Andrea laid her head on the seat rest. Looking over at Brandon, she studied him for a moment. He truly was her best friend; she hated to see him so upset. Deciding it was past time to break the silence, she said, "The Peach Pit has really changed, huh?"

Brandon frowned. "Yeah, it has. What do you think about it?"

"I liked it better the way it was when we were in school," Andrea admitted. "I know that it had to expand, but…" she trailed off. "It doesn't even seem like the Peach Pit anymore."

Brandon nodded, agreeing. "I think Dylan and I are going to buy it." He looked at Andrea to see her reaction.

"Brandon, that's great!" she said, excited. "You guys have to bring the counter back," she told him seriously.

Laughing, Brandon stopped at a red light. "That's Dylan's number one priority."

"So how are things with you guys?" Andrea asked him, studying his face.

"Surprisingly, they're good," he told her. He shrugged. "There's been so much bad, but I think everyone has finally grown up, you know?"

"I do know. I think that's wonderful. You two were always such good friends." Andrea smiled, pleased.

Brandon studied her. "You and I have always been such good friends." Andrea nodded. "Isn't it weird for you at all?"

Andrea sighed. "Brandon, we've talked about this. I love you. You love me. Neither of us is in love with the other."

"Couldn't we be?" he asked her.

Mouth open, Andrea stared at him for a moment. Still waiting for a green light, Brandon looked at her until a horn behind them called for his attention.

Andrea thought for a minute. "I know what this is," she said, finally. "I know exactly what this is."

Brandon shot her a quizzical look. "What is it?"

"You're still in love with Kelly!" Andrea said accusingly. "Ha! You wish you were in love with me, because let's be honest, I'm awesome and I'm easy." She swatted his arm at the look he gave her. "Not "easy" easy, but easier to be in love with. You and Kelly have so much unresolved business, plus she almost killed your sister."

"Andrea," Brandon said warningly.

"Think about it, Brandon," Andrea insisted. "Today especially you've been dealing with emotions tied to Kelly. And all of a sudden you're wondering if you could ever be in love with me? Ha!" she said again, giving him a knowing look. "You're sunk, buddy."

"Give me a break Andrea," Brandon told her. "Why are you so against the idea of "us"?"

Andrea rolled her eyes. "Okay, Brandon, let's talk about "us" then." She leaned close to him, taking his hand. With her right hand, she reached over to check his heart rate.

"Hey, hey," Brandon fussed.

"Just as I suspected. Your heart rate didn't go up at all when I touched you. I bet it skyrockets when you see Kelly."

Annoyed, Brandon slapped her hand away, mumbling. "What was that?" Andrea asked him sweetly.

"I said I'm worried about Bren," he told her, though they both knew it was a lie. Now that he'd mentioned it, though, he really was.

"She really didn't look well," Andrea said softly. "I thought the doctor said she was doing better?"

"He did, that's why I'm so worried. What if it's a different infection or something?"
Andrea thought about it for a moment. "Maybe she really is just pushing herself too hard. She's been doing a lot."

"I know. We've all talked to her about it, but she won't listen. She feels weak. She was just shot. We almost lost her. She can be weak for a little longer, dammit," he said, hitting the steering wheel.

Andrea put her hand on his arm. "We'll just have to talk to her," Andrea looked out the window. "When she's up to it."

"I just hope that's sometime soon," Brandon told her. Putting his left hand over Andrea's hand on his arm, he squeezed it. "Thanks, Chief," he told her, bringing her hand up to his mouth and kissing it. "You truly are amazing."

Andrea smiled at him, squeezing back. "I know. I'm just glad Jesse finally remembered too."

"How's that going?" he asked her.

"We're working on it. We have a lot of problems, but we really do make a great team." Andrea looked out the window. "I love him. It's crazy, but I love him." She looked over at her friend. "And we both love Hannah. It's going to work," she said firmly.

Brandon believed her. He knew that when Andrea made a decision, she found a way to make it work. "Did you tell him about…you know, did you tell him about the thing…"

Andrea chuckled. "Brandon. You can't even say it. And no, I didn't. I don't ask him about what he's done, he doesn't ask me. When we're together, we're together. And that's how it's going to work."

"Sounds good to me," Brandon told her, meaning it.

Pulling up at the parking lot for Brenda's apartment, they saw Dylan moving around his car. Brandon hurriedly unfastened his seat belt and got out, jogging over to Dylan. Andrea followed, walking up as Dylan said, "And she hasn't woken up at all."

"Let me see her," Brandon said, moving past Dylan and opening Brenda's door. She was reclined slightly in the seat, breathing evenly. Brandon brushed her forehead with his hand, checking for signs of fever. Brenda sighed and sleepily swatted at his hand. Standing back up, he looked at Dylan. "Do you think we should take her up or to the hospital?"

Dylan, torn, looked at Andrea. "What do you think, Andrea?"

Watching Brenda, Andrea said, "I think that she's just sleeping. We should take her up, make sure she's comfortable, and be prepared to get her to the hospital if we need to."

Both men nodded. Dylan handed Brandon his keys, showing him the one for the apartment and asking him to open the door when they got to it. Carefully lifting Brenda out of the car, he walked her into the apartment complex. Andrea walked behind them to make sure no one dropped anything.

Dylan laid Brenda gently in the bed, pushing extra pillows out of the way. She didn't have a fever, but he knew something was wrong. He sat on the bed, holding her hand, watching her. She seemed to be resting easily, but he worried anyway.

"Dylan?" Brandon said softly from the bedroom doorway. Dylan looked up at his friend. "Are you okay?"

Dylan realized tears were falling down his face. "I just need a few, B, okay?"

Nodding, Brandon moved out of the doorway, shutting the door to give them some privacy.