XVII.

The next morning, Chad called Officer Canton. Officer Canton arranged for Fox and Chad to speak with Latoya around ten that morning. Chad was about to leave Whitney's room when Dr. Monroe informed him that Whitney could be released. Chad signed all the necessary paperwork, and he and Whitney made their way up to ICU.

After consulting with one of the nurses, Chad and Whitney opened the door to Fox's room. Whitney was brought to tears at the sight of Fox holding Theresa's hand as she lay comatose. Whitney brought her hand to her mouth as she held back a sob. Chad put his arm comfortingly around Whitney's shoulders. Chad cleared his throat. "Fox," He said quietly.

Fox lifted his head to show that he was listening.

"Officer Canton's arranged for us to speak with Latoya at ten. I think we should go back to the apartment and freshen up."

Fox turned around. He looked pale and exhausted. His eyes were red from crying. "I don't want to leave Theresa." Fox replied hoarsely.

"Fox," Whitney said softly. "Don't you want to speak with Latoya?"

"Not really." Fox replied. "I'm afraid I would kill her if I came face to face with her." Fox replied sullenly.

"I guess it'll just be me and you at the station." Chad whispered to Whitney. "You should probably tell Officer Canton about what Latoya did to you."

"Yeah." Whitney whispered back. She slowly inched towards the bed. Tears filled her eyes as she gazed down at her best friend. "Theresa~" Whitney said tearfully. "You hang in there, okay? I'll be back soon." Whitney reached for Theresa's hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "You hang in there too," She said quietly to Fox.

"Yeah," Fox said. "I will. Oh and Whitney," Fox said.

"Yeah," Whitney said turning.

"I need Pilar's number." Fox said quietly.

Whitney stifled a sob as her heart ached for Fox. He sounded so miserable. "Do you have a pen?" She whispered to Chad. Chad reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen for Whitney. She scribbled the number on a scrap of paper and handed it to Fox.

"Thanks." Fox replied, his voice barely audible.

Chad and Whitney left quietly. Whitney remained silent on the ride home. Chad glanced at her from time to time and noticed the tears that glistened on her cheeks. "Are you going to be all right?" Chad asked softly.

"Did you see those all those machines? Theresa looked so helpless. Chad, I'm afraid for her." Whitney said as fear clouded her gaze.

"She's hanging on, Whitney. Theresa's a fighter." Chad replied.

"Yeah," Whitney said. "She'll pull through."

~*~



Fox stared at Theresa as he pulled out his cell and dialed Pilar's number. "Hello?" Pilar answered, sounding as if she had just woken up.

"Pilar, this is Fox." He said despondently.

"Is something the matter, Fox?" Pilar asked instantly detecting something odd in Fox's tone.

"It's Theresa." Fox said his voice already begin to tremble.

"What about Theresa?" Pilar asked urgently. "What happened?"

"She-uh- she was~" Fox was unable to go on. He looked at Theresa and pressed his lips tightly together to prevent the sobs from escaping.

"Fox," Pilar said anxiously.

"Theresa was~" Fox struggled with his words. "I don't know any other way to put this, but Theresa's in the hospital. She was~ hit by a car late last night." Fox bent his head as the tears began to fall freely down his cheeks. A long silence followed. "Pilar?" Fox said unsteadily.

Pilar was frozen with shock. Those words Fox uttered sent waves of stinging anxiety to her heart. "Not mi hija," Pilar said as her own voice started breaking.

"I'm afraid so." Fox said miserably.

"How bad is she?" Pilar whispered.

"The doctor says that it doesn't look good." Fox said rubbing away the tears. "They're doing everything they can to make sure she lives." He reached over and squeezed Theresa's hand.

"I'll be there as soon as I can book a flight." Pilar said hastily.

"No need," Fox replied tiredly. "I'll arrange it so that you can take the Crane jet. Once you arrive in L.A., I'll someone to bring you directly to the hospital."

"Oh, Fox. Thank you." Pilar said gratefully.

"Will you be bringing Little Ethan with you?" Fox asked.

"Yes. He's been separated from his mother long enough." Pilar said sadly.

Fox squeezed his eyes shut as more tears fell. "Poor little Ethan," Fox thought desolately.

"How soon can the flight be arranged?" Pilar asked.

"Let me make a few calls. I'll get back to you with the flight information."

"Thank you, Fox." Pilar said. "You stay strong for mi hija."

"I'll try." Fox said. "Bye Pilar." Fox hung up the phone and bent his head. Although he had cried so many times throughout the night, a new batch of tears found themselves cascading down Fox's cheeks.

~*~



"Where have you two been?" Ethan asked as Whitney and Chad entered the apartment.

"It's a long story." Chad said. "I'm going to go take a shower."

Whitney sat down tiredly on the couch. She tucked her legs under her and laid her head on the back of the chair.

"Something wrong?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah," Whitney said.

"What is it?" Ethan asked curiously. "Where you and Chad out all night?"

"We were at the hospital." Whitney replied while closing her eyes.

"All night?" Ethan said.

Whitney proceeded to tell Fox what had occurred between her and Latoya. "Oh my God," Ethan said.

"That's not the worst of it." Whitney said as she became teary.

"There's more?" Ethan asked.

"After Latoya drugged me, I guess she tried driving out of the parking lot when~" Whitney bent her head and let a few tears fall.

"Whitney?" Ethan asked.

"Theresa was hit by Latoya's car." Whitney said shaking with sobs.

Ethan blanched. "Was she~"

"She's in ICU. She looks pretty bad Ethan," Whitney admitted. "But we all have to believe she'll pull through."

Ethan remained speechless. All he could think about were the words he exchanged with her in the maternity ward. "It's all your fault," He had said to her. Ethan bent his head in shame.

~*~



Pilar sank to her knees and clutched her rosary to her breast. "Please, God, let mi hija live!" Pilar pleaded. Overcome with emotion, Pilar sank to the floor as her body shook with sobs.

~*~



After Whitney had showered and gotten dressed, she and Chad made their way to the L.A. police station. Whitney went off to a separate room with Officer Stanley to give her account of the incident. Chad entered a room with a double paned window from which Officer Canton watched. Latoya entered and eyed Chad with hostility. Her wrists were handcuffed.

"What the hell do you want?" Latoya asked irritably. "I ain't got time to hear your bullshi*t."

"Really? That's funny because I believe you have all the time in the world now baby. All you do is sit in a damn cell." Chad retorted.

"You real funny." Latoya said sarcastically.

"Enough with your bull. Why was Whitney drugged in the back seat of your car?" Chad demanded.

Latoya averted her gaze. "I ain't tellin' you sh*t."

"Fine," Chad said. "You're going to be spending a whole lot of time behind bars, and I know how that makes you feel Latoya."

"You don't know anything." Latoya said dismissing Chad's statement.

"You think I don't remember? You think I forgot about what your greatest fear is 'Toya?"

"Don't call me that." Latoya said quickly. "You ain't got the privilege anymore."

"Fine, Latoya, but I know the thought of being confined terrifies you to death."

"No it don"t." Latoya retorted.

"Yes it does, and it's all due to your mother, isn't it?"

Latoya bent her head and sniffed. "Leave my mama out of this."

"Latoya, you know how disappointed your mom would be with you right now?"

"She's gone now." Latoya said. "She left me."

"She didn't want to." Chad said quietly.

"How would you know?" Latoya cried. "She ain't never loved me."

"Yes she did. Damnit Latoya, she risked her life to make sure your ass wouldn't get into trouble with the damn law!"

Latoya sat back in her chair.

"You know it's true." Chad replied softly. "Latoya, tell me what happened out there in that parking lot. Why'd you drug Whitney and try to take off? And why'd you hit Theresa?"

Latoya blinked back tears. "It wasn't my car in the first place."

"What?" Chad said. "Who's car was it?"

"You ain't goin' to believe me." Latoya said with doubt in her gaze.

"Try me." Chad replied. "Who's car was it?" He repeated.

"Syd." Latoya mumbled.

"What?" Chad said.

"Sydney Valentine. It was her car, and her idea in the first place."