CHAPTER 23: Hot and Cold

"Jeff?" Adam repeated, looking over Jay's shoulder. He gasped when he finally recognized that it was Jeff in front of him. "Is he okay?" Adam asked quietly.

Jay shook his head. "I don't know. He's not moving." Jay placed his hand on Jeff's neck, feeling for a pulse. "Man... there's a slight pulse. We need to get him to the hospital."

"Yeah, come on. Help me get him to the car." Adam agreed, carefully picking Jeff up.

They set him in the backseat and quickly started the car, rushing to the hospital.

*~*~*~*~*

"I wonder if they found him." Chris thought aloud, driving around. He picked up his cell phone and went to dial Matt's cell phone number. To his surprise, the phone rang before he could dial a the number.

"Hello?" He said, answering it.

"Chris, it's Jay."

"Hey man, did you find him?" Chris asked.

"Yeah we did, he's hurt though." Jay explained.

"Is he hurt bad?" Chris inquired.

Jay sighed and responded. "He looks pretty bad. He's bloody and unconscious right now. We're on the way to the hospital right now."

Chris took a deep breath before asking his next question. "Do you think he'll be okay?"

"Honestly man, I don't know." Jay said warily.

"Alright, I'm on my way. Did you call Matt and Shan and everyone?"

"We called Shannon and Shane, they're on their way." He responded.

"And Matt...?" Chris questioned curiously.

"I'm about to call him, I'm just afraid he might freak."

"Well you need to call him."

"I know. I will as soon as we hang up."

"Ok, well we're hanging up now. Call Matt and I'm on my way now. Bye Jay."

"Later man." Jay replied.

He hung up with Chris and dialed Matt's cell phone number.

"Hello?" Matt said.

"Hey man, it's Jay."

"Did you find him?" Matt asked warily.

"Um.. yeah man, we did."

"Is he..." Matt stopped, unable to consider the thought he was getting.

"No man, he's alive. But he's unconscious. And he's cut open really bad." Jay admitted, hearing Matt sigh. He wasn't sure if it was from relief or fear.

"Thank God." Matt muttered. "Ok Jay, me and Ames are on our way."

"Ok, see you in a few."

"Yeah, and Jay?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for finding him. And thanks for even looking." Matt said gratefully.

Jay smiled. "No problem man. I'm glad we found him. Later Matt."

"Bye." Matt said, hanging up.

Amy looked at him. "They found him?"

Matt nodded and smiled at her. He grabbed her hand and drove off towards the hospital.

*~*~*~*~*

Chris hung up the phone and started the car back up. He turned in the direction of the hospital and kept driving. He was halfway there when his phone rang again. Picking it up, he answered. "Hello?"

"Hello Chris."

"Who's this?" Chris asked.

"A friend." He replied.

"A friend of who?"

"Don't you mean whom?"

"Whatever, who are you?"

"Someone who's concerned."

"Concerned about...?"

"Nicole."

Chris's head shot up when he heard the man mention Nicole. "What about her? Where is she?"

"She's around."

"Why did you call me?"

"Because I'm concerned about her."

"Why?"

"Because she's hurt." He replied, laughing.

"How do you know?" Chris asked, his voice serious.

"Because I just know."

Chris sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Where is she?"

"Hm... how about we play a game? Hot and cold? I'll let you know when you're close to her." The man said, his laughter making Chris shudder.

"I don't have time to fuck around! Two of my friends are hurt! Where is Nicole?" Chris exploded.

"You're warm." The man answered, ignoring Chris.

Chris rolled his eyes and looked around. His jaw dropped in shock at what he saw. Jumping out of the car, he ran to what looked like a lifeless body. He got closer to it, afraid that he knew who it was. He slowly turned the person towards him, gasping.

In front of him, lifeless on the ground, was a bloody and battered Nicole.

A/N: Sorry it took so long. I started it and never finished. Issuez. LOL But itz here now! LOL R&R!!! Please?! :)Nicole***