I began trembling during the ride to the hospital. Malory turned on the heater, but it didn't help. I kept seeing Killian's lifeless body and realized I had to call his mother. I dug my cell out of my pocket and dialed. She answered immediately.

"He was conscious for a short time." I started crying.

"Are you going to the hospital?" Her voice had lost the happy inflection it usually held and I sensed her panic.

"Yes."

"I've called Michael's nurse. He's on his way, but it will be a while before I can get there. Hold onto my son, Rebecca. Don't let him go."

Hold onto Killian.

"I will."

Malory remained unnaturally calm. There was no way I could have driven at this point. We arrived at the emergency room twenty minutes after we left the stadium. Pete was waiting.

"They let me ride in the ambulance. Killian's inside. They're doing an evaluation now." Pete said all this as we walked through the doors and made our way to a private waiting room.

"Was he awake in the ambulance?" I asked.

Pete's facial muscles tightened before he answered, "No, but his vital signs were good."

"I need to see him, please."

"We'll get you in as soon as the evaluation is finished." Pete briefly squeezed my hand.

More Scorpions organization people showed up, along with the owner. Time crawled as we all waited for some word.

As much as I didn't think I could take waiting another second, my heart froze when the doctor came out.

Pete took one of my hands and Malory the other.

"His neck and back are good. He has a broken clavicle and it's complicated and needs surgery for realignment. The biggest problem right now is the concussion. He's in and out, but he's able to speak a few words. The CAT scan looks good, but we're delaying the surgery until he's fully conscious and we know there are no other issues." The doctor looked exhausted.

Malory stepped forward. "This is his fiancé. Can she get back there to see him?"

No one disputed her lie.

The doctor looked at me. "Yes, I can take you back, but it would be best if you come alone."

"His mother will be here shortly," I managed to say.

"Someone can escort her back when she arrives."

I followed the doctor. The room he took me into had low light and medical machines everywhere. A slow, steady beep came from the heart machine. Killian was bare from the waist up; a blanket covered his lower half. An icepack rested on his shoulder, but I could see the swelling and discoloration from the injury. I walked around and took his untethered hand. A nurse slid a chair over and I sat down.

"I'll be back to check on him shortly." The doctor left.

I couldn't take my eyes off Killian's face. I now understood why his mother didn't attend the games. I lay my head down beside Killian's and let my tears quietly soak the sheet. I had no idea how long I stayed that way; Killian's croaky voice brought my head up.

"It's okay, baby."

He was staring at me, and without thinking, I gently kissed his lips. His eyes slowly closed and his hand squeezed mine. He grimaced and then his hand went limp again.

His mother arrived a short while later. I spoke to her outside the room first and then waited while she went inside for a private visit with her son. He didn't wake up, but the doctor said his speaking to me was a good sign because brain injuries could be tricky.

Killian was transferred to a private room on the neurological ward as a precaution a few hours later. They continued to delay the surgery, and seeing his clavicle so obviously out of joint was truly horrible.

I have no idea what time it was when Killian squeezed my hand again. I reached for his mother's hand and she joined me at the bed. His eyelids opened and he squinted up at us.

"My head is killing me and so is my shoulder."

"You have a concussion and your clavicle needs surgery." His mother's voice was very matter of fact.

It surprised me when Killian released my hand. His went into fists, and his face screwed up in pain. I thought the pain caused his reaction, but his mother knew him better than I did.

"Killian, stop. You'll have another season, and making yourself hurt isn't helping me or Rebecca. You scared me to death and I'm not putting up with one of your tantrums right now."

My mouth dropped open. Killian didn't loosen his fists, and his mother hit the buzzer for a nurse.

"My son's awake and in pain. Could you please get him something," she said as soon as the nurse walked in.

"No," Killian ground out.

"Yes, and if you argue with me, I'll have them put the damn needle in your ass."

I had to smile over the way Beth handled her son.

Killian's fists didn't relax and the nurse placed pain medicine into his IV line. "I'll let the doctor know he's awake," she said and left us alone again.

Killian's hands opened and his eyes slowly closed. The doctor came in ten minutes later.

"We have an orthopedic surgical team standing by and we should have him in surgery in the next hour."

"Thank you, doctor. Rebecca and I need to get something to eat, but we'll be back shortly."

"I'm not hungry, Beth," I said as soon as the doctor left.

"It doesn't matter. You need to eat and so do I. I'm not arguing with you."

I followed her out of the room and down to the cafeteria. I was quickly learning where Killian got his bossiness.

Amanda and Lyle were sitting at a table, their chairs close to each other so they could see the door. They gave me a guarded look when I walked closer.

I made introductions to Killian's mother then walked over and purchased an apple and water before sitting down with my friends.

Amanda took my hand. "The entire team is in a private waiting room. Lyle and I were hoping you'd come in here eventually."

"Beth made me." I sounded like a pouty little girl and couldn't help it.

Lyle smiled and winked at Beth. "Someone needs to take her in hand."

"That's why she's perfect for my son. She's trainable and she'll be able to handle him just fine. I know these are your closest friends, Rebecca, so I'm going to speak frankly."

"Please."

Beth gave me the saddest eyes I'd ever seen from her. And though I hadn't noticed it before, they were Killian's eyes.

"I lost two boys in the cliff accident."