AN: This chapter is mostly in Henry's POV; his thoughts in Italics. I worked REALLLY hard on this chapter. It was tough to write. So please leave your comments :) They make me so happy! And also, many thanks again for RenDot's help with the medical stuff in the chapter as far as making Henry wake up in a realistic way.

Chapter 6

Henry McCord stirred when he felt his wife move from his side. He faintly heard her voice. She said something about the doctor changing his dressings. Now he understood the unfamiliar touch on his neck.

It hurt. He wanted to say something but he couldn't seem to pull himself from the thick fog that enveloped his head. His limbs felt heavy. His eyelids felt glued shut. His mouth was dry. So he waited until it was over, focusing on the whispering he heard from his wife.

His senses were on high alert, trying to understand what was going. Someone else was in the room.

Then he heard his wife's voice again. After a few minutes he recognized the voice of the other person; it was Will, his brother-in-law. Henry was glad Will was there. He couldn't imagine what Elizabeth was thinking watching him unable to open his eyes. He tried to speak. He tried to thank Will for taking Elizabeth to eat. Yes, she needs to eat Will. You know she forgets. But nothing came from his dry mouth and the darkness came over him again.

*****Quiet Pain*****

Later that afternoon he sensed his wife's presence again and he felt maybe he could find the strength to escape the fog. He could do anything with her by his side. He heard her voice. "Hey baby. I'm sorry I took so long. But I'm back now."

Don't be sorry, baby. Truth be told, he had no concept of time. He didn't know how long she had been gone, how long he had been out of it. Perhaps not that long. I remember her saying breakfast. Maybe it was only afternoon now? He felt her soft fingers stroking his hair and her lips brushing on his cheek and instantly felt better. He fought to wake up. She was so worried and he could tell." I'm fine baby" he wanted to say, but he was still fighting the hazy cloud that was enveloping him again.

She curled her warm body back around him. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her. "Just rest baby. We'll rest together." He thought. He took solace in her presence. Maybe he should be resting instead of fighting to awaken. He let the fog overtake him again as he breathed in her scent. Her shampoo. She showered.

He soon felt another blanket being placed. He heard Elizabeth thank her brother and asked him to dim the lights. All he could do is grip her fingers. It was the only part of his body that would move when he wanted it to. It took all the strength he could muster. He felt her fingers squeeze his back and felt her warm breath on his cheek as she fell into a light sleep. Her lips occasionally pressed to his skin as she whispered her love. "I love you too baby…." He wished he could say.

Henry tried to sleep. But his body wanted to wake up. He heard quiet voices again. Will. Definitely one was Will. He assumed the other was the doctor. They were conferring, saying they hoped he woke up soon, it would be another good sign in his recovery. He wondered why he couldn't wake up. He wanted to. He wanted to assure Elizabeth he would be okay. It was frustrating him.

Sometime later he heard Will quietly talking. He must have passed out again. How long has Will been here? How long was I out this time? He heard his kids' names. Are my kids here? He was talking to them. They were worried too. Come on, Henry. Wake up.

"Stevie, I'm watching them. They are both resting. It's the best thing for them. I promise to call as soon as there is an update. Right now, now news is good news okay?" Will said to Stevie.

Hearing that his children were also worried further irritated Henry. He squeezed Elizabeth's hand tighter, trying to tell her he was okay. She could tell the kids. Tell them I'm okay. We're okay.

He felt her squeeze back. He felt her breath increase. Then he felt a few of her teardrops drip onto his face. She was crying. Damn it. He hated when she cried. Wake up, Henry. Show her you are okay.

She tried to calm him, sensing his agitation as she heard the beeps of his monitors sing to a faster pace. No baby, it's not okay. I need to get up. I need to apologize to you. I need to...

Will noticed the monitors as well and stood up from the chair he sat in, observing as his sister tried to calm Henry but kept his distance, letting them be.

Suddenly Henry's arm thrashed up, nearly hitting Elizabeth in the face. She gasped and frantically tried to push his arm down as he gripped her fingers so tightly it hurt.

Her breaths were rapid. It was terrifying. Henry's face turned red as he struggled, his body out of his control, his limbs moving in rapid jolts as he regained consciousness. His eyes flew open and met hers. His eyes showed frustration. He couldn't move the way he wanted. He couldn't speak. He saw the terror in Elizabeth's eyes as she watched him struggle.

"Henry Stop!" Elizabeth shouted as she panicked.

Henry tried to stop. But he couldn't. He was reaching for her gently, but his body wasn't listening. It moved rapidly and randomly instead.

"Lizzie. Come here now!" Will tried to coax her away from her husband. This is why he didn't want her in his bed. He'd seen patients have this reaction as they awoke from surgery ; the seizure like movements and the agitation as they realized they couldn't control their body just yet.

Will knew it would not be ideal for Elizabeth to witness her husband awaken in this fashion, given her PTSD. But he couldn't pry her from the bed, and he didn't blame her for laying with him earlier, but her terror was evident now and she was possibly freaking Henry out more with her screams.

"Lizzie." He tried again, a little louder, this time physically gripping her shoulders and pulling her back. "Lizzie, it's okay. This happens sometimes. Just calm down." He turned his attention to Henry, trying to calm him down as Elizabeth retreated to the corner of the room, helpless, sobbing as she slid down the wall.

"It's not okay...he...why is..." she choked.

Dr. Gibson & his team arrived promptly and aided Will in calming Henry. "It's okay Henry. You are just waking up. You cannot speak due to your injuries. The doctors are here to help…"

Henry's agitation did not subside as he worked to lift his hand, pointing to his wife in the corner of the room. His lips quivered as he tried to speak, yet failed. Will finally sensed what he was trying to communicate; Elizabeth was in a full panic attack.

"I've got her, Henry. You focus on calming down and let the doctors help you." Will promised and rushed to Elizabeth's side, coaxing her from the room.

When Elizabeth was secure outside his room, Henry finally settled enough to let the doctors examine him.

"Lizzie. You have to breathe for me okay?" Will told his sister as he got her seated in a chair with her head between her legs. "Come on. In and out."

When she didn't calm after several minutes, he started to worry. He hadn't seen her in a full on panic and wasn't sure how long it would last. He quickly went for her purse, locating her xantax and slid one under her tongue to dissolve. He was glad she didn't fight him on it. She probably didn't even realize he had put it in her mouth she was so wound up.

As the pill began to work, her breath returned as she relaxed and he rubbed soothing circles on her back. As he watched over her sister, he saw the EEG machine being wheeled into Henry's room. He knew he had to keep his sister out of the room until they were done. The last thing he wanted was his sister to see her husband with wires being taped to his head to measure his brain activity. He knew it was a necessary test after the patient awoke; but it could be scary to the naked eye.

He took solace in Henry's ability to show concern for his wife amidst his paralytic seizure and whispered to her. "It's okay Lizzie. It's okay."