Before

It had been about two weeks since Rick had been shot and fell into a coma. Rayna had taken a few days off from work which honestly, wasn't as easy as it sounded.

Rayna was a social worker and although the job sounded cool, it wasn't always the best, she had seen things, very bad things. These poor kids in bad situations that sometimes she herself couldn't even help. She had to wake up each morning wondering if someone else would get hurt, or be saved. 

It was oddly rewarding and terrifying all at one. And although she had somewhat accommodated to waking up with uneasiness pooled in her stomach, nothing could have prepared her for her brothers accident.

Loss wasn't an unfamiliar feeling to Rayna, she had lost both of her parents, but knowing Ricks life was hanging in the balance was tearing her apart. She loved him just as much as she had loved her parents. After their parents passing he took her in, finished raising her, put her through school and he was always there when she needed him. It was something she could never repay, but she'd make sure to never forget it.

She had to space out her days off over the course of the last two weeks, she had taken off the last two days spending every spare minute with her brother. She read somewhere that coma patients might be able to hear their surroundings, so she made sure to talk to him often, filling him in on their lives and Carl, even if there wasn't much going on.

She had fallen asleep on one of the chairs in her hospital room mid conversation, having been running on barely any sleep. She basically moved herself into his hospital room for the past few days. She made friends with the doctors and nurses and staff. Most of them came around to liking her, always letting her "accidentally" stay past visiting hours.

Carl and Lori popped in and a few times, along with Shane who came by after everyone of his shifts. Always bringing flowers for Rick's bedside or food for Rayna knowing she wouldn't have thought to get anything for herself. Her husband trying to convince her to go home and sleep, and then sit next to her for hours when she refused.

Rayna was somewhere in the black abyss of sleep on an uncomfortable chair in the hospital room when she felt a small weight drape over her and someone kiss her forehead. She stirred in her sleep, her eyes fluttering open.

Her bright blue eyes glimmered in the streaks of light that came through the window, darting around. She saw that the weight that was placed upon her was a jacket. A deputy's jacket.

Her eyes moved to the left slightly and she saw Shane siting on the other chair beside her his face filled with concern.

"You can't keep doing this sunshine." He said while running his thumb gently beneath her eye, tracing the dark circle that formed there. Sunshine.

Since Rayna was 21 years old on their first date Shane had deemed her Sunshine. For the reason that her name was Rayna and people called her Ray and in his eyes she was a Ray of sunshine.

"I'm fine." She brushed him off. Tossing his jacket back which he easily caught.

"No you're not, you look like shit Ray." He bluntly stated.

"Well Shane, you really know how to make a girl feel special." She said sarcastically with a foe smile.

He rolled his eyes, "Come on, you know he wouldn't want you to be like this." She gave him her 'death glare'.

"Stop doing that, stop talking in the past tense, stop talking like he's not here anymore." She ran a frustrated hand through her long hair which was a mix of natural gold and light brown streaks.

"You know that's not what I meant." He said giving her a pointed look.

"Really? Cause lately it seems like everyone's given up." She huffed, "Lori, I mean I'm not saying she should be sobbing at his bed side but," she ran a hand over her face, " I don't know maybe it's just me maybe I'm being stupid." She shrugged looking down.

He got up crouching in front of her chair, he lightly tapped her chin causing her to look up. "Your not stupid." He said with a slight chuckle and that smile of his, "but you can't do this, go home for a while, you  need a shower, a proper meal, there's food in the fridge, maybe actually get a good nights rest."

"You telling me I smell?" She said deflecting.

He lightly laughed, "I'm telling you, you need a break."

"I can't leave him. I only have one more day before I need to go back to work." She frowned looking over at Rick who laid still.

"Your not leaving him, I'll stay till hours are over." She looked hesitant, "One night, c'mon?"
She pursed her lips shaking her head. "A few hours?" She sighed in defeat. He wasn't gonna let up.

"Fine." He grinned in victory she pointed her finger in his face, "Only. A. Few. Hours." She said sternly. He nodded okay. Grabbing her hand and moving it away and pulling her up.

"Your truck here?" He asked. Referring to to the old pick up she inherited from her father.

"Yup, I'll be back In a few-"

"Hours." He finished, "I know." She grabbed her bag and her stuff. She sighed,  and then turned to him, pulling her husband into a much needed hug.

"Love you." She told him.

"Love you too sunshine." He responded before she gave him a kiss goodbye and headed home.

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