Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. I do not own Flight 29 Down. I also do not own a digital camera.

Author's Note: I apologize for not updating sooner. Life is big and complex! :D


Jackson's sneakers squeaked on the pristine vinyl floor of the hospital. He kept his eyes planted firmly on the back of Abby's head as they trudged through the hall. He was afraid if he looked up he would catch glimpses of patients and families haunted by sickness. He hadn't even wanted to come here in the first place. Abby was the one who was intent on gettingeveryone together to visit Ian and had been prodding Jackson all week to commit to the visit. She said it would do him good to get out of the house. It had been a week since Jackson had called the Black residence and recieved a curt "she's sleeping" from a guy he assumed was Melissa's half brother. "She's sleeping" sounded like one of the excuses he and Nathan had given to Melissa's friends when they had called wanting to speak to her right after it all happened. Now he was the one being brushed off. He had managed to exchange a few one- lined e-mails with her during the week. She kept it simple. She didn't give anything away, kind of like him. Except of course Melissa was most definitely NOT him, she was his polar opposite. It frustrated him to no end. She had left this empty gap within him and he was desperately try to close it. He just couldn't get close to her.

He knew the others weren't getting any further. Mrs. McHugh reminded them that it had only been a week. She was settling in and dealing with everything. "Give her time," she told them confidently, but Jackson could see the anxiety in the back of her eyes. Nathan had bugged his mother endlessly for details, but she only told them the obvious. Melissa was sad. The Blacks welcomed her. She seemed a bit overwhelmed but dealt with it well considering the circumstances. She didn't want to talk.

Finally wallowing in the house all week had gotten to him. Jackson had trapped himself without knowing it and his need for escape had then some how catapulted him to Hartwell's local hospital, trailing behind Eric and Abby.

"What room is it again?" Eric asked, squinting his eyes to see the small white numbers posted next to the rooms. Abby made a show of pretending to choke him.

"Eric! I have told you like three times! It's 324! Or wait, is it 322?"Abby trailed off.

Eric halted and turned swiftly to point accusingly at Abby.

"Ha! You don't even know!" Eric cried. Jackson rolled his eyes.

"It's 326," he told them, but they were too busy ribbing each other to notice. They had been doing that all week, the flirty, teasing back and forth thing. He really didn't know what was going on there. He also really didn't care.

"IT"S 326!" Jackson shouted causing both Abby and Eric to pause and stare.

"Okay, okay, you don't have to shout," came a mellow voice. The three turned to see Ian grinning at them from his wheelchair.

"You passed it," he informed them cheerfully.

"IAN!" Abby shouted rushing forward to embrace him awkwardly. Ian laughed and did his best to hug her back.

"Wow! Calm down, it's not like you didn't just see me two days ago!" he teased. Abbly pulled back smiling as well and pushed Eric forward.

"-Uh, hey man, good to see you up and about," Eric said giving him a small whack with his hat. Ian laughed and pretended to be hurt.

"Thanks man, you don't look too bad yourself," Ian replied winking at Abby who colored and glared at him. Eric, unaware of the past "lost" flight 29 downer's exchange, merely shrugged.

"I try," he said moving aside so Jackson could get through.

"Hey Ian," Jackson greeted. He glanced down at Ian's leg.

"Got enough signatures?"he teased. Ian shrugged and laughed again.

"Good to see you too, Jackson,"

Jackson nodded and looked around.

"Hey we probably should head back to your room," he suggested.

"Yeah we are kind of blocking the hallway aren't we?" Ian muttered. Ian turned and waved innocently at an irritated-looking nurse who was eyeing them from the nurses station.

The four of them followed Ian as he slowly rolled himself back into his room. It was spacious as far as hospital rooms go, especially for a single room. Jackson had a feeling that Ian's father being a C.E.O of some bigwig textile company had something to do with it. The room was decorated rather thoroughly with flowers and balloons. Pictures of friends and family as well as clippings from the past week's presss releases were tacked precariously on the cork board provided by the hospital. A stuffed purple monkey with it's own cast sat propped up against a pillow on the bed.

"Here it is! Home sweet home!"Ian joked as he positioned himself next to the window. Eric snorted and jumped up on the bed.

"Now what is this?" he asked, dangling the monkey by it's armpits.

"That is in fact, a he. His name is Moose," Ian told them.

"His name is Moose? The monkey's name is Moose?" Abby asked, laughing. Ian shrugged.

"Sydney named it. Jory said we shouldn't change the name,"

"Who is Sydney?" Jackson asked, still standing near the door.

"Sydney is is Ian's little sister," Abby informed them and moved to sit in the wicker chair next to Ian.

"Oh, I didn't know you had a little sister," Jackson said, surprised. Ian nodded.

"Yup, she and my mom and dad are here constantly. I think they are worried I'll disappear again or something,"

"Speaking of people who are here constantly... where's Jory?" Abby asked. Ian rolled his eyes at her.

"She's not here all the time," he countered.

"Uh, whatever dude," Eric muttered still playing with the monkey. Abby smiled slyly.

"C'mon Ian, don't play coy," Abby prodded, leaning forward to poke him in the arm. Ian blushed slightly and brushed away her hand.

"She went to meet Nathan and the others. He parked in the wrong parking garage and they were totally lost. This is a pretty big hospital, actually,"

Abby frowned slightly. "Who is coming with him?"

"Lex, Daley, and Taylor," Ian responded.

"Hmm, really? I wasn't sure if Daley would come. She said she had something going on," Abby commented sarcastically using air quotes when she said something. Ian shrugged and Eric lobbed the stuffed monkey at Abby's head.

"Hey!" Abby screeched shielding her head with her arms. Ian burst out laughing and Jackson chuckled slightly. She shot all three of them a death glare.

"Serves you right! We already talked about this Abby! No provoking Daley!" Eric ordered. Abby harrumphed and rolled her eyes.

"Since when did NOT provoking Daley become your thing?" Jackson demanded raising an eyebrow suspiciously. Eric flopped back on the bed and grunted.

"Since Melissa went to Washington. Someone has to be peacekeeper," Eric muttered to the ceiling. Jackson swallowed hard and turned to stare blankly at the corkboard. Ian cleared his throat nervously but Abby merely snorted.

"And YOU are the new peacemaker?" she questioned. Eric threw an arm over his eyes.

"Shut-up," he snapped. A burst of noise comprised of scuffling feet and nervous voices floated down the hall. Jackson turned his attention from the cork board and stuck his head out the door. Jory was happily leading a flock of flight 29 down survivors to the room. Jackson stepped back in quickly and walked silently over to stand next to Abby. He crossed his arms stiffly. Abby shot him a curious look.

"They're coming," he told her shortly. Before Abby could say anything in response the group was through the door.

"Hi every- wait why is Moose on the floor?" Jorry asked, face changing from happy to concerned. Ian leaned forward and grasped the monkey by the neck in one quick stroke.

"Ah, nothing. Sorry," Ian muttered. Abby smiled and bounced up to embrace Jory.

"Moose just couldn't stand being in the same bed with Eric any longer, too smelly," Abby teased waving a hand in front of her nose to ward off the imaginary offensive smell.

"Hey now!" Eric complained sitting up on the bed. Taylor followed behind Jory grinning.

"Eric stinks? Wow I never knew. You'd think I'd have picked up on that after being stuffed in that moldy tent with him for so many days," Taylor joked. Eric folded his arms and pretended to be irritated. Taylor glanced at Jackson nervously and he nodded to her in greeting. Taylor forced a giggle at Eric and plopped next to him on the bed. Nathan was next into the room. He strode energetically past Jory and the hospital bed and stuck a hand out for Ian to shake.

"Hey man!" Nathan said.

"Nathan, what's up?" Ian responded shaking Nathan's hand with just as much energy.

"Nothing much, nothing much," Nathan answered, sticking his hands in his pockets and moving to stand casually next to Jackson and Abby. Jory had taken Abby's place seated in the wicker chair next to Ian with Moose the monkey sitting contently in her lap. Daley and Lex were the last ones to enter the room. Lex was beaming and walking in front of Daley who had her arms laced protectvely around his shoulders. Daley herself look slightly uneasy but smiled easily enough when greeted. After that they were all silent. Each one was unsure what to say to each other now that they were gathered together once again. After a few moments of awkward silence Daley cleared her throat and and glanced eagerly around the room.

"I guess the gang is all back together again," she joked rather lamely while lifting a hand from Lex's shoulder to tuck a copper curl behind her ear.

"Some gang!" Taylor snorted from the bed. Eric nudged her and pointed at Lex.

"Hey we've got boy genius!" he protested as Lex grinned.

"Moose," Jory piped in making the purple monkey dance.

"Wheels" Ian offered gesturing to himslef. Abby laughed and squeezed Ian's shoulder.

"Let's not forget Senor Stinky over there,"

Eric pretended to look offended and promptly threw one of the two remaining hospital pillows in Abby's direction.

"Stop it!" Abby screeched once again. Taylor gave Eric a strange look.

"I don't think he can!" she yelped. Daley and Nathan exchanged a look and burst out laughing. Soon everyone joined in. The low oxygen to person ratio was increasing the hilarity of the atmosphere in the room. Only Jackson was unaffected. It was something that Daley had said. The gang is all back ogether again. It wasn't. In fact to him, it was blatantly obvious that there was something huge missing from their reunion. Melissa. Did anybody else care that she wasn't there?

"No," he muttered before he could stop himself. Abby heard him and raised a questioning eyebrow, still laughing.

"What'd you say?" Nathan asked in between laughs, apparently having heard him as well. Jackson sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his hair.

"I said no. No the "gang" isn't all back together again!" he shouted angrily glaring at the others. The laughter died down almost instantly.

"Jackson..." Taylor whispered leaning forward off the bed as if she wanted to touch him. Eric pulled her back gently, his face serious.

"No, he's right," he said. Lex pulled away from Daley's protective embrace.

"I miss Mel too" he said hesitantly. Jackson's face softend at Lex's confession but he couldn't stop the anger from boiling over.

"We all miss her man," Nathan added trying to pat him on the arm, but Jackson brushed his hand away.

"Yeah? All of you?" he spat out. Daley stepped forward anxiously.

"Hey, that's not fair. We didn't mean anything," she insisted. Before Jackson could spew another angry retort the irritated nurse from before stuck her head in the room.

"Hey! What are all of you doing in here? There's rules you know! Only three visiters at a time! Take it to the cafeteria!"

"Sorry Nurse Matley," Ian apologized sheepishly. Nurse Matley hurrumped and marched away. Eric, determined to be peacemaker, cleared his throat.

"Um, yeah. I'm starving anyway. Let's move this party down to the cafeteria," Eric suggested jumping off the bed and dragging Taylor along with him.

"Yeah, that's a good idea," Nathan agreed quickly ushering Daley and Lex out into the hallway with Eric and Taylor. Abby hesitated.

"Jackson? Ian?" she asked.

"I'm really not in the mood," Jackson told her. Abby grimaced and looked expectantly at Ian.

"I'll be there soon. I want to call my mom and tell her that she doesn't have to come. Maybe since you guys are here she won't stress herself out about me being all alone and suffering,"

Abby bit her lip and looked back and forth from Ian to Jackson. Ian rolled his eyes and moved his wheelchair up next to her, pretending to push her out of the room.

"Go on, you better keep on eye on Eric. Too many cute nurses hanging around," Ian joked. Abby colored and lightly pushed Ian's chair away from her with the toe of her right sneaker.

"Oh yeah? Do you want me to keep on eye on Jory too? There's always a bunch of hot med students eating down in the cafeteria," Abby teased back before turning abruptly on her heel and dashing out the door. Ian, blushing slightly at Abby's retort, groaned and rolled back over to Jackson who had been standing stonily by the window. When Ian didn't make a move from to pick up the phone, Jackson got suspicious.

"What happened to calling your mom?" he asked gruffily. Ian shrugged.

"I lied," he informed him nonchalantly. Now it was Jackson's turn to roll his eyes.

"I'm fine," he insisted through gritted teeth. Ian raised a blonde eyebrow.

"Oh really? So the fact that the girl who has become your really good friend has been practically forced to another state and is going through a really horrible time doesn't affect you at all?"

Jackson grunted and refused to look Ian in the eye. Ian rolled his chair a little closer to Jackson so he couldn't escape.

"Look, I don't know you that well man but I've know Melissa forever and I miss her too. But I know you miss her more... I mean if it is anything like what Jory and I have or are or whatever..." Ian stuttered. Jackson looked sharply back at him.

"So you and Jory...?" He asked cautiously wanting to confirm. Ian rolled back slightly now that Jackson was turned toward him and colored once again.

"Um yeah. You and uh Melissa right?" Ian asked hesitantly, unsure now. Jackson blinked and swallowed nervously.

"I...yeah...I think so...I mean ever since we got back... I really don't know," Jackson admitted.

"But on the island?"

Jackson ran a hand through his hair uncomfortabley. "At the end we. . . talked. Before I wasn't sure...,"

"Because of Taylor?"

Jackson glanced at Ian curiously. Ian shrugged.

"Abby," he said as way of explanation. Jackson rolled his eyes once more. He turned to stare out the window again.

"She won't answer my calls. She barely answers any of my e-mails,"Jackson muttered in frustration.

"Well, Abby said that she wasn't really talking to anybody at all,"

"I know, but I thought she would at least..."

"Answer your's," Ian filled in for him. Jackson sighed.

"Yeah," he agreed.

"So what are you going to do?" Ian demanded. Jackson turned back to stare Ian once more.

"What do you mean?" he asked completely bewildered. Ian gazed intently at him.

"I mean...what do you plan on doing about it," Ian repeated. Jackson, irritated, thrust his hands in his pockets.

"I told you I keep cal-" Jackson began before Ian interrupted him.

"No, I mean...you are all about action aren't you? You were right with Eric and Abby in trying to find a way off the island. You weren't just happy to sit there and wait for rescue that might never come,"

"What...you mean go to Washington? Go to Forks?"

"That's exactly what I mean,"

Jackson started to shake his head. Ian grabbed his arm, startling him.

"Think about it man. Look...think what Melissa would do if the situation was reversed. If you were having a rough time of it do you think she would be happy with a few e-mails?"

Jackson paused. Ian was right of course. Melissa wouldn't have let him alone no matter what he said. Jackson ground his teeth together and started to pace the room.

"I can't just leave. Melissa and the McHughs moved mountains for me so I could stay here in Hartwell. If I skipped town it would be in violation of my probation," Jackson argued.

"We'll cover for you. Go just for the weekend. You can say that you are staying at Eric's for the weekend. Abby says his parents took off a couple days after we got back for a business trip. Not exactly a shining example of parenthood but helpful for us. They won't know anything,"

"You think Eric will go for it? Seriously?" Jackson asked with more than an ounce of skepticism. Ian smilled knowlingly.

"Dude, he was the one that offered his place for the cover-up,"

Jackson paused in mid-motion.

"What? How long have you guys been talking....Wait, it was his idea?" Jackson asked astonished. Ian shrugged.

"Well I guess we've all been talking about it since she left," Ian murmured remembering.

"And Eric?" Jackson demanded.

"Eric feels like he owes Mel a lot. This is his way of making it up to her," Ian replied before grinning widely. "Plus Abby has her ways," he added mischeviously. Jackson sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Okay," he told himself.

"Okay?" Ian asked eagerly. Jackson clenched his fists and turned to look Ian in the eyes.

"Okay, I'm going to Washington"


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