ALTERNATE ENDING.

Erin's head pounded as she slowly came to consciousness. She kept her eyes closed, afraid of what she'd see if they opened. Her lips were dry and cracked as she licked them, her muscles pounding in each limb. Where was she? Was this a hangover? Why was she in so much pain?

She recognised Hank's voice somewhere in the distance, as well as Dawson's. Everything else seemed pretty fuzzy.

All at once, her hearing bursted to life and she heard voices all around her. It gave her the strength and inspired the curiosity needed for her to finally open her eyes.

Her heart beat a little faster as she immediately recognised where she was; a hospital room. But in front of those painfully pale walls were her team. Her heart steadied a little then; Intelligence always showed up.

Her eyes went to Hank first, like they always did. But he didn't look like he should - did he just have a bad night sleep? Why did it look like he'd aged around ten years since she'd last seen him.

"Erin?!" The voice was unfamiliar. "She's awake! Erin! Erin, oh, thank god."

He was coming towards her, and the face was wholly unfamiliar. Unnerved and frankly quite shaken up, Erin tried to fully sit up and shuffle up the bed. When she did, a new wave of confusion hit her.

The weight on her stomach became apparent immediately. She was pregnant.

"What the hell…" She murmured shakily.

"How do you feel?" The guy was beside her now, reaching for her hand. But she pulled it away and instead pulled the bed sheet off her, eyes still deeply burning on the swell of her pregnant stomach.

"What's going on?!"

"Hey, it's alright-" He touched her hand and she jolted away from him.

"Who are you?! What… What's happening? Where am I and what the hell is going on?!"

As soon as she said it, it was as though the air was sucked from the room. Like she'd stood on a landmine and blown the room to bits.

She maybe thought this was all an elaborate dream after a tough day of work. But this man in front of her was real - his eyes piercing hers as he begged her silently. For what, she didn't know. And after he shared a shaky look with Hank, Erin guessed whatever was going on was far worse than she anticipated.

He took a step back, face pale and slightly shaky. "Erin, you… You know who I am, right?"

Three seconds passed and she didn't answer, and she could visibly see with each passing one that his heart was breaking a little more each time.

And when he held up his hand and showed her the ring gleaming on his finger, she felt the air knocked out of her.

"I'm your husband, Erin. It's me, Jay."

No recognition flashed on her face and she knew it broke him completely. She tried to think who he was - or who he might be - but nothing seemed right. In a panic she felt her breath quicken, and wanted nothing more to just close her eyes and come out of whatever crazy dream she was in.

The guy turned behind him. "Get the doctor, now." He said, teeth gritted.

Then he turned to Hank, who looked equally pale. The tension in the room was painful. "How the hell can this be happening again?"