"Mr. Carter?"

Nick was sitting beside Elisha holding her hand, now and again reaching up to touch her cheek. He hadn't left her side since he woke up the night before, the night of the accident.

"Yes?" He didn't take his eyes off Elisha.

"We were wondering if you might be up to answering some questions about the accident?"

"I didn't see anything." Nick said, in a dull voice. "We were talking, you see, I'd just proposed and..." Fresh tears stung his eyes and he wiped them away furiously.

"I understand." the senior officer said sympathetically. "You didn't notice anyone following you or anything?" the younger officer asked. "We have some cause to believe that, whoever hit you, did it deliberately."

"No." Nick thought carefully for a moment and shook his head. "No, I didn't notice anything."

"Do you think she might have?" he said, gesturing to Elisha's sleeping form.

"No, we were talking, like I said, we were pretty excited....I guess it's possible she might have seen something...no, I doubt it." A vision of Elisha laughing and kissing him just before the crash flickered into his mind.

"Do you know of anyone that might have wanted you hurt?"

"Not at all." Nick said, quickly. "Elisha is from Texas, she doesn't even know anyone here. I broke up with my ex recently, but she would never....." his voice trailed off.

"Could we have her address, Mr. Carter, just to follow up and make certain she was not involved."

Nick looked shocked. "Mandy wouldn't have anything to do with this, I'm sure."

"I'm sure you're right, Mr. Carter." the older officer reassured him. "But it's best if we check and eliminate her from the possible list of subjects right away." Nick quickly wrote Mandy's address in the officer's book. "Thank you sir, we will keep in touch."

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The next night Nick struggled to stay awake. There had been no change in Elisha's condition throught the day but still, he had refused sleep. He was afraid that if he fell asleep, Elisha would awaken and be scared. She had been there for him, he needed to be here for her. He yawned and gently let go of her hand. His sister had brought him a bag with clothes, snacks and magazines.

"C'mon, BJ, please have put my Gameboy in here!" he prayed, rummaging in the bag. He pulled it out triumphantly. "This will keep me awake!"

Elisha slowly opened her eyes and then closed them to the harsh bright light. She could hear loud beeping and what sounded like explosions. She opened her eyes just a slit. Yes, Nick was there, he could tell her what was going on. Her eyes slid closed again.

"Nicky? What's all that noise?"

Nick didn't look up from his game. "Sorry, I'll turn it down." Then it dawned on him. "Elisha? Is that you, baby?"

He tossed the game aside and embraced her. "Oh my God, Elisha, I'm so happy to see your beautiful eyes open again!" He kissed her. "I love you baby, I'm so glad you're awake!"

"Where am I, Nicky? What happened?" she looked at him, puzzled.

"You don't remember?" he chose his words carefully. The doctor had told him that when she woke up, to try and see how much she remembered on her own.

"I remember dinner......." she said vaguely.

"We were in an accident, hun." She looked him over.

"Are you all right?" Nick choked back a sob. "Um, yeah, I'm fine. I got a pretty nasty cut here and a big old bump, I'm okay." He hugged her again.

"What's wrong then? I can see it in your face. Was someone else hurt?"

Nick got up and sat beside her on the bed, absent-mindedly he placed one hand on her thigh. "I don't know how to say this..." he began.

"Wait Nick." Elisha looked panicked. "I can't feel your hand on my leg!"

Tears fell from his eyes, he couldn't speak.

"I can't feel your hand Nick, what's wrong? Why can't I feel your hand!" Elisha was almost screaming.

Nick hugged her tightly and rocked her gently back and forth. "Sssh, it's okay." She was shaking so hard, but no tears had fallen from her eyes. "Do you want me to get the doctor or do you want me to tell you?" he asked softly.

She grabbed his shirt. "Don't leave me Nick! What's going on?"

He sighed and started crying again. "They think you might be, might be, might.....oh shit, they think you're paralyzed."

Elisha stared at him, shocked. "What? NO!" She screamed and put her hands over her face. "NO, NO, NO, NO!"

Nick held her again, and resumed the rocking motion. "It's okay, it will be alright, I'll look after you, darling." He felt her tears, falling freely now, soaking his shirt, she was shaking violently.

Elisha tried to speak, but it came out stuttered. "Tell..tell..tell me..tell me it's not..not..true, Ni..Nicky! Pl..pl..please! Tell me..me.." She burst into tears.