A/N: Thanks for the reviews :) I don't have much to say, I think.... yup, nothing much :) Has anyone heard "The Gift Of A Friend" (by Demi Lovato) on Youtube? Isn't it beautiful and powerful? It made me cry the first time I listen to it :)

Disclaimer: Sadly (yes, it is very sad, isn't it?) I don't own Camp Rock.

Chapter 10- Caught In The Middle

Mitchie gasped before taking the letter and tearing it into small shreds and throwing it away from her, her whole body shaking violently. I could only stare in numb shock as she wrapped her arms around her body, trying to comfort herself.

"They must have put it in your pocket after..." I trailed off, swallowing and eyeing Mitchie so I could see her reaction. She glanced my way, trembling, before returning her eyes back to her hands, which were shaking also. "Shush, Mitch, it'll be okay." I moved closer to her, starting to put my arms around her, but she stopped me, pushing me away.

"Just go, okay?" Tears were beginning to form in the corner of her eyes, and I frowned at her sudden change of behavior. Seeing that I wasn't moving, she shoved me - hard. "Get out!" She screamed, and I lunged to my feet, stumbling as I jumped away from her, while at the same time trying to decipher what was going on.

"Mitch..." I saw her tremble, and I reached out to touch her, but she swatted my hand away, sniffing.

"Go away, Shane." Her voice broke as she said my name, and I shook my head violently, at least hoping she'd explain. "Look, you read the note, just go."

"What does the note have to do with this?" I asked in surprise, utterly confused. Austin had threatened her (Well duh, he'd emphasised 'friend' in the letter, and Caitlyn had told us about how he had wanted to be more than her friend, how stupid were these criminals?), and now she was telling me to go away? That didn't make any sense. Mitchie sobbed harder.

"Because, they're going to kill you! But if you aren't around me then they'll have no reason. So for your own saftey, you need to leave!" She cried, and my mouth dropped open in surprise. Was that really what she thought? Did she really think I'd just up and leave her because of a silly little note. Sure, it freaked me out a bit, but I was not going to run away! In a flash, I stepped forwards and pulled her into a much-needed hug, squeezing her tightly. She tried feebly to push me off, but I refused, and it didn't take long before she sighed, letting her head rest on my shoulder in defeat.

"Mitch, I'm not going to leave you." I clarified, "I'm going to protect you. Not because I feel like I have to, but because I want to." I felt Mitchie's body tremble, and I rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. "You mean the world to me, even if you don't remember me." Which, of course, was true. My world wouldn't be the same right now if I hadn't met Mitchie, hadn't let her change me, hadn't let myself fall in love with her. I might have still been the jerkish, arrogant pop star that I was before I'd met her. She hadn't left me when I needed her, and I wasn't about to leave her either.

"But... what if they go after you too?" She asked, raising her eyes to meet mine, tears running down her cheeks. I moved my hand to her face and wiped them away gently. "I know I might not remember you, but I know you loved me, and... I just can't be the cause you get hurt or... worse." She stuttered, sniffing loudly as she tried to stop crying. I shook my head gently.

"I don't care, I told you that I'll protect you. I won't break that promise. I won't let them hurt you. And I'll try to be careful in the process." For some reason, that brought a small smile to her face, and she giggled through her tears before the seriousness of the situation seemed to crash back down onto her. She sighed, shifting uncomfortably, and I moved my chair closer to her. She smiled softly at me and laid her head onto my shoulder, closing her eyes. Within seconds, she was asleep.

Dr. Adam smiled at the sight that greeted him as he stepped into Mitchie's room; Mitchie was lying half-way out of her bed, leaning against me, and I had eventually fallen asleep too. I heard the doctor's footsteps and slowly opened my eyes, meeting Dr. Adam's. He beamed at me before picking Mitchie up off of me and putting her back onto the bed.

"Come on, let's let Mitchie get her rest. You can come visit her again later, if she's awake then. The surgery and past day's events have really taken it's toll on her." I nodded as I rose from my seat, following him from her room and down the hallway. When we reached my room, I stopped, motioning him to enter the room and shut the door.

"Mitchie found a note in her pocket." I stated as I began to try to get comfortable on my own bed. Dr. Adam sat down in the chair next to me, raising his eyebrows. "I wish I could show it to you, but she tore it up. It was from... them." I stressed the word to make sure that Dr. Adam knew who I was talking about. To show he understood, he nodded, and I continued. "It was a threat." I swallowed, forcing myself to continue. "They said this wasn't over, and also that if anyone tried to protect her, they'd kill them too." Dr. Adam bit his lip, sighing.

"Well, I can't say much, considering I didn't see the note, but my guess is that if you don't actually have the note, you're not going to get very far with the police. They need the evidence before they can accuse." Now it was my turn to sigh, mostly out of frustration. Of course I should have known that, stupid me, I shouldn't have let Mitchie tear up the note.

"But... we both saw it! Doesn't that count for anything?" I asked hopefully. Dr. Adam shook his head.

"In this world, nothing counts but the cold hard proof. And even that doesn't count anymore." With that, he stood, muttering an apology, and left the room.