A/N - I am on an updating roll lately. This is what happens when I'm separated from the most important person in my life. My dog...and my guy too I suppose...Anyways lol, I hope you're prepared to stick with me while this one unfolds. It's going to be a little slower than usual but it's good, I swear! Enjoy...

The methodical beep of the machines was familiar now that Emily had spent the better part of the last five hours here. She absently stretched and tried not to cringe at the creaking that erupted in several parts of her back. Hospital chairs most certainly were not the most comfortable things in the world. But all she had to do was look at her brother and she quickly stopped feeling sorry for herself.

"What did they do to you?" she muttered to herself for the millionth time. Or perhaps what did he do to himself was the better question to ask. Her younger brother was troubled to say the least. Her heart ached as repressed memories and years of guilt tried to breakthrough and flood her mind but she refused to let them. Now wasn't the time or place to rehash the past yet Emily knew deep down that the past was the very reason her brother was lying in a hospital bed before her right now.

The creaking of the door signalled the return of her husband and Emily smiled at him as he took a seat next to her and passed across a cup of coffee. She took it gratefully, letting the hot liquid warm her icy hands. She hadn't realized how cold it was in here.

"So...what's the plan?"

"I don't know," Emily answered truthfully.

Warren Reynolds couldn't help but find her lost little shrug of the shoulders cute. But he bit his tongue, certain that she wouldn't appreciate it right now. "Did the doctor say when he's expected to wake up?"

"He's under pretty heavy medication from the surgery that needs to wear off. When it does he'll start to come to and will probably be in a lot of pain…in a day or two…I can't let him wake up like that, Warren…I have to be here for him…I have to…"

"Hey," Warren reached for her hand and looked into her misty eyes. He swiped a stray tear from her cheek and offered a small smile. "You will be here. I spoke to Steph not too long ago, she's fine with keeping the kids for however long she needs to although I think it might be better if I go home and then come back for you when he's awake."

"Remind me to buy Steph about fifty boxes of chocolates when this is all over with, huh?"

"You know she doesn't mind. You two are like sisters for Christ sake. And the kids love her to death. They'll be fine. Right now Paul's the one who needs you, honey."

Emily nodded. Sometimes the man made too much sense for his own good. She squeezed his fingers and cast a glance over her brother's silent form. "I can't believe this is even happening."

"I can't believe he took down three gunmen and still took off after the last one. He's probably the bravest and most stupid person I've ever known."

She couldn't stop the tiny smile that flirted with her lips as a sense of overwhelming pride surged through her veins. They had spoken with Shawn a few hours ago. He was her brother's partner and at times was the only way to get any information on her estranged sibling. Emily took a sip of the tasteless coffee and let her eyes run over his scruffy face. He'd cut his hair God knows how long ago and didn't bother to tell anybody. That was new. His beard was thicker and he looked in even better shape than she'd ever seen him. Shawn confessed that he'd been hitting the gym hard.

In fact working and going to the gym were the only things he seemed to be interested in. It was a struggle to get him to do anything else. Shawn tried his best to include him in his family gatherings to no avail. Emily let out a frustrated sigh at the thought. Paul shutting himself off from the rest of the world wasn't going to do him any good.

"I know that face."

Emily turned her frustrated stare to her husband. "With everything Shawn told us earlier I guess I don't find it that hard to believe that he could be so reckless with his life. He's still trying to make up for…"

"You don't know that. Come on. He's a cop, Ems. He's supposed to take down the bad guys."

"He did! He took down the bad guys and saved the lives of everybody in that diner but it wasn't enough. He still had to go chasing the one that got away into the night and look what that got him? Three bullets and emergency surgery."

Warren sighed. He understood that she was upset but he feared for his brother in law when the poor guy woke up if this was the way his wife was reacting. He didn't need an earful after surviving getting shot three fucking times. "He's going to be fine. The doctors told you that. At least let him wake up and become conscious for a bit before you go chewing him out over his life choices."

He received a pointed stare in response and merely rolled his eyes. She was like a dog with a bone when she wanted to be. The ass chewing would come in good time but Paul definitely didn't need it when he just woke up. Just like his wife, Warren was finding it hard to believe that this had happened in the first place. He'd always had time for his younger brother in law. He remembered many family get togethers where they had a blast goofing around with the kids and then getting drunk in the yard when they went to bed. But over the years his visits were few and far between. When he made Detective they all but stopped completely. It was at the stage now where Warren couldn't even remember the last time he had come for a visit. Deep down he knew the reason why but he never dared to bring it up. Every family has their shit and the Levesque's was one pile he wasn't about to step into. It was messy enough without him getting involved.

Emily decided to ignore her husband's comment and switched gears. "Did you talk to the kids? Did Hannah come back home on time?"

"They're all fine but if it'll make you feel any better why don't you go call and see for yourself?"

She stood and headed for the door but not before wrapping her arms around her husband's neck and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm sorry for being a pain, it's just…"

"You don't have to explain, Emily." Warren replied with a soft smile. "Go make your call."

Emily beamed at him across the room before exiting and leaning heavily against the stark white walls of the corridor. Her fingers pressed the familiar digits as she slid up and down the wall, stretching her knees and legs in the process. On the second ring she picked up. "Hey, Steph, it's me."

"Emily! How is everything? I spoke to Warren not too long ago, has something happened?" Stephanie asked from the other end of the line. She had been fraught with worry from the second they had stepped out the door.

"There's no change. I just wanted to get out of that room and stretch my legs a little. Are the kids around?"

"It's after three in the morning, Em. I put them to bed a while ago."

"Oh…right. I didn't even notice the time…"

Stephanie instantly picked up on the other woman's dejected vibe. "You ok? Obviously you're not given the circumstances but you are ok, right?"

"I'm fine, I just…I'm finding it a little hard to accept this has actually happened. Paul is my baby brother and to see him lying there like that is just…" Emily trailed off feeling her eyes starting to water again. She blew out an uneasy breath and steadied herself. "It's tough."

"Warren told me what happened. Not long after I actually saw it on the news. It's been leading most of the local coverage all night."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. I've never met him but your brother sounds like a pretty special guy, to do what he did, get shot three times and still survive? Just so you know I saw a news van outside your house around midnight. You might want to prepare for that when you guys get back here, maybe get James to prep a statement or something."

Stephanie's words were offered in good faith, Emily knew that, but they didn't stop her from cringing all the same. James drafting a statement on behalf of Paul? She was half tempted to walk outside to see if pigs were flying. Instead she half heartedly agreed. "Yeah…I'll have to get on to him about that but in the morning. There's no need to wake up him in the middle of the night when Warren and I are already here. Thank you, Steph. I know I don't have to say it but you're the best fucking friend a girl could ask for."

"I know, I know. It's not every day your brother gets shot and I have to dash to the rescue…" Stephanie realized what she had said and immediately cringed. "Too soon?"

"Just a little bit," Emily actually managed a chuckle. If it had been anybody else she would have slapped them five ways to Sunday for making light of her situation but Steph was different; she was family. "Go get some sleep and I'll call you as soon as I know anything. Thanks again, Steph. It means a lot."

"Talk to you soon."

"Bye."

Emily ended the call and took a deep breath, giving her legs one final stretch before walking back into the hospital room and resuming her position at her brother's bedside once again.

It was going to be a long night.