Disclaimer-I don't own Passions or the song

Streets of Heaven

'I'm spending way too much time in the hospital,' Kay decided.

She had arrived at the hospital to find her father sobbing in the lobby, and Jessica going into hysterics, screeching nonsense, saying the names of Grace and Kay over and over. An orderly had had to drag her away and give her a sedative.

David and John were there, too, both crying openly. John looked ready to strangle Kay. David said nothing.

Finally, Charity was there. Charity had stared at her for a long time, a hollow, searching look. That unnerved Kay even more than Jessica's hysterical rage. This seemed to be the judgment on her soul. She had wished for her mother to die. Now she had gotten her wish.

"It's her birthday today," Charity said. "She wanted to play with Maria for her present. She loves that baby, Kay."

"Shut up!" Kay yelled. "You just shut up, Charity!"

Charity gave her that look, that horrible look that made Kay's soul sink into her stomach. "You should have walked her across the street. She's a child in her mind. She doesn't think to look both ways."

"SHUT UP!!" Kay was screeching now.

Charity shut her mouth and looked away.

"Eve, please tell me, is she okay? Please, tell me she's all right!" Sam was practically on his knees before Eve.

Eve stared with empty eyes. "She's in critical condition. She lost a lot of blood on impact. Her ribs dislocated and severed many veins."

"Oh, dear God. Oh, dear God." Sam looked ready to go into hysterics, just like Jessica.

"She's still in the ER. She's being monitored right now. We're giving her fresh blood but it might not be enough. What with her regression and stress, it might be more than her cells can support."

"Are…are you saying that…"

"Mom…might die?" Kay said. She whispered it, but her words filled the room.

Tears were running down Eve's cheeks. "Grace…it's highly poss…" She couldn't continue.

Jessica began sobbing. She gripped the check-in desk to support herself. John and Charity went to her, both sobbing. David was breathing hard, tears running down his face.

Sam slumped to the floor and buried his face in his hands. His shoulders shook as he wept.

Kay stood there silently, staring straight ahead.

"Dr. Russell."

Eve sniffled, and wiped her face. "What, Kay?"

"May I see her?"

"What?!"

"I want to see her."

"Kay, I can't let you do that. Hospital policy…"

"Damn hospital policy! I want to see my mother!"

Jessica spoke between sobs. "What the hell do you want to see her for?! You're the one who killed her!"

"You shut up, Jessica!" Kay yelled. "I don't care! I want to see my her! I WANT TO SEE HER!!"

There was silence in the room.

"I'll…I'll take you to her, Kay," Eve said. "Please, follow me."

Kay knelt by the bed, holding Grace's still, cold hand. She had stayed here for several hours. She had done nothing but stare.

For so long, Grace had seemed like an invincible foe, so strong and unchangeable, always pushing her, no matter how much Kay hated it.

But now, she was just a child. And Kay had forced her into acknowledging the 19-year-old's power, had hurt her so bad that she had run into the street and gotten hit.

'I never thought I had that much power,' Kay thought. She frowned.

'I hate it.'

"Hello, God. It's me, Kay. Well, you already knew that."

Kay was in the chapel, a place she had not been in for a long, long time.

"We haven't spoken much." She paused. "I sound stupid."

There was a long silence.

"I know I've prayed to You that Grace would die. I've gotten that wish. The Grace I know and I were mortal enemies. But she's Gracie know, and…and I don't want Gracie to die."

Tears came to her eyes. "Gracie's just a stupid little brat who bothered the baby. She was a big problem, always coming over when she wanted. She had no inhibitions. She always came when she wanted, and destroyed everything she touched, and marked up the floors…and she didn't have any problems hugging me or telling me that she loved me. ME, Kay, who hated Grace. But I wasn't Kay to Gracie. I was Kay-Kay, her Kay-Kay."

She couldn't stop crying now. "I wish I'd put those flowers in a vase…the most expensive vase Tabitha had, and hugged her and wished her a happy 7th birthday. I hurt her so bad…and I've hurt everyone else…and I'm one big screw-up."

She looked up defiantly, as if someone was there to scold her. "I'm not sorry that Grace is gone…not exactly…I saw Gracie as Grace and I…I made a mistake. You hear me?! I made a MISTAKE!"

She was almost in hysterics, like Jessica. "And I'm SORRY!! I don't want Gracie to die. Please don't let Gracie die!"

Silence was all that responded to her.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and crossed herself as she stood up.

"I guess I shouldn't ask You to fix my mistakes. I DO have my free will, don't I? I just came to tell you that I'm sorry. And to ask You…if You take her, will you look after her? She's still just a little baby…I don't want her to get hurt when she crosses Heaven's streets."

She was still crying when she left the chapel.

"Streets of Heaven" was the inspiration for this chapter. I didn't quite agree with the message, because I personally believe that God lets things happen as they happen and chooses not to have a hand in things, waiting for us to learn from our mistakes—but it seemed like a good song to inspire this chapter.