Cassidy could see everyone's eyes on her as she put the phone in the cradle.

"What is it, Sweetie?" Her mother asked leading her away from the mess.

"That was Sabrina" she said furrowing her brow as she tried to make up a lie. Her mind was all fuzzy so she would have to wing it solo. "Tommy's been shot, they're taking him to the hospital"

Cassidy didn't look at drew as she walked to the door grabbing her purse and leaving. She had made it down the stairs of their home when she heard the door open and quickly close.

"You're not leaving" Drew ordered.

"Sabrina is my best friend. She doesn't have any family so I have to be there for her" Cassidy insisted.

"I said you're not leaving" he said pinning her body to the car with his. He pulled her arm behind her back pain shot down her arm but years of abuse had taught her to deal with pain silently. 

"Ok, I'll stay" she said knowing this was the very least of the damage that Drew could inflict.

Cassidy could feel the tears running out of her eyes. She desperately wanted to go to the hospital. Cassidy would go crazy not seeing Nate, not knowing if he was okay.

Drew had just begun to release her arm when their front door opened again. Cassidy looked up to see her dad coming down the stairs.

"Sweetie, you shouldn't be behind the wheel right now. I'll drive" her dad said.

"Cassidy's not going" Drew told him.

"Is that so" her father asked putting his hands on his hips.

"I want to go to the hospital" she said firmly knowing that Drew wouldn't do anything to her while her father was there.

Her father led her to the car and she hoped he didn't notice that she was shaking in fear. As she buckled her seat belt she could see the anger rolling off of Drew. She would pay dearly for this when she returned. She didn't care. This was Nate. She wouldn't be able to relax or calm down until she saw him and knew he was okay.

As she walked into the ER, she was disoriented with the hustle and bustle of employees, patients, and family members going every which way. In a row of blue chairs off to the side she saw her best friend Sabrina. She was hunched over with her loose dirty blonde hair hanging down around her face. Cassidy was pretty sure Sabrina was in shock.

Cassidy sat down next to her taking her hand.

"We were supposed to get married" Sabrina cried into Cassidy's shoulder. Cassidy hugged her tight.

"You'll get married" Cassidy said being optimistic.

Sabrina shook her head.

"He coded 10 minutes ago" she squeaked, her blue eyes shining with tears they held.

Tommy was dead.

Cassidy couldn't believe it. Tommy had been Nathan's partner for 6 years and he had been dating Sabrina for 5 of those years, now he was gone.

Cassidy hated herself for it but her mind went to Nathan. She had no idea about the injuries he had suffered.

"Why don't you go home dad" Cassidy said seeing her father fidgeting from one foot to another. He had always hated hospitals but he absolutely loathed them since he had a heart attack 6 years ago.

"What about you?" He asked looking relieved.

"Sabrina will take me home" Cassidy lied, Sabrina was in no condition to take anyone home.

Cassidy was fidgeting with her nervous energy. She needed to know how Nathan was doing but she didn't know who to ask. Her other best friend Jocelynn worked in the ER but she hadn't seen her. Drew worked here too so she didn't want to ask a random person about Nathan. Knowing her luck she'd accidentally ask her.

"Cass?" Jocelynn said as she sat in the chair next to her. She was wearing black and yellow scrub top. The yellow matched her bright blonde hair.

"He's in surgery" she said quietly "he was shot in the chest and the abdomen"

"Can I see him when he's out of surgery?" She asked.

"It's technically against the rules but I'll see what I can do" Jocelynn assured her "it's going to be hours before you can see him."

"I don't care, I'll wait" she said trying to block out the fear over how royally pissed Drew was going to be.

"Cassidy?" Jocelynn whispered holding a file. Cassidy went to stand but then sat back down looking at Sabrina, not wanting to leave her alone.

"You can go" Sabrina said "I'm okay"

She looked pale, numb. Cassidy followed Jocelynn to the elevators.

"Poor Sabrina" Jocelynn said as the elevator doors closed. Time seemed to move in slow motion as Cassidy followed Jocelynn to Nathan's room. Cassidy was shocked when she saw him. He looked so little. He had always been her big strong protector but now seeing him like this he looked like he was the one that needed protecting.

She walked over to the side of his bed holding onto his hand.

"I'll give you some space" Jocelynn said "I'm going to have Sabrina stay with me for a few days."

Cassidy nodded. Sabrina had no family and the lady thing she needed was to go home to an empty house.

After jocelynn left Cassidy burst into tears putting her head on his uninjured shoulder. She waited for the dramatic moment where he squeezed her hand or whispered something but it didn't come so she sat down in a chair next to his bed. A grumpy nurse came in.

"Visiting hours are over" she croaked.

"No, please I'll be really quiet, I'll turn my phone off, you won't hear a peep out of me." She begged.

Maybe it was her big brown pleading eyes. Or maybe the nurse noticed her pregnant belly but she gave her a withering "you're on thin ice" look and walked out the door.

"I'm here Nathan" she said as she held his hand. "I'm going to be here"

The grumpy nurse came in again.

"I hope you like turkey" she said handing her a box with a sandwich and a bottle of orange juice.

"Thank you" she said. After Cassidy ate the sandwich and dank the juice she curled up in the chair as best as she could. It was freezing in here but she wasn't about to complain. She had promised not to make a peep. She woke up at sometime during the night and someone had put a blanket on her. She drifted back to sleep. At six AM she awoke to a new nurse checking Nathan's vitals.

"Good morning" she said brightly.

"Morning" she replied. There was nothing good about it. She realized what she had thought was a blanket was actually a police jacket. She looked at the tag.

D. Smithers

"I got you a decaf" a deep voice said. She looked up to see Nathan's boss police Chief Duwayne Smithers.

"Thank you" she said taking it.

"You know he'd have your ass for sleeping here last night" he chastised.

"I think I could take him...right now anyway" she said managing a half smile "did you catch the guy that did this?"

"Not yet" he sighed "we will though"

"I was hoping to speak to Sabrina Swanson but she was gone by the time I got here" he said.

"She's with our friend Jocelynn" Cassidy said "she isn't doing to well"

He nodded.

"I have to get back to the station" he said stuffing his hands in his pockets "have Ms. Swanson come to the station when she feels up to it"

"I will" Cassidy assured. She didn't know what he could possibly have to discuss with her.

Cassidy sat back down once he was gone. She looked at Nathan trying to will his eyes open. It was no use. Cassidy grabbed her purse, she should turn on her phone and see how everything was at home. As she went to power it on she felt his hand brush against her cheek. She looked over and saw Nathan had opened his eyes. He caressed her cheek before moving his hand to her neck. Before she knew what was happening he had his hand in her hair pulling her mouth to his as they kissed. He finally released her hair from his grasp. He then reached out to put his hand on her belly.

"How's our baby doing?" He said rubbing it.

"Good, now that their daddy is awake" she said planting another kiss on his lips.

Just then Jocelynn walked in.

"Can I see you for a minute?" Jocelynn asked.

"Yeah, sure" she said getting up.

"I'll be right back" she said putting a hand on his cheek. He kissed it before releasing her.

"You're lucky I love you" Jocelynn said shaking her head.

"What does that mean?" She asked as they rounded the corner.

Jocelynn walked down the corridor to an empty room.

Arabella sat on the metal table and a doctor was examining her.

"Arabella!" She gasped "what happened to you?"

"I fell down the stairs?" She said uncertainly.

"She did" Jocelynn said interrupting "I am the worst babysitter ever"

"She doesn't have a concussion" the doctor said. "I put her shoulder back in place and she's going to need to take it easy for a few days."

Cassidy nodded

Sabrina was in the corner entertaining the twins. All the kids were still in their pajamas.

"Okay so what really happened" Cassidy asked when the doctor left "I don't for a minute believe she fell down the stairs"

"I didn't know how else I could explain her dislocated shoulder" Jocelynn said.

"Bella? What happened to your arm baby?" Cassidy asked kneeling down.

"Nothing" she said "I'm fine" she insisted.

"It was dislocated" Jocelynn said looking at the ground. "I had the doctor pop it back in. I told him she fell down the stairs." She added.

"Jocelynn, why do you have my kids?" Cassidy asked her heart racing.

Jocelynn shrugged as if it was the stupidest question in the world.

"Why do you think?" She asked