Beth Quartermaine turned the page in her magazine as she sat beside Carly's bed. As much as she selfishly wanted Carly to wake up so they could catch up, she understood that Carly needed to rest so she turned her attention back to her magazine.

A scream cut through the silence. Beth turned her eyes to see Carly writhing uncomfortably. Instinctively she stood up and laid her hand on Carly's shoulder.

Carly's screams transitioned to cries, like a wounded animal as her body tone crumbled almost as if she was cowering in fear. In her mind, or her dream, Beth was afraid she was.

Beth patted Carly's shoulder again. "Carly, sweetie, it's time to wake up now. This can't be restful sleep anymore," she said as the door opened and one of the nurses stepped into the room.

"Is everything ok?" a nurse Beth had never met before asked.

"I'm not sure, I think she is having a nightmare, my husband says that is pretty common after anesthesia for some patients," Beth said.

"Or any other traumatic experience," the nurse said as she joined Beth bedside just as Carly's eyes snapped open.

XXXXXXXX

Although the images of Tony faded when she opened her eyes, seeing Beth and Nurse Carrie Sanders Tyler's concerned faces were overwhelming in another way. Shutting her eyes and blocking all of that out was so tempting and once again she really regretted basically shoving Ned out the door to handle his ELQ obligations. That raised other questions that she couldn't even begin to consider.

"I'm sure that must have been scary but maybe just try to focus on the fact that you are safe here," Carrie Sanders Tyler RN suggested.

Carly wasn't sure that was exactly true, but she definitely didn't want to explain any of that. "Is the baby ok?" she asked.

"The fetal tracings look really good. Dr. Meadows just came over to look at them before she headed out for the evening. Dr. Gina Lansing is in house tonight, but Dr. Meadows is on call for high-risk patients. I'll be right outside, and I'll be back around six to hang your next dose of the antibiotic. If you need something before then just push the call button," Carrie said.

Carly gulped and caught her breath. High risk sounded ominous.

Beth must have heard her gasping because she gave her shoulder a squeeze. "I know that sounds scary, but Mark said it really just allows for closer monitoring and some of the drips you were on that Alan wanted to continue," she whispered.

Carly nodded. Dr. Meadows had basically explained the same thing earlier. She was a little surprised that Beth had talked to her husband about it. But maybe that was what people did when they were married to doctors and their friends were sick. Did that mean that Beth considered her a friend? Really?

Carly took another shaky breath. "That was basically what Dr. Meadows said this morning. It just sounds worse than that somehow," she said.

"I'm sure. I think pregnancy is just really scary and vulnerable at the end anyway. I mean I was kind of a mess when Kensi was born, and she was fine so although I'm sure it is so much harder for you, I understand a little I think," Beth said.

Carly shrugged her shoulders. She was a little afraid to say anything. She needed to believe that Beth really was her friend, not just being nice to her husband's cousin's latest wife. It was just so hard to trust that because she wasn't someone who made friends easily or well. Simone had claimed she didn't either and joked that was why they were so close.

"Did you want me to call Ned?" Beth asked.

"What? No!" Carly insisted. As much as she wanted, even needed Ned she didn't feel she could ask for that.

"Ok, then is there anything I can do? I want to help, and you still look kind of terrified," Beth said.

Carly forced a smile. "I think you're right pregnancy is just scary," she said. She wasn't about to admit that motherhood seemed even scarier. That was something Beth wouldn't understand. She had seen enough of her with Kensi to know that.

"I'm sorry you have had such a hard time lately. Hopefully you will feel better soon but if there are things you still need to do with setting up the nursery or whatever please let me know. I can totally do any of that while Kensi naps or after Mark is home in the evening."

"Thank you," Carly said.

"Also, I don't want to overstep but if you just aren't feeling well and Ned is at work and you don't want to be alone, I can bring Kensi and come over and hang out," Beth offered.

"I might take you up on that," Carly said. She might. She swallowed hard realizing how pathetic she probably sounded.

"Whatever you need, seriously," Beth said.

Carly nodded and then yawned as the sensation of weakness and exhaustion returned.

"Just promise me you won't feel like you need to host or entertain me. That applies now too, if you want to rest more, I completely understand."

"I'm not sure I really want to go back to sleep," Carly whispered.

"I'm sorry. Would it help to talk about the nightmares?" Beth asked

Carly shook her head quickly and then regretted that movement as she felt even more shaky and unsteady. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. "I really don't feel well at all," she finally managed to get the words out.

"Oh, sweetie, it's ok. I'm going to go get that nurse that was in here before," Beth said. She left the room quickly before Carly could protest.

XXXXXXXX

Carrie Sanders Tyler reprogrammed the IV pump to start the Piperacillin-Tazobactum. "Ok so this is that antibiotic for the pneumonia. Are you feeling any better with the bed completely flat?" she asked.

"I think a little," Carly said.

Carrie noted that she didn't really appear more comfortable. Her lips were still pursed as if breathing was more of a struggle than it should be. Despite that her oxygen saturations were 98%. "Are you having any pain?" she asked.

"It isn't really pain, it's more just that I feel so exhausted that everything is uncomfortable," Carly said.

"But you aren't quite ready to face shutting your eyes because that means more nightmares?" Beth suggested.

Carly nodded and then promptly burst into tears.

"I know you didn't want me to call Ned before, but I think he would want me to call him now," Beth suggested as she patted Carly's back.

Carly shook her head.

"Well, I'm the last person who should give you relationship advice so I'm intentionally ignoring the whole should you call your husband question. I sent the labs Dr. Quartermaine wanted down to the lab and I will let you know when they are back. In the meantime, perhaps just try to rest even if you don't want to actually try to sleep," Carrie said.

XXXXXXXX

After the nurse left the room again, Beth regarded her friend. She looked so pale and uncomfortable that Beth's heart ached for her. Despite that, she was clueless as to how to help her. It was tempting to just call Ned but that seemed disempowering, and she wanted to respect Carly's autonomy. So, she just kept patting her back. "I won't call Ned if you don't want. Is this helping or would you rather just have some space?" she asked.

"It's ok," Carly said. New tears glistened in her eyes.

"So, I know this isn't the same but, Mark gets Cluster Headaches sometimes and it helps him to have something to hang onto. Would another pillow you can kind of lean into help?" Beth asked.

"Maybe, I'm sorry, I just…."

"You don't need to apologize for anything. You're in a really difficult situation and we really all want to help you," Beth said as she laid one of the extra pillows down and helped Carly lean forward into it.

"Thanks, I just feel really shaky inside," Carly said.

"I know, but I'm going to stay until Ned comes back and if anything changes, you're in a really good hospital and the doctors and nurses are going to take great care of you and your baby. So just try to relax ok," Beth said. She started patting Carly's back again. At least that always seemed to settle Kensi when she was fighting sleep or teething.

Ten minutes later Beth saw Carly's eyes droop and then close as she drifted off to sleep. She gave her back a few more pats and then straightened up about to head back to her chair. That was when she realized Ned had returned.

"Did she sleep the entire time?" Ned asked.

"Umm, not exactly. She isn't feeling well though," Beth said. She debated how she straddled the line of respecting Carly's autonomy but also helping Ned be as supportive as possible.

"I'm sure. Thank you for being here for her. I really wanted to just skip that meeting, but Carly was adamant I go, and I sort of felt like I needed to respect that," Ned said. He shrugged his shoulders as he made his way closer to Carly's bed and then bent down and gently kissed her forehead.

"I think you're right actually, and on that note please don't hesitate to call me if there are other ELQ commitments she wants you to honor but you are uncomfortable leaving her alone. I sort of sense Carly sees this as a personal failing, but she shouldn't. She is just really sick right now," Beth said.

"No, this hasn't been any easy pregnancy for her, but I think that your friendship has made a difficult situation a little better so thank you."

"I like Carly so really neither of you should be thanking me for just being a friend. Anyway, Kensi was having a play date with Katelyn and Lila so I should probably go collect her before she starts getting cranky because she should really be sleeping," Beth said.

XXXXXXXX

After Beth left, Ned lowered the rail and sat down on the edge of Carly's bed. He could tell that even in sleep she wasn't comfortable which was heartbreaking. He laid a hand on her back and rubbed expanding and contracting circles. "Hang in there, honey, I'm right here," he whispered.

"Ned?" Carly's voice was faint.

"Yeah, I'm right here, honey. Can I get you anything?"

"I'm sorry," Carly said.

"Honey, you don't have anything to be sorry for. I'm sorry I can't take some of this load on for you, but you are doing so great."

"I just feel really weak and shaky," Carly said.

"I'm sure you do. You've been through so much but I'm right here and you just rest," Ned said as he reached forward with his free had and laid it over both of hers.

"I don't know how to do this," Carly said.

"You don't have to do anything, honey. Just relax and breathe. I know even that probably feels hard right now but I'm right here and you're doing so great."

"I'm scared," Carly admitted.

Ned saw the tears in her eyes. "Oh, honey, come here," he said as he gently pulled her into his arms and then laid down beside her. "Shhh, I'm right here, Carly, and like I said, we're in this together and I'm right here.

"Please just hold me," Carly whispered.

"Of course, I'm right here. Just let yourself rest. You have fought so hard for the baby and you're doing so great so just let yourself rest now."

"I just want him to be ok," Carly said.

"I know, I do too, and I think he will be because you're doing so great for him. Just relax and let me take care of you."

"I'm sorry. I know this isn't exactly what you signed up for," Carly said.

"I disagree. I signed up to support you and raise this baby with you and that is exactly what I'm doing. I wish this pregnancy was easier for you but none of this is your fault."

Ned felt Carly's body become heavier as if she had finally fallen back to sleep. He carefully extricated himself without waking her just as the door opened and her nurse reappeared.

"Ah, you're back! So, Dr. Quartermaine had ordered a repeat hemoglobin which was 9.8. He thinks that is fine, but he wanted me to change the IV fluids to D5LR since she hasn't really eaten, and the blood sugar was only 65. He thought maybe that was why she feels so badly but he said unfortunately more likely she isn't feeling well because of the recent blood loss," Carrie Sanders Tyler said.

"Yeah, we were actually both at an ELQ board meeting when you called him with the hemoglobin. He told me the hemoglobin was stable and most of that," Ned said.

"Ok, well, my shift ends at seven. Mary Kilpatrick will be the night nurse. I told her that you would probably stay the night," Carrie said.

"If that isn't a problem, I think it would be better if I did. Carly is pretty insecure right now and I would rather she not be alone."

"That is fine. This unit usually allows the support person to stay overnight and between you and me Mr. Ashton I think your wife does need you stay even if she may not admit that."

Ned chuckled as Carrie exited the room. He looked over at Carly. She still looked uncomfortable even in her sleep which wasn't encouraging but he supposed it was where they were.

**I'm really struggling with the rest of this and I'm kind of afraid I've written myself into a corner. While I still don't think the Ned & Carly are a forever grow old and celebrate their 50th anniversary surrounded by the great grandkids couple I think they may always be friends and I think even if it revealed later that Michael is a biological Jarly baby (and he is) that Ned will have a connection to Michael because of moments like this. I would love to hear other's thoughts on some of this and the direction this is going. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far but Help!**