Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Lizzie McGuire characters in this story. Hey, wouldn't you know it! I own something. I own Tara, Jack, and Ben.

A/N: This Lizzie fanfic is a sequel to my story "Everything at Once."

Chapter 17

LIZZIE'S POV:

I ran to the police officers' station and knocked on the door. A police officer of about my height answered.

"Come quick! I need help," I panicked. "My friend Tara needs help too! Her fiancé is...is..."

"It's ok ma'am, I'll come right away," he said in a calm voice. He followed me out to the road, where a terror stricken Tara was fallen. She was on her knees, covering her face. Even though it was dark, I could see the tears streaming down her cheeks. She was wailing a painful cry. When she saw us, she put her hand on the car for stability, and slowly rose to her feet.

"O-o-over there," she stuttered. She pointed towards the hill that the car had stumbled down. "S-s-save my b-baby!" she yelled. Then she screamed and cried at the same time. I was wondering if she was going to be all right. Then, like a flash, she started to run to the place where Ben's car had rolled.

"Please, officer! Watch her. I'd follow, but I just don't have the strength," I said tiredly. He took off after Tara, and I waited there for them. I slowly walked around in circles, fingering a locket that my mom had given me years ago. I started crying deeply and couldn't control myself any longer. I was sick and fed up with tragedies. At least my family was back home waiting for me. But Tara? Ben was the only family she had. If he died, she would have nowhere to turn for comfort.

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NO POV:

Mr. and Mrs. McGuire sat down on the couch, just in complete silence. They had been useless ever since Lizzie had disappeared. They had all ready gone through one kidnapping, and they didn't want to again. No parent would want that to happen to their child. Mrs. McGuire started silently crying, and her husband wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a warm embrace.

"Sam," she cried, "where's our baby? Is she safe? Where could she have gone to? She just has to be upstairs! She can't be...be gone!" Mr. McGuire rubbed her shoulders lightly and began to give her a massage. He was trying to keep himself together. He knew that if he himself started crying, then it would make things worse for his wife. When he finished massaging her shoulders, he took a deep breath. But the tears soon came flowing to his eyes, and he and his wife sat there entwined together, crying softly and trying to comfort each other.

Isabella was looking at pictures of Lizzie and thinking about how even thought that hadn't been sisters for too long, how much she loved being a sister and a twin. Isabella would talk to Kate about it, and Kate was upset that her cousin was missing at the same time as Lizzie.

Matt McGuire was upstairs lying down on his bed, tears in his eyes too. He missed his sister so much that he couldn't stand it anymore. He wanted to go and find the person who had taken his sister, and beat the daylights out of them. The whole McGuire household was lifeless and dead. There wouldn't be any life until they found Lizzie safe and sound.

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LIZZIE'S POV:

I sat with Tara in the waiting room at the small town hospital, waiting to hear if Ben would be ok or not. Jack and Ben were both in rooms being looked after. I sat right near Tara to try and give her comfort...but I couldn't find the right words to say. What words could I have said? I just felt like just being with her helped her some. I felt awful about everything. But Tara? Her heart must have been torn in two. I knew that it was with Ben, and if Ben lived so did she. But if Ben died...I knew that her inner being would die right with him. I watched as she cried softly into her hands. She hadn't said a word in a long time.

Pretty soon the doctor came out. Tara's eyes opened and she sprang to her feet. "What is it, doctor? What's going on?" she asked frantically.

The doctor just looked sadly at Tara. "Well," he said slowly, "he's lost a lot of blood; and same with that young man who was with him. We're going to wait till the morning to see how he does. But...only time will tell what happens."

"Can...can I see him?" asked Tara.

"He's not doing well right now," replied the doctor.

"Please!" she cried. "Please just let me be with him. I need to see him. I need to tell him everything will be all right."

"I'm not so sure that that would be a good idea," said the doctor. I knew what his thinking was. Ben must've looked so bad that he knew that it would be hard on Tara.

"Please," insisted Tara. "I have to be with him."

"Oh all right," said the doctor reluctantly. "This way."

I slowly followed near Tara. When she walked into the room, she grasped at her heart. I knew that Ben must've been near death. I didn't want to experience death. I always loved seeing life...not death. I knew that I wouldn't be able to handle it, so I crept back to the waiting room.

A young man with a dark head of hair walked towards me. "Are you ok, miss?" he asked. "Do you want me to get you anything?" I shook my head. "A blanket? A cup of tea or something?" I shook my head once again, and curled up into the chair. He came slowly towards me and reached out his hand to touch my arm.

"No!" I yelled firmly. "Get away. Now!" He quickly pulled his hand back.

"Whatever you say," he said. "Just trying to help." A lady at the front desk was watching us.

"Are you sure you're fine? You look hungry and tired. Bob was only trying to help," she said.

"That's what they all say," I cried. "Then...then all that happens is...is I get hurt! I can't...I can't trust..." Then I lost all composure and let all tears flow. I reached up to my face and rubbed my eyes. The lady walked up to me and sat down.

"What's wrong, dear?" she asked.

"Him," I mumbled, "all of the guys in the world." She reached out her hand and patted me on my back.

Then the doctor stepped out and pulled the lady aside, and I heard some whispering.

"Dear," she said, "I've got a nice room for you over here." I slowly rose from my seat, but stopped right near the doctor.

"Ben, is he gonna be all right?" I asked.

All he did was look away from my eyes and then rub his neck. Slowly he answered, "Let's just say that we need a miracle."

A/N: Ok, so here is the new chapter. I'm going to be taking a little vacation for a week and a half. I probably won't be back to writing till around June 23 or something like that. So, just wanted to let you know. I'm not going to give everything away, but the next chapter will start to get lighter. Hopefully. Have an awesome day and please review!

Thanks to arstigirl16, Ambiecat88, essychi, Winter Blaze, crazyhanyoued, nemo456, Marie Dandy, blahthepickles, and Jersey Princess. I love you all for your reviews!

Ambiecat88: I added the little bit at home thing for you. I hope you like it!

Marie Dandy: I'm gonna miss you! :'(

Ok, next chapter determines whether Ben lives or not! I decided to delay and build the suspense. Maybe I'll start writing the chapter on the plane...or, maybe if I get enough reviews to motivate me, I can get it written and posted by tomorrow!