Two chapters to go! I apologize this is taking so long guys! I'm hella busy!

Let me know what you think, okay!? I really want to know. LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU GUYS TO THE MOON AND BACK

SPOV

Everything was hazy. People faded in and out of her vision. The only staring role was Toby's. She hadn't seen him leave once, which was comforting. But she also hadn't ever seen him eat, which was frustrating. They had her on some strong medication, but it wasn't so strong that she didn't feel concern for her obviously devoted boyfriend.

Her body was calm, but that serenity was newly brought about by the increased cocktail of drugs that had her under. She mentally winced at the memory of them trying to ween her off of the sedatives. The feeling of the breathing tube down her throat, breathing for her... she panicked, her injured body thrashing around as she gagged and choked. They had to put her back under, and that hadn't been fun for anyone.

She could still feel it, but somehow it was less terrifying when the world was blurry and full of unrecognizable shapes and figures. It was comforting, the gentle swoosh of the machine forcing periodic breaths down her throat. Fifteen breaths a minute, whether she wanted them or not. The breathing tube would keep her alive, and she needed to stay alive for Toby.

"Spencer? Can you hear me?"

She peered up at the nurse with her bleary eyes. She only had her eyes on the nurse for a second before scanning the room for the only face that she wanted to see. Toby's eyes were on her face from off to the side. He took her fingers and brought them to his lips, brushing them over her battered hand. He didn't say anything, but that was how she knew that he was with her. She didn't have to be able to speak to see the raw emotion in his eyes.

The nurse clearly took her eye movement as affirmation, because she continued to speak. "Every test we've done indicates that you're ready to be weaned off the intubation, but i have to warn you that this part is not pleasant."

She wished she was up to her normal levels of strength so that shes could give the nurse the deploring look that she deserved. Of course it was going to hurt. There was a half dollar sized tube fused to her throat. But with Toby's hands on her hand and her friend okay she knew that she could get through this.

The pain was blinding. It felt like someone was ripping her esophagus out with a hook. It felt like she was dying, and coming back to life all at the same time. As soon as the tube was out she started coughing violently. The kind of coughs that worked through her entire body. It felt like they lasted for an eternity before they eased off.

A cold stethoscope was pressed against her chest. She shivered and opened her eyes. The nurse was peering down at her. "How are you, Ms. Hastings? Are you having an difficulty breathing?"

She shook her head, still sucking in deep, painful breaths. She was okay. She was fine. "I-I'm o-o-okay," she stuttered out. Her throat felt like it was on fire. "I think I'm o-okay."

The nurse nodded, glancing at a machine next to her bed. "Okay. Please hit the call button if you need anything." She left quickly, staring at her chart as she walked away.

Toby immediately sat on the edge of her bed, his hand on her face. "Are you okay?"

She just shook her head, looking somewhere around his chest. "I don't know." She was still breathing hard, her chest heaving with every single breath.

His fingers found her chin, tilting her face up. It was a long moment of silence before he spoke. He gave her that perfect kind of look that made it feel like his clear blue eyes were looking straight through her. "Is there anything you need? Anything at all?"

"Just you," she said simply. He couldn't leave her side, because her illusion of safety in this stupid town was shattered. If Wren was her enemy that meant that anyone could be. Anyone, anywhere could be plotting against her. Toby was the only one she was sure was unreservedly on her side. She needed that security right now. "Are the other three okay?"

Toby's face hardens significantly. "Yes."

She smiles despite herself, bringing her IV-ed hand to lightly touch the one that he had on her face. "It wasn't their fault."

"They left you," he said seriously. "they could have helped you, but instead they left you behind."

If their situations were reversed she would be just as mad as he was. But because it happened to her and not to him she could see logic and reason. "I told them to run. If they had stayed we would all probably be here like this."

His face was twisted with indecision. "I-" he cut himself off, shaking his head. "I don't think that I'm going to be able to see it like that for awhile."

She smiled a little doppily. It was probably a result of the cocktail of pain medication still swimming through her blood. "How long have I been in here for?"

Toby grimaced, a light smile now back on his face. "Four long, awful days. The other girls are at home. They'll be back tonight. Your mom is getting coffee and your dad is dealing with an emergency at the office, but he'll be back soon."

She nodded, sinking back into the pillows. She was exhausted, but she was also feeling really peaceful. She survived. How many times had someone tried to kill her now? Although she supposed that wasn't the important part. The important part was the zero times that they had succeeded. She felt unstoppable in a really vulnerable way. "When was the last time you ate anything?"

"Spencer," he groaned. But he didn't look annoyed at all. He actually looked really happy. "Don't worry about me right now."

"You need to eat," she insisted, smiling.

He shook his head, dropping a kiss to her forehead. "I love you."

"You're an idiot," she offered with a quiet giggle. "And I love you too."

His thumb brushed over her lips. "Your lips are finally getting a little color back to them. You look alright."

"I'm glad I waited until right now so I could crash this sappy little party."

Toby jerked around, putting a hand in front of her chest. Cece Drake was what she saw first, and hovering somewhere just behind her was Melissa. "Melissa?" Spencer whispered before she realized what she was saying.

Melissa looked as upset as Spencer felt, as close to tears as she had ever seen her. "I'm sorry, Spencer. I didn't want to do this."

Cece laughed, jerking the gun that she had pointing in their direction. "Unhook her, loverboy. We're going to go see the boss."

Her fingers inched toward the call button. Cece noticed it immediately, laughing. "Do you think we're worried about getting caught? The game is going to end tonight, you bitch."

Toby looked torn. "I don't think so," he said reluctantly.

Cece shrugged. "Then get out of the way. Melissa can get her."

Toby gentle fingers moved to her hand, brushing over the IV, gently pulling it out and pressing a rag to the bleeding. "Everything will be okay," he murmured. "I'll make sure that you're safe."