"Nick, where have you been?" Kevin asked as soon as he saw the blond head.

"Out. Why?" was the sullen response.

"We've been looking everywhere for you," Kevin said.

"Well, you've found me. What's the issue? Why were you looking for me?" he asked distractedly, like he didn't really care.

"What were you doing?" Kevin asked, giving in and stalling.

"Off forgetting. She can be happy, why can't I?" Nick said smugly. It was what they had been telling him to do.

"Nick…" Kevin trailed off.

"Quit stalling and tell him," AJ burst in.

"Tell me what?" Nick asked, not in the mood to play games. The truth was that he had been miserable all night and forgetting was harder than he had thought it would be. It was the first time he had wanted to, but it wasn't working.

"It's Lilia, Nick. She was shot."

* * * *

"Paul! How is she?" Brian asked, as soon as he saw the frazzled man.

"Alive. That's about all they're telling us right now. She just got out of surgery, about twenty minutes ago," Paul informed him nervously.

"You look exhausted Paul. Don't worry about today, we'll cover for you guys. Go and sleep. We'll hang out here for a few hours," Brian offered.

"I can't leave her. I won't leave her. Have you guys found Nick yet"

"No, he's still M.I.A. Kevin and AJ are looking everywhere for him. Is she still asking for him?"

"Not anymore. I don't think she even knew she was. She just kept repeating his name over and over again. She's unconscious. They're not saying anything yet, but I'm thinking she's in a coma," Paul said hopelessly.

"But she did ask for him? How's that for mixed messages?" Brian commented.

"She loves him, Brian."

"Then why did she leave him without a word? He's been going through hell since she left."

"Trust me, so has she. She had a reason. I can't really share it with you-"

"Paul! Where is she?" a voice roared as a Nick's blond figured rushed towards the two of them.

"She's in recovery," Paul answered.

* * * *

Lifeless. Cold. This was not his Lily. She was never like this, even when she slept. She was motionless, not moving. Tubes everywhere, a cast over her leg, cuts and bruises all over her face. A dark purple bruise was over her eye.

She looked dead. But the reassuring beep of the heart monitor assured him that she wasn't. Shocked, he sat down next to her, and reached out to touch her had, but paused just inches away from it.

If he touched her, he'd never be able to let go. He withdrew his hand and settled in to watch over her.

Charlene Craig was a forty year old nurse who had never seen such determination in one person. He had been sitting there, just watching the young woman they had just brought it, for hours it seemed. Anyone who tried to throw him out, he would some how coerce them into letting him remain. She had never seen such devotion.

She had been there when the doctors had informed him and the rest of the flood of people who were in and out to visit the young woman. If she didn't wake up within the next twenty-four hours, they'd declare her comatose.

She had had tears in her eyes as she watched the group of eight people all kneel down, holding hands, and pray for her. It was the most touching sight she had ever seen in her twenty-eight years in nursing. But this sight currently before her, of the young man keeping his faithful vigil over that girl was just as touching.

"Lily. Hello, my Lily. I know that you probably don't want to hear from me, or see me right now, but I had to come. I will not move until you open those beautiful eyes of yours. I swear it, Lily. And you know how stubborn I can be."

"Dammit, Lily, this isn't fair! Okay, I can accept the fact that you don't want me anymore. It hurts like hell living without you, but I can get over this, I have to. But one thing is being able to be the bigger person. I have to be able to say that I'm alright with it, just as long as you're happy. But you can't be happy this way, I know you can't. It's not fair, you can't take this away from me. Don't take you away from me again, Lily, I beg you."

"I know you don't want to see me. I know how you feel and I'm sorry that you feel that way. If you open your eyes now, you won't have to see me. I'll leave, you'll never know that I'm here…Just open them Lily. Come back to us. Please, my Lily. Please be fair now, and open those beautiful eyes. Please," he begged, whispering. And his request was granted. Her eyes slowly and carefully opened. He jumped back in surprise, and ran out of the room, in joy, in search of a doctor and Paul. He found them quickly, and sent them in. He watched from the threshold of the door, as Paul ran in and grabbed her hand and spoke to her. It was all he could do to keep himself from following, but he had made a promise. She wouldn't have to see him.

After watching for a few seconds, he saw that she was starting to talk, he turned and walked down the hall.