Disclaimer: I still don't own anything!

Holding Ruthie in his arms like he was allowed all sense of fear to slip away. Having her this close had brought on a sense of calm that released a tense sight. She was right. Behind those doors was a team of well trained doctors who would only do what was best for his little boy.

"Thank you Ruthie," he told her loosening his grip. She had to bite back a groan of protest when she could no longer feel Martin's arms around her. As quickly as it had come she just as soon banished such an idea. No stop it! Don't start thinking like that. What would T-Bone think? She cared too much for him to hurt him in this way. Still she couldn't stop the sadness that surfaced. She could never have Martin. Not in the way she truly wanted.

"I'm always here Martin," she assured him running a hand soothingly along his arm. The warmth that the friction had created made them both gasp. They both found themselves starring directly at each other. Just as quickly she swiped her hand away suddenly finding the pattern on the floor strangely fascinating her cheeks flaming in embarrassment.

She couldn't do this to herself again. She wouldn't be able to handle it if she again allowed herself to hope again only to have them come crashing down when rejection came.

"Sorry," she mumbled unable to look him in the eye.

"Why?" he asked confusion clouding his eyes. When he took hold of her hand again she still refused to look up. She knew if she did she could never look away. Those guard rails on her heart she worked so heard to put up would crumble leaving her newly vulnerable. That's why she had T-Bone. He'd never dream of hurting her. T-Bone she thought Where was he? He would have called her by now.

"Aaron Brewer," they heard. The two instantly looked up. Out of the corner of her eye Ruthie could still see hints of worry. She gave his and a small squeeze rubbing his hand softly.

"How is he?" he asked with a sigh.

"He's going to be just fine Martin," Sarah said with a smile handing a smiling little boy into his father's waiting arms. Ruthie smiled as she saw Aaron snuggle comfortably against him. "He just needed an anti-histamine. He should be good as new in a little bit.

"Thank you Sarah," Ruthie said gratefully while going in for one last hug, Her sister-in-law only grinned returning the embrace.

"I'm just glad the little guy's okay."

"Do Mom and Dad know you two are back yet?" Ruthie asked. Sarah shook her head with a laugh. "No one was supposed to find out until tomorrow when we all went to church." Ruthie smirked at the familiarity of falling into her usual role as the famous secret keeper.

"This should be fun," she said. Suddenly she felt her vision begin to blur as she swayed backwards. Luckily Sarah caught her before she hit the ground.

"You okay?' she asked sitting Ruthie in an open chair behind her.

"Yeah I think I just need some sleep. Someone had us up before 7 this morning," she said glaring good-naturally at Aaron who stirred in his father's arms. "Why couldn't you just stake after your daddy and sleep in until noon, huh?" she asked tickling his foot softly. He replied with a toothless smile extending his arms out to her. Ruthie chuckled shaking her head slightly while taking him. He gurgled followed by a sigh as he placed his head right above her heart.

"Just like your daddy aren't you? The Brewer charm didn't get him everything you know."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" he pouted.

"What do you think it means?" she asked him with a smirk.

"Auntie Ruthie's mean little man, isn't she?" he whispered. The younger Brewer shifted his eyes in his dad's direction. Ruthie almost laughed out loud when his little face contorted in confusion. His eyes opened wide, his forehead wrinkling in shock. A look that read "Are you nuts?"

"Doesn't look like he shares your feelings," she laughed hugging him close.

"Traitor," he mumbled. I could never get away with that. I can still feel the pillows you threw at me when I made the mistake of disturbing your "beauty sleep" Not that you need any when you already are he thought.

"Oh I'm sorry," she said mockingly.

"You should be," he grumbled.

"You know what I think Aaron? I don't think Daddy can accept the fact that he's not as cute and adorable as you are," she whispered. The little boy looked over at him and smiled. See she thinks I'm cute.

"If that's the game you wanna play then how do you think he got so cute?"

"I think it skipped a generation."

"Oh Ruthie that hurt! Right here," he said placing his hand dramatically over his heart.

"Big ego much," she laughed.

"But that's why you love me so much," Martin whispered right in her ear smugly. Only one of the many she thought. The silence that fell over them (Ruthie was now using Martin's shoulder as a pillow) was shaken when the ER doors swung open joined by numerous voices shouting medical terms left and right.

"Auto victim. 17 years old looks to have suffered severe head trauma. BP dropped to 100 over 60. the high volume had sent the little boy in her arms into hysterics.

"Shh sweetie it's okay," Ruthie whispered bounding him gently. As the gurney slid by she noticed a familiar head of black curly hair. Ruthie was up in a second handing the baby over before making a run for the hospital bed.

"Ruthie!" she heard Martin call after her. He saw Sarah stop her just as she had done to him earlier. He saw the two exchange a few words before they made their way back.

"I have a right to see him!" she growled. "He's my boyfriend!"

"I'm sure they'll let you know his condition when he's stable,' Sarah soothed. Martin felt his heart rip just a fraction when she addressed T-Bone like that. "Why don't you sit tight for a bit and I'll come get you," Sarah reasoned.

"I don't want to sit!" Martin got up taking her arm gently.

"Come sit Roo. You're dead on your feet. You need some rest," he said softly. Had she the strength Ruthie would have fought his hold on her. As things were she could barely find enough to stand. Reluctantly she allowed him to direct her back to their seat. "Thanks" he whispered over her head. The young nurse nodded taking her post behind the desk.

Martin sat placing her on his other leg allowing her to cry quietly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his son's lip begin to quiver. His small fist reaching out to her. "Not now buddy. Give Auntie a minute," he whispered taking his small hand and pulling it away gently.

"This is all my fault!" Ruthie cried. She could faintly feel him massaging her back rhythmically.

"No it's not Roo. You couldn't have predicted what just happened," he whispered soothingly.

"I could have stopped it!" she cried. He could now feel his shirt soaking with tears. Tears he wanted so badly to prevent. He couldn't stand the sight of her in any kind of pain. If anyone should win the blame game it would be him. But now was not the time nor the place.

"No hon you couldn't have. Nobody's psychic. It doesn't matter how amazing you are. You can't be super woman," he told her carefully, dropping a light kiss on her forehead.

"I got angry and left him standing there. Now thanks to me he could be dead!"

"Hey I don't want you thinking like that okay? He's gonna be just fine," he assured her.

"You don't even like him. Why do you care?" she sniffled. She had a point. Martin didn't like him. No one was good enough for her. At least that was his own selfish opinion. No guy would ever be good enough. Not even himself.

"Because you do," he said honestly. Ruthie's puffy red eyes looked up in surprise. She could only hug him as silent tears pooled in her eyes. "Everything happens for a reason," he whispered. Ruthie smiled half heartedly while whipping her eyes quickly. Martin ran his thumb gently over her cheek. She smiled when she saw the little boy reach over and run his chubby hands along the coutures of her face.

"Thank you sweetheart," she whispered kissing his small hand as it wrapped around her finger. The both looked up when they heard footsteps approaching.

"Doctors say he's unconscious at the moment with a couple of broken ribs and a leg but he should be fine," they heard Sarah tell them.

"Can I see him?" Ruthie asked. She nodded sadly taking her hand as she rose from Martin's lap. Before she left she felt him give her hand a reassuring squeeze which she returned.

It really should be his next of kin," she said.

"I don't think he has one," Ruthie whispered.

"Does he not have family we could notify?"

"No," she sighed. It wasn't a complete lie. They could be notified. It didn't mean they would be bothered to show up. Her parents would be the only ones truly concerned.

"Just Mom and Dad," she finally said.

"I'll have someone call them," she said giving Ruthie's shoulder a squeeze. "I will warn you that doctors have him on a number of machines to monitor him." You're not gonna be able to recognize him right away but don't freak out when you get in there. You're not even supposed to be back here but I convinced them to give you ten minutes."

"Thank you so much Sarah," she said. She had been saying that a lot tonight but thank you was all she found herself capable of.

"Your welcome," she whispered. "Love you," she said before closing the door softly behind her. Ruthie didn't hear her though. She could barely register the door being closed. After a few minutes she carefully advanced to the bed. She felt her heart catch in her throat. She had never seen so many monitors in her life. She could feel her legs shake under her but regained her balance enough to get over to him. She gasped when she took in each and every monitor, it's wires working to keep him alive.

Ruthie carefully sat in the vacant chair. Said chair wasn't as comfortable as Martin's lap but it would have to do. Carefully she took T-Bone's cold, pale hand in hers. Rubbing it gently she could feel new tears.

"T-Bone come on you gotta wake up for me T. I miss you…" she said through sniffles. She didn't know how long she sat there, her head in her hands before she felt movement under her. Hearing a slight moan her head shot up.

"Tiffany..." Ruthie suddenly felt her heart crumble into a million pieces another girl. He had just reached consciousness and the name of another girl had just passed his lips.

"Who's Tiffany?" In the distance she could hear the click of heals approaching.

"That would be me." Ruthie spun around quickly taking in the woman in front of her. She felt her jaw drop in surprise.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Tiffany Johnson Theo's girlfriend."

A/N: So sorry for the delay guys. Let me know how this one went!