Remember Chapter 14: Final Chapter, a summerland fanfic

Author's note: I do not own the song mentioned in this chapter or anything that is property of the WB. Enjoy the final.

A little over two months have passed. Bradin and Erica's relationship has grown. Todd and Kaylin were living in their only home in Kansas. Kaylin took courses and became an EMT with the local hospital. Bryce was still on tour and not going to be home any time soon. He and Kaylin have not spoken since she and Todd left Playa Linda. What they did not want to admit is that they both were falling apart because they were not talking.

Todd just hung up the phone as Kaylin was leaving to head to work. "Hey," he said stopping her before she left, "Erica and Bradin are coming here for the holidays. They're going to be staying here for a few days."

Kaylin gave a weak smile and turned to put her shoes on. She stood up straight to reach for her bag when she caught her brother staring at her. "What?" she asked with no emotion.

"I know you're hurting. But, you're killing yourself by working these hours."

"Would you rather have me sitting around and moping because I lost someone I truly love?" she screamed. With those words, she walked out the front door slamming the door behind her.

Kaylin and her partner rode around the town in an ambulance. Since Kaylin was not driving tonight, she decided to think about her life. When she was little, she moved from Florida to Kansas to be closer to family. When she was becoming a teenager, she was raped. Guys were always harassing her. She met Bradin who broke her heart. Her parents died. She got into two accidents. And, she lost Bryce.

"Kaylin?" she heard.

She peered to her side and saw her partner looking at her then back to the road. "What?"

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said softly. The truth is she's not okay. She never will be okay. So many things have happened to her that she was starting to give up on life. Working long hours at the hospital is tiring her out. As much as she needs the rest, she's rather save lives than live her own.

"I'm glad you became an EMT," he said, "I never thought you would survive that accident."

"Thanks, Justin."

Justin was an EMT that was working on the scene of her first car accident. She remembered hearing his voice throughout the whole time they were trying to rescue her. He would hold her hand and tell her everything was going to be okay. She never did tell him thank you for sticking with her that night.

Just before she went to thank him, they got a call. There was an incident involving one person being hit by a car not far from where they were. They turned on their sirens and sped to the scene. They arrived just in time. The victim was starting to lose consciousness. They parked the ambulance and ran to the girl after grabbing their equipment.

He sat in the studio not knowing what to write. He needed another song within the next day. If he didn't, he was not going to be happy. Who says he is happy? Ever since he and Kaylin split, he's been a wreck. No, he has not shown it. He tried to keep busy to keep his mind off of her. However, it made it worse. She never left his mind. He has wanted to pick up the phone to call her and talk to her. Yet, he knew she would hang up on him if he did.

"You okay?" he heard.

He peered to his side and saw Mike. He shook his head. "I can't write anything."

"She's on your mind again, isn't she? Bryce, go get her back. You love her. You need her, whether or not you believe it yourself. I've seen you before and after you two went out. You've changed, man. I like who you were when you and she were talking. This new Bryce, no one can stand him."

Bryce looked at his friend and realized he was right. He did need Kaylin.

"Victim of a hit and run," Kaylin said as she and Justin wheeled their patient into the ER. "Her pulse is dropping drastically."

"What medications is she one?" the doctor asked.

"None," Justin said handing the doctor a chart.

The doctors and nurses released Justin and Kaylin to try to save the patient. Kaylin and Justin were taken by receptionists to sign papers that were dealing with the accident.

Todd unlocked the door and let Bradin and Erica inside. He helped carry their bags and placed them down to close the door.

"Where's Kaylin?" Erica asked, "You said she'd be home."

Todd sighed. "She may have taken another shift at the hospital."

"Are you all right?" Bradin asked.

"She's killing herself," Todd said, "She's either at work or sleeping. I'm losing her."

"It's not your fault," Bradin said, "People cope with things differently."

Todd took the couple to the guest room that they were going to stay in for the Christmas vacation. After letting them unpack and get settled, Todd cooked dinner. They sat and talked about the past few months. Todd did get a job as a guitarist at a local club. Bradin and Erica moved in together and are working to make things better than they have been.

Kaylin just finished her shift at work and was driving home. She was so tired and had the worst shifts possibly. Nearly all of the people have died. There was nothing anyone could do. She pulled in to her drive way and parked her car. She got out with her bag and headed in to her house. She arrived inside, shut the door behind her, and leaned on the door with her back. She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes.

"Kaylin?" she heard. She looked ahead of her and saw Bradin walking out with Erica behind him.

"Hey," Kaylin said quietly.

"I never though of you as being the kind of person who takes care of people who bleed everywhere."

Kaylin shook her head before walking up the stairs.

"Hey," Erica said, "why don't the four of us hang out on Christmas? Its two days away. We can plan something out."

"I'm busy," Kaylin said.

"What is up with you?" Erica asked. "We come all the way from California to see our friends for Christmas."

Kaylin turned around. "Who said you were wanted here?"

Christmas Day arrived. Kaylin was at work not wanting the day to be there. Justin had the day off and she was with a new EMT, Karen. The two girls talked before and during the ambulance ride around town. They got along great. They knew working on Christmas would be worth it. That is, until the call came in.

They rushed to the house where there was an emergency. The two girls rushed in and found a family gathered around a young man who was on the floor wincing in pain.

"Sir, calm down," Karen said.

The young man would not listen to Karen. He kept holding his right side and whining. After a few unsuccessful tines of trying to calm the young man down, Kaylin yelled, "Sir! Calm down so we can help you!"

Then, the young man calmed down and let the girls examine him.

"His appendix exploded," Karen said, "We have to take him in."

As the girls were helping the young man on to the board, the man screamed and got off the bed knocking a box of equipment straight on to Kaylin's wrist.

"Shit!" she yelled grabbing her wrist. Karen rushed to her side. "I'm fine. Let's get him to the ER."

Kaylin and Karen wheeled the young man to the ambulance and drove him to the ER quickly. They got there and lowered him from the ambulance.

"What happened?" a doctor asked as Karen handed her a chart.

"Appendix exploding," she said, "He can barely stand still."

The doctor took the young man away. Karen turned to Kaylin who was holding her wrist. Karen looked at her friend's wrist and saw how bruised it was.

"Doctor Stuart!" Karen yelled to the doctor she saw, "We need you!"

He rushed quickly to the side of the girls. Karen pointed to Kaylin's wrist. Dr. Stuart examined it. Every touch was painful. He took Kaylin away to get x-rays done. Minutes later, the doctor told Kaylin that her wrist was broken.

Kaylin just got finished getting a cast on her wrist and hand. She was going to be out of work for a few weeks. As she walked out to her car, she saw Bryce leaning on the hood of her car.

"Hey," he said with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I'm here to talk to you. Are you okay?"

"I've never been okay, Bryce. You know that."

He walked up to her. "I meant what happened to your hand."

"Why do you care?" she asked. "You never cared! You showed me that day when you blamed me for making your life miserable!"

"I didn't mean it."

She laughed. "I'm sure you didn't," she said sarcastically.

"Why won't you talk to me?"

"I tried! I tried to talk to you two months ago before I decided to leave! You were too busy trying to forget me! And Todd leaving the band was NOT my fault! He wanted to leave!"

"This is about you and me," Bryce said, "Listen to me. You owe me that much."

Kaylin sighed and looked away.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you the way I did. I'm a wreck. I suck at everything now. I lost many people. I lost everything I had. What you said back in California stuck with me until this very day. That and Mike made me realize how much I need you. No other girl has made me feel this way. Never in my life have I ever gone back to a girl I thought was great. You, you're different. Kay Baby, I love you."

Her eyes widened.

"I want you to know that I ran out of a concert last night while I was performing. The song I was singing was making me think of you. My love is all for you, Kay Baby. I don't know how much longer I can go on without you."

She looked at him skeptically. "How'd you find me?"

He smiled before taking her hand. "I went to your house. I thought you'd be at home miserable because you were alone."

She sighed once again. "That's why I'm working so much. I'm trying to forget everything in the past."

"Is it working?" he asked playing with her hair.

"Well, it was until you came along," she said looking at him. He looked at her with the yeah-right look. "Okay, it was making me worse. But, I enjoyed what I was doing here."

"What do you mean enjoyed? Just because we're together again doesn't meant you have to give it up."

She held up her right hand. "On a call today, an equipment box fell on my wrist. I'm out for a few weeks."

"When I talked to Todd, he said you changed. How so?"

"I've only been working long shifts and sleeping. I'm rarely home. I haven't had a conversation with anyone."

"That is going to change a.s.a.p. I want the Kaylin I fell in love with back. I don't know if I'll ever feel right without her."

"I can try," she said, "She did have several accidents that have changed her. It may take some time."

"That's fine."

Bryce went in to his coat pocket and pulled out a small box. "I know it's sudden," he began, "But, I want you to promise me that you're mine and I'm yours."

He opened the box revealing ring with a heart shaped, aquamarine diamond.

"This is a promise ring. I want to make sure we are and always will be each other's."

Kaylin smiled before nodding. He placed the ring upon her left ring finger. The young couple kissed.

Faber Drive "When I'm With You"

Saw you walk into the room

Thought I'd try to talk to you

Babe am I ever glad you wanted me to

It's been two years to the day

Half the time I've been away

I know I'm not there enough but that's gonna change

Cause I'm coming back

To show you that I'm keeping the promise I made

When I'm with you I'll make every second count

Cause I miss you

Whenever you're not around

When I kiss you

I still get butterflies years from now

I'll make every second count when I'm with youYeah we've had our ups and down

But we've always worked them out

Babe am I ever glad we've got this far now

Still I'm lying here tonight

Wishing I was by your side

Cause when I'm not there enough

Nothing feels right

So I'm coming back to show you that

I'll love you the rest of my lifeWhen I'm with you