Sawyer watched Johnson speak quietly to Grey and noticed Grey's agitation increase. Sawyer edged closer. He could see Grey's mouth open and close silently. He had a look of desperation in his eyes that was frightening. For a moment, Sawyer wondered if he had suffered a stroke. Then he saw the look in his eyes change from desperate and frustrated to thermonuclear.

Sawyer moved then, shoving Johnson out of the way and ordering him to get Taylor. Ever so gently he turned Grey until his back was up against the wall. Christian grunted and brought up his arms to shove Sawyer away, but at 6'6, it was going to take a lot more than a shove to move Sawyer.

Suddenly Taylor was there. Sawyer gave a sigh of relief. He explained that Grey was having an issue speaking, and was angry and frustrated.

Taylor muttered an angry " Fuck!" And grabbed one arm twisting slightly to make sure he had Grey's attention. Grab his other arm, Luke," he ordered. Then he looked at Grey, eyeball to eyeball. "Listen to me, we are going inside and talk with Ana. This is no time for a pity party. Get your act together. I swear, if you upset her at all, I promise I will break every bone in your body. Understand?" He ground out in a harsh whisper. Grey nodded yes, and then with Taylor on one side and Sawyer on the other, Grey found himself escorted back into Ana's room and seated in a chair beside her bed.

He stared at the floor, unable to meet her eyes, so filled with shame and self loathing. His anger was gone now and replaced with a heavy weariness. He didn't want to hear her say the words, but he knew he didn't have much choice. Some version of I hate you, you ruined my life, I never want to see you again, get out, it was all headed his way. He had promised Taylor he wouldn't upset her. Didn't Taylor realize just looking at him upset her?

Taylor nudged him then and he looked up. Ana must have said something and was waiting for his reply. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at her bewildered.

"Oh, fifty," she sighed and grabbed his hand. "Look at you, you're a mess. You didn't hear a word I said, did you?"

Grey shook his head no, shamefaced.

Taylor told me what happened. I am sorry about Elena. "

Grey's shook no violently from side to side.

"That doesn't mean I am sorry she isn't here to torture us, it means I am sorry that you had to watch your only so called 'friend' die. " Then her hand reached out and gently stroked his cheek. Taylor says you can't speak. You lost your words, didn't you? They'll come back, don't worry. I am really tired now, Christian. I love you, Christian. Won't you please come to bed now and hold me?"

Grey's eyes got wide as saucers. He hesitated. Was this some kind of cruel joke?

"Christian! If you don't get in my bed right now, I will have to ask Taylor. "

Grey hopped into bed with alacrity. Ana smiled wearily and closed her eyes contentedly as he spooned into her back. He buried his face in her hair and sighed, " Ana" ever so softly.

Taylor looked at Luke and nodded and hit the light switch. The room dimmed. Taylor headed for the cot and laid down, if he was lucky, he might get an hour of sleep. Sawyer returned to reading his ebook on his phone. Once everyone but him was asleep, Sawyer went to the door and told Johnson to try and delay the nursing assistant that was doing vital signs. He nodded.

Johnson must have been successful, because it was almost 6:30 am when the aide taking vitals wheeled a sphygmometer into the room. Ana was waiting, alert and awake, with a finger to her lips to hush the aide's protest at seeing Christian in her bed.

"Please, don't say anything. I needed him beside me. We both slept so much better. I feel great." Ana told her with a big grin.

The aide just rolled her eyes and said "I didnt see anything."

After the aide left, Ana looked at Sawyer and said softly, "Luke, thank you."

Unsure what he was being thanked for, Sawyer politely nodded and returned to his book. Grateful that his place was automatically remembered. Voices at the door, brought his head up and Luke watched as Dr Grace entered the room, and unless Luke was very much mistaken, she looked furious.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw Christian still in a deep sleep beside Ana. If anything, the sight seemed to annoy her more. Ana holding a finger to her lips didn't help any either. Grace looked around the room and spotted Taylor on the cot. "Taylor!" She called loudly, completely ignoring Sawyer.

Taylor jumped to his feet, one hand on his gun, looking around in confusion. Seeing Christian's mother, he relaxed, removing his hand from his gun. "Dr Grace," he acknowledged.

"Taylor," Dr Grace started, her voice and manner almost frigid, "You texted me at 4:30 this morning to let me know my son suffered a episode of mutism. Is that correct?"

"Yes, M'am"

"You further stated that approximately fifteen minutes passed before he regained his ability to speak."

"Yes, M'am."

"Finally, you said in your belief, the cause of the mutism was psychological and I shouldn't be concerned. "

"Yes, M'am."

"Have I missed something, Taylor? Did you graduate medical school and not let me know? Trouble speaking is one of the first symptoms of a stroke."

"Mother, I didn't have a stroke. "

Grace spun from Taylor to stare hard at Christian. "Get up. You're having a CT Scan now."

"Mother, this isn't necessary."

"Christian, get up. There is a limited time to give tPA and you are approaching the end of that window. If you did have a mild stroke, tPA can prevent permanent side effects.

"But Mother, I know why ..."

"Not now, let's go. They are waiting for you downstairs."

Christian turned to Ana and gave her a quick kiss and whispered,"Sorry," before letting down the side rail and getting out of bed. Taylor slipped his shoes on and quickly followed, putting on his jacket to cover his gun as he walked out the door.

Forty five minutes later found Christian waiting with his mother for the CT Scan results.

"Mom?" He asked.

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you say hello to Ana?"

"Let's not discuss her, darling."

"We have to discuss this Mom. You acted like she was invisible. You never said a word to her."

"She wouldn't come to your memorial service. She lived in your penthouse, lived off your money but she was nowhere to be seen that awful day. "

"Mother, she didn't believe I was dead. How can you expect her to go to my memorial service?"

"Its more than just that, it's, it's..."

"It's what mother?"

Christian's mother looked around to see exactly where Taylor was and then lowered her voice,"Taylor and her were inseparable. It just , it just didn't look right. Then you barely knew the girl and you put her in charge of your company? Christian, what were you thinking son?"

Christian had stiffened beside her and was trying hard not to lose his composure. "Mom," he said gently, and then swung an arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him. "Mom, he repeated even softer as he thought of Ana. "Ana is the missing part of my soul. She is the light in my life. She makes me laugh. She makes me happy. I know we only know each other a short time but it really doesn't matter. She understands me Mom. She doesn't mind that I'm fifty shades of fucked up. She can touch me Mom and it doesn't hurt. " Christian heard his mothers gasp before continuing. "I mess up all the time but she always forgives me even when I don't deserve it. I love her. I need her. I am going to marry her, so please, try to get over what ever issues you have because she's here to stay. "

"All I ever wanted is for you to be happy, Christian. If this is the girl who does that, of course you both have my blessing."

Christian smiled from ear to ear and looked up at his Mom with gratitude. "You're my angel mom. You saved me and I can never thank you enough. Now, I have found Ana and its like finding a whole new world. Sometimes its scary, there's so many emotions. Thank God for Flynn. He's been a life saver. "

"What can I do son?"

"Just be there for us Mom. We both need your love. We need the support of the entire family but right now, there are a lot of security issues. Speaking of which, where is your CPO?"

"He is waiting in the lobby for me."

Christian cursed, looked over at Taylor and jerked his head, calling him over.

"Sir," he said, respectfully.

"Her CPO is waiting for her in the lobby."

"I'll take care of it, sir."

"Christian, why can't my security wait in the lobby like he always does?"

"Because I am under a confirmed threat right now. I can't tell you anything else except its for real, people have been hurt and people have died trying to protect me. You must have someone with you at all times. The same for the rest of the family. If they can hurt you, they will hurt me and they know it. If they can kidnap you, they will. This is not just some run of the mill crazy. Its serious, real serious."

" I heard a bodyguard was killed here last week, but everything about it was hushed up."

"Someone tried to kill Ana last week. They killed the guard on the door but fortunately, Sawyer was there and able to stop him. So please, I need everyone safe. Especially Mia."

"You need to talk to her, honey. She doesn't listen to me or your father. I doubt she'll listen to you."

"Okay, I'll talk to her."

"Dr Trevelyan?" A doctor approached holding out his hand to shake and introducing himself. Grace stood and followed him into his office. Five minutes later, she was back st Christians side, confirming everything was noticed her CPO standing in the hallway but on the opposite side of Taylor.

Christian took her arm and led her back to the elevator, anxious to return to Ana.