A/N: Sorry for the delay, folks. Dragon Age 2 has had me preoccupied both in the real world and the world of fanfiction. I also apologize for the super short chapter. Review: it makes me smile!

)O(

"The coffee here is terrible." Jayden reported, returning from his little adventure to the hospital cafeteria, ostensibly unsuccessful. He sat down beside her in one of the many uncomfortable chairs next to the second floor nurses' station. Madison looked up; he was frowning.

"You don't have to stay, you know." she reminded him for the tenth time that night. "It'll probably be a few hours before we find out anything. Besides, it isn't like you know her, or Sam."

"No, but I know you."

For whatever reason, that was the wrong thing to say. "Look, just wait for me back at the apartment, okay? You really could use some rest anyway. Do this for me, all right?"

Jayden seemed hesitant. That was understandable. But he reluctantly agreed to do as she asked of him. And it really was for the best since there wasn't any reason why he should feel obligated to be here.

Madison sighed; she hated hospitals.

Not even forty-five minutes after she'd closed her eyes, someone was shaking her shoulder gently in an attempt to wake her up. Madison looked around slowly, forcing her eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness. Sam was worried and so very tired, they all were.

"The doctors say she had a minor stroke." he said. "They still have to run some tests, but they think she should make a full recovery."

"Oh God, Sam, I'm so sorry..." Madison was on the verge of tears.

"Hey, it'll be all right." He sat down and put his arm around her. "Kathy's a survivor. She always has been. And I know for a fact she doesn't want anyone crying over her."

But it wasn't Kathy she was worried about. That wasn't the reason at all. Sam was trying to be strong for her, and that somehow made it even worse.

They stayed like that for a while as the busy hospital moved and pulsed around them. She could feel the steady rhythm of it all, and it slowly lulled her to sleep. Not an ideal sort of sleep, mind you, but more like the kind of you enjoy on an airplane.

Sam managed to coax her into standing up. This truly was a remarkable feat. He then put her in a cab and promised to call in the morning with any updates. Madison was too tired to protest.

)O(

Meanwhile, Sam returned to the room where a nurse was currently drawing his wife's blood. Kathy glared at him as he approached. Eventually the nurse got what she needed and decided to give them a moment alone.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"If one more person asks me that question, I'm going to feel like killing someone." Then she looked at him, suddenly, with clarity in her eyes. "I want a divorce." she said.

Sam didn't believe it at first."You're confused." he declared. "You don't know what you're saying."

"I am not confused. You don't get it." Kathy snapped. "When I had that stroke, I realized how uncertain life is. I can't waste mine on insignificant things anymore. We have to stop pretending everything is okay. I deserve better." She saw his expression and added quietly, "So do you."

There was nothing he could say to that. It wasn't surprising. That remained the worst part. Sam was shocked to have this happen so abruptly, sure, but not surprised. They had both avoided this issue for a long time because actually filing for divorce took money and effort Kathy was not willing to put in at the moment. Apparently almost dying had changed all that.

In fact, he should have seen this coming. He was a goddamn fool for loving a woman who could only ever love herself.

Sam walked back into the hallway, nursing his broken heart, but Madison was long gone.