High School. A Teens Best Friend. Yeah Right.

By Risty Maskell and Silver15

Disclaimer: Nope, not ours.

Summary: Oh come on…

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(Billee's POV)

When Elrond and I got back to the school, Boromir, Legolas and Colan were waiting for us all anxious to hear how Emma was. I told them Jaime's plan and about her having to go in for a stomach-op.

"Really, it's just touch and go" I said quietly. "She's back with us, for a while at least. But the doctors warned us that since she is so weak, she might not survive the operation. And I have to tell you guys something" I paused and they looked at me expectantly.  "I don't think it matters," I continued softly. "I think we've already lost her"

"But there's hope right?" Legolas slipped his free arm around my shoulders. "There's always hope"

"I think…I think I understand something now" I said quietly. "How long has she been in that hospital? Days? And where the hell are her parents? Damn it, don't they care?"

"Billee, you're scaring Colan" Legolas said softly. I hadn't realised that I had been shouting. Legolas gave my brother to Boromir and pulled me into a hug. He held me close, gently patting my back. In his embrace, I wanted to cry and I guess I needed to cry, but I couldn't. I still felt numb.

The next day, Jamie came back. She told me that Emma's operation had gone well, but she had still been asleep when she left. We all knew that now it was only a matter of seeing how she was when she woke up. I wanted to warn Jaime that the old Emma would be gone, but my hobbit friend looked so hopeful that I didn't have the heart. Instead, I went to speak to Elrond.

Elrond was reading a letter when I entered his office. He looked very worried about something.

"How are you feeling, Billee?" he asked. "Any better?"

"It doesn't feel real," I said softly. "I just want to have Emma back with us. I think only then, I'll be able to believe this is happening"

"I know" Elrond came over and put his hand on my shoulder. "Billee, I've had some good news and some bad news for you all about Emma. Can you go and get the others?"

Ten minutes later, me, Jamie, Frodo, Legolas, Boromir, Jake and Baz were sitting in his office waiting for him to speak. When he did, his voice was low.

"I've just had a call from the hospital" he said softly. "They've told me that the operation went well, but they don't know when she'll wake up. They'll give us another call when she does. But they think that if her operation was a success she'll be able to come out of hospital in the next few days"

"That's great news," Jaime said, breaking into a smile. Elrond shook his head and his eyes meet mine. He looked really upset and I guessed what he was going to say.

"I also had a letter from her parents," he told us sadly. "They want Emma to stay in hospital where she can be put under 24-hour supervision with no visitors until they are sure that she won't harm herself again"

 "They want to lock her away" I clenched my fists and glanced at Legolas. He looked angry too. "They can't do that, can they?"

"If her parents can convince the hospital that she is a danger to herself, they will do it," Elrond said with a sigh. "If they manage to do it, she will be locked away for a long time"

"There has to be something we can do," I said angrily, getting to my feet and walking back and forth across the room. "This isn't over. Is it guys?"

"No way" Legolas said immediately. "Whether she is a danger to herself or not, she needs to be with people who love her"

"I'm with you guys," Baz agreed. Jake also nodded. As for Boromir and Jaime, well we didn't even need to ask. So together we all turned to look at our principal.

"Fight with us sir?" I asked hopefully. He smiled and nodded.

"I agree with you, Billee," he said carefully. "But I want you kids to stay away from the hospital for a few days. I don't want any trouble with Emma's parents. We'll just wait and see how things go…"

"Fine then" I agreed. "We'll stay here, as long as you promise to tell us how she is" He nodded and we went out of his office, shutting the door behind us. "But in the meantime" I told the others. "This is war!"