Wargs Player Critically Injured in Motorcycle Accident

Emergency crews responded to the scene of an accident late Saturday night when a motorcycle driven by Rhydin native Cian Granger swerved and crashed into an oncoming vehicle.

Granger was reportedly returning home from a hockey game when the accident happened. Officials do not believe alcohol was involved in the accident, but that icy road conditions may have been a factor.

Granger, who is best known for playing left wing for the WestEnd Wargs and who is a popular fan favorite, is also a member of the affluent Granger clan, owners of textile corporation GrangerConglomerate.

Granger was reportedly driving a Triumph Thunderbird at the time of the collision and was wearing a helmet. The name of the driver of the other vehicle is not being released, and no charges are being filed. No one else was injured in the accident.

Granger is said to be in critical condition in ICU at Rhydin General Hospital. No further details are available at this time, and a spokesperson for the Granger family could not be reached for comment.

http://i39.tinypic.com/k482dx.jpg Press photo of Cian Granger.

The New Year had been and gone quietly in Beecham House. Gabi had spent the changeover in front of the television in her nightdress and a thick cardigan, glass of pop in one hand a bowl of popcorn in the other, wishing Frank and Gordon a Happy New Year when midnight rolled around. Now, an hour after midnight, she was dozing on the couch, curled up into a tight ball as the T.V flickered light over her in the gloom of the sitting room.

Frank had watched the ball drop with Gabi, not really understanding why it was so damn important. He glowered through most of it, slumped in a chair with his fist to his cheek as he grumbled. A Happy New Year was repeated back to his sister before he could finally retreat to his bedroom. An hour later, he lay sleeping with a Hustler magazine tented over his chest and a peaceful smile on his face.

Gordon's New Year quite plainly sucked and it wasn't going to be getting much better. He had wished his two children who remained at home a Happy New Year before retiring for the evening, woken not more than an hour later by a phone call from the hospital urging him to get there in a hurry. After a brief conversation, he got up and hurriedly dressed, calling for Gabi and Frank as he exited his room, hurriedly pulling a sweater over his head.

The sound of the phone ringing disturbed Gabi where she dozed, uncurling from her tight ball to roll over and stare blankly at the flickering television while she tried to work out which room she was in. The sound of their father calling for them, however, brought her up to her feet. "Down here, Dad!"

There was a soft chortling sound as Gordon's voice woke Frank from a deep sleep. Frank groaned and stretched, then pulled the pillow over his head. "The house ain't on fire, go away."

Gordon heard Gabi's reply as he stepped out of his room, moving for Frank's and rapping on the door. "Frank! Get up and get dressed. We're going to the hospital." He didn't have time to coddle his children. They were going to have to trust him and do what he said and do it in a hurry.

The adopted triplet only caught the end of this as she jogged up the stairs, her face paling quite suddenly as intuition made the only logical leap between being woken by a phone call after midnight and needing to go to the hospital. "Dad?" she asked quietly, even as she moved to her own bedroom door. "It's not ....it's not Cian, is it?"

Gordon frowned sadly at his daughter. Adopted or not, she was the only daughter he had and he loved her as much as he did the sons who shared his blood. He moved over to her, not really having much time to sooth her worries, knowing this was going to be hard for all of them. He drew an arm around her to give her a reassuring hug. "Just get dressed, Gabs. I'll explain in the car."

"What, you get drunk and fall down?" Frank pulled the pillow off of his head and rolled onto his back. Slowly he sat up and buckled his belt. He'd fallen asleep in his clothes. His dad didn't sound inebriated; Frank was just really good at throwing barbs and low blows. Soon his feet were sliding into his shoes and he shuffled across the floor of his room to open the door. "The hell is wrong with you now?"

Gabi's brow crumpled unhappily at having her fears left unconfirmed or denied, hugging her father briefly before hurrying into her bedroom to dress. It could only be Cian in trouble that would have Gordon rousing the whole house.

Gordon threw Frank a look that was full of daggers. The man had had just about as much as he could take from that particular son. Sick or not, meds or no meds. He had been more than understanding, but with this latest news, his patience was frayed and had just about reached its limits. "Get your *ss dressed and ready. We are going to the hospital as a family, and I won't have any of your smart mouth while we're there."

Frank blinked rapidly and took a step back. His father had never talked like that to him before. "Okay, Dad," he nodded submissively and reached for his coat. There wasn't else he needed to do to get dressed. Already he wore a sweater, t-shirt and belted jeans with his steel toed hiking boots. "Wh-what?s going on?"

There was a crash as Gabi got her door halfway open only to trip over and slam it closed again with the weight of her fall against it. A moment later, she was out on the landing, hopping to get her foot into her boot, looking every bit as though she'd just dressed herself in the dark. Her gaze flickered between Frank and their father miserably. "What hospital?"

"There was an accident. Cian's in ICU." He glanced from one to the other, worrying how each would react to the news. Gabi was sensitive but strong, and Gordon knew no matter how bad she was feeling, she'd find the strength from within to deal with whatever needed to be dealt with. Frank, on the other hand, was another story. His hold on his sanity had been so-so since their mother had died, and Gordon knew anything might put him over the edge, but he had no choice. "Rhydin General." He looked between his two children, a look on his face that said he would accept no arguments. "We're going to the hospital as a family, and we will pray as a family for Cian's recovery."

"Sh*t," Frank spat on the ground and then hurried down the stairs. "The hell was he doing that he got into an accident' Lose a couple of teeth playing hockey?" Frank scowled and he grabbed the car keys on the way out of the door. "Come on you two, we haven't got all night!"

Gordon waited for Gabi, reaching to wrap an arm around her shoulders. She was the more sensitive of the bunch, but Frank was the unstable one. "He's gonna be okay, Gabs. I promise." He tried to give her a reassuring smile, even though he knew he couldn't promise anything.

Shock made itself very clear on Gabi's pale face when ICU was mentioned, her whole demeanor huddling in on itself even as she stepped forward to follow Frank down the stairs at her own pace, tucked under Gordon's arm. The last thing anyone needed was for her clumsiness to put her in the ER as well. "I know, Dad," she nodded, putting a brave face on her unhappy realisation that Cian must have banged himself up badly. "Frank, are ....are you sure you're okay to drive?"

"He'll be fine, won't you, son?" Gordon gave Frank the benefit of the doubt in that moment. His own hands were shaking and he doubted his ability to drive them there safely.

"I'm fine." Frank was gruff, but he'd unlocked the car and was holding the backseat door open for Gabi. He couldn't do anything more than be level-headed and unemotional right now. He nodded to his dad and waited her to to climb in. He wasn't going to smile and give false promises to Gabi; to Frank that was just cruel. And a part of him ached. His back and chest hurt, but he wasn't sure exactly why. All of this he kept hidden behind his straight faced facade. "Come on, I'll get you there safe."

Nodding, Gabi let herself be ushered out and into the backseat of the car, grateful that she was going to have that darkened area to herself during the ride there. Seat belt on, she curled up again, biting on her lips in an attempt not to imagine just what might have put her eldest brother in the hospital.

Gordon made sure Gabi got into the car safely before moving around to the front passenger seat to sit beside Frank. He looked grim and didn't feel much better. He felt almost as if someone had punched him in the gut and knocked all the air out of him. It was the exact same way he'd felt when Felicity had died. Numb. He buckled himself in and looked over at Frank. "Rhydin General."

He turned to glance out the side window, trying to gather his thoughts in some sort of explanation to his children about what had happened without upsetting them too much, but there was no way around it. They were going to be upset, and Gordon dreaded what they were going to find when they got there.

Frank shut the door behind Gabi, then jumped into the driver's seat. The ignition was turned over and soon he was squealing tires to make it to the hospital. "He's alive," Frank assured them. It was that twin connection thing. As much as he and Cian fought, they still had that bond.

Gordon appeared not to hear his son's reassurance. He was going over Felicity's death in his head. It could have been prevented, much as Cian's accident could have been prevented. Why did tragedy have a way of finding them so often" But he knew he had to push these thoughts aside and be hopeful, if not for Cian's sake, than at least for Frank and Gabi.

As the car rumbled out from the Maple Grove estate and into the city itself, Gabi chewed her lips and tried very hard not to remember the last time she'd been to Rhy'Din General. It had been when their mother had died; they had gone with their father to register the death and make the arrangements for the body to be transferred out of the morgue and to the undertakers. Frank's quiet, stern reassurance was calming, at least - he had a link to Cian she didn't. Blood won out, after all.

Gordon glanced back for Gabi, not wanting to leave her there alone, not knowing where the two of them disappeared to.

"You go ahead, Dad." Frank offered. He, too, looked back for Gabi, then went to her to take the steaming cups of coffee from her. "We'll wait here and go in together." He looked to Gabi, his nostrils flaring as he took in a deep breath through them.

Gordon looked between his children a moment again, then back to the nurse. "Couldn't you make an exception' We're a family."

By the coffee machine, despite having her back to everyone, Gabi had heard every word, clinging to the nurse's optimism intently. She still wasn't sure she wanted to see her brother in a hospital bed, but at least no one seemed to think he was in danger of imminent death.

Laura smiled apologetically, shaking her head. "It's hospital policy, I'm afraid," she said firmly. "I can't make an exception - it's an unacceptable risk to the well-being of all the patients on the ward, not just your son. Too much stimulation at once can be frightening when you're unable to respond."

He nodded his head, realizing the rules were in place for a reason and for the well-being of his son. "I'll go then." He looked back at the other two. "Frank, stay with your sister. I won't be long."

"It's okay, Dad, go ahead." He could feel the tension releasing in Gabi's shoulders at the optimism in the nurse's voice. "I'll take Gabi to look in the window of the gift shop, plan what we're going to embarrass Cian with when he wakes up."

He nodded again, looking to Gabi, who worried him more at the moment. Oddly, Frank seemed to be handling all this just fine. He looked back at the nurse and then went over to dispense some gel onto his hands to disinfect them.

Laura smiled at them, evidently pleased not to have to put her foot down too hard on worried relatives. "This way, Mr Granger." Turning, she moved to lead Gordon onto the ward, pausing to disinfect her own hands before passing through the doors.

Left behind, Gabi waited until she heard the doors close before sagging against Frank's side, spilling boiling coffee unheeded over her fingers. "He's going to be alright," she whispered shakily against her brother's shoulder.

Frank held onto his sister as she sagged against him and removed the coffee from her hands to be sat down onto the table before taking a seat, her with him. "Yes, he's going to be fine," Frank whispered and gently stroked her back. "Dad was just jumping to conclusions, a few days and he'll be up and waving that hockey stick at me again."

Gabi hugged tightly into Frank's reassuring embrace, squeezing hard. "I'll kill him if he goes and dies on us," she muttered indistinctly. Threats had never been her strong suit.

"He won't, Gabi." It was difficult not to smile when Gabi was near. Even in a crisis, she was simply so sweet and simple that Frank couldn't help but love her to pieces. And to keep her that pure was a goal that Frank had taken upon their mother's death. "Come on, I'll help you pick out the biggest teddy bear with lots of hearts and candy and flowers."

"I'm not giving him a teddy bear, Frank, I'm not six," she rolled her eyes as she said this, looking up at him pointedly. "I thought ....well ..." Gabi looked away for a moment, awkward. "If he's going to be here a while, do you think they'd mind if we brought in some of his clothes and stuff?"

"That's a good idea," Frank nodded and continued to rub her back. "But let's see how long they expect him to be here before we rush home to pack his bags." A cup of coffee was then picked up and he pressed it into her shaking hands. "For now, how about a balloon' We may not be six, but everybody loves balloons."

"Maybe they have a Warg-shaped one," Gabi mused thoughtfully, taking the styro-foam cup in her burnt fingers and sipping carefully. Her eyes strayed toward the door of the ward for a long moment, wondering just what she was going to see in there. If she got up the courage to go in, of course.

"I"m sure they do, Gabipants," he murmured and followed her gaze towards the locked double doors. "I'm going to need you, Gabi. I can't go in there alone. And Dad's going to need you, too. He needs both of us to be strong. He's not so good with emergency situations."

As Gabi nodded slowly, steeling herself, the doors opened to allow Gordon back out and into the public area once again. Laura waited just inside the doors, her gentle smile reassuring still as she peered past him to where his children were sitting.

If the look on Gordon's face was any indication, Cian was in serious condition. He looked even paler than before, his mouth forming a thin, tight frown, hands curled as his sides so that they wouldn't see how badly he was shaking. He went to his two children and wrapped his arms around them to give them a hug, choking back a sob that he refused to let them see or hear.

Frank saw his father and his eyes narrowed. Could the man not hold it together for the sake of his daughter" He received the hug and whispered into his father's ear. "Strength, for Gabi." Then let him go. "How's he doing, Dad?" He gave his father a pointed look.

Despite being the weak link, Gabi was better at holding herself together than either of them. She just let herself be enfolded into her father's tight hug, squeezing him back as firmly as she dared, and stayed silent, waiting to hear the answer he gave Frank's question.

Gordon caught the look from his son. He was holding it together as well as he could, all things considered. "He's going to be okay." He followed that up with a strained smile. He had to believe it. The look he gave Frank as he hugged Gabi told him that it was more serious than he thought and that she was going to need him to stay strong, as well.

His daughter's face lit up with a small smile on hearing Gordon say that, soft relief highlighting her features. "Can ....can we see him?" she asked in a small voice, half hoping that the answer would be no.

The silent conversation between father and son was understood completely. He nodded in agreement, his face grave as he did so. Frank rubbed Gabi's back gently and turned his gaze onto Laura with expectation that the answer would be yes.

Laura, who was still waiting in the doorway, discreetly not paying too much attention to the little family for their own comfort. She caught Frank's eye and nodded, one hand beckoning for him to bring his sister in, if he wanted to.

Gordon disengaged himself from the two of them, but not before brushing a kiss against his daughter's cheek. "He's going to be, okay, Gabrielle. I promise." And a father's promise was everything.

"C'mon, Gabi." Frank took her cup of coffee and sat it aside before helping them both out of the chairs. "We'll be right back, Dad." He gave his father's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before walking towards Laura. The antibiotic gel was dispensed and rubbed between his hands. "I'm ready."

Rising on her toes to kiss her father's cheek gently, Gabi offered a slightly more confident smile back to Gordon before letting Frank lead her onto the ward, grimacing at the sensation of the cold, sticky gel on her hands. Laura smiled at her expression as the door closed behind them. "This way," she said, leading the siblings past the nurses' station and between beds set far apart to make room for all the equipment that surrounded them. As they reached Cian's bed, she spoke softly to Frank and Gabi. "Touch his hands and speak to him, let him know you're here," she suggested quietly. "Only ten minutes tonight, but enough to reassure yourselves. I'll be at the desk if you need me."

As soon as his children disappeared behind the double doors of the ICU, Gordon collapsed into a chair, his head in his hands. There were no tears. He'd save those for later, but he did pray. He prayed not only for Cian, but for Gabi and Frank, as well. And for himself, to have the strength to get through all of this and be the father they needed him to be. In that moment, Gordon Granger prayed harder than he ever had before.

Frank held onto Gabi's hand with his right, his left tucked around her waist. They followed the nurse towards the bed and Frank made a concerted effort to keep his feet moving. The machines beeped and whirred quietly in a way that did not seem very conducive to getting a restful night's sleep. And then they were there. Cian's head was swathed in bandages. What skin they could see was scraped and red with scratches from whatever he'd landed on or slid across. There were tubes and wires criss-crossing his chest that made him look like a marionette. "Hey, bro," Frank whispered as he let go of Gabi's hand to touch Cian's. "We're here, man."

Rhydin General Hospital Monday...

The drive from the Chateaus de Troyes to Rhydin General was quiet, at least, as far as Jon was concerned. Lost in his own thoughts, he let Vicki do most of the talking, explaining to Tera what was going on. She was her best friend, after all, and so much better at these things than he was. It didn't take too long to get there, and Jon pulled up to the door to drop the two women off before parking the Bentley. Gabi had finally convinced her father to go home and get some rest, promising Frank would call if anything changed with Cian's condition.

"See you in there, okay?" Vicki leaned across to kiss Jon's cheek, squeezing his arm in gentle reassurance before she climbed out, plunging her hands into the pockets of her jeans as she waited on Tera to join her on the flagstone approach to the hospital's main doors.

Jon gave Vicki a strained but appreciative smile and glanced toward Tera with a worried look on his face. He was worried about her almost as much as he was worried about his estranged cousin.

As strange as it was Tera was completely and utterly silent even during the ride. She listened, nodding to show she had heard things, but there was not a single word that left the blonde's lips. Even on the walk to the hospital, a place she avoided like the plague, nothing. Her stomach turned. Screamed with a burn she didn't appreciate.

Once the two women were safely dropped off at the main doors, Jon drove off to find a parking spot. He wouldn't be long.

Sensing her friend's distress, Vicki reached out to wrap an arm around Tera's shoulders as they ducked in through the doors, taking a moment to get directions to the ICU before moving the blonde away from the doors to where Jon could easily find them when he arrived. "He's going to be fine, T," the redhead promised in a low, but confident voice. "He's got too much going for him to jack it all in now. You, for a start."

There was something off, that was for sure. Tera winced and tilted her chin until brilliant blues found Vicki. Her gaze spoke volumes where her voice could not. "Have you seen him yet?"

Vicki shook her head lightly. "No, this is our first visit," she admitted. "Jon spoke to Frank on the phone this morning, though - he knows more about what to expect than I do. I'm just here for moral support."

After about five minutes, the doors opened again and Jon found his way to the pair of women, looking pale, grim, and worried, as if he'd hardly slept. He shoved his keys in his coat pocket as he joined the pair, slipping an arm around each of them just because. "Are we ready?" He knew they weren't, especially Terasa, but they had no choice.

A nod would be Jon's answer. The blond was holding her voice for good reason. Linking an arm to Vicki's she pulled the woman close to her for the very reason she was there. Moral support.

Glancing between the worried pair that had her surrounded, Vicki steeled herself for the long couple of hours ahead and gave them both a tug. "Come on, then. Let's find out what?s going on." The waiting area outside the doors to the sealed Intensive Care Unit held a couple of others, relatives of other patients who were anxiously awaiting news of any recovery from within. The desk was manned by a single clerk during the day, who was busily filling in paperwork, keeping an eye on all the comings and goings in her area.

Tera's fine nails turned into Vicki's sleeve as they were the trio who walked the yellow hospital floor.

Jon reached to take Tera's other arm, supporting her between them, a concerned glance past her over to Vicki. It hadn't been all that long ago that he'd survived his own trial by fire and Vicki had been there to help him deal with the aftermath. He knew she was more than capable. He led the pair toward the nurse's station to inquire about his cousin's condition. "Hello' We're here to see Cian Granger. He's my cousin."

As Vicki willingly submitted to being clawed by her best friend in lieu of knowing what to say or do for the time being, the clerk behind the desk looked up with an efficient smile that turned dazzled for a moment. Even in a hospital, Jon was easily recognisable. "Oh, um ....just a minute, Mr. Granger, I'll just make sure someone is available to come and talk to you." Almost shy, the middle-aged woman picked up the phone to contact the nurses inside the ICU, who would then, no doubt, speak to any visitors still with Cian.

She would've found the woman's shyness to be amusing any other time and probably would've poked fun at Jon.

Vicki bit her lip thoughtfully, amused by the clerk's reaction to Jon, but more immediately concerned with Tera. "C'mon, let's sit down for a minute," she suggested quietly to both Jon and Tera, gesturing to the seats behind them. "It won't be long now."

As for Jon, he was more annoyed by the clerk's reaction than anything. He wasn't there in a professional capacity or to sign autographs. He was there for a much more serious reason, but he only nodded his head and muttered a polite, "Thank you."

Peeling herself away from the two the blonde quickly shook her head. There was too much going on in her system for her to even consider plopping a seat. Instead those long legs had her pacing around the chairs like some cat lost among a bunch of boxes.

Jon remembered the white walls and yellow floors of this place all too well, after spending several weeks here not much more than a year ago and in the ICU. It was more than a little upsetting to find himself here yet again, and he almost wished it was him in ICU and not Cian. His heart went out to Tera, watching her pace like a nervous cat, and again he looked to Vicki, wondering if there was anything he could do to help. "Would you two like some coffee....or something?" Anything to keep himself busy. The consummate actor, he was doing a decent job of keeping his own feelings under wraps, trying to be strong for Vicki and Tera and the rest of the family.

Vicki had crossed her arms, watching as Tera paced back and forth in front of her. Jon's question made her smirk a little. "You really think caffeine is the answer here, Jon boy?" she asked softly, showing him her smile. If nothing else, it might get a grimace towards a smile of his own out of him. "Tera, you're going to wind yourself up even more if you don't stop pacing."

"I cannot help it, dove." And Tera meant it in ever sense. If she sat down she'd go right out of her mind and that right there, people, would not be pretty!

Jon frowned, realizing coffee would only make them all feel more anxious, but he needed something to keep himself busy or he'd go stark raving mad with the waiting. It was taking all his self control not to join Tera in the pacing. "He's going to be fine, Tera," he told her gently, trying to reassure her, even though he really had no idea how things would turn out.

Frank sat quietly, his hands folded in his lap as he watched the dialysis machine spin its slow spin. He spoke to Cian, mostly about what he'd read in the sports section of the local paper. "The play-offs are next week," he intoned. It felt futile; Cian just lay there, with no response. All the while Frank kept thinking, It should have been me. I'm the one who should be laying there. Cian never did anything wrong or hurt another person in his life. Why Cian' Why not me"

Inside the ward, the day nurse - a young man named Harry - approached Cian's bedside, laying a hand gently against Frank's shoulder. "Mr. Granger" Some of your relatives are outside the ward," he told Frank quietly. "Perhaps you should go and speak to them." It was a gentle, but firm way of telling the man to get up and move around for a little bit.

"They told me to talk to you, because you know I'm here. The family knows you're here, I'm sure they're coming soon. Caroline is the top of the grapevine, and it's buzzing right now." Come on, Cian. You've pulled through a lot; you can pull through this, too. You can't die. Please, you can't die.

No response came from the young man in the bed, no sign that he'd heard or not heard. He just laid there motionless letting the machines do their job, lost in darkness and drifting somewhere, not hearing his brother or anyone else who tried speaking to him.

Oh, and then there's a man touching his shoulder. He shrugged the hand off, but stood up and nodded anyway. "I'll be right back, bro." Frank turned then and followed Harry out into the corridor. "Thanks, Mr. Nurse," Frank pursed his lips and pushed the double doors into the waiting room. "Hey, Jon." He eyed the women warily, running a hand through his hair.

Rolling her eyes, Vicki realised she was going to have to take charge of the pair of them. "You," she pointed to Jon, "sit down before you burst an artery trying to be manly Mr. Man. And you ..." Moving over to Tera, she took her friend by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. "Exactly how does losing it help Cian in this situation?" She hadn't even noticed Frank coming out of the ward to speak to them, too focused on Tera and Jon for the time being.

Jon turned when he heard a familiar voice call his name. He didn't remember much about Frank, or Cian really, but he recognized him from the photographs and the Christmas gathering. He moved over to offer a hand to his cousin, who was a few years older than himself. "Frank..." He lowered his voice for Frank's ears only. "How is he?" Jon was distracted by Frank's arrival and barely heard Vicki.

Frank eyed the girls once again and then took his cousin's hand to shake firmly. "He's in a coma, kidneys are failing. He's on dialysis." There really wasn't much more to say in the hushed voice that he used. "They're only letting two back there at a time. One of you is going to have to stay out here with me."

Jon's face looked even grimmer at the news from his cousin. He knew that wasn't good news, but he refused to give up hope. He glanced over at Vicki and Tera, knowing that without Vicki, Tera would most likely fall to pieces. "I'll wait."

Tera ceased her pacing and turned to face Frank. From her position she didn't hear a bloody word and that had her stalking over to Vicki. Dipping down she nearly head butted the redhead. "That is Cian's brother?"

Jumping as Tera appeared next to her, Vicki glanced between Jon and Frank for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I think so," she murmured back, aware that she'd just been nominated to glue Tera back together again when she saw Cian. "I didn't really get a chance to meet him at Christmas."

Jon turned to the two women to make introductions, as awkward as they might be. He was more than a little ignorant of the strained relationship between the two brothers. "Tera, this is Frank."

Venom laced her blues and Tera grasped at the sides of the chair. She had to remind herself he was family to Cian. A nod dipped the delicate chin in form of greeting to Frank.

Frank nodded to the introductions, wondering just who in the fuck these chicks were" Did Jon have a harem now, or what? He turned his dark gaze back to Jon. "And why are they here?"

"Tera is Cian's girlfriend, and Vicki is..." What was she exactly' Girl friend, lover, friend with benefits, the woman he was going to marry' "Vicki belongs to me."

Now Vicki was more than a little lost. The hostility between Frank and Tera was palpable, although she hadn't been expecting Frank to decide she was a threat as well. Of course, this went out of the window when she heard Jon's introduction of her. Brows rising, she squeezed Tera's hand, looking at Jon rather pointedly. "Does she now?"

Why did she have the sudden urge to kick Jonathan's ass as much as she did Frank's" "She isn't property." The blonde hissed. "She is your girlfriend. Swear. I stop being your P.A. for one day and you are already tripping over your words." Okay, so it was a mild teasing poke at Jon.

"Nice to meet you. Use the antibiotic gel on your hands. Touch him, talk to him. He probably won't respond, but they say he can hear you." Frank walked slowly over to the chairs, then collapsed down into one. The strain was plain on his face and in his eyes. "And if you fight like that in there, I'll kick all of your asses." He narrowed his eyes and glanced at them all. "Shut the fuck up and be respectful. You're in a hospital."

Jon furrowed his brows at the two women, totally lost about he'd done wrong. All he had done was laid claim to "his woman". What was so wrong about that'

It took everything for the blond to swallow her words when she heard Frank. That was just pushing all the wrong buttons and really once you got her started" "You will keep your hands off of me." She left the warning simply.

Jon sighed and looked at the three of them. "Look, we're all tired and upset. Can we just try to think of Cian right now?"

Jon spared a brief glance for Frank, his eyes full of sadness, but he just walked past him on his way toward the ICU doors, stopping a moment to hug Vicki, needing to hug Vicki. "You gonna be okay out here?" he asked her quietly, burying his face in her hair.

Vicki chuckled softly, wrapping her arms around Jon to try and lend him some of her own calm. Because despite it all, she was calm, especially when compared to everyone else here. How anyone expected Cian to recover when his brother was snarling at everyone who came to visit was beyond her. "I'll be fine," she murmured into Jon's ear. "Go and see your cousin."

Jon nodded and brushed a kiss against her cheek, then broke away from her to squirt some gel onto his hands to disinfect them before pushing his way through the doors to the ICU. He found his way to Cian's room and looked through the glass a moment, watching Tera standing there beside a cousin he couldn't remember, and he felt his heart seize up in his chest. He took a sharp breath and stepped past the door to join her, silently sliding an arm around her shoulders to let her know she wasn't alone.

The moment the blonde heard the door open she swiped a sleeve over her eyes to dry them, hiding the evidence. Gently she squeezed Cian's hand and she gave a very brief, single noted chuckle. "He looks slightly worse then when I whoop his ass." She was half expecting him to reply back. Deny instantly that she didn't' whoop him. "You still do not remember him, do you, Jon?"

Jon knew she'd been crying, whether she hid the evidence or not. It's what he'd do if he was in her shoes, and his heart ached for her. His arm remained in place around her shoulders, pulling her into him, like a brother might to a sister. "No..." He replied quietly. "Just from pictures Humphrey's been showing me. He says we were close once, but....I don't remember it."

Tera allowed the pull but wouldn't allow herself to be pulled so far that she'd have to let go. She'd look to Jon with those glassy eyes. "He wants so much to rekindle with you, Jon. He does. He is just scared to. I told him that even though you may not remember him it would be a good time to start new. And I think you two should. The past is forgotten. He wants you in his life."

Jon nodded his head to acknowledge that he'd heard Tera, closing his eyes a moment against the tears that were stinging at the back of his eyes, worried if things took a turn for the worse, he might not get a chance to rekindle that relationship. But he didn't want to tell her that, didn't want to upset her further. He drew another slow breath before replying. "I'd like that, too," he told her quietly, as he opened his eyes.

"Good. I'll lock you two in a room if I have to you know." Tera grinned meekly at him before turning and looking down to Cian. "I..." She swallowed hard. "I should let Vicki come be in here with you. You need time with him. He is your family. Even if you don't remember him."

Jon turned to face her, lifting her chin toward him and brushing any remaining tears from her face. "It's okay. Your place is here with him. Vicki will understand." He wrapped his arms around her then, if she'd let him and pulled her into a hug. "He's gonna be okay, Tera. He has to be."

Tera's head dipped for Jon's shoulder and she hugged him back. The blonde refused to cry in that moment but the want to was there. "Oh, I ain't leaving. I'm just going to step out for a drink of water." A squeeze was made to her boss.

He nodded again, allowing her to do that, and it would allow him a moment alone with his cousin before he and Vicki would make their exit.

Which is what she was going for! She passed Jon, but pushed him closer to Cian on her way. She'd exit out, taking the time to disinfect her hands again once she was at the station.

Quiet footsteps into the waiting area announced the arrival of another Granger, one who was infinitely less confrontational than Frank. Gabi didn't recognise Vicki, of course, going straight to her brother to hug him gently. "Hey. What did I tell you about getting some sleep?"

Frank's eyes fluttered open and he smiled tiredly for his sister. "Hey, you." He gave her a lasting hug and kiss to her cheek. "Jon's in there now and so is Ci's girlfriend." He looked up at Vicki then. "She's Jon's girl. Vicki. If she and her friend start their little squabbly thing again, have them kicked, ok" Ci needs peace and quiet." He gazed into his sister's eyes, hoping somebody understood why he had been so hopping angry.

Gabi understood, of course she did. She knew Frank was blaming himself for the accident in the first place, as well as terrified that he might never get the chance to reconcile with their brother. That, combined with lack of sleep and an overdose of caffeine, made him impossible to talk to in a rational way. She smiled fondly, squeezing Frank once again. "I will," she promised. "But only if you go home and eat and sleep." Across the waiting area, Vicki watched them curiously, only vaguely aware that this was the third sibling and shamelessly wondering what was being said.

"Okay." Frank kissed her forehead before releasing her and then standing up. "Dad at home?" He arched a brow as he looked down at her lovingly. His face no longer held the lines of aggravation and frustration. Now his face and expression had a much softer line to it.

Gabi nodded, smiling herself as Frank gave in. "He was fast asleep when I left," she told him. "I don't think he slept at all last night." She rose on her toes, kissing her brother's cheek lovingly. "And if you're not asleep when I call home in a couple of hours, I will be very put out with you."

"Can't have that," Frank chuckled and hugged her once again. "I'll set his alarm so he can be here when the nurse's shift changes. You don't need to be exhausting yourself either, Gabs." A caress of her cheek, then he turned his line of sight to Vicki and his expression hardened. "They shouldn't be here much longer."

Gabi's eyes flickered over to where the redhead sat, ostensibly ignoring the siblings, and swallowed a small smile. A stranger, yes, but from what she'd heard at Christmas, soon to be family. Gods alone knew what had happened to make Frank so prickly, but she wasn't expecting trouble. Not in the hospital. "I can look after myself, Frank," she reminded her brother gently. "And you, too, if I have to. Go home, get some sleep. Things will look better when you're not looking at the world through matchsticks."

"Yes, mother," Frank chuckled, teasing his sister. "I'll be back in a few hours." The kiss was to her cheek, then he moved around her and towards the doors.

Gabi watched Frank go, waiting until he was out of sight before turning back to the redhead, who had suddenly acquired a blonde friend. Vicki rose from her seat as soon as Tera came into sight, reaching out to gather her friend into a warm embrace. She didn't know what to say, how to make things better for her friend in these dark hours. All she could do was be there, and hope it was enough.

The blonde's eyes settled on the redhead with a look that was never seen so probably hard to read. Grief. "Go be with him, Vicki. I know this ain't easy on him either." Even if Jon couldn't remember family was family. Her arms wrapped around Vicki before releasing her and shooing her on her way.

Jon wasn't sure what he was feeling. Numb was the only word that could describe it. Numb and in shock. Maybe Frank was right. He might be blood, but he hardly even knew either of them. The thought was like a knife in his heart. Once Tera was gone and he was alone with Cian, he turned to face him, looking him over, trying to conjure up even the smallest memory from the deep recesses of his mind, but nothing would come. He pulled a chair over and sank into it, reaching for his cousin's limp hand, licking his lips, trying to find the right words.

"Cian..." Even the name sounded foreign on his tongue. "I don't know if you can hear me, but..." He sighed, letting the tears come now that he was alone, his voice breaking. "They tell me we were close once, but....something happened. I wish I could remember....I don't know what I did to make you leave, but....I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Reluctant to leave, Vicki hesitated, frowning uncertainly. Jon might need her, yes, but she couldn't conscience leaving Tera alone either. Her decision, however, was taken out of her hands as a small voice interrupted her thoughts, addressing itself to Tera.

"Um ....hello. I'm Gabi, Cian's sister. You must be his girlfriend."

Tera blinked and looked to Gabi through wet, dark lashes. Reaching out she clasped the woman's hand. Instead of shaking or any of that nonsense, she pulled Gabi over and hugged her.

Looking over, Vicki saw Gabi reach out a hesitant hand toward Tera in greeting, reassured that this Granger wasn't going to be picking any fights. Relieved, she moved to slip back onto the ICU, scrubbing her hands as she returned to Jon's side.

"You need to know....there are people who care about you, who love you....and..." Jon's voice broke, unsure what to say. He didn't know if he loved him or not, but he knew Tera did, and he knew his family did, those who were close to him, those who remembered what he was to them. Jon sniffled back the tears and drew another slow breath, leaning forward to give his cousin's hand a squeeze. "You can't give up, man. You can never give up. I know because..." Because he'd been in the same place that he was once, and he'd come out of it stronger than before. "Just keep fighting. Don't give up. There are too many people who love you to give up."

Arms slid around Jon's waist from behind, familiar lips pressing a soft kiss to the back of his neck. Vicki hadn't been able to stand and watch any more of his pleading without doing something, even if all that something could be was a kiss and her touch.

Jon felt Vicki's arms go around him and he knew he was no longer alone. He cleared his throat and wiped a hand across his face to wipe away the tears. "I don't even remember him," he told her quietly.

"What am I supposed to say?" Jon asked, looking to Vicki, with fresh tears prickling at his eyes.

"That doesn't matter," the redhead murmured gently. "You're here, and you're hurting for him. Family is more than memories or even friendship. You can't break the ties of family easily, Jon." Vicki squeezed his waist lovingly. "He's going to be alright. And it doesn't matter what you say, so long as you speak to him. He can hear you."

Jon nodded mutely again and turned back to his cousin, who looked painfully helpless amidst all the tubes and wires. "We should go. Tera will want to be with him." And whichever of his immediate family was on watch. He hoped it wasn't Frank because Tera might just kill him.

Vicki agreed quietly. "I think his sister arrived," she said softly. "Whoever it was, they sent Frank home without any trouble at all, so ....If you're sure you want to go, I don't think Tera's going to be alone here."

Out in the waiting room, Gabi had just received the shock of her life. A girl she'd never met before, who'd never even seen her before, had just grabbed her up in a hug that felt as though it might throttle her with emotion. Tears sprang to the gentlest Granger's eyes as she hugged back, holding on tightly to Tera to share that mild sense of hopelessness before forcing it away. "He's going to get better," she whispered fiercely. "He has to."

"It is lovely to meet you, lamb." A hand gently settled center of Gabi's back. "Yeah, he will be fine. He's got a thick skull you know?" The release was careful and the woman kept close in case she needed more of a hug or comfort. "He is quite the fighter. He will be fine. I think we might have to consider when he wakes up. Getting him to stay in bed is going to be a pain." She winked warmly to Gabi with a wet lash.

Gabi smiled hesitantly as Tera released her, not complaining that she wasn't given an escape as she normally would. "We could always tie him to the bed," she suggested quietly, one hand squeezing Tera's tightly. "I'm glad he has you."

Her smile faded with those words. There were no other words that could've struck guilt. "I should've made him take my car." She squeezed the woman's hand softly and gestured to the seats. Her hand seemed to even hover in air when she saw Frank had been. Gone now" "Oh. Forgive my rudeness. Terasa Rider. It is a pleasure, Gabi."

"We can come back tomorrow," Jon replied, leaning into her a little more heavily than he meant to. He'd hardly slept either, worried dreams disrupting his sleep. He gave his cousin a last squeeze of his hand before turning with Vicki tucked under an arm for the doors to rejoin Tera in the waiting room.

"We can," Vicki promised Jon, keeping close to support him as they made their way back into the waiting room. Whatever else happened today, Jon was going to be forced to relax, even if she had to drug him to do it.

Gabi smiled again, reaching to hug Tera a second time. "He wouldn't have listened," she said with all the authority of a sister who knew that first hand. Catching the gesture toward the seats, she glanced that way, realising the unspoken question. "He's gone home. It's my turn to worry and wait."

Rhydin General Hospital A few days later...

It was Gordon's shift sitting with Cian. Gabi and Frank were at home, and he had shooed Terasa out to grab something to eat. The girl looked both exhausted and famished, and Gordon knew the ordeal was telling on all of them. As much as they'd tried to encourage her to go home, she'd hear nothing of it. Left alone with his eldest son, Gordon took his hand and spoke to him quietly, telling him that they all loved him and wanted him to come back to them, but as usual, there was no reply. Though it looked like he was merely sleeping, there was no movement of any kind. No twitch of a muscle, no movement of eyes beneath closed lids, nothing but quiet breathing to prove he was still, in fact, alive. After a while, Gordon had opened the book that lay on his lap and started to read Cian's favorite story, starting at Chapter One.

"Fifteen men on the dead man's chest— Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!" he read, trying to put as much feeling into the words as he could, remembering the words as if by rote, from numerous times of reading it to his son when he was a boy.

The book was Treasure Island and had long been a favorite of Cian's, nearly since the time he knew what a book was. He'd always had stars in his eyes, craving adventure, hoping to one day become a hero, like those he'd read about. Was it then fate or chance that had driven him away from home all those years ago to try and capture his dream"

While she had done as Cian's father wanted she wasn't gone all that long. In fact it seemed like she had gone to the hospital's cafeteria and paced while she ate. A sandwich and some fruit were quickly downed and a bottle of water was brought with her as she started her way back. During the stay she hadn't really talked much. Just sat there at Cian's side when she could. She probably resembled a very distraught cat with all that sulking. Bottle left behind and her hands disinfected at the station, she made her way back to the room, pausing at the door to listen to Cian's father. The man had to have it the hardest. That was his flesh and blood, his son there.

He continued to read quietly, perhaps more to comfort himself by feeling like he was doing something useful than to comfort his son, who didn't seem to notice the gesture. It kept Gordon's restless, worried mind busy at a time when thinking too much proved painful. The machines beeped quietly in response to Gordon's reading, slowly and steadily recording the unconscious young man's breathing and heart rate. That beeping had become like a lifeline to Gordon, insuring that, regardless of Cian's apparent condition, he was, in fact, still alive.

She hated this situation and if she knew it wouldn't kill her she'd heal Cian. It was selfish of her, she knew. Heels tapped the floor as she stepped further in but kept at a distance. She shouldn't be there. It was too dangerous and yet she couldn't leave. To abandon things as they were she'd never be able to live down.

Gordon, and for his own part, even Cian, knew nothing of Tera's conflict. From what Gordon had witnessed and from the way the girl insisted on not leaving his son's side, all he knew was that she cared for him somehow, but the rest of her story was mired in secrecy and mystery and Gordon, too buried in his own private hell, hadn't had the courage to ask. Finished with Chapter One, Gordon set the book down on his lap with a heavy sigh and rubbed the aching spot between his brows. He'd had a headache for days, it seemed, the product of too much stress, coupled with lack of sleep.

A hand settled lightly to the man's shoulder, soothingly drifting side to side as she looked to Cian. "He may not show it but I am sure he heard every word, Mr. Granger." She was trying to comfort the man she knew absolutely nothing about except he was tied to Cian as a parent.

He carefully closed the book on his lap, as if it was something made of glass, something precious and dear to his heart. In some ways, it had been the reading of a simple book that had shaped his eldest son's entire future. He glanced over his shoulder at the girl that stood there and offered her a small, strained smile. "I haven't given up hope yet, Terasa," he told her, reaching to pat her hand fondly. Though he hardly knew her, they shared a common bond in that they both cared for his sometimes wayward son.

"Of course you haven't. You would not be here now. He will be fine. If anything I've learned from Cian is that he is fighter. Stubborn" and he doesn't know how to give up. I don't see him giving up now." She squeezed at the man's shoulder tenderly. "Not when he has you and his siblings waiting for him."

Gordon's face fell just a little, a hint of worry wrinkling his forehead. Despite their differences, he still clung to the hope that Frank and Cian would somehow reconcile their differences, but the more time that passed, the less likely it seemed, and now he wondered if they'd ever get that chance at all. "And you, Terasa," he reminded her, in his soft baritone. He didn't know exactly what the relationship was between his son and this lovely young woman, but he gathered it was more than just mere friendship. "Please, sit down. Keep an old man company." In truth, he wasn't all that old, but there were days, like today, when he felt weary of living.

"And me..." That was spoken so distantly. Moving her way to the other side of Cian she reached down, brushing her fingers over his hand. The nearby chair was pulled close to the bedside. She could do it. She should. She should heal him and take his place. "I'm sorry for this, Mr. Granger. I should have made him take the car."

There was that warm albeit sad smile again, as if he could read the young woman's thoughts and sympathize with her. "I doubt you could make Cian do anything he didn't want to do, Terasa. He's stubborn. It's a Granger trait."

"Like father like son?" It was a good natured tease. Reaching out she settled her hand against Cian's arm. Somewhere he wasn't patched up. Her expression faded into sadness the longer she stared at the beaten up man.

"Something like that," he replied, with a faint smile. He noticed the sadness on the young woman's face and the way she looked at his son and felt a pang of guilt and remorse, feeling as though he'd failed him as a father and wanting to relieve her own sense of guilt. "It's not your fault, Terasa. These things....just happen." He frowned sadly, remembering his wife's death. How sudden and unexpected it had been. How unfair it had seemed at the time. How he'd blamed himself, though neither he nor anyone else could have done anything to prevent it.

She was guilty for that and a whole other reason. "I still cannot help feel responsible. I should have known something was wrong when he didn't come home." She totally just gave away she had been living with Cian but right now that didn't seem overly important.

The news of that didn't seem to shock him. He either seemed to know that already or had already assumed as much on his own. "You are not responsible, Terasa, and feeling guilty over something that you can do nothing to change will not help him or yourself." He spoke as if he knew this by experience.

Her head shook, unable to shake the feeling of guilt. Tear wanted to tell the man what had almost happened. What she was defying just by being there. "Has there been anymore news from the doctors?"

He frowned, obviously as concerned as she was, worried about his son's lack of progress. "No, and he hasn't shown a single sign that he knows we're here." He sighed wearily, trying hard not to give up hope, knowing it would only make his other son angry. "We can only wait and pray and hope."

"No. No we are just waiting. He won't...he wouldn't just give in. Just because there haven't been any signs." She refused to even think he would just die on them like that. Although she refused to acknowledge it, it seemed she still had thought it because tears began to wet her thick lashes.

Gordon leaned forward and reached over his son's prone form to lay a reassuring hand against that of the young woman's. Somehow it comforted him to give her comfort and to reassure and encourage her, to give her hope. "It is up to us to let him know that he still has much to live for."

Tera's brilliant eyes turned to the man's hand. She smiled up to him in a gentle way. "I wonder if he is hiding in there because he knows I plan on smacking him one." It was of course a joke. Maybe. Okay so she planned on thwapping him one but probably once he was fully better.

Gordon actually chuckled a little, perhaps the first time he'd laughed in days. In some ways, this young woman reminded him of his own Felicity. She had the same inner strength of character, that same spunky sense of humor. "Are you talking about hitting him or kissing him?" he teased, with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"I haven't decided which will be first but rest assured both will probably happen." And if he was well enough' Poor Cian was going to get romped right there on the sickbed.

Thankfully, Gordon could not read that thought from the young woman or he might have a heart attack. He did smile, however, growing slowly fond of this spirited young lady. "Tell me, how did you two meet?"

If men in the world knew what went on in the blonde's head they would all be hard up. "He stumbled into a training hall that I frequent at. It was a chanced meeting. When we started to spar he didn't even realize I was a woman."

"Spar?" Gordon's brow lifted in surprise as she started to relay the story of her meeting with his son. "With swords?" he asked, knowing Cian's fondness for adventure and swordplay, fancying himself something of a swashbuckler.

"Correct." She chuckled at his expression. "Our spar was declined a draw when I got a call that I needed to take. He found out then I was a woman. We parted ways only to meet again later. We sort of hit it off as friends. Easy to talk to with things in common."

It was Gordon's shift to sit with Cian and he and Tear were by his side, slowly getting acquainted. There had been no change in Cian's condition as yet, but all that was about to change. "Friends..." Gordon repeated, brows lifting curiously, having gotten the idea that they were actually more than friends. "Is that what you are now?"

"We are seeing each other. Dating." She corrected shortly after. "We were pretty much keeping things quiet."

"Mr Granger, Miss Rider?" The voice that addressed them from the doorway was quiet but filled with authority, belonging to a tall man whose ID badge declared him to be a consultant. His expression was grave as he nodded to them both. "I'm Doctor McDonough, I've been handling Cian's case. May I speak with you both, in private, please?"

Gordon was about to say something to Terasa when they were interrupted by the man's unexpected appearance. He glanced over to the man, his heart freezing in his chest, getting the feeling for some reason that the man did not have good news. He moved numbly to his feet. "Yes, of course. What's this about?"

"With me?" The doctor was given a brief look that was startled. She would figure Cian's doctor would want to speak to the family. Not the girlfriend. She did rise up to her feet, almost in time with Gordon.

The doctor did not answer Gordon's question directly, stepping aside to gesture toward the doors to the ward. "If you would come with me, please," he asked quietly. "My office is across the waiting room; we will have privacy there." He turned to lead the way, automatically rubbing alcohol gel on his hands as he passed through the doors.

A quiet whimper finally escaped Gabi's lips as Gordon's grip tightened on her hand. She was no good; adopted, there was very little hope of her being able to help at all. But she wanted to. "Check me, too," she offered softly. "I know I'm not blood, but ....I might be a match." Doctor McDonough nodded quickly. "I'll have the nurse take your blood in a few minutes," he told them. "The results will be back within the hour; the test will give us a strong indication of whether or not either of you are a match." He glanced at Gordon. "I understand this is difficult, Mr Granger, but there is a very good chance that Cian's twin will be a perfect donor."

Gordon's mouth formed a thin, tight line, obviously distressed. "I can't be a donor," he admitted quietly and soberly, ashamed of his own past flaws and failures.

Hope dawned in Frank's eyes. "I..." he turned to look at his father."I couldn't help Momma, but maybe I can help Cian. I'm going to pray really hard and hope that I'm the match." He was going to keep his father's addiction a secret, but it was already out of the bag. "You can count on me, Dad. If I'm a match, I'll do it."

The doctor buzzed through on the intercom, calling for one of the nurses to come in with a phlebotomy kit. "I realise this is a very difficult time for you all," he said softly. "Please do trust that we are doing everything in our power to help Cian."

Gordon looked between his children, mingled heartbreak, pride, and weariness on his face. He just wanted them to be a happy family again. That was all he ever wanted. He nodded to them both and offered a weak smile before turning back to the doctor. "He is in your hands now." And God's, Gordon thought.

The nurse who came into the office was Laura, the one who had received Cian into the ICU on New Year's Eve. She smiled reassuringly at the little family, going to Gabi first. The tourniquet went on, the needle went in, and within seconds, the little tube was filled with dark blood. "Now then, Frank, is it?" Laura smiled. "Roll your sleeve up for me."

Frank did as he was told, an automaton sitting there with his sleeve rolled up to his bicep. He didn't feel the plunge of the needle into his arm. He couldn't think, couldn't breathe. In his mind, the scene of his mother's death kept repeating itself.

Gordon considered what would happen if neither of his children were a match. He'd have to call Humphrey. There would have to be a family meeting. There had to be someone in the family who would prove a good match. The family was certainly big enough. All these thoughts were running through his head as he sat there, trying desperately not to panic.

The blood taken, nurse and doctor signed off on the lab sheets, and Laura took both sets back out of the office to send straight to the lab, top priority. "As I said," McDonough said calmly, "we'll have the results within the hour. I will stay to oversee all the arrangements myself, should we find a match. Until then, please, all I can do is ask you to be patient." Holding her arm folded tightly, Gabi had gone an interesting shade of green. Perhaps she should have mentioned her rather physical reaction to the sight and smell of blood before offering to have her own tested"

Blinking out of his thoughts, Gordon noticed the sickly shade on Gabi's face and reached for her hand once again, then for Frank's. "It will be all right," he assured them, though he had no way of knowing that for sure.

"Yeah, ok," Frank's eyes were dull as he rose from the chair. "I, um....Gabi?" He noticed her pallor and was relieved that he could think about anything other than the dreadful news they'd just heard. "Come on, let's get you outside with fresh air." He looked to his father then. "Come on, Dad. Let's go outside."

"I'm fine, really, I am ..." The fact that this was mumbled through her fingers wasn't a good sign. Gabi gave her father and brother a slightly panicked look as she rose to her feet. "I think I'm going to be sick." Swallowing against the bile in her throat, she backed out of the office and hurried for the nearest toilet.

Her head turned in time to see Gabi fly by looking rather ill. Tear stood up slowly after uncrossing her legs. That wasn't a good sign.

Gordon moved to his feet, ready to wrap an arm around his daughter and help her out of the office when she suddenly made a dash for the bathroom. He watched her hurry off with a concerned look on his face and then turned toward the doctor. "Thank you. We'll be outside," he said, stating the obvious. Where else were they going to go' He turned to Frank and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, all his anger gone.

It didn't take long for Gabi to expel her lunch violently and reappear, looking decidedly better although still pale. She moved to sit down beside Tear in the waiting room, chewing on her lip uncertainly. "Hey."

Watching Gabi she slowly sat down with the girl. Keen senses had her nose twitching and Tear was so tempted to offer the poor girl a cinnamon candy to help ease her stomach. "Hey. I am going to take a shot in the dark and figure that it wasn't good news."

"I don't know." Gabi's hand groped to find Tera's, squeezing hard for a moment. "He has to have a transplant, or ..." She shook her head, not wanting to even talk about that. "The nurse took mine and Frank's blood, they're going to see if we're matches."

Gordon's hand remained on Frank's shoulder. Perhaps it was time for positive reinforcement. It wasn't the first time he'd tried. "You're a good boy, Frank. Your mother would be proud."

'They should take mine too just in case." The idea of Cian not surviving was getting to her and she shook her head sharply. Her hand found Gabi's and firmly held on. "He will be fine, peaches."

Frank turned frightened eyes to his father and put his hand over Gordon's. "I hope so, Dad. I couldn't help her. I tried and I tried." He blew out a breath and then wrapped his arms around his father's torso. "He has to be alright."

"They probably will take your blood, if Frank doesn't match," Gabi said quietly, staring intently at their joined hands. "I won't. I'm not blood, and I don't know my biological parents' medical histories, so I don't think they'll even consider me if my blood's not perfect for the job." Her lower lip trembled for a moment. "I'm really scared, Tear."

Touched by this other side of Frank, having finally reached him and the caring, loving son he knew still existed inside Frank somewhere, Gordon wrapped his son in a fatherly embrace. "Everything will be all right, Frank." He gave him a fatherly hug before letting go. "I'm proud of you, son." Even though it had not yet been decided who would be the match for Cian, he was proud of both his children for being brave enough to make such a sacrifice for the sake of their brother.

"Oh sugar." She pulled Gabi into a hug, her free hand smoothing down the other woman's hair. The idea of a piece of the jackass being in Cian made her stomach turn fiercely but if it was to save Cian. That would now be the only thing stopping her from drop kicking Frank in the face. "Things will be okay. Just you wait and see."

"Thank you," Frank whispered into his father's chest before stepping back. "I'm just....I need a cigarette in a bad sort of way. Will you come with me?"

Gabi clung onto Tear, letting herself fall apart just a little bit where her brother and father couldn't see. "I hope so," she whispered into the blonde's ear tremulously, hiding her face in Tera's shoulder for a moment before drawing back, forcing herself to smile, to look brighter. "Besides, he's got you to come back to. Who wouldn't fight to do that?"

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Gordon asked, arching a brow. Just in case, they did accept Frank as a donor. He asked the question gently, knowing how hard it was to deny that craving. He was desperately trying to be the father they needed him to be, despite his own fears and faults and worries.

"At this point, I don't think one more is going to hurt," Frank commented quietly. "Go find Gabi, I'll meet back up with you guys in the waiting room before the doctor calls us back. Ok?"

Gordon nodded his head. The doctor had not given them any instructions on what to do other than wait. "I'll get us some coffee," he suggested helpfully.

Her to come back to' Her head dipped and Tear buried her face in Gabi's hair. Officially the blond was crying just silently.

Frank nodded, patted his father's arm then slipped past him to leave the office. He strode past Gabi and Tear without even a glance. Once he pushed through the double doors, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket to call Caroline and inform her of the situation. Then, and only then, did he sit down and light a cigarette. It shook in his hand and nearly burned out without his taking another inhalation of the acrid smoke. Staring up at the night sky, he prayed as hard as he could.

Gordon got the feeling Frank needed a little time alone and he granted him that. The same could probably not be said for the girls, and it was in that direction he now headed, but seeing both of them sharing what appeared to be an emotional moment, he stopped in his tracks, watching them for half a moment, his heart feeling like it was going to break and veered off toward the coffee machine. Anything to keep himself busy. There was no point in calling Humphrey just yet, not until they knew what was going on and if either of his children were a match.

The hour passed, dragging interminably as they each waited for the news that would confirm or kill their hopes. Each time the runner came from the lab, four sets of eyes turned toward him, and each time, they were disappointed. Until finally they heard the clerk paging Doctor McDonough, and a few minutes later, the doctor himself appeared, scanning through the notes that had been sent to the ICU. The stern gravity of his expression seemed to lighten as he read, moving over to speak with the gathered family. "I have the results here," he told him quietly. "Frank ....you're as near perfect a match as we're going to find. Are you sure you want to do this" The recovery time after an operation like this takes only a few weeks, but there will be consequences to your lifestyle as your body gets used to operating one organ short."

"I'm sure," the answer was out of his mouth before he could even think about it. There was nothing really to think about. Even with their strained relationship, Cian was his brother. His twin brother. There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep his brother alive. "I'm ready, just tell me what I have to do."

The doctor nodded. "Very well." He handed Frank a small sheaf of paper. "These are the consent forms. Please read them through and sign them. I'll make the arrangements to have you admitted onto one of the surgical wards right now." He nodded again and moved back to the desk, leaving the little family where they sat.

Rhy'Din Hospital The Vigil ...

Gabi couldn't sleep. She couldn't eat. She couldn't drink. She could only wait, tense, frustrated, terrified, as somewhere in the bowels of the hospital both her brothers went under the knife. She hadn't even been able to raise a smile for Caroline and Richmond when they had come bearing Frank's things, grateful to her cousin for answering the call so quickly.

Gabi's father and Tera were downstairs, allowed into the recovery rooms to wait for Cian and Frank to come out of surgery. Only two, and even that had been pushing it a little, which was why Gabi had chosen to stay away. She'd visited the cafeteria and failed to eat anything; hadn't even been able to face going to the relatives' room. Instead, she was pacing back and forth in the little garden that had been created in the main courtyard of the hospital, a quiet, worried ghost in the darkness.

So many memories that were all about the three of them - learning to swim; the day she lost her first tooth courtesy of Frank and Cian accidentally throwing her into a wall; so many days spent laughing and enjoying one another's company. And then things had started to go wrong. With their mother's death, a shadow had settled over Beecham House.

While Gabi had been struggling to try and help their father master his addiction, something had happened to Frank, something that distanced him from everyone. That distance had shown itself in the way he tormented Cian at first, and then slowly, he had started to completely draw away. What made it worse was that she had still seen glimpses of the boy she'd grown up with in his smiles, or when he sometimes relaxed from his habitual scowl.

She had hoped that Cian's return to Rhy'Din would heal the rift between her brothers, but it just seemed to get worse. She knew Frank was angry about something deep in their past, that he seemed to envy how easily Cian had settled back into life here; that he resented the fact that Cian had found someone to love who loved him, while he, Frank, was still stuck at home with his alcoholic father and his damp squib of a sister.

"Just let them get through," she whispered, staring up past the towering blocks of the hospital to the murky sky above them. "Please. I'll do anything you want, I'll be confident and outgoing and I won't be scared of people anymore, just ....don't take them away. Not yet."

There was no answer. Just the near silence of the garden and the darkness of the night. Some people called moments like this the long dark night of the soul; Gabi could well believe that. She felt as though she were the one undergoing some dreadful test, some awful quest to prove herself and rescue her family, made worse by the fact that she could do absolutely nothing. All she could do was stand by and wait, hoping that the light at the end of the tunnel was sunlight and not an oncoming train.

Frank was first into surgery, of course. It was an hours long operation. Delicate nerves, blood vessels and ligatures had to be severed and then sewed together. And Frank flew through it all with flying colors. As they began to close him up, the anesthesiologist began to mix more oxygen into the mixture that kept his patient asleep.

The combination of nicotine with the anesthesia is what did Frank's stomach in. The moment that his body began to recuperate from the gas, and long before he was due to wake up, his stomach began to churn. Hot acid boiled and rumbled and finally came heaving up in a violent storm. Straight into the mask and before the doctor could pull the mask from Frank's face; he inhaled the deep breath of a man sleeping heavily.

His body began to contort, the acid burning his trachea and vocal chords. The vomit that did make it to his lungs caused fluids to build up rapidly to attempt to put the fires out. Frank struggled, unable to breathe. The doctors quickly turned him to his side, careful of the incision to his back. But it was too late. Frank had already vomited and asphyxiated.

The lack of oxygen had a domino effect upon Frank's body and within a matter of minutes, everything had shut down. The doctors tried valiantly to save the young man's life. Intubation, cardio pulmonary resusictation, cardiac electroshock; but the line remained flat and twenty minutes later, they called the time of death.

Cian had made his decision and started down the path to the right, the long and winding path that led to what seemed like nothingness. He heard voices along the way that led him onward, voices familiar and yet not familiar. Voices he could almost put names to, if he could only remember who they were. Voices which seemed to call to him, as if calling him back home. Down that winding road he wandered, the voices growing stronger, louder as he continued onward. He glanced up at the sky, blue-black as night, stars twinkling brightly. Where was he, he wondered" What had happened that he'd found himself in such a strange place" Frank woke up to a velvety darkness that was both soothing and terrifying at the same time. It felt as if he were floating within and between the pinpricks of light that forced their way through to his eyes. He turned his head left and right, just to try to catch a glimpse of anything. But there was nothing. No noise, no smells, nothing to reach out and touch or taste. It was a vast nothingness. He felt his body moving, as if there were some sort of gravity that was pulling his feet in one direction. Down" It felt like down. Finally, he felt the cool dampness of earth between his feet. The darkness seemed to lift, showing him more and more of the nothingness that surrounded them. It began to feel like he was in some brightly lit orb that was painted black on the inside. "Hello' Is anybody there?" Cian came to a sudden halt at the sound of a new voice, one that sounded louder and closer than the others. Very close. A voice so familiar it sent a chill up his spine, a name on the tip of his tongue. He turned in place, looking around to see where that voice had come from, to see if he was no longer alone. "Hello?" It was the first time he'd spoken since arriving in this strange place, and his voice sounded strange to his own ears. "Who's there?" Frank called out, his head whipping from side to side to locate the body the voice came from. He moved closer to where he thought the sound originated. "I'm crazy, but I don't hear voices! Who's there?" The voice was of his twin, and a voice that he wouldn't likely forget ever. "Cian?" This last was tinged with confusion. Was the surgery a success and Cian alright" Cian. There was that name again. Was it his" It had to be. He took a step forward, thinking he saw a shadowy form just ahead. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" He sounded just as confused as his twin, and just as frightened. There! Frank tried to rush his leaden legs to reach the shadowy figure that wasn't so far away now. "Cian, it's me. Frank! You're ok! You're alive! How'd they do that so quickly' Did they use magic?" His brain was moving faster than his mouth or legs and everything moved and sounded slowly. "Frank," Cian repeated his twin's name. It felt familiar on his tongue, a name he was well acquainted with. He moved forward to meet the shadowy figure that was rushing toward him, and suddenly it was as if his entire life was flashing before him, from birth right up to the moment when everything had gone black. "Frank?" This time when he said his brother's name, it was with recognition, and he remembered with a jolt what another voice had said. "Don't let your brother's sacrifice be in vain." What did that mean" "Cian!" His brother's face came into full view. Frank paused in his step, even took a half step back at what he saw. Not a single line marred his brother's skin. Gone were the scratches and bandages. He stared in awe and reached to touch, without even realizing it. "Cian?" he whispered, eyes wide and brows knotted in confusion. "You're alright." Cian halted a hand's breadth from his brother, looking at him with equal confusion, frowning at the thought that crossed his mind, the only explanation for their situation. His words came out in a hushed whisper, almost afraid to put to voice what he'd been thinking. "Frank....I think we're dead." Well that certainly was one explanation. Frank paused again and let his hand fall to his side. "But....but....we can't be dead. You can't be dead. I gave you....no. No no no!" He shook his head and reached to grab Cian's shirt front. "No, you can't be dead. You've got too much to live for. No!" "Frank, stop!" Cian grabbed hold of his twin's shoulders to force him to regain control of himself, and then the realization of what had happened hit him like a blow to the gut. "Oh, God..." he whispered, his face paling, even in the darkness. "You....What did you do?" "Oh, God, it's my fault. It's all my fault!" He searched his brother's eyes, horror filling his own. "I'm a terrible person, inside and out. And that terribleness killed you. Oh God, it killed you. I never....I'm so....please forgive..." He fell to his knees and clasped his fists together in a pleading gesture. "Please, forgive me, Cian." Cian crouched down beside his brother, confused, scared, but mostly concerned. Any anger or hatred he might have felt toward his brother for all those years evaporated in that moment, at the simplicity of an apology. "Frank, don't....You're not terrible. Don't say that." He reached out to his brother and pulled him into his arms to hug him, a gesture of brotherly affection they had not shared in many long years. Frank held onto Cian, as if he were a lifeline. "I was terrible, so terrible for so long. I hurt so bad, I just wanted everybody else to hurt, too. I'm so sorry I did that to you. I'm so sorry I did that to Gabi. I tried, I really tried to make it up to you. But my evil kills everything good. And it killed you. And I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Cian."

Felicity gathered Frank into her arms lovingly, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek as the years of blame and hurt drained from him. She turned to look on her eldest son, opening her arms to him. "It is time to go, Cian," she told him gently. "You have such a life ahead of you. Make us proud." Frank tugged on Cian's hand and he smiled a genuinely happy smile. There was a brightness, a lightness to his eyes and voice that had been missing for so many years. "I love you, Cian." Cian accepted his mother's embrace, wrapping his arms around them both and crying softly. "I'll never forget..." he promised, looking from his brother to his mother and back. "I love you both and I'll never forget you." "We know, my little love." His mother's hand stroked gently to Cian's cheek for a moment before falling away. She stepped back, curling her fingers through Frank's, ready to guide him to the peace that had been denied him in life. "Live well, Cian, and long. I will always love you." Cian closed his eyes at his mother's touch, hoping to remember it forever, to cherish that brief caress and show of affection. He broke away from the two of them then and backed away, even as his mother stepped back, watching as they seemed to fall away from him. If this was Death, it wasn't something to be afraid of, but to be accepted, welcomed even, when the time was right. Frank was going to a better place, where he'd finally be at peace and be happy, and Cian's heart felt both sad and relieved all at the same time. "Goodbye. I'll make you proud. I promise." Frank's hand curled in his mother's as he stepped back. "Tell them that I'm happy," he smiled for Cian and then looked up at his mother, lovingly. "I am very happy." The peace was already settling upon his shoulders. And though he knew he wouldn't see his brother, sister or father for a very long time, he smiled as they faded to darkness. Cian watched as they faded to darkness, his final words whispered, but somehow he knew they'd hear him. "I will, brother. I promise." And then, he turned and continued down the road, knowing it was Life that awaited him at the end of the journey.

(Many thanks to the players of Frank and Gabi Granger for the above scene. Thanks, guys! It's much appreciated.)

"Don't." She croaked quietly. "Don't be sorry. Just..just stay with us okay' I don't think Gabi.." Her head turned finally and she called out to the door, "Hey. HEY! Cian's awake!" If anything she hoped his father heard. She knew her bellowing voice wasn't something that Cian wanted so she turned to him and smiled apologetically. "I am so happy you are awake, Cian. I was so.." And there were more tears. She wasn't sure how to even tell him in words how she felt. How hellish the last two weeks had been.

He saw her tears and his own eyes were suddenly wet, swallowing hard in a dry throat. He was only half aware of what had happened, slow in remembering. For now, he didn't want to remember. He just wanted to look at her, to take her in, to know she was really there. "Don't..." he started, quietly. "Don't....leave me," he pleaded. His fingers clutched hers weakly, needing her to stay with him.

"Ya kidding right' Ya know how long I've been here" How long I..Gabi..ya father..We've all been watching and waiting..praying for ya to come back to us.." Leaning forward she kissed his brow, trying to be tender as she could be.

His eyes closed briefly when he felt her lips brush his brow, and he was flooded with emotion. Her words, that simple caress touched something deep inside him, and he had to choke back a sob. He was really and truly alive. The tears came again, touched by her words, by the realization that he truly wasn't alone. But before he could say anything more, there were footsteps suddenly hurrying down the hall, doctors and nurses pushing their way into the room.

She didn't move from her position, her lips resting lightly against his forehead...It was all she could do to hide her face and her own tears that were falling and no doubt wetting his hair. She felt a nurse touch her arm, attempting to pull her away and she yanked her shoulder hard enough that the woman stumbled. She would eventually give in and rise up, her hand remaining with Cian's but she would step to the side and mostly out of the way.

The doctors and nurses hovered over him for a while, checking vitals, checking readings, asking questions, telling him he was a very lucky young man. No one mentioned Frank just yet, or the fact that his brother's sacrifice was what had saved his life. They didn't dare admonish Tera, but worked around her, seeing as how the young woman had hardly left his side the entire time he'd been there. He didn't know that yet either.

She needed to get her phone, needed to let Cian's father know, let Gabi know. She felt bad that she was there when Gabi had been the one that needed Cian the most right now. Her heart went out to him knowing that he was going to have a lot to go through once he was settled. Standing was becoming increasingly hard but she stood her ground, watching and listening very closely.

They were medical professionals. The word "miracle" was never mentioned, though they had been close to losing hope. After a while of hovering and fussing over him, they finally departed saying they'd be back shortly. He would have to go slow. There was still a long road of recovery ahead of him. They promised Tera they'd contact the family, and then they left them alone once again.

She stood silent until the last was out of sight before she staggered and fell to her knees. Even still holding onto his hand she was kneeling, her other hand pressed to her face. She was crying. She couldn't help herself. For the first time since everything..she cried.

He breathed a sigh of relief when they left, exhausted just from the poking and prodding, closing his eyes briefly while they looked him over, almost drifting back off to sleep. It was the sound of her crying that pulled him back, and he turned his head to find her kneeling beside him, looking as exhausted as he felt. They had given him a little water and that had helped him to find his voice a little, though he spoke slowly, his voice still weak and strained. "Tera....Don't....don't cry."

The blonde managed to crawl herself to the bedside, her face settling up on the very edge. "I'm not crying. I'm relieved." Happy. She didn't say it but it was so very true.

He managed to lift the arm that wasn't attached to a tube and reach over to touch her, letting his fingers slide through her silken blond curls, his hand trembling with the effort. He smiled faintly to reassure her. "I'm okay."

He didn't seem to realize his position but he would in time. Her eyes fluttered and fell closed, soaking in the attention from the trembling hand. "You will be.."

He was alive, after all, and that was half the battle. He frowned a little while he watched her, his fingers clumsily brushing at the tears on her face. There were so many questions, but he was almost afraid to ask. For the moment, he didn't want to know the answers. It was enough to know he was alive, and she was there with him. "Te-Tera..."

Her hands released and moved to clasp around the hand he was moving around. A quick kiss to his knuckles. "Conserve ya strength, Cian. Ya got a lot of recovering to do. I ain't going anywhere."

He tried to turn his body to face her, but it took too much effort, and he remained on his back, letting her come to him instead. He watched while she clasped his hand and kissed it, touched by the show of affection and caring. "How-how long?"

"Weeks.." She left it at that as she forced herself back to her feet. "I..I'm sorry, Cian." She looked at him like some whooped pup. Reaching out she touched his cheek with her fingertips.

Rhy'Din General Hospital A few days later...

"What do you mean Frank is dead?" Cian asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his throat feeling like it was going to close. He didn't yet remember his brush with the afterlife or his visit with Frank or his mother. He didn't remember much of anything, but leaving the hockey rink late that fateful New Year's Eve and wanting to get home to Tera before the clock struck midnight.

"Your brother died a hero," Gordon Granger was saying, his hand holding tightly to his eldest son's. Despite everything, despite all the sadness and the grief, he was proud of the decision his youngest son had made to sacrifice part of himself to save his brother's life. "If it wasn't for Frank..." Gordon broke off, unable to finish that thought. There was a good chance that if Frank hadn't offered up a kidney, he might have lost both his sons for good.

"It-it should have been me," Cian muttered, eyes burning with unshed tears. He was the one who'd crashed; it should have been him that had died, not his brother, or so Cian believed at that moment.

Gordon only shrugged and gripped his son's hand a little harder. He knew this was going to be hard, not only for Cian, but for all of them. It didn't seem fair to have to sacrifice one son's life for the other, but life was like that sometimes, and nothing could be done about it now.

"Ci..." Gordon started, his own eyes tearing up, trying to be strong for his son, knowing the guilt he must be feeling knowing he owed his life to his dead brother. "Frank knew what he was doing. He knew the risks. No one forced him into it. He wanted to do it."

"But why?" Cian asked, tears pooling in his eyes finally. He'd always thought that Frank hated him, ever since their mother had died. He wasn't quite sure what he'd done to earn his brother's hatred, but it was unmistakable.

"Because, Cian....No matter what he said or did, Frank was your brother and deep down, he loved you," Gordon answered, as gently as he could, sensing his eldest - now his only remaining - son's pain.

Cian shook his head, not wanting to believe it. It only made him feel worse. It only made him feel all the more guilty for hating a brother who had sacrificed his own life to save his. "I don't understand," Cian whispered, tears clogging his throat.

Don't let Frank's sacrifice be in vain, he seemed to hear in his head, but he couldn't remember who'd said it or when. Had someone told him that while he'd been sleeping" Gabi" Tera" Jon' His father" His Aunt Miranda" He wasn't sure, but the words seemed to poke at his brain from somewhere deep in his memory.

"You will, in time, son," Gordon replied. "We all will."

"Where's Gabi?" Cian asked, wiping the tears from his face. He couldn't remember seeing his sister since he'd awoken. Had she come to see him while he'd been asleep, afraid to disturb him' He'd thought she, of all people, would be happy to see and want to at least give him a hug. Or was she angry with him because of Frank" Did she hate him now, too' He found his chin trembling at the very thought of it. If there was one person he couldn't bear to have angry at him, it was his sister Gabrielle. "I guess..." He paused, his voice trembling. "I wouldn't blame her if she was mad at me."

Gordon frowned, not ready to tell him about Gabi or the personal crisis she seemed to be going through. He didn't want Cian to shoulder that burden, too, and think that all of this family upheaval had been caused by him. It had been coming for a long time. The accident had only been the trigger. "She's upset, Cian. She almost lost both her brothers. She's working on..." He searched for the right words. "On finding herself." He wasn't displeased with Gabi really. It was about time she got out into the world and tried to make a life for herself. He just wished it hadn't taken a tragic turn of events to make it happen. "She'll be okay. She just needs a little time."

"Time?" Cian repeated, arching both brows. His father was going to lecture him about time, when he'd nearly died" "Time is the one thing there's never enough of, Dad."

Gordon frowned a little at his son's remark. He knew only too well how true that sentiment was. He'd lost Felicity too soon, and now Frank. He was bound and determined not to lose Cian or Gabi for a long time to come. "Then, we have to make the most of the time we have while we have it," he said, perhaps more to himself than to Cian. They had all spent too much time grieving. It was time to move on.

"We're not going to mourn Frank," Gordon said suddenly, almost as if he'd just had an epiphany. "We're going to celebrate his life, not mourn his death. He's at peace now, with his mother. We're going to remember the good times and not the bad. We owe him that much."

Cian drew a deep breath, his chest aching with sadness, despite his father's sentiment. There was a time when Frank and Cian were the best of friends, when the twins and Gabi were inseparable. It wasn't that long ago, was it' "I want to give the eulogy," he declared abruptly, feeling almost as though he needed to do it. He was Frank's twin, after all. It was the best way Cian could think of to say goodbye and honor his brother's sacrifice.

Gordon's eyes widened a little in surprise, obviously not expecting this from Cian, especially so soon after regaining consciousness. He knew Cian had a long recovery ahead of him, and he didn't want to place any more burdens on his son's shoulders, but if he was really and truly set on doing it, Gordon could think of no one better suited to it than him. "Are you sure" You aren't even out of the hospital yet."

"I'm sure, Dad. I was his twin. I want to do it. It's my right to do it." After all, who else was going to do it' Gabi was too shy, and Gordon wouldn't get through it without choking up. No one knew Frank as well as he did. It was up to him and he knew it. If only he could find the right words, but there was still time.

Gordon recognized the determination in his son's voice and nodded his head. "All right, then, but for now, you just concentrate on getting better." He smiled and gave his son's hand another squeeze.

"Is that an order?" Cian asked, with a strained smile.

Gordon laughed, perhaps for the first time since the accident. "Yeah, it is. And you better listen because there are a lot of people who care about you and want to see you get better."

"Right," Cian replied doubtfully, counting those who really cared on one hand. His father, Gabi, Tera, his aunt, maybe Jon. That was about it.

"You want me to prove it to you?" Gordon warned. "I've got a pile of mail at home from fans wishing you well and saying they can't wait til you get back on the ice."

Cian was frowning again at the thought of that, knowing it would take a miracle for him to get back on the ice before hockey season was over. "I-I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon. They said my legs..." he broke off, unable to repeat what the doctors had told him, worried he'd never skate again, never have the same active lifestyle he become so accustomed to having.

The muscles have atrophied, Gordon added silently, not wanting to alarm his son by explaining what that all meant. "You'll be fine, Cian. It just takes time." Time and a lot of hard work, he thought soberly. He wondered if Cian had any idea how much hard work.

"Don't worry," Cian reassured his father. "I'm not giving up, Dad. I've got too much to live for." Tera, for one. Even if he didn't have a lot of friends, he had his family and Tera. What more did he need" "Besides Tera would kill me." And maybe Gabi, too, he thought.

Gordon chuckled again. "She's a spirited one, that's for sure. I wouldn't want to get on her bad side. And she cares about you. She's hardly left your side all this time. We had to practically force the girl to eat and drink and get some rest."

"Yeah," Cian said, frowning, wondering about it. While he knew how he felt about her, he wasn't quite sure how she felt about him. "I guess she likes me," he said uncertainly.

"Likes you?" Gordon clasped his son's shoulder, smiling. "That girl is head over heels in love with you. I'd bet my life on it."

"Really?" Cian asked, eyes wide. In love with him' Tera" He knew she liked him, was fond of him even, but in love with him' He hadn't dared hope for such a thing, though he was clearly in love with her.

"Trust me, son. All the signs are there. You just have to recognize them."

"But....she hasn't told me..." Cian pointed out.

"She will, in time." Gordon looked at his watch. "And speaking of Tera, if I don't tag team her on time, she'll have my head." He got off the chair to his feet, pausing a moment before giving his son a hug. "It's good to have you back, Cian. We've missed you."

"It's good to be back," Cian replied, weakly hugging his father back, frowning a moment as a thought came to mind. "Will you....Will you tell Gabi to come see me" When I'm actually awake" I-I want to see her." I need to see her.

Gordon's smile faded just a little, refusing to let his son see his own worries about his little family. "Will do." He tousled his son's hair, that already on the long side, had gotten even longer during his convalescence. "Get some rest. I'll be back to see you tomorrow."

Cian nodded his head and watched his father go, settling back against the pillows, clearly worn out by his father's visit and privately grief-stricken by the sad news he'd been forced to share.

Only when Cian was alone did he let the tears come, crying for the loss of his brother, his twin, his other half. "I'm sorry, Frank," he said quietly to an empty room, hoping somewhere, wherever his brother might be, he'd hear and forgive him. It was the best he could do, for now.