Summer came faster than expected. Ennis had managed to get a new job around spring break and then had gotten the entire summer off when the school year was over. Ennis had quickly gotten a plane ticket and headed down to Texas without calling Jack. Jack knew that Ennis was visiting for the summer, but didn't know when. Ennis wanted it to be a surprise. Hopefully it wasn't a bad time for Jack. But, where Ennis was concerned, it never was a bad time for Jack.

Ennis got off the plane, finding it a bit weird to be back in Texas but pushed that feeling aside when he thought about Jack. He grabbed his things from baggage claim then pulled out his cell and called Jack.

Jack sounded half asleep when he answered the phone. "Yeah?"

"Hiya, darlin'," Ennis said, picturing Jack's face light up at the sound of his voice. "Got anything planned for today?"

"Saturday's I sleep in," Jack said. He made a grunting noise as if rolling out of bed. "What time is it?"

"Around noon."

"Early on a Saturday," Jack said. "Why're you callin'?"

"Do you want me to tell you what I'm lookin' at right now?"

"Me takin' a piss if you're standin' right behind me."

"You don't sound worried about that."

"Look all you want."

Ennis rolled his eyes. "I'm at the airport right now," he said. "Are you gonna come pick me up or do I have to wave a taxi down? I don't exactly have much cash on me..."

"You're here?!"

"No, I just thought I'd say I'm at the airport right now cause I felt like it," Ennis said sarcastically.

"I'm on my way right now."

"Did you get dressed?"

"No."

"You better not be naked."

"Let's make it a surprise." Ennis could hear the grin on Jack's face.

"Oh, dear god..."

Ennis was sitting outside on the curb even though it was hot outside. And humid, which made the heat worse. He propped his arm on his bag and checked his watch, knowing that Jack should have been here by now. He checked his phone to see if he had a missed call or text from Jack, but there was nothing. It just reminded him that he had now been sitting here waiting for an hour and a half. He started to text Jack then shook his head and called him.

It rang for a little while then went to voice mail. Ennis left a message, "Hey, bud, thought you'd be here by now. Didn't think the college was that far away from the airport. Call or text me. Do something. Let me know where you are. It's hot outside. I'm practically sweatin' my skin off." He sighed. "Anyway...Just, just call me to let me know everything's all right." He hung up and lowered the phone, keeping it in his hand.

Ennis sat there for a few more minutes then checked his phone. He jumped when it started ringing. It was Jack. He breathed a sigh of relief then answered the phone. "You scared the hell outta me," he said.

"Ennis." That wasn't Jack's voice. It was Ron Aguirre.

"Ron," Ennis said. He paused for a moment. "Why're you usin' Jack's phone?"

"Guess I'm always the bearer of bad news," Ron said. "Jack's in the hospital. I'm there now. They let me use his phone to call you."

Ennis had stopped listening after the word hospital. He couldn't move and after a moment he realized that he hadn't been breathing. He sucked in a quick breath and found that he had jumped to his feet at the same time. "what happened?" he asked. "Is he okay? What did the docs say? What the hell happened?!"

"A truck ran a red light and hit him," Ron said. "He was only about a mile from the airport. Surprised you haven't heard anything about it."

While Ron said where it happened, Ennis turned and quickly headed back inside and found a TV that was playing local news. He froze in front of it as it replayed footage of the accident. When it showed the truck and then Jack's car, his legs gave out and he stumbled to the floor. He felt a tightening in his chest and loosened his fist when he heard his phone crack. Fortunately he didn't break it.

"Ennis?"

"Tell me he's okay," Ennis said, knowing he wasn't going to receive good news after what he saw on the TV. People were staring at him as they walked by but he didn't care. Jack was hurt.

And it was his fault.

"I know you don't wanna hear-"

"Tell me, dammit!"

"The doctor doubts he'll make a full recovery," Ron said. "He'll live, but at what cost?"

Ennis rose on shaky legs. "I'm comin' over there," he said, heading back outside. He grabbed his bag off the ground and looked around for a taxi nearby. "He needs me there."

"He ain't awake," Ron said. "And he's actually still in surgery."

Ennis stopped in his tracks. "Surgery?!"

"What'd you expect?"

Ennis waved down a taxi. "Don't leave the hospital," he said, surprised at himself that he actually wanted Ron there. If it was any other time, Ron would be kicked out immediately. "Make sure he comes out okay."

"Wasn't plannin' on leaving," Ron said. There was that tone of voice that told Ennis that Ron still had deep feelings for Jack. He knew that tone of voice because it was the same tone he used when speaking about Jack. "Just get here soon."

Ennis lowered the phone and hung up as a taxi pulled up. He slid in and told the driver to head for the hospital.

Ron was there to meet him as Ennis walked into the hospital. "He's out of surgery," Ron said, stepping in Ennis' way when Ennis started forward, intent on reaching Jack's side. "He's not allowed visitors yet. You just hafta be patient."

"You can't expect me to be patient during this," Ennis said, though he knew Ron was right. He couldn't just go barging in anywhere demanding he see Jack immediately. That would get him kicked out and he wouldn't ever see Jack. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "What'd the doc say?"

"Surgery went well," Ron said. "They thought his back was broke, but it was just damaged. They don't know if he'll get use of his legs back. He had a few broken bones. In all honesty, he made it out of that crash pretty good. Better than the other guy."

"What happened to the other guy?"

"He, um...died."

"Jack's car was in worse condition!" Ennis said. "How the hell did that happen? Not that I'm complaining, but-"

"Oh, so you're happy that a guy died."

"It wasn't Jack."

"It could've been."

"But it wasn't."

Ron looked like he was about to say something more than turned and headed for the waiting room. Ennis was tempted to ask about Jack's room, but followed after Ron. He took a seat by the door while Ron walked over to the other side of the room. It was clear that neither of them wanted to be around the other. But the situation called for it because they both cared about Jack Twist.

Ennis pushed all thoughts of Ron out of his head and focused on the door, wanting the doc to walk in and say that Jack was awake and up and moving. That he could go home today. That things would get better. The crash never actually happened. This was just a bad dream.

He felt that ache in his chest again and knew that if Jack didn't make it, he wouldn't either.