A/N: Season 2. I don't own anything!

The message machine beeped after the ringing of the phone had almost drowned out the sound of the newscast about his father's downfall. Dylan McKay waited to hear the message rather than picking up the phone. You never knew who could be calling, and he didn't feel much like talking anyway. Since Brenda had broken up with him, he hadn't felt like talking to anyone, really.

"It's me." Brenda's voice filled the space around him, and pierced his heart. "I saw the news. I know you must be feeling awful right now. I just wanted to call and say that I'm sorry. Sorry for everything that's happened between us lately, and sorry that I'm not there with you now.

"Please don't hate me, and please don't think I'm a glutton for punishment. I just wanted to talk to you, and to hear your voice, if only to know that you're there, and that you're weathering the storm okay. Please pick up?"

Dylan resisted the urge to snatch up the handset and satisfy his need to talk to Brenda. It was like an addict trying to stay away from his drug of choice. It was killing him to be mere inches from his fix, and not letting himself give in.

"I guess you're either really not there, or just not going to talk to me. So I'll talk, and you can listen. I'm sorry for everything I said, the way that I said it. Just dumping all of that on you without a thought for you or how much it affected you. I needed to say it, but I also needed to find a better way to tell you. I'm sorry that I hurt you. I'm sorry that you're hurting right now, and that I'm not by your side, supporting you. Mostly, I'm sorry that you're so hurt that you won't talk to me. I know you're there. I just know it; I don't know how. Please accept my apology, in this rambling, nonsensical message for you, and only you. Always you. Forever you, and...maybe me. We'll figure this out someday. Just please don't hate me until then. I can deal with a lot, but not with knowing that I hurt you. Please tell me that you're there...I'll wait."

The seconds ticked by, and Dylan laid his hand to his phone. His fingers closed around it, and he picked it up.

"I'm here. I don't hate you. I'll wait for you to figure it out. And I'm okay." he told her.

"That's what I needed to know."

"Goodbye, Brenda."

"See you around, Dylan."

"I..." he took a breath. "I still love you."

"I love you, too." she smiled into the phone, and both knew that someday would come.