**Laura's p.o.v***
I didn't know that I had fallen asleep by Ross's bedside until I felt a hand on my shoulder, it was Rydel.
"Maybe you should go on home and get some sleep, mom and dad are going to stay here…would you like to come with me and the others back to our house?" she asks.
I think about it for a second.
"Yea, that sounds good." I reply.
"Ok, let's go then." She says as she squeezes my shoulder comfortingly.
When we walk back into the waiting room the sadness is so thick you could cut it with a knife…I don't think I'd ever seen Ratliff so…quiet.
"Laura's gonna come stay with us for tonight. Is that ok?" Rydel asks as she grabs her coat and purse off one of the chairs.
"Of course it's ok, Laura's welcome anytime." Stormie replies.
"Let's go then guys." Riker says quietly as he takes the keys from Mark.
"PLEASE, be careful!" Stormie begs quietly as silent tears fall from her cheeks, giving each of her kids a hug and kiss. Hugging Ratliff as he secretly tries to wipe away a few tears himself.
"Ross will be ok, he's strong, go on home and get some rest, we'll see you in the morning." Mark adds as he hugs us each as we pass.
A single tear slides down my cheek. As Mark hugs me.
"You gonna be ok Laura?" he asks.
I nod my head slightly.
And with that we follow Riker to the car.
The whole way home riker drives five miles under the speed limit never taking his eyes off the road, I wonder if he's even blinked since we got in the car.
We get to the Lynch home and get out of the car, all of us still quiet.
We walk inside, Rydel taking my coat.
"You can sleep in the guest room if you'd like, the bed should already be made if not let me know." She says, trying to lighten the mood with a slight smile.
"ok." I reply, trying but failing to smile back.
On the way down the hall to the guest room I pass by Ross's bedroom, I pause and turn around, quietly opening his door.
I look around his room, passing pictures, and posters taped to his walls, his bed neatly made, as it has been since he left for tour, and the picture of me and him that Stormie had taken on our first date, sitting on the nightstand by his bed.
As I continued to look around his room without warning or without understanding why I fall to my knees sobbing hysterically into my hands.
Suddenly someone pulls me up by my hands out of my crouched position and into a tight, comforting hug.
"He's going to be ok, I know my little brother, he's strong."
It's Riker, who was like the older brother I never had.
"You're sure?" I ask through my tears.
"I know he will, and besides, the doctor said himself that Ross would be ok, now go get some rest, ok?" he asks as he pulls out of the hug and looks at me the way I've seen him look at Rydel.
I nod my head.
"Ok." I reply.
"Rydel left one of her nightgowns on the bed for you if you want it." He adds.
I smile slightly.
"OK." I say again.
I go to the guest room, taking Rydel's nightgown and putting it on.
And I finally lay down, drifting into a slightly restless sleep.
It wasn't long before someone was, nearly banging on my door.
"Laura, are you up?" it was Rocky.
"I am now." I reply.
He opens the door biting his lower lip.
"Sorry." He apologizes.
"It's ok, I wasn't sleeping all that great anyway." I reply.
He nods his head.
"Mom and dad called, they think Ross is waking up, they thought you'd want to be there." He says.
"What about the others?" I ask.
"We're all coming, don't worry." He replies with a slight grin.
"Ok, I'm coming! Let me get dressed." I reply, nearly jumping off the bed.
He nods and shuts the door.
I take off Rydel's nightgown and lay it neatly on the bed, putting my sweater and sweats back on; I grab my purse and join Rydel, Rocky, Riker, Ratliff, and Ryland in the living room.
Riker hands me my coat and takes the keys of the hook.
"Alright gang let's go, and remember no matter what happens or how much he remembers, or doesn't remember, we have to be there for Ross no matter what." He says looking all of us seriously in the eyes.
We all nod our heads.
The storm had passed sometime early this morning, leaving nearly two feet of glistening snow behind, but the clouds had cleared, and the sun was out and there wasn't a single snowflake falling from the sky.
If it hadn't been for last night, I would've thought it was rather beautiful out, and it was, but I barely recognized the beauty as questions started rattling around my head.
Would he remember me?
How much would he remember?
What if his memory never came back…it could be the end of R5! Not to mention our relationship.
I pushed the questions out of my head not liking any of the thoughts that came with them.
"Are you ok?" I hear Riker ask, he's holding the backdoor of the car open for me.
"Not exactly." I admit.
"Hey, it'll be ok, alright?" he asks, looking at me in that big brotherly way.
I nod my head and get in the car.
We get to the hospital and quietly make our way down the hallways to the waiting room.
When we get there, there's a bit of a surprise waiting for me.
"Vanessa?" I ask, even though I didn't need an answer.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were busy filming switched at birth this week." I ask.
"It got canceled because of the snow, and besides after I heard what happened I had to come make sure you were ok." She replies.
"Stormie called me." she explains when I look at her questioningly.
She wraps me in a hug.
I choke back tears as she squeezes me tighter.
"Are you ok?" she asks.
"I've been better." I reply as tears start sliding down my cheeks again.
"I'm glad you came though." I add as I look up at her.
Suddenly Mark bursts through the door.
"He's starting to come around!" is all he says and then leaves.
"You guys should go." I say, looking at Riker, Rocky, Ryland, Ratliff, and Rydel.
Ryland opens the waiting room door, but stands aside.
"No, you go first, he'd want you there." He replies.
"A-are you guys sure?" I ask.
"Go on." Rydel replies as the rest nod their heads in agreement.
"Thanks you guys." I reply as I give them a little wave and leave.
I walk down the hall to Ross's room, walking in quietly.
Stormie welcomes me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders in a motherly way.
What can only be a few seconds later, Ross finally opens his eyes.
Stormie covers her mouth as tears slide down her face.
I break way from Stormie to sit down in the chair next to his bed, taking his hand lightly.
"Oh thank god, I'm so glad you're ok." I say as I let out a sigh.
"How are you feeling sweetie?" Stormie asks.
"Ok I guess, but…who are you guys?"
To be continued