Author's Note:  This took longer than expected to put out.  I kept in mind the comments made on this story's behalf, all of which were good but humbling.  Unlike most of my work, this story has been driven by pure emotion, more so than action, and I don't know if it is working out.  I for one enjoy it, because it's a unique sense of writing for me, and I particularly am fond of the sentiments that I didn't know I was able to portray through such vivid (I hope) characters.  I'm thinking I need to dwell more into some of them, but for the most part, I hope it's not just me who is akin to how this is proceeding.

And yes, I've noticed that a lot of the girls show partiality Dave  (wink wink, lol).  Let it be known that I am not writing these situations because Dave is my favorite character (although… he is…).   I believe that in their relationship, Dave seemed to get, oh I don't know… shafted?  (lol).  How I see it, is that through the whole Stuart thing, the Nancy incident earlier in the show wouldn't have happened if Lisa hadn't been constantly dwelling on her past relationship with Stuart (well, not dwelling, but you get the point).  And the Foxy thing doesn't count, because Dave and Lisa weren't even seeing each other then.  So, I feel that, in a way, Dave was gypped, and now, it's payback.  *evil laughter.*

Anywho, enjoy!

Lose Yourself

Chapter 6

*~ Syren ~*

* ~ *

By five-thirty PM, Jimmy James found himself back at NYC Hospital, sitting beside the man who had caused such turmoil in his once not-quite-normal-but-happy-go-lucky life.  Still, he felt a tad of anger towards the boy for not having noticed the goings-on of his own body early enough to foresee his current state, but then, fate always had to have its way.  The day before Dave's collapse, Jimmy could even tell, blindly-sensed as he was, that the long-time news director needed medical-attention.  But in the past, when he had urged that very point, David had immediately, without a doubt, declined.  Those times were the only times Jimmy had let the boy refuse him.  Not that he felt the need to have such power over him, though it was nice at times, and though Jimmy knew it was for Dave's own well-being, the matter wasn't business-related.  So he backed off.  Dave Nelson was old enough to make his own decisions, and, throughout hoping he make the right one, he'd been sidetracked. 

That thought stuck in his mind more so than any other.  It hurt the worst, as well.  Dave's better judgment had been diverted.  At first, Mr. James was convinced that the reason for it was Dave's father's death.  And though it wasn't at all easy, it turned out to be solely a supporting factor.  The final straw was losing his colleagues, save one, who wasn't much of a consolation in the first place.  No offense to Matthew, of course.  The more reality wound down, the more Jimmy discovered the fault he owned in the situation.  He was well off in old New York.  Why had New Hampshire been so important to him?

"Jimmy, of course you wander in while we're in the restroom."  Mrs. Nelson and Nancy filed in, leaving the door open a crack behind them.  Rising to give the two women hugs, the three gathered around a small table at the foot of Dave's bed.

"Jimmy James doesn't break promises.  I told you I'd be back today."

Grudgingly, Patricia eased into the subject that had plagued her mind since that morning.  "Your entourage, Lisa Miller… We had a little run-in today."

"So I heard, so I heard."  Leaning back in his seat, Jimmy rested a foot up on his knee.

"I was hoping to apologize," Patricia kept on, glancing back at Nancy.  "It's not easy to say I was wrong, but I did say some rather harsh things to the girl."

"It was his decision to stay, Patricia," Jimmy countered softly.  No matter of 'Dave's decision to stay,' Mr. James couldn't bring himself to admit what his earlier realization had brought him to.  "But if I know Lisa, she's on her way back up here as we speak."

"It's awfully boring…"  Beth sat at her desk, feet propped up on its ledge.  Bonking Matthew, who sat on the floor beside her, across the head, she giggled.  "You're supposed to be more entertaining."

Looking up from his Leggos, Matthew scowled.  "I'm making a model of our old building, if you don't mind."  Lifting up the half-erected piece of tiny, colorful bricks, he sighed in admiration.  "I think it would make a great conversation piece."

"Wasn't your stay here intended to be business-related?" Beth threw back, taking her feet down and leaning her arms on Matthew's shoulders.  Stifling a yawn, she continued.  "I mean, Dave sent you up here for… how long has it been anyways?"

"I lost count."

"Right.  Well, that report you're doing on our station…"

"Everything's so dry here," he complained, setting his creation gently on Beth's desk.  "What with Lisa gone, there's no one to remind me what I was doing in the first place…  Or even tell me to get back to work."  A dreamy grin crossed his face.  "She and Dave really do sound alike."

Grimacing at the thought, Beth giggled.  "You know what they say, those who sleep together…"

"Ok, stop that.  I don't need that this early in the morning."

"It's six, junior."

Glancing at his watch, Matthew made an 'I give up' motion with his arms and got to his feet.  Joining him, Beth smoothed out her skirt innocently.  "We could… go and snoop around in Lisa's office…"

Spinning on his heel, Matthew's grin grew wicked.  "I'm intrigued… do tell."

"We-ell…" Beth drew out the word, loving the suspense.  "She and Mr. James have been quite secretive lately…  This is how I see it: you need stimulating info to make Dave happy — where better to find it then in Lisa's office?  Just think of all those 'private' folders we can rummage through…"

Passing her without a second glance, Matthew barged into the office.  "Say no more, little one.  I catch your drift."

Doing a little jump for joy at the spark of excitement, Beth skipped in after him, clapping her hands in amusement and shutting the door lightly behind her.  She craved juiciness, and now that she had a comrade, she'd find it in no time.

"So what do you think Lisa and Mr. James are actually doing?" Matthew pondered out loud as he pulled in vain at one of Lisa's desk drawers.  Pushing him aside, Beth pulled a set of keys out of her pocket and unlocked it for him.

"Always keep some spares for such an occasion," she murmured, jingling the key ring in Matthew's face.  "Now hush.  We don't want to get everyone in here."

"Why not?" Joe and Max interrupted, strolling into the office as if on cue.  "We're curious too."

Groaning, the two original spies conceded.  After securely locking the door in order to ward off the last three remaining employees, the group pulled the shades of the office's connecting windows and set to probing the room.  Joe, of course, manned the computer, and was quickly preoccupied with updating its technology.  Max sprawled in one of the nicely cushioned chairs, putting his feet up and folding his hands behind his head. 

"You know, you can do that outside," Beth muttered.  "I thought you were curious."

Max smirked.  "Curious in a lazy sort of way…"

"Oh my God…" Beth's quiet declaration halted all conversation as the other four tuned in.  In her hand was a manila folder she had pulled out of Mr. James' once-locked filing cabinet, which set in the corner of the office behind a plant.  "He obviously didn't want us to find this."

"What is it, porno?" Joe questioned sarcastically, turning back to the computer.  Beth shook her head slowly, unable to pry her eyes away from the sheets of paper she held.  Matthew joined the redhead's side and peered over her shoulder.

"Recent medical bills for New York City Hospital?"

"I don't know how much more I can thank you, Jimmy," Patricia mused, leading the way out of room 722.  Mr. James, followed by Nancy, joined Dave's mother in the hall, continuing on towards the third floor lobby.  Shrugging his shoulders, he pushed his large glasses closer to his eyes.

"Not a problem," he answered, accentuating each word.  "If I'm gonna put my dollars forth, I better keep check on him.  Make sure they're not being stingy with the fluid bags and whatnot."

Chuckling, Mrs. Nelson turned to Nancy.  "And you, dear.  You've been by his side even more than I have.  You're like a daughter to me."  She winked.  "Maybe someday, a daughter-in-law?"

Compelling a smile, Nancy turned the thought over in her mind.  When she and Dave had been a couple, they had been close, if not smitten with each other.  True, the relationship had seemed too innocent to be called committed, but what they had shared before he left Wisconsin had been special to her.  Rekindling what had never reached an actual fire, more of a glowing ember, would be hard, but not impossible.  Needless to say, Nancy was up to the challenge.

"Lisa, so nice of you to join us."  Jimmy's words caused both Nancy and Patricia to jump, though the visitor was expected.  Hugging her short trench coat around her arm, Lisa timidly joined the group, her head low.

"Mrs. Nelson, I'd like to apolo—"

"Please, Lisa.  Don't," the woman in question interrupted, pulling her closer to her side.  "I should apologize.  In this hard time, I was quick to judge and merciless on sparing feelings, for mine own have been insecure.  The spat was tedious, and I hope you'll forgive me for being so spiteful."

Lisa nodded.  The woman sounded so much like her son, that it was a comfort.  "Jimmy—" 

"Stop right there, little lady.  No need, no need."  Breaking the circle, Mr. James opened a path, his hand pointing straight to the room they had just exited.  "I'm sure you'd like to say a few things…"

Any further words were unnecessary, so Lisa did what she was told.  Mere feet away, she could see that night had begun to fall early, shadowing the room uninvitingly.  Willing  herself to suck it up, she cast one last glance towards the kids in the hall,

**Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.**

and stepped inside for only the second time.

The vases of flowers were welcoming, though melancholic, adding to the drear of the room.  Trying to remain nonchalant, though her pulse raced, Lisa picked a random card amidst the flora decorations.  She read, 'Our hearts are with you.'  Another one recited, 'Wake up Sleepy Jean.'  She laughed; the card was obviously from Jimmy James.

It grew harder for her to avoid his motionless form, so she conceded and sat beside him, her gaze trained downward.  The sounds of the respirator and his even, mechanically breathing filled the room, creating a rhythm with his heart monitor.  Breaking the silence, she freed a long-held-back cry, her eyes finally meeting his closed ones.  Lisa never expected how heartrending it would end up being when she ultimately looked at him.  Sure, she had seen him when she encountered Nancy yesterday for the first time in years, but that's all she had done.  She had seen him.  She hadn't looked at him.  And even then, she had been several feet away.  Now, she was close enough to reach out and touch him, to hold his hand.

His features were almost sunken, and the more Lisa studied him, the paler he appeared.  Like she had noticed the other day, he had lost a significant amount of weight, and was frailer than he had been in his first days at WNYX.  Uncertainly, she took his hand in hers, her fingers tracing the IV taped to his wrist.  He had almost a blue-ish undertone to his skin; his blood had grown thin.

Choking back any remaining sobs, she spoke to him, her voice near a whisper.  "I read somewhere that, um, that if you talk to someone in… in a coma… there is a chance they can hear you; that there is only a thin veil of consciousness amid deep sleep."  With her free hand, Lisa scrubbed at the tears that cascaded down her already damp cheeks.  "I'm going to go out on a limb here and believe them."  She laughed.  "You know that that's not like me… 

"As a matter of fact, I've changed a lot in these past few months, Dave.  Everyone's been saying that I am starting to sound like you.  To quote Beth, I'm your 'Minime.'"  Lisa could just about hear the sarcastic comment he would have added to that statement.  Standing, she confessed to herself: at that point, she'd love to hear him say "Get back to work."

"Alright, I'll get to the point," she continued, answering her own thoughts.  Bending over him, she drew her face close to his masked one, planting a lingering kiss on his forehead.  "If this even reaches you…  Come back to us, Dave.  You're needed here by so many people: your mother, Jimmy, your colleagues: new and old; I'll even admit to Nancy."  She paused, straightening.  "And I need you, too.  I was angry when you didn't follow us to New Hampshire, and I had thought that I didn't need you.  You know how hard it is for me to admit when I'm wrong."  Laying another kiss on his hand, she smiled over her tears.  "I've never been more wrong in my life…"

Gently, she placed his hand onto his chest, letting her own linger atop his before dragging herself away.  The moon had, at last, slipped into the sky, and its light shed itself into the room, radiating across his form dramatically.  For some reason, to Lisa, nature's nightlight seemed forgiving.

"Until you wake," she whispered, her hand wiping away the rest of her tears.  She wanted to return composed; to not let her fragility show to the others.  If they could be strong, so could Lisa.

Clutching the door handle, she pushed it open, letting the artificial light flow into the room.  Halting her pace, the faint sound of sheets rustling, quickened breathing, and the sudden increase of the heart monitor's beeping came from behind her, and, without a glance back, Lisa ran into the hall, screaming for assistance.