A/N: This isn't going to be the end of Erica's struggles, and she hasn't put down the booze just yet. THIS is where she reminds us she's in there and will find her way out. I think part of Erica's troubles during this storyline is that one one listened to her. Everyone told her it was okay, get over it, Bianca has. So I took the approach that maybe the way to get her out of the darkness, is to have someone start listening to her.

Hope I did it justice.

Chapter 12

Palmer was standing near the entrance door, trying to talk Erica into coming over to speak with him.

"Palmer," Jack breathed, "why aren't you out there?"

He shook his head, his face etched with fear. "The further out I step, the closer to the edge she gets. Had her toes hanging off just a few seconds go."

Ryan and Jack exchanged worried glances. "Has she said anything?"

"Just tells me not to come out, and that she's fine, she's just thinking."

Jack nodded and Palmer stepped to his side, allowing Jack to pass. "Sweetheart," He started, his voice low and soft. She was so close to the edge that the last thing they wanted to do was startle her. "Are you okay? What are you doing up here?" He stepped closer, watching her as he did so.

She had stopped pacing and had her back to him. She was standing just behind the ledge and seemed to content not to move or look at him. "I'm fine," She breathed, her tone cold and distant. "I just need to think."

"Of course," Jack said, "I don't think this is the best pace for that. Let's come inside." He was getting closer to her with each step, and was hoping to be at her side in only a few steps.

"Don't come any closer," She hissed, still refusing to look at him. She slid her feet closer to the edge, let her toes hang loosely over the edge.

"Erica," Jack pushed out on a shaky breath. "We need to go back downstairs. Bianca needs us."

"Move away from me," She ordered. She wasn't joking and they could all hear the conviction in her tone.

He nodded and took two steps back.

"Bianca is fine, Jack. She has Maggie and Kendall, and she'll have that child soon enough." They winced at the venom on her tongue. The hate that spewed from her words when she spoke of Bianca's child.

"You're her mother. Miranda's grandmother," He tried to reason with her.

"I swear Jackson if you don't get off this roof right now…" She shouted, back still to him.

She was so close to the edge that if she leaned forward even slightly, she would fall over.

Jacks swallowed back a hard breath and did as she asked. "Honey, please! Just come inside. You're scaring us."

She nodded. "Amazing how much you care about me now. When there aren't any lies left to protect me from."

"Erica we love you," Palmer added, "And we don't want you getting hurt."

"I'm fine, Palmer. Really."

"Erica," Ryan started, "We can talk about all of this downstairs. Just step back from the ledge."

"Oh Ryan," She smiled, "You're such a good man. Always trying to save the Kane Women from ourselves. Too bad you aren't part of the family. Maybe you would have told me the truth."

Tad stepped off the elevator behind them. He told them quickly and quietly, not wanting Erica to hear, that the hospital was aware of what was happening and would allow them fifteen more minutes to reason with Erica before calling the police and fire departments.

"Sweetheart," Jack blew out on a shaky breath, "please at least step back from the ledge. If you want to think, sit down. Just please stay away from the edge."

"I like it on the edge," She told them, her voice peaking with more life than they'd heard from her in months. "it makes me feel alive."

"Jesus," Ryan said, eyes on Jack and Palmer. "We have to get her inside."

"I'm worried she's going to jump if we try," Jack's voice cracked as he finally spoke the truth that they all feared.

They heard Tad talking behind them, filling someone in on what was happening. On why they were all standing just outside the door on the roof top.

"Hayward," Ryan acknowledged as David stopped next to them. "Palmer and Jackson have both tried to get close to her, help her in. But she won't let them more than a few feet from her."

"Has she said anything?" He wondered, eyes focused on Erica.

Jack shook his head. "Nothing of substance. If we go out there, I'm worried she's going to jump."

David forced out a hard breath and nodded. "They don't really teach you how to handle this in medß school," He offered through a teasing smile. "But I'd like to try something. Will you let me?" He asked of Jack.

Jack hesitated momentarily, unsure what David could try that they hadn't already. "Don't bait her, David. Don't try to fight her on this, she can't take it."

He nodded before stepping further on the roof. "Erica…"

"Ah, doctor God, I was wondering when you would ride in to play hero."

"I'm not here to play hero, Erica. I'm only here to listen."

"Listen," She scoffed shaking her head, "Why do you care about me anyway? Why aren't you downstairs ensuring that Bianca's sainted child is born safely?"

"Doctor Clader and his team are with her, and everything is going great."

She nodded. "Isn't that wonderful?"

"It is wonderful, for Bianca," He confirmed, "But not for you."

She had stepped back from the ledge now, and was pacing the length of the roof again. 'She doesn't know what's she's doing, David. She doesn't know the hell that child is going to put her through."

He took a slow, hesitant step toward her. "It's different for her, Erica. She doesn't see Miranda as a violation of her body and soul. She sees her a gift for managing to survive. For holding on and not letting Michael Cambias beat her."

"What is going to do when that baby comes out looking just like Michael?" She cried in his direction, though she still refused to face him.

"Maybe she won't look at all like Michael. Maybe she'll look like Bianca, or like you." He paused at that, to gauge her reaction.

She stopped pacing and turned slowly. "That's not possible. She will always see Michael."

He could hear her voice starting to crack, her the tears she was struggle to keep at bay. And he took a step toward her. "You don't see Richard Fields when you look at Kendall."

"Not anymore," She admitted, "but it took years for us to get here."

"Bianca doesn't need years; she's already made peace with her demons. She's already decided to love Miranda for Miranda. She is going to be okay, Erica. They both are."

"How do you know that?" She begged of him, an errant tear escaping despite her best efforts.

He was only a few steps from her, but didn't close the space between them. He wanted to give her time, let her come to him, let her end this. Let her start to make her own peace.

"Because Bianca is strong. And she's so stubborn," He heard her laugh a little at that and his heart beat loud in his chest. He hadn't heard her laugh in months. "She's your daughter, Erica, and you have raised her to be brave and fearless. To face her demons head on. She can get through this."

She blew out a hard sigh and shook her head. "How am I?"

He almost let out a cry of joy. She was in there, she was fighting, and she was finding her way back to them. "You're going to take it one day at a time and let your friends and family help you through it."

"I don't want any more lies," She forced out through tear soaked words, "I can't handle any more lies."

"No more lies," He nodded, and offered her a soft smile. "Let's get out of here," He said, holding out his hand to her.

Her eyes flashed with anger.

"You don't have to wait downstairs," He added quickly, fearing he was going to erase the little bit of progress she had made if he didn't think fast. "I'll take you anywhere you want to go. Except a bar."

She laughed a little at that, and gave him a soft smile. "I haven't had a drink in over a week."

His smile widens at that, and he stepped toward her. Hand still extended to her. "That's a good start."

"I'm trying," She acknowledged as she reached for his hand.

"I know," He nodded, pulling her close. Needing to know that she was there, that this was over. That she wasn't dancing on the edge any more. "I know."

She kept her hand in his as they crossed the last half of the roof. Jack was waiting for her with open arms, and free flowing tears. Palmer, Tad and Ryan stepped away, allowing them space.

David watched from her left as she buried her head in Jack's chest.

She still had long road ahead of her. He wasn't foolish enough to believe that an alcoholic putting down the booze for a week or two meant they weren't drinking anymore. She hadn't made peace with Miranda or Bianca's choice yet either. But it was her first step toward the light.

It was hope

And it was more than they'd had in weeks.

To be continued