the room.

He held onto her tightly, making soothing noises, gently rocking her and his hand ran up and down her back comfortingly. After a while the sobs slowed and her shaking shoulders stopped. She kept her hold on him with no indication of letting go. He just held her. So scared for her, so heavy hearted about what she had been through, not just with today, but the past few weeks. The events of last night seeped into his mind and he couldn't push them out. Things would have to change. He would have to change. Watching her like this. It broke his heart. No, correction, it shattered his heart into a million pieces.

Finally she pulled away from him, the tears coming slower now, she hiccupped a little. Her bruises looked bright and raw from the recent trauma and her eyes were red and swollen.

"Bad dream," she whispered.

He nodded, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Caroline shook her head, "Will you just hold me until I fall back asleep?" she asked, her voice small and unsure.

Sid nodded and scooted himself further onto her bed, extending his legs outs and lying down. Careful of the tubes and wires, Caroline maneuvered herself on the small bed and molded herself into him. Her head lay on his chest, as his arm came around her, holding her close. It wasn't very comfortable, but at this moment he hardly cared.

"I'm scared," she said quietly.

"I know. The police will find them, don't worry," he replied.

"No," she said. "I'm scared about us."

He didn't know what to say. He lay there thinking, then croaked out, "We're going to be fine."

She didn't reply. He looked down and saw she had fallen back asleep. He dropped his nose to the top of her head and breathed in, her scent, even masked with the smells of hospitals, was unmistakable and it soothed him into sleep.

Morning came quickly. Sid opened his eyes to a nurse standing above him clearing her throat uncomfortably, she was there to check vitals, but instead had come in on the pair in their sleeping embrace.

Caroline hadn't moved an inch the rest of the night, laying in the same position. Embarrassed, he moved out from underneath her, his arm asleep from its awkward angle. Caroline stirred as he stood and gave the nurse a self-conscious smile. Luckily he was saved by the entrance of the Caroline's parents. They looked tired but smiled at him warmly. Hearing the bustle building in her room, Caroline rubbed at her eyes and sat up. She straightened her gown and looked at the crowd that had gathered. She said good morning to her parents and cast a nervous look at Sid with quiet hello. Mumbling that she had to go to the bathroom, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Sidney moved quickly to help her, as her i.v. would have to go with her, but she waved him off gently. Grasping at the back of her hospital gown, she tried to preserve her modesty as she shuffled to the bathroom.

As soon as the door to the bathroom closed, Mr. Reid looked at Sid with concern, "There is quite a crowd outside."

Sid stared dumbly at Michael.

Mr. Reid continued, "There are some reporters and some fans outside. Evidently they know you are here."

Sid groaned audibly, running his hand through his tousled hair. Thinking quickly, he strode out of the room and to the nurse's station. Fifteen minutes later, a game plan had been formed. A hospital administrator offered another exit and gave Sid the details so that someone could pull around. The discharge could be done at a station near the exit, so that they didn't need to go through the lobby. The doctor would in to see Caroline within the hour and if all went well she would on her way home before noon.

Relieved Sid returned to the room to explain this to the Reid family. Sure enough not thirty minutes later, while Caroline was eating her breakfast and Sid was caught up in light conversation with Caroline's parents, the doctor arrived. He asked a few questions, performed a few tests and was able to give her the clearance to head home. She would need to report any signs of dizziness, headaches or nausea, but seeing that she woke without any symptoms was a good sign.

Sid thanked the doctor with a handshake and Mrs. Reid pulled out some clothes for Caroline to change into. By 11:30 everything had been taken care of and Caroline's parents went down to the parking garage to move their car to the remote area the administrator had offered. The Reid's were not known so they could slip out completely undetected.

"I'm flying out tonight," Sid said.

He was sitting in the chair next to Caroline's bed, his elbows resting on his thighs, still wearing the warm up gear from yesterday. He was in desperate need of a shower and a good meal, but that could wait for now. She was sitting up on the edge of the bed, her jean clad legs dangling over the side. She looked at him and nodded.

"I, er, I talked to Dan and he said it would be ok to fly out separately. I wanted to be with you to get settled."

"I'm fine." Caroline replied shortly staring at the ballet flats on her feet.

"Yeah, I know. I just wanted to be around. You know…"

"I'm not quitting my job," she interrupted.

Sid looked at her quizzically, caught off guard.

She continued.

"This was scary. For me, and I understand for you too. But I'm not leaving my job because of what happened. I'm sorry, but I won't do it."

Sid caught up to the conversation and replied,"What about the nightmare? Caroline, you were terrified. I was terrified. I've never seen anyone so petrified in my entire life."

Caroline looked away, she couldn't tell him that while the dream version of the attack was frightening, the part he played was just as bad.

He took her silence as an opportunity to continue.

"Care, try to see it from my point of view. It's a dangerous area, something was bound to happen and now that it has, I just think…you're in a position to be choosy about where you work. Maybe there's some other option."

"No, Sid. I don't know why you think this is something that you can decide for me," she looked at him urgently. "This job is everything to me."

"What about me?" he interjected, not wanting the conversation to escalate but fearing that was where they were heading.

She looked dumbfounded. "What about you?"

"I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't want to see you hurt."

"You get hurt all the time. Do you think it's easy for me to watch you get pushed around and beat up nearly every night? Don't you know how scary it was for me when you hurt your shoulder the other night? I was terrified. But I would never ask you to stop playing hockey. It's important to you and my job is important to me. I wish you could see that." Caroline looked at him pleadingly, wanting so much for him to understand.

"That's completely different. We are prepared for the possibility of injuries, plus we have gear to protect us." He sighed, "I get it. I do, but…I mean, Care. If anything happened to you. I don't know what I would do. This," he gestured to her face, "scared the shit out of me. I just don't want anything else to happen."

She was quiet for a minute, staring at her hands. When she lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes were brimming with tears.

Sid stood and came over to sit next to her on the bed. He put his arm around her shoulders drawing her close.

Caroline swallowed back the tears and looked at Sid with determination. Her eyes bounced all over his face, so eager to make him understand.

"We got the grant. You know, the special project we were working on. You dont have to worry, everything is going to be different. I worked hard for this, I deserve to be a part of it."

She stared at him, her eyes now so hopeful.

This was his chance, he could make things right again. This was his chance to put his money where his mouth was and make up for a week of stupid mistakes and taking things for granted. But as he looked at her, half her face covered in a swirl of blue, purple and angry red, he couldn't stop the words that fell out of his mouth.

"There will be other opportunities."

Caroline's face fell.

Then hardened.

"I think you should leave." she said pulling completely away from him.

"C'mon Caroline." he protested.

"No," she replied tightly. "Clearly this conversation isn't going anywhere. I want you to go. This is just more of the same. It's all about you Sid and I'm too tired to argue."

"That's not fair." he replied sharply.

"No? What's not fair is me being there for you no matter what. From the very beginning I have never asked you for anything. I did what I could for you no questions asked. And now I'm asking you to support me and you cant do it."

"Because I'm trying to protect you!" he interrupted standing up, trying to get some control back.

"I don't need protecting! If you cared so much about keeping me from getting hurt, then the other night would have never happened." she shot back at him.

He could tell she wanted to cry, but was holding back. Too stubborn to show that kind of emotion right now.

"You say all these wonderful things and make me feel like I'm important to you. To us. But your actions say otherwise."

Sid's mind was racing, he tried to let the thoughts fully develop before they spewed out of his mouth, but it was useless. "I'm here aren't I?" he said, spreading his hands out in front of him.

"Yeah, to tell me what to do and how to live my life!" she shot back her voice laced with anger.

Sid scoffed, "It's called being in a relationship, but I forget you don't know anything about that." And as soon as the words left his mouth, he prayed desperately to the hockey gods to take them back.

She looked like she had been slapped. He wounded face became more wounded if that was possible. Then she straightened her shoulders and pointed to the door.

"Just leave."

"Care," he started.

"No. Go, now." her voice trembling.

"I think you should listen to her Sidney." the voice of Michael Reid came up behind him. Sid looked at Caroline, his face full of regret. "I'm...sorry."

Then with a turn and a remorseful look to her dad, Sid walked out.

Again.

He hadn't gone far when he was met by Jen from PR and Cameron coming off the elevator. He groaned inwardly.

It just didn't stop, ever.

The two women rushed toward him.

"Sid, I'm so sorry to bother you," Jen said regretfully. "How's Caroline?"

He ran his hand through his hair and put on his mask. "Not bad. Getting better. Thanks."

Cameron stood off to the side, her eyes darting all around the hospital hallway looking ill at ease.

"That's good." Jen gave a reassuring smile then got down to business. The city was all a buzz about the rumors. What had happened? Why was Sidney Crosby setting up residency at UPMC hospital? They needed him to give a statement. His mind was spinning. He didn't even have a chance to process what had just happened and now he was expected to share it with the whole city. He was just so tired.

Cameron took his silence as a chance to speak up. "I can get a statement from Caroline."

"No," he said sharply.

Cameron looked offended.

Taking a deep breath, he collected himself. "I'll do it. Leave her alone."

They needed to get out of there before Caroline left her room. He didn't want anyone to see her bruised and bandaged. He'd go down there and give the statement, explain what had happened and that everything was okay.

Even if it was the furthest thing from the truth.

****author's note: This is like the fifth version of this chapter and I'm still not completely happy with it. I know I have them going back and forth from everything ok to bad again, but it's a process. It hopefully will tie into the bigger picture I have worked out in my head, although these days the playoffs are taking up all my brain power (hence the pesky delay in this chapter). Anywho, I know it's not fair but I do always love a sassy Sid and a Caroline who isn't intimidated by it. Thanks for reading/reviewing.****