Finally! A long chapter! Enjoy and please review! Glad you all liked the last chapter so much!

They all talked with Sandy and her family for a long while, until Molly fell asleep and the three of them left to give the kids some privacy.

"Do ya know how close they were to pullin' the plug?" Danny asked her.

"Yeah I do," Sandy shuddered. "I was able to hear everything that was going on for an hour or so…it was terrifying…everyone was crying…and then when I knew they were going to pull it…I had to do something…I used all the strength I could get and I dug my nails into someone's skin,"

"That was my face," Danny laughed.

"Sorry," Sandy said.

"Hey, you're here, you're awake," Danny said. "That's all that matters,"

"But it was the strangest thing…" Sandy said thoughtfully. "I was awake, but I wasn't…"

"I know that feeling," Kenickie said.

"What happened to you?" Sandy asked.

"I was in a coma too," Kenickie said. "I woke up the beginning of this month,"

"Wow," Sandy said.

Kenickie then remembered: "Rizzo's still out of it…I gotta check on her…" Kenickie wheeled himself out to see if Rizzo was alright.

"What's wrong with Rizzo?" Sandy asked worriedly.

"When she thought you were…" Jan said. "Well, ya know…she fainted,"

"Oh my God," Sandy gasped. "And Kenickie…"

"He got paralyzed," Doody said. "He won't ever walk again,"

"Oh no," Sandy said sadly. "How awful," She then looked around again. "And where's Frenchy? Is she in a coma or something?"

They all looked at each other.

"No," Marty said sadly.

"What happened?" Sandy said worriedly. "She didn't…"

They all nodded.

"Oh…oh my God…" Danny wrapped his arms around her. "She…she was just…"

Sandy broke down in Danny's embrace. "How long ago did it happen?"

"It happened three days after the accident," Jan sniffled.

"She's been gone this long?" Sandy said. "I…I just can't believe it…"

"We all really miss her," Doody said blankly. Sandy reached up and took his hand. He squeezed it and she squeezed back.

Kenickie entered the room that Rizzo was lying in. Nobody had gotten her to wake up yet. Kenickie sat by her and gently urged her awake. Expecting her not to respond, he sighed and sat back in his chair. But then Rizzo started tossing and turning as if in a horrible nightmare.

"Rizzo?" Kenickie asked. She continued to roll about. Panic began to wash over him. It terrified him to see her like that. "Rizz, wake up!" Kenickie shook her awake violently.

She gasped loudly as her eyes flashed open, filled with tears. "No…" she whispered.

"It's ok," Kenickie said, reaching for her hand. "It was just a dream – "

"No…" Rizzo jerked away from his touch. "It was real…I killed her…"

"What…?" Kenickie said. "Oh! No! Rizzo listen!"

"No…I killed her…" Rizzo began sobbing. "I…I'm sorry…"

"Rizzo listen to me – "

"No…" Rizzo's entire body burned with incredible hatred. "Just let me die…"

"Rizzo, Sandy ain't dead!" Kenickie said, willing to say anything to stop her from talking the way she was. "She woke up, right after ya passed out,"

"W…what?" Rizzo mumbled.

"Sandy's awake," Kenickie said again. "She's alive Rizzo,"

"She…she is?" Rizzo said in disbelief. Kenickie nodded. "Oh thank God…" Rizzo threw her arms around Kenickie and started crying again. She cried for the terror that had overtaken her, she cried joyfully for the now awake Sandy, and she cried for the girl that she did kill. When she had cried all her tears, she stayed in Kenickie's arms.

"You sure you're ok?" Kenickie said. "That was some fall ya took,"

"I'm fine," Rizzo said. "I wanna see Sandy," Although she knew Kenickie wouldn't lie to her, she wanted to see Sandy awake, talking with everyone, just to be sure.

The doctor said she would be fine to leave, as long as she no longer felt dizzy. Rizzo got in Kenickie's lap and he wheeled himself to Sandy's room. Rizzo got off his lap and opened the door.

"Rizzo!" Sandy said cheerfully.

"Sandy!" Rizzo ran to Sandy and threw her arms around her. Sandy was a bit shocked, having never seen Rizzo really hug anyone besides Kenickie, but then she realized Rizzo had changed, and she returned the embrace.

"I'm so happy you're awake," Rizzo said, still hugging her. "I'm sorry…"

"No!" Sandy said. "It isn't your fault,"

They released each other and Rizzo got off Sandy's bed.

"So, what's happened all this while?" Sandy asked.

"Well…" Danny said. "Miss Lynch came here, and so did Patty,"

"Really?" Sandy said. "Why on Earth would they – "

"Patty turned into a great chick," Jan said. "She hasn't lost some of her…bubbly qualities, but she's pretty fun to hang out with,"

"Really?" Sandy said. "Now what about Miss Lynch?"

"What a story that is," Danny said, and he explained Miss Lynch's story.

"Oh my God…" Sandy said when Danny had finished. "How awful…"

The next day, everyone had returned to the hospital. Jan had called Patty as soon as the news was heard, and Patty said she would try her best to get there as soon as possible.

When Rizzo arrived in Sandy's room with Kenickie, Sandy's family was in there, and Sandy was playing a card game with Molly.

"Ha!" Molly cried. "That means I win!"

"Hey!" Sandy said. "That isn't fair!"

"Yeah it is!" Molly said. "I won fair and square see?"

"Oh, well I guess you did," Sandy said.

"Ha!" Molly said again.

Rizzo laughed as she entered the room.

"Rizzo!" Molly said, getting off Sandy's bed to run and hug her.

"Hey Squirt," Rizzo said.

"Danny is taking me for ice cream later," Molly said. "Can you come? Please?"

"I'll see what I can do," Rizzo said.

"So maybe?" Molly said.

"Yes, maybe," Rizzo laughed.

"Yay!" Molly said.

"Come on Molly," her mother said. "Let's leave Sandy and her friends alone,"

"No, mom," Molly said. "They're my friends too. I always play with them,"

"Molly," her mother said. "Sandy needs privacy. You're going to be with them later,"

"I guess you're right," Molly said. "Bye guys,"

"Bye," they all said in unison.

Soon, the whole gang was there.

"When ya gettin' out?" Sonny asked.

"I don't know," Sandy said. "I wish they'd tell me what's going on…"

"I'm sure you'll know soon," Jan reassured her.

Time went by, and then the doctor poked his head in. "You have another visitor,"

"Oh, who?" Sandy asked.

"Sandy!" cried a voice that was unmistakably Patty Simcox. She ran in the room and threw herself on Sandy. "I'm so happy to see you awake!"

"Hey Patty," Sandy said, a bit uncomfortably. "I'm happy to see you too,"

"I've missed you so much!" Patty said, still not letting go of her.

"I've missed you too," Sandy said. Patty finally let go of Sandy, and Sandy was quite weary if everyone was right about her. But as time went on and they made conversation, Sandy knew that Patty had changed; and for the better. She actually enjoyed her company.

It was so strange to see so much change around her. It felt like she had only been gone about a day, meanwhile everyone turned into different people. There were still pieces of the old friends that she knew before the accident, of course, but there were things that she noticed. For instance, Doody was so much quieter than he used to be. Danny was more compassionate and emotional. Jan and Marty really hadn't changed much; they just both seemed wiser, which was the same for Roger and Sonny.

But, it was in Rizzo and Kenickie whom she had seen the most change. Rizzo was quieter. She seemed frail and fragile, emotionally and physically. She hadn't remembered her being so thin. She was jumpy, and at times when you talked to her, she would stare off somewhere and then snap back unexpectedly. Sandy didn't know if anyone else saw, but when Rizzo thinks nobody is looking, she changes. She looks more worn out, she stares ahead of her blankly, and in her eyes is an emptiness that Sandy had never seen before. But then, as soon as she's spoken to, she changes back to normal.

Sandy was pretty sure Kenickie saw it, too. He knew Rizzo best after all. At first Sandy thought Kenickie really hadn't changed, but it was the little things he did that led her to believe he was different. The way he held Rizzo's hand, the way he looked at her with concern every time she would space out. Sometimes he would even nudge her lightly so he wouldn't have to see her look so miserable. And Sandy also noticed the sad frustration in Kenickie's eyes every time he went to do something that required the use of his legs.

All this change was enough to deal with, not to mention the fact that Frenchy was gone forever. Everyone else had lost her months ago. Sandy had only lost her moments ago.

All this change was going to take some getting used to.

The end of the day was nearing, and Molly wanted her ice cream. Everyone had already said goodbye to Sandy, when the doctor poked his head in again.

"You have another visitor,"

Sandy screwed up her face in confusion. Who else was there?

Sandy's expression of confusion turned into one of shock as Miss Lynch walked in the door. Oh yeah, that's another thing I missed…

"Hello everyone," Miss Lynch said. "Sorry to interrupt but – "

"Hi Miss Lynch!" Patty said excitedly, running to hug her favorite teacher.

"Hello Patty," Miss Lynch said, welcoming her hug. "Anyway, I heard about Sandy from Patty, and I just wanted to see how everyone is doing, especially Sandy,"

"We're fine," said Kenickie, who had also not been awake for Miss Lynch's last visit.

"Yeah we're all great Miss Lynch," Jan said. "How've ya been?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Miss Lynch then gazed at Rizzo, who was sitting on Kenickie's lap with her head resting on his shoulder. She looked into Rizzo's eyes, and Rizzo wanted so badly to look away, but she knew what kind of message that would send. Miss Lynch raised her eyebrows and Rizzo nodded, hoping that was what she wanted. Miss Lynch smiled and nodded, and Rizzo sighed with relief.

"What are you planning on doing about college?" Miss Lynch said to Sandy.

"Well…" Sandy said. "I'm not sure. I would really love to go to Stanford on the scholarship they gave me, but I don't think I can anymore…"

"I'll see what I can do about it," Miss Lynch said. "What about the rest of you?"

"I'm too dumb for college," Sonny chuckled. "Ya said it yourself, Miss Lynch,"

"That was in the heat of the moment," Miss Lynch rolled her eyes. "But really, especially after all this, you're going to need to support yourselves with a good job, and the only way to do that is to go to college,"

They all looked at each other. None of them had even thought about their futures at all. The only thing they had thought about was the fun summer that was ahead of them. They'd worry about college then. It was in that moment that they realized; this is it. Summer is already gone. They're already in the future. Where did the time go?

They all knew the answer to that. The time went crashing into a truck on a slippery road.

"I could look into schools for all of you, if you'd like, seeing that you have other things to worry about right now," Miss Lynch said. "Just tell me what you're all interested in and I'll find something and help you apply,"

Again they all stared at each other. Were they really all ready for something like that?

"Forgive me Miss Lynch, but what kind of job could I possibly do?" Kenickie said bitterly.

Everyone's eyes widened and waited for Miss Lynch's response. "Well…" she began. "I'm sure there are plenty of things you could do in your situation, if you just look into it,"

"Tell ya what," Kenickie said. "When you find it, and I see it, I'll believe it,"

"That's a deal," Miss Lynch said calmly, much to Kenickie's surprise. Why wasn't the old bat yelling at him by now?

"Listen," she continued. "If any of you are interested, talk to me on your way out of here. I'll be waiting in the lobby," And with that she left.

"Geez, it's like we're in school again…" Sonny scoffed.

"Ya know I think she's right…" Jan said. "How much longer are we gonna keep doin' this?"

"Doin' what?" Roger asked.

"Ya know, just sittin' around; waitin' for something to happen," Jan said.

"Well somethin' did happen," Danny said. "Kenickie woke up, then Sandy,"

"Exactly," Jan said. "Everything that happened already happened, and we can't do nothin' about it. But we can do something about our future. We have to. We already spent enough time waitin'. We gotta do something now,"

Everyone sat there taking in her words. Finally after a long silence Marty spoke up.

"I think she's right," she said. "I ain't the smartest person ever, but I'm goin' for it,"

"Me too," Danny said, and Sandy beamed at him.

"I'm doin' it," Doody said. Jan looked at expectantly at Roger, and Marty glared at Sonny.

"I ain't got time for college!" Sonny protested.

"What are ya too busy doin'?" Marty said.

"Um…" that was a good question. "…stuff…"

"Too busy or too lazy?" Jan said.

"Or too scared?" Marty said. Sonny glared at her. "No really; it's a big step. Your whole life ya thought you'd spend your life havin' a good time and all. But this is reality. And if anyone knows reality, we do," Marty said, looking around at all of her friends, every single one of them having suffered through the same horrible ordeal. "C'mon Sonny," Marty said.

"Fine," Sonny said. "I ain't promisin' nothin', ya know my grades are crap,"

"At least you'll try," Marty said, kissing him.

"Ya in, Rog'?" Jan asked.

"Well, my grades are crap too…" Roger said. "But what the hell, I got nothin' to lose,"

Jan giggled happily and planted a kiss on his cheek. Everyone now looked at Rizzo and Kenickie.

"Hey I told ya," Kenickie said. "I'll believe it when I see it,"

Everyone was now staring at Rizzo, who didn't know what to say. She had just finally started to feel safe with the life she had, and now they wanted her to change it all? Her mother finally had a house for them, Kenickie was alive and healthy, well as healthy as he'll get. She was even beginning to adjust to the idea of Kenickie having to use a wheelchair. She didn't think she could handle another change.

"I…I can't…" Rizzo said. "I gotta make sense of what I already got…I can't handle school again too…"

Jan wanted to make an argument, but she understood where Rizzo was coming from. She left it the way it was.

"Oh I'm so excited!" Patty squealed. "You're all going to college!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the energy in the girl.