I forgot to mention the driver's license issue… hmmm, for now I just want to say that he doesn't have one and he gets away with it or Florence bent the rules for him. I don't know… I'm going to have to think about it more. It might come up in later chapters. I didn't know that so thanks for telling me!

Bea's POV

"The doctor will see you now," a nurse had said. We were in the waiting room for four hours. My father was probably having a heart attack. Hopefully someone told him what happened and he would be coming or even a bit calmer. Nick was sitting with me, trying to calm me down as I explained all the details.

The fact that everything seemed so real made me scared. It made me think that I couldn't tell reality from a daydream. It's like waking up from a dream when you didn't think you were asleep. It's terrifying and shocking.

Nick came with me to the doctor. It wasn't a private room or anything but there were no patients filling up the beds. It was just Nick, the doctor, and me. "Hello, Bea," he said, "Have a seat." I sat upright on one of the beds as he stood across from me. He picked up a clipboard with a file on it. I had to assume it was mine from the last incident, "So, I see we've had a little mishap. Care to tell me what happened?"

"Um, I was driving with my friends," I began, "We were going to pick up someone. When I turned off the car, I think I had like… a really vivid dream. I thought it was all real until someone shook me out of it." The doctor was scrutinizing me then writing things down on the clipboard.

"And you didn't take any medication beforehand?" he asked.

"No," I said.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked.

"I'm okay," I replied, "Just a little uh, shaken up." The doctor had taken out a small light, pointing at my eyes; like in those TV shows or movies.

"Well, Bea," he said, "The pain killers you were prescribed are much stronger than the average dose. Your loss of blood and the deep wounds made it come in handy. But when you stopped taking them, you began to experience withdrawl symptoms."

"So what I saw… was just because I didn't take my medicine?"

"Yes," he said, "Withdrawl can consist of hallucinations, pain, and much worse. I'm glad you came to see me about it though. If it kept going, you might've understood how worse I'm talking."

"So what happens now?" I asked, "I mean, once I've stopped taking it… will that happen again?"

"I don't believe so," he said, "Since your body is still very weak it tends to rely on the drug you're taking. Once it's up to normal strength I think you'll be just fine."

"Thank you so much," I said, "I'm sorry for being so careless."
"It's quite fine," he said, "I suggest you stop driving for a bit and get some bed rest." I nodded in approval when I was really screaming inside. Another week in bed… yay.

"Bea!" someone barged through the door. It was my father, "Thank goodness you're alright!" He threw his arms around me, nearly knocking the doctor over. He just laughed.

"I'll give you some time, if you have any questions you know where to find me," he said. With that, he left the room. My dad looked at me in awe.

"Where were you, Bea?" he asked, "I came home and saw your friends waiting on the porch."

"We went to get Joe," I admitted, "He sort of… ran away." My dad sighed tiredly and sat next to me. I held my breath; I hated my dad when he got mad. It never suited him.

"Bea," he said, "I raised you to care for other people… to help the people you love. You offer them everything."

"So you're not mad?" I asked.

"Well you sometimes give them too much," he answered, "And when you do, you forget that you also need to care for yourself. You're getting so risky… I know it's because you care about your friends. But I just can't have you scaring me like this all the time. You make me want to put you in an air-sealed bubble." I put my arms around my dad to stop this rant, hugging him warmly. He hugged back.

"I'm sorry," I said, "I'll do anything you say, Dad. I'll stay in bed for a year if you want me too. I will never scare you again."

"Hmph," he said, "That was easy. I'm glad we're on the same page." I smiled and nodded, pulling away. At that point, I didn't realize that Nick was there. He was sitting quietly in a chair, staring at the floor like he wasn't even with us. My dad stood up and walked in front of him, "Thank you for taking care of her… again."

"You're welcome," Nick said, crookedly smiling just a little bit. Although I haven't told my dad everything about Nick and Joe, I knew he would ask me about Nick later. My dad knew he cared about me in a very close way. My dad was about to leave when Nick stood up, "Sir, may I drive Bea home?"

"Of course," he said without thinking about it, "I forgot file work at the station anyway. Thanks for the help." Nick acknowledged him with a nod, which was always enough for my dad. When he left Nick turned to me.

"You are not leaving my sight," he said, "Ever."

"Nick, I shouldn't have dragged you here," I said, "I'm irresponsible."

"You are," he nodded, "But… you're dad had an excellent point. Just balance your care a little bit better, and you won't have hallucinations of Joe about to beat Stella." I nodded and reached for him. He walked forward. He whispered, "We should get going."

"Mhmm," I said putting my hand on his face. Nick and I had left the hospital in silence. Once we were on the road I had fallen asleep. I thought about why my dad didn't ask why Joe ran away. Maybe it didn't cross his mind; maybe it did, but he didn't even want to ask.

"Bea," Nick said. My eyes opened to see him laying me in my bed. He was smiling crookedly at me as I grinned.

"You carried me up here?" I yawned.

"Yeah," he blushed, "I um, just wanted to say goodnight."

"Wait," I said, "You don't have to leave." Nick smiled and caressed my face gently, hoping I would fall back asleep I assume.

"Bea," he said, "I promise… I'll be here before you wake up."

"You promise?" I yawned. He nodded.

"Goodnight, Bea," he said. I nodded, my eyes beginning to shut on me. I saw Nick walk out of my room and eventually heard the front door shut. I could really rely on him to take care of me whether I wanted him to or not.

I couldn't go back to sleep yet. I still have to take those meds. Those will have me asleep until noon though. Ah, I guess I have to listen to the guy with medical experience. I'm just going to have to deal with it. I sighed and pulled myself out of bed, shuffling my feet to my closet. I kept them in my purse which I had left in here this morning. So all in all, I didn't really take anything today. I didn't even know that. I began to feel incapable to managing things like stupid pills.

As I switched on the light, something didn't fit. My eyes had to adjust to the light. But as soon as I figured out what was out of place, I didn't have to worry about being awake.

"Bea," Joe said, "Just let me explain."

"What in the hell are you doing here!" I yelled. I turned around about to walk out of my room when Joe laughed, wrapping his big muscular arms around me to lift me up, "Let go of me, Joe."

"Bea," he said, "You won't fight me."

"Oh, yeah?" I challenged, "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because," he said, "You are way too weak, you are falling asleep as I am telling you this, and I'm too strong for you."

"You need to explain why you are hiding in my closet," I snapped. He couldn't help but chuckle and laid me back down in my bed. I had my pills clutched tightly in my hand. I turned my head away, not even wanting to see his face. I might've been reacting more to my hallucination. He still had some questions to answer though.

"I was waiting for Nick to leave," he said, "So we could talk."

"What if I don't care what you have to say?" I said. He was smiling, turning my head with his hand to look at him. He seemed completely normal.

"What in the world has happened to you?" he asked, "You look so tired… pale."

"Yeah," I said, "Maybe if you were here for the last two days you would know why."

"I know why," he said, "You're an irresponsible twit who can't remember to take her meds." I glared at him hotly, "Well, am I wrong?"

"No," I said, "But you're in no position to talk. You had me worried sick. I thought you were…"

"What?" he asked. He stared at me for a moment, "Drunk?"

"No," I said, "I mean… maybe."

"Bea," he laughed, "I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a drinker."

"I heard Brian on the phone," I murmured.

"He was taunting me," Joe said, "He just happened to be around when I walked in to make a call."

"So… you didn't stay there?" I asked.

"No," he replied obviously entertained, "But I can see it's been bugging you."

"You are just loving this aren't you?" I asked. He nodded, his glasses gleaming. I shook my head, becoming mellower, "So you and Stella talked?"

"Yes," he said, "We're going to see what happens." It was a simple sentence but it gave me too many thoughts. What did that mean? Did he not love her? Vice versa? Was it to see who I chose? Gosh, this should be one big mess. It just shouldn't. He saw my worry and put his hand on my shoulder, "You have nothing to worry about."

"Yes I do," I whispered, "Joe, Stella… she can provide so much more for you than I can. I mean, I'm torn between you and someone else. That should bother you."

"Stella can provide a lot," he agreed, "She directed me towards you… maybe not for the right reason but it still happened. And… it doesn't. I know that no matter what happens, you'll be with someone who will take care of you… since you fail at doing it yourself."

"Sarcasm not needed," I laughed lightly, "I don't… I'm just afraid that if she's gone and I don't pick you… you'll be sad. I don't want that to happen."

"Bea, I'm going to be just fine," he said, "You need to focus on what's best for you." He looked at the clock and sighed, "I should get home. My mom's probably worried sick."

"Okay," I sighed. Joe was staring at me funny, "What?"

"Nothing," he said, "Get some sleep." I nodded. I didn't realize that he had started to lean in to me. I looked at his lips. Oh, wow. Joe pressed his lips too mine in the sweetest way. I put my hand on the back of his neck. When he pulled away, I felt like I had run a marathon.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"I don't know," he said, "I figured you've kissed Nick."

"Goodnight," I whispered, looking up at him to smile. He moved that same damn strand of hair out of my face and walked out.

Now to the medicine.

I know it was all Bea's POV, but it felt like it needed to happen just to get things cleared up better.