Rocco was angry beyond angry but bigger than that, he was terrified. Obviously, he'd experimented with pot back in the day. He knew it was rarely a drug that caused overdoses or became fatal. But Gavin was so small. His brain was still developing. What if this caused permanent damage? 

"Do you know how long ago he consumed them?" The doctor was asking as they wheeled Gavin into a room.

"I think an hour, maybe less."

He knew it had to be after he jumped in the shower. Alyssa said she'd watch him while she did her hair and makeup. He'd taken his time in the shower, lost in his thoughts.

He was so focused on what he wanted to get out of the dinner they would have. He wasted precious time when he could've stopped this from happening. He should've known better!

He'd never trust her again. He didn't believe for a second the candies weren't hers. Dani wouldn't bring drugs into their house; he knew that. Alyssa, on the other hand, absolutely would.

Focus, he told himself, trying his best to stay calm.

He stood in the corner of the room as the doctors started looking at Gavin.

"We're hooking him up to our machines to get a good look at his vitals." One of the doctors told him.

"He's breathing alone, which is a great sign," he added. "I'm Dr. Dayton. I'm in charge of your son's case."

Rocco just nodded numbly. Later, he wouldn't even remember what any of the doctors looked like; he was too focused on Gavin. His little boy looked so pale and tiny. He was hardly holding it together. He was so close to the edge he could feel a breakdown coming on. He kept having to mentally tell himself to stay calm. Gavin needed him right now.

The machines above Gavin's bed started beeping and making other noises.

"Vitals are looking good."

"So, he's going to be, okay?" Rocco asked. "Please, whatever you need to do, please make him okay."

"It's a lot of THC for a small boy to ingest. The effect probably overwhelmed his system, which caused him to pass out. It should pass, and he should make a full recovery."

"Should?"

"We won't know for sure until he wakes up, though our best bet is to let him sleep it off. It's too late to pump his stomach." Dr. Dayton explained.

"What are the risks? What if he isn't okay when he wakes up?" Rocco felt like the entire room was spinning. All he wanted to hear was his son's laughter.

"It's rare for marijuana to leave any lasting negative effects, even in children. We are lucky these were from a legitimate dispensary. If they were illegal, they could've had other drugs in them," The doctor warned. "We will test his cognitive abilities when he first wakes and again when marijuana is out of his system."

"How long could that take?"

"He's very young, and these are very potent. Could be up to 24 hours." The doctor said. "He'll probably wake up within the hour, though."

"Can I sit with him until he does?"

"Yes. I was going to recommend that." The doctor nodded. "He may be very confused when he wakes up. Wasn't your wife going to join us?"

"Uh... that was my sister-in-law, his aunt," Rocco explained hastily. "But Gavin adores her; he'd be very happy to see her when he wakes up."

"I see. The nurse probably didn't let her in, then," he said apologetically. "Hospital policy is only parents can sit with him."

"Couldn't you make an exception?"

"Once Gavin is awake, he can have other visitors. However, I don't want to overwhelm him with too many people at once." He gave him a quick squeeze on the shoulder and exited the room.

Rocco sighed but went and sat over by Gavin. He should've at least asked the doctor to brief Dani. She was just as scared as him. He saw the fear in her big brown eyes tonight. She tried to be strong and hopeful for him and Gavin. But he knew she was a wreck too.

"Hey, Champ. "Rocco said softly as he smoothed Gavin's hair from his forehead. "I'm so sorry this happened to you."

"Daddy is supposed to protect you and keep you happy." He couldn't stop the tears any longer and let them cascade down his face. "I've been doing a terrible job."

He looked down at the little face so much like his own. "I'm so sorry."

It wasn't just that Alyssa had them in the house and Gavin found them, that was a mistake, and Rocco understood that. The problem was he got into them because she was once again was not watching him. 

And worse than that, her first instinct was to save face and blame Dani. She should have spoke up and told him what they were. She didnt even ride with them so she could leave if she wanted. Her whole fake act over the last day was really her mocking his attempts to save their marriage. This was the wakeup call he'd needed. 

He'd been wearing blinders for the last three years, and he knew it. Breanna tried to tell him, Lexi, Alana, and God knows Dante every chance he got. Did he ignore them all because he believed Alyssa was a better option than no mom? Or was it because he was so damn stubborn that he couldn't allow everyone to be right? 

Whatever the answer was, he couldn't deny that this was his fault above anyone else's. He should've done something a long time ago.

"After this, everything is going to be different, Gavin." He promised his son and himself.

"At first, things might be kind of hard and complicated. But Daddy will do his best to keep that icky stuff away from you."

"I'm going to make sure your life is good, buddy." He gently squeezed his little boy's hand.

"I'm going to make sure your home is a happy and safe home, even if that means it's just you and me."

"I'm never going to let something like this happen to you again."

"I love you, Gavin."

He pressed a soft kiss on his forehead.

"Love you Daddy." Gavin's tiny voice was breathy and cracked, but to him, it was the sweetest music he'd ever heard.

"Gavin! You're awake. Thank God!" He pressed several kisses on his forehead as the doctors quickly came into the room.

*** 

Dani stood in the table waiting area, pacing back and forth. She'd tried sitting on one of the navy chairs outside the emergency rooms. But she couldn't stay still.

"Dani! Where is he?" She turned to see Dante and Lexi running down the hall toward her.

"He's with the doctors now," she said anxiously.

"Oh my god, Gavi." Lexi looked about to cry, and Dani wasn't far behind.

"He will be okay," Dante told them both. "He's strong, and we need to be too."

"Dante's right," Dani agreed, "He needs all of our hope and strength."

They all looked up and started talking at once when Rocco exited the room.

"Is he okay?"

"What's happening?"

"Can we see him?"

"He's awake. The doctors are doing some tests right now." Rocco's eyes were red and puffy, and he barely held them together.

"So, he's okay?" Dani breathed the most enormous sigh of relief she ever had.

"I think so. They said it might take twenty-four hours to leave his system."

"It won't have any lasting effects?" Dante asked in a hopeful tone.

"That's what they're testing," Rocco explained, "Then they have to test him again when the drug is passed."

"We're staying right here until then," Dani promised him. "We're going to give him all our strength."

She reached over to squeeze his arm gently. Their eyes locked, and she gave him as much comfort as she could muster through a simple gaze. She could see a little tension seem to ease in his eyes as she did. They stood silently like that for a long moment.

"Where's my son!?" Alyssa's shrill voice jarred both. They slowly moved away from each other and turned toward her.

She had changed into some jeans and a loose-fitting tan sweater. A tall thin man with wavy dark blonde hair was behind her.

"You brought your manager here?" Rocco looked bewildered.

"You need to leave, Edward," Dante said harshly. "You don't belong here."

"Now Dante, is that any treat me? We were near family once." He quipped. 

"He said to leave," Rocco said harshly.

"I came to speak on Alyssa's behalf. It was my candy. I hadn't realized I had left it there, and I apologize."

"See Rocco. I told you I would never," Alyssa added.

"You look high right now," Lexi accused, and Alyssa shot her a murderous look.

"When," Rocco demanded as he glared at Eddy. "When did you leave it? Where would you have left it that Gavin got it? None of that makes any sense."

"I must've dropped them when I came to pick up Alyssa for New York."

"That makes sense," Alyssa chimed in. "Dani doesn't have the keen eye I do; she easily could have missed that."

"Dani and I did not miss a bag of drugs on the kitchen floor for a week," Rocco said just as Dani opened her mouth to protest, too. 

"Perhaps it slid under something. I know I dropped it," Edward insisted.

"You didn't come into the house and get Alyssa," Dani accused, and then Edward's eyes focused on her as he took a step closer.

"You're mistaken," Edward said in an overtly smooth tone. "But who could blame you? It's been a terrible night. Ali here was beside herself when she called me."

"So beside herself, she called for an alibi before she came to the hospital?" Rocco questioned.

"I-" Before Alyssa could say anything, the doctors had come back out.

"He's testing well," the doctor said. "I expect a full recovery. However, as I stated earlier, I still want to keep him here for observation, at least overnight. He just fell back asleep. I expect him to be in and out for the next few hours until they fully wear off."

"Can we see him?" Dani was the first to ask the question they all had. 

"Yes, but not everyone at once. Let's start with the parents," the doctor said. 

Dani watched with a heavy heart as Alyssa and Rocco walked into Gavin's room; she couldn't wait to see his little face and ensure he was okay.

"What a trying day," Eddy had come behind her and was standing so close, too close.

"Yeah," she shifted away from him and glanced around for Dante and Lexi. They were over by the coffee machine and both on the phone, probably calling everyone else to tell them Gavin was okay.

"I know the timing is terrible, but can I say you have the freshest look I've ever seen? It's like Alyssa before she started having work done but with an allure of innocence." He moved to the front of her now, and how he scrutinized her made her feel creeped out.

"If you ever want to pose for me, I could take you places, little lamb."

"Uh, no, thanks," Dani said hastily, then hurried towards Dante and Lexi.