Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, Hayden Avery, Snowflake Fairy, YazminXD and Milarion Fairy Lover! I'm so happy to hear that several of you've crossed over from Tinkerbelle fanfic to follow me on B&B! :) X

She hated hospitals. The doctors whirled her from one test to another while Trudy had to remain in the waiting room. Nerves kept her from thinking too much about Mr. Port; other than desperately wishing he'd show up. His calm, in-control demeanor would make everything less frightening. It was hours later when the results came back and she was admitted for overnight observation.

Trudy came shooting into the room in her coat and dragging the wheeled suitcase, which bounced and stumbled behind her to keep up. "Flip me over and call me done, they're telling me nothing. I was about ready for them to say you'd met Jesus, don'tcha know." She rushed over to the bed and engulfed her in a hug.

She held Trudy tight and swallowed back tears of relief to have someone here. "The doctor just left. He said I have to stay the night because there is slight brain swelling in one spot-"

"Wait." Trudy pulled back, dug a cellphone out of her pocket and started dialing. "Would you tell Mr. Port and I'll listen? He's had me calling hourly. Sometimes I get a signal for a couple minutes."

She nodded.

"Mr. Port, they finished the tests. Here she is." Trudy handed her the phone.

"Hi." She suddenly felt embarrassed and glanced at Trudy, who smiled encouragingly.

"Hello. Are you alright?" He sounded a hint anxious. It seemed odd to think he could worry about anything; he seemed so cool and composed, like even the end of the world wouldn't faze him.

"Yeah, it's just some whiplash and a bruised shoulder. There might be a small ankle fracture."

"And the concussion?"

She nibbled her lip and glanced at Trudy, who looked concerned. "Did you by chance grab my purse out of the car?"

"Getting you out unbalanced your car enough that it went over the cliff. You nearly went with it."

She rubbed her eyes. There went any chance of selling it for parts to buy another car. Lovely.

"The roads are still too hazardous for anyone to find and steal your purse," he continued, sounding impatient. "What did they say about your head?"

Nibbling her lip, she hesitated.

"Emma, I'll ask Trudy if you won't tell me," he said gently.

She swallowed hard. "I have to stay for overnight observation. There's a little brain swelling in one spot. He said it's a contusion...?"

"A bruise on the brain. I had one myself once. How bad is it? What are they doing for treatment?"

Wrapping an arm around herself, frightened tears surfaced. She felt so overwhelmed and scared. Mom and Dad would worry, thereby make her worry more. But instinct said he would quietly and proactively take control of the situation and make her fears melt away. "They're watching it to see if it worsens. He said surgery is the worst case." Her voice cracked. She wanted him here. Then she handed the phone to Trudy, not hearing what he replied.

Trudy set a hand over hers and spoke into the phone. "I think she's done talking...Yes, I think that would help..." She lowered the phone for a moment. "He asked if he may speak to the doctor."

She nodded and brushed at her eyes.

"Yes, sir...Alright, I'll tell her..." She looked at the phone in confusion. "Mr. Port?" Then she hung up and looked at her. "Lost the signal. He said you'll have to sign your consent. I'll go get the papers from a nurse. He also said to see if you can reach your parents." Trudy pulled out some kind of credit card from her purse and dialed on the patient landline phone beside the bed before handing over the phone. "Here. Just dial their number."

Her mouth dropped open for a moment. "I can't. It's long distance. Paying by the minute is too expensive."

Trudy took her hand and pressed the phone into it, wrapping her fingers around the phone. A soft smile touched her lips. "He insisted. Don'tcha get me in trouble for not followin' orders." Then she left to find a nurse.

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she dialed.

"Hello?"

"Mama?" The tears returned hearing Mom's soft voice.

"Emma? Baby, where are you? We've been calling and calling you. Peter, it's Emma," she said to Emma's father. "I'm putting you on speaker."

"Emma, what happened? Are you alright?" her dad asked, his voice colored with worry. "I heard a snowstorm suddenly hit out there."

She covered her mouth and took a shakey breath. Crying would make them more worried. "I'm okay. I had a car accident-"

"What?! Oh my god, are you hurt?" her mother asked.

"I'm okay. Just a little bruised. I got knocked out, so I'm just in the hospital overnight for observation. A passerby saw my car and got me out before the car went over the cliff. I can't...I don't have a car to make it home for Christmas."

"We're coming, baby. Peter, go sell the bonds at the bank and get plane tickets."

"No, Mom, I'm okay. Besides, the storm is going pretty hard yet."

"Yeah, Becky, all the airports are shut down out there," her dad said.

"I'm okay. The housekeeper of the man who found me is staying here. She's very sweet."

"What man?" her father pounced, sounding protective.

"A stranger, but he's been very kind. He and his housekeeper have been taking care of me at his home, and he flew me in a helicopter to the hospital when there was a break in the storm."

"What?! You stay there. We'll figure out a way there. Don't you go back to a stranger's house. He could be a psycho killer," her mom panicked.

"Becky, calm down. What's his name?"

"Jason Port."

"What's his address and phone number?" he asked.

"I don't know. He doesn't have a landline, and the cell reception is bad with the storm. His house is in the the mountains."

Trudy walked back in with a paper.

She covered the mouthpiece. "Trudy, my parents are a little freaked out and asking for Mr. Port's address and number."

"Of course." Trudy rattled off the information.

"Trudy, his housekeeper, is back. Here's his info, Dad." She repeated it.

"You call three times a day, alright?" her mother demanded.

Her lip quivered. "OK, Mama."

"Baby, are you sure you're okay? You only call me 'Mama' when you're upset."

"No, I'm good."

"What hospital are you at?" her dad asked.

When she finally hung up, she burst into tears.

Trudy sat on the edge of the bed and held her tight. "It'll be alright. Shhhh." Her hand stroked up and down the back of the hospital gown.

She found some measure of comfort from Trudy and soon fell asleep from exhaustion for a couple hours.

Trudy, not surprisingly, had a hodge podge of items in her purse, including cards. They played several games and had dinner. Trudy worked hard to distract her, but the nurses coming in every hour made it harder and harder to put on a brave face. She watched a terrible soap opera on TV with Trudy but fell asleep before the show finished. It was then that Mr. Port came to her in her dreams.

Someone was watching her sleep that night. She opened her eyes. The only light that leaked in came from the hall through the door cracked open. A black figure sat in a chair beside the bed, and Trudy was nowhere in sight. She gasped, shooting up in bed in the dark room. Her heart shot in her throat. Fear wrapped it's boney fingers around her neck, making it hard to breathe.

"It's only me, Emma," a deep timber said quietly.

She sighed in profound relief...and then her heart took off for a different reason.

It was Mr. Port.