He heard her gasp, knowing something was wrong. He slid to the ground with her, his mind a swirling mass of confusion.

"Jess! Jessamyn!"

She didn't respond, just lay white and still in his arms.

Automatically, he checked her quickly for wounds, but found none.

Damn it, what's wrong? Maybe she just fainted for all the excitement.

It hit him.

He gathered her up, almost turning directly into Sidney.

"Get to your car. Now," Charles ordered.

Sidney complied, clearing the way.

Charles sat with her in the backseat, still grasping her tightly with one arm. With the other, he brushed her hair out of her face, surprised when her eyes fluttered open.

He gave her a wobbly smile, trying to be optimistic for her sake. "Come on, Jessamyn. Stay with me now."

She whispered something. He leaned in closer to hear.

"I'm . . . I'm sorry. I tried . . . tried so hard . . . for the baby. I'm sorry," she whispered faintly.

"No. None of this is your fault." He could feel the tears start again. "I should have been there. I could have stopped him."

Jessie managed to shake her head. "No. Not your fault, either."

He shifted to let her get more comfortable. His arm felt sticky. In the darkness of the cab, he realized it was her blood.

Will this nightmare ever end?

"Sidney!"

Sidney's eyes met his in the rearview mirror. He gunned the engine, speeding through a deserted intersection while the light was on red.

************************************

B.J. had seen what had happened and told the officer in charge to radio ahead to the hospital. They had a full staff of doctors and nurses waiting when Sidney jumped the curb, getting as close as he dared to the door of the hospital.

Charles didn't want to let her go. He followed the gurney through the hallway, still clutching her hand. When they reached the trauma room, one of the ER doctors wouldn't let him enter.

"She's my wife! I'll stay with her if I damn well want to!"

"It's hospital policy. No family in the trauma room. You know that, Dr. Winchester."

"But . . ."

"Charles?"

He didn't know she was awake, the nurses hooking her up to IVs and equipment. "Charles, I'll be fine. Just go."

"But . . ."

One of the nurses gingerly led him from the room. Jessie lay back on the pillow after he was gone, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hands as they began examining her.

Charles numbly stared at the door they had shut in his face. He could faintly hear the activity inside. None of the training, schooling and experience as a doctor prepared him for this. Leaving his wife alone to face the hands of strangers as she miscarried their child.

Absently, he looked down at his arm, his shirt splotched with blood.

Instantly, he was taken back to Korea. He watched her step in front of the gun, his heart in his throat, unable to say a word. He was halfway to her before she had fallen to the ground.

Then - he had saved her.

Now - he could do nothing.

With a cry of frustration, he hit the wall with his fist, the pain in his arm momentarily easing the pain in his heart.

Sidney found him sitting on the floor next to her room, leaning heavily on the wall, his arms propped on his knees.

"They won't let me in, Sidney."

Sidney shrugged. "Probably for the best."

He opened one eye. "I've operated on her before. Successfully, might I add."

"She wasn't your wife then. You're too emotionally involved."

"I was too emotionally involved last time, and it didn't hinder me."

"She wasn't carrying your child then, either."

Charles ran a hand over his face, once again the reminder of her pregnancy shocking him into silence.

"Everyone's in the waiting room."

"Everyone?"

"Sure. Margaret, Hawkeye, B.J. Peg took Erin to your house, I think. Your family. I think Jessie's brother finally showed up, and he's raising hell with the on-duty nurse."

Charles cringed. Johnny could be extremely temperamental when it came to the well-being of his sisters.

"Let us know when you hear something."

"I . . . I will."

Sidney turned to walk down the hallway.

"Sidney?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"No problem."

*********************************

Bone weary, Charles pushed through the double doors. Although in various stages of sleep, everyone instantly awakened.

"It's about damn time!" Johnny exclaimed. "What did the doctor say?"

Charles felt like he had been run through the ringer. "She'll be OK."

"Oh, that's wonderful news!" Margaret said.

"What about the baby?" his mother asked.

He swallowed past the lump in his throat. "They got . . . the bleeding stopped, and they have her heavily sedated. But, . . . everything seems to be . . . satisfactory. For now. She's going to have to stay in bed for awhile. Just to make sure."

There were congratulations all around, the relief plain on everyone's face.

"So, when can we see her?" Johnny asked, fidgeting.

"They're putting her in a room now. But, she won't be awake for awhile."

"Fine. I'll just call home and update everyone. Then, I expect to see my sister, awake or not!"

"B-boy, h-he can b-b-be as demanding as you," Honoria said from his side.

Charles didn't notice his sister's attempt at levity. He was too busy worrying about his wife.

**********************************

The machines beeping and hummed softly, almost putting him to sleep. He hadn't gotten much sleep over the past 24 hours, not to mention the fear and anger that had worried him to exhaustion while she was missing. So far, she hadn't awakened, due to the sedation to keep her still. The bleeding had not returned, thank God. Now, it was a waiting game.

He shifted in the uncomfortable chair near her bedside, watching her chest rise and fall. Due to severe dehydration, she had an IV in one arm. Her doctor was a younger one, and he haughtily informed Charles that she needed to take better care of herself, although he was fully aware of the ordeal she had been through. Charles wanted to throttle him with his bare hands. He hoped he wasn't that condescending with his own patients.

He was afraid he was.

Charles rose stiffly and walked to the window. It was almost dawn and a light drizzle was falling. He wanted her to wake up, so he had a chance to fully redeem himself, to make her understand. He wasn't even sure she would remember his hurried apologies before she passed out. He didn't know where he stood with her, and that ate at his soul.

Wearily, he returned to his post, refusing to leave her side since they put her in this room. He slept there when he could, which certainly wasn't comfortable. But, he wanted the first person she saw when she awoke to be him. The only food he had was whatever someone brought to him. He ate it automatically without tasting it, only to keep up his strength. All he had to do was wait.

The door opened slowly, the light from the hallway making him squint.

"How's she doing?" Martene asked.

"The same," Charles whispered. "She's been off the sedatives for awhile, but . . . she hasn't wakened as of yet."

"She's been through very much. Perhaps her body needs time to recover."

"Perhaps."

"Do you need anything?"

"No, I don't." He paused. "Well, maybe something?"

Martene was eager to help. "Anything. You name it."

"I want to ask your forgiveness. For how harsh I was in the bar . . ."

She waved her hand. "Oh, that. Don't worry about it. I can't understand what you were going through, so I didn't hold it against you."

"I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't run across Burns. It . . ." Tears formed, and he impatiently wiped them away, continuing in a stronger voice. "Thank you."

She smiled softly. "You're welcome. Now, why don't you let me stay for awhile. You look like you could use a break."

He shook his head. "No. I want to be here when she wakes up."

"But, look at you! You haven't shaved in what looks like three days, and you still have on your bloody clothes from the night she was found. Frankly, you look like shit."

"Gee, Martene. You always had a way with words."

"Don't get smart with me, mister! You don't even have to leave the hospital! There are showers here, and you can get you something to eat while you're at it. No, go!"

She settled in a chair in the corner. "We'll be right here when you get back."

Actually, a shower did sound appealing. Clean clothes would be wonderful, too. Knowing he had lost, he stood up with a groan. "Fine. But, I won't be long."

Martene pulled out a book. "Take all the time you want. I have a stack of these journals I need to catch up on, and this gives me a wonderful opportunity."

"If anything changes . . ."

"You'll be the first to know. I promise!"

The on-call nurse was surprised to see Charles leave the room.

***********************************

Jessie had been floating on the edge of consciousness. She knew Charles had been there, and she wanted to squeeze his hand or speak or something to ease his mind, but she couldn't make her body respond.

What in the hell did they give me?

She caught snatches of conversations between Charles and guests and the hospital staff, but she couldn't quite grasp the meaning of it all.

When she finally did come awake fully, the first thing she saw was dim sunlight shining through the clouds outside her window. Her memories, fuzzy around the edges, came immediately into focus when she saw Martene across the room, deep into a stack of books.

'What are you doing here?' she wanted to yell. But all that came out was a croak. Martene looked up and smiled.

"Welcome back."

Jessie was in no mood to be civil. "Where's Charles?" she whispered.

Martene sat down her book. "He stepped out for awhile to freshen up and eat. You've been out for awhile, and he hasn't left your side once. So, I finally talked him into taking a break." She walked to the door and motioned for the nurse, then returned to Jessie's side.

"You're not going to smother me with a pillow, are you?" Her voice was stronger.

Martene's laughter was catching, and Jessie found herself managing a small smile as well. "I'm glad you bring that up. I wanted you to know that Charles had nothing to do with that episode in his office. I threw myself at him, unaware that he was now married."

It seemed like such a long time ago. Jessie tried to reach up and rub her eyes, but the machines she was hooked up to held her arms at bay.

"He told me. After I was rescued. I think." Jessie reached for the remote that controlled the bed and started to push the button to elevate her head. Martene stopped her before she could raise it too much. "Now, now, Jess. You don't want the bleeding to start again." Martene reached around her and start fluffing pillows.

Bleeding? I wasn't shot. Was I?

The baby!

"Did I . . .? What happened . . .? What about . . ." She was almost afraid to ask.

Martene touched her cheek. "Oh, honey, the baby's fine. Just a little scare, that's all. Once they got some fluid in you, everything perked right up. But, you'll have to be careful."

Jessie felt a tear run down her cheek.

"Can I get you anything?"

"Yes. Charles."

Martene chuckled. "I'm working on that. They're paging him right now. What about something to eat?"

Actually, food sounded pretty good. For the first time in several weeks, she could think about eating and not fight nausea.

"That would be great!"

************************************

Charles knew he shouldn't have, but the couch in his office looked so inviting. He had finished with his shower and was looking for a clean pair of socks in his office. Instead, he stretched out on the couch, telling himself it was just for a few minutes.

Before he realized it, a nurse was shaking his arm. "Dr. Winchester? Dr. Winchester?"

"What?" he mumbled, his mind jumbled.

"We've been paging you for 20 minutes!"

"For God sakes, why?" Then, it hit him. He stood up so fast that the poor nurse seemed startled.

"It's . . . your wife."

"My God, is everything OK?" He started hunting for his shoes, finally finding them under his desk. Without waiting for an answer, he rushed from the room.

Why, oh why did I leave her? What happened while I was gone?

When he finally made it to the correct floor – damn those slow elevators! – he dashed down the hallway, bursting through the door to her room.

He almost wept with relief when he saw her, propped up by mounds of pillows. And eating, too! She was laughing softly at something Martene had said, a sandwich in one hand and a drink in the other. Startled at his abrupt entrance, she immediately sat down her food.

"Where have you been?" she asked softly. "They've been paging you for . . ."

"I fell asleep in my office." He closed the distance between them. "I wanted to be here when you woke up. I'm sorry I wasn't. Actually . . ." he took a deep breath. "There's so much to apologize for. He reached out and smoothed her hair from her face.

Jessie reached for him, and he wrapped his arms around her carefully, not daring to hold her as hard as he wanted.

"I love you. You're going to be a father."

The tears started to fall in earnest, and he buried his face in her hair. "I . . . I know. I hope I'm ready for it."

"You'll be a wonderful father."

Neither one of them noticed Martene leave, softly shutting the door behind her.

********************************

It is done. There is no more. Say goodnight, Gracie. And, see, that wasn't so bad, after all? However, I will start posting a crossover fic soon. Dukes of Hazzard believe it or not. It'll pick up something like 20 years after this, but focus more on one of their children (out of 4).

I know I led you on at first and everyone thought Radar would win in the end. And it started it out with that in mind. I swear! But, I kept drifting in the other direction. You know how it goes. It seems to take a life of its own after a certain point.

And because I promised and because all of you have been so wonderfully kind and awesome and stuff like that, I'll post my alternate ending to this tomorrow. Probably will be in a slight rough format, but hey, if it'll make the masses happy, it's worth it. Once again, thanks for reading! - tonygirl