T/W: Mentions someone critically injured and in the hospital. Also mentions possible brain damage, memory loss and spinal injuries and never walking again. And possible death.

****
Lex

I hardly sleep that night. Timmy must sense my distress, as he's fretful and restless. I actually don't mind sitting up with him. It gives me something to focus on other than..Knox.

Every time I picture him, lying in that hospital bed, tears spring to my eyes.

Why, Knox? Why? I've already lost Speed. Will I lose Knox as well? I can't. I just can't.

My tears fall freely, dripping off on to my t-shirt and Timmy. He babbles away, smiling as I hold him.

"Oh, Timmy," I whisper. "Mama's sad." I cuddle him closer, saying a silent prayer for Knox.

***
Steve

When I wake up the following morning, I discover that Lex isn't in bed beside me.  I quickly go looking for her, finding her in the nursery, asleep on the floor, Timmy beside her.

"Lex?" She doesn't wake up immediately and I figure she must not have gotten much sleep.

"Lex?"

"Hmph!" She rolls over, her eyes still red and puffy.

"You okay?" I ask.

"No." Lex just stares past me, at the ceiling. Timmy stirs, waking up and looking confused briefly before he breaks into a grin.

"Hey, buddy," I murmur, leaning down to lift him up.

"Da-da!" Timmy squeals. Lex struggles to a sitting position.

"I want to go down to the hospital," she tells me, standing up.

"I figured," I reply, rubbing Timmy's back. He starts babbling away. Lex heads for the bedroom to get dressed. Ari comes out of her bedroom, looking grumpy.

"You woke me up," she says, narrowing her eyes at me and Timmy.

"I'm sorry," I say.

"I want waffles for breakfast," Ari says.

"Excuse you?" I say. "How about you ask politely?"

"Please. I want waffles," Ari says. I roll my eyes.

"In a minute," I tell her. "I need to change your brother's diaper first." I return to the nursery, while Ari goes to pester Lex about waffles.

"Mommy, waffles!" Ari shrieks.

"Aria Elizabeth Speedle, in a minute! Your father and I are both busy!" I hear the stress in Lex's voice.

"Ari, baby. Just a few more minutes, okay?" I call out. Ari comes running in to me.

"Mommy yelled at me."

"Well, you need to chill, okay?"

"Mommy's sad," Ari says.

"How do you know that?" I finish with Timmy and we head downstairs.

"Because Knox is sick," Ari replies.

"He's not sick," I correct Aria. "He got hurt." I go to the freezer, pulling out a box of chocolate chip waffles and begin to prepare them for Ari.

"Otto!" Ari suddenly shrieks. Lex comes in.

"Oh crap!" She exclaims. "I wonder who's taking care of Otto."

"Maybe that lady you spoke with, knows," I say.

"Mommy, why is Knox sick?"

"He's not sick," Lex says a little testily. "He got hurt."

"How?" Ari asks.

"Ari, enough questions," I jump in before Lex really freaks out. "Here. Your waffles are ready. Go sit at the table and eat them." I give Ari her plate of waffles.

"I'm heading to the hospital in a bit," Lex tells me. I nod.

"Okay. Do you want any company?"

"No. I'd rather go alone."

"Okay."

***
Lex

The nurse is allowing me to sit in with Knox for a while. They still don't know if he'll make it or not. If he does, there could be serious repercussions.

Like..he might not regain his memory or he might have massive brain damage. Neither is very hopeful. I just want to weep, hearing that.

The doctor said, too, Knox might have spinal injuries and never..walk again. When I think about these serious issues, I wonder of perhaps Knox might be better off..dead.

I can't think that way. I can't.

Mostly, as I sit here, holding Knox's hand, I just talk to him about life. About how much I still need him. About his dog.

And about how I'm not leaving him I know what his outcome will be.

***
I contact Julie, asking if she knows who's looking after Otto.

"As a matter of fact," she replies. "I am."

"I want to," I say.

"You..do?"

"My daughter is super attached to him. She'd love having him at our place."

"We-ll." Julie hesitates. "It's a big job."

"I'm fine with it. Can you bring him to our house?"

"Sure. What's the address?" I tell her.

"I'll collect Otto's things and be by later on," Julie promises me.

"Great."

***
My cell is going off. It's Eric.

"Hello?"

"Hey. Any news on Knox?"

"No change," I reply.

"I'm really sorry, Lexie," Eric murmurs.

"It's not fair!" I burst out.

"No, it's not," Eric agrees.

"If..if I..lose..Knox. I don't know if I can come back from this." I'm crying now. I wish Eric was here, so he could hold me.

"You would," Eric murmurs. "You're stronger than you know."

"Oh, Eric. I...need you."

"Where are you?"

"At the hospital," I reply.

"I'm coming," Eric says.

"No, no," I say hurriedly. "I'll be okay."

"I'm coming," Eric repeats.

"Okay."

***
Twenty minutes later, Eric is rushing towards me. I hurry to him, launching myself into his arms. Immediately I start to cry. Eric just holds me. We don't move for a long time. I feel like I'm losing Speed all over again. It hurts so damn much. Finally, Eric releases me and I move back, wiping at my face.

"I'm here now. Lexie. And I'm not leaving you."

"Thank you, Eric."

***
Steve

"Wow. Just wow." I'd contacted Dave, filling him and Cass an update on Knox.

"Yeah." I blow my breath out. "Lex is a mess."

"I'm not surprised," Dave says. "She really got herself in deep with that guy."

"Sadly, yes."

"Is there anything we can do?" Dave asks.

"Just be my emotional support," I answer. "So I can be Lex's emotional support."

"Of course, man," Dave says.

"Thanks, man."

***
I'm standing in the kitchen, frowning, as Otto runs around, occasionally barking at nothing. He was just dropped off here, because apparently, Lex asked him to be.

"Lex," I say. "We can't keep Otto."

"We are," Lex whispers fiercely. I sigh.

"This is too big of a responsibility. We don't have time for a dog."

"He stays." Lex's tone carries a note of finality. I know I'm not winning this battle.

"And what if Knox doesn't make it? What then?" I ask.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Lex replies.

"Fine." I decide to just leave this here. I don't have the mental energy to deal with it.