“Can we see him now?” Ashley asked softly after Brian had managed to calm her down and then finished getting more information about the situation from Doctor Sinatra.


“Yes you may, it’s always a good thing for him to have visitors there with him and talking to him…he can hear every word you say.”


“Sweetheart, I don’t think that’s a good idea for you just yet,” Brian began skeptically. “You’ve been tormented all night long, you are an emotional wreck, I really think that you should get some sleep fir—“


“--No, I don’t want to, I want to go see Nicky.”


“But Honey...”


“NO,” Ashley snapped tearfully. “I WANT TO GO AND SEE HIM DAMNIT! You’ll have to drag me back to Angel’s room kicking and screaming if you don’t let me!” Brian stared at her for a long moment in silence and then sighed heavily before looking up at the doctor.


“Is my friend AJ McLean done being treated yet?”


“Yes he is, and is now in Angel’s room with everyone else.” Brian nodded and then reached into his pocket and he pulled out his cell phone. He flipped it open, hit a number, and then placed it to his ear and waited. After a few seconds when AJ picked up Ashley listened to the conversation.


“AJ it’s me…I’m sure you know by now that I am out in the lobby with your sister. I think you need to come out here and be with her right now…we’ve just been told what’s going on with Nick and it’s not good.”


“Shit…all right I will be right out,” AJ replied and then hung up. Brian did too and put his phone away before once again sliding his arms around Ashley protectively and she leaned into him sniffling. A few moments later both AJ and Kori came walking into the lobby. Ashley caught sight of them and got to her feet and went right to them. AJ held his arms open for her and she walked right into them, slid her own around his waist and buried her face in the crook of his neck while Kori moved so that she was behind her and hugged her too. AJ looked at Brian and Doctor Sinatra then for answers.


“He’s in a coma, J…” Brian said softly, working very hard to keep his tears at bay. “From head trauma and blood loss.” AJ hugged Ashley even tighter upon hearing this and he kissed her forehead softly as his own tears rolled down his cheek.


“Where are the kids Bri?”


“Right around the corner sitting on the couches and eating candy. Ashley wants to go see Nick but I’m not sure that’s such a good idea just yet…she’s exhausted and emotional.”


“And I will just be a raging bitch if you don’t let me go see him. Which would you prefer?” Ashley spoke into A.J.’s neck.


“I think she should be allowed to see him for a little bit,” Kori spoke up. “It would be a bad idea not to let her.”


“What about Kota and Sarah?” Brian wanted to know.


“Take them back to Angel’s room and get them in bed.”


“They’re going to want to know what’s going on with Nick.”


“Then tell them in the gentlest way that you can…you’re good at that stuff Bri. But it’s gotta be you that takes care of them because that’s what Nick wanted – you and Ashley” AJ answered and Brian nodded dutifully. He did promise his best friend that if anything should ever happen to him he would make sure the girls were well taken care of. While he went in the next room to deal with them AJ looked at Doctor Sinatra.


“Can we see him for a little bit please?”


“Mhm, right this way” the doctor answered, and he began leading them in the direction of Nick’s room. When they got in there they discovered Nick lying motionless and hooked to a bunch of machines. Ashley tightened her arms around AJ as they stood in the doorway gazing at him and no matter how hard she tried to stop them tears kept on sliding down her cheeks.


“Hit the button on Nick’s bed if he needs anything,” Doctor Sinatra instructed gently.


“Kay,” Kori replied and she watched as he turned and walked out of the room giving them some privacy with Nick.


“He looks like he could be sleeping…” Ashley whispered softly. “Just taking a nap…”


“Maybe he is dreaming about you,” AJ told her gently while rubbing his hand over her back soothingly. “There is only one thing that could ever make him look that peaceful…and that’s you.”


“Well then why doesn’t he wake up so that he can have the real thing all he wants?” Ashley asked tearfully and she let go of AJ and walked over to the bed so that she was standing next to it peering down at her soul mate.


“I don’t know sweetie…I wish he would.” AJ stood there quietly watching as Kori walked up behind their sister and slid her arms around her before resting her chin on her shoulder and she hugged her close to her protectively. “Part of me just wishes this was one of his ridiculous pranks…that he would pop up in that bed and say “Got ya” and laugh that corny laugh of his,” he added and then shook his head.


“I would beat him senseless if he ever did anything that cruel,” Kori insisted and she shook her head as well.


“You would have to stand in line,” AJ added while chuckling slightly despite it all. “But at least he would be alive…”


“He is alive,” Ashley said firmly, and then carefully sat on the edge of the bed beside Nick before reaching out and smoothing his blonde hair out of his face and delicately caressing his skin with her fingers. “I can feel it. I would know it if he were dead…”


“Of course he is alive honey…” AJ said in a very careful tone and Kori gave him a look that he saw too late. “Because of a machine…” Kori reached out and punched him in the shoulder hard and AJ yelped.


“What was that for?!” He snapped and Kori glared at him. Ashley however, ignored the bickering as she is quite used to it by now and kept her focus on Nick. She also ignored AJ’s comment as well because she has fully accepted that he won’t fully understand the connection that she and Nick has until he witnesses it before his very eyes. She shifted then so that she was lying in the bed next to him while ignoring Kori’s reminder to be careful and she wrapped her arms around him protectively before resting her forehead against his.


“Come on baby wake up…” Ashley pleaded softly. “How are we supposed to prove to my jackass brother that we’re meant to be if you die on me?”


“Hey…” AJ said somewhat resentfully and Kori sniggered. “Kota and Sarah miss you so much,” Ashley added as if there wasn’t an interruption. “Kota is very worried but being strong as she usually is. And Sarah…our fragile little Sarah is of course doing everything she can to hold her fear and emotions inside because she feels like it’s her job as the big sister to be brave for Kota…but really she is so close to breaking point I can feel it. She needs you…you always tell me that I know how to make everything better for her and if it weren’t for me she wouldn’t be as strong as she’s gotten today, but it’s not true.” Ashley felt AJ’s gentle fingers slide through her hair but went on talking to Nick as if he wasn’t there despite the tears threatening to fog her eyes. “It’s you who saved her from Tom, it’s you who befriended her when she needed someone most, and it was you who she spoke to first apart from all of the kids. You made her understand that you would always be there whenever she was ready and you gave her the strength to do so. Maybe I helped a little like I know you would say right now but that’s the point I am trying to make here. I can’t do it without you…we’re a team. I can’t go on without you. Please don’t leave me now.” As she lay there in silence with him she heard A.J.’s phone ring and was barely aware of him answering it and talking on it. A second later she felt him nudge her shoulder.


“Ashley honey?” she looked up at him then, blinking back tears and found his concerned eyes looking back at her.


“What?” Ashley asked softly.


“Are you all right? I’ve been trying to get your attention for five minutes.” Ashley shrugged her shoulders and instead of answering his question she asked him one of her own.


“Who called you?”


“Momma…she called me to tell me that Bella is awake and screaming bloody murder. No one can calm her down because it’s her I want my mommy cry.” Ashley started to get up upon hearing this but then stopped short and looked at Nick feeling torn.


“Come on sweetie, I will take you down there to get Bells…he’s not going anywhere I promise” Kori insisted. “You can come right back.” When that didn’t work, AJ spoke up.


“Go on sis…I want a few moments alone with my baby brother anyway if you don’t mind…” Ashley gazed at AJ curiously for a moment, and then granting his request she got up and allowed Kori to lead her out of the room. AJ sat there quietly watching them leave and when he was sure they were all the way gone he pulled up a chair beside Nick’s bed and stared at him with grief that he’d been hiding behind a mask for Ashley’s sake and he spoke quietly.


“Come on buddy…come back to us,” he pleaded. “You fought so hard and for far too long to be with Ashley just to leave her now…she needs you Nicky…I need you. We all need you…it won’t be the same without you. I can’t take care of her on my own you know…you and I are supposed to be a team remember?”


Meanwhile, when Ashley and Kori walked into Angel’s room sure enough they found Bella screaming hysterically as if someone might have smacked her. Feeling troubled by this particular scream, though she is highly used to it, Ashley rushed over to Denise and instantly gathered Bella into her arms.


“Bella…honey…its okay. Mommy is here…I’m right here” she said softly and she delicately placed her hand at the back of her head and made it so it was rested against her shoulder as she rocked her and Bella almost instantly stopped crying. Ashley kissed the top of her head softly and hugged her close to her protectively as she looked over at Aaron’s bed and discovered Sarah and Dakota lying in it cuddling but they’re wide awake.


“Why are Kota and Sarah still awake? They should be sleeping.”


“We’ve been trying to get them to ever since Brian came back in here with them. They wouldn’t until he told them what was going on with Nick and when he did that was pretty much it for sleeping…has there been any change?” Kevin asked hopefully and Ashley looked over at him with watery eyes and shook her head.


“I want my daddy,” Dakota insisted tearfully.


“I will take you to him later when you wake up honey but right now it’s nearly two thirty in the morning and it’s been a long stressful night. I want you both to go to sleep,” Ashley insisted.


“No now.”


“Dakota Ann…”


“WHAT PARTS OF I WANT MY DADDY, DO YOU NOTS UNDERSTAND ASHEE?!”


“Dakota Ann Carter, there is no need for you to take that tone of voice with her” Brian lectured sternly and Dakota instantly burst into sobs. Ashley sighed heavily as her heart began to break for Dakota and she went over and sat next to her on the bed before pulling her into her lap while she continued to hold Bella. Dakota slid her arms around her neck and buried her face in her shoulder and Ashley rubbed her hand over her back soothingly.


“Neither of us are going to be able to sleep without Daddy, Ashee” Sarah insisted calmly though the tears were apparent in her eyes. “Can’t you please take us to daddy? Please? That’s the only way Kota an’ I know how to sleep is snuggled up with you an’ daddy.” Ashley reached out and gently stroked Sarah’s hair as she considered this. The six year old speaks the truth and she knows it. Neither of the girls have had much practice sleeping on their own and right now is a really traumatic time for them. After thinking about it for a moment, Ashley nodded and stood up with both Dakota and Bella. She turned so her back was to Sarah and looked back at her over her shoulder.


“Climb onto my back Sarah.” Sarah stood up on the bed and after grabbing up Dakota’s teddy bear she crawled onto Ashley’s back sliding her arms around her neck and her legs around her waist. When Sarah was situated she looked at Kori.


“Coming?” Kori nodded and despite everything she couldn’t help but look at her sister in amusement.


“Would you like help carrying anything? Maybe a child or two?” Ashley paused then at her question, as she hadn’t considered asking for help.


“That might be a good idea…” Kori shook her head slightly and then gently grabbed Sarah off of Ashley’s back and into her own arms and then looked at Scott. Wiley and Chris had asked for their own hospital room, as even though Wiley and Kori had patched things up somewhat he would rather not watch her be with Scott all the same.


“I’m probably going to be in Nick’s room with Ashley all night…come with me?”


“Mhm, of course” Scott nodded and he got up with Spencer who was asleep in his arms.


“I’m coming too” Aaron insisted. “I want to be with my brother.”


“Me too…please?” Angel asked while looking at Conner as if expecting him to carry her.


“You need to ask the doctor for permission to change rooms honey…” Brian insisted.


“And if that’s the case, we all may as well go. If our baby brother is in there then we should be too” Howie spoke up.


“I’m just going to take the girls down there now and get them situated…he’s just right down the hall though, room B56” Ashley replied.


“All right, we’ll all be in there soon honey.” Ashley nodded and then turned and walked out of the room with Bella and Dakota and Kori and Scott followed with Sarah and Spencer. Angel meanwhile, pushed the button on her bed that would have a doctor or nurse come check on her. A moment later a nurse poked her head in.


“Is everything okay Angel?”


“Yes, I’m fine but I was wondering if maybe I could be moved down to room B56…my brother is staying in there.”



When Ashley, Kori, Scott, and the kids walked into Nick’s room they found AJ sitting there quietly watching Nick sleep but he looked up automatically when they walked in.


“Get ready Aje, the slumber party is moving into this room” Kori announced as Ashley brought the girls over to Nick’s bed. She sat them down after telling them to be careful and AJ watched protectively as they snuggled up with Nick making sure they didn’t accidentally do anything to mess anything up. While they were doing this, Ashley pushed the help button on Nick’s bed so that Doctor Sinatra or a nurse would come in and she could request another bed.

“You were just supposed to go calm Bella down,” AJ commented and Ashley shrugged.


“Yeah well, Dakota and Sarah are used to having me and Nick in bed with them…it was in everybody’s best interest that I let them come in here.”


“Well…it’s a good thing Kota and Sarah are little and don’t take up too much room and that this bed is big enough…” AJ replied.


“Yeah but I am still going to ask for another bed. I don’t want to take up too much room and risk hurting Nick. While the girls sleep with him I will sleep in that one with Bella.”


“Maybe you could push the arm rests to Nick’s bed up and push the two beds together,” Scott suggested as he stood there gently swaying with Spencer still asleep in his arms. “The girls could then sleep between you like they always do.”


“That could work,” Ashley agreed and Kori gently grabbed Scott’s arm and pulled him over to one of the comfortable couches in the room. Scott sat down and shifted so that he was lying sideways with his head on the arm rest and with his back up against the back rest so that there was room for Kori to lie down in front of him. She took Spencer from him and did just that and Scott slid his arms around her before resting his chin on her shoulder. Just as soon as they got comfortable a nurse came in answering Ashley’s call and it wasn’t long before everybody else was joining them for a giant slumber party so that they all could be with Nick.