Disclaimer- I don't own Digimon or the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence.

*****Chapter 8- Truth Be Told*****

**I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
**

"And that's basically what happened. I couldn't deal with what the doctor was going to tell me so I got out of the hospital as fast as I could," Tai said, explaining what had happened earlier that night.

Matt, Mimi, and myself all gasped. We couldn't believe what was happening in Tai's life and it was a big shock to us all. Mimi had even begun to cry. I was speechless and really didn't know what to say that would make Tai feel better. I'd been in this situation before, when my dad died, so I knew exactly how he felt. If one more person I cared about was to be gone from my life, I don't know what I'd do.

"So, you don't know if she's going to be okay?" Mimi cried.

Tai shook his head.

"God, this... sucks..." Matt said.

"Tell me about it. Kari is a huge part of my life and I didn't even realize it until she ended up in the hospital. I'm regretting how many times I've taken advantage of her. Like making her lie for me all the time, even hiding my stupid drugs from my parents. It's ridiculous when I think about it and I'm just so sorry... I'm sorry, Kari..." Tai's words were hoarse and he had begun to cry again.

That was when it hit me that this whole issue with Kari being gone could soon become a reality. I wasn't going to settle for it.

"We all need to go down to the hospital and see her," I finally spoke.

"I don't want to go down there. I can't stand to look at her right now," Tai replied, still crying heavily.

"Tai, it's not about whether or not you want to see her right now. You're her brother, her only brother, and you need to be there for her through this whole thing. If you were to lose her right now you wouldn't be able to look at yourself anymore. You need to be there for her."

**These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
**

Tai knew I was right, even though he wouldn't admit it. When it came to battle of common sense between he and I, I was always right. I don't exactly know what was under that nest of hair on his head, but it sure as hell wasn't a brain. He didn't know how to think things through and wasn't very good at dealing with pressure. That's why I was here: to set him straight and get him on track.

"I'll go. You guys can stay here. I don't want to be a bother to you all," Tai said standing up and almost demanding that everyone stay at Matt's house.

"No, Tai. We all want to be there. Kari's just as big a part of our lives as she is yours. And I think it's best if we were all there supporting her," I replied, "Tai, I've known you my whole life and this is not going to stand between us."

"I agree, I want to be there too," Mimi said.

"Same here," Matt agreed.

"Fine, just... whatever. Come on, let's go."

And that was it. Four old friends finally agreeing on one thing and coming together in a person's time of tragedy for the first time in years. At that moment I was sad, upset, and yet, I was happy. This was what I had wanted for the first time since my father died. Not for Kari to get sick, but for all of my friends to come back to me. Isn't that a great feeling? Knowing that SOMEONE in this world cares for you? I think so.

We got to the hospital about 5 minutes later. It was a good thing that Matt didn't live too far from it because it was late (around 1:10am) and Matt's driving wasn't too good because he was tired.

"Can I help you?" A nurse at the front office desk asked as the four of us ran into the hospital.

"I need to know the room that Kari Kamiya is staying in," Tai said quickly, somewhat slurring his words as though he were drunk.

"I'm sorry. Visiting hours ended at 8 o'clock."

"No, you don't understand. She's my sister and she was brought in not too long ago. My parents are here somewhere."

**When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
**

"I'm sure the doctor sent them to the waiting room."

"And where can I find the waiting room?"

"Well... it depends. What is your sister here for?"

"She passed out and was coughing up blood and the doctor was running to tests to find out what was wrong with her."

"Kari Kamiya?"

"Yeah."

The nurse looked at the computer and punched in a few buttons. "Ah, yes," she finally said, "Kari is being held in room 214. They won't let you into her room but the waiting room is on the second floor next to the vending machines. If your parents are anywhere, they're there."

"Thank you!" Tai said and we all ran off to find an elevator.

We all stood in the elevator patiently waiting for it to rise to the next level. A ding was heard and the doors opened. Tai ran out leaving us in his dust. We followed him, but not as quickly.

When we entered the waiting room we saw Tai's parents sitting in one of the chairs, both were huddled together and asleep. Tai sat hovered next to them with his head bowed. It was as though he'd forgotten we were all there with him. We then heard him mumbling some words to himself as we kept quiet in the door of the waiting room.

"Please, God. If there really is a God... please help Kari to be okay. I really need you right now. I can't deal with this pressure right now and I need a sign, or something, that Kari will be okay. She doesn't deserve what she's going through. She never did anything wrong and it's not fair that she's having to suffer through this. If anyone should suffer it should be me. I've screwed up so many times in my life and You know that. I want her to be okay... please, just," Tai is now crying, "Just help her get better. Help her find a way to get through it all, please. I don't know if you'll help me out but I don't know what I'll do if I lose her. Do you see my parents? They're suffering too. So are Sora, Matt, Mimi, and all of Kari's friends. Please, God, if you do this for me I won't ask for anything ever again. Amen."

**You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me
**

We were all silent. What could we say after hearing that? Never in our lives had Tai asked anyone for help. And now he was praying to God? It was just too weird for the three of us to handle.

"I never knew Tai was so-" Mimi began but I cut her off.

"Deep," I finished.

"Yeah."

"In times of need some people will do anything they can. Tai doesn't know how to deal with the feelings he's having and he's desperate for any help. All he needs right now is a shoulder to lean on," Matt said but I didn't hear it because I was walking to Tai.

Tai was sitting in the chair with his face buried in his hands and tears running down his cheeks. He didn't notice my presence next to him and personally, I don't think he cared. I quietly sat next to him and wrapped an arm around him. As though it were a reflex he turned around and practically plunged himself on me. A bit surprised, I somewhat hesitated to say anything. We just sat there; he was crying and I was comforting him. It was just like old times. He was going through a hard time and I was going to do anything to help him get through it, not matter what. It didn't matter that we hadn't been friends for years, what did matter was that he needed me now. And come to think of it, I needed him too. The best friend relationships are the ones that you never lose. Even if you drift apart from each other you know that you can always count on the person in a time of need. That's exactly why I was there, holding Tai, he needed me.

Mimi and Matt soon joined us and sat in the chairs on the other side of us. Our commotion awoke Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya. They sat up, still half asleep, and began speaking to us.

"Sora, Matt, Mimi?" Mrs. Kamiya said as though she'd seen a ghost, "What are you three doing here?"

"We're here for Kari... and Tai," Mimi answered her.

"Oh, well that's nice."

"Kari needs everyone she can to be here supporting her. Have you heard anything from the doctor's since Tai was gone?" I wondered.

"The only thing he told us was that they had to run tests on her to see what exactly was going on. They didn't mention anything after that. We've been here ever since and I guess we kind of dozed off," Mr. Kamiya answered with a yawn.

**I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along
**

It fell silent.

A doctor by the name of Choi entered the room with a clip board in his hands and sweat upon his face. The room was dead silent, you know one of those creepy silences that you want to end as soon as they start? Yeah, that's what the room was like. He then began to speak.

"Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya... your daughter is..."

*****TBC*****

Yes, yes I know. THIS CHAPTER WAS STUPID! Oh well. Please review!