"And they don't have any idea when she'll wake up?" Wyatt asked, glancing at Jonesy. It was the day after the shooting at the Red Lantern and the others had just recently arrived in Hawaii to lend their support. Wyatt, Jen, Caitlin, and Jude had been joined by Marlowe, Starr, Diego, Robbie, Courtney, Mr. Garcia, Mrs. Masterson, and Mr. and Mrs. Wong. At the moment they were in the middle of being updated on Nikki's condition by Jonesy.
"No, they don't have any idea." Jonesy replied, not meeting Wyatt's gaze. "They don't even know if she'll wake up."
"Don't worry Jonesy, Nikki will be okay, I'm sure of it." said Jen, patting her step brother on the shoulder.
"How can you say that with such confidence?" Jonesy asked, staring at Jen. "They don't even know what made her go comatose in the first fucking place, and they're fucking doctors. What makes you so sure she'll come back to us?"
"I don't know Jonesy, I can't explain it." said Jen. "I just have this feeling that she'll come back. What else can I, can we, do but have faith?"
"Jen is right Jonesy." said Mr. Wong. "It terrifies me to see my daughter lying there, so helpless and fragile, but I can't, for one second allow myself to think she won't wake up, because if I do I'll lose all hope and that can't happen. Nikki wouldn't give up on any of us."
Jonesy looked at Mr. Wong with a sudden newfound respect. He had always know how much the Wong's loved their daughter, but he had never known just how deep that love was. Jonesy could not understand why this had never occurred to him before, but in that moment he knew he would never look at Mr. Wong the same again. From this day forward he would see his father-in-law as great man, not as the embarrassment Nikki had always seen her parents as. And he knew that if Mr. Wong could be strong enough to not lose hope than he could too.
"You're right." Jonesy said, his voice hollow and horse. "You're all right. If we give up hope now there's no going back, but if we hold on to that hope we can get through this and we will get Nikki back."
"That's the Jonesy we know and love." said Jude. "We will be here for you the whole time dude. Nikki is our family and we are hers and family never abandons family." Jonesy nodded and stood before heading towards Nikki's room.
"Jonesy, where are going?" Caitlin asked, getting to her feet as well.
"I'm going to tell Nikki we're not giving up hope." Jonesy replied, walking out of the room without a backwards glance.
He entered Nikki's room a moment later and made his way over to her bed. "Hey babe." he said, looking at her pale face. "I don't know if you can hear me, but I just want you to know that I'm not giving up on you. I'll find a way to get you back no matter what it takes." He bent down and kissed her on the lips and then turned to leave, only to find the others standing in the doorway. He looked at them and smiled, glad to have them with him. Jonesy knew that with all of them there, there was nothing they couldn't do, but he had no idea just how trying the next three weeks would be.
Two days later Mr. Garcia, Mrs. Masterson, and Mr. and Mrs. Wong headed back home, as they had to get back to work. Courtney, Diego, and Robbie would leave with them, but the others would all stay. "I'm sorry we can't stay here for you longer Jonesy." said Mr. Garcia, looking his eldest son in the eye.
"No dad, I understand." said Jonesy. "You've gotta get back for work, it's okay. It's not like I'll be alone I still have the gang to keep me company." Mr. Garcia nodded, and Jonesy turned his attention to the Wong's. "I promise you'll be the first to know if anything changes." he said.
"Thank you Jonesy." said Mrs. Wong. "I always knew you were the right man for Nikki." Jonesy nodded and hugged her before turning back to the gang.
"I don't know when we'll make it back, but we'll stay in contact." said Jen, looking at her mother and elder sister, who both nodded to show they understood.
Diego looked at his brother and smiled. "Whatever happens Jonesy, I just want you to know that Nikki is the best sister-in-law me and Robbie could ever have. I hope she makes it."
"You and me both bro." said Jonesy. "And, thank you for that, it means a lot." Diego nodded and turned to leave, followed by the others leaving Jonesy, Jen, Wyatt, Caitlin, Jude, Starr, and Marlowe to watch over Nikki.
For the next four days, the gang kept a near constant vigil at Nikki's bedside, with at least two of them present at all times. The hope they held for her return burned strong in those first few days, but as more and more time slipped by the flame began die. Still, they would not give up hope, Nikki would come back to them and they would once again be a whole family. But sometimes hope is not enough and fate has other plans.