It took Ami and Johnny only a short time to gather up her things and leave the manor with out much notice. On the way to Johnny's apartment his cell phone rang. He answered it quickly as he was about to leave for the city of Black heath.

"Hello, yes...this is he. Ah ha! Alright, we are heading that direction now. Tell Mr. Shelton when you speak with him...we are on our way." Johnny hung up the phone and placed it back in the front pocket of his dress shirt. He looked over at the pale girl beside him and smiled.

"Your grandfather has come around and is asking for you. Are you up to seeing him in a half hour? We were heading to the city anyway...and then we can drop off your things at my place, then grab a bite to eat."

Ami smiled, taking a deep sigh. "I guess so. I can only ride along and go where you take me. I know nothing of your country anyway. I'd be lost without you."

Both fell silent going into the city, as Ami just enjoyed the sights and sounds along with the hustle-bustle of the city when they arrived. The hospital appeared old and of brick. Unlike America, where buildings were new and modern.

It didn't take them long to find her grandfather's room. He looked frail and lonely lying in a bed of white sheets with a nurse standing by, as if it were her only duty in life, to cater to his immediate needs. He smiled a crooked smile as they entered the room and approached the bed.

Johnny reached out to hold a shaky hand. The old man's left arm and hand lie still on top of the covers. His left cheek appeared stiff as he managed to only smile a half smile. The nurse whispered.

"Don't be long, he needs his rest." then she left them to give them their privacy.

In a shaky voice, while out of the side of his mouth, Mr. Shelton spoke brokenly. "Ami...come here child. I need to share something with you." he spoke slowly and deliberately. "Your Momma...she was my life. Now... you can be too." he closed his eyes as his chest heaved upwards before receding slowly inward. It seemed forever before he spoke again.

Ami had edged in closer to the bed to hear him, looking quickly up at Johnny for reassurance. Her grandfather's monitor beeped steadily as the squiggly lines for blood pressure, heart rate and respiration moved in rhythm with his body. A tear fell on Ami's cheek as she watched the old man she barely knew, attempt to speak and share what was apparently on his mind.

"I-I know my good friend Johnny here..he will take good care of you. I have my lawyers drawing up papers as we speak. I want...I want.." he finished mumbling. Then he closed his eyes and the lines began to go crazy on the monitor above his head. The nurse and a doctor shooed them suddenly from the room as they stormed in, hastily working over him. Ami waited breathlessly out in the hall, standing by the only friend she had in England. Hoping to hear  her grandfather would be alright. The old man she'd known for only a short while.

The doctor came out of the room shaking his head, in what seemed like hours later.

"You probably would be better off letting him rest now. We've succeeded to stabilize him. Perhaps he will do better tomorrow. Come back and see him then."

Ami turned then into Johnny's shoulder and cried. Cried because she missed her mother, cried because the emotions wrecked havoc with her heart. She barely knew the family she had left. Johnny put his arm gently around her and let her cry. When she was finished, he handed her a tissue and smiled, tipping her chin up to look at him.

"It'll be alright, Ami. I will look out for you no matter what happens. Even if...you know." He didn't finish. Afraid the tears might start again. Together they walked side by side, with Johnny's arm around the young girl. When they climbed back into the car and headed for a restaurant he asked. "Did you need to freshen up first? I'm a bit hungry, but it can wait. It's you I'm worried about."

What took place next was not expected. Johnny had only turned his eyes from the road for a second, while looking at his passenger for the moment, when the impact hit them. A car careening out of control, hit them on Ami's side of the car. The air bags deployed as the car spun out of control. It seemed to spin like a top, till it finally rested in the center of the round about. Glass flew everywhere as the echoing crunch of metal shattered the air and filled the busy street. Ami was oblivious to all that went on around her. She saw only that of her Momma and kitty flash before her eyes. A soft voice spoke near her ear...'it'll be alright. I'll take care of you." Then dead silence as the world went black.