Life After High School - Ten Years Later

By Risty and Silver

Disclaimer: The short answer is: No. The long answer is: Nnnooooooooooooooooo.

Summary: You've read this far . . . man.

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(Benny's POV)

The nearest half-decent hospital was Lake Town so that is where they took us. It was only a ten or fifteen minute journey, but every minute seemed more like an hour. They had dressed Emma's head to try and slow the bleeding, but she still had not come round and her breathing was low and unsteady.

As soon as we reached the hospital, the doctors rushed her to intensive care. For over an hour, Damon and I were forced to wait in the waiting room as they performed various tests on her. Damon just paced up and down, not saying a word. I think he was in shock. When we were finally allowed to see Emma, it was terrible sight. She was wired up to five different machines. The doctor tried to explain what each one did, but I waved him away.

"I know," I said dully. "I know it all. All except one thing. Will she…will she be brain damaged?"

"There is a very high possibility," the doctor said gently. "We won't know unless…until she wakes up." He went out, leaving Damon and I to our grief. He asked me what the wires were for and I tried to explain.

"The drip in her hand is providing her with liquid" I told him. "One is giving her blood, the one wired to her head is monitoring her brain activity, the one that beeps every now and then is monitoring her heart and the last one is providing her with oxygen."

By morning, there was no change. I called Lucas and reported that to him, although I urged him to say nothing to the children. Morning dragged into afternoon. When I went to get us both a cup of coffee, I called Jaime. I lied, although I am not keen on lying, and told her that Emma was stable. I don't know why I called her, I certainly did not like her any more and what went on in our lives was none of her business. But she had been Emma's best friend for many years and her daughter was staying with us, therefore she did need to be informed of changes like these. I got the answering machine luckily. Since the work phone was off, I knew that she would not be able to get through at the house, which was good because I did not want her pestering Lucas for information and bad because I did not want her to come down. I told Damon what I had done, half expecting him to be mad, but he just shrugged.

Afternoon dragged into evening and evening dragged into night. Sometime just after midnight, Damon fell into a restless sleep. I covered him with my jacket and sat watching over the two of them, their protector like always.

Maybe I had dropped off at some point because suddenly I saw the image of Mark's ghost in front of me.

"Benny" he said. "If Emma survives, do you not think it is time to put the past behind you and forgive Jaime? Even if your friends will not. Surely Damon cannot be as good a friend to you as I was."

"Our friendship was at a time when things were different," I told him. "You mean nothing to me any more, Mark, you are just one of those people who used to be in my life, but who I have now almost forgotten about. Damon and Emma are my family and they mean more to me than anyone ever has. Your friendship is in the past; Jaime's is also in the past. We have all moved on and if you want to help someone, go and tell your little sister that she has to do the same. Because I don't care about you any more, Mark. You are dead and buried and that is the end!"

Mark gave me a sad look and disappeared. Suddenly Emma's machine began to beep faster and faster. I jumped to my feet and ran over to her, shouting for a nurse. Damon woke up in a panic and asked me what was happening. Three doctors's hurried in and ushered us back as they crowded around the bed. I could recognise the medical terms they were throwing around and I knew that it was bad. Through the haze of voices, I heard what the doctor said, but I could barely register it.

"We are going to lose her," he said. "She's bleeding in the brain. We'll have to operate immediately, but it is doubtful that she will survive."