Remember Me?

"Nessie don't cry...." Cody weakly reached up to wipe away Vanessa's tears "Y..you know I hate it w..when you cry..."

His breathing grew increasingly labored as he was carried into the ER and taken away on a stretcher...

"I just, I can't lose you Cody; I just got you back," Vanessa sniffled.

It was very touch and go because Cody had lost so much blood before reaching the hospital. But eventually, they were able to stabilize him and Vanessa, Tessa and Randy were allowed to see Cody.

Vanessa tried her best not to cry anymore around her daughter, who was now staring out through her curly hair that hung in her eyes as she rested on her mother's lap.

Randy comforted Vanessa while they waited for Cody to wake up. He was very proud of what Cody had done for his sister, he just hoped he didn't lose his life as a result.

Tessa curled up into her mother's chest more, looking worriedly at Randy.

Tessa's fear was not lost on Randy "I'm not going to hurt you" he murmured "Cody is very special to me too."

Tessa nodded.

"Uncle Cody can't go bye bye, I like him, he nice to me," Tessa muttered.

"He won't go bye bye" Randy whispered "He'll be fine, you'll see." As if on cue Cody began to weakly stir, a faint groan passing his lips,

"Nessie?"

"I'm here, I'm right here Cody," Vanessa said, taking his hand in hers.

"Am I gonna live?" Cody grinned to show he already knew the answer

Vanesssa smiled and simply nodded before she looked down at Tessa who was now smiling from ear to ear.

"Hey Tessa..." Cody reached out and took the little girl's hand "You doing alright now?"

Tessa nodded.

"Thank you....for saving me," Tessa said.

"It was my pleasure" Cody whispered, smiling when Tessa giggled at his lisp "You're gonna be alright now sugar."

"I..I wanna hug you, but I don't wanna hurt you," Tessa said softly.

"You won't hurt me" Cody murmured, holding out his arms to his niece "Come on, it's alright."

Tessa giggled as her mother let her down to hug Cody.

"There you go...." Cody murmured, holding the little girl's body close against his own "See? I'm okay Tessa."

"I was...I was scared Uncle Cody, I don't want you to go away, you're nice to me nobody's ever been nice to me before," Tessa said.

Cody wanted to cry, he had a pretty good guess of what kind of life Tessa had led up until now, and he swore to himself now that she would never go through that again,

"It's okay..." he whispered, wrapping his arms even more around the little girl "I'm not going away, I'm not going anywhere."

"Mmmmkay," Tessa muttered, drifting off to sleep in Cody's arms

"Love you Tessa" Cody gave her a gentle kiss before looking up at his twin "And I love you too Nessie."

"I love you too Coddles, you should rest I'll be here if you need me," Vanessa said.

"Alright" Cody yawned and relaxed, gently drifting off to sleep with Tessa wrapped in his arms.