Trent collapsed onto the stool and sighed. He looked over at Nick and found him staring at the empty board.

"What a day. You'd think everyone was being nice or the day hasn't started yet."

Nick looked at him and said, "I'm out of here."

Trent nodded and watched him disappear into the doctor's lounge. Minutes later, he reappeared and clocked out.

"Off to see the woman you plan to propose to?"

Smirking, he shook his head and said, "Another woman has my company tonight."

Trent chuckled and watched him disappear. He turned his attention to a pile of charts needing reports and sigh.

'What is next?'

"This is Crew 45. We have a critical coming in. Five minutes out."

Trent picked up the CB and said, "We'll be ready."

He put the CB down and slid on a yellow cover. Pulling on gloves, he ran to the door and watched the ambulance pull up. The back doors flew open and he stepped outside. The local vet hopped out and the EMTs unloaded the person. A jeep pulled up and Trent watched Mary, Angie, and the twins jump out as he spots Katie.

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"Are you sure you wanna be here?"

He looked up at her question and smirked. She handed him a plate and picked up the remote. Turning the news on, she sat down in a chair and he took a sip of beer. The headline briefs came on and he put the plate down.

"Local animal trampling are headlines tonight. More at six."

Megan frowned and asked, "Animal trampling?"

He leaned back into the couch and said, "Trent can handle it."

She glanced at him and asked, "How many large animals around here?"

He turned the TV off and said, "Enough. Don't even go there."

Megan sighed and got to her feet. She took the plates into the kitchen and began washing the dishes. The phone rang and she picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Is Nick there?"

She glanced into the living room and said, "Yes."

The phone slipped from her hand slightly and she ran into the living room.

He looked up at her and heard, "It's Katie."

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Angie held Timmy in her arms and comforted him as Dr. Collins passed out drinks. He handed one to Jared and was ignored. Mary took the drink and sat down next to the boy.

"Jared, drink this."

"It's my fault she's in there. I should've remembered where she'd hidden that gun."

Mary shook her head and said, "Your mom was only thinking about your safety."

"I put her in there. I could have killed her."

He took a drink and she held him. Angie looked up at her and she sighed. Dr. Collins sat down and ran a hand through his hair.

"I'll take a team out and we will get the bull."

Mary nodded and watched him leave. She turned her attention back to the hallway and felt Jared crumble into pieces in her arms. Running her hand up and down his back, she held him and waited. Running footsteps reached her ears and she looked up. Jared looked up and she felt him tear out of her arms.

Nick held him and looked up at her. Timmy glanced at them and he turned his gaze back to Jared.

"Where is she?"

Mary moved over to them and said, "With Trent."

She led Jared over to the chairs and held him again. Standing up, he moved down the hall and yanked off his jacket. Bursting into the room, he watched Trent look up and frown.

"Don't even dress."

Nick pushed aside an intern and yanked on a cover and gloves. He took the tools from the intern and met Trent's gaze again.

"Back off, Nick."

"Not this time."

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The monitor beeped and he took a deep breath. Running his hand through his hair, he picked up the chart, and wrote the latest update. The door opened and Jared stepped into the room. The boy walked over to him and he pulled him onto his lap.

"She hasn't woken yet?"

Shaking his head, he looked back at her and said, "Give her time."

He nodded and put another card on the table. Slowly the boy slid off his lap and left the room. Watching the door closed, he looked back at the bed and slid his hand into his jacket. Feeling the box in his hand, he closed his eyes and took her hand in his. His eyes moved to the monitor and he kissed her hand.

The door opened hours later and Timmy stepped into the room. He walked past him and sat on the bed. Nick watched the boy kiss his mother and leave the room. His eyes narrowed and he glanced at the cards on the table. All were made by Jared, none were from Timmy. Frowning, he picked a card off the table and flipped it open.

Reading Jared's message, he put the card back on the table and caught her hand once more. The sun was setting and another day was slipping away. Staring at her, he brushed his hand through her hair and kissed her forehead. Sitting back in the chair, he closed his eyes and remembered what Trent had told him.

"If she doesn't wake soon, she's not going to."

Four weeks have passed and nothing has changed. He felt the questions hitting him again and he held his head in his hands.

'Why did this happen to her? Why did I spend the evening with Megan? What happened?'

"Nick."

Looking up, he saw her hand twitch and he caught it. Holding it in his, he looked up at her and moved onto the bed.

"I'm here."

Her eyes slowly opened and he fought back the relieved laughter. She sat up slowly and he saw the bruises on her left arm. Taking her arm into his hand, he turned it over and followed the bruises up to her shoulder. She caught his face and kissed him gently.

"It's about time."

She looked around the room and spotted the cards. He moved to the table and brought them to her. Quietly he left the room and let her read the cards. Moving down the hall, he passed the nurse on her way to the room and stopped her.

"The family needs to see her."

"She's awake?"

He nodded once and walked past her. Stepping into the waiting area, he found Jared working on another card and Timmy lying on the couch. Mary looked up at him and Angie caught Jared's attention.

"I need the boys."

Jared's face brightened and Timmy got to his feet. Timmy disappeared down the hall, but Jared seemed frozen. He caught his shoulder and led him back to the room. When they stepped inside, they found Timmy hugging Katie and laughing with her. Timmy got off the bed when he saw them and sat down in a chair.

Jared hesitated and Nick led him over to the bed. Slowly he sat down on the bed and Katie held up a card.

"Thank you."

Jared threw his arms around her neck and she held him as he burst into tears. Kissing his forehead, she ran her hand through his blonde hair and calmed him. Timmy came over to the bed and threw his arm around his brother too. Silently Nick slipped from the room and spotted Trent watching him. The doctor nodded and watched him disappear out the emergency doors.

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Pulling into the drive, she turned off the truck and got out. Billy ran up to her and she carried the groceries into the house. Billy ran around barking and she scratched his ear.

"Is that better?"

He nudged her hand and ran out the door. Shaking her head, she began unloading the groceries and putting them away. The door closed and she looked down the hall. Mary waved and moved over to the table with a pot of food.

"Honestly, Mary. I've been home for months now."

Mary shook her head and said, "If you are going to work the farm with no help, I'm doing your meals."

Shaking her head, she finished putting the groceries away and looked at the food. The infamous lasagna the boys loved sat in the pot and she put it in the stove. Mary pulled down the plates and began setting the table. She grabbed some cups, but Mary took them from her.

"Sit, or I'll call Nick."

She stopped at the name and Mary put the cups down.

"Have you heard anything from him?"

Shaking her head, she took the cups and set them around the table. Mary caught her shoulders and forced her to look at her.

"Then go to him. After dinner, you need to talk to him."

Pushing free, she shook her head and said, "I am fine."

Mary shook her head but kept her tongue silent. She prepared the meal and had dinner on the table when the boys got home from school. Glancing at her friend, she found her walking upstairs. Frowning, she had the boys put their bags away and get ready for dinner. Timmy ran upstairs and Jared sat at the table.

"Anything from Nick?"

Mary looked at him and saw the anxious look on the preteen's face. Shaking her head, she watched his face drop.

"Oh."

"You like him that much?"

He nodded and said, "He's what my mom needs. He's a cool man."

Mary nodded and said, "I'm sure you'll hear from him soon."

Timmy returned and Katie followed him into the room. Everyone took their seats and ate dinner while Timmy filled them in on what was going on in school.

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Sitting on the steps, she took a deep breath and ran her hand along Billy's head. The dog whined and she looked up at the night sky.

"I miss him too."

Billy looked up at her and licked her hand. She rubbed his ear and got to her feet. Walking over to the truck, she opened the door and slid inside. Starting the engine, she felt the hesitation running through her and forced herself to put the truck in reverse. Backing out of the drive, she took a deep breath and drove into town.

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Sitting on top of the jungle gym, she looked up at the stars and leaned back onto the metal bars. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember the last time they had spoken. Back in the summer and it was in mid October. He had brought the boys to her and then he had disappeared. Sighing, she slid off the jungle gym and walked over to her truck.

Rain began to fall and she slid into the truck. Pulling onto the road, she took a deep breath and drove to his apartment. Getting out of the truck, she felt the rain pour onto her and soak her. Stepping up to the door, she reached for the doorbell and froze. Closing her eyes, she returned to the truck and drove off.

PGS