Woohoo!! Another chapter down!! I'm so happy!! Thank you to all who reviewed! You make me SMILE!!

Disclaimer: I don't own, I RENT. Except my characters and my storyline . . . those are mine.

Awakening

Two weeks after being admitted, Jo was still in the hospital. Mark was given the okay to go home after the first week. He went home and immediately relapsed. There was a new dealer in the neighborhood and Mark's craving took over. Needless to say, Roger was furious.

The May family still waited for Jo to wake, as did her Bohemian and San Francisco families. Dr. Tillard was getting worried for Jo's health in her coma. That is, until she started to wake up . . .

The Mays and the Bohemians were coming for their daily visit when Dr. Tillard found them and told them to hurry up if they wanted to see Jo wake up. They all ran to Jo's room and gathered around her bed.

"Mrs. May," Collins addressed the older woman. "You might want to have Mimi plug Emma's ears. Jo might swear because she's in pain . . ."

Margaret looked to Mimi who held Emma on her hip. The child had become attached to the HIV+ ex-junkie over the past two weeks. Mimi nodded to Margaret and whispered to Emma to cover her ears. The 5 year old obeyed.

Jo started to stir. "Josie?" Maureen called to the petite girl, "Can you open your eyes for us Baby Girl?"

Jo groaned and gently shook her head. "Fuck you." She rasped out, cracking a weak smile.

Sighs of relief echoed through the room. Dr. Tillard stepped forward and started checking Jo's vitals.

"Miss May, my name is Dr. Eli Tillard. I'm in charge of your case. Do you know where you are?" Jo cracked her eyes open and glared at the doctor.

"Hospital," She said, disgruntled.

"Very good; now, who is this?" He pointed to Mimi.

Jo's eyes flicked to Mimi, not noticing the child in her arms. "Mimi Chica,"

"Again, very good; now, who's this?" he pointed to Margaret May.

Jo's seal-grey eyes got wide. " . . . Momma?" Margaret took Jo's hand and smiled as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Hi Baby,"

"Momma . . . what're you doing here?" Jo's words slurred a bit.

"The doctor called us. We came to see our baby." Thomas stood next to Margaret as she communicated with their long-lost daughter.

Jo looked around the room at all the faces. She stopped at Maureen. "Reena, where's Mark?"

Maureen didn't know what to say. "Um . . . Josie, Mark's . . ." She looked to Joanne for help.

"Mark's at the loft with Roger." Joanne helped her lover out. "He . . . he relapsed for the second time a couple days ago."

"What? Why?!"

"Apparently, the crave became too much." Joanne sighed. "Josie . . ."

"I want to see him." Jo said resolutely, "I need to see him and tell him everything's okay."

"Jo . . ." Collins warned.

"No! Collins—. . ."

"Josie?" Emma's small voice cut through Jo's temper. She immediately turned to face the child. Jo was shocked; Emma looked almost exactly like she did when she and Mark met in kindergarten. "Josie?" Emma called again, "Why you upset?"

Jo was dumbstruck, "I . . . um . . ." She knew who this child was . . . at least, she was pretty sure she knew who she was . . .

"Emma," Margaret addressed the child, "Remember what I said: Josie hasn't met you yet. She doesn't know she has a sister."

"Sister? . . . Momma, you . . .?"

"Shh . . . Baby, this is your little sister: Emma. She's 5 years old." Margaret introduced the sisters. Mimi carefully plopped Emma next to Jo on the bed.

"Hi Josie," Emma greeted her big sister, ocean-blue eyes curious.

Jo gazed at her baby sister for a moment before she replied. "Hi Emma," Emma smiled widely and threw herself at Jo and hugged her around the neck. "Oof!" Everyone chuckled at the sisters' affection.

When Emma finally retreated to Mimi, Jo set on arguing to see Mark.

"Why can't I see him?" Jo returned to her tenacious self.

"He's at the loft." Joanne said.

"I know, but why can't I see him?" Jo snapped irritably as Mimi escorted the May family out of the room.

"Have ya looked around, Jo?" Collins' temper was rising. "You're in a hospital. You just woke up! Mark can't leave the loft until he's clean and you can't leave until the doctor says so."

"Do I care?!" Jo started to get out of the bed. "No, I don't!" Jo took two steps, then faltered. "Shit," she desperately grabbed onto the nearest object: a table. Unfortunately, she still fell. The Bohos surrounded Jo and silently watched as she started to cry. "I just . . . I just want . . . to see him." Tears fell down her pale cheeks. "That's all . . ."

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"Mark we're going to go see Jo now, okay?" Roger woke up the shaking blonde.

"Really?" Mark lit up through his pain. "She's awake?"

Roger nodded. "She's wake and she wants to see you. Get dressed and get your coat."

Mark immediately jumped out of bed and ran to get dressed. His once cluttered room was bare and dark. Roger had taken the mess out so Mark couldn't hurt himself. After he finished dressing himself, he grabbed his scarf and waited for Roger. It had been a while since he'd been outside and he was dying for a hit. But Jo was a bit more important than heroin. Besides, he could always get some on the way back . . .

"Ready?" Roger slid on his leather jacket. Mark nodded vigorously. "Okay, let's go." The pair silently made their way to the hospital, Roger keeping a close eye on Mark the entire way.

When they got to Jo's hospital room, Jo immediately jumped out of bed and ran to Mark.

"Mark! Oh god, I've missed you so much!" the pair embraced tightly, never intending to let go.

"I missed you too, Jo." Mark lightly kissed Jo's temple before burying his face in her raven hair. The two stood there for several minutes; both silently loving each other with all their hearts. It wasn't long before Jo noticed Mark's shaking.

"How're you feeling?" she asked, leading Mark to a chair beside her bed.

"I . . ." Mark was unsure how to respond. He didn't want to show his pain but he didn't want to lie to Jo. Besides, Jo always knew when he was lying . . . Luckily, Jo could read his eyes.

"How much pan?" Jo asked knowingly. Mark glanced at Jo, not willing to talk about the worst experience of his life. "It's gonna be alright." She said, "We're gonna get through this."

Mark chuckled lightly as a song popped into his head. He started singing Revolution from the Beatles. "Don't you know it's gonna be . . . alright . . ." He sang softly.

Jo giggled, "You know it's gonna be . . . alright . . ." she sang back. Then she turned serious again. "It is, you know." She took Mark's hand. "We're gonna be okay."

Mark paused, "I know."

I know, stupid Beatles reference. . . But I couldn't help myself! PLEASE REVIEW!!! I WON'T UPDATE IF YOU DON'T REVIEW!!!!