When Sidney first got the call that her father had been in a car accident, her brain couldn't handle it for a minute. Her whole body went numb and there was a ringing in her ears as reality stopped. She wasn't even sure she took a breath for that full sixty seconds.

When she came back to herself, as she could manage was a breathy "thank you" before she hung up and was rushing to the hospital.

The problem was…as faint and distracted as she felt, she wasn't in any state to drive. Luckily, Billy was with her when the doctor assigned to her father called her (as his only blood relative since her mother's death, Sidney was his next of kin) from the hospital, and as soon as she managed to get the words from her mouth, her boyfriend drove her there to be with her father.

Rushing through the hospital entrance with Billy by her side, Sidney still felt like she was in a fog, but reality harshly slapped her in the face when she managed to ask the receptionist where Neil Prescott's room was.

"Who are you to him?" The receptionist asked.

"I'm his daughter," she answered. Her tongue felt heavy and her throat was dry.

The receptionist gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, Miss Prescott, but your father is still in the OR."

"O-OR?"

"Yes. His doctor should be coming out soon to tell you the extent of his injuries since I don't know that information, but he should be out of surgery soon and in his assigned room."

"Do you know what that room is?" Billy asked when it became clear that Sidney was too shocked and afraid to open her mouth again.

The woman behind a desk typed in a few things. "He'll be in room 178 once they're finished and he moves to recovery," she answered kindly.

"Thank you," the dark blonde teen said as he gently gripped his girlfriend's arm and led her into the waiting room.

They both took their seats and Sidney couldn't stop herself from leaning into Billy, allowing him to support her body as she slumped against his.

"Billy," his name escaped Sidney's mouth in a choked sob, tears falling down her face as the shock left her and she became more aware of her surroundings, of this dire situation she was thrown into.

Her father was in a car accident.

Her father was rushed to the hospital.

Her father was still in surgery.

Her father could die.

"I know, baby, I know," he whispered, running his long fingers gently through her hair and kissing the top of her head in his attempts to soothe her.

"I can't lose him," she whined, the tears falling faster. "I have my aunt Kate and my little cousin Jill, but Dad is the only family I have left who's always been there since Mom died and I can't…if something happens to him…"

"Don't do that to yourself," Billy said firmly. "Don't automatically assume the worst. He's in the best place possible and he has medical professionals working on him, people who are good at their jobs."

"But what if…"

"No," Billy pulled away and framed her face in his hands so their eyes met. "What ifs do nothing. I had so many of those thoughts, too. What if my dad never had an affair? What if my parents worked things out? What if my mom never left or took me with her? All what ifs do is cause more pain because it makes you think things that are better left alone."

"But my dad…"

"Sid," Billy said gently. "You know how much I love you, right?"

Sidney nodded as best as she could in Billy's hands. "Of course, and I love you just as much," she said.

Billy smiled and caressed her cheeks with his fingers. "Then you know that no matter what happens, I'm not leaving you."

Billy then leaned into her, pressing his forehead against hers so that their faces were inches away. "I'm never letting you go as long as you want me here," the love and dedication in his voice soothed her and she finally relaxed her body, the tears finally ceasing their descent.

Sidney closed her eyes. "You promise you won't leave me?" She asked. She was completely vulnerable.

"I promise."

True to his word, Billy stayed by Sidney's side as she waited to hear about her father. The only time when he'd leave her is when he had to use the bathroom; the rest of the time, he was with her, Sidney either tucked protectively into his side or facing him so their foreheads could touch.

Finally, a doctor approached them.

"Family for Neil Prescott?" He asked.

Sidney and Billy instantly stood. "I'm his daughter," she said quickly. "And this is my boyfriend. Is my father going to be okay?"

"Well," the doctor began. "He was in bad shape when he came in. He had head trauma, internal bleeding, and a few fractured ribs. The internal bleeding was our first concern and we had to get him into the emergency room immediately. We're keeping him here for a few days to monitor that and the head trauma to make sure that there's no lasting damage. The fractured ribs can heal on their own, but we have given him pain relievers to make it easier."

"Can he…" Sidney swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Can he come home? Will he be okay?"

The doctor smiled at her. "Yes, your father will make a full recovery. Just make sure that he restricts physical activity so his body can continue to heal," he answered.

Sidney was so relieved that she had to lean against Billy.

"Thank you," Billy said, knowing that his girlfriend was rendered speechless again.

The doctor nodded and walked away.

Billy lowered both himself and Sidney back into their seats, turning her so she was facing him again. "You see?" He said gently. "Your dad is alive and he's going to be okay."

"Yeah," she nodded, tears once again trailing down her face, joyful this time instead of devastated. "Yeah, he is."

Sidney initiated the forehead touch, staring deeply into his eyes. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here with me."

'Probably go insane,' a little voice in the back of her head chimed in, and she didn't even refute that. Not having her boyfriend, her soulmate, with her during this…the grief and worry would have driven her out of her mind.

Billy smiled. "I'm always going to be here with you," he promised.

"I'm holding you to that promise."