NORMAL POV

Kate watched Matt turn the corner and walk back into the NICU with the doctor. She sighed and faced forward and for the first time, she noticed that someone else was with Matt. It was Brian. He was standing close to the nurse’s station, just staring at her. His face was very pale and his eyes were glassy.

“Brian?” Kate said breathlessly.

Without a word Brian started running down the hall. Kate ran to meet him and jumped into his arms. Brian picked her up off of the ground and held her as close to him as he could.

“Oh God Kate. I was so scared.” He whispered in her ear as he slowly put her on the ground.

Kate’s eyes filled with tears and she held him tight.

“Brian, so was I.” She said with a shaky voice.

Her body started to tremble and Brian picked her up and took her into a waiting room. He sat down on a couch with Kate still in his arms. She buried her face in his neck and started to cry for the first time all night.

“I was terrified that I was going to lose you, Kate.” Brian said softly.

Kate slowly picked her head up and looked at him. He was staring blankly at the wall ahead but Kate could see the worry in his eyes.

“When Matt said you were in an accident, I thought I’d find you half dead.” He said.

Kate shifted so that she was looking him square in the eyes and she put her hands on either side of his face.

“Hey, I’m okay. I’m right here.” She said soft, but firmly. Brian nodded and leaned in and kissed her gently.

Brian slowly brought his hand up to Kate’s head and touched the bandage.

“Are you okay?” He asked. Kate nodded.

“Just a slight concussion. I’ll live.” She said with a small smile. Brian tried to smile back but he couldn’t.

Kate kissed him again, then slid off of his lap and sat beside him. She picked up his hand and laced her fingers with his. She felt his stitches graze her palm and she moved her hand.

“Oh God.” She whispered when she saw the rows of stitches on Brian’s arm.

“Jesus, you didn’t tell me it was this bad.” Kate said. Brian shook his head and shrugged.

“It’s not that bad, not now anyway. It’s almost completely healed and the stitches come out next week.” Brian said. Kate rolled her eyes and Brian chuckled.

Kate rested her head on his shoulder and held him tightly.

“I’m glad you’re here.” She said softly. Brian leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” Brian said. Kate smiled and brought his hand to her lips and kissed from his palm down to his forearm.

After a few minutes of silence, Brian looked over and saw Kate staring as blankly as he was before. He took his hand and brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.

“Baby? What are you thinking about?” He whispered softly. Kate blinked and looked down.

“I didn’t even see the car coming Brian. It just happened so fast. One minute we were listening to you guys on the radio, and then the next…bang. When I opened my eyes and saw the car smoking and Val just lying there, I thought she was dead Brian.” She said with little to no emotion.

Brian shifted so that he could look at her. Her face was paling and her hands were shaking. A few tears were rolling down her cheeks. One slid onto her lip and licked it away. Brian lifted his hand and wiped the other away.

“Kate, this wasn’t your fault. It was an accident, okay?” He said. Kate didn’t say anything. Brian gently put his hand on her face and turned her head so that she was looking at him.

“Hey, I mean it. You didn’t cause this. Val is gonna be fine, the baby is gonna be fine. Everything is fine.” He told her firmly.

Kate closed her eyes and sighed.

“I hope so.” She said. Brian pulled her close to him and held her tight.

“I know it will be.” He said in her ear.

Kate let out a shaky breath and pulled away from him. He looked at her for a moment then touched her face.

“Do you want to know why I didn’t call you right away?” He said. Kate pulled her legs up under her and nodded.

Brian smiled slightly and took Kate’s hand and put it on his chest, right above his heart. Kate smiled when she felt its strong beats beneath her hand.

“Because I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep it together when I heard your voice. My heart ached knowing how far away you were from me and how much I was hurting you by not being there.” He said quietly. So quietly in fact, Kate almost didn’t hear him.

“Keep it together? Brian I don’t understand.” Kate said. Brian sighed and a slight blush crept onto his cheeks.

“I would’ve broken down. It took everything in me to not to fucking cry on the phone when I did call you. That’s why I sounded so disconnected with you. I couldn’t let myself go like that. I had..have to be strong for your sake.” He said. As he spoke, his face flushed a deeper red and Kate couldn’t help but smile.

“I just love you so much Kate, you have no idea. It’s never bothered me before. Leaving I mean. Before you, I could be gone for years with a girl at home and not have a care in the world. But you’re so different. I hate being so far away from you all the time and I hate knowing that I’m hurting you.” He said quickly.

Kate’s smile got bigger and she crawled back into his lap and held him tightly.

“Brian, I love you too. I have to say, I’m surprised at you though.” She said. Brian sat up and pushed her back slightly.

“Surprised? I just bore my heart and soul to you and all you can say is that you’re surprised? That hurts Kate.” He said playfully as he put his hand on his heart.

Kate laughed and kissed his lips.

“All I’m saying is that I never imagined you to be so in love with anyone, let alone me.” Kate said softly.

Brian rolled his eyes and took her hands. His stitches tickled her palm and Kate giggled a little.

“Kate, I’m not the insensitive bastard you think I am, you know.” He grumbled. Kate smiled and kissed him again.

“I know you’re not Brian. You’re very sensitive and loving and kind and wonderful and all kinds of other things.” Kate said with a smile on her face.

Brian smiled back and pulled her so that her back was resting against his chest. He put his feet up on the couch and Kate snuggled close to him.

“I love you.” He whispered. Kate smiled and looked up.

“I love you too.” She said.

A few hours later, Kate had fallen asleep and Brian was watching her. His hand was idly touching her hair and his eyes were closed. He heard footsteps coming close, so he opened his eyes and looked towards the doorway. Matt was walking in with a slight smile on his face.

“How are they?” Brian whispered. Matt’s smile grew wider and he nodded.

“Fine, they’re both fine.” He said. Brian sighed in relief and looked down at Kate.

Matt looked at her too.

“Take her home and get some rest. You can come back to see them in the morning.” Matt said. Brian nodded.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He said. Matt chuckled and started to walk back up to Val’s room.

Brian put one arm under Kate’s legs and the other around her waist and easily lifted her up. As he was walking out of the room, a nurse stopped him.

“Mr. Sanders wanted me to tell you he called a cab for you, it’s waiting out front.” She said softly. Brian nodded.

“Thank you.” He said.

He carried Kate to the cab and told the driver the address and soon they were pulling up in front of his house. Of their house. He smiled as he walked up the stairs to the door. He pulled the keys from his pocket and unlocked the door.

“Home sweet home.” He whispered.

Kate stirred slightly and her eyes fluttered open.

“What are we doing here? Shouldn’t we be at the hospital for Matt?” Kate asked him. Brian smiled and took her into the bedroom.

“He’s the one who sent us home.” Brian said softly. Kate smiled and crawled into the bed.

“Good, I hate hospitals.” She said. Brian chuckled and pulled off his clothes so that he was only wearing his boxers.

Kate pulled off the dirty clothes she’d been wearing and stayed in her bra and panties. Brian smirked and pulled her on top of him. Kate giggled and straddled his hips.

“God have I missed you.” Brian said in a husky voice. Kate chuckled and leaned down and kissed his neck.

“I’ve missed you too.” She whispered in his ear.

Chills ran down his spine and he growled deeply. Brian reached over and shut out the lamp and pulled the sheet over Kate’s head.