Dr. Jett gave the waiting family a sympathetic expression and nod.

“Right now, the only thing I can say for sure is that Justin is a very lucky man. To fall thirty feet and survive is the first good news I can share. Keep in mind that these next 24 hours are going to be the most important. Right now, he’s in recovery and we’re keeping him closely monitored. He has a broken leg that we had to set with pins. He has broken ribs from the fall and it collapsed his lung. But we were able to go in and relieve the air and his lung re-inflated like it should be. Our biggest worries in the immediate future are going to be the bruising and damage to his spinal colum and the head injuries he sustained. We had to open up a small area in his head to relieve the pressure from brain swelling. As of right now, obviously, we can’t tell if there’s going to be any brain-damage. And like I said, these next 24 hours are going to be the most critical. We will do everything within our ability, but in situations like this, I always suggest that a prayer or two couldn’t do any harm.”

“When can we see him?” Lynn asked, tears choking her words.

“I want to check on him, but I’ll send for you. It’s not a pretty sight, I want you to be prepared for this. If all goes well, he will be moved to ICU where he will have the best care we can provide.”

Dr. Jett gave them a moment to take in everything before continuing. “I understand how this can escalate, given who Justin is. Our hospital has a wonderful spokesperson and will be in here shortly to discuss how, or even if, you want this handled. I’ve got another surgery in an hour, so I will spend this time assessming of how Justin is doing. Should anything change, will we be able to find you here?”

“Of course,” Paul said, releaseing Haley’s arm in order to comfort his wife. “Thank you for saving our son.”

“Thank you for staying,” Lynn said as soon as they were alone again.

“I...yeah,” she smiled wryly and nodded at her. “We need to get the story together to release to the press. We can’t keep it secret that he’s here and I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that by now, the word is already out.”

Haley took a deep breath and stood, her mind racing over what to put in the message. She grabbed a scrap piece of paper and pencil.

“Alright, we won’t lie, but we won’t release everything, either. He was on a rock climbing trip with some friends. He had a minor accident and broke his leg. Please respect his privacy during recouperation...all thoughts, well wishes, and prayers are appreciated. No flowers, gifts, etc. Instead, donate that money to one of Justin’s favorite charities. Or give the cards, etc, to the children’s hospital. That sound good?”

She looked up from the notes she’d furiously scribbled.

“That’s perfect,” Lynn said. “Justin really picked the perfect person for his PR and wife.” She was quiet a moment before she spoke again. “You will go see him, won’t you?”

Haley closed her eyes and sighed inwardly. “For you and Dad, i will.”


The door opened again when a man in an expensive suit walked in.

“Hello, my name is Charles Barrett and I work for the hospital. I understand you have a statment for release?”

“Yes,” Haley said, walking to him. “This is what needs to be read. Obviously, it’s a quick rough draft, but you have the basics of what we want said.”

She watched as the man read over the paper, making little notes and adjustments with his pen.

“We will get right on this,” he told her.

“Thank you so much,” Haley shook his hand. “But if you will excuse us, I believe that nurse out there is here to take us to see my husband.”

She nodded over Charles’ shoulder to the woman in lime green scrubs opening the door. Haley turned to see her in-laws and Trace almost running toward the door.

“I hope all goes well,” Charles said, walking out with them. “If there’s anything you need or that we can do, don’t hesitate to let us know.”

“Thank you,” Haley began, only to be interrupted by a shrill scream.

“Oh my God, Trace! What happened? I got here as fast as possible, but Jeff had to go back to the cabin and get the bags. Where is he? Where’s Justin?”

Haley felt a stab of nausea when she heard that woman speak Justin’s name. The withering look she shot Trace would have been enough to kill him if that was possible. Everyone stopped and looked at the trim and toned raven-haired beauty rushing to Trace.

“He’s...uh...out of surgery?” Trace asked, taking a step back and holding out his hands to keep the woman from touching him. He cast a quick glance at Haley and Justin’s parents, then dropped his gaze, guilt all over his face and posture.

“Oh, thank God, he did survive,” the brunette sighed. “When can I see him?”

“Never,” Haley said, making her presence known.

“Oh...you’re Haley.”

“I’m sorry, who are you? Jeff’s girlfriend?” Lynn asked, confused.

“No, I’m Lindsay. I am so sorry, Mrs. Harless. Can I call you Lynn? I feel as if I’ve known you forever, the way Justin has talked about you. I'm your son's girlfriend, Lynn. Surely Justin's mentioned me to you."

"His what?" Justin's mother asked, blinking a few times.

"Yes, his girlfriend. I was on the trip with him this weekend. We were trying to make a baby, in case the last time didn't work. Isn't that wonderful? A grandchild for you!"

Haley felt her cheeks redden with anger and shame at this being put out in such a manner.

"I don't understand..." Paul said, rubbing a hand over his face.

"There's nothing to understand," Lindsay elaborated in that flinty, irrtating voice of hers, the cadance that of an almost Valley Girl. "Your son and I have been together for six months and we're trying to have a baby."

"You know what?" Haley interrupted, taking a step toward the woman. Lindsay might have been taller than her, but Haley was feisty and that old desire to protect what's heres was flairing to life again. "I'm glad I finally get to meet you, because this will be so much better saying this to you face to face. I don't give a damn who you are, nobody gives a damn who you are, do you understand? I am still his wife and that's what counts right now. Do you know why? It's because what I say goes and honey, I say you go."

She nodded to the nurse. "Call security and have her thrown out of this hospital."

Haley then whipped out her cell phone and dialed a number before bringing it to her ear. She gave a slightly evil grin to Lindsay.

"You best be ready to say goodbye to all of this. I am calling our lawyer and your ass is getting slapped with a restraining order as well as listed as a stalker. And if you so much as think of getting close to my husband, you will go under the jail. I don't care if you could be or even are pregnant with Justin's bastard, he will never know, so you can kiss that little gold digging scheme buh-bye."

Lindsay's dark brown eyes grew huge. She looked at Trace. "Are you going to let her talk to me like that, Tracey? You were the one who introduced us. You said he was over her and she..."

"Hello? This is Haley Timberlake, I need to speak with Mr. Levinson. Yes...Hey, Sol. How are you? Listen, I have a situation I need you to take care of for me. No, you can put that on hold. I'll explain later what's going on, but I need you to draw up a restraining order against a Lindsay...hang on. What is your last name again?"

"You cannot do this!" Lindsay shrieked.

"The hell I can't," Haley shot back before turning her attention to the phone once more. "I also need you to get ready for a possible paternity suit and I wand you to fight that one tooth and nail. And, we need to be prepared for a possible defamation suit. No, this will be us against someone. Yes, this Lindsay whore. I have a feeling this is going to be ugly. I'll have to call you back with more details, Sol. I have the police here now. Thank you."

Haley gave a smug smirk as she flipped her phone shut. "Don't ever tell me what I can't do. Enjoy your trip to jail and stay away from this hospital and my husband."

She watched, the satisfied expression still on her face, as Lindsay was escorted from the hospital by security. Haley knew the police would be downstairs waiting. One thing she had learned from her four years with Justin was when to throw his name around and this was definitely a time when it paid off.

"Now, I want to see my husband."

Haley followed her speechless in-laws and the nurse to the elevator and then up to the recovery room. The doctor met them and gave them a quick run-down on Justin's status. He reminded them again of the severity of the injury and to be prepared of how Justin would look. She braced herself and walked in with her in-laws, leaving Trace to visit after them.

The room was cold and clinical, filled with the emotionless beeping of machines and the whirr of contraptions helping keep him comfortable and alive. Haley had to close her eyes when she heard Justin's mother cry for her only son. Her heart broke for this woman she loved as if she were her own mother. She tried to stay out of the way but felt compelled to go closer when beckoned. Feeling tears fall from her eyes, she wanted nothing more than to look away from the bruised, scratched, and swollen face of her husband. His handsome face, the one that still decorated girls' walls and sold millions of magazines, was unrecognizable.

Haley bit her lip and she leaned down to Justin's ear, hoping he could hear her through the bandage covering it. On instinct alone, she took his hand in his, her thumb rubbing over his.

"Don't you even think about dying on me, Justin. Not after everything you've done, you are not allowed to take the easy way out," she hissed against his ear, only for him to hear from her. "I don't care about me, but don't you dare break your momma's heart. Do you hear me?"

His fingers flinched and barely moved against hers.