Mads Ryback rushed through the doors of Phoenix Presbyterian glancing in every direction to ensure that she didn't miss Emma in the waiting room. She'd gotten the call twenty minutes ago and had immediately rushed out of the door. She had thought about telling Thayer what was going on, but after the aftermath she'd witnessed she had a feeling the two of them needed some time alone. She had left him a note, so he would know where she was, but she hadn't told him directly.

Emma spotted her before she spotted Emma. She waved to Mads and they met at the edge of the waiting room, just out of earshot of the rest of the Mercer family. They hugged briefly and then Emma pushed her away.

"How is she?" Mads questioned her voice oozing with concern.

"I don't know,"" Emma admitted, "They're still running tests."

"What happened anyways?"

"A guy lost control of his car and slid through the intersection. He apparently wasn't going that fast, but it was an SUV against her BMW so…"

"So there's no telling how serious the accident actually was."

"Exactly," Emma responded, but she could tell there was something on her mind. She didn't need to ask. Emma's next question cleared up what was bothering her.

"Hey where's Thayer? I figured he would've been dragging you through the door and demanding answers."

"I don't think Sutton wants him here," Mads responded.

"Why?" Emma questioned with concern.

"I take it you know Sutton went to talk to Thayer earlier."

Emma nodded, "Of course. She wanted to confront him about what happened at the court yesterday."

"I walked in right as they finished and it didn't exactly look like it had been a positive talk."

"What do you mean?"

"Sutton was on the verge of tears and Thayer was gripping the counter so tight his knuckles were going white. He looked like he was going to double over at any moment and Sutton didn't look any better."

"But you have no clue what was said?"

"Thayer refused to speak with me. He just turned and walked out of the room. The next thing I heard was his door slamming closed."

"I don't understand," Emma responded, shaking her head, "Sutton told me she was going over there to get answers. She said she was going to force him to be honest with her. How could that lead to that big of a blow up?"

"You know better than anyone how much the truth can hurt. Maybe Sutton just learned it too."

Sutton had been staring at the same spot on the wall for the last fifteen minutes. Johnny was supposed to be back at any moment with her CT scan and x-rays. She'd been here for almost two hours and all he'd done so far was make her less gruesome. He'd pulled the glass out of the cuts on her arms and face. He'd cleaned the blood off of her face. He'd stitched up the two cuts that needed it, but nothing else. There were so many tests that needed to be completed before he would tell her anything about her condition and the longer she sat in silence the harder it was to act like she was okay.

A knock sounded on her door and then Dr. Collins poked his head into her room, "How are you doing?"

She didn't respond verbally. She just shrugged her shoulders and kept looking at the spot on the wall. She hadn't been in the mood to talk ever since she was admitted. She answered his medical questions, but nothing else. She'd basically just been staring at different points on the wall, trying to keep her composure.

Johnny sighed in defeat and stepped into the room, "Well, I'd say you were pretty lucky all things considered. If that truck had been coming from the other direction, things could've been a lot worse for you..."

When she tuned Johnny out, she was not thinking about how bright the headlights had been as the truck got closer and closer. She was not thinking about how the glass had shattered and come flying toward her. She was thinking about Thayer. She was thinking about the pain in his eyes as he recalled what she'd done. She was thinking about how her own heart had broken when she'd realized what that pain meant. She was thinking about how desperately she wanted to break down crying right then and there instead of listening to Johnny explain what was physically wrong with her.

"…So if you do what I tell you, you should be good to go in six weeks."

Apparently, she'd zoned out for longer than she thought. She had no clue what was wrong with her, or what would take six weeks to heal, and she really didn't care right now. The accident had not been the biggest trauma of the night for her. Losing Thayer had earned that title and no amount of medical treatment was going to get rid of the pain that made the gashes on her face seem like paper cuts.

"I'm sure your parents would like to see you," Johnny encouraged.

She really didn't want that. She didn't want to answer their questions as to what happened. All she really wanted to do was curl up and let the tears she'd been holding back roll down her cheeks, but there was no way to explain that. She had just been in a serious car accident and she was about to refuse seeing her parents. They would be so confused and yet she didn't feel like she had a choice.

She still didn't look at him when she said, "I don't want to see them."

"Sutton, you were just in a car accident and the last time your dad saw you, you were strapped to a backboard, barely conscious. Do you really think I can stop him?"

"I don't care what he wants, Johnny," Sutton snapped, finally acknowledging his presence, "I don't want to see him."

"Sutton," Johnny exclaimed.

"What part of this don't you understand? I want to be alone, Johnny. After everything that's happened tonight, don't you think I deserve at least that?"

He was torn. Her dad was a good friend of his and she knew how concerned her dad probably was. It was a completely unfair request on her part, but life's unfair. She wanted to be alone and it would be nice to get one thing she wanted tonight.

Emma paced the waiting room, unable to sit still. They still hadn't been told how serious Sutton's injuries were and Emma was getting impatient. There had been no real updates since they arrived and the stress of not knowing whether her sister was okay was tearing her apart inside.

"Emma," Mads' voice cut through her thoughts, "You need to calm down. Dr. Collins will tell us what is going on as soon he knows."

As if on cue Dr. Collins came strolling up to them. Ted and Kristin stood to greet him, "How is she, Johnny?"

"She's pretty banged up," Johnny admitted, "She bruised a couple ribs, her wrist is broken, and she's got a pretty serious concussion, but other than that she's fine. All in all she was very lucky."

Emma watched Ted and Kristin's shoulders relax as soon as he was finished. She too felt a weight lift off of her shoulders. Sutton was okay, well physically at least. She still had no idea what had happened with Thayer and how she was doing with whatever had happened.

"Well if that's everything, then we'd like to see our daughter," Ted stated, trying to step past Johnny, but Johnny stepped in front of him.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Johnny warned.

"And why not?"

"Ted, it's been a long day for her. She's been through a lot. I think it would be best if you just let her rest."

"Johnny, the last time I saw her she was strapped to a backboard. She was barely conscious and you're telling me I can't see her."

"This isn't about what you want, Ted. This is about what's best for Sutton and right now she needs rest."

"Screw you Johnny. I want to see my daughter."

"I can't let you do that, Ted," Johnny practically threatened.

"Why the hell not?" Emma watched Ted's shoulders square as if he was prepared for a fight. He was going to see Sutton tonight. Not even her doctor could stop that from happening.

"Because she doesn't want to see you," Johnny spat.

"What?" Ted's shoulders dropped and he looked like he'd just been hit in the stomach. Sutton had just broken him and while Emma understood it still hurt her to see Ted blame himself for something that wasn't at all his fault.

"She wants to be alone, Ted. I'm sorry, but she's my patient and if that's what she wants, that's what she gets."

Emma glanced at Mads. They both knew exactly why she wanted to be alone, but it wasn't like they could explain it to Ted and Kristin. This was Sutton's story. If she didn't want to talk about it, Emma certainly shouldn't. Still, she was supposed to be honest with them and now she was lying to Ted and Kristin for Sutton's sake yet again.

Mads watched Johnny exit the waiting room and Ted sit down in defeat. His daughter was refusing to see him. His daughter, who had just totaled her car, wanted to be alone. Mads and Emma knew the reason, but her parents had no understanding of what had transpired. She wanted to tell them everything she knew, but she knew she couldn't do that. It had to come from Sutton, because Sutton was the only one that really understood.

She walked up next to Emma and put her arm around her friend. Emma looked even more torn about this whole thing. She had an obligation to protect her sister's secret, but she also had an obligation to be honest with Ted and Kristin. Mads could see it in her demeanor. She was not happy with the position she'd been put in.

"It'll be okay, Emma," Mads assured, "You know how Sutton gets when she's hurting."

"I know," Emma admitted, "I just don't understand what happened. They were doing so well and all of a sudden it just imploded. I mean how did it go from so good to so bad so quickly?"

Before Mads could answer, her phone buzzed in her hand and flashed Thayer's picture. She looked at Emma, "I should take this."

"Thayer?"

Mads nodded.

"Good luck."

Emma walked away and Mads clicked the accept button, "Hey Thayer, what's up?"

"You're kidding, right?"

"I take it you got my note."

"Yeah," Thayer said quickly, "I got it. Only you could make a trip to the hospital sound like a trip to the grocery store. Seriously Mads, why didn't you just tell me."

"Please tell me you're kidding. Thayer, I walked into the aftermath of whatever happened between you and Sutton. Sutton refused to say 'hi' to me, and you refused to say anything at all. Sorry, if I thought the two of you needed some space."

"She's in the hospital, Mads."

"She's fine. The only major injuries she has are a broken wrist and a concussion. They'll probably release her in the morning."

"Have you seen her?"

"No," Mads admitted, "And I won't tonight."

"Why not?"

"Dr. Collins is not allowing visitors, not even her parents."

"Why not?"
Mads did not want to tell her brother the truth. It would cause him more pain than he was already in, because he was the reason she was refusing to have visitors. It was her fight with Thayer that had cut her the deepest tonight. Although Mads had no clue why, her friend and brother had hurt each other tonight. There was no need to add on to the pain he was already feeling.

"It's been a long day for her. Dr. Collins thinks it would be best if we just let her rest for the night."

"But she's okay?"

"She's fine."

She heard him breathe a sigh of relief through the receiver. He cared about her and that meant that whatever their fight was about was in the past for him. That was half the battle. Now it would be getting Sutton to do the same.