I own nothing, ect, al. And on another note, I thank you for your comments ^^ There was one in particular that I'd like to point out. Actually, yes, it is usually direct family that reseaves news of a persons conditions. Trust me, I've been to the hospital several times and know this fact by heart. But, this is fiction…Thanks for the comments, everyone! I'm glad to get them all :)

Marco stared at the doctor with intense eyes, watching his every move. The man hesitated, meeting Marco's eyes at the last minute. Time seemed to stand still for the boy, and he had to keep his whole body from shaking.

"Ellie has been severely damaged…A main vein was cut open, you see, and the damage was quite extreme…But we managed to maintain her." The doctor closed his eyes as the boy started to smile.

"So she'll be okay then, right?" Marco asked, with little hesitation in his voice. His hopeful face was nothing more than an obvious reaction. Marco smiled even wider, but it faltered as he looked at the doctors face once more. To a great extent, the look was not totally hopeless. It wasn't even totally full of pity, but it did hold a sort of reaction, one in which might have made someone worry. The man bit his lower lip, but didn't show much more emotion than that. It seemed that doctors had to be pretty good actors as well.

"You must understand the conditions that she was put onto, and you must also understand that this is in fact a very dangerous situation. She's been given blood transfusions, and a surgery to try and keep up her health. But you must also understand that unless, of course, she can…Wake up…" He said this with little emotion, and it almost made Marco scream in rage. Did this man even care?

"Wh-what do you mean?" Marco asked in a dry voice, his vocal box almost not vibrating enough to make sound. Rasping, I suppose, might have been a better word to describe how he spoke.

"She's in a coma…A reaction to stress on the body and mind, I have no doubt. And the sastistics show that she might come out of it….Or, she might not. It depends on the situation that her body can uphold. If she can stay alive for until her body decides it can come out, yes, she might just be okay…But if not, I'm afraid there's nothing more we can do." Gently, the man went up to Marco. "Do you need a moment, son?"

Marco nodded, and closed his eyes.

After the doctor left, Marco sat there for several minutes. Or perhaps longer. He buried his head between his legs and sobbed, taking in rough intakes of breath whenever he could. His heart ached, and deep down he knew what he had done was wrong. He should have tried to be a better friend…He should have tried to stay with her. He should have remembered the fact that Ellie was, in fact, an addict. And that it was no doubt her idea that going back would be the best route.

Whatever brought Craig into the same room as Marco, he had not a clue. It had been a single handed miracle, and when he saw Marco crying there, he sat down as well. He watched the boy for several minutes until he poked his head up and stared into Craig's eyes.

Oh, and Craig had felt pain. He had felt it when his father had beaten him, and when he had no longer been aloud to see his little sister. He had felt it when he went to the grave at night, and he had felt it when he knew that he was Bi-polar. Yet, never before had he seen such a raw, unfeeling gaze. One so full of pain and suffering. Never before, had Craig known this kind of emotion.

And instantly, Craig felt himself go down. He didn't cry. That wasn't his game. He couldn't cry. Because he knew better than that. Marco could cry, because he was stronger than Craig. But Craig had nothing to cry for. He had caused this. He, who had claimed to love this girl now so hurt, had nothing to cry for. Because he had caused this even to unfold.

Lastly, whatever drew Paige to come into the room, is even more a mystery than what brought Craig. Perhaps it was the feeling of hurtful, unspoken words that she so wished to lash at herself and the other two, that brought her to the near empty room. Or perhaps it was a connection that she held with the two boys. None the less, she found herself in the room, and she looked upon the boys.

She saw exactly the same thing within Marcos eyes as Craig did, but even more so. She knew Marco, far to well, and it would have taken someone who had befriended him for, and known him for, as long as she did, to understand what he looked like. The boy, usually so strong and compelled, was a mess. Because his best friend was in there, the place they both hated so much. Paige pitied him, but chose not to walk up and comfort the boy. Instead, she drew her eyes upon Craig.

Oh, and this boy was no more content or pulled together than Marco was. Craig, though his eyes were not bloodshot and his face was not wet, had an utter blankness inside of his eyes. A lack of being, of soul. He was tinkering with his shirt, and mumbling something to himself. She couldn't make out the words, and she didn't want to think of what he was saying. Instead, she went over and sat next to the two boys.

The dark room held no comfort as she cried. It comforted no one, man nor woman, nor child. Had anyone entered the room, they might have thought they had entered the very corridors of Hell. Empty ghosts of the past were the only comfort, and even those made the group feel a thousand times worse. Because those ghosts only haunted them. The reminded them of every moment they had ever ignored, neglected, or even put in danger this friend.

It offered little comfort, true, but it did offer shelter. At least in this room, it was much more a place of protection, a place where they could grieve openly. Grieve of the future.

They fell asleep like that, mourning and hoping. Their dreams would be filled with anguish visions of the past.

Okay! Now, feel free to review ^^ I apologize that the chapter was mainly describing, but that's the mood I was in ^^ Now, heres your chance to get involved. I'll wait until tomorrow night to take suggestions, mainly because I'm egging on to keep writing. Now, what should be do with Ellie? Allow her to heal? Or perhaps have her fall into the clutches of death? Also, if you wish her to live, would you like her to get together with Craig again? Or dis him? Of course, I have the right to change and edit, but any and all suggestions are appreciated! Thank you for reviewing!