You came to dizzy and struggling to breathe in the smoke filled cab of your precious beetle. Loose strands of hair dangled passed your face, some locks had matted to the side of your face mixing with the warm red liquid trickling along your jaw and pooling on the windshield below you.

Below you?

Panic struck realizing the only thing keeping you in your seat was your safety belt while your extremities helplessly swayed in front of you. Clothes and toiletries were scattered about as you frantically scanned the mess for your phone to no avail.

The cold snow packed against the shattered windshield was in direct contrast to the heat that seemed to be enveloping the backseat. Carefully dragging yourself to turn in the driver's seat, your fear was confirmed; the engine had caught fire. A strangled cough vibrated through your chest bringing another realization to light.

To affirm you inhaled and screamed for help. The sound rattled through your chest and up your throat, but you only heard a muffled cry that didn't sound even remotely near. Not good. A shaky hand reached up to touch the blood still dripping from your ear.

Groaning metal shifted the bug forward. You braced yourself on the steering wheel as the snow beneath the windshield and hood gave way flipping the vehicle upside down. Losing yourself in a moment of frustration and fear, you hiccupped and cried until the scent of diesel beckoned you back to the situation at hand.

Your bruised fingers strained to reach the door handle, feebly coiling around and tugging the cold metal that refused to give.

"Shit." You breathed jerking harder.

Anger building, you cursed, screamed and kicked before trying the handle again. This time it shifted down allowing you to open the door with the force of your elbow. Once you were sure the door wouldn't slam shut you unbuckled dropping to the ceiling.

Sifting through the mess of belongings your fingers found your purse and the hem of one of Ace's hoodies that had been abandoned in the back seat. Snatching both items into your arms you crawled out the open door and into the deep snow of the embankment you'd landed in.

Shakily you slipped into Ace's jacket letting the vague scent of campfire that always seemed to follow him fill your senses. You didn't make it far before collapsing into the snow clutching your purse to your chest.

                                                                                                      ________________

"She hasn't checked in at the hotel." Ace chewed on the inside of his cheek.
"Maybe she went straight into a meeting." Thatch tried to reason.

Ace's flustered response was stifled by the beep of his call-waiting. He peeked at the number, it was local but not one he had saved.

"I'll call you right back someone is calling me." He clicked to the other line without hearing Thatch's goodbye.

"Hello?" Ace breathed almost frantic.
"Hi there, I'm looking for Mr. Portgas." the feminine voice greeted.
"Ace, that's me." The raven stared through the kitchen window at the empty driveway.
"My name is Maureen, I'm contacting you from Mercy Hospital. You're the I.C.E. contact for F/N L/N -"
"What happened?" he interrupted impatiently.
"She's been in an accident. Luckily she wasn't too far out of town and was air lifted to us quickly."

None of these words meant anything to him, "Is she alright or not?" He barked.
"My apologies, she's in stable but serious condition. We can fill you in more on her situation once you arrive." Maureen finished.
"I'll be there soon." he spoke passed the painful lump in his throat and hung up.

If you had just taken the short flight or let him go with you perhaps this could have been prevented. Guilt crept in clenching his hammering heart, was it all the foot dragging he did to keep you home as long as possible? He should have let you leave when you had planned instead of stalling and giving you slow lazy kisses in the driveway while you laughed and told him to do it properly so you could go. Kuma woofed breaking his torturous train of thought.

Unlocking his phone again he dialed Thatch.

"Who was it?" The brunette asked glossing over an unnecessary greeting.
"Mercy Hospital. She was air lifted there. Can you pick me up?" he could no longer contain the tremble in his voice.
"Of course. We're on our way." Thatch calmly replied, "She'll be alright. I'll see you in fifteen."

Ace bent to the bully that had sat in front of him and rubbed shaky hands over his charcoal muzzle.

"She'll be ok." He murmured trying to find comfort in Kuma's relaxed gaze.

                                                                                                     __________________

Thatch, Grace and Ace entered the large brick building facing bright white walls and an unfamiliar astringent scent. The lobby was bustling with busy staff even at the time of evening.

"If she was air lifted she's probably in intensive care." Grace stated approaching the reception desk.

Ace remained quiet observing their surroundings, he hadn't witnessed anything like this before and mixed with the anxiety already mounting in his chest it was a bit overwhelming. He found himself wishing Kuma were with him.

"I.C.U. is on the third floor." Grace placed a visitor sticker on Ace's chest with a small calm smile.

Thatch stepped forward tugging his brother by the shoulder toward the elevators.

The sliding doors parted revealing the nurses station in the center of three long hallways on the third floor.

"Visiting hours on this floor are over unless you're family." an older woman with curly red hair stood as the trio approached.
Grace pushed the raven forward, "We can sit in the waiting room down stairs."

Ace gulped hesitantly turning back to the red headed woman, "I-I'm Por- uh ... Ace Portgas. I'm here for F/N L/N." he stammered still not used to giving his name in such an order.

She took a seat at the desk, keyboard clattering with every strike of her finger.

"Ah yes. She was moved to a private room after her surgery. Down that hall room 312." she pointed to her left, "The doctor will be making rounds soon and can fill you in on her condition."

Quietly Ace strode down the hall stopping briefly at your open door. His ears were met with high pitched beeps of the monitor to your left, letting his rubies drift over you lying motionless in the bed observing the tubes and wires attached to you. Small cuts and bruises decorated what skin was visible. The whole scene made his chest hurt especially not knowing the details of your condition. He stopped noticing a plastic bag neatly placed on a chair near the head of the bed. Opening the bag he found your purse sitting atop his gray hoodie, a smattering of blood staining the thick cotton.

"Feel free to get comfortable. She probably won't wake up until tomorrow." A deep male voice called from the doorway, "I'm Dr. Singh I'll be the primary resident assigned to Ms. L/N."

"What happened?" Ace asked for what felt like the millionth time that evening.

The doctor motioned for him to take a seat, "According to the report we received, a cement truck hit a patch of black ice and clipped her Volkswagen causing it to flip multiple times before landing on its end and ultimately flipping over in a nearby embankment."

"Is she going to be alright?"

"She suffered a lot of trauma, ruptured spleen, bruised sternum, a multitude of cuts and bruises and a cerebral contusion." He paused briefly to glance over the chart at the foot of your bed, "The most concerning is the rupturing of both eardrums. We can't be sure until she's conscious but she could suffer a considerable amount of hearing loss."

Ace laced his fingers with yours letting out a sighed as you unconsciously gave them a weak squeeze.