"Mr. Olson, I'm gonna ask you to relax so I can extract the oxygen tube," The nurse said to Ricky as she disconnected the tube.

Ricky softly groaned as Chris held his hand, Bethany holding his other hand, and once he had relaxed, the nurse slowly slide the breathing tube out.

Once it was out, Ricky coughed and was able to breathe a bit easier.

"There. The doctor will be by later to check and see how damaged your mobility is," she said, soon leaving.

Ricky groaned in slight pain, his breathing becoming normal as Bethany helped him get comfortable.

"Thank goodness you're awake, Chris smiled.

Ricky sighed. "W-What happened?"

"We were caught in the fire," Chris said. "But you took worse damage than me."

Ricky's eyebrows scrunched together as he looked down at his body, seeing the abdomen cast.

"Deja vu," he mumbled. Bethany frowned slightly and gripped his hand.

Soon a doctor walked in, followed by another nurse.

"Mr. Olson, its good to see you're awake," He greeted, then turned to Chris. "Agent Cerulli, you shouldn't be here."

"He can stay, its fine," Bethany said.

The doctor sighed. "Alright. How do you feel, Mr. Olson?"

"Like I got hit by a truck," he sighed. "But... My legs feel weird..."

Chris pursed his lips nervously, Bethany holding back a sob and Devin looking worried.

"Well, not a truck, just a knicked gas tank," Devin said.

Ricky sighed as the doctor examined his IV drips.

"Okay, now, by what I reviewed in your report, you sustained some broken ribs and injured your back by what a few witnesses said were a pile of crates that collapsed on you from the explosion," the doctor said. "And medical records, this isn't your first spinal cord injury, especially in your lumbar region," he said.

Ricky frowned, but nodded. "I guess not."

"I'm going to run a few tests, see how much mobility you have in your legs. Your upper torso continues working well, but lower torso is in question," the doctor said as the nurse moved Ricky's blanket to reveal his legs.

Ricky gulped nervously, knowing he couldn't feel his legs so much.

Is it possible... Could he actually be paralyzed?

"Are you ready?" The doctor asked, taking out a pen.

Ricky was hesitant in answering, but still nodded.

Chris reached over and gripped his hand. "Its gonna be okay."

Ricky gulped and nodded, smiling a bit at Chris before the doctor ran the closed tip of his pen against the side of Ricky's foot, up to his ankle.

"Do you feel anything?" The doctor asked.

"Uhhh... a bit... Kind of felt like my legs were numbed with ice though, so it kind of feels more like a feather on my leg or something," Ricky answered honestly.

"So, a weak feeling?" he asked.

Ricky responds with a nod.

"Is that good?" Bethany asked the doctor.

"Most likely... But just to make sure," he said, putting his pen away. "I'm gonna ask you to try and wiggle your toes."

Ricky looked at his feet, and tried to move them fully, but they only twitched a bit.

"They moved a bit," Chris said, sounding a bit relieved.

"Okay, now your ankles?" The doctor said.

Ricky tried it, and his ankles didn't rotate like he wanted to, but it moved, hurting a bit.

"Now try and lift your knee," He said.

Ricky winced as he tried to fight past the painful strain in his leg and lifted his knee the best he could.

It went up a couple of inches, but he got tired and couldn't lift it anymore.

"That's good, he can move it a little bit right. He's not completely paralyzed," Devin said.

"Yes... But there's still signs of nerve damage, and he may need to rest until he's gained partial to total mobility. Any unnecessary movemet can result in total paralysis if he isn't careful. We will try this week to have gim take a few steps, and if there's some improvement, I'll suggest either some crutches or a chair for the meantime," the doctor said.

"So, I'm not paralyzed, but if I'm not careful or do stupid shit, then I will be?" Ricky asked.

"Yes, precisely. You will have to remain here until you're adequate to walk," The doctor said.

Ricky sighed and nodded. "Okay... Thank you," he said.

He nodded. "You're welcome. Now, best you get some rest. As for you, Mr. Cerulli, its best you rest as well," he said. "You will be released soon and we don't want you suffering any complications of any sirt."

"Can I... Just have a moment with him?" Chris asked.

The doctor hesitated before Devin spoke.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he gets back to his room," He said.

He hesitantly nodded. "Alright, but then its bed rest."

"Yes, sir," Chris nodded, smiling a bit.

The doctor nodded and left with the nurse.

"Beth, you must be hungry. Come on, let's go get something to eat in the cafeteria. On me," Devin said.

Bethany nodded shyly before gripping her brothers hand. "Sure. Thanks."

They both left and Chris turned to Ricky, smiling at him.

"At least there's a chance you can walk again," Chris smiled.

Ricky smiled a bit. "Second time I escape paralysis or death... Its seems almost too good to be true," He said. "Just like you."

Chris smiled and moved the wheelchair a bit closer.

"So... It really is over?" Ricky asked.

Chris sighed and nodded. "Yeah... Michael and his creeps are done for. Some escaped, but they didn't go far," Chris said. "But yeah... Its over."

Ricky nodded, then remembering a past conversation.

"What about us? I mean... I'm still a murderer," Ricky said. "That night I killed like a bunch of more people... I doubt I could escape arrest."

Chris frowned. "Let me and Angelo handle it when we can. For now, just focus on recovering."

Ricky sighed, nodding his head.

"I was really worried... A lot of us almost didn't make it, you and me included," Chris said. "All I could hope is that you were alive."

Ricky looked over. "How bad was it?"

Chris sighed, gripping his hand. "A couple of my collegues are dead... And some Creeps didn't make it either, along with one of Demon's guys," Chris admitted. "Kuza almost couldn't be revived. He's breathing on his own, but Matt's not taking it so well."

Ricky frowned. "What about Angelo and the scientist girl? W-Were they saved?"

Chris nodded. "Yeah. Alex was in the middle of suffering from an overdose, but she's okay now," Chris said. "Angelo is recovering, too."

Ricky nodded. "And you?"

Chris shrugged and motioned to his casted leg.

"Worst is a broken leg. My lungs are clean now," he nodded.

Ricky nodded, smiling. "That's good..."

Chris smiled and then carefully got up from the chair and moved to sit next to Ricky on the bed.

Ricky moved the best he could to be comfortable next to Chris, holding holding his hand.

"I'm glad you're alive...." Ricky mumbled.

Chris smiled and placed a hand on his cheek. "Me too..."

"Really?" Ricky's eyebrows scrunched slightly. "Even if.... I killed people, slaughtered then to the point where they're not recognizable?"

"That doesn't matter to me.... You're different from any other murderer," he said. "You still have a heart, and a good one."

Ricky smiled shyly.

"If anything... You're like..... a raccoon," Chris chuckled. "A bandit who causes trouble, but isn't all that evil."

Ricky couldn't help but laugh. "A raccoon..... Yeah, I can see it. That Craig guy did call me raccoon shit when they release me and Ash and Misery," he laughed. "He's not a big fan of knowing the real truth."

Chris laughed, picturing the scenario.

Ricky smiled and held his hand.

"Why are you so nice to me?" Ricky mumbled. "Nobody's ever been nice to me... Only Bethany and my mom before she died..."

Chris looked down at him. "Like I said, you're different."

Ricky smiled. "So are you..."

Chris nodded. "I really did mean what I said... Before we passed out in the fire," Chris said.

Ricky's eyebrows scrunched, not being able to remember much of what happened before he lost conciousness.

"All I remember is... trying to find a way to get to Michael... Since he had you," Ricky mumbled, trying to remember.

"Yeah... It was fuzzy for me, too, until I did remember," he smiled. "Let me refresh you're memory a bit..."

Chris then leaned in and pressed his lips against Ricky's.

Ricky was surprised at his actions, but then relaxed and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him closer as their lips moved together.

They kissed for who knows how long until they pulled back, smiling at each other, Ricky blushing furiously.

"You know... You got a lot of guts kissing a guy who probably looks like shit after being knocked out for days," Ricky joked.

Chris laughed and pecked his lips, holding his hand as they looked down at each other, Chris sort of hovering a bit over him.

"We're all gonna be okay," He smiled.

Ricky smiled back, feeling hopeful.

~~~~~

Matt laid snuggled against Kuza's side, finally asleep.

He may have Devin, but he loved Kuza like no other, and can't bear losing someone else in his life.

He was deep in sleep and didn't realize arms wrapped around him.

"Matty?" a soft but croaky voice spoke to him.

"Hmmmm," Matty mumbled as he then felt a kiss on his head.

"Hey, Matty, wake up...." the voice spoke softly. "Come on, babe..."

Matt subconsciously obeyed and let his eyes open, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"Hey," the voice spoke and his eyebrows scrunched and he looked over, gasping as he saw his lover looking up at him with a tired smile, reaching up and holding his cheek.

"M-Mike...." Matt mumbled, his eyes filling with tears.

Kuza's smile fell a bit as he stared into Matt's tired face.

"You look so tired..." he mumbled. "Have you been eating?"

Matt couldn't contain his excitement anymore.

"MIKEY!!" He cried out, jumping on him and hugging him, crying into his shoulder.

"Whoa, whoa, Matty," Kuza groaned as he sat up the beat he could, holding his tiny dancer as he cried into his shoulder. "Calm down... Its okay..."

"I-I thought I l-lost you...." Matt sobbed, clinging to Mike. "I... I-I thought y-you were g-gonna leave me..."

Kuza frowned and wrapped his arms around Matt's shaking body, hugging him tightly.

"Hey, it's okay, babe," he mumbled, rubbing his back. "I'm not going anywhere."

Matt relaxed a bit in Kuza's arms as he clung to him.

Kuza then pulled back and held Matt's face in his hands as Matt smiled at him behind tears.

"I don't know what the hell happened... But I'm just glad you're okay," he smiled.

Matt let out a happy whimper as they both leaned in and kissed each other passionately.

~~~~~

"You shouldn't be doing this, Johnnie," Kyle Hall said as he helped his still-injured friend down the hall, Tyler Hagen helping to push his IV pole.

Johnnie Guilbert woke up yesterday after surgery, miraculously surviving the shooting, and didn't hesitate to wanting to see his girlfriend, especially after hearing all she was put to prior to her kidnapping.

"I have to make sure Alex is okay," he said, stubbornly ignoring the pleas of his friend to return to bed.

"But she can't even leave her room, Johnnie, she's gonna be in detox for a couple of days," Tyler said.

"I just have to see her, make sure she's okay... At least to see her face," Johnnie begged. "Please.."

Johnnie's friends knew it was pointless to keep arguing with him, and just helped him walk down the hall to where they knew Alex was.

They approached the room and peered in to the window, seeing Alex was asleep on the bed, looking at peace.

Johnnie smiled with relief and lightly knocked on the window.

Alex stirred a bit, her eyes slowly opening and spotting Johnnie at the window.

She shot up and smiled, carefully pulling out her IV needle from her arm and climbing out of bed and approaching the window, slightly thin from the blood loss but gaining her color back, arms covered in bandages.

She stood at the window where Johnnie, his hand on the window as he felt tears in his eyes, relief that the girl of his dreams is alive, and safe.

She let out a happy sob, the same mutual feelings flooding through her as she looked into Johnnie's bright blue eyes, remembering how she thought she lost him forever.

She placed her hand on the window where Johnnie's was.

"I love you," she cried happily.

He cried softly, smiling. "I love you, too."

They wished to be able to hold each other, but knew for the meantime they couldn't.

But the two young lovers knew that soon they will be in each other's arms, safe and happy again.

~~~~~

Andy sighed out of boredom as he sat in his hospital room.

His fiancé had to deal with some issues at Sinful since this morning, and couldn't sto by to visit.

Not that but bothered him... But damn, some company isn't too much to ask.

The only bright side was that he leaved tomorrow afternoon.

He was bored and flipping through some channels when the door opened with a knock.

He was surprised to see one of the FBI agents who recruited him stand at the door.

He was pretty handsome, tan skinned, some soft yet noticeable chiseled features.

"Hey, sorry to disturb. Just wanted to come visit everyone, see how they were doing," he said.

"No, no, no problem. I was actually starting to get bored of all these rerun channels, so you're practically doing me a favor being here," Andy said, turning off the TV. "You were one of the agents that cane into Sinful that night, right?"

"Yeah, Ashley Purdy, I'm in the Homocide Investigation Unit," he said, shrugging a bit. "Just like Chris and a few others."

"Ohh, yeah, I remember. That sounds interesting. I'm Andy, I co-own the night club," Andy greeted. "I uhh, also heard about your partner... I'm sorry for your loss."

Ashley sighed. "Yeah, Robert was a cool guy," Ashley smiled sadly. "But he helped save many, so he didn't die in vain."

Andy nodded. "Yeah... But its never easy losing a partner, physically or emotionally."

"You got that right," He nodded. "I mean you, you took a hard hit in the head, could have died from that. Poor girl of yours would have been pretty upset."

Andy frowned. "You know... Between you and me... I doubt she would have cared if I didn'tsurvive that night, if I got burned alived or crushed or whatever."

Ashley scrunched his eyebrows. "Why would you say that? She seemed pretty worried about you going when you volunteered to save my collegues and that intern," he said.

"Yeah, but she only cares because I co-own one of Scranton's favorite night bars, meaning I got some pretty good money," he sighed. "Kind of always like that..."

Ashley frowned and sat at the end of the bed.

"Her loss then. You seem like a pretty good guy, and deserve someone better, who would actually really care if you live or die," He said. "Everyone deserves someone to love and care for them."

Andy couldn't help but smile at his words.

"Gee.... Thanks," he said. "Nobody's really ever said anything like that to me."

"Well, then, glad I could cheer you up," Ashley smiled.

Andy smiled back at him, already feeling close to this kind agent as they continued to talk.

~~~~~

Hehe, kind of had to add some Andley to this story. ;P

Hope you're all enjoying this story! Probably going to write a few more chapters, give or take maybe 10 more, and then end it. Still not sure, so we'll see how it goes.

Let me know what you guys think so far! :)

♡~ sapphire.