Chapter 8

Author's note: I know flashbacks have been slowly moving forward in time, but this one is different. Also, thank you for being patient. I've had a lot going on and was working on a couple other writing projects also. I have one more chapter planned and an epilogue.

Sorry in advance for any inaccuracies.

Disclaimer: I don't own Switched at Birth

The bed was so comfy. Bay was lying between Emmett's arms. Their hearts were beating in time, their breaths synchronized. Neither was asleep yet. It was much too early for them to really sleep. The sun filtered through the open window. Still, they were content to just lie there, together, with their eyes closed.

Emmett shifted and pressed a gentle kiss against Bay's neck. For all the alone time they spent together, they had really not gotten much farther than making out. But they were okay with that. Bay rolled over to face him. How was it possible that he was real? That he was still here? What kind of guy would have put up with all this?

Flashback:

He knew that they'd agreed to no more illegal activities after the billboard incident, but what was the worst that could happen? And Bay had only wanted to take a look around for some inspiration. Nothing too terrible. Still, Emmett had a bad feeling about it. Maybe he should have said something.

"Come on Emmett. It's just a little father." Bay said. Her hands were full; otherwise she would have also signed. It was something Emmett was used to. He'd gotten pretty good at reading lips over the years, and Bay's lips and her way of talking were very familiar to him.

The old building came into view. Emmett wasn't sure how Bay had found it, but it did seem like something she'd do.

They walked in, well, more like crawled in between wooden boards over the open window.

The space was plain and empty. It really looked a lot cooler from the outside. Bay gestured for him to follow her into the next room. There was a small table in there, where Bay set down what she was holding.

Come here. Bay signed, Thank you. Then hugged him. I know you didn't really want to come, and I'm sure there are a ton of other ways you'd rather spend your Friday night.

There aren't. Because then I wouldn't be with you.

Instead of answering, Bay pulled away from him. He could half make out her muttering, "did you hear that?" Which of course he hadn't. He probably misinterpreted her lips. Either that or Bay was going crazy. The latter was seeming more likely by the second as Bay walked away from him.

She was all the way on the other side of the room when, suddenly, Emmett ccouldn feel the vibrations coming from the ground. It was really intense. The table was almost bouncing.

All at once it was over. Everything was still. Then wham! This huge blast throws him against the wall. It only dazed him for a second. But in that second a lot had happened. The walls all looked like they'd been punched by a giant. He could see a hole in the floor that probably led to the basement. A faint smell of smoke was coming from the hole. If he looked down there, he'd have seen the start of a fire. The orange flames slowly devouring the spare furniture and junk that was left down there and forgotten about.

Then he saw her. Bay was lying against wall. Her head rested in a crack made from the impact. A small stream of blood flowed from a cut on her forehead. Her eyes were closed. It could almost look like she was sleeping. Except for the fact that her head was in a WALL.

Emmett had no idea what to do. What could he do? He couldn't call for help on his phone. One, because it fell out of his pocket when he'd been thrown against the wall and he wasn't sure where it was. Two, because he couldn't hear!

How had the puddle of blood gotten so big? Bay could not have lost that much blood already. The fire in the basement had been getting larger. Emmett saw it licking at the edge of the floorboards near that dang hole. He knew time was running out. He didn't have forever to just sit there and worry. He had to take some sort of action. And soon.

"BAY! BAY! BAY!" Emmett was screaming. He knew it wasn't doing any good. But it was something. At this point he was way past caring about what he sounded like or being embarrassed.

He had no idea how long this went on for. It didn't matter. He kept screaming until his throat was horse. Until he could barely breath because of all the smoke that was now in the room.

Emmett's panic might have ended earlier if he'd been able to hear. He'd have heard the sirens of the speeding fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances. As it was, he didn't know that help was on its way until he caught sight of the flashing lights out of the corner of his eye.

Before the axe could chop through the door, Emmett thought he saw Bay's eyes flutter for a moment. But then they were back to closed. Emmett didn't stop screaming her name until they were pulling him away. Even then, he was still holding onto her hand for as long as possible.

He saw the man's lips moving, but was too distressed to try to figure out what he was saying. He yanked his arm out of the man's grip and tried to sign that he was deaf, but they weren't paying attention. Turning his head, Emmett attempted to see what was going on with Bay, but there were too many people in between them. Please let her be okay. He prayed.

It had been less than a day. Emmett still hadn't left to hospital. He'd finally been about to communicate that he couldn't hear, which made the whole siltation a little less stressful. They took him to the ER in the back of a separate ambulance than Bay was in. He still had no idea how she was. No one would tell him a thing.

The ER had checked him over and bandaged a few cuts he had on his arms and back. Then they gave him something for the pain, which had gone completely unnoticed, with his attention on Bay. Though, it could also have been from the shock.

His mom had shown up early that morning, but he'd still been sitting by himself for awhile by then. All he could think about was Bay. If she wasn't alright, he had no idea what he'd do. What if it was his fault? What if he'd been able to call 911 for help? Maybe those minutes would have made a huge difference.

He knew he shouldn't play the "what if" game. He knew better than a lot of people that playing that that game could only make it worse. He'd done it plenty during his parents' divorce. If it's not in his control, he shouldn't make it his fault.

Melody held him while he cried and told her everything.

It was another hour later when the Kennishes finally rushed in. It probably wouldn't have taken them so long if Emmett had been able to tell them who Bay was and other information. But Emmett was trying to stop blaming himself for everything that's happened since last night, so he didn't dwell on it too long, or tried not to.

The waiting room chair was uncomfortable. Emmett hadn't gotten any sleep for almost twenty four hours. He was exhausted. But whenever he closed his eyes all he could see was Bay lying helpless on the ground. And he knew he couldn't sleep until he knew how she was.

So, he didn't sleep. He did the best he could not to think about all the what ifs, though he was sort of failing.

It was approaching daylight when Daphne came out.

Stop blaming yourself. They'd known each other for over half their lives, and Daphne knew exactly what was going through Emmett's head. She sat as close as she could and held on to his hand. She was just there. And that's what Emmett needed.

None of them could hear the "Code Blue" blaring from the speakers. But they saw people rushing out. Emmett squeezed on Daphne's hand harder. She could see all the pain and worry in his eyes.

Daphne excused herself to go find out what happened.

When she came back, he told him that Bay was still unconscious and that her heart had stopped beating for a moment. Everything was fine for right now though.

Emmett let out a sigh of relief.

By noon Emmett was starving. How long had it been since he'd last eaten? Add to the fact that he was a teenage boy, who was always hungry; it was easy to imagine how unhappy his stomach felt. Still, Emmett refused to move. Melody left to get him something from the cafeteria. He didn't eat much of it though. Just nibbled on the edges.

It was the next day when they finally let Emmett see Bay. He looked so small lying on the hospital bed, wires and tubes were everywhere. A bandage covered the cut on her forehead and her ankle was wrapped. Daphne said it was sprained from falling. There were also bandages up and down her arms.

He pulled a chair over to beside her bed. And held her hand between his. His fingers lightly stroked it.

He whispered the words "I just want you" over and over again. Maybe she'd hear them and wake up. Because, to the two of them, those four words meant a lot. They were a turning point. When they both woke up a little bit and realized how much they cared about each other. Maybe it hadn't been love yet, but they knew they wanted each other. That meant something. More than something. Everything.

Bay meant everything to him. She changed him.

Throughout the rest of the day, people came and went. Bay's family had spent the majority of yesterday, and as much of today as they could. Emmett wouldn't leave. Wouldn't let go.

By the end of the day, Melody literally dragged him out. He had dark circles under his eyes, which were still red and puffy from crying.

At home he showered and choked down some food. All he wanted to do was be back there. If anything (good or bad) happened, and he wasn't there…Emmett didn't know what he'd do. It wasn't like he could have stayed there all night anyways. There were visiting hours and other rules.

The first thing the next morning, Emmett was back, though. Back to sitting and waiting.

It wasn't until that afternoon that something happened.

Bay's eye lids fluttered, her hand squeezed his back. Slowly, her eyes opened fully and locked him his.

Emmett cried. He kept saying her name until the nurses and doctors came and shooed him out. Maybe she heard him. He knew that Bay wished he'd talk a little more. That "he didn't have to be embarrassed around her." And he wasn't.

End flashback

She remembered a faint buzzing noise. When she'd gone to take a closer look, that's when it happened. There had been no build up. All she can remember from what happened next was the loudest noise she'd ever heard. Maybe it only seemed so loud because that was the last thing she heard. After that, there was a blank. The next thing she remembered was waking up.

The terror that took hold when couldn't hear anything.

Bay moved closer to Emmett. Letting his arms wrap around her protectively.

Her thoughts were still back in the past. She remembered that the doctor was writing everything out for her, just assuming she didn't know any sign language. She remembered how he explained she most likely had Noise Induced Hearing Loss, or NIHL. They hadn't known for sure until after some tests were done. They came back showing that Bay had very little hearing left. The impact of the explosion had basically destroyed her ear drums.

She remembered the looks on her parents' faces when they were told. She remembered how guilty Emmett looked when he came back in.

The sun was setting. Bay tilted her head up and gave Emmett a kiss before resting her head back on his chest.

Author's Note: Again, not sure when the next update will be. Thanks for reading, and please review. I want to know what people thought.