Karen yawned and leaned back in her chair. Owen was finally sleeping soundly. She had glanced over at him when she heard him snore lightly. Smiling at his sleeping frame. She didn't realize just how much he loved her sister, but she couldn't have been more satisfied knowing the lengths he'd go through to keep her safe. Looking at Claire, she shifted her chair closer to the bed and leaned her elbows on the bed beside Claire's head. "You know, Claire Bear, you've got a good one here. That man over there is crazy about you." Karen leaned closer until her lips were at Claire's ear. "Hear me? Wake your ass up and tell Owen this isn't his fault." She leaned back in her chair with a huff and shook her head before glancing back over at Owen. "I tried telling him, but he will only listen to you right now."

Karen fell silent as she watched Claire's chest rise and fall as she breathed. She shook her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her sister's ear. "Not listening to me, as always." She sighed, kicked her feet up on the bed and got comfortable in the chair to watch tv.

"Stop." Karen mumbled when something hit her foot. She blinked a few times and sat up straight when she realized she had fallen asleep. The weak moan coming from beside her had her on her feet.

Claire shifted and squeezed her eyes shut as tears spilled from her eyes.

"Claire!" Karen quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and moved to do the same to her sister. "Why are you crying? Honey, are you in pain?" Her hands hovered over Claire as she watched her struggle to lift her hand and point to her stomach. "Ok, sweetie." Karen reached over her sister and pressed the call button. She quickly glanced over her shoulder, "Owen!"

He snored and turned his head away from her.

"Owen!" She growled.

"What's wrong?" A nurse hurried into the room.

Karen moved to the side, but kept Claire's hand in hers. "She's waking up, but she's in pain. Give her something." She demanded and spun back to face Owen again. "Owen!" She yelled.

The nurse hurried out of the room and within seconds the doctor followed, immediately administering medication. Claire's body relaxed and she blinked a few times before squinting into the dark room as if she was stepping out into the sunlight.

"Karen?" Claire croaked, trying to clear her throat.

Karen's face scrunched up and she nodded. "Yeah, you've been out for a while. I'll get you water… just hold on…" she reached for the extra pillow on her chair and chucked it across the room. It hit Owen in the face and he sprung up.

"What the hell?" Owen rubbed his eyes and looked around the room.

"He can sleep through anything." Claire whispered, not able to get her voice any higher. This caught Owen's attention and he stumbled across the room.

"You're awake!" As much as she hated it, Karen backed away from Claire while Owen took over.

Claire looked away from Owen, taking in the fact that she wasn't anywhere she recognized. "What's going on? Where am I?"

Owen's eyebrow raised as he watched Claire look around the room. "You—" he swallowed hard. "You don't remember?"

Claire thought for a moment and was quick to narrow her eyes at Owen. "We were…" She trailed off when she noticed the pain in his eyes. "Wait," she tried to sit up, but the pain was too intense, so she lifted her hand to touch the tear that was trickling down his cheek. "You're crying?"

Owen quickly took her raised hand in his and kissed her palm. "I'm so sorry, Claire."

"For what?"

"All of this. I shouldn't have let you walk away."

With her free hand she gently laid it over her stomach. The fear in her eyes matching Owen's. It was his turn to wipe away her tears. "Alec… He was outside. I tried apologizing to him. I told him it should have been me and not Zara…" she trailed off and turned her face into Owen's hand on her cheek.

Owen's jaw clenched. "You talked to him?"

Closing her eyes and pressing her face further against his palm, Claire nodded. "He said I was right. It should have been me. Then…"

Owen felt her tremble and he moved the hand against her cheek, rubbing his thumb soothingly across her skin. The rustling behind Owen had him tense and he turned to see Karen coming up behind him with a container of water and a cup. She laid a hand reassuringly on his back and stepped around the bed. "Here," she said and held the cup out to Claire, steadying the straw so she could drink.

Claire closed her eyes, enjoying the way the cold water soothed her throat. Warm hands swept softly across her forehead and she smiled. "Always the caretaker." Claire said without opening her eyes.

"I'm the big sister, that's my job."

Claire opened her eyes and her face fell serious. "Why are you here? I mean I appreciate it, but the boys need you." She hated that once again because of her she was separated from her sons.

Karen rolled her eyes. "Always thinking of others before yourself. They are home with Scott.

The three fell into an uncomfortable silence. So much Owen wanted to say, but not in front of Karen. Karen knew she needed to let Claire know what Owen went through and also to hear her sister's side of the story. Claire, needing to speak to both her sister and Owen, but unsure of which one to talk to first. She had so many questions. Each of them glanced quickly at the others with a soft smile.

Claire shifted in bed and groaned. Both Owen and Karen took a step towards her. "I'm fine." She huffed and gave up trying to get comfortable. Owen immediately backed off, but Karen ignored her sister's objection to be helped. She found the bed remote and handed it to Claire so she could adjust the bed to where she wanted it. Then moved the tray table over so she could get her own drink if she needed it.

It took no time for Claire to finish the water in the bucket and just as Karen went to jump on the opportunity to ask Owen to get more, the doctor and a nurse came in to check Claire's vitals. Giving Claire her privacy, Owen stepped out of the room voluntarily.

"You don't have to stay in here." Claire told her sister, but Karen rolled her eyes and took her hand.

"I birthed two kids, removing iv's and a catheter is not going to scare me."

Claire laughed and immediately regretted it.

"Sorry!" Karen said quickly, rubbing Claire's shoulders to help her relax.

Claire kept her eyes closed as the doctor moved around her to remove any unnecessary wires.

Once he was finished, Claire opened her eyes and let out a long sight of relief of being free from the wires and IVs. "Can I shower?" Claire wondered.

"I don't want you up walking around just yet." Dr. Greene informed her. "I can have the nurse sponge—"

"No thanks." Claire cut him off quickly. There was no way she was going to have some nurse sponge bathe her.

"Can I do it?" Karen asked the doctor.

They both looked down at Claire. "Fine." She groaned.

The doctor stepped out of the room and approached Owen in the hall. "Mrs. Mitchell is helping Claire get washed up. She'll be done soon."

Owen nodded and after a quick update on Claire's condition the doctor hurried away to check on his other patients.

Owen hesitated at the door, his hand on the handle, but wasn't sure if he was wanted, or needed. He let his hand drop to his side and ignored Kirk's gaze as he slumped down against the wall to wait for Karen to come get him. He was hopeful for a few minutes, hoping Claire would choose him to help over Karen. Shaking his head as the time drug on, he knew that probably wouldn't happen. The look in Claire's eyes when she spoke of their fight. He hurt her.

"Did I hear correctly?" Kirk's voice pulled Owen from his thoughts. "She's awake?"

He looked up at Kirk and sighed heavily, his gaze moving back to the closed door. "She is."

"Cops have been itching for a statement from her."

Owen locked eyes with Kirk. "As far as they are concerned, she's still asleep."

"You got it."

"Thanks."

Even though her stomach hurt, Claire managed to do most of the cleaning herself while Karen assisted when she needed her. "You can have Owen in here helping you instead of me, you know."

Claire glanced at the closed door and shrugged. "I don't think he'd want to."

Karen tilted her head to the side, "Why?"

"The last time I tried…" Claire trailed off as she thought back to the night he opted to not get in the shower with her, pushed her away from him on the couch and then slept in the living room most of the night. She shook her head and decided to change her sentence. "I just don't think he's interested in me… any of me. At least not anymore."

Karen rolled her eyes. "That's a load of crap."

Claire pulled the towel up to cover herself. "Excuse me? Were you there when I was basically throwing myself at him and he chose to play guard dog?"

Folding her arms against her chest, Karen let out a long sigh, "I'm sure you're reading into it too much. The guy is crazy for you! He hasn't left your side. I've never seen someone so beat up by themselves. When I got here he was a complete mess." She watched Claire carefully as she concentrated on what her sister was telling her. "He cried, Claire. He completely broke down and cried on my shoulder. He blames himself for what happened."

"What?!" Claire gasped.

Karen nodded slowly. "He thinks you blame him."

"I don't."

"You don't need to tell me that."

Claire glanced over to the door once more and took a deep breathe. "Can you go find him?"

Karen leaned over and kissed Claire's temple before moving towards the door.

Owen was on his feet as soon as the door opened and Karen stepped aside. "She's asking for you."

Owen pointed to himself, more surprised by the statement than he expected. "Me?" he questioned.

Karen motioned for him to go in. "I'm going to go for some coffee."

"Coffee?" Kirk perked up at the word.

Karen clapped him on the shoulder as she walked by. "I'll bring you one, big guy."

Owen closed the door behind him and watched Claire as she grunted and groaned when her outstretched hand couldn't quite reach the clean hospital gown at the end of the bed. "Here," Owen said and hurried over to help.

She looked down at her towel, still held up by one hand and then to Owen. He immediately took in her body language and placed the gown down on her lap. "I'm sorry, I can turn around."

Claire reached for him with her free hand and letting the towel drop out of her other. "No, it's fine."

Keeping his gaze locked with hers, he reached for the gown and helped her slip it on. She smiled warmly at him and he couldn't help but smile back.

Owen saw the brush Karen laid out on the tray table and reached for it. He sat on the edge of the bed and Claire couldn't help but lean into him as he began to brush her hair.

"I'm sorry," Claire whispered. Her eyes closed as she let the soothing way Owen was brushing her hair calm her.

"You better not be apologizing for what I think you are." He warned.

Claire shrugged.

Owen sighed and let the brush fall to his lap. He shifted on the bed so he was sitting beside Claire and pulled her further into his side. They fell silent, Owen unsure where to even begin. She was apologizing to him? Karen was right. She didn't blame him, but why was she blaming herself?

"I'm glad you're here." Claire broke the silence.

"Of course. Claire, I didn't mean to push you away. The only thing that was going through my mind was the possibility of losing you. It was hard to focus on anything else."

She shook her head slowly, looking down at her hands. "I get that, but Owen, this isn't your fault. I got aggravated. I just needed some fresh air. Damn," Claire laughed and turned to look at Owen. "we're too stubborn."

Owen couldn't help but laugh along with her, nodding his head in agreement. "We really need to work on our communication."

"That, too." Claire agreed.

"Hey," Owen cupped Claire's face in his hands and turned her head until she was looking at him. "don't scare me like this again. I love you too much."

"I won't… wait," Claire's eyes grew wide as the last five words he spoke registered in her mind. "what did you say?"

"I love you," he smiled and leaned in to kiss her. That's the third time I've said that to you.

Claire raised an eyebrow. "When was the first?"

"I was trying to get you to wake up."

"Well then that doesn't count."

Owen laughed and kissed her once more. "Why not?"

"Because I didn't get a chance to say I love you back."