After It All

Ch. 3: Don't Wanna Lose You Now

Author's Note: Gotta love the cliffhangers. Changing POV's, so pay attention.

Disclaimer: None of it is mine.

***

The surgeon burst into the operating room. Nurses and doctors were scrambling about. "Okay, we gotta finish this!" He shouted as another nurse put on his scrubs.

***

I paced in front of the doors to the hallway, chewing on my nails and occasionally glancing in the small windows. Unfortunately, I couldn't see into the operating room. Dammit.

"For god's sakes, Jackie, sit down!" Donna yelled at me, but I didn't comply. To hell with her. Like she knows what I'm going through.

I did finally sit down, but an hour later. By then I was so exhausted I had run into the wall. I was nearly asleep when Michael interuppted me.

"Hey, Jackie," I opened my eyes and glared at him. I immediately felt bad when I saw his face, but I didn't let it show. "How is he?" He diverted his eyes to the doors leading to the operating room and shoved his hands into his pockets. I diverted my own gaze.

"I don't know," I replied quietly. "He's been in surgery for a while."

"I heard he almost..."

"Yeah," I sighed, keeping my eyes fixed on my hands, which were folded on my stomach. "Almost."

***

Dr. Jackson didn't leave his young patient's side until he was stable and in the recovery room. He sighed loudly and threw his gloves into a bio- hazard can. "Now, for the good news," He said to himself as he headed for the waiting room. As soon as he entered, the girlfriend -Jackie? Was it?- leapt to her feet. He gestured to her to sit down. The rest of the family was nowhere in sight. He sat down across from her and some tall lanky kid with feathered hair. "This time, I have good news," Jackie's face lit up. "He's fine. He's in the recovery room right now, if you want to see him," Jackie jumped up and threw her arms around his neck.

"Thank you so much!" She sobbed. He carefully disengaged her grasp.

"This way," He lead her to the room.

***

I smiled at the doctor gratefully and watched as he left. When he disappeared around a corner I tiptoed into Steven's room. He still looked weak and pale, but he was alive. That's all I care about. "Steven?" I picked up his hand and held it in both of mine. His eyes opened, but I could tell that he still wasn't fully aware of what was going on. "Hi," I smiled and gently cupped his face in one of my hands. He stared at me, puzzled. Oh, shit. Amnesia?

"Jackie," He rasped, only slightly puzzled. I nodded. Thank god.

"How are you feeling?" His puzzlement disappeared, replaced by hidden pain.

"Fantastic," I laughed quietly.

"Liar," I whispered, gazing at him lovingly.

"I must be losing my touch," He laughed, but it ended in coughing.

"Take it easy," I set a hand on his chest and gently held him down when he tried to sit up. I sat in the chair beside his bed when his coughing finally subsided.

"What happened?" He asked, his voice still gravelly. "I just remember getting in my car and..." He trailed off, staring into space. I could see the events playing in his head. "Oh, shit," He finally whispered.

"Steven-"

"I died," I blinked, surprised at his realization.

"No, you-"

"I died," He repeated, with such finality that I fell silent, unsure of what else to say.

"Well, you're alive now, and that's all that matters," I finally settled on. Our eyes met and we smiled. His fingers wrapped around my hand and I set my other hand on ours.

***

Yo, Damion here. Sorry it took so long to update. Kinda forgot about the story. Got busy, sorry. Anywho, already working on the rest of it. Probably just one chapter left. Hold your breath, you can trust me. ^_^