A/N: Again, thanks for the comments… you see, I'm really trying my best here to update more often now, and I hope, I can keep up with it to update at least every few days. I've got a bit more time on my hands at the moment, so let's just use it, right? ;-)

We hope, you'll like Chapter 65! Enjoy!

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Mark Sloan POV:

Mark couldn't believe that this was his life. That all of this was really happening to him. That he was now sitting in a hospital corridor, waiting for Owen and the others to fix Jackson enough so he could finally see him.

24 hours ago he had thought his life could become better again, after everything he had been through, and now it was worse than ever before. He had thought he did the right thing when he had decided - together with Alex and the others - to do this intervention with Jackson.

He wasn't a naive guy, but in this case he had been naive enough to think everything would be okay afterwards. That they could make Jackson see that there were people who cared for him. People who loved him.

Obviously that didn't mean anything to Jackson anymore. Obviously his addiction to the drugs was way stronger than Mark expected it to be. Stronger than Jackson's and his love.

How stupid had he been for thinking that all it needed for Jackson to get better was knowing that people still cared for him? He couldn't believe that he really fell for something like that. He should have been wiser, and now he had Jackson laying in a hospital bed fighting for his life, and he could do nothing.

Had he let him go, he could be okay now.

All of a sudden a cup of coffee appeared in front of his face and he looked up. He was rather surprised to see Tyler standing in front of him, and for a moment there he didn't even know how to react.

"Come on, take it. I promise, it's not poisoned." Tyler said, and Mark tilted his head.

"I didn't think it was," he replied, grabbing the cup and watching Tyler sit down next to him. "Thanks..."

"You're welcome," Tyler said, taking a sip of his own coffee, while Mark watched him.

He still didn't know what to think about him, since everything he knew about him were the things Jackson or Alex had told him. And the things he had seen with his own eyes.

He did believe that Jackson meant a lot to Tyler, but Mark wasn't sure if that was all. If he didn't secretly plan on getting back together with him. On the other hand, he had seen the way Tyler looked at Lewis and he couldn't imagine that Tyler would hurt Lewis like that. Not really.

But obviously the other way round.

Lewis was an egoistic bastard, in Mark's eyes, and he did everything how it was best for him.

Sleeping with Tyler while he was still with Alex, and now going away with Alex while Tyler needed him. Mark had to admit, he felt kind of sorry for Tyler, even though he didn't want to. But he knew how it felt to be the one left out.

"You think he's gonna get back together with Alex?" he asked into the silence, causing Tyler to stare at him in shock.

"What? No!" Tyler blurted out, but the way his hands were clinging to his cup showed Mark that this was exactly what Tyler feared.

"He loves me... we... not that this is any of your business, but we... we want to give this another shot."

"Really? Then why is he with Alex instead of being here? Instead of being by his brother's side?" Mark asked, getting up from his chair. "He said he wanted to make things right with Jackson. He said he loves him and that he wants to proof this to him, and yet he's not here to support Jackson."

"Because Alex needs him, too! April could die, for fuck's sake," Tyler literally jumped from his chair, facing Mark. "This is an impossible situation for him and if he could, he would be there for both of them. Alex and Jackson."

"Why are you still protecting him? After all he did to you?" Mark asked, looking into Tyler's eyes.

"He didn't believe you that you hadn't slept with Jackson back then, because he didn't trust either of you, and he started a relationship with you while he was still sleeping with Alex, and now he even went away with him instead of being there for you and his brother, when even I can see that you would have needed him. That you would have needed his support."

"Stop talking about him like you know him, because you don't" Tyler replied angrily.

"I really wanted to be nice here, because this situation isn't easy for either one of us... but you don't make it very easy, Mark."

"I never said I wanted you to be nice to me. And I definitely don't need another so called friend who goes behind my back the first chance he gets," Mark blurted out. He was more than stressed out and the whole situation was getting to him more than he wanted it to. He knew he needed to be strong for Jackson but it was easier said than done.

"We didn't get behind your back. We all thought it was best for your recovery not to know what was going on," Tyler defended himself.

"Oh yeah?" Mark laughed bitter. "And look how far it got us... Jackson is fighting for his life. If you had told me, I probably could have done something. I could have convinced him to stop using... to go to rehab."

"You think it's that easy, yeah?" Tyler asked sarcastically. "I'm gonna tell you something, Mark, it isn't. I went through this, and you can't even begin to imagine how horrible it was. I helped Jackson through his first detox and it was horrible. He was horrible to me and said things that still hurt me. That still shake me up when I dream about them. And when he was screaming in pain and I couldn't help him, it felt like a part of me was dying."

"I... I didn't know this..." Mark said, and the pain of hearing all of this, mixed with the fear of losing Jackson overwhelmed him.

"Of course you didn't, because you never even bothered to ask... you think you could have stopped him?" Tyler asked. "Because I don't think so... We were together back then and still our love wasn't reason enough for Jackson not to take any drugs..."

"But it's different with us," Mark defended himself. "Even though I think you might be right... Jackson never really trusted me to begin with... or he would have come to me... I'm probably the worst boyfriend someone can imagine..."

"No... I don't think so... and that's not the point..." Tyler let out a sigh, sitting down again. "Jackson has... has been in his brother's shadow for all of his life and everything good was taken away from him... and adding to that, especially his mother always underestimated him and never trusted him to become the great person he is, and so he didn't believe it himself anymore at some point."

"He was happy with me, and I always believed in him. And I made him believe in himself, too" Mark said, remembering the times when he started working with Jackson.

"Unlike others here, I have seen so much more in him than just a pretty face, and I literally forced him to bring out that side... Because I knew he could become someone great. I knew he could grow and shine."

Emptying his coffee cup he threw it in the next trash can, before facing Tyler again.

"We were good, until Michael and Lewis came along and then everything went downhill. Lewis must really hate his brother to literally destroy his life."

"He made a mistake," Tyler replied, and it took a lot of him, not to shout at him again. He couldn't believe how Tyler could defend him like that when he knew what Lewis was capable of.

"A mistake? Call it whatever you want, but Jackson's accident... all of this... it's on him... it's Lewis' fault. Without him reappearing in his life, Jackson and I could be happy right now," Mark said.

He could and would have said so much more, if Owen had not appeared right that moment.

Immediately, both men were on their feet and facing the chief of surgery.

"How is he?" Mark asked, the fear obvious in his face.

"He's stabile... for now... but we need to make some medical decisions soon..." Owen informed them.

"What decisions?" Tyler asked, before Mark could voice his questions himself.

"About his further treatment... there is a swelling in his brain and a small bleeding. We have it under control for now, and we could help him with medication, but if the medication doesn't work, he could die... but we have another option..." Owen explained.

"Which one?" Mark blurted out, trying to calm himself down enough to see through this whole situation clearly.

"We can put him into surgery as soon as he's better. He wouldn't survive a surgery like that right now, but in a day or two, when his condition improves, Dr. Holt could..." Owen started only to be interrupted by Mark as soon as he had finished speaking out Michael's name.

"No! Holt is not touching Jackson!" he said, crossing his arms above his chest. "We try with medication, or... or Amelia can operate on him."

"I'm sorry, Mark, but that's not your decision to make... it's Lewis'." Owen replied with a sympathetic look in his eyes.

"What?" Mark felt like he couldn't breathe for a moment. "You can't be serious?"

"I'm sorry, I am. He's the closest relative, he's his brother, and you..."

Again, Mark cut Owen off mid-sentence.

"...and I'm not even his boyfriend... I'm nothing. That's what you wanted to say, right?"

His eyes started burning and if he hadn't thought it could get any worse anymore, he had been proven wrong once again.

"I wouldn't have said it like that, but yes... I'm really sorry, but my hands are tied here." Owen apologized.

"Can I... at least see him?" Mark asked, feeling a slight squeasiness inside of him. It made him sick that of all people Lewis was the one to decide about Jackson's fate and he had to stand by and watch, not being able to do anything about it.

"Sure... but he won't wake up, we put him in a medical induced coma to help his body heal. And he probably won't hear you," Owen informed him.

Mark nodded, passing him by and - after taking a few deep breathes - entering Jackson's room.

He sank down on the chair near the bed and grabbed Jackson's cold hand, holding it in his own. "I'm here, baby... I'm here, and I won't leave you alone..." he whispered, feeling the tears wetting his cheeks.

"You have to fight, okay? For me... you have to come back to me, because I... I can't lose someone else. And I can't live without you..."

Jackson looked so pale and lifeless and it scared Mark to no end. He just wanted this nightmare to be over, so he and Jackson could try to fix things between them. He wanted him back. More than anything in the world.

Tyler Browning POV:

Tyler looked at the way Mark was with Jackson and it left no doubt about how much the man loved him. It practically came off the man in waves and Tyler got it. He had known that feeling going on 7 years now and it was a feeling he would have the rest of his life.

Mark's anger didn't make it okay to say those things about Lewis, though.

Lewis was going through his own personal hell and nobody blamed themselves more for Jackson's condition than he did. Tyler knew for a fact that if Lewis could trade places with his brother he would do it without a second thought.

He didn't need Mark beating him up more. Lewis already hated himself enough for the both of them.

Tyler wanted Lewis by his side, but past all his childish reasons of "Lewis is mine" he knew being with Alex was probably for the best. The man had a real shot of losing the girl he loved and their child. No one should have to go through that kind of pain alone.

Besides, it was just for a couple hours and then Tyler could scoop Lewis up into a hug and just squeeze until the hurt went away, or at least dulled.

"How is he?" Addison asked as she walked up behind Tyler while the man stood in the door frame of Jackson's room watching Mark hold his hand.

"He's not dead" Tyler told her and the remark was supposed to come off as some sort of dark humour, but the fear in his voice squashed that.

"Oh, Tyler" Addison sighed as she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind and laid her chin on his shoulder "at least he's already doing better than he had been when he first arrived"

"I guess so" in truth Addison's words and hug did make him feel somewhat better, but he wanted Jackson back.

His Jackson

The one who made lame jokes and made sure every apology came with a plate of some of the best cooking Tyler had ever eaten.

Hell, he'd even take the Jackson who was nothing but an angry glare and fuck off attitude. He just wanted him up, walking, and here.

The Jackson they had now lay stiff and unmoving. Pale and with a face that looked as if it had been on the wrong end of a boxing match.

"How's April?" Tyler asked and could feel Addison shrug.

"She's in recovery, but I'm going to have to go back in. That girl's a fighter, though and her and the baby are both stabile for now"

Tyler felt so horrible about the whole situation and the worse he felt the angrier he got.

"I could kill whoever was in that other car" Tyler spoke "what are the cops saying?"

"It was an accident, Tyler" Addison said "the other driver is just as distraught as any of us are"

"You know who it is?" Tyler asked as turned to look down at Addison "Who?"

"I can't" Addison told him "things are bad enough as it is"

"Please, Addison" Tyler begged "it's not like I'm going to track the guy down and beat him or anything. I just want to know what happened"

"Even he doesn't know" Addison said "it's all just fragments"

"I'd still like to talk him" Tyler just wanted to get all the information he could. It may not do any kind of good, but it would be something.

Grabbing his hand she pulled Tyler out of the room and down the hall. She stopped once she knew the two were alone.

"You promise me that you won't go and attack him, Tyler" she commanded "and for now you keep it just between us"

"Of course!"

"No, you promise me"

"Okay. I promise" he had never seen her so steadfast before.

'It was Michael"

"Michael who?" Tyler asked instantly and only in her silence did the name finally register.

"Holt!?" Tyler exclaimed "Holt did this" and just like that his whole body was on fire with a rage he hadn't felt since he was a teenager. The kind of rage that nearly gotten some guy beat to death and him an extended stay i foot jail cell.

"You promised me, Tyler" Addison warned "you promised me"

Tyler had and no matter how angry he was Tyler would not discard Addison's trust so willingly. Closing his eyes he willed himself to calm down.

"What happened?"

"He doesn't know" Addison told him "he says it's just these random images, but he can't put them together. I have Sheldon talking to him now...hopefully he can get something"

"Likely story" Tyler said sarcastically "you expect me to believe out of all the people in Seattle it was a coincidence that Michael hits Jackson's car?"

"That's exactly what it was" Addison told him firmly "if you would have seen Michael when he got wheeled in with Jackson you would know he could never do that on purpose"

Tyler looked into Addison's eyes and something there was haunting her.

"Those paramedics say he saved Jackson twice. Once on the scene. Once in the ambulance and when he got here he was bleeding so badly, but he wouldn't let anyone get near Jackson"

"Why?" Tyler asked.

"Something snapped" she responded "it was like he had turned into some kind of animal and protecting Jackson was all he knew how to do. Hell, he even growled at Owen when he tried to get close enough to touch Jackson"

Tyler had to admit that was the last thing he expected to hear. It really threw a wrench in his This was Michael's plan all along theory.

"So what do I do now?" he asked Addison.

"Go and see Lewis and make sure he's okay and then come back down and we can get a late dinner. Something tells me you haven't eaten yet"

She was right and now that she mentioned food his stomach was rumbling for it, but first he would go see Lewis and try to make this night a little better.

He walked up to the room Addison had told him about and peeking in he saw Alex and Lewis sitting by April's bedside. She was unconscious, probably due to the medication, but Alex seemed to be talking to her as if she could hear every word.

Tyler didn't understand how anyone, especially Alex himself, could deny his love for that girl. Yes he loved Lewis and Lewis loved him, but they loved one another as he loved Jackson.

Something that would forever be in his heart and he would give his life for the man if it ever came to it, but Jackson wasn't the reason his heart beat in that first place.

That was all Lewis Avery.

Standing outside the window it had taken a few minutes for Lewis to turn and look at him and leaning over he gave Alex a kiss on the cheek before walking out to greet Tyler.

Tyler didn't let the hurt show on his face.

"Hey" Tyler said once Lewis stood in front of him "how are they doing?"

"April has been out since she came out of surgery, but Addison already said she would have to go back in and it's really taking a toll on Alex" Lewis said.

Turning to look at Alex Tyler nodded his head "It's good he has you here. I'm sorry for how I acted earlier" and he pulled Lewis close to him and as he went in for a kiss Lewis turned away.

"Lewis?"

The man stared at him for a long moment.

"Tyler...we need to talk"

"About what?"

Backing away Lewis folded his arms across his chest "At the apartment me and Alex were talking and-"

Tyler knew what he was going to say immediately. It was evident in the way Lewis refused to look at him and how he hugged himself every time he felt nervous.

"Please" Tyler begged "don't do this, Lewis. You can make it up to Alex some other way, but please don't do this"

"We talked and decided that we really deserve to give it another shot" Lewis was looking down at his shoes "I think it will be good for us"

"Stop it!" Tyler said "stop pretending like this was something you both agreed on"

"It was" Lewis told him as he finally met his gaze "I never gave us a fair shot and I think if I do we can really be something great"

Tyler could already feel tears sting in his eyes "I knew you were going to do this" Tyler told him "I told you the night Alex found out about us that if he came to you and made you choose you would choose him. Not because you love him more, but because you feel you owe him some debt"

"He needs me, Tyler" Lewis said and his own eyes were wet "I'm not going to just walk away when he needs me most"

"What about me, Lewis?" Tyler asked through cracked voice "what am I supposed to do without you?"

"Don't make me feel this way, Tyler" Lewis said "do you think this is easy for me?"

"Good thing you have Alex then, huh?" and he went to turn but Lewis' hand flew out and stopped his movements "please don't hate me"

"How could I?" Tyler asked "but I'm not going to be your fucking cheerleader every time I see you and Karev walking down the halls holding hands pretending like he doesn't want to be with April and you don't want to be with me"

Another dark look crossed Lewis' face "What is it?" Tyler asked.

"Once April and Jackson are better me and Alex are going to leave Seattle" Lewis' voice was small "we need to start fresh"

Tyler felt as if Lewis had just ripped his heart out of his chest and stomped on it until there was nothing left but bloody pieces of myocardial tissue.

"What about Jackson?"

"We're going to ask him to come with us" Lewis told him "and if not I know you and Mark will take better care of him than I ever have"

Tyler had to leave. He couldn't look at Lewis another second. Tears were streaming down his face.

"Fuck you, Lewis. Fuck the both of you" and with that Tyler turned on his heels and stormed down the hall and into the nearest elevator. He shouldn't have let Lewis see him so weak, but right now that was all Tyler was.

A weak man.

Lewis Avery POV:

Lewis felt like he was going to faint any second. His life was falling apart in front of him, in front of his eyes, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

He could and would start a new life with Alex - like he had promised - but he knew already that he would never stop loving Tyler. Let alone stop thinking about him. Tyler would always be in his heart, and he would always be a part of him. But he had to do this. He owed it to Alex.

He had been a terrible boyfriend and Alex deserved better.

Alex actually deserved better than him any day, but since he wanted to be with him, Lewis would take this as a gift and appreciate it. Alex had given him, had given them another chance and he was willing to do anything, everything to be worth this chance.

Still, losing Tyler in the course of it was devastating and Lewis just couldn't stop the tears from falling when he watched Tyler leave him. And the slight panic that was threatening to wash over him.

Calm down, you still have Alex!

The voice in Lewis head was very comforting, almost soothing, and even though it didn't stop the pain it most definitely stopped him from having a mental breakdown right there.

When he turned around to go back into April's room, Alex was standing right in front of him.

Surprised, he jumped a step back.

"Oh my god, you scared me," Lewis breathed out, placing a hand on his chest.

"You are crying," Alex stated. It wasn't even a question, it was a conclusion and Lewis didn't know how to react.

So he just shrugged.

"So?"

"What happened?" Alex wanted to know, looking at him sympathetically, before moving forward and gently wiping away some of Lewis tears.

"Nothing. I'm okay... I mean... I will be, once Jackson is better and we're out of here," he replied weakly. He was so sick of everything right now and he couldn't wait for them to really start over somewhere else.

"I saw Tyler leave... what did you do?" Alex asked, as if the answer wasn't obvious.

"Exactly what you wanted me to do, Alex. What do you think?" Lewis gave back harsher than he intended to do. "But if you think this was easy for me, then I'm sorry, it wasn't... But I stick to my word, and I'm gonna be by your side from now on. I'm yours."

"But you're not happy..." Alex said, and Lewis almost couldn't believe his words.

"Of course I'm not happy, what do you think?" he blurted out. "Tyler is the love of my life and a part of me will always love him, you know? No matter where I am or who I am with, Tyler will always be in my heart..."

He stopped himself before saying anything more, taking a few deep breathes and grabbing Alex' hands.

"But I will be okay again, I promise... We can make this work... You and me... it's gonna be good...We have been happy before and we can be happy again."

"I... I'm sorry, Lewis... I... I can't do this..." Alex replied, taking a step back and looking down.

"Do what?" Lewis asked, feeling a fear inside of him. A fear of losing everything at once.

"Be with you. It's not right." Alex' voice sounded hoarse and Lewis could tell that him saying something like that wasn't easy for him.

"What are you talking about? Of course it's right. I love you," Lewis immediately replied, moving towards Alex again and grabbing his face, placing a soft kiss on his lips. "It's all gonna be okay..."

"No, Lewis. No, it's not, and you know it. You belong to Tyler and I... I belong..." Biting his lips, Alex took a look inside of April's room. "I belong with her... and our daughter... they are my family..."

"Don't..." Lewis blurted out, feeling another well of tears bubble inside of him. "Don't do this to me, please. I did everything you asked me for and now you're breaking up with me?"

"Because we both deserve better. Yes, we could be really happy together, but we could be even happier if we were with the people we're really meant to be with..." Alex replied, trying to grab a hold of Lewis' hand, but he jumped back immediately.

"You can't do that to me..." Lewis cried, feeling as if he was about to faint. It was all too much.

Jackson's accident.

April almost dying.

The Baby.

Tyler and their break-up

And now Alex was breaking up with him too.

Now Alex was leaving him, too, leaving him with no one left. He couldn't even go to his best friend, because he had lost Michael long ago. He was all alone.

"I'm not doing it to you, I'm doing it for you, Lewis. Go to Tyler and tell him it was all a mistake... tell him you did it for me, because I asked you to, tell him it was my fault." Alex' voice pulled Lewis out of his dark thoughts and he looked at him with tears in his eyes.

"Oh yeah? You think it's that easy? I just have to apologize and everything will be fine again?" he asked sarcastically, feeling not only hurt, but also slightly angry.

"He loves you, Lewis. He will understand," Alex tried to comfort him, but it didn't work.

"No, he won't," Lewis disagreed. "Because it doesn't change the fact that I chose you instead of him. That I was willing to give him up to make you happy."

"Lewis, please... I'm trying to do the right thing here," Alex literally begged, but Lewis just brushed him off and turned away.

"Save it. Save it for someone who wants to hear it... I'm so sick of this whole mess... I should have never come here in the first place..."

"Lewis!" Alex said again, but in that very moment Lewis couldn't bear his presence any longer.

"I need some fresh air... please excuse me..."

Without any further word, Lewis made his way to the stairway and literally ran downstairs, until he reached the exit, and he ran outside the hospital, taking a few deep breathes.

Just yesterday he had been happy. Really happy.

The moment he and Tyler had started making love had been one of the most perfect moments in his life, and now it was all over.

Things with Tyler were over.

Things with Alex were over as well.

And his brother was fighting for his life.

His little brother was laying inside of the building he was standing in front of, in some hospital bed, and trying to hold on.

He needed to call his mother, let her know that something had happened to Jackson. She needed to get here, needed the chance to say good-bye if it came to the worst.

Taking his phone out of his pocket with shaking fingers, he dialled the number of Catherine Avery, waiting a few seconds, but the call went directly to voicemail.

"Listen Mum... I really wanted to tell you this personally, but I can't reach you... something happened. Something bad. Jackson had been in an accident and he's in a coma. You need to come, because I don't know if..."

His voice started breaking and he tried to fight back the tears, but it wasn't easy.

"...I don't know if he's gonna make it... So please, hurry!" he ended his message and then ended the call, putting his phone back into his pocket.

His mother most likely was going to hate him once she found out what he had done to Jackson, but he deserved it. He deserved nothing better than what he got.

Sinking down on one of the benches, he looked into the night sky, taking a few deep breathes.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." he said more to himself than to anyone else, burying his face in his hands. If he could, he would switch places with Jackson any time, and if he really died, Lewis would never forgive himself. He knew it. He couldn't live with himself if he was responsible for his brother's death, so he did something he hadn't done in forever. He started praying right there, just hoping, that if there really was a god, that he would save Jackson's life.

Tyler Browning POV:

Tyler was on auto pilot as he stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the lobby.

He tried his best not to think about what had just happened. He should have prepared himself for something like this. He could see it in Alex's eyes that even though the man was angry he wasn't one to give up so easily.

A part of him believed that was why he and Alex had a near instant dislike of one another. The two were far too much alike not to be able to see exactly what flaws lay in the other.

Alex wouldn't let Lewis go so easily. If it was Tyler in his place he surely wouldn't have. So he had warned Lewis about not letting his own sickening need for redemption destroy what the two had just rediscovered.

Still, in the end Alex had won and now all Tyler could do was find some dark corner and lick his wounds. They were going to move to some Midwestern state that was filled with cornfields and guys who wore overalls and Alex and Lewis would live out the rest of their lives being just good enough to consider themselves happy.

People like he and Alex were people who could be perfectly content to spend their lives in some farmhouse in a town with a population that barely registered on the census, but men like Lewis needed more.

Lewis would convince himself that he was fulfilled, but in a few years Tyler knew the man's resentment would grow, as would Alex's. Their life would grow and evolve into their golden years spent in chilly silence and waiting for the day when they could both move on.

Either to the retirement home, or to the grave.

If that was the life that Lewis wanted then fuck it. Tyler hoped he choked on it, because he wasn't going to be on his marionette string one second longer. He was free and that pain wasn't going to last forever. Tyler would learn how to be happy again.

Walking into Jackson's room he was surprised to find it empty. He was almost sure Mark would have been sitting there holding the man's hand.

From the second Jackson was allowed visitors Mark had been planted by his bedside and Tyler thought nothing short of a crowbar was going to remove him.

Still, Tyler was thankful to have this time.

Walking up to Jackson he bent down and kissed the man's forehead "Hey Jackson" Tyler said. Pulling up a chair he sat down next to Jackson and ran his hand up the man's arm.

The bruises that aligned Jackson's body were immense and as Tyler took a soft touch to each one he felt a little bit more of his resolve crumble. His arms were black and blue while his face remained puffy and dark.

If Jackson even survived the damage this accident had done internally Tyler was sure a permanent mark would remain somewhere on his body. Something that made him remember this for the rest of his life.

Tyler just wished that life was a long one.

"I know doctors always say that even in a coma patients can still hear what's going on and for the first time I really wished that was true"

Tyler tried not to think about what he would do if Jackson were to actually die. As a doctor he knew it was a possibility, but as a man who loved him so much he just couldn't imagine it.

This was the time he needed Lewis, but the guy was with Karev now and no matter how much Tyler hated it he couldn't change it.

Leaning closer Tyler whispered into Jackson's ear "I need you to wake up, okay?" Tyler said "maybe you can hear this and maybe you can't, but I love you and I'm not sure if I can make it without you. Please, Jackson, just wake up and I'll never ask you for another thing, I swear"

He heard someone clearing their throat and turning around he saw Addison and Mark standing in the doorway. Addison gave him a small smile while Mark looked away awkwardly.

It was not easy knowing that the man he loved was loved by someone else. If anyone knew that it was Tyler.

"I was...seeing how he was doing" Tyler stood up and gave another kiss to Jackson's forehead before walking over to the two.

"If you're not done-" Mark started to say before Tyler waved his hand.

"No" Tyler told him "I'm finished and anything else I have to say can wait until the morning"

"If there is a morning" Mark said and the remark was like a punch to Tyler's stomach.

"Of course there will be" Addison said "that guy is stronger than you think"

"You're right" Mark responded "sorry, it's just with everything going on…"

"I get it" Tyler commented "why don't you go sit with him? Me and Addison have a dinner date anyway"

"That we do" Addison smiled as she grabbed Tyler's hands and once Mark walked over and sat beside Jackson the two made their way to the cafeteria.

They both decided on a sandwich and a bottle of water. The night was going to be long and spending it wired didn't seem like the best idea.

"How's Mark dealing with this?" Tyler asked Addison.

"He's holding it together, but he blames himself" she told him "he keeps thinking he should have seen something before"

Tyler's heart sank for the man. He had been in just that position before; questioning everything he did or said in relationship to Jackson and wondering where he had went wrong.

"He'll come to understand that nothing he could've done would have changed it" Tyler said "this is something Jackson will have to work out on his own"

If he can Tyler thought.

Feeling Addison grab his hand he looked up at the woman's face "He's going to come back to us" she said "I meant it back in that room and I mean it now"

The woman's words gave Tyler an unexpected strength and for the first time that night Tyler could really believe it.

"Thank you"

"Of course" and taking a bite of her sandwich she swallowed it before continuing "how's Lewis?"

Tyler had flinched and he was stupid to think that she wouldn't have noticed "Tyler?"

He could lie to her, but he liked having a friend who was completely honest and expected the same from him.

"He chose Alex"

"What?" her surprise shown in her eyes "Alex?"

"That was my reaction too" Tyler laughed bitterly "Lewis told me the both of them decided to give it another shot. Of course I don't believe that for a second"

"What do you mean?"

"Lewis has a sick need to feel like he has to right the wrongs" Tyler told her "maybe it's his way of making amends for Jackson, I don't know, but this wasn't his decision"

"You think Alex is forcing him?" Addison asked.

"No" Tyler said "I think Alex is scared of being alone and is holding onto Lewis, but in the end it's Lewis who's agreed to it"

"It's only obvious that Alex is in love with April and Lewis is in love with you" Addison told him "I don't get it"

"They're safe with one another" Tyler said "they'll get to spend the rest of their lives in whatever bumfuck town they decide to move to and adopt some kid who will pick up all their disappointments and wind up hating the life they forced on the poor bastard"

"Moving?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you the best part?" Tyler asked "They've decided that once Jackson and April get better they're going to move to another state. Get a fresh start"

Tyler could still hear Lewis' voice in his head "I'm sorry" he said "I know I sound like a pathetic 15 year old and with Jackson in a coma and April nearly dying my bullshit is the last thing you need to hear"

"Hey" Addison reprimanded "you're my friend and your bullshit is my bullshit so I need to know and I'm sorry. I know this isn't the way you wanted things to end between you two"

Shrugging his shoulders Tyler took a drink of his water "We deal with it and move on, right?"

Tyler just wished it was that easy.

Addison looked as if she was about to speak before her cell phone rang. Taking it out Tyler heard it was Sheldon and after a few seconds the woman's eyes went wide.

"I'll be right there" she said into the phone before hanging up.

"What is it?" Tyler asked.

"Michael" Addison told him "Sheldon says he's starting to remember"