Los Angeles, CA

As he slowed his car to a stop at the red light, something caught his ear and attention. Peering to his left, what he saw made his breath hitch, constricting his lungs. The bright neon yellow Caution! Driver Singing! bumper sticker made him chuckle to himself. Then the voice hit his ears. A beautifully singing voice.

Could it really be her? I'd recognize that voice anywhere!

His eyes flicked to the smiling face of a young girl in the back seat. Tears of joy glistened in his eyes, lips curving slowly into a soft smile, fingers wiggling into a shy wave at the little girl of 5 years old. His heart raced, thumping unsteadily in his ears with a realization. As his eyes went back to watch this woman sing with her angelic voice, he was yet again mesmerized with the crystal clear sound gracing his ears.

Finally.

The light turned green and his heart lurched as the car next to him began to move. He can't follow from this lane. What would he do? The loud screeching of a cars brakes desperate to stop tore his attention away. His heart painfully sank into his stomach knowing what he was about to witness.

Oh God! Erin!

After throwing his car into park, time decelerated to a drastically heart wrenching slow rate. The sounds of the crash were dulled as metal on metal violently collided. He watched Erin's car spin several times, the other car shoving hers mercilessly along toward the middle of the intersection. Finally, both cars came to a stop. Suddenly he released a breath he didn't realize he was holding in the midst of deafening silence.

Immediately he went into action, darting from his car over to the back passenger door. He had to get the child first. The drivers from a couple other cars were not far behind him.

"You! Call 9-1-1 and get an ambulance here, NOW!" he ordered the nearest person to him, never stopping his run toward Erin's smoking car. The woman nodded immediately getting her cell phone and dialed.

He came up to the window. forcing a smile for the precious cargo in the back seat. A sweet, precocious girl who wouldn't know him.

Yet.

"Hi, sweetheart," he greeted, as warmly and calmly as he could. "What's your name?"

"Hi," she replied shakily, tears streaming down her face between sobs of understandable fear. "I'm Ashlynn. My mommy won't answer me. Is she okay?"

"I'm gonna check on her as soon as I get you out of the car, Ashlynn. I need you to try and get out of your seat belt while I try your door, okay?"

She nodded, pushing down determinedly on the button for her seatbelt. He sighed in relief that it released. That relief faded quickly though when her car door wouldn't open. Clever girl Ashlynn was, noticed.

"Mommy has an emergency hammer over here." Ashlynn informed as she reached for the center console, grabbed the hammer and slipped it to him through the opening in the window.

He was grateful the hammer fit. "OK, cover your eyes, Ashlynn. I'm gonna break the glass."

She did as he requested, curling forward into a brace position and with a shattering crash, glass splattered everywhere inside the car. Ashlynn straightened reaching her arms up then crawled through the window to him as he wrapped his strong arms around the girls waist to pull her out. Quickly, he swung her onto his hip, rushing the girl clinging to his neck to the corner on the sidewalk. Another woman who witnessed the accident hurriedly followed him.

"I'll watch her, while you get the driver," She offered. He nodded and ran back to the car, hammer still tightly gripped in his hand.

His stomach twisted at the sight of Erin's limp, bloodied body in the driver's seat. The gash on her left temple still oozing crimson. At least the other car wasn't blocking her door. He called her name over and over, banging his flattened hand on the glass of the window not caring she wouldn't know him. His heart clenched and sank deeper each time she didn't answer.

After trying her door, he pulled the hammer out and smashed out the window, reaching in to wrench her door unlocked. The opposite end of the hammer had a small, sharp edge he used to cut Erin's seat belt.

As he was working, a particular pungent smell curled into his nose and made his heart race faster in panic.

Gasoline.

It didn't matter if the source was Erin's car or the other, this new threat accelerated the desperate need to get Erin out. Now. He pushed the seat belt out of the way and gingerly reached in, cradling Erin's limp body in his arms to extract her out of the car.

"I've got you, love," he whispered, affectionately pressing a kiss to her forehead. He had one arm behind her back, the other under her knees. Once he was sure his hold was secure, he quickly ran to the corner where Ashlynn was anxiously waiting.

Tears streamed down Ashlynn's face as he carried the unconscious Erin to the corner. A loud boom had him dropping to a knee then grabbing Ashlynn, yanking her to his side. The crackling surging behind them told him what happened without even looking. Both cars were engulfed in flames.

He continued to hold Erin possessively. The blaring high pitched sound of the ambulance sirens were a sweet sound in this instance. It wasn't until the paramedics wheeled the gurney over that he gently placed Erin down, knowing they had to check her status for any injuries. They strapped her down then rushed her into the back of the ambulance.

"Ashlynn, go in the ambulance. I'll follow in my car and meet you at the hospital, okay?" He asked, gently rubbing her arms in a feeble attempt to comfort.

"I want to go with you," she sobbed.

"OK," was his short reply. "Which hospital?" He asked the paramedics.

"USC is the closest trauma center," was the reply.

He nodded silent thanks to the paramedic, swiftly placing Ashlynn on his hip, heading to his car.

****

Once they arrived to the hospital, he inquired about Erin and led Ashlynn by the hand to the adjoining waiting room. Ashlynn had told him her mom's name in the car ride to the hospital. A doctor, middle aged, dark hair, bronze skin fully dressed ins crubs soon came out.

"Are you here for Erin Clark?" The older man asked.

"Yes. This is her daughter. I pulled them from the car," he answered, jaw clenched silently hoping it was good enough.

"So you're not family?" The doctor inquired, brows tilting into a frown as he thought for a moment. "I need you to call her next of kin. Husband, parent, whoever it might be. It's really not your business, but since you are the rescuer and with her daughter...make sure you tell her family what I'm about to tell you."

"Yes, of course, Doctor. How is she?" Sweat started to glisten on his brow, scared for what the news would be.

"We are taking Erin into surgery to fix her dislocated shoulder," He delivered. "So far, it appears nothing else is broken. After surgery, if Erin is stable, we will do X-rays, a CT scan and anything else needed to make sure there is no other damage in addition to checking for a concussion. I'll come find you here when I have an update."

Both men nodded to each other before the Doctor left for surgery.

Ashlynn turned to him, slipping her little hand in his and tugging. "Is Mommy going to be ok?" Fresh tears started filling her eyes. Dipping to one knee, her small hands slipped tighter into his own.

"They are going to do their very best, sweetheart. Now, do you know your dad's phone number?" he cringed inwardly as he asked.

She frowned, slowly her head, "Mommy says we aren't safe around him." Then visibly brightened when adding, "But I know my grandma's phone number! I love my grandma."

"Alright, let's go get you some ice cream then I'll call your grandma."

"OK," she happily cheered, leaving her hand comfortably in his. A warmth filled his heart, lips turning into a reflective smile down at Ashlynn.

****

Happily and thoroughly licking at her ice cream cone, Ashlynn watched as he rescuer dialed then hit send for the number she gave him for her grandma.

He grinned watching her. "You're quite the expert at that."

"Mommy taught me," Ashlynn beamed. He scoffed then cleared his throat for the phone call.

"Hello?" a woman answered in the phone.

"Er, hello, is this Mrs. Clark?" he asked.

"Yes... who is this?"

"I'm not sure how to tell you this, Mrs. Clark...You don't know me but I'm... Erin's been in a car accident." He spat it out, not surprised by the sudden train of urgent questions she interrupted to ask. "Ashlynn is fine and here with me at the USC Medical Center. I pulled them from the car."

Mrs. Clark sighed, fighting the sobs. He could here frantic shuffling, probably gather her things to head to the hospital. "What is the prognosis?"

"She's in surgery," He answered. "She has a dislocated shoulder and they think a concussion. They will do several scans after surgery. I'll stay here with Ashlynn. I told the Doctor I'd call you."

"Thank you. Was Ashlynn in the car?"

"Yes, she was, but she's not hurt."

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

"OK, see you soon."

****

About an hour later, he was sitting in a waiting room with a sleeping Ashlynn across his lap, snoring lightly on his chest. It was well past sundown now, darkness swooping in through the large glass windows bordering the waiting room. Still no word yet about Erin's surgery or the scans.

He took a thoughtful sip of the now cold coffee Ashlynn helped him get from a vending machine, chortling in memory of her cheerful giggles that filled the halls as she watched the steaming liquid fill the cup. It was so easy to love this very special, sweet child. She was a precious gift of joy and wisdom when times were sad or tough.

"I'm looking for someone who can tell me where my daughter is," a worried and emotional female voice called to the nurses station nearby.

He looked up and his lips turned into a small smile, recognizing the same fire in Erin.

"Mrs. Clark," he whisper yelled waving until the woman turned to him scowling in confusion. Once she recognized Ashlynn, her features visibly relaxed as she headed over. "I'm glad you made it. There hasn't been any news other than what I already shared with you."

"Call me Connie," she nodded, taking the seat next to him, gently stroking the peacefully sleeping Ashlynn's back. Silent tears fell down her face. He reached out, clutching her hand as they waited.

It felt like hours more until the doctor finally came out to give an update once introductions to Erin's mother were made. "Erin is stable," he spoke softly, hands raised. "She is very lucky. We fixed her shoulder and found she does have a slight concussion. There is quite a bit of swelling on her brain." His face dropped in sadness a bit.

"So, can we see her?" Connie asked anxiously.

"Yes, you can but she is in a medically induced coma."

They both tightly closed their eyes. Connie began to cry again so he draped a strong arm over her shoulder in comfort.

"How long will she be in the coma?" Connie demanded.

"We aren't sure," the doctor sighed. "Every person is different. Go see her, talk to her for a while then go get some rest."

Carefully perching Ashlynn to rest her cheek on his shoulder, they strolled together to Erin's room. The steady beeping of the monitors was an eerie sound that chilled his bones. Ashlynn stirred, sleepily lifting her head. She clutched onto his shirt, tears starting anew as she pivoted catching the sight of her mom connected to so many tubes and IV's.

Seeing Ashlynn awake, Mrs. Clark tightly embraced her granddaughter, kissed her tear stained cheek then whispered, "I am so grateful you are OK, Sweetie."

He stepped back mumbling he would give them privacy to talk. Soon, Ashlynn was asking to go sleep and Connie obliged. The adults exchanged sad, grateful smiles as she left with Ashlynn.

"I'll stay here with her and call you if anything changes," he assured.

"Thank you," Connie replied gratefully. "Erin is lucky you were nearby."

Once they left, he pulled a chair over by the bed and sat, gently taking Erin's hand in his. Finally he willingly let go of the flooding tears. He pressed a gentle kiss on her hand, rubbing circles with his thumbs.

"I'm here, love," Her whispered, voice raspy from emotion. "Ashlynn is fine and went home with your mom. I'm not going anywhere."