“Ellie…” Ashley spoke softly after a long while when she was sure the little one was not going to break down at any moment. Ellie looked up at Ashley then, peering at her with one eye as her face remained hidden in Jerald’s chest.


“Do you really not have the key honey?”


“Angel has it.” Ben who noticed the emotion on Ashley’s face right then gently squeezed her shoulder.


“Angel is safe I assure you.” Ashley looked at him with an arched eyebrow and Ben continued.


“Detective Stabler, Aaron, and Conner found her…in a not so pleasant place,” he added remembering that Ellie and her sensitive ears were listening. “And rushed her to the hospital…she’s alive and well.” He watched as relief formed somewhat on her already anguished face and AJ kissed her forehead softly.


“I want my puppy – he did something with Abbie I know it. She would not stay in hiding like this with all of this going on…” She said after a moment.


“An’ Chance,” Ellie was quick to add.


“Or quiet all this time,” Kori added worriedly.


“They’re both safe,” Ben reassured once more. “Sean didn’t want anything to do with the puppies…he sort of has a fear of dogs so he made Trevor get them out of the way and he gave them to me to deal with. So I took them to the hotel that I have Trevor’s dog at...there is someone there looking out for them.”


“And how did you get to them when we had them in the auditorium with us?” Brian wanted to know, feeling unnerved about the whole thing.


“Don’t beat yourselves up…Trevor has been sneaking around for years, it’s what he does best.”


“And unlike Cole and Max, he has a very good way with dogs,” another undercover cop added.


“Tyke never did like him much,” Brian insisted.


“That’s because he didn’t want him to,” Ben replied. “I will return Abbie and Chance to you as soon as possible Ashley but right now we need to get you out of here. I’m sure your girls miss you and I know that you will want to know what’s going on with Nick.”


“An’ I wants my Daddy Kevy,” Ellie added softly as Ashley got up with her.


“And I’m sure Laila is falling apart right now,” AJ spoke up. “She’s never been apart from me this long.”


“You’re not letting Laila see you like this,” Ashley insisted in a serious tone. “You can let the doctor take care of you first and then you can go to her.”


“Better yet, if Howie is with her she is hopefully asleep by now” Brian added. “So you can be there to see her first thing in the morning when she wakes up wanting you.”


“And I will be too,” AJ insisted. “Right when she opens her eyes because I plan on watching her sleep all night.” Kori wrapped her arms around him then and began to lead her injured brother out of the building and Ashley instantly seeking Brian’s comfort – the closest thing to Nick she could get until she can finally get her sights on Dakota followed suit with him and Ellie and the rest were not too far behind.


When they arrived at the hospital, Ashley instantly looked at Detective Tutuola who had taken them there himself with an anxious look.


“I want my girls. Where are they?” Detective Tutuola nodded as he had seen that question coming long before they entered the hospital and he gently rubbed his hand over her shoulder. She had been told that Nick had been quickly rushed to Banner Health and was already there and a Doctor would come find her as soon as possible so it would only be natural that she would want to concentrate on the girls until then.


“Right this way honey” he said gently and began to lead the way with Brian, AJ, Brooke, Kori, Scott, Wiley, Jerald and security following close behind. When they reached the bedroom that all of their friends and family were relaxing in until the raging storm finally calms down outside Detective Tutuola stopped just outside the door and looked at the little girl in Ashley’s arms.


“Can you wait out here for just one more moment…please?” He asked Ashley.


“Yeah,” Ashley nodded as she had seen the careful look he’d given Ellie. “But just for one more moment” She added. Her patience isn’t very high right now and it won’t be until she is reassured that her entire family will be okay. Detective Tutuola went inside then and as he did everybody looked at him curiously. He eyed Kevin to see that he was currently awake and eating Jell-O.


“I have a few people who want to see all of you…” he announced instantly earning their utmost attention. “One of them however is going to be highly emotional…” he added once again looking at Kevin. “Especially once she sees Kevin…I left her out in the hall because I’m not sure how to handle it.” Ann stood up then upon hearing this.


“It’s Ellie? My Granddaughter is here?”


“Mhm and Jerald too. Both are fine…physically.” Ann immediately walked to the door and Kevin started to get up too only to have Harry gently push him back down.


“Hey – hey, not so fast you.”


“I want Ellie.”


“You’ve just taken a bullet cuz…you move and you’ll make it worse. Stay here and Ellie will be brought to you.” Detective Tutuola looked at Angel then.


“Angel do you by any chance have the keys to the handcuffs from the orphanage dress up center? Ellie sort of…played monkey see monkey do this evening.” Angel arched her eyebrow curiously upon hearing this but reached into her pocket and pulled out the key nonetheless and she reached her hand out toward him. He took the key from her gratefully and she watched him as he went to the door and they all listened curiously as they could hear the handcuffs click open. The next thing they saw was Ellie being handed over to Ann and Ann swiftly turn her back outward toward the hall so that the little one could not look in and see what’s going on just yet. While Ann was explaining to her, how she understands she is very upset right now but it’s important she doesn’t go into full on tantrum mode around Kevin Ashley went inside the room not being able to wait any longer. As soon as she walked in, Dakota who had been sitting in Aaron’s lap with her face buried in his chest but was watching with one eye peering out caught sight of Ashley, immediately locking eyes with her.


“ASHEE!” She exclaimed gratefully and she squirmed out of Aaron’s arms and made a run for it toward her and Ashley knelt down and held her arms open just on time for her to come crashing into them. She threw her arms about her neck tightly, buried her face into her shoulder, and instantly broke down into heart wrenching sobs. Ashley noticed Sarah sit up right next to Aaron then having been sleeping already when she heard her sister cry out to Ashley. Before Sarah had the time to react Ashley was up with Dakota in her arms and she went over and sat next to Aaron before pulling the six year old into her lap. Sarah wound her arms around her too as tears flooded her eyes but otherwise she didn’t say anything, still concentrating very hard on being tough for Dakota. She had not missed that their daddy wasn’t with Ashley.


Meanwhile, when Ann was sure Ellie understood the seriousness of being careful for Kevin she carried her Granddaughter into the room and Ellie’s eyes immediately locked on Kevin who was now purposely covering himself completely with the blanket so she would not see his wound. She brought her over to his bedside and Ellie reached for him instantly, her eyes watery and lip quivering. Ann held her back skeptically only to have Kevin reach for her as well.


“Mom…please.” Ann hesitated a moment longer and then deciding it would be in everybody’s best interest to let Kevin hold Ellie she handed her over. Kevin enveloped her in his arms protectively then only wincing slightly before he got her situated in a comfortable position and she buried her face in his shoulder and immediately began to cry and Kevin right away recognized it as her wounded cry. He is also getting so good at this parent stuff, that he could see right off before he heard her cry that she is very unstable right now. He kissed her forehead softly and hugged her close to him with all of the strength that he has in him and he made eye contact with Detective Tutuola who had come back in with Brian, Kori, Wiley and Scott.


“Do I even want to know what’s gotten my little girl so broken up? I’ve never seen her this fragile before…not even when she first stepped foot inside the Orphanage.” When Detective Tutuola didn’t answer at first, Kevin immediately thought the worst.


“He’s not…” he let the sentence trail off and reading the terrified look on Kevin’s face Detective Tutuola picked up on what he meant.


“At the moment, no.”


“So then he’s…”


“Yes.” Ellie began to sob harder then and Kevin hugged her even closer.


“Ellie, princess…Shh. We’re going to fight for him sweetheart okay? We all promised you a fight” Kevin reassured her while rubbing his hand over her back soothingly. Detective Tutuola made a small little noise and Kevin looked at him with a raised eyebrow.


“Right? We promised her,” he went on, seeking confirmation that this was still the plan.


“We did, yes” Detective Tutuola answered carefully, and then his eyes fell on Ashley causing Kevin to look over at her too. Now that he had Ellie safely in his arms he finally took the time to really notice the state that Ashley is in. Even though she is purposely looking away from him and at a sleeping Bella instead gently running her fingers through her hair and delicately touching her skin as if she has not seen her daughter in years he could see that it was written clear on her face: Something is wrong with Nick.


“Where is my baby brother?” he demanded to know and he could see that everybody else would like to know the very same thing.


“Ashley…why don’t you and Brian take the girls to get some candy or something?” Ashley stood with Dakota and Sarah then and while he gently took Sarah into his arms Ashley kept a clingy Dakota but shifted her so that she is rested on her hip and she carefully without waking her gathered Bella up into her arms. She does not want to spend one moment away from her if she can help it. When she had both girls situated she followed Brian out of the room and Detective Tutuola began to answer Kevin’s question. When Brian and Ashley had the girls in the sitting room with the candy and soda machines, Brian sat them all down on a couch across from them, got their orders on what they all want, and then went on over to retrieve it all. While he was doing this, Dakota sat there quietly watching Ashley delicately run her fingers over Bella’s smooth skin as she slept before speaking up.

“Ashee?”


“Hmm?”


“Where is my daddy?” Ashley finally tore her gaze from her daughter and looked at Dakota to see her staring up at her with watery eyes that are filled with fear and Sarah who sat in the chair next to her was staring down at her lap fiddling with her finger nails and trying not to let her tears be seen. Ashley looked over at Brian who turned his head slightly to look at her upon hearing the question and she gave him a look that clearly said help me. When he returned with a handful of stuff, he sat them all on the little coffee table before sitting in a chair on the other side of it.


“He got injured during the battle honey…” Brian began in a careful tone. Dakota looked up at Ashley then and studied her careful expressions with her x-ray four year old eyes that see even the tiniest things as Brian went on. “He’s here being treated by doctors right now. Someone is going to come find Ashley as soon as they know anything.” Dakota slid her thumb in her mouth then and snuggled more into Ashley and Ashley hugged her close to her and kissed her forehead affectionately.


“Why don’t you have some candy sweetie? I got you some Reese’s peanut butter cups.” Dakota grabbed up the candy and Brian and Ashley watched as she sat there slowly nibbling little bites of it. “Are you sure you don’t want any candy Sarah? It’s not too late to ask for some, I’ll get up and get you anything you’d like” Brian asked gently and Sarah shook her head, slid her arms around Ashley’s waist and buried her face in her arm. Ashley leaned down and kissed the top of her head before letting her fingers cascade through her hair.


“Honey I know you are trying to be strong for Kota right now…but you don’t have to be,” she whispered in her ear. “Please don’t stop talking to us again, and please don’t hold your feelings in…it’s not healthy for you.”


“Daddy is the reason she’s talking in the first place” Dakota announced quietly. “It was daddy who she first started talking to ‘sides me…”


“Well you know what? Your Daddy wouldn’t want you to stop Sarah,” Ashley insisted while rubbing her hand over her back. “There is nothing he loves more than your voice…”


“Is daddy going to make it through this?” Sarah asked softly into her arm.


“He has to,” Ashley answered when she couldn’t think of anything else to say. “He has two little girls here who need him very much.”


“Three little girls,” Dakota corrected while sliding her finger into Bella’s little hand that was currently rested on Ashley’s chest. “An’ a future wife.” Ashley nodded quietly but otherwise didn’t respond as she looked down at her promise ring on her finger and she fought back her tears with great difficulty. Just a few hours ago she and AJ were discussing her wedding…and now here she is sitting in a hospital lobby while her boyfriend fights for his life. She doesn’t even know what she’ll do if he doesn’t make it through this. How could she ever go on? Nick has become such a big part of her life that she can’t even imagine what it would be like without him. Just then a doctor poked his head into the little sitting room from around the corner where the receptionist desk and a bigger lobby was located. Brian and Ashley both looked at him curiously.


“Excuse me, are you Ashley? The lady at the receptionist said she saw her go in here…”


“Yes, that’s me,” Ashley answered while rubbing at her eyes. “Are you here to talk to me about Nick?” The doctor nodded but looked at Dakota and Sarah warily. Ashley looked down at them too, thought for a second and then got up with Dakota and Bella before placing Dakota in the chair.


“Both of you stay right here…I’m just going to be right over there talking to the doctor,” Ashley ordered gently and she looked at Brian.


“Come over there with me?” she asked softly and Brian nodded, his heart breaking at how vulnerable she is right now. She always has been pretty vulnerable because of her past but having Nick by her side always made all the difference in the world. “Let Sarah hold the baby for a bit…” Brian suggested gently while going over to her and rubbing his hand over her back. Ashley looked down at the baby with that same protective look he’s seen on her face ever since she got back from Jersey awhile back ago. He wasn’t there on the trip with them, and has no idea what happened to cause it, but he noticed she developed a minor separation anxiety when it came to Bella. He knew it had to of had something to do with Sean, but he never asked thinking that if it were something to worry about Nick would’ve told him.


“She’ll be safe sweetie…” Brian reassured gently. “Sean is in jail.”


“I know…but it’s still going to take me awhile before I feel safe parting from her…”


“Sarah will take very good care of her, I promise. I just think it would be better for her at the moment…” Ashley stared at Bella for a few seconds more before finally handing her over and when she was sure Sarah would be okay, she allowed Brian to slide his arms around her waist from behind and gently turn her around and walk with her toward the doctor. The doctor turned and led them right around the corner and when they were well out of hearing and seeing point of the girls he turned and looked at Brian and Ashley who were staring back at them worriedly.


“Hello Ashley and…” he paused and looked at Brian questioningly.


“Brian,” he answered and the doctor nodded.


“Brian…I’m Doctor Sinatra and I’m one of the doctors who was working on Nick tonight,” he began and Ashley squeezed Brian’s hand nervously.

“Is he going to be okay?” she asked in a pleading tone. “Please tell me that he is going to be okay…” The Doctor paused a moment, wanting to word it all just right.

"He's suffered some head trauma, and lost quite a bit of blood. I assure you, he is alive, but at the moment, I'm afraid he's in a coma. I'm sorry to say this, but it can take from days and weeks, to months and years before a coma patient wakes up. But, rest assured, at the moment, he's in stable condition." Ashley stared at him for a long moment in a frozen state then, not quite sure how to react to this. This is not the news she’d been wanting to hear. She wanted him to tell her that he was fine and well and very much conscious and that he was asking for her and the girls. She ached for that kind of diagnosis with every fiber of her being. But then…he wouldn’t have made an act of taking her and Brian out of the room for that, he would’ve told them so in front of the girls. The reality that Nick is not fine at all and that this fight for his life could last weeks, months, or even years hit her hard, broke her heart and she burst into sobs and dropped to her knees only to have Brian grab onto her and fall to his own at her side. He held onto her tightly as she turned and buried her face in his chest and cried her heart out.