Chapter 25

Emergency

Portia, Kwest and the Boyz Attack members were all camped out at the hospital where Tommy had been brought. The Boyz had gone downstairs to get some food when Darius came rushing in having been called when Tommy had abruptly left the concert. He saw his sister sitting crumpled in a chair with Kwest beside her. As Kwest saw him he stood up to let Darius have the seat, leaving them alone. Portia looked up at Darius and as he took her in his arms she burst into uncontrollable sobs.

"It's all my fault! What if he dies?! I love him so much!"

"Shh...Portia he's going to be okay..." He didn't really know that, but he had to reassure her. "It's not your fault." Her eyes looked up at him, clearer than they had been just a moment ago.

"Dar I did something real bad." And then she told him the truth. He sat back staggered for a long moment as he stared into her brown eyes, not knowing this stranger in front of him. He took control of himself and his efficient mind started to plot.

"I'll take care of it."

When his sister had calmed down some, at least for the moment, Darius walked off to make a call. At best it would be attempted murder, at worst murder in the first. He could not let anything happen to his baby sister. He had promised their mother he would always watch out for her.

It Just Gets Worse

It was almost 7 in the morning when Jude made it home from the airport. She hadn't slept at all on the plane and her eyes were swollen and gritty from crying. As she let herself in she heard the television on in the living room and dropped her things by the door to go investigate. It was early for anyone to be up. Sadie sat on the couch riveted to the screen. There was a breaking news story about to be announced again as it had been many times over the late night/ early morning.

"Sadie?" Her sister looked up at her with horror written all over her face.

"Jude sit down." The news reporter came on then.

We are live at the scene of the accident where Boy Attack front man Tommy Quincy smashed his sports car into a telephone pole, last night. Police say speed may have been a factor. He was flown straight to St. Michaels Hospital where his condition is reported to be critical. There are no further details at this time. We will keep you updated as facts become available.

They showed a picture of the crumpled red sports car, smashed beyond recognition; the car Jude had been in just yesterday. Jude ran from the room and grabbed the kitchen phone, pulling the number Kwest had given her just last night, from her pocket. She dialed his cell phone praying he had it on.

"Yeah?" He answered sounding agitated. Sadie walked in having followed her, but she did not notice all her attention was focused on one thing.

"Kwest!"

"Jude..." His voice softened.

"Is he...?" She couldn't ask the question.

"He's alive...But he hasn't woken up yet. He hit his head hard and they're worried about hemorrhaging in the brain."

The phone fell from her hands as she slid to the floor gasping and crying. Sadie sat beside her wrapping her arms around her. Sadie took the phone off the floor and spoke to Kwest for a few minutes. She told him she would have Jude on the next available flight that day. Sadie drew Jude a bath and left her before looking for flights.

Awareness

Tommy became aware in slow degrees, pain lanced through his body, but he felt strangely content at the hand holding onto his. She was there and that was all that mattered. He opened his eyes slowly, expecting to see her familiar blond tresses lying against his side, but instead the hair was thicker and much darker in color, belonging to a different but just as familiar person. Where was he? His eyes scanned the hospital room for any sign of the one he needed to see, but there was no one else in the small space.

"Hey." He croaked. Her head jerked up at the sound in the room, quiet except for the beeping machines. Tears filled her eyes as relief added to the ever present guilt.

"What happened?" He obviously knew he was hurt, but the reason why eluded him. It was only Jude dominating his thoughts. Where was she?

"Tommy you were in an accident...Do you remember?" For a moment he couldn't think clearly, his head hurt so much.

"The Alfa?" She nodded. And he remembered all of it in flash. Jude had left and he had gone after her. The song and then the curve of the road, ran through his thoughts. Portia started to cry and he held the back of her head with his good hand, the other one was in a sling strapped to his side. He comforted her, even though he was hurting too.

"Hey...It's okay..." Portia finally got herself under control.

"It was destroyed." She whispered and he could have died. She stood up then. "I'll get the doctor. He'll want to know you're awake." She couldn't meet his eyes.

Many people had wanted to come see him when they had heard he was awake, but the only one he allowed was Kwest. When Kwest entered the room, he took one look at Tommy and winced.

"That bad?" Tommy had a large white bandage on his forehead and scratches and bruises all over. His arm was in a sling and more bandages were wrapped around his chest to protect his broken ribs.

"Good news you might have scared all the groupies off for good." Tommy gave a small laugh that sent him reeling as pain stabbed through his chest.

"Man don't do that." Kwest winced again.

"Sorry..."

"Do me a favor. Look for my pants?" Kwest walked over to the closet and searched until he found a small bag of personal items. He figured Tommy's clothes had probably been ruined at the crash or after in the emergency room.

"There's just this." He held up the bag and Tommy raised his arm for it. He took out the item he had been looking for and breathed a sigh of relief. Kwest looked on, but did not comment. A white gold chain dangled from between Tommy's fingers and he watched as he started to fall asleep. Portia came in and he nodded at her before leaving.

Relief and Instant Pain

Jude and Sadie were waiting to board the flight back to Vancouver when Jude called Kwest one last time. They would have to shut off their cell phones on the plane so this was her last chance to get an update. Noon was the earliest Sadie had been able to get tickets for and although she had told Jude to get some sleep, her sister had sat on the couch catatonic until the taxi had arrived to take them to the airport. Jude had not slept for over 29 hours. Sadie watched as Jude put the phone to her ear, praying there would not be bad news at the other end of the line.

"Jude he just woke up." Kwest said recognizing the caller number right away this time. She let out the breath she had been holding since early this morning. "He's pretty banged up, but the doctor says he'll be fine. When is your flight arriving? I'll come get you." She did not answer him. Now that the fear was ebbing away, the ever present pain took its place.

"Jude?" At her continued silence, understanding dawned on Kwest. "You're not coming..."

"No..." She couldn't see him and be able to let go again. She was barely functioning right now.

"Do you have anything you want me to tell Tommy?" He didn't want her, she tried to tell herself.

"Don't tell him anything Kwest. I...I'm glad he's okay...Do me a favor?" She said a little shakily.

"What do you need?"

"Don't tell him I called okay?"

"Jude are you sure?" Kwest asked with concern in his voice.

"Yes...Thanks Kwest." Sadie could see Jude was barely holding on as she hugged her.

"He just woke up..." Sadie nodded. "They said he would be okay..."

"Come on. Let's get you home then."

Home

It was almost 2 PM by the time they got back to their house. Jude had not said a single thing on the ride back and Sadie looked at her worriedly. They were greeted by Jamie who had left his house as soon as he had seen the taxi pull up. He had been looking out the window all day, knowing Jude was supposed to be back today.

"Can I get your autograph?" He asked in a forced nonchalant voice, although inside he was so excited to finally see her again. It had been a long few months without her. She was his best friend and after missing her for so long, he had realized, much more. She looked up at him with tired red rimmed eyes and threw herself into his arms.

"Jamie..."

He caught her automatically and looked over her head at Sadie in question. He held her awkwardly, her arms were so tight around him. Sadie mouthed the word 'later' and walked up taking Jude from him. She led her sister into the house with Jamie trailing behind them. Sadie sat Jude down on the couch and put a throw blanket on her. Jude tucked her knees up to her chest and stared into space as Sadie brought Jamie into the kitchen.

"What's going on Sadie?" Jamie asked confusion and worry warring in his voice. Sadie sighed, pondering what she could tell him.

"She met someone on the road Jamie...It...didn't end well." Jamie frowned, while jealousy hit him. She had not said a word all of the times he had called her. Then he realized he had been the one doing most of the calling. "Jamie...She needs friends right now...Don't ask her anything, unless she volunteers it." He nodded. "I need to go to the store. Watch her for me?" She knew Jude would need all the comfort she could get and first on that list was ice cream.

"Sure." Jamie wandered back into the living room as Sadie left. He sat down beside Jude and she put her head on his shoulder. Jude was uncharacteristically silent and he wondered again what had happened. Jude wanted to be numb in the worst possible way, but the pain would not go away. Jamie for the first time since they had met, could not understand, that she physically could not force herself to speak. There was only one word that wanted to escape from her lips, his name.