Chapter Twenty-Three: Two Weeks Later

Austin sat in her first class of the day. She wasn't paying attention, all she could think about was Clay and the fact that he hadn't woken up yet. It was going on two weeks since he had been shot and everything was a mess.

Sonny and Olivia were a wreck and her parents weren't much better. Neither was she, though. Austin was still having nightmares about that day and every morning around two she would wake up screaming in her dad or mom's arms.

She wasn't fun, bubbly, all smiles, Austin Morgan anymore. Now she was quiet, dark and angry, all because of the stupid mob.

"Hey." Liam said snapping her out of her trance.

"huh?" Austin looked at him.

"Are you okay?"

"Just tired." She tired to mask her pain.

"Not sleeping good?"

Austin shook her head before feeling a buzzing sensation at her foot. She reached into her bag and pulled out her cell phone that was telling her she had a new message.

Her fingers fumbled over one another as she quickly opened the phone to read the message. Austin's eyes skimmed the message and she jumped to her feet, making the whole class look at her.

"Ms. Morgan?" The teacher looked at her. "Are you alright?"

Austin grabbed her bag. "He's awake." She smiled at Liam.

Liam smiled. He was happy, he didn't want Clay to die, but he wouldn't have minded a couple of more days with Austin all to herself.

"I have to go." she ran towards the through the door.

"Austin!" Liam ran after her. "I'll drive."

It felt like everything was happening in slow motion. Austin ran through the halls of the hospital with Liam following close behind. Clay was awake and she had to get to him before anything else happened.

She knew the way to his room by heart. She could get there blindfolded if she needed too.

The door was open and as she slowed down to walk into the room she felt a rush of nervousness, what if it wasn't the same? What if things were forever changed?

"Clay." She whispered walking into his room and seeing his eyes open, and looking at her.

She walked over to his bed and touched his face, barely seeing it through her tears.

"Hi." He smiled.

God how she had missed that smile.

"You scared the hell out of me."

He took her hand and gently pulled her to sit on the bed. "I'm sorry."

Austin smiled through her tears. "Don't be sorry, I'm so glad your okay."

Clay pulled her into him. Her head crying on his shoulder and his arms wrapped as tight as they would go around her.

"ssshhh." He tried to sooth her.

Clay looked up and saw Liam watching them from the door. Clay gave him a thank you nod and then watched as Liam nodded and disappeared.

Austin lifted her head up. "Where's everyone at, I know they must be freaking out cause your awake."

"I asked the nurse to wait about thirty minutes before calling them, I just wanted it to be us for a little while."

Austin smiled. "Their worried sick, you should call them."

"You look tired." Clay changed the subject.

"I haven't been sleeping that good."

He got the same worried expression that her dad and Liam had also had when they talked to her.

"Lay down with me." Clay gently tugged on her arm. "Please."

"I'm fine, I swear."

"I know, I just want to hold you." He smiled. "It's been awhile."

Austin smiled and laid down beside him."

Clay held Austin while she slept, her head on his chest and her body curled up next to him. After she had laid down beside him, it hadn't taken her long to fall fast asleep.

"Clay!" He heard his mom cry. "Baby, I'm so glad your okay!"

"ssssshhhhh!" Clay put his finger to his lips when she walked into the room. "Mom, I love you, but you have to be quiet."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know Austin was in here." Olivia walked over to his bed and kissed him on the forehead. "How are you feeling, do you feel good?"

"I feel fine, mom."

Clay looked up hearing feet sprinting down the hall. He put his finger to his lip again, seeing his dad, Jason and Sam.

Jason looked at Austin fast asleep on Clay. It was weird, she was so comfortable, he suddenly felt that protective fatherly instinct and had the urge to kill Clay.

"She said she wasn't sleeping good." Clay looked at Jason.

"She's been having nightmares, about the shooting."

Clay looked at Austin, sleeping peacefully in his arms. He softly touched her face, she was so beautiful, so perfect.

"Maybe they'll stop." Clay said. "She needs a goodnight sleep."

Jason was surprised at how concerned Clay was. I mean, sure, he thought Clay cared about Austin, but he was truly worried, and he was the one who just woke up from a coma.

"He can only have one visitor at a time." A nurse told them.

"When Austin wakes up, I'll have her call you." Clay told Sam and Jason.

"Maybe we should wake her." Sam said.

Clay shook his head. "She's sleeping peacefully, just let her sleep. We'll be fine."

Clay watched as everyone left the room and then when they were gone he snuggled closer to Austin and counted his blessings.

"It's the only way to keep him safe." Sonny said.

"It can't be, Sonny." Olivia looked at Clay though the hospital window. "If we take him away from her, he'll never forgive us."

"Would you rather him be dead or angry?"

"How do we even know that they'll come after Clay again?"

"We don't, but I'm not taking that chance."

"Fine." Olivia crossed her arms. "Call Bernie and have him make the reservations."

Sonny nodded. "He'll take it okay, their young, it wouldn't have lasted anyways."

A/N: Yay, Clay's awake, but where's he going? Sorry guys, this stories about to take a sad turn for Austin and Clay:( Thanks for reading and please Review:)