I roll over in bed and frown in my sleep as my conscious tries to wake me. It must be morning as I can see the light, though my eyes are still closed. Cat? A smile tugs at my lips as I reach out for her but the bed is empty and cold.

I squeeze my eyes shut tighter. If I dreamt last night, then I don't want to wake up. I want to stay where she is. I don't want to face another day without her. The room suddenly fills with the smell of bacon and coffee.

I hear someone enter the room, feel the bed depress as someone sits beside me. A feather-light touch trails over my hair and down my cheek and I sigh.

"Hey," came the soft whisper of Cat's voice.

I still don't open my eyes but reach out and grab her, causing her to squeal in surprise as I wrap her up in my arms. She giggles.

"I thought you were still asleep."

"I thought I dreamt you up last night," I countered nuzzling my face into her hair and taking a deep breath of her strawberry scented shampoo.

"I'm no dream," Cat said, "but I had good dreams. In fact, I think this is the first decent night's sleep I've gotten since I left. I'm so sorry, Alex. I should have never..."

I stopped her protest with a kiss. No more apologies, no more feeling bad. I too had the first decent night's sleep in days. This was the first time I didn't dream of my father or brother or death. I'm in a good mood and I just wanted to hold on to this feeling for however long it would last.

What was meant to be a teasing kiss, turned into a needy kiss as I explored her mouth. I shift Cat to her back and held her cheeks in my hands as I continued to kiss her. Her fingers ran through my hair as she kissed me back, but all too soon she pushed me away trying to say...

"Breakfast is getting cold."

Screw breakfast, I didn't want breakfast. I wanted her. "We have a microwave," I told her and began kissing her again. Cat giggled, kissed me back but I could feel her pushing at me again.

"Alex? Alex!" Cat got out between kisses as she turned her face so I couldn't reach her lips.

"What?!" I said, hoping I didn't sound as frustrated as I felt.

Her hands reached up to touch my cheeks. "There is nothing I would rather do than spend the day with you, right here, right now, in this way but... the hospital called."

With those three little words, my good mood evaporated. I sat up alarmed. "Everything okay?"

Cat scrambled to sit up as well, "Yeah. Yes. Sorry, I should have phrased that better. Everyone is fine. Today your mom is allowed visitors and I was told that Tina would be released? I thought it odd they were telling you, but you were listed as the person to call."

My heart slowed back to a normal rhythm as the panic ebbed. "I guess they aren't releasing my mom yet, then."

Cat shrugged. "They couldn't tell me much as I'm not... family," she told me and I noticed how she toyed with her engagement ring. For some reason, although Cat was frowning it made me glad to see her frown, that it bothered her that she was on the outside looking in.

I smiled and took her hand in mine, rubbing my thumb gently over her ring finger.

"You're family. We just haven't made it official yet." Cat rewarded me with her beautiful smile.

"I wanted you to sleep as long as I possibly could, but I wasn't sure how far the hospital was and how you wanted to arrange all this happening so I thought I'd wake you with some breakfast in bed."

"You really are an angel. You know that?"

She leaned over and grabbed the tray that was sitting on the nightstand. Two plates filled with scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon. Along with two steaming cups of coffee. I grabbed the coffee first. I missed starting my morning like this, with her.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome," Cat said smiling over her own cup of coffee.

It felt good to just sit and chat about nonsense with her. Well, not nonsense but the bland everyday things that you take for granted when you've pulled away too long.

Cat told me about how Olivia was planning a shower for her at the sorority and that she and her mom would be going to register for the baby things she needed next weekend.

We laughed over how ludicrous the idea was of registering for gifts for a party your friends and family insist on being a surprise.

"William met someone. Did you know?"

I felt my eyes bug out of my head as I nearly choked on my coffee. "William?"

"Yeah, you know, your best friend?"

"I know. I just ... he's never taken anyone seriously that he's dated. This is huge! How'd you find out?"

"I dropped by unannounced to talk to him. I was worried about you, and wanted to pick his brain about what he may know. Someone else answered the door to his apartment. Introduced himself as Jacob Riley. He so doesn't look like William's type. I'm so used to seeing him with the glamorous playboys, but Jacob was ... cute."

I can see Cat was struggling for a description. "Cute?"

She shrugged a little. "Yeah, you know... cute. Nice build but not muscular, average height, pretty eyes, impossibly long lashes. Why do men always get those? It's not fair."

Cat pouted and l laughed.

"Guess God just chose to give us that one, since you women got the lion share when it comes to attractiveness."

Cat giggled.

"So Jacob Riley," I mused.

"Yeah, he's this really sweet kind of guy. Very down to earth. So the opposite of William but I could tell as William talked with me that Jacob was different than the others. I've been there when he's had company before. Those men would think nothing of walking through the room half-naked and I don't mean the half that should be covered up.

William wouldn't even acknowledge them as they strolled through the room and raided his refrigerator. He'd just keep talking to me. Jacob however, made us coffee and I watched as William's eyes followed him around the apartment like he couldn't take his eyes off of him. William even invited Jacob to sit down with us. I was... stunned."

"Jacob Riley, wow?" I said having trouble absorbing this new information.

We had finished breakfast and it was time to get ready for the day. Cat already showered and dressed. Soon I joined her downstairs, she was in the kitchen finishing up doing dishes.

"You know there is a dishwasher, right?" I pulled the door open to show her.

"I know," Cat said drying her hands on the towel "but there weren't that many dishes, and I needed something to do while waiting for you."

"You ready?" I asked.

Cat nodded and grinned. "Nice purse."

I laughed and pretended to model it, making her laugh. "It's Tina's I figured she'd need it. She asked for her spare set of glasses, too. She told me they were in her purse but I don't feel right rummaging through her things to get them. I figured I should just bring the whole thing." I frowned, and Cat immediately responded to my expression.

"What's the matter?"

"I wish I could get her something new to come home in. Her clothes..." I shook my head as I remember what Tina looked like coming down the stairs, blood splattered over her blouse.

"She can borrow something from me. We're about the same size. I'll go upstairs and grab something," Cat said, having an immediate solution for me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. It's not a problem." Cat took off up the stairs and it was hard not to feel grateful or realize how much easier she made things for me now that she was here.

A minute or two later she joined me again with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt strewn over her arm. "I don't have another pair of sneakers."

"I'm sure this will work fine. Thank you!" I said kissing her cheek.

When I offered to call the driver, Cat offered to drive. I directed her to the hospital. I wasn't sure whom I should see first, but from my current choices, I picked Accounts Payable.

"We have all the information you sent us Mr. Bragin to your mother. Everything has been straightened out. Her stay will be completely covered," the woman from billing told me.

"Do you know how long that stay will be?"

She gave me a very apologetic look. "Sorry, no. Only the doctors can decide that. Now I was told you wanted to take care of the bills for a Ms. Tina Worthington?"

"Yes," I said and felt Cat's gaze on me. I felt nervous although not exactly sure why. It was the least I could do after all Tina has been through.

"It's quite an extensive bill," the woman warned. "She has coverage through your company but the deductible for the year is high and she hasn't used any services so far so she'd be responsible for almost her entire stay and the tests."

"Whatever it is. I'll pay for it. You can send the bill to the company. She was working in my employ when she got hurt."

"So this is a workman's compensation suit?" the woman asked.

"No, she volunteered but I still will cover the costs."

The woman smiled at me. "Can I come work for you?" she joked and I laughed happy to relive some of this invisible tension I was feeling. The woman was very efficient. If I had reason to steal her to work for me, I would have.

With everything settled it was off to our next adventure. I decided to check on Tina first before visiting my Mom. It was really a coward's move as I just wasn't ready to see my mom in that place and deal with all that just yet. As we rode the elevator to the 4th floor Cat took my hand.

"That was very nice of you. Are you sure you can afford it?"

"Oh yeah." The words sounded bitter even to my own ears and Cat gave me a strange look.

I sighed. "A perk of my father's death. I now own everything. So yeah, I can afford it."

Cat just nodded. I guess she could sense by my words and tone that this was a sore subject for me and didn't pursue it further. The elevator dings and the doors opened, I kept her hand in mine and walked to Tina's room. I knock on the doorframe as the curtain is pulled over by Tina's bed for privacy.

"Hello?! May I come in?" I asked.

A doctor pulled the curtain aside and Tina smiled at me. "Hi!"

"You're looking better," I said as I walked over to stand beside her bed.

"You too," Tina retorted and then her eyes landed on Cat by my side. "And now I know why."

"Everything checks out, Ms. Worthington. I'll get to work on your release papers and we'll get you out of here."

"Music to my ears, Doc," Tina told him.

"Will she be going home with you?" the doctor asked addressing me.

Uh..." I wasn't exactly sure how to answer that question, "We are here to take her home, yes."

"No," the doctor shook his head. "Is there someone who will be staying with Ms. Worthington when she goes home?"

I looked over at Tina and back at the doctor. "Does she need someone to be there?"

"It would be best. She has a slight concussion from the fall. We've kept her under observation here but now that she's going home I would like to know there is someone to watch over her at least for the next 24 hours. She's still experiencing headaches and some dizziness. So I don't want her on her own where she could fall and get injured."

I already knew Tina didn't have anyone; there was only one answer I could think to give. "I'll take her to my home. We'll keep a watch over her there."

"Perfect!" the doctor said with a clap of my shoulder. "I imagine I can have you out of here around 1 o'clock today or sooner depending on how fast the paperwork gets generated," the doctor said to Tina.

"Thank you!" Tina replied and the doctor left the room. An awkward silence fell between the three of us, as no one seemed to know what to say until Cat chose to speak up.

"I brought you a pair of my jeans and a t-shirt to borrow. Alex mentioned your clothes had gotten messed up."

"Thank you. That's really nice of you..." Tina paused for Cat to fill in the blank.

"Cat, my name is Cat."

Tina smiled awkwardly. "I know, we have never been formally introduced but Alex talks about you, a lot."

"That's good to know," Cat replied with a shy smile.

"Constantly," I said and Cat's smile grew as she looked up at me. I turned to Tina. "I brought your whole purse. I wasn't sure where your glasses might be and didn't feel right going through your things."

"Oh, they're right in that front pocket," Tina said pointing to it. I unzipped the compartment and pulled out the soft case handing them to her. She pulled them out and placed them on.

"Oh thank Heaven. I can see again," Tina looked at Cat. "You're really pretty," she announced and Cat gave a surprised laugh.

"Uh, thank you?"

Tina colored. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to just blurt that out but you were a hazy blob before I had my glasses on."

Cat laughed in earnest this time. "Well, I'm glad I'm an improvement over that."

Tina laughed and I was glad to see the two of them getting along.

Tina looked back at me. "Are you sure you're okay with the whole, me going back to your place, thing? I can probably see if I can arrange something else. The hospital must have some kind of care they can make happen in cases like mine."

"Don't be ridiculous, we'd love to have you," Cat jumped in.

"We?" Tina said looking from Cat to me.

"Cat is staying at the house until Monday," I told her.

Tina frowned. "Now I really feel like an intruder."

I thought it strange that she was okay with staying with me alone but now felt awkward with Cat there. You'd think as a single woman she'd feel more secure knowing she wouldn't be left alone with me.

Cat sat on the bed next to Tina. "Look, I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and we couldn't ask for a better situation. You need someone to watch over you. Alex still has so much he has to handle for the funeral. So, between the two of us," Cat said waving her hand to include herself and me, "there will definitely be someone around should you need it. And with you around, I'm sure Alex will even get more done as you'll be right there should he have any questions," Cat reasoned.

Tina shrugged as if to say Cat's words made sense.

"Do you need anything? Before we get you out of here," I asked.

"I should be fine. Have you seen your mom yet?" Tina asked with an eager expression for any news.

"Not yet. In fact, if it's okay with both of you. I'd like to go see her."

Cat looked up at me. "I'd like to go with you."

"To be honest it's best if you stayed here." I could tell immediately Cat did not like this idea and so I quickly explained, "They only allow one person in the ward to visit. You'd be stuck in the waiting room waiting for my return. If Tina does get released while I'm talking to my Mom, I'd feel better knowing you were here to help."

Cat I could see still didn't like the idea but resigned herself to it. "Whatever you need," she told me.

"Thank you!" I leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"So, got any dirt you can dish on my boss," I heard Tina ask Cat as I turned to leave the room. I was regretting this decision already. The look I gave the two of them had them both giggling.

I left knowing I was going to be in trouble, no matter how this all turned out.