CH 5

Patrick wasn't sure how long he had been asleep before Felix tapped him on his shoulder. He couldn't even believe he was able to fall asleep. Clearly the previous night's events had taken a physical and emotional toll on him. His eyes adjusted to the light as he looked up at Felix. And then back at Sabrina. Still unconscious in her hospital bed.

"How's our girl?" Felix asked walking to the other side of the bed.

"No change." He replied rubbing his eyes. Trying to rub away the flashes of memory of everything that had transpired the night before. He didn't know how to process any of it. How close he came to losing everything that mattered to him. He wanted it all to be a horrible nightmare. But it wasn't. Sabrina still hadn't opened her eyes.

"What about her scans? I thought they came back good" Felix questioned, breaking Patrick away from his nightmares.

"Yeah. I mean, her PET scan came back good. She has full brain function. She was even breathing on her own. She just inhaled so much carbon monoxide, Felix. We're keeping her on oxygen and checking her vitals every hour until she wakes up….. If she wakes up."

"Hey" Felix snapped. "She's going to wake up, Patrick. I know she is. She's gone through entirely too much to get the life she wanted just to leave it now. We have to keep faith."

"I know. I just…." Patrick's voice began to crack "I feel so helpless, ya know? I'm a doctor and I feel like there's nothing I can do to help her. And I hate it. All I want to do is trade places with her."

"Me too" Felix said quietly as he grabbed Sabrina's hand. She was more than just his best friend. She was more family to him than his own family had been in years. They had shared each other's inner most thoughts. Their hopes, dreams and secrets. She was the person he loved bickering with, gossiping with, crying with, laughing with. She had to wake up. "How's Emma?" He asked

"Physically, Emma is fine. Anna said they had her on oxygen for a little bit when they made it to the ER, but that was it. She only had trace amounts of carbon monoxide in her system. If Sabrina hadn't…" The tears started again as Patrick reflected on Sabrina's sacrifice for his daughter. "She saved her life, Felix. No questions asked. She fought like hell to save my little girl without any regard to herself."

"Yeah that sounds like our girl" Felix smiled

"Anna and Duke called last night. Emma couldn't sleep. They said she kept waking up screaming for Sabrina. Begging for them to save her. They told her Sabrina was in the hospital but I don't think they told her how serious it is. What am I going to do, Felix? What if…." Patrick's voice trailed off. "How am I going to tell her she's lost another mother?"

"You're not" Felix said walking around the bed and pulling Patrick into a hug. "We are not going to lose her. She's stubborn as hell and has way too much to live for. She's a fighter, Patrick. I think she proved that last night."

"Yeah" Patrick sighed, wiping away tears. "You're right."

"I know I am. Now you on the other hand, need to get it together. We can't have our girl waking up this scruffy, war torn face. Plus, you kind of smell like a Louisiana Bayou. No offense"

Patrick chuckled. "None taken." That was the first time he had smiled in over 24 hours.

"If you want to run down to the locker to shower and shave, I would be happy to keep post at her bedside." Felix offered.

Patrick looked back and Sabrina lovingly. "I don't want to leave her." He whispered "Plus Anna said they haven't found Britt's mother yet. Who's to say they won't try to finish the job?"

"Well I can assure you that The Britch is in no position to come after Sabrina right now" Felix said rolling his eyes.

"Why's that?" Patrick asked.

"Well while you were off on an adventure to find your family, Lulu and Dante stormed into the hospital last night to claim theirs. Oh it was epic, honey. I thought for sure Det. Falconeri was going to strangle Dr. Westbitch with his bare hands. But alas, he could not. Not with her being preggers with their kid and all. Yep. Things reached a fever pitch. The only reason I didn't leave to make popcorn was because I didn't want to miss anything."

"Wow. That bad, huh?"

"Chile, yes. They laid into her so hard, the girls water broke." Felix smirked as he hopped up on the windowsill to sit.

"Wait, what?" Patrick asked shocked.

"That's right. I think she's still in recovery. Bouncing baby boy Falconeri is in the nursery. I heard there's still some legal wrangling's and all that they have to deal with, but the Britch's goose is definitely cooked." Felix delighted in Britt's downfall.

"Wow" Patrick said quietly. The baby he thought was his for the last 7 months was here and yet gone at the same time. He was happy that Dante and Lulu finally got their child, but he couldn't help feeling like he had lost his. He never wanted to have to deal with Britt for the rest of his life. That was a fact. But somewhere along the way, he had gotten used to the idea of being a Dad again. And if he was to be honest with himself, he was even beginning to look forward to it. But now it was gone. He shook off the thoughts of regret and returned his attention to the present. "Well I'm glad everything worked out for Dante and Lulu. I know how much they wanted a baby. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around Maxie's involvement in all of this."

"Speaking of…" Felix began "You're never going to believe this. But baby girl Spinelli was born last night too."

"You're kidding me." Patrick said already exhausted by the previous story.

"Yep. They're here now, as well."

"What do you mean, now?"

"Oh, Maxie didn't give birth at the hospital. I'm not sure where she gave birth, actually. I haven't been in the break room to get that tad bit of gossip yet. But trust me, I will."

"Man… " Patrick sighed "The things that go on in this city."

"Tell me about it. Now, about that shower and shave, Dr. Drake." Felix joked

Patrick smiled again. He realized why Sabrina loved Felix so much. And he was happy he was in her life. And in his. "Ok ok. If her eyes as much as flutter, you come find me ok?" Patrick said sternly.

"Yes sir. I promise. I'll watch her like a hawk"

Patrick went over to kiss Sabrina on the forehead. Before he could turn around to leave, there was a knock at the door. Anna opened the door slowly. "May I come in?" She asked.

"Of course" Patrick replied. "Is everything ok?"

"Please tell me your here to tell us you've found Britt's freak show of a mother?" Felix chimed in.

"Unfortunately, no we haven't. But we haven't stopped looking either. I have my men all over the hospital. With Britt having just given birth, we figured her mother may try to reach out to her here. Plus I wanted to make sure she didn't get anywhere near Sabrina again." Anna looked over Patrick's shoulder to Sabrina. "Still no change?"

"Not yet" Patrick replied. "But we have faith"

"That's right" Felix added.

"Listen, Patrick." Anna began "I know you think you're doing what's best by keeping all of this from Emma, but the not knowing is freaking her out even more than she already is. She begged me and Duke to bring her to the hospital so she could see her."

"She's here?" Patrick asked

"Yes. She's out in the hall way with Duke. If you want us to take her back to our suite, we will. But I think you need to talk to her first."

"No. You're right. The thing I love the most about Sabrina and Emma's relationship is that she treats her like a young lady. Not like a little kid. She knows what Emma can handle better than I do sometimes." Patrick looked back at Sabrina "You can bring her in."

"Ok. I'll be right back." Anna turned around to leave the room.

"You sure about this?" Felix asked.

"No" Patrick replied. "But if she won't wake up for me, I know she'll wake up for Emma."

"Daddy!" Emma squealed as she ran into the room and into her father's arms.

"Hey baby. How're you doing?" Patrick said lifting her up.

"I'm ok. Is Sabrina still sick?" She asked

"Yeah baby. She's still a little sick."

"Can you give her some medicine so she gets better?"

"We are giving her medicine. She's just hasn't woken up yet"

"Is she going to go to heaven like Mommy?"

Patrick looked at Anna with pain in his eyes. "I don't know, baby. I don't know" He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Do you want to talk to her?" Emma shook her head yes. Patrick carried Emma over to the edge of Sabrina's hospital bed and sat her down. At first Emma didn't know what to make of what was happening. To her it just looked like Sabrina was sleeping. She grabbed her hand.

"Sabrina. It's me, Emma." She said in her tiny voice. "You have to wake up now. Daddy is scared. He won't say it but I can tell." Patrick turned away to hide his tears. "You promised everything would be ok. You never break a promise." Emma went silent for about a minute as everyone else in the room fought back tears. Emma scooted up on the bed and kissed Sabrina on the cheek. "I love you." She whispered in her ear.

"Ok" Patrick said trying to swallow the despair in his voice. "I think we should let her rest now, baby." Before he could pick Emma up again she gasped. "Emma, what's wrong?" He asked

"She's holding my hand, daddy" She said excitedly.

Patrick looked down at Emma's hand in Sabrina's. Then back at her face. "Sabrina? Can you hear me? Open your eyes for me, baby. Please" he begged. After a few moments of no response, Patrick was starting to believe that maybe it was just in Emma's head. Or maybe Sabrina was having a spasm. She looked just as far away from him now as she did an hour ago. Just as silent. Just as still. He wanted nothing more than for it to be true. For her to come back to them so they could finally start their lives together. As a family. So much of their relationship had been focused on all the outside forces that were trying to tear them apart. They finally had a chance to happy without interference. He finally had a chance to show her how much he loved her. He was more in love with her than he had ever been able to express. The funny thing to him was that he wasn't even sure when that happened. He had fallen in love with her well before she was brave enough to tell him her feelings for him. Well before his realization and long before the Nurses Ball. How is that possible? He thought to himself. How do you fall in love with a person while you're not even paying attention? While contemplating that answer, his love in question moaned. Did he imagine it? No. He did not. His friend. His love. His corazón had returned. His eyes met with hers.

"Hi." He whispered.