**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 its 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.
"Laura, come on, we're going to the hospital." It was Rocky. I got out of bed and got dressed, following him and the others down the hall to the car.
We get to the hospital, Stormie and Mark already there as they had stayed the night at the hospital in case Ross woke up.
"Hey sweetie." Stormie greeted me with a hug. In turn she gave all of her kids hugs and kisses, hugging Ratliff as he came through the doors.
"Laura, me and the boys and Rydel have to discuss some things, why don't you go on down to Ross's room?" she asks.
"Ok." I reply, not in the mood for arguing or asking questions.
I go down the hall to Ross's room, a nurse in the room taking his morning vital signs.
"Oh, sorry." I reply.
She gives me a smile. "It's alright, I was just finishing up." She replies.
I nod my head, taking a seat in the chair next to Ross's bed, taking his hand in mine, hanging on too tightly, as if I'd lose him if I let go.
Even though I had gotten the news about the accident nearly 18 hours ago my heart still felt like it was racing.
"Are you ok sweetie?" the nurse asked.
I caught my reflection in the silver trash can; I looked white as a ghost.
"Is that a trick question?" I asked.
Before she had a chance to respond to my question though Ross's heart monitor flat lined.
The nurse called for the doctor immediately as other nurses and doctors started flooding the room, followed by Stormie and Mark.
"You need to leave." One of the nurses said.
"NO! I'm not going!" I exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, parents only, you have to go." She says, gently but firmly grabbing me by the upper arm
"I'm. Not. Leaving!" I insist, as a couple other nurses came to help.
"We need to get him to the E.R a.s.a.p!" I heard the doctor exclaim.
I looked in Ross's direction frantically, trying to make my way to him as the nurses pulled me out of the room.
"Ross!" I exclaimed.
"I'll take her." I heard a familiar voice say calmly.
I looked up and saw Vanessa.
"Vanessa?" I ask confused, but then as the commotion around the room catches my attention again I turn back to Ross.
"Ross!" I screamed one last time. As Vanessa wraps her arm around my waist, and pulls me out of the room.
"Ross!" I exclaimed as I jolted up in bed.
I gasped, panting and gasping for air, sweat dripping off my forehead, my heart racing.
It was just a dream! I thought to myself as I started sobbing, as I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them.
Suddenly the door to the guest room opened quietly. But I didn't look up.
"Shhh, sh, it's ok sweetie, its ok, just a bad dream." I heard a familiar voice whisper.
I looked up slightly.
"Vanessa?" I asked.
"Stormie called me yesterday; I left the "switched at birth" set and took the earliest flight I could.
She explained.
She wraps her arms around me protectively.
With my arms still wrapped around my knees I leaned into her chest, crying.
"It was so real Vanessa! I thought, I thought I lost him!" I say through my sobs
She hugs me tighter, pushing my sweat drenched hair out of my face, shushing me.
And for the longest time I just sat there, curled up in my big sister's arms like a child.