A/N – Thanks SO much to those who reviewed!! It's nice to be writing again and I really appreciate hearing your opinion on this story. Thanks to Silent Angel of Time, who graciously reminded me that Ephram's friend is named Wendell, not Warren…I couldn't figure it out for the life of me, LOL, thanks!! I hope that you enjoy this chapter, it's a little long…hopefully that won't end up being a bad thing!! Anway, I'll stop talking now, hope you like it and please keep reading and reviewing!!
Ephram rushed into the hospital, gently pushing people out of his way as he made his way to the waiting room. He wasn't surprised to find it quite busy, considering how close everyone was to everyone else in Everwood. He searched the room for a familiar face and found one, in Amy's older brother, Bright.
He hurried over to him but immediately stopped in his tracks when he realized Bright's condition. The boy was sitting on an uncomfortable hospital chair, in between his parents. Ephram noticed that his face was very pale and that he had cuts on his face, and a huge purple bruise on his left arm, just below his shoulder.
Oh my God, Ephram realized, He was in the car accident too. Was he driving?!
He suddenly became conscious that he was standing in the middle of the hospital waiting room, quite alone. Ephram noted that no one else had noticed him. He decided to go to the Abbott's and at least offer his condolences.
"Hi, Dr. and Mrs. Abbott," Ephram said, walking over to them, "I'm a friend of Amy's…I'm…I'm so sorry."
He wasn't really sure what else to say and as he stood in front of the distraught family, he attempted to figure out something else to say.
Mrs. Abbott saved him the trouble though and looked up at him fondly.
"Thank you, dear. What is your name?" she looked at Bright for help, but he was staring at across the room.
Ephram tried to smile as he responded, "Ephram…Ephram Brown."
Dr. Abbott looked up at him, and seemed to be thinking hard.
"Brown…you're not related to Dr. Andy Brown, are you?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
Ephram nodded, "Yeah, he's my dad."
Dr. Abbott stood up and put his hands on Ephram's shoulders.
"Your father needs to come here. He needs to come to Everwood!" Amy's upset father shouted, shaking him. He then took a breath, and Ephram saw tears come to his eyes. "Please, son, your father might be the only person who can save my daughter, my little girl…please…"
He trailed off and sunk into a hospital chair, putting his head in his hands. Mrs. Abbott put her arms around him, and Bright looked up at Ephram for the first time.
"Hey, man." he whispered, "Thanks for coming."
Ephram shook his head, "No problem, I had to come. I couldn't stay at home…"
Bright got up and faced Ephram. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, he began to talk to Ephram.
"Look, Ephram, I know I haven't been all that nice to you. I mean, simply, I'm a jerk. A huge jerk…but please, can you get your dad down here? Is there any way, any way at all that he could come? He's the big shot brain surgeon, right?" Bright clarified, his hands clasped together and shaking slightly.
Ephram nodded, "If you don't mind me asking…what's wrong with Amy? Her brain?"
Bright nodded quickly, "Yeah, I mean, I don't know exactly what, but it's something with her brain. Dude, I'll say it as simply as possible. She's not going to live if your dad doesn't come to Everwood really soon."
Ephram sighed, then nodded.
"I'll take care of it. Don't worry." he replied, as Bright gave him an unexpected hug.
"Thanks, Ephram. Thank you so much." Bright gave him a pat on the back, and gave a glance at his parents.
"Mom, Dad, Dr. Brown's gonna come. Don't worry."
* * *
Ephram waited as the phone rang once, twice, three times. Finally, someone picked up.
"Hello?"
"Dad, it's me, Ephram…please you have to come here. I need you, the Abbott's need you, Everwood needs you…" Ephram rambled, all his thoughts over the entire day coming to him. All his emotions seemed to be coming out, and he tried his hardest not to cry.
"What? Ephram, what's wrong? What's happened?" his father asked, sounding concerned.
Ephram took a breath, and would have chuckled if he weren't in the same situation. His father had no idea what had gone and Ephram had most likely just completely confused him.
"There was an accident, a car accident…and it was bad. This girl, Amy, my friend, she was hurt badly, and Dad, she's in a coma…they don't know if she's going to make it…" Ephram trailed off and tried to pull himself together.
Why was he so damn emotional? He needed to be strong, confident. Amy was going to make it; there wasn't any other possibility. She was the only reason that he hadn't been absolutely miserable in Everwood; she was the only reason that he was happy. If she was gone…
"Ephram? Son, are you alright?" his father's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
Ephram nodded his head, as if his father was there.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied softly, "But Dad, I need you to come here."
"Come to Everwood? Why? Oh no…this girl, Amy, it's her brain, isn't it?" his father guessed sadly.
"Her brain…yeah, something to do with that. I don't know exactly what's wrong, but I do know that you need to come. You're the only one who can help, Dad, and not only that, but her family asked for you." Ephram explained.
He heard his father sigh.
"Ephram…you know that I want to be there, but I just can't drop everything here and come, I mean, I have work I have to do here." Dr. Brown answered sadly.
"No!! Dad, you have to come! Please, take some sick days or something…do anything, please Dad. I need you." Ephram said quietly.
"Alright, alright, Ephram. I'll be there first thing tomorrow. Tell your friend's family that I'm coming, okay?" his father clarified.
Ephram sighed with relief, "Okay. Thanks Dad, I knew I could count on you."
There was a pause, and Ephram knew that his father probably hadn't heard those words in a long time.
"Thanks, Ephram. See you tomorrow."
"Bye Dad." Ephram replied, hanging up the phone.
He smiled in relief: there was hope.
