The two women left the ladies room arm in arm and found the small group waiting outside Jon's room. Sammy was sitting with Richie looking at something on his phone and Ari and Ethan were sharing a seat in the corner of the small waiting room.

"Everything okay?" Richie asked the two, standing and studying them closely.

"Girl talk. Rich," Julie said with a smile and nod in the direction of the room, "Jon's waiting for you and Bec." Julie dumped the bag at the door then wandered over to her children as the other couple slipped into the hospital room.

"Hey Jonny," Richie said as he approached the bed.

Oh shit! Rich?! Fuck brother, is that you? Rich you gotta help me wake up, man! I'm going insane. Please man you gotta help me!!

"Man, you gave me a scare," Richie shook his head as he sat on the side of Jon's bed and picked up his hand, "I never want to go through that again, you hear me? I don't know whether to be pissed at you or not."

"Jon, you owe me some new glassware, honey," Bec said as she stood beside her husband and rubbed a soothing hand lovingly down his back, "Tall, dark and handsome here decided that if he couldn't have a drink, then no one in the house should be able to either. Didn't you, darlin'?"

Always the diva, Rich? Dude, you can be pissed at me as much as you want, but just help me wake the fuck up.

"Jules...Julie's hanging in there by her fingernails, Jonny," Richie said as he chafed the back of Jon's hand, "She needs you, man, and your kids need you too. We all do. So when they reverse the coma, you better wake the fuck up, you hear me?"

What do you think I've been begging for? I just need to pull my wife into my arms and feel...her. Just her. Fuck why can't you all hear me??

"The kids, and I mean all the kids, have been staying with David and Leesha," Richie continued as he swiped at his nose with the back of his hand, "Lema...he's looking out for them all." Becca handed Richie a tissue box and he paused to wipe the stray tears and blow his nose. "Even with all the bullshit that's out there from the drone this morning, he's doing a good job of keeping everyone in check. Probably better than what I could have."

All of them? Dot let Jake and Romeo stay too? Shit I wasn't expecting that! Rich, he's the one that enabled Ari and Ethan to...you know. But if he's really keep both families together, that's a debt of gratitude I'll never be able to repay.

"I know you and him haven't seen eye to eye a lot recently," Richie sighed, "but he's doing the best he knows how. We all need to forgive each other for whatever past indiscretions we've held onto. You and me and Lema...we're the only ones left of the band of brothers. I'd...I'd be lost without you both." Richie kissed the back of Jon's hand and placed the palm of his other over Jon's heart as if to reassure himself that it was still beating. "I love you, Jonny."

You're right, Rich. You haven't always been right, but you are now. We're brothers and I love both of you fuckers.

"Jon, honey, I'm going to take this guy home. The girls and Ethan too," Becca said, and kissed Jon's cheek, "I hope to see those pretty eyes open next time, you hear me? David and Leesha are bringing the rest of the family up soon, so rest up. We'll send Julie back in. Ask her to show you her underwear. She's wearing some of Leesha's." Becca winked at Richie, "That should wake him up."

It'll wake something up...is that possible? Ugh fuck my head is pounding. What's a guy gotta do to get painkillers around here? Feels like my skull is splitting in two. Oh god the pain!! Fuck my nerves are on fire! Help! Fuck someone help me!!

"See you tomorrow Jonny," Richie said with a pat to his chest, "C'mon, darlin', let's get these kids through the vultures downstairs." Richie turned at the doorway for one last look before closing the door behind him.

Richie and Bec gathered the children together after they'd said goodbye to their mother. They made their way to the elevator when the alarm started going off at the nurses station. Richie just managed to see the doctor race into Jon's room as the elevator door closed.

He wanted to scratch and claw at the doors to let him out and race back but when he turned he saw the faces of his family, he knew he had to hold it together until he and Bec were alone at their place before he could fall apart.

It was a tense trip back to David's and they managed to get through the extra security on the gate with ease. He pulled up at the big house and the quiet group exited the car. Richie sat there in worried silence for a minute or two before Becca double backed to the car.

"C'mon inside, honey," she said gently, "Julie would have called by now if there was something amiss."

He swallowed thickly, nodded and followed her inside the Bryan house.

David was sitting at the piano with Janelle, trying to keep her mind of Jon's situation, teaching her a classical piece. Leesha was talking with Steph and Colton, the twin snuggled in her arms and wrapped gently around her tiny belly.

Colton was the first to look up and offered a gentle smile, letting Sammy sit in between him and Steph. "Did you get to show Jon your picture?"

"Yeah," Sammy nodded and rested her head against her Uncle's arm. "Mama put it next to his bed."

"What's up, sweetie?" Steph asked her sister, "How was dad?"

Sammy looked up at her sister and scrunched up her nose. "Daddy's naked. He must be cold," she said matter of factly.

"Okay...," Steph snorted, "thanks for telling me that, sis."

The girls chatted amongst themselves as Richie and Becca came into the room; Richie flopped wearily down on one of the couches. He scrubbed his hands over his face and stretched out staring at the ceiling. "You...ahh have you heard any word from Julie in the last half hour?" he asked. Becca sat with her husband ready to catch him if he fell.

David looked from Richie to Leesha and his hand shook on the piano. "They're...um...running more tests..."

"Tests for what?" Richie perked up, peering at David.

"Not now, Richie," Leesha interjected, nodding to the twins and Sammy.

"Fuck!" he muttered.

"Colton," David said to his son, "Why don't you take Sammy and the twins into the studio? Let her bang on Tico's drums for a bit...since you know the news..."

"I'll come too," Janelle volunteered. "Sammy needs her keyboardist." David kissed his daughter's forehead and Colton led the charges from the lounge.

Richie watched David closely and took his wife's hand, saying, "I don't like the sounds of this, bro, what's happened?"

Leesha stood from the sofa and excused herself to the kitchen. "They think Jon had a stroke earlier. That's the test they're running," David explained, unable to look Richie in the eye.

"The alarms. They...they went off as we were leaving," Richie said leaning into Becca's side, "I...I had a feeling as soon as the doors closed. I needed to get back there, but then I looked at the kids and I knew I had to keep going. Fuck!"

"So what's the prognosis, have the doctors said?" Becca asked.

"Yeah he won't be able to walk on his own! No more singing, lack of motor skills! He's only in this position because the four of us decided to live for the goddamn moment! See where it fucking got us?!" Leesha yelled towards David and the others. "If we weren't acting like fucking teenagers, this wouldn't have happened!" She pointed to her belly. "There would have been no fight, Julie wouldn't have stormed out and Jon wouldn't have chased after her!!"

"Babe, you need to calm down," David cut in.

"Oh shut up!! You know it as well as I do," Leesha snapped. "You think I don't feel the stare on my back!? I fucking caused this shit and none of you have any goddamn balls to just fucking say it to my face!!!"

"Leesha, please, I'm sure Jon and Julie don't feel that way," Becca said calmly, "It was an accident. Jon could have been heading for a stroke anyway. We don't know that?!"

"The only accident was this baby because we had a one track fucking mind!" Leesha stormed up the staircase and the slamming door echoed off the marble.

"Shall I go talk to her?" Becca offered and David shook his head.

"D? Is what Leesha said right?" Richie looked at his friend, "What the doctors said, I mean. You know none of you are to blame, right?"

David turned on the piano bench and leaned against the instrument. He rubbed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah it's true. It doesn't matter what you say to her, Bec. Between the hormones and guilt, I can't even console her. Hell, it was my stupid prank that started everything that night."

"You can't blame yourselves, David," Becca said, "It's not healthy for anyone. For you and Leesha, for the baby she's carrying and certainly not for Jon and Julie. Okay, so you did one dumb thing which lead to a series of unfortunate events. But the most important things, right here, right now, is Jon's health and recovery and the health of that baby."

"Becca's right, man," Richie sighed, "I could beat the living shit outta you right now, but it's not gonna help Jon one iota. What's done is done. We have to find a way to forgive each other and move forward."

"Honestly, Rich, I'd probably feel better if you beat me up." David gave a weak chuckle. "I've tried to keep my doubts and emotions underwraps for the kids' sake. I just want Jon back. We'd just moved passed Ethan and Arielle, putting the pieces back together."

"Yeah you dodged a bullet with that one, my friend," Richie nodded. He sighed before continuing, "Look...let's just concentrate on getting Jon back up and running, then we sort anything else out after that. I'm sure he won't hold a grudge...for too long."

*~*~*

Leesha stood next to Jon's bed, looking between him and David whose head was bent over Jon's hand. He pressed his lips against the too-still fingers, willing them to flinch or twitch. "Fuck, Jonny...I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry, brother," David cried, unable to hold back his tears.

Thank fuck the pain in my head has eased. Lema, why you crying over my hand? You're sorry? What the fuck for, man?!

"We really fucked up, didn't we?" Leesha asked her husband. "Why didn't you let me stop this pregnancy when it was still early enough?"

"Don't even go there again," David snapped. "That's not even an option, babygirl." He pulled her closer with his free hand and leaned in to kiss her baby bump. "He's still part of you."

For once I agree with you D! I wouldn't have let it happen either. Ari was right. Leesh, you do have a pretty bump. Not exactly how I would have planned another child, but he's there now and unless God has other plans, then we'll work this out.

Leesha ran her fingers through the blonde curls she adored so much. "But he's not part of you," she whimpered.

"He's as good as, my love." David moved her in front of him, lifted her shirt slightly and placed Jon's limp hand on the bump. He then placed his own hand atop Jon's. "That's our son. A special part of both families."

Oh! I feel him! Or I feel his soul, maybe. He's going to be the force behind our names, D. He'll have my good looks, of course, but you'll teach him everything he needs to know. Something is broken within us both, Lema, but this kid will do us both proud.

David laid his head on Leesha's hip, moving Jon's hand around the bump and felt her body tremble as the damn broke and his beautiful wife began sobbing uncontrollably. "I never meant to hurt you and Julie," she choked out.

"He knows that, baby. I'm sure he does," David said, looking up at the monitor spiked slightly. "Think he can feel Sam's heartbeat? I bet it's strong...just like his momma." Then his voice changed and he sang, "When you're too proud to crawl. It keeps your back against the wall. You wanna die, but you live with nothing left to give. And there's no place to hide, when you're tangled up inside."

Leesha, don't cry, darlin'. It wasn't your fault. If anything, it's mine. I coulda put a fucking rubber on but I didn't, or I coulda said no after I knew Lema had spiked my drink. I didn't have to go chasing after Jules, but I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I didn't. I coulda slowed down coming into that intersection....fuck everything is a 'I coulda, but...'

D, you're killing me with your singing. You know I love that song you both wrote. I...I heard what the doc said to Julie. That I may not sing again...or walk. Fuck that! I'll prove them wrong!

David's singing slowly calmed his wife's crying until she could walk to the bathroom to wash her face. He took Jon's hand between both of his and started praying in Hebrew. The rhythmic beeps of Jon's heart monitor fading into the background.

"I've been a complete fucking asshole to you, Kidd," David confessed in a rush, "I honestly thought I was doing the best thing for Ari and Ethan when I sent them to California. It wasn't done with malicious intentions. Fuck why can't you just see my thoughts? Would be so much easier."

Damn it D, I know you were only trying to do the right thing and knowing those two kids, they would had taken off for good and deliberately disappeared. Hindsight, man. It's a marvelous thing, ya know? You did a good thing sending them to Rich and Becca.

David propped one elbow on the bed and leaned his head into that shaky hand, letting his thoughts flow freely through his mind unobstructed. "What the fuck happened to us, man? I miss my brother and regret every punch we've thrown at each other. Maybe I deserve some of them? Hell if I know."

Ha! Some you deserved, fucker! But I'd take every one of them back if I could just wake the fuck up!

He stared up at Jon's motionless face, his once bright blue eyes now clouded and watery. "The house is full with all the kids and grandkids, a cat and dog, a pregnant wife and not enough booze to keep one man decently sane. Ethan's helping me though...making sure everyone is taken care of."

Lema! Slow down on the booze...please?! Something...I dunno man...doesn't feel right...

He shifted in his chair and grunted a couple times, pushing the discomfort aside. The stomach pains had been minor for the last two weeks, nothing a little ibuprofen couldn't handle and had been chalked up to stress. He doubled over in pain and clutched his stomach.

Dude, what's wrong? I can sense something's not right with you...something sinister, black, ugly. It's multiplying...fuck it's overwhelming. Stop being a fucking martyr and go get that checked out...please! I'll fire your ass if you don't go see about that. We've already lost T, I can't lose you too.

"David?" Leesha's voice was steadier, though still slightly on edge. "Stomach pain again? I wish you'd get it checked out." She watched as David jumped up and beelined for the bathroom. "That man is a stubborn fucker," she said to Jon, gently adjusting his pillow and straightening his bedsheet.

You've only figured that out now? Not very observant, kiddo! You're good for him though, darlin'. You've kept him grounded, more so than your predecessors.

Leesha stroked Jon's gray hair and leaned in to kiss his forehead. "We need you to pull through this. I never meant any of this to happen, Jonny. I swear to God if you die and leave Julie alone, I'll hunt you down in the afterlife and beat the crap outta you."

I wouldn't put it past you, darlin'!

*~*~*

Outside Jon's room, Julie was surprised to Richie come striding out of the elevator. "Rich? What are you doing back here?"

"Just a feeling, darlin'," Richie hugged her, "I heard about what the doctors said. How are you holding up?'

"I don't care about me, Rich," Julie held onto their friend for dear life, "I want my Rockstar back. Will you stay here with me?"

"Of course, darlin'," Richie kissed the top of her head, "Shall we go in with the others?"

Julie nodded and Richie gently guided her into Jon's room where David and Leesha were still visiting. The small group sat, paced, begged, prayed and chatted in soft voices around the bedridden Jon for what seemed like eons until Jon's doctor came in to advise that they were going to bring him out of the coma so they could judge how severe the stroke had been.

Jon's doctor and nurse smiled at the family, working around them and injecting the reversal medication into his IV. "Keep in mind this isn't immediate. It can take up to 12 hours," the doctor explained. "His test results came back positive for a stroke. We're also starting him on medication for it, but at the minimum his speech might be slurred on one side." He pointed out the little slack on the left side of Jon's jaw. "Or the results could be more severe. Once he's fully awake, we'll evaluate him further."

Oh thank fuck! Just get me back to my family. Julie, I'm coming baby...just hold on a little longer.

Okay feels like eternity...still nothing...hello? Anyone hear me? Oh come on, one of you assholes better... arrrggghhhh!!!!!

.

Jon felt like he was being pulled through a wringer. His leg was on fire and the previous numbness gave way to a violent twist and turning of his joints and muscles. The sounds of shattering glass and twisting metal flash through his memory, the sight of the car out of his window just before the impact.

Blackness and pain, that's all he was. David and Leesha standing together, watching Ethan leave the room. Their voices swirled together. Julie in the front row...the first night they met...their wedding...her voice echoing 'I Do.'

Oh God stop torturing me!! What the fuck?! Stop it! Julie!

He felt his chest tighten and his breathing falter. The sound of beeps and alarms blurred together and he clutched his head.

Shut that fucking machine up already! It's giving me a headache.

David looked at the monitors as they started to pick up a different cadence. Looking down at Jon, there were no visible signs of distress, however. It had been like this for almost a week. Just when things were improving, Jon would nosedive a little. This time felt a little different.

David checked the broken leg and he blinked when Jon's big toe moved. Leesha noticed the difference in her husband's face and rose from the chair to stand beside him. "What's going on?" she whispered as she ran a soothing hand down his back.

"Fuck, Johnny...Can you hear me?"

Course I can hear you, fucker!

"David?" Richie was by his side in a flash, "What is it?" He'd been sitting on the windowsill, staring out blankly at the vista with blind eyes. His thoughts had been a jumble of prayers offered to anyone that would listen and memories from the years past.

David's exclamation had drawn him out of his head in an instant. "I don't know..." He scratched his fingernail up Jon's broken foot. His good foot twitched.

Get your hands off my foot, asshole. I know you got a foot fetish but you're fucking tickling me.

"Shall I wake Julie?" Richie asked.

"I'm awake! What's happening?" Julie hadn't slept properly since the accident. She looked at the monitors and noticed a difference immediately, "Whatever you did, do it again?" This time, David tickled Jon's toes on his good foot and they curled.

I swear to God, fucker!! One more time and I'll impale you on Richie's guitar!

Julie sat up on the side of Jon's bed where she had fallen asleep with her husband and took his hand in hers, kissing his knuckles and silently willing him to come back. "C'mon Rockstar, come back to me baby," she begged, gripping his hand tightly.

David repeated sliding his nail up and down Jon's foot, making his toes curl and the monitor spike.

"Fucker..." came the raspy whisper from Jon's dry lips.

David and Richie's head shot up, Leesha rushing up to Jon's other side. "Jon??" They'd been watching his feet, not his face.

"Baby?" Julie held her breath. Jon's face was still swollen and bruised, the left side slightly droopy and slower but he opened his eyes finally. She gasped and burst into tears of relief, "Oh Jonny, baby," she said, "Thank god!"

"Hey beautiful," he managed to mumble, then in the next breath he said, "Slap Lema."

"I'll do it, Jon," Richie laughed, equally relieved and reached over the bed to slap David on the upside of his head.

"Ow!" David said, rubbing the back of his head.

Jon gave a half smile and mumbled, "Harder." Richie smirked and smacked David in the stomach, causing his head to spin and he doubled over.

Jon huffed out a small laugh but frowned at David's obvious pain. He looked at the faces surrounding him, when his gaze settled on Leesha he crooked a finger to her and she moved to the side of the bed smiling and said, "About time you woke up, Jonny."

"L'sha, not your fault. Not D's fault. No one's fault," Jon struggled, "Baby is strong. We'll work it out. No more guilt. Y'hear?" Jon reached for Leesha's hand, squeezing it as hard as he could to get his message across, pulling her close so she could hear him, "Get him to a doctor...not good."

She gave him a quizzical look but nodded, saying, "Tomorrow." Jon blinked and gave a slight nod in satisfaction. He couldn't explain why it was so important but he had delivered the message.

Jon sought Richie out next, curling his finger to get him closer. "Still pissed at me, Rich?" Jon said, his voice a little stronger, though a little garbled, "Buy Becca new glasses."

Richie pulled back a little in shock. "You..you heard that?" he asked. Jon smiled weakly and nodded. Richie ran his hands through his hair before saying, "Not pissed anymore, Jonny, I love you too much. I'm gonna go ring Becca and tell her the news. I'll bring the kids up again tomorrow." Richie leant down and kissed Jon and left the room.

The doctor came in at that moment to check on the patient, saying, "Welcome back, Jon. You've given us a few scares in the past week. You need rest now. I'll allow your visitors another couple of minutes before I become the bad guy."

Jon nodded weakly and said, "Not Julie."

"No, I'll allow your wife to stay," Dr Corser said, "but no tangos, horizontal or otherwise." Jon gave a lopsided grin at that comment as the doctor left the room.

Jon looked over to Julie and reached up with his good arm to wipe her tears and said shakily, "No more. Too beautiful to cry. Kiss me."

Julie gave a watery smile but touched her lips to Jon's in a small tender kiss, one she didn't think she would be doing again. "I love you so much, baby," she whispered.

"Love you too, baby," Jon smiled crookedly, "S'sorry...f' ev'rything. Don't leave me. Beggin' you."

"Never, my love!" she cried, "You're stuck with me."

"Good!" Jon swallowed heavily, "Thirsty."

David grabbed for the cup of water and held the straw to Jon's lips, "Just take it easy on the water, Jonny. We'll leave you to rest now...but I want to say I'm so-."

"No!" Jon said as clearly as possible. "Heard y' b'fore. Don't need to say again. No blame, hear me?" David nodded, grateful tears filling his eyes. "Now piss off. Kiss my babies, will y'?"

David swiped at his face quickly and nodded again, "I will. We'll bring them up tomorrow. Rest up, Jonny." He and Leesha said their goodbyes, managing to keep their composure until outside the hospital room.

Jon turned his blue eyes to Julie's after the door closed behind the Bryans as she tentatively touched his face. He nuzzled into her hand as he held her gaze. She reached for the tube of lip balm she'd been applying to his mouth every hour and gently dabbed some on him.

"I didn't think I'd ever see those baby blues again, Rockstar," she whispered, "I was so scared." She chewed on her bottom lip trying not to cry again but one big fat tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

Jon mouthed 'sorry' through chapped, dry lips as the last of his flagging energy gave out. He patted the bed beside him and indicated for her to join him. Julie nodded and toed off her shoes, turned off the overhead lights, leaving just the night light glowing and gently climbed up beside him.

Jon turned his face to her and buried his nose into her hair with a sigh, whispering, "I love you, baby," before dropping into a natural sleep. Julie rested her hand over his heart, feeling the steady beat beneath her palm.

She waited until his breathing had deepened before letting the tears fall silently to the pillow as she thanked every higher being for bringing her husband back to her, eventually giving into the first deep sleep she'd had since the accident.