Disclaimer: I don't own In A Heartbeat

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Ch. 1- The Path Has Been Altered

The trees and hoses speed by fast, maybe to fast. But, Jamie didn't care, he was late- again. That meant another detention, another call home. Usually he won't have cared, but, his sister Megan and her husband Paul were beginning to get on his case about school.

"Damn." he said as the tires slipped in every direction on the slippery road. He tried not to panic, trying to keep handle of the motorcycle, but it was too late, he had already lost control.

The vehicle slid once more, this time hurling itself into the oncoming blue Honda, the driver panicking at the sight, didn't have time to swerve. It probably wouldn't have helped anyway. The two vehicles collided, at full force, creating chaos in its path.

*~*
"Help, please someone." Megan Waite Powell called, racing from one nurse's station to the next, hoping for someone to tell her what was going on. "I'm looking for my brother, he was in a car accident."

"Come down, miss. I'll find a doctor for you. Just sit over there in chairs." the nurse replied scurrying behind the double doors.

Megan sat filled with dread. No she told herself, Jamie was fine. A few cuts and bruises and he'll be ok. Still, she brushed the tears from her face.

She thought of when she was twenty and Jamie had been ten. Their other brother Peter had been fourteen at the time. She'd have to call Peter she reminded her self. Anyway, it was then that their parents had died, ironically in a car crash. Megan had been on a full scholarship at college, had a steady job that allowed her to have here own apartment. She had just married as well, to Paul Powell. Ten year old Jamie and Fourteen year old Peter had had no where else to go and became she and Paul became their legal guardian; and they came to live with her. Two years later they moved to Kingsport.

"Are you looking for James Waite?" a doctor replied before her.

"Yes." Megan replied standing suddenly, eyeing the man.

"Are you family?"

"Yes, I'm his sister, and legal guardian." She stated, then getting anxious and annoyed. "Please doctor, is he alright?"

"It was an extremely serious accident, he has numerous bruises, scrapes as well as severe internal injuries and a fractured leg. He's in surgery right now. The most important thing is that he may have sustained a brain injury. "

Megan nodded. "But, he's alright? We'll I mean -I know he's not alright, but he will be?"

"Miss- um- I didn't catch your name."

"Oh right." she dismissed with a wave of the hand. "Megan Powell."

"Mrs. Powell, I'm not going to lie to you, your brother may not make it."

She gasped. This couldn't be happening to Jamie. He was just a kid, he had plenty of life before her. He'd just been being to do well, the EMT squad had helped him tremendously - Oh God, it wasn't fair. He had to be alright.

"Meggie!" she glanced up to see her husband, with their two year old Hannah; and Caitie Roth running simultaneously to her.

*~*
Jamie groaned in pain. He rolled over feeling the restraints of the bed. Where was he? He opened his eyes- wait no he hadn't. They were still closed. He opened them again. Then closed them.

Again and again and again and again.

Finally, he raged like a trapped animal. What was wrong? Where was he? He felt arms lunging for him. He carried on screaming and stretching out his arms all about, like crazed man.

"Jamie it's me! It's Megan!"

Finally, he seized moving. " I can't see."

*~*

A/n: How do u like it so far?