"Its my fault," Tim said, groaning as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I'm sure once she realizes its my fault, she won't want anything to do with me."

"Larson, come on. It was an accident."

"I knew my passenger airbag had an issue but no one rides with me. Not until Allie and then I forgot about it. Now look. Chief, she almost died. They won't tell me anything but I know it. I saw her lying there in the front seat, blood coming from her head. I'll never forget."

"Tim, I need you to listen to me."

"All due respect sir, I wanted you to come in here so I could tell you that I'm quitting."

"What?"

"Quitting. As in, I'm not going to work at the station anymore."

"Why?"

"I can't stay in Denver knowing I almost killed my girlfriend. I'm going to stay with a friend out of town until I find another job."

"Tim, don't you think you should give Allie a chance to choose whether she wants to be with you or not? I know my niece and I think she will be more likely to be mad that you took away her choice."

"Sir, I love her."

"Then you need to treat her like you do. Its not fair to leave her here without an explanation. Its not fair to choose for her what she wants. Its also not fair to leave your brothers at the station without saying goodbye."

Tim dropped his shoulders and hung his head, his tears taking over. "I don't know how to do this, sir. The only thing I can think of is to leave."

"Tim, you are trying to take the easy way out. You are only thinking of yourself. I know you know the right choice but you are letting your fears choose for you."

Lucas put his hand on Tim's shoulder and squeezed. Tim looked up at Lucas. He respected Lucas but he was so afraid right now.

"You can do it, Tim."

"How is she, Chief?"

"In rough shape. The doc that was in the ER said she needed surgery because of bleeding in her brain."

"Oh God."

Lucas' phone buzzed. "Elizabeth says she's out of surgery now and in recovery in the ICU. She's going to be there for at least a few days, maybe a week."

"But she's alive?"

"Yes."

……

Lucas headed to the café in the hospital and got Elizabeth and the girl's coffee and a tea for himself. He had a feeling it would be at least a very long night and next day. He had to be at work the next afternoon so at some point in the morning, he needed to go get some sleep.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said as he handed her a cup of coffee.

He winked and handed the twins theirs too and then sat next to Elizabeth. "How are you doing?"

"I guess maybe a little more at ease knowing she survived surgery. How's Tim?"

"Struggling a bit. He's not as badly injured as she was but he's got some thoughts that are trying to push him over the cliff of guilt."

"Been there," she said, leaning back in her chair and a bit closer to Lucas. She wanted to be even closer to him but felt self-conscious with the twins right there.

He held out his hand, as if sensing that she needed his touch. She flicked her eyes up to his and then squeezed her fingers between his. She was so very grateful he was there. Willing to keep her company.

"Its going to be a while before you can go see her, right?"

"Yes plus its so late. Probably won't see her until morning."

"Why don't we take a walk?"

"Sure. That sounds nice."

As they strolled hand in hand and sipped their drinks, they were quiet. Some because of the time of night it was but mostly because he could tell she was thinking and he wanted to be supportive that she might need quiet.

They arrived at the chapel on the first floor. He tried the door and led her inside. It was a beautiful room and he was sure many many families of patients used it for the reason he wanted to.

He sat down in a pew and she joined him.

"Can I be honest?" she whispered.

"Of course."

"I was mad at God for a very long time after losing Nathan."

"I can understand that." He hadn't been mad at God but he hadn't understood for a few months why he was spared and Nathan, the hero, had passed. Then, he came to terms with it and moved forward, with the help of his therapist.

"I felt myself getting angry again when I heard about Allie's accident and it was hard to pull myself out of it. I'm not sure I did completely."

He kissed the top of her hand and looked into her eyes. They were so blue and so full of tears. He just wanted her to feel happy again.

"Let's pray. I need to pray for Tim and we can pray together for Allie and ourselves. How does that sound?"

She nodded, a tear escaping and running down her cheek. He caught it with his thumb. "Babe, it will be okay."

Her eyes flicked to his and against the way she was feeling, she couldn't help but smile. "Babe, huh?"

"I'm sorry. It slipped out."

"Its okay. Let's pray."

……

A few hours later…

Allie struggled to open her eyes. She heard beeps and felt hot and cold and pain. The pain wasn't bad, just in the background like an annoying bug that keeps flying around you and you can't quite catch it.

Her legs and arms felt heavy and she had something tight on her neck. She wanted to move so badly.

She heard moaning and then talking. "Allison, are you waking up?" the gentle voice said. "Don't try to rush. Take your time. Just breathe, nice and slow," the person said.

The moaning happened again.

"Are you in pain, sweetie?"

Maybe she was the one moaning. It hurt to breathe. She was having trouble getting a deep breath and that was scary.

"Shhhh. Nice and slow breathing."

Allie moved her tongue, or tried, but there was something in her mouth. It took too much thinking to breathe and figure out what was happening. Why couldn't she move anything? Why did everything hurt?

The pain was getting worse but still not terrible. She felt trapped.

The moaning. Why was she moaning? She wasn't intending to moan.

"Allie, baby," a familiar voice said.

"Mmmm," she couldn't form words because of that thing in her mouth.

"Allie, its, Mom. Stay calm, sweetheart. You have a tube in your throat to help you breathe."

That was the thing in her mouth. "Mmmm."

"I know its uncomfortable, sweetheart, but you need help breathing right now. Please stay calm."

She felt her gripping her hand and she tried hard to cling to it. She needed to touch her Mom.

"Its alright, my sweet girl. Its all right."

She opened her eyes very slowly. She just wanted to see her Mom. She missed her so much. She felt like she hadn't seen her in years.

"Okay, honey. Nice and easy," the other voice said. Elizabeth watched as Allie opened her beautiful eyes and tried to focus. "Hi, Allie."

"Mmmm."

"I know. I love you so much." Allie squeezed her hand and just cried and cried.

Once Allie was asleep and relaxed, Elizabeth left the room. She needed to scream and cry and yell about how unfair this whole thing was and how Allie didn't deserve it. But where could she go to do that? This was a hospital and if she lost it, she'd probably get taken to the psychology ward.

She hurried down the halls and her mind thought of her car but Lucas had brought her to the hospital. The twins were somewhere but…

"Ma'am? Are you alright?" someone asked as she hurried by them.

"No," she told them and kept almost running.

"Elizabeth?" Lucas said, grabbing her arms.

"No, no, no. I need to get out of this place. Let me go!"

"Okay, but you can't go out there alone. It's the middle of the night."

"Where's your truck? I need your truck."

He handed her the keys and took her there. She climbed inside and he went a few feet away to give her privacy but he could still hear the heartbreaking sounds of her screams and then sobs.

He leaned against the tailgate and prayed for her to have peace. To allow someone to help her through this tough time. If not him, he'd find someone for her.

After another moment of hearing her pain, he decided to potentially cross a privacy line and open the driver side door.

She looked at him and leaned back, trying to catch her breath.

"Sweetheart, may I hold you?"

She nodded so he put the armrest up and moved across the middle, pulling her into his arms. "Just let it out, alright? I'm here."

Her breathing slowed as she sank into his chest, allowing him to completely wrap her in comfort. Being in a man's arms again, one whom she had romantic feelings for, was like being home after a long trip. It felt like relief and she needed that right now.

She slowly tilted her head back and rested her palm on his cheek. He didn't move toward her or rush anything. He was allowing her to follow her heart and call the shots. She was amazed at the incredible patience he always showed.

She stared into his lovely green eyes and stroked his beard with her thumb. Her eyes traveled to his well proportioned nose and down to his lips that were only an inch away from hers.

Would kissing him change everything? Or was she simply acting on impulse and seeking comfort in his affections? Was she really ready to take that step?

Her phone rang, jarring her from her thoughts. She sighed and answered it.

"Hi, Mom. Yes, she woke up and she was in a lot of pain so they gave her some medication to help and now she's asleep again."

Lucas listened to Elizabeth's side of the conversation and wondered how her mom and dad would feel about him and Elizabeth being in a relationship.

"No, I'm…I'm with a friend. I'm just fine."

Lucas refused to let the term affect him. Elizabeth had been through almost every emotion imaginable in the last twelve hours. He couldn't expect her to just blurt out that she decided to date someone and it happened to be her deceased husband's best friend.

"I will. I love you too. Tell Dad. Bye."

She looked at him after shutting off her phone screen. "I'm sorry, Lucas. For saying you were just a friend."

"Actually you said that you are with a friend and that's what I am. You never said the word 'just.' And you don't have anything at all to be sorry for."

He started his truck and buckled up.

"Lucas, I need to get back."

"And sleep in the waiting room?"

"I need to be close by. She's my daughter. I can't just leave. Plus the twins are in there."

"Let's at least get some sleep, alright? The twins can text you if anything changes."

He offered his hand to hold and she took it. "Just lean on me, Beth. I'm here for you."

She sighed and blew her nose, giving him a nod. "Thank you, Lucas." She wasn't sure she could sleep but resting her eyes sounded perfect.