Everything was so bright and loud, noises everywhere when Tasha finally opened her eyes. It seemed to take an eternity for them to fully open and as she attempted to take in her surroundings she felt overwhelmed by a gagging sensation, she was choking, oh God what was happening she wondered and then she saw Jim standing over her and suddenly questioned if he was choking her, but he couldn't be, his hands were up in the air near his face and he was shouting, she couldn't hear what he was saying, there was just too much noise between the electronic sounds that were surrounding her, Jim's voice and the rushing of blood through her ears as she felt her mind and body panicking at her compromised breathing. Jim's face and expression were filled with panic and concern convincing her that the choking sensations she felt was nothing to do with him. She tried to call out to him, however she couldn't seem to find her voice to form words or stop gagging. Suddenly Jim was pushed out of the way by a stern looking woman, a nurse who began speaking to her in a reassuring tone, but still the words remained unclear as her panic rose further. Suddenly, what seemed to be a dozen others in medical uniforms appeared while the nurse continued to smile and speak to her.

"Tasha, I'm Chloe and we're going to make you more comfortable," she said smiling down as she reached towards her face and someone quickly removed the choking sensation she'd felt.

Gasping loudly now Tasha felt dry, hoarse but the choking feeling was gone, replaced with distress and confusion. She was crying, loudly, she could hear that now, but she had no clue why. Chloe helped her to sit forward briefly before settling her back against the pillows while a junior doctor continued checking her over and reassuring her further that she was 'ok', that she was safe and in hospital before finally looking across at Jim as she continued to address Tasha.

"Your doctor's on his way, but we will leave you with your guardian angel for a while and maybe you can stop him being such a difficult relative," Chloe said smiling, first at Jim and then at Tasha. "But take it easy and not too much talking. Any problems, hit the button," she told Jim before being followed out of the room by the other people in uniform, presumably meaning she was in no immediate danger, that her signs were all good.

"Hey you!" said Jim sitting next to her taking her hand.

"Hey yourself," she replied hoarsely wincing as she tried to shift up the bed.

"Tasha are you ok? Should I get a nurse?" he asked panic struck.

"No," she replied groggily, "I'm just moving, but I think I really do feel as though I have been run over by a steam roller, twice," she grimaced as a few sparse details emerged in her mind. "What happened?" she asked coughing a little making her clutch her ribs firmly while Jim brushed the remaining tears from her face.

"Let me get you some water or something," Jim said nervously heading for the door where he almost bumped into Chloe coming in carrying a cup of ice.

"You can suck on this Tasha and the doctor will be down soon, he has an emergency. I have some pain relief for you," she said holding up a tray with a syringe on it.

"I'm fine," replied Tasha stubbornly.

"Baby take the pain relief, you're hurting," he told her.

"Will it make me sleep?" Tasha asked Chloe.

"Yeah, but you need to rest," she sighed.

"I will have it later, but I would like to talk to Jim for a while first."

They both shook their heads at her making her smile, "Please," she pleaded.

"Ten minutes and then I will be back to check your vitals!" said Chloe. "And then you need the meds, I am acting under orders," she said seriously before leaving them alone again.

Jim held the cup of ice up for Tasha to suck on and then sat back down taking her hand again.

"These machines look really expensive!" said Tasha gesturing to all the equipment she was attached to.

"You know I only have the best for you honey!" he smiled stroking the back of her free hand.

"What happened?" she asked again as he pulled her hand to his face and kissed it tenderly.

"You were involved in a car crash," he said gripping her hand tighter and tighter.

"I remember the fireman talking to me and I couldn't find my phone. I wanted to call you and I thought you would be mad at me," she said choking on her own words, struggling to get them out past her swollen throat and the emotional thoughts in her mind.

"For what, for the car? Tasha, all I care about is you," said Jim with a breaking voice.

"That's what the fireman thought I meant. I knew you wouldn't give a stuff about the car, but I ran out on you and I thought you'd be mad because if I hadn't done that then I wouldn't have been in the crash," Tasha said revealing the extent of the details she knew.

"Oh Tasha, that might be true to a point, but I was not mad, not with you, I was worried half to death that I was going to lose you and when Juan came by to say he'd seen a car like yours down the hill after an accident. I knew it was you and so did he. We drove down and they were just cutting you from the car. I really thought I had lost you and not because of a fight, but forever," he said sadly.

Tasha looked up and saw tears rolling down Jim's face making her cry too.

"Hey, I am going nowhere. We're getting married and I am going to take your name and wear your ring, remember?" she asked grinning and suddenly the grin dropped from her face. "I will be out of here in time to get married won't I, although I may need a little help with make-up 'cause I reckon I may look a little rough," she laughed and winced again holding her ribs.

"Tasha, do you know what day it is baby?" he asked stroking her cheek gently.

"No, I actually have no clue," she replied smiling awkwardly at his sad expression.

"Shit Tasha, today is, was, should have been our wedding day baby, you have been here for the last week and a half and you've been really sick honey," said Jim studying her expression.

"Oh no!" she cried and allowed a few tears to flow. "I've missed it? I am so sorry!" she cried again.

Jim got to his feet and held her face between his hands kissing her gently on her lips, "Tasha there is no need to apologise and we missed 'it' today, but we will rearrange it as soon as you are well because we have entered into a verbal contract and now that you have agreed to be Natasha Maybury I won't be letting you back out of it!" he smiled still holding her head between his hands.

"So what happened?" asked Tasha again stifling a yawn.

"We will talk later, but you should sleep," he said holding her hand again.

"Will you stay with me for a while?" she asked.

"Sure baby, I am going nowhere either," he said brushing her hair back off her face.

"Will you lie with me?" she asked eager to feel his closeness.

"I thought you'd never ask!" he smiled dropping the cot side down and kicking his shoes off before sidling onto the bed next to her where she pulled his arm across her middle and fell asleep almost immediately without any further medication.

Unsure how long she'd been asleep for Tasha reached out to find Jim, but he was sitting back in the chair watching her closely.

"You left me!" she protested.

"Not my choice!" he said glaring at a man in scrubs moving towards her.

"Miss Winters, Tasha, I am Stan Marvin, your doctor and the man who evicted you fiancé from the bed! How are you feeling?" he asked smirking at Jim.

"Sore, really quite sore and I have a bit of a headache," she told him honestly.

"A headache? You didn't say you had a headache before! Where? Have you only just noticed it or is it getting worse?" asked Jim leaping to his feet and pacing the floor around the bed.

"Jim, please calm down," said the doctor. "I'd be surprised if you didn't have a headache after all you've been through young lady, but feel free to answer Dr Maybury's questions!" said Stan sarcastically making Tasha laugh and instantly regret it as she clutched her ribs.

"My head felt fuzzy before, a bit like a hangover, but it's a definite headache now, not getting worse, but then my whole body hurts," she said making Jim frown.

"What's wrong? Why has she got a headache? Shouldn't you give her something and run some tests or something?" Jim asked sounding seriously worried.

"Dear God I thought you were a thorn in my side when this beautiful lady was unconscious with your questions and 'advice', but now that she's back with us you are actually a complete pain in the ass!" sighed the doctor smiling at Tasha. "I will run a couple more tests Tasha, but I think your head is just aching like the rest of your body and your vitals are all returning to normal after the shock of coming round and you've been through a lot. It's nice to meet you conscious though and I can certainly see the attraction of my son's regular visits to your house."

"Huh," said Jim frowning.

"What?" asked Tasha, confused.

"Dylan, my son, is dating Lizzie," explained the doctor.

"Ah, I see. I think Lizzie is the attraction at our house for Dylan," said Tasha diplomatically.

"I think there is more than one attraction for a teenage boy there!" said Stan grinning while Jim muttered something to himself.

"Can I get rid of some of these things?" asked Tasha gesturing to the machines and equipment at the other end of the wires and leads that were attached to her.

"Soon, I'll run the tests and if they come back clear we can lose most of them," said the doctor as he turned to leave, "Oh and don't let him up on the furniture," he laughed pointing to Jim.

"He seems nice," said Tasha as Stan left.

"Mmm, if you say so, but he is a very good doctor. Your grandparents are on their way over," he suddenly announced.

"From London? They didn't have to do that," smiled Tasha.

"No not London, from our house, they're staying there, have been since they got here, the day after your accident and Dan and Pippa too, but Ryan and Lucy had to go back earlier in the week. Everyone has been so worried about you."

"Are they all ok?" she asked reaching up to stroke his face that felt like sandpaper courtesy of not shaving for what she guessed was several days.

"I think they're all fine. Sandra and Mike are taking care of them," he reassured her.

"And you?" she asked looking worried for him.

"I can look after myself so long as I have you. Mike brings your family in and he brings me a change of clothes and food parcels from Sandra, so I am fine."

"When did you last go home and sleep?" she asked yawning again.

"I haven't been home since you got here baby and I have slept here with you!" he replied honestly making her feel tearful again at his love and devotion to her.

"You are so much more than I deserve!" she said letting a tear escape and run down her face again.

"Hey, I'm the one that doesn't deserve you, but I am not letting you go so we're stuck with each other," he said kissing the end of her nose.

Chloe, the nurse appeared in the doorway now.

"Tasha I need to take some bloods, check your vitals again and give you a shot," she smiled gesturing for Jim to leave.

He stood firm and as the two of them locked their sights on each other Tasha laughed a little.

"There's someone you may want to speak to waiting outside," said Chloe mysteriously to Jim.

"I'm staying here!" he said stubbornly.

"Detective Masterson is outside waiting to speak with Tasha," said Chloe now.

"The hell he is! No way! Stay here with Tasha while I go and tell Masterson where to go!" he said as he stormed out leaving a confused Tasha looking at Chloe as she drew some bloods.

"Is he always so bossy?" asked Chloe smiling.

"He hasn't even got out of neutral yet!" laughed Tasha. "I should point out that I usually bring out the worst in him where the bossy, control freak is concerned."

"He has barely left this room since you got here; he has security here too and he checks your visitors in and out, he times them and rotates them and then sends them all home and sleeps here, over there in that chair, although I don't think he sleeps all that much because he watches you for any movement or sign of change. He loves you and I hope that one day I will find a guy that loves me half as much as he does you," she smiled removing the sheets as Tasha rolled over slowly and cautiously for her shot.

Tasha smiled up at the nurse covering her and 'tidying' her up and decided that the pretty, young blonde nurse with pale blue, almost grey eyes was about twenty five and quite petite at probably only five feet and one hundred and ten pounds, but happy to stand toe to toe with Jim if need be and could look quite fearsome.

The door flew open startling Tasha momentarily until she realised it was Pippa running towards her,  "Tash you're awake! You're ok!" she cried as she threw herself across Tasha's chest winding her slightly, but she seemed not to notice, but Chloe did.

"Ok, shall we let Tasha breathe, let's get you a seat," she smiled directing Pippa to a chair as Dan and their grandparents followed Pippa into the room looking as relieved as Pippa did.

"God Tash I thought you were going to die! Your car is a complete wreck and the police are doing their nut out there, but Jim won't let them in!" she cried sounding excited and relieved.

"Philippa! Really!" cried Celia as she reached Tasha's bedside and bent down to kiss her carefully before hugging her warmly. "It is very good to see you."

Paul was on the opposite side of the bed to his wife and struggled to get past the machines, tubes and wires to get close enough to his granddaughter to hug her.

"Oh my darling girl! You gave us all such a fright, what am I going to do with you?" he asked as she stretched to reach his open arms.

"You sound like Jim now," she smiled up at her grandfather.

Paul muttered something but hugging her tightly said, "I love you very much Nat."

"Ditto," replied Tasha noticing Dan standing nervously near the door. "You ok over there little bro or are you suffering the after effects of a night out with Travis?" she smiled.

"No, unfortunately not. Are you ok Tash, really ok?" he asked warily.

"Course I am," she said gesturing for her brother to come closer as Jim returned to the room looking harassed.

Tasha looked across and smiled at him raking a hand through his hair and had a desperate urge to go to him and to hold him, to comfort him, not that she was physically capable of doing that, but she wanted to, he looked like he needed a big hug more than anything else. She loved her family, but right now wished that they weren't there, that no one was there other than her and Jim; he looked confused, tormented and anxious.

He looked across at her and smiled weakly before asking, "Can I get anyone a drink or anything?"

"No thank you Jim," replied Celia as Dan and Pippa shook their heads while Paul muttered a disgruntled, 'No'!

"Philip and Juan are coming in later and bringing Lizzie," said Jim seeming to be keep his distance from her.

"That's nice, are they ok?" asked Tasha.

"Yeah they're fine, although they've all been worried about you so they're better now that you're ok," he said smiling at her.

Paul muttered something again as Celia glared across their granddaughter at him with a warning expression. Tasha was unsure what was going on, but it was quite obvious that Jim and Paul had fallen out about something, most likely her. Tasha was considering how to proceed when an older and larger built nurse appeared in the doorway smiling.

"Tasha, my name is Rhonda and I am your nurse until ten o'clock. I need to take you down for some tests when the orderly arrives," she said cheerfully as an orderly appeared beside her. "If I can ask you all to wait outside for a moment," said Rhonda but it was far from a question thought Tasha.

Celia, Dan and Pippa all headed for the door immediately while Paul and Jim just stared across the room at each other.

"I'll come with you!" said Paul smiling at Jim, but Tasha noticed immediately the insincerity of it and felt it was more of a point scoring exercise than anything else.

"That won't be necessary," said Jim without adding an 'I'll go with Tasha' kind of comment.

"Maybe Tasha would like to do this alone!" said Tasha firmly. "Look I am really tired and I am sure that once I have been wherever I am going all I will want to do is sleep, so maybe you should all go home for a while," she said emphasising the all.

"Baby I am not leaving you alone," said Jim still standing near the door.

"Jim, you look wrecked and you should probably go and get some sleep too and make the most of having the bed to yourself," she smiled.

"And I have told you before that my bed is far too big without you in it!" he said sadly.

"Ok!" she laughed holding her hands up to surrender. "But would you get me some clothes, pyjamas or something, anything that isn't a hospital gown, please?" she asked thinking it was an ideal excuse to send him on his way for a while

"Sure," he replied, "But I will be back before you know it," he said and turned to leave.

"Gramps," she called to Paul who appeared to be following Jim.

"Yes Nat," he said turning back to her.

"Please don't be mean to Jim, he loves me and he has found this very tough," she said taking her grandfather's hand in hers.

"None of us have found this easy, but he has to accept some responsibility, we all do," replied Paul mysteriously.

"Gramps I don't know what that means and Jim has said that there's some stuff I need to know and I trust him to tell me when the time is right, so please, for me if not for him, be nice because I love him and he is going to be my husband and the father of my children eventually."

"For you!" he said as he kissed her forehead and left her with Rhonda again.
Rhonda smiled at her and simply said, "Let's go then!"

Tasha felt slightly relieved to be back in her room and alone. She had been for a scan on her head and then a different scan on her abdomen before being brought back to her room where Rhonda had removed some of the wires and tubes, including the less than glamorous catheter which meant she was allowed to get up to use the bathroom. She lay back against the fresh pillows and waited for Jim to return with 'real' nightwear rather than the hospital gown she was currently wearing and wondered whether her grandparents, specifically her grandfather would return too. She closed her eyes and attempted to think of nothing, but was determined not to fall asleep while she waited for Jim, yet did precisely that.

As the voices around her began to get louder she roused from her sound sleep slightly, but not enough to open her eyes.

"Will you please back off Paul! I have no desire to fight with you and I feel guilty enough that Tasha was hurt without you trying to make this all my fault!" she heard Jim say.

"I'm not making this all your fault, it is all your fault! You and that bloody crazy woman! I told you to take care of my girl and you assured me you would and yet here we are at the hospital thanking all things holy that she is still here! She almost died Jim and I do hold you responsible, you the one that professes to love her!" said Paul angrily.

Tasha was still unable to open her eyes and felt sure that she had been given something whilst asleep.

"I accept that I have to take some responsibility in all of this, but if that's the case then so do you. You take a good, hard look at yourself and your family. Think about what went on, what happened to Tasha on your watch before you try to transfer all the blame and I would imagine your own guilt onto me. Now I have been really tolerant of the barbed comments and I have given you some time and space, not to mention the run of my house, but I should warn you that I am running out of patience here. You want to blame me, so be it, but do not try and call into question my feelings for Tasha," warned Jim.

Tasha felt a sense of relief that her grandfather made no come back and although she didn't really understand the details of what had been said, she believed that Jim would tell her in time and that this couldn't be his fault.

"You should know that when Nat has recovered I intend to take her home, to London, where she belongs," said Paul.

"And you should know that Natasha is going nowhere other than home with me and that we will be getting married, this is where she belongs," replied Jim.

Tasha's eyes finally opened and were full of sadness as she looked at two of the most important men in her life, arguing with each other, apportioning blame and trying to compete for her.

"Hey, my two favourite men are back," she said gruffly with a wince at the soreness that still surprised her every time she woke up causing them both to turn and look at her.

"Are you ok Nat?" asked Paul looking guilty that she may have heard their conversation.
Jim picked up a glass of water and held the straw to her mouth.

"Did you bring me some pyjamas or something?" asked Tasha when she'd finished drinking and laughed as she saw the box that proved that Jim had phoned a local store and had the nightwear couriered over meaning he had still not left the hospital. "Thank you," she said smiling, but refused his offer to help her change immediately.

Eventually Jim left to use the bathroom and without wasting a second of their time alone Tasha took Paul to task.

"Gramps you said you'd be nice to Jim and you and he were arguing, I heard you," she told him. "Please don't blame Jim for any of this, no matter what has happened I love Jim and he loves me more than anything in the world and would never deliberately endanger me and I won't be coming back to London with you, I belong here, with Jim," she said stroking her grandfather's head as he rested it on the edge of the bed next to her.

"Sorry Nat, I just need someone to blame and if you hadn't met him and come out here none of this would have happened, so it is his fault, but I will try not to be such a stupid fool and think more rationally because it's not like I kept you safe at home, is it? Your grandma is constantly telling me I'm being stupid blaming Jim, but I can't help it and maybe when you know the details..." he said as Jim returned. "I am going to head back to the house, I think Dan is struggling with all of this and may need to talk," said Paul kissing Tasha.

"Mike is downstairs," said Jim flatly before Paul left them.

"Tell me what happened," said Tasha.

"No, not tonight. Tomorrow when you have had a good night's sleep," said Jim firmly and as Tasha prepared to argue the door burst open to reveal Juan, Philip and Lizzie squealing as they all enveloped her in enthusiastic embraces.

Several days passed and between the constant stream of visitors Jim managed to avoid discussing exactly what had happened on the night of Tasha's crash and had somehow got her doctor to tell the police that she wasn't up to seeing them to answer their questions. Jim was still insisting on staying with her at night and despite the staff's objections she managed to get him to snuggle up beside her on the bed.

It was during one such moment that Tasha finally asked, "Did I cause the crash? Is that why the police want to see me? Am I in trouble?" she asked sounding panicked. "I don't remember anything of that journey...I left the store car park and then I remember the fireman talking to me, nothing else."

Jim sat up to allow her to roll over towards him, still a little gingerly as her ribs were still sore and caused her some discomfort and pain whenever she tried to move.

He looked down at her worried expression and reassuringly told her, "No, you didn't cause the crash and you are not in trouble. I think the police just want to see what you remember and to clarify a couple of points."

"So what did happen?" asked Tasha as Jim lay down next to her and faced her.

"Ok, but this is a very long story and pretty messed up too. You left me after accepting that call from Mickie and she was telling me all about her worries and concerns for her health and all I could think about was you and I told her that we had just had a fight. She suggested that I should let you go for a while and concentrate on what I really needed and what you needed. She was empathetic and questioned whether we may have rushed into this whole thing, but when she quoted that whole 'if you love someone set them free and if they come back then they're really yours' it threw me. She talked about how young you were and how she had figured that you had endured a difficult childhood and that maybe I was asking for too much too soon and that rushing you into a marriage was wrong for you, that you needed to come to terms with 'everything'. Her words made sense on some level. I couldn't believe that Mickie of all people wouldn't take the opportunity to take advantage and gain some ground, so maybe she was right," Jim said sighing loudly and kissing Tasha gently on the forehead. "Anyway, I still wanted us to talk because Mickie was right about us needing to concentrate on what we needed and what I needed, still need, is you. Even with Mickie's words still fresh in my mind I refused to accept that you didn't need or want me like I did you. You and me, that's it for both of us and so I selfishly decided that we could work things out, just us. That's when I text you and was hugely relieved that you said you were coming home, but you didn't get there. Juan came to say that a car that looked a lot like yours had crashed and rolled part way down a hill after flipping over the fence. He was in a bit of a state and I knew that he knew it was you and by the time I got there you were being cut out of the wreckage and I have to tell you honey I was scared shitless, I thought I'd lost you forever," he said with a distinct wobble to his voice now.

Tasha felt guilty for having put him through it, although it appeared that the accident wasn't her fault so she shouldn't feel guilty as such, but still thought that he was keeping vital information from her still.

"You were in a really bad way when they got you here Tasha and you had broken ribs that had punctured your lung, your body had gone into shock, you had massive internal bleeding and they had to stabilise you before they could do anything. You had an operation to stop the bleeding, but you were still struggling and a couple of days later you had an infection that was killing you so they did another operation and had to remove your spleen and repair some of the original stuff they did. Then you were stable, but struggling to breathe on your own so that's why you woke up choking on that tube. The police hung around on and off for a while until Stan told them that you were going nowhere and would be in no fit state to answer questions for some time. The accident wasn't actually an accident as it turns out; someone cut your brakes baby and it seems that they followed you and may have even forced you off the road, but the police stopped him a few days later and he sang like the proverbial canary. He told the police that he had been paid to stop you and me from marrying and 'to get rid of you' from my life, he was paid handsomely and named his puppet master too."

"James I don't understand who would want to hurt me to stop us getting married, except for, but, I don't understand," cried Tasha confused and scared at the idea that somewhere in the world there were people cutting deals and exchanging cash to stop her marrying Jim, to kill her.

Jim pulled her towards him more firmly and held her tight allowing her to take in the details of what he'd already said and once she was a little calmer he continued with the really messed up parts of the story.

"Mickie. Mickie paid someone to do it and he was happy to take her money and this is where it becomes really unpleasant. You remember that she hired that P.I. who met with your parents and they wouldn't be drawn on details for fear of legal action?" Jim asked and continued as soon as Tasha nodded her head in confirmation. "Well that was crap because they did indeed take money, but not for information," said Jim thinking he was explaining clearly, but looking down at a confused looking Tasha realised he wasn't. "There is no easy way of saying this honey so I will just say it. Mickie paid your Dad to come over here on false papers to stop you marrying me, 'using any means necessary' and he did. He is still in police custody, but they are still looking for Mickie. Your Mom has sold several stories in the UK saying that it must all be a mistake, but no mistake baby," he told her holding her and rocking her gently as she began to gently sob.

"I can't believe anybody would want me dead! Am I that dreadful a person, a daughter? Maybe they've done you a favour by saving you from me!" Tasha said, still sobbing and reeling from the information Jim had just shared and was grateful that his grip on her, his arms around her were tightening.

"You stop that!" said Jim firmly. "Nobody has done me any favours where you're concerned. I love you and we are going to get married and you are not dreadful, but Mickie is a complete lunatic and your Dad is an animal. I spoke to Mickie when your Dad had been arrested, before her involvement was known and she was weird, she made me suspicious by her reaction of 'I will always be here to support you' and 'would you like me to and take you home, to take care of you' and then a couple of hours later after I had told her to leave us alone and that I wasn't the one to help her through her illness the police turned up and questioned me about Mickie and your Dad and then told me what they knew, but Mickie had disappeared by then. Your Dad received a call from her on the night of your crash, after you and I fought, she told him he had run out of time and to take you out. Oh, Katy Myers got in touch and told me about your meeting, but after a little research on her part she discovered that Mickie didn't have cancer and that was all part of the plan; get rid of you, support me through it, recover from the non-existent cancer and we could...."

"Live happily ever after," finished Tasha.

"Exactly," replied Jim to a terrified looking Tasha.

"Hence the security," she said in a whisper.

"Yes baby," he said unsure if there was anything else to say.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" asked Tasha sounding scared again.

"Baby I keep telling you I am going nowhere and neither are security until Mickie is found, now go to sleep," he ordered making her smile.

"I've missed Mr Control Freak," she said reaching up to stroke his face.

"Well in that case I'll have Mike bring your uniform in!" he said grinning making her laugh and then grimace as she held her ribs carefully.

"I can see why you and Gramps are at loggerheads, but neither of you are at fault," she said sincerely. "If I was cut out of my car I am guessing it's a write off."

"A total wreck honey."

"Shame," she smiled sadly.

"After all the fuss you made when I bought it you now consider it's passing as a 'shame'?" he said arching a brow. "Although, I can get you the Spyder now!" he grinned smugly before she rolled over and pressed her back against his front and as his grip tightened on her and held her safely she closed her eyes, allowing a few tears to fall with her inability to process all she'd been told but allowed herself to drift off to sleep.