Geez this has been too long since the last chapter. Sorry everyone but Merry Christmas and I hope to get it all in today.

Amber didn't take the time to switch back to her shoe and ran across the studio in one stiletto heel and one rain boot. A moan escaped her when she saw him. Her knees buckled and she sat down hard. Her fingers shook as she reached out to the purple lump, covered in blood on the side of his head. She was in too much shock to cry.

Shelley leaned down, "Maybe some mouth to mouth would help?" she said trying to make light of the situation, but then she saw the look on Amber's face. This was no time for humor. "My First Aid class said to elevate his feet and apply pressure to the wound." She said growing serious, "Can someone get us some ice and the first aid kit? And call an ambulance?" Shelley was trying to take charge.

"Phones are dead." Bob called from his place by Fender.

Shelley looked down at Amber again, "It's okay, it'll all be okay." she whispered, "Where's that ICE!!" she screamed as she stuffed Corny's wet raincoat under his knees.

…..

IQ looked at Corny passed out on the floor. He saw Link panting under the weight of his limp body. IQ couldn't think for once in his life. He knew he needed to help, but he just couldn't. He was under so much panic, so much strain. And to top it off, Fender was still passed out. What was going to happen next in this crazy storm?

…..

Shelley noticed no reaction to her strong request for ice or the first aid kit. Everyone seemed to be in a daze.

"Snap out of it people!!!" she bellowed, "This is Corny we're talking about here. You know? The one watching over us? IQ, get me some ICE!! Hop to it, it's your brother for Pete's sake!!!"

She hoped her harsh words would bring him back to reality.

…..

IQ felt like he was in a fog. He heard voices off in the distance, something about getting ice. He didn't know how he made it, his legs felt like jello as they carried him to the kitchen where he grabbed the towel that was sitting out on the counter. He reached into the freezer and groped around for ice cubes. The cold numbed him even more. He couldn't believe what was happening. Corny was hurt, and he needed to be there for him. He wanted to protect him. He felt that he owed it to Corny. All those times that Corny had protected him. Corny was more than just a big brother to him, he was his lifesaver.

…..

Darla turned to Paulie. "I'm going to go help IQ get the ice. Can you go lift up Fender's legs like they're doing with Corny? It might wake him up."

Paulie nodded and, without thinking, kissed her on the cheek before going over to Fender and shrugging off his jacket. He wadded it up and put it under his knees.

"Listen, kid, I've gotta go," Bob (or was it Rob?) said hurriedly, making a dash for the newsroom now that his charge was attended to by someone else.

Paulie picked up a wet dishcloth; it had once held ice, but the ice had melted. Paulie blotted Fender's with it. "Come on, Fender, wake up," he muttered.

Meanwhile, Darla sprinted into the kitchen, nearly running straight into IQ.

"Sorry!" she apologized, snatching up another dishrag and filling it with ice. "I can't believe this is happening. Are you okay?" It was a stupid question, given the circumstances, but it was a distraction.

…..

Darla bit her lip. "Well, besides the hurricane outside and the fact that one of my best friends and my boss are both knocked out...I'd say I'm okay." She filled the rag to its fullest and secured it. "I just hope we wake the both of them up before anything happens. Well, I'm going to take this out to Fender," she said, indicating the dishcloth. "You'd better get that out to Corny; his head looks nasty." Darla hurried from the room, her concern for Fender overpowering her slight guilt for leaving IQ alone.

"How's he doing?" she asked Paulie somewhat rhetorically.

"Same as before," Paulie replied, watching in interest as Darla pressed the ice to his head.

"Can you lift his legs a little higher, please?" Darla asked.

"Sure," Paulie responded, reaching down awkwardly and elevating Fender's legs a little bit higher.

…..

Link saw Amber fly to Corny's side. Her genuine reaction surprised him a bit but then he remembered how she had reacted when they were about to go outside. He saw the fear and worry in her eyes. He felt bad for her. He knew that if he was in her place and it was Tracy lying unconscious he would feel the same way as she did at that moment. When Shelley mentioned elevating his feet he slipped out of his rain coat without moving too much.

He held it out to her. "Here, you can use this if he needs it."

He was pleasantly surprised to see everyone there jump into action. When Shelley shouted about ice he jumped. He glanced over and saw Fender still unconscious too. He hoped that both of them woke up soon. He looked back to Corny and gasped as he saw that the area where he was hit. It looked nasty. It was the first time he really looked at the wound and his concern for Corny grew. He wondered where the ice was.

…..

IQ watched as Darla left the kitchen and then shook himself out of his daze. He had to get this ice to Corny. If this was the last thing he was going to do. Corny needed him right now. He marched back out into the room, his chest puffed up, he was going to be a hero.

"Here's the ice. How's he holding..."

IQ looked at the gash in Corny's head and then fainted, he was always a very squeamish person.

…..

Link turned as he heard IQ. He was glad that he was bringing some ice. IQ was about to ask how Corny was doing when he fainted. Link couldn't help but shake his head. IQ had always been squeamish.

"Not IQ too!" he said.

Link wondered if he should go help him and leave Corny with Amber and Shelley but then he saw Paulie march to his side.

…..

IQ felt hands on his face. He sat up with a start and looked around.

"What's that? What's going on?"

He looked over at Corny and then remembered. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was ok...really, just a little blood, no big deal. He felt his stomach churn and he ran to the nearest trash can and threw up. Returning a few minutes later, looking pale.

"Sorry about that guys. Here's the ice pack, now what can I do?"

…..

Link looked at IQ again before taking the ice. He did not look well. "Um IQ I think you should sit down before you faint again."

He thought he felt Corny move and immediately cast his eyes down to him. He placed the ice on the wound as best he could. He then noticed that some of the blood from the wound had gotten on his pants.

"Great," he muttered. He then realized that he shouldn't say that. His boss was lying in his lap, possibly on the edge of death. He did a mental slap and concentrated on holding the ice.

…..

Corny heard voices. They seemed to be far away. Then he felt a cold pressure on his head. Reality started to set in. He opened his eyes slightly and saw the face above him. Was it her?

"Amber..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

She turned and his mind focused on the red hair. Shelley. She was yelling directions that hurt his head. He looked around and realized he was warm and dry back in the studio. Then he saw Link above him. He wasn't sure what had happened, but no matter the circumstances, he understood that Link got him here. He gave the kid a weak smile.

"How does it feel to be the hero, kid?"

Shelley looked down at him. "Corny, you have to hold still. You got hit by something and I'm not sure if there's a fracture or not."

Corny tried to smile, "Nurse Shelley, what's my prognosis?"

"There's a lot of blood." Shelley replied in a calm voice. "If we can't stop it, something will have to be done."

His eyes grew wide, "Like what?"

She looked down. "Something."

Corny knew Shelley's father was a doctor. Medical people had medical families. They knew what to do in a crisis. But he wasn't sure he was ready to put his fate into the hands of this teenager. Her words interrupted his thoughts.

"First, I think we need to get all of these people downstairs." Shelley commanded, "With enough people to carry, anything can be done. Link, I need you to get the cots downstairs organized. Amber.....Amber!!!"

Amber's eyes were lost and vacant. They turned to Shelley.

"Amber!" Shelley shook her shoulder.

The clouds cleared from her eyes and she finally reacted, "What?" Amber said softly.

"You support Corny's head so Link can do what he needs to do. Come on..."

Amber looked to Corny then looked away. She was having problems with the amount of blood seeping from the wound. But she knew she had to be brave. She scooted over as Link moved.

With his head resting on her skirts, he saw the pain in her eyes. A tear ran down her cheek and she brushed it away. Nothing but concern showed in those eyes.

"It's okay," Corny said, "Don't worry."

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She nodded and looked away.

…..

Link heard a small voice not more than a whisper. He looked down surprised and relieved to see that Corny was awake and talking. "CORNY YOU'RE ALIVE!" He wanted to hug him but that would've been so out of character for him. He looked around to see what the others were doing and to gauge any reactions they had to his outburst.

Link looked down at Corny again when heard him ask a question about being a hero.

He shrugged. "I was just trying to save both our lives."

Shelley started talking about fractures. He hadn't really thought of anything being broken. He had taken a real risk by dragging Corny inside. He probably had a few new bruises because of that. Link himself probably had a few bruises but at the moment he didn't care. He was just glad that Corny was awake. Now if only Fender would wake up as well. He turned as Shelley said something to him about cots. He was about to ask if they' d be alright when Amber gently took Corny's head and placed it on her lap. He moved slightly so she could do so more comfortably. He was still in awe over Amber's reaction. He even started to feel a slight sadness for everything. He stood up finding that he was still shaky from everything that had transpired. He didn't think that he should leave them with Corny by themselves but Shelley seemed to know what she was doing, after all her father was a doctor; she had to know something.

He took one last look at Corny. "I'll go get the cots organized."

He was happy to help and with that he turned to go downstairs. He was still shaky as he made his way to the stairs. His thoughts turned to who was down in the shelter, one person in particular invaded his thoughts.

Tracy! I hope she's not too upset when she finds out what has happened! He thought.