Chapter 9 - Tuesday, September 7, 2010 ICU room 315

Emily had fallen asleep in the chair next to Alison's bed still holding her hand tight.

Dr. Kingston shakes her gently, "Emily?" He asks softly.

"S-Sorry, I must've dozed off." She says wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"No, it's fine. You should take a break; go out with your friends for a bit." He says kindly.

"I-I can't leave her…" She says tears in her eyes.

"I promise she's in good hands and I will be here till late this evening. You've been her for over twenty four hours, get some rest it'll do you some good." He tells her with a sincere smile.

"I guess I should tell the other girls what's going on and take a shower at least." She says standing up.

"Sounds like a plan." He says with a smile as he leaves to give her a minute.

"Ali…" She whispers as she bends close to her ear. "I will be back… promise." She tells her as she kisses her forehead tenderly.

As she heads to the elevators Wren stops her for a minute. "I thought you might want to hold onto a few of Alison things." He says handing her Ali's phone and the charm bracelet she had given her for her birthday. Emily's lips tremble a bit as she looks at it. "Just for safe keeping." He tells her reassuringly.

"Thank you Wren." She says holding the bracelet close to her.

"You are very welcome; I will make sure she is safe and comfortable while you are gone." He tells her kindly.

She sends Spencer a quick message asking if she could pick her up so she could get her car from her house.

Spencer pulls up and to a nervous Emily pacing outside the emergency room doors. Emily opens the door and slides in Spencer's passenger seat.

"Hey, are you doing alright?" Spencer asks in concern as she drives back to her house.

"I-I think so…" She says looking a bit lost.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Spencer asks not wanting to push.

"Not right now… I need a shower and then I'll explain everything to you and the girls." She says sounding so tired and defeated.

As they pull up to Spencer's she smiles at her, "Just texted us and we'll meet you back here if that's ok?"

"Thanks Spence!" Emily says as she unlocks her car and hops in.

The Fields home

As she gets home she grabs one of her favorite t-shirts and jeans. She stands under the water and sobs as thinks about everything that has happened over the last 36 hours. Alison was attacked by some unknown assailant calling themselves A, who has been tormenting both her and Ali, and now Alison is pregnant with… with most likely Jake's baby! All this time, she thought that maybe… just maybe Alison had some type of feelings for her, but obviously she was just diluting herself. She gets out and dries her hair before throwing it into a ponytail. She sends the girls a message.

Emily: Meet at Spencer's in 15, it's about Ali!"

She grabs a few things before heading out the door. She sends Maya a message as well.

Emily: Hey, I'm so sorry I haven't called or texted you. Alison was attacked and she's in the ICU, I promise I will explain everything as soon as I can.

As she closes the front door and locks it her phone buzzes.

Maya: I understand sweetie, I'm here if you need me.

Emily: Thanks Maya

Maya: Love you Em

Emily: You too

She tried to type I love you too but it just didn't feel right, not after she had said it to Alison before the ambulance came.

The Hastings residents

When Emily arrives she notices that Hanna and Aria's cars are parked outside Spencer's. She gets out of her car and takes a few calming breathes before entering through the side door to meet the girls in the kitchen/living room area.

Hanna is the first to notice her, she runs over, and throws her arms around her and squeezing her tightly. "How are you doing sweetie?" Hanna asks in concern as she holds Emily.

Trying her hardest not to lose it she takes a shuddering breath, "I-I'm doing… alright." She says easing out of Hanna's tight hug.

Aria smiles from the couch, "Come sit Em." She says patting the seat next to her.

She walks over to the couch and falls down onto it as a wave of sobs escape her. Aria wraps her in a big hug, "Em…" She says rubbing her back. "What happened?"

"Alison… was hit in the back of the head with a rock and… knocked unconscious." She says through sobs. "They buried her alive!" She says in anger.

"Who did this?" Spencer asks. "Is it this that A person?"

"I'm not sure, but I received my first message from A while we were in Cape May the morning after Ali's birthday party." Emily says looking confused.

"Em! Why didn't you tell us?" Spencer asks her in concern.

"I-I thought it was just a cruel joke… someone messing with me!" She says remembering seeing that picture of Alison and Jake. I wonder if that's the night they… stop! Don't think about it!

"What was the message?" Aria asks touching her arm gently in support.

"S-Something about her having a shiny new toy to… to replace me…" She says in a whisper.

"Em…" Hanna says sitting next to her. She knew how much Alison means to her and that she has been secretly crushing on her for a long time now.

"Do you know if and for how long Alison has been getting messages from this A… person?" Spencer asks thinking.

"I'm not sure… when I was at the hospital Dr. Kingston gave me Ali's phone." She tells them. "I just… I just don't feel right going through it." Emily says as she pulls out Alison's phone from her pocket.

They all stop and stare at it for a moment; Spencer is the first to speak. "Unfortunately it's our only option right now." She opens it and looks in the text messages till she finds the ones from a blocked number. "She has been getting them since the middle of July!" Spencer says flipping the phone around to show the girls.

"Why didn't she tell us?" Aria asks feeling terrible that Alison had been keeping this secret for this long.

"That's not the worst part." Spencer says scrolling through and reading them, "The threats just keep getting worse and there is one right before she was attacked!"

All the girls gasp and look at Spencer expectantly, waiting for her to read it. "Like a lamb to the slaughter, will anyone miss you! ~A" She says her voice shaking as she read.

"What now?" Hanna asks looking at the other three desperately.

"We, we go to the police, explain everything." Aria says grabbing the phone. "We need to go now!" As she is heading for the door they all get a message and a picture.

Blocked: Talk to anyone else and you will end up like her.

~A

They all opened the attachment and the shock could be felt in the room, it was a picture of Ali lying in a hole in the ground from that night.

"Well I guess that's out of the question!" Hanna says in frustration.

Emily shifts uncomfortable, "Th-That's not all…" She says hurt evident in her voice.

Aria sits down beside her again grabbing her hand. "What is it Em?" She asks distress creasing her brow.

"Al-Alison is…. pregnant…" She says as tears start to fall again.

"What?! Is… is it Jake's?" Hanna asks out right.

Spencer shoots daggers at her. "Han-na!"

"Sorry… just saying what everyone else was thinking." She says rolling her eyes at Spencer.

"Sh-She's right, it's most likely his…" Emily says not meeting any of the other girls' eyes.

"Has… has anyone told Jake?" Aria asks gently looking at Emily.

"I…" She looks at the girls, "I don't even know what to say!" Emily says almost speechless.

"Hey, I'm pretty sure you knocked up our unconscious friend!" Hanna says bluntly.

All three look at her and say, "Shut up Hanna!"

"I-I guess I should probably call him…" Emily says reluctantly.

"Do you need us to be here when you call him?" Aria asks with a smile.

"N-No… I think it's something I should do… alone." She says resolute. "I need to swing by Ali's and pick some things for her. I'll text you all later." She says standing up.

"Love you Em see you at school tomorrow?" Hanna says squeezing her tight.

"Love you Han, I'll be there." Emily says pulling back.

"If you need anything, call us! Love you." Spencer says pulling her in.

"I will, love you too Spence." She says hug her.

"We're always her Em and love you." Aria says getting a bit teary eyed.

"Thanks Ar, love you too." She says pulling the small brunette into a tight hug.

The DiLaurentis'

Emily knocks on the front door reluctantly terrified of talking to Alison's mom. The door opens slowly and a drunk Jason stands in the door way. "H-Hey Emmm…." He says hiccupping.

"Jason!?" She says in distress. "Have you been drinking?"

"M-Maybe a little, d-did you need… something?" He says his words slurring.

"Do you mind if I get some things from Alison's room?" She asks watching him sway.

"Sure…. c-come on in!" He says throwing the door open.

"Th-Thanks…" She says coming in the door and heading up the stairs.

She enters Alison rooms and it feels strange to be there without her. She decides to grab a duffel bag and pack some of her clothes and some comfortable things to sleep in. She looks around and Ali's bookshelf catches her eye. She grabs "The Great Gatsby", "Lolita", and her personal favorite "Great Expectation" Ali's journal catches her attention so she grabs it too. She also grabs a little of her makeup, some nail polishes, and her brush before she packed them in the duffel.

As she walking down the stairs Jason has another drink in his hands. "Hey… Jason?" She says tentatively.

"Y-Yeah…" He says slouching in one of the recliners.

"Ali could really use her brother right now." She says gently.

Something snaps in his mind, "You… you are right!" He says putting the drink down. "I need to get my s-shit together."

"Where's your dad? Does he know about Ali?" She asks anxiously.

"H-He's out of the country on… business." He says rubbing his head.

"I should get back to Alison." Emily says with a small smile.

"Em?" He says waiting for her to turn around. "Thanks for everything… you always loved Alison the most."

"I'll talk to you later Jas." She says before walking out the door.

She drives back to the hospital trying to think of how to tell Jake what is going on. Since it was getting late she decided to text him.

Emily: Hey Jake, call me when you can please. -Em