When they got back to the Hospital MJ took his brother and sister to see their dad. Opening the door Caroline teared up. Wrapping herself into her brother, he noticed they had left their father uncovered.
Looking at his chest and arms, MJ couldn't understand how he even survived. "Shh... come on Caroline, it's okay sis. Try and be strong." "MJ... why does daddy have so many bandages?" "Well Tyler, cause daddy was hurt in alot of different areas, so the doctors had to cover the cuts to stop infection."
"Is daddy going to die MJ? Is he going to go too heaven with mommy?" "No Tyler. Daddy isn't going anywhere but home with us in a few weeks." Caroline just couldn't look at her dad anymore, she had seen enough horrible things to last her a lifetime.
Running out of the room, she took off past the family. "Caroline... I'll get her Mac, you stay with Stella." Chasing her down the hall Leanne caught her. "Hey... hey Caroline, it's okay. It's going to be okay."
"No it's not Lea. It's never going to be okay. How is my daddy going to heal from what Anya did to him? How is my daddy ever going to trust in love again. I hate her, I hate what she did. I hate that she broke my dad, and destroyed our family."
"Caroline... she didn't destroy your family honey. Your family is very, very strong. If anyone can help your dad move on, it's your family, love. I've never seen a family so devoted, and understanding to each others needs. It really is a blessing, that this kind of love exists."
Holding Caroline close, she allowed her to cry out, all the pain and hurt she had built up over the last few hours. "Did you want to go see your dad again?" "Will you come with me?" "Sure... I can do that." Walking into the room Caroline noticed her dad was awake.
"Daddy... oh daddy. I'm sorry," she cried as she ran to his side. "Hey... hey pumpkin, it's okay. Just calm down." Removing her hair from her tearstained face, Michael kissed her. "I heard you did a very brave thing tonight caroline. I'm so proud of you right now.
"Thank you daddy. I'm sorry Anya was insane. I'm sorry she almost took you away from us. I love you daddy, and I was so scared of losing you, like we lost mommy." "I swear to you sweetheart. I will try my best never to leave you, how's that?" Embracing her dad gently, she whispered okay.
Back out in the waiting room Stella asked.... "What happened Mac?" "Don had to shoot Anya. She's dead love." "Oh my... how's Natalia doing?" "She's okay. Danny's with her. She said she knew her sister was to far gone too be saved." "It still must be upsetting for her Mac." "I'm sure it is love, but she'll heal with her family to help her."
When MJ and the kids came out of their fathers room. They headed home.
"We'll see you later dad. Lea and I are going to take Tyler and Caroline home." "Okay son... make up the spare rooms for them. the sheets are in the linen closet." "I know nana, don't worry. We will be fine."
"Sweetheart... why don't you head home too, I"ll stay with Michael tonight." "You sure Mac?" "I'm positive love. Go home and get some rest."
Kissing her husband good bye, she left with MJ, Lea and the kids.
Later that night, screams could be heard from not only the Hospital, but also at the Taylor home.
"Michael... Michael... wake up son, it's okay dad's here. Wake up son." Waking from his nightmare, he couldn't catch his breath, reaching for the breathing mask, Mac turned it on and placed it over his sons mouth. "Just breathe son... deep even breaths, that's it." Mac could see the fear in his sons eyes, he could see the haunting emptiness behind them.
"Shh... just focus Michael. Focus on dad. Nothing is going to hurt you, I'm right here protecting you." In the barest of whispers he heard... "why dad? Why did she hate me so much? What did I and my children do, to make her hate us?" Mac teared up. "Nothing son... you and your children did nothing wrong. Don't ever think that, ever."
"How can I not dad. How can I ever forgive myself for not being able to see through her hate. What if it had of been my children, I couldn't even protect them from her wrath. If not for Caroline calling me, I would have never known till my children were dead. Then there is Nat... why didn't she tell me herself. Why didn't she call me and tell me once she found out. Why dad?"
That was something Mac, Stella and even Danny wondered. "I'm not sure son. That will be for Danny to find out. I don't want you to worry about the what if's. The only I want you to do is get better. Remember, nothing matters now but your children. That's all that matters Michael." Caressing his sons hair, he pulled back the covers and climbed in with him like he use to do when he was little.
"Close your eyes son, just close your eyes and I'll sing to you." Michael tried to laugh. "Dad... this is embarrassing." "Shh... now let me sing." As Mac started singing, the nurses listened from the door, awwing, and smiling at Mac and his son. Stopping for the briefest of moments he said... "see that Michael. I got you a whole sexy troop of nurses."
Climbing back out of the bed, Mac turned to the nurses and said... "which one of you would like to watch my son for me for a few minutes?"
As all the nurses piled in Mac smirked at his son and left the room.
Meanwhile Stella had her hands full trying to get Caroline settled down.
"Caroline... come on love, nana's here. You are okay. I've got you, calm down." Rocking her in her arms, she could feel her shiver. God Stella could just imagine the horror she must have witnessed today. Hearing her sobs become silent, she laid her back down and whispered...
"I swear caroline, we are going to get you and your father through this. Together as a family, we will all heal. I know this must sound like a never ending verse by now. But we have to keep reminding ourselves, that Taylor love is the strongest love of all" Kissing her softly, she wrapped her back in her arms, covered them up, Stella tried her best to reassure herself that Mac's embedded words would forever hold true.
Over at the Messer's. Danny and Nat had just finished tearing up their carpet in the living room. "Do you think Lindsay's okay Danny?" "She'll be fine Nat... she's with Grayson, he'll take care of her." Danny looked at his wife, he was surprised she hadn't broke yet. He thought she would feel some kind of hurt after losing her sister. But nothing, not so much as a single tear.
"Nat... I think we should about what happened. It's not good for you to hold all of this pain inside." "That's the thing Danny, Im not in any pain. I know it's an awful thing to say. But I can't help it, I just knew something was going to happen. I knew the last few days Anya was acting very strangely. My only pain is that none of us were able to truly see the whole package sooner."
Taking his wife into his arms, he held her close. "I understand that Nat. More then you will ever know. But somewhere in between all of this you must have pain, so I promise you when you are ready to accept it, I'll be right here for you." "I know you will Danny, and I love you."
Continuing to hold her close, Danny knew their healing was just begining.