DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but this little gem of a plot and the character of Meredith Oliver. This is another take on the 'Fighting Sprit' storyline. I'm doing it my way and including a twin sister for Tommy (I'm sensing I should probably do a twin files story group that features Meredith and Tommy.) Meredith is Tommy's twin sister and she's married to Rocky.

PREMISE: Tommy is in a coma. What does Meredith do to help him? Why is everyone so shocked by her solution to the problem? This tale is told from Meredith's point of view.

Chapter 1

When I got the call, my world, as I knew it anyway, ended.

"Meredith, you have to come to Reefside. Tommy's in the hospital," Hayley said.

"What happened? How bad is he," I asked, rushing around my house, throwing things into a duffle bag.

"It was an experiment. He's in a coma," Hayley replied.

I dropped the duffle. I am a doctor, I know comas. Taking a deep breath, I asked, "What's the room number."

"523. I'll let them know you're coming. You're actually listed as his next of kin, but I wanted to be the one to call you," she said.

"I'll be there shortly, Hayley," I said and hung up the phone.

I had met Hayley a few times, but don't really know her that well. She's a friend of her brother's and that's about as far as I have gone. Most of the time, Tommy came back to Angel Grove to stay with me and my husband, Tommy's former teammate, Rocky.

Picking the duffle up off the floor, I headed into my bathroom. I hear the back door open and the "Hi honey, I'm home" call from my husband, Rocky. We have been married for four years, but Rocky still acts like a newlywed. I am forever grateful the two of us are together. Rocky and I had been dating since high school and, when he left to pursue his passion with his dojo, I followed him and enrolled in college. He then followed when I was accepted into medical school. I finished up medical school, then married Rocky before residency started. I was given a position at Angel Grove Hospital and Rocky had gladly packed up his life and moved with me to Angel Grove. He opened another dojo, his fifth. He and Adam were partners in the venture. Rocky couldn't teach as much as he wanted to, but he did have a head for business. Together, he and Adam had made their dream a successful reality.

I called out to my hubby, "I'm upstairs. I need some help," I said. Rocky set the mail on the counter and headed upstairs to assist me.

"What's up, babe," he said. Then he noticed the duffle on the bed and immediately came to the wrong conclusion. "Are you leaving... me?" The look on his face was so forlorn that I rushed to him and took him in my arms.

"NO," I shouted at him, a bit louder than I intended. "If I was leaving you, I certainly wouldn't ask you to help me."

Rocky broke out into a relieved grin and kissed me, deeply. I felt my head swimming. My husband always had that effect on me. I pulled away.

"Rocky, I have to go to Reefside. Tommy's in a coma," I said.

Taking my hands, he said, "Of course. Do you want me to go with you?"

"Could you take time away? I know the sixth dojo is opening in a few weeks. I wouldn't want you to miss that because my brother is an idiot."

"You're brother has a Ph.D. He's a doctor, not like you, but he's supposed to be smart," he said.

"Tommy is an idiot. You know it and I know it. Why else would he get himself into these crazy situations? Why won't he just admit he wants Kimberly back," I questioned her husband.

Rocky smiled at me. "Tommy is stubborn. Just like another Oliver that I know and love," he said, kissing the tip of my nose.

I let it slide, because I know he was right.

"I have a few days of vacation, I called the hospital and they'll give me as much time as I need, since it's my brother. Hopefully they won't ask WHY he's in a coma," I said.

"I'll call Adam on the drive to Reefside. I think he can handle things and Tommy has internet at his house. I'll let you handle things and I'll be at his place. I'm going to support you," he said.

Hugging my husband, I got up and walked to the closet.

"You need to pack," I said.

Rocky took the bag from me and started to put clothes in the bag.

Fifteen minutes later, we were seated in our Jeep, heading for the town of Reefside, an hour to the north.

Rocky knew I was trying not to worry about my brother, so he didn't talk to me. He concentrated on the drive and an hour later, pulled into the hospital parking lot.

I looked at the hospital and paled. Rocky grabbed my hand and squeezed. "Babe, it's gonna be fine. You're brother is tough. He's a legend."

I gave Rocky a small smile and started to open the door. Rocky rushed around and help.

I turned and looked at him. "Rocky, why don't you go to Tommy's and take care of stuff with Adam. I want to see Tommy alone and talk to Hayley. I don't know what she'll tell me. Come back in a few hours," I said.

"Are you sure, babe," he asked.

I smiled at his use of his nickname for me. Babe would be a negative thing for most women, but not to me. When Rocky and I first met, he remarked to Adam and, to his horror my brother Tommy, that I was a babe. I was the prettiest thing he had ever seen. Tommy told me this, but not until after we got together. After that I told Rocky I didn't mind and it had stuck ever since.

"I'm going to be fine. If I need you before you get back, I'll call you, don't worry," I said.

Rocky kissed me and pulled me into a hug. I closed my eyes and just let him hold me for a bit. I pulled away and head toward the hospital. Rocky got back in the Jeep and headed toward Tommy's house.

I entered the hospital and stepped to the information desk.

***What will Meredith encounter when she sees her brother. Please R/R. -mereditholiver***