Hehehe...I had to re-type my author's note because the first one was very angry and not-so-nice to Fanfiction.net...^_^ But now I'm happy again, so it isn't necessary. Oh, and just for your random information, I got a LiveJournal and my name-thingy is 'spazzychick96.'

I TURN FIFTEEN IN FIFTEEN DAYS ON MARCH 20! Whoo-hoo!!! *does a little happy dance* And I go to New York City on tomorrow morning! Whoopee!

Adriana- I'm sorry for taking so long to review your story. But I took care of it, don't you worry. ^_^ I'm glad you like my reviews, though. *smiles*

Nebula- Aw, I only made you ALMOST sorry for Charlie? Dangit! *mumbles under breath* ...*sighs* Well, thanks anyway. ^_^ Even if you aren't likin' Charlie so much, at least you're sticking with me and giving me a chance to redeem him. ^_^ I'm glad you got over your depression, though. I'm sure it was rough...I'm glad you're feeling better now. ^_^ I hope you like the chapter! ^_~ And yeah, I got your first review (hence the first part of this reply). The site was having a screwy time, so I didn't want to review your chapters until it was fixed; I was scared I would type it up, and then it would get deleted...Then I would get frustrated and MORE angry with FF.net, so yeah. Lol...I DID finally review it, though! ^_^ And I'm shocked at your over-whelming sympathy for our dear Charlie...lol...^_~ Thanks for the reviews, Neb!

Brnnttebabe12- Yeah; I guess I could have chosen other ways, but oh well. ^_^ I'm glad you like the story, even if the cutting is grossing you out a bit. Yes, rah for the Charlie love!

Allie- Would I sound totally stupid if I said it took me awhile to think of what to say? Meh, oh well. I hope you are enjoying the chapter, even if it hit home for you, and I hope you continue to enjoy reading the story. I'm trying to keep it real, and I'm always glad to hear from you. ^_^ I'm sad to hear what you went through, but I'm glad you're past it.

Banksiesbabe99- I'm glad I managed to mesmerize you with the chapter. ^_~ I'm always glad to hear from you! *grins*

Liz- I'm glad you liked the song! *grins* I thought it was perfect too...Now I'm dying to hear it...*sighs*...oh well. Yes, all good things come with time. They need patience while all YOU have to do is beg me for my harbored, secret chapters waiting to be posted...Lol...Aren't you mighty privileged? ^_^

Joshrox116- I'm glad you liked the chapter! ^_~ And I'm on a desperate search for a notebook worthy of carrying on my Trusty Green Notebook's legacy...It's some big shoes to fill...

Sophie- I'm sorry that you aren't feeling good...^_^ I'm glad my update cheered you up! Aw, I'm sorry the word 'poetry' strikes negative feelings in you...Lol...I'll try to pry myself out of the poetic mood for ya. Lol...The girl threw a chair?! Hehehe...violence is not the answer. ^_~ Speaking of chairs, I get to be a chair in my Theater melodrama skit...Lol...and the villain picks me up and throws me at the hero. ^_~ And people sit on me a lot. o.O And the girl playing the 'cat' jumps on me...So I get a wee-bit abused...but oh well. Lol. I don't have any lines? ^_~ Yeah, 'Origin' was Evanescence's first CD. It's like, a buncha money on eBAY...far out of MY fourteen-year-old-gonna-be-fifteen-on-March-20 budget. I WOULD download them illegally (^_~) except the fines are like $1000 dollars or something like that now, so it would be cheaper just to buy the CD and get good quality. ^_~ I may just go to one of those download-and-pay- one-song-at-a-time sites and see if they have some of the songs. And my Notebook dilemma is very tragic. Very, very tragic. Hehehe, thanks for the color suggestions. ^_~ Wow, you've only been on FF.net for four months? It seems like longer...I feel old when I think that I was only twelve when I started...*shakes head* Scary...As for my nature poem, it was just nature in general. Talking about squirrels, the sky, stars, water, crickets, all that lovely stuff wrapped together with Chelsea's poetic touch. ^_~ I wrote you the deep, dark poem. ^_^ So did you like? Was it deep and dark enough for ya? ^_~ *smiles smugly at the whackage (don't argue with my word!) of Sophie at the mention of sports* Serves ya right for making fun of my lack of sporting skills! ^_^ Lol...And French SpongeBob IS potentially scarring. I mean, come ON! Look at me! Lol...I'm kidding...o.O...Heh, my French teacher is actually pretty cool and non-boring. Most of my teachers aren't that bad at all, actually. I'm a major suck-up and the teachers love me. Lol...Yes, we should blame the shopkeeper people for selling Charlie the razors. Yep. *nods* I don't want to spoil the chapter *cough*, so I'm just going to let you read. ^_^ And I hate to ruin anything for the future, but I'm a sucker for happy endings. It won't be a tragic, depressing ending. ^_^ *realizes that probably ruined it all, but shrugs it off* You should never ask me how things'll end, because chances are I'll ruin it and tell you. ^_^ Heehee...*feels honored at the last line of review* Wow, you're sweet. ^_^ *hugs* Read on, young bunny.

Snorts- Thanks for the review, and I hope you find this chapter suitable. ^_~

Angel Spirit- Hehehe, nope. You didn't miss this update. ^_^ True...I DO need to buy a new notebook...But I'm cheap, so that could be a problem. Lol...I'll find a way though! The legacy shall live on! Trusty notebooks always come in handy during class, I must agree. ^_^

Rachel- I got your email, and thanks so much! FF.net is spazzing on me and won't show me my reviews...Thanks for emailing me your response, because I was dieing for some feedback that showed how you guys reacted. o.O Figures FF.net would spaz on THAT chapter, eh? I'm jealous that you got to see the Laramie Project...I wanted to see him in it! *cries* I have no clue what it's about, but it has JOSH IN IT! Nothing else really matters. Lol...I was really happy that you think I captured the struggle he's going through. Your email truly made my crummy outlook on life a smidge brighter again. ^_^ In fact, I'm gonna dedicate this chapter to you! Rah! You and Adriana's reviews were the only ones I ACTUALLY got to read, unfortunately. But that's okay...I might recover eventually. ^_^ Yeah, I can understand keeping your writing to yourself. *smiles* And I'm so happy you like my story; it makes me smile. ^_^ It may have even helped me not want to rant so much on my poor LiveJournal...Nah...Lol...^_~ You're always such a sweet reviewer, so this is dedicated to you! Rock on! ^_~

Disclaimer- I don't own the Mighty Ducks.

-Chapter 43-

The janitor picked up his mop and carried it over to the bathroom. Once he finished this last bathroom, he could finally go home. It was a Friday and he was eager to be on his way.

He tried the door and discovered it was locked. He furrowed his eyebrows, trying again.

Still locked.

With a frustrated groan, he banged on it several times. "Hey! Anyone in there? It's closing time! Finish up!" he called through the door.

No response.

He groaned again and looked impatiently at his watch. He would never make it home at this rate.

This time he knocked more forcefully. "Hey, hurry up in there! I'm planning on getting home sometime this century!" he complained with an edge to his voice.

No response.

With one last curse under the breath, he called out again as he pulled out his keys. "Alright, I'm coming in, so you better be ready!" he said angrily, jamming the key into the hole and twisting.

The woman at the cash register watched him. She closed the tray back into the cash register and leaned up against the table, pulling out her own keys to head to her car. She pulled out her cell phone and was preparing to inform her boyfriend that she was on the way home.

She heard a gasp as her co-worker stumbled out of the bathroom, eyes wide.

"VICKIE! Call the police! Call the police, Vick! Now!" he said in a panicked voice.

Her gaze whipped over to him. "What? Why?" she asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

"JUST DO IT!" he said hurriedly as he walked back into the room and kneeled on the floor.

The girl nodded, her expression melting into one of fright as she dialed 911. Knowing she would need to tell them the problem, she briskly walked over to the kneeling janitor.

A gasp escaped her voice as her free hand flew to her mouth. A young teenage boy sat, leaning against the wall, covered with blood.

"Is he...alive?" she asked, her voice shaking as she kneeled on the ground next to the two males.

The janitor held two fingers under the boy's neck for a few seconds. "Yeah...he still has a pulse...It's weak, but he's still alive. Are they coming?" he asked, referring to the police.

"Hold on, they just answered." she said quietly to him before standing up, taking a breath as the lady on the other end asked her what the problem was.

She shakily told the lady what had happened and where they were. Vickie was relieved when they said they were on their way.

Kneeling on the ground again, she swallowed. So much for going home...

Her eyes scanned the floor subconsciously. She saw a bloodied razor a few inches from his open hand.

"Harry...Harry, look." she said, pointing to the metal object.

He nodded, forehead creased with worry. He wasn't prepared for this...This had not been in the job description...

Vickie curled up on the opposite wall of the men's bathroom, pulling her knees to her chest. Her eyes were wide. She was barely out of High School, and she was terrified.

"Is he...gonna be okay?" she asked quietly, watching the slight rise and fall of the boy's chest.

Harry didn't answer.

She adverted her gaze, unable to look anymore. "Why aren't they here yet?" she demanded, feeling tears sting her eyes.

"I don't know...if you want to, you can wait out there for them. I can stay here with the kid." he offered, knowing the blood was making his female co- worker queasy.

She nodded, standing up quickly and walking out the door to wait for the police.

A few minutes later, two policemen showed up and asked where the boy was. She pointed to the men's bathroom and leaned against the counter, unable to speak.

The two policemen nodded, nearly running to the small room. They opened the door and saw Harry sitting with the teenage boy. They were followed by several medical people to get him to an ambulance.

While one police officer helped the people get the boy to the ambulance, the other stayed to question Harry.

"Do you know this boy?" he asked Harry.

He shook his head. "No, can't say I do. I was just cleaning up for the night and the door was locked, so I unlocked it after a few times asking. I told Vick to call 911 immediately after I saw him there..."

The policeman nodded and wrote this down on a notepad. "I see."

The police officer picked up the backpack and carefully put the razor in a plastic bag. "We'll have to search his things for any identification. We should probably inform his family and get them to the hospital. Thank you for calling us. We might be able to save him if we can get him to the hospital on time. He'll probably need a blood transfusion if he survives. He's lost quite a bit."

Harry nodded. "Let's just hope he does survive." he said, still creeped out that he was standing in the same room as an almost-dead kid. One that slit his wrists until he nearly died...

Harry walked out and saw Vickie standing stilly by the counter, watching them carry the boy out on a stretcher, loading him carefully on the ambulance.

He stood by her.

The girl folded her arms across her chest as she saw the ambulance speed off for the hospital. She just wanted to go home and have the day be over with.

"I wanna go home now, Harry," she said softly, still watching the now- deserted road the ambulance had faded off on.

He nodded and walked her to her car. "See you tomorrow, Vick?"

She bit her lip and shook her head, still shaken up.

Harry nodded and patted her shoulder. "Drive safe."

Vickie nodded and got in her small car while Harry parted for his truck. They both just wanted to get home and distract themselves.

~~~*~~~

Gordon Bombay was pacing back and forth. It was 9:45 and Charlie wasn't home yet. Not a single word from him all day...

Sending a worried glance at the clock, he sat down on the couch, rubbing his temples. Things had been tense and difficult between him and Charlie lately. As much as he had hoped everything would magically be okay when they got Charlie back home, it hadn't worked out that way. He didn't know for sure whether they had spoken to each other in a positive manner the entire time.

He was worried sick. 10:00. Still no Charlie.

The ex-peewee hockey coach knew he would never get to sleep until he knew Charlie was safe at home, so he began making himself some coffee.

He opened the fridge to look for something to snack on while he waited for the coffee to finish.

He settled on string cheese and black coffee.

As he sat down on the couch, he turned on the TV, flipping through it lazily. When he would start to feel sleepy, he would take another sip of coffee. Nothing interesting was on TV...

At 11:45, he felt his eyes drooping. As he finally closed his eyes, he was shaken awake by the phone ringing.

He groaned. "Blasted phone..." he mumbled as his hand traced a path to the phone.

He clicked the 'Talk' button and held it to his ear. Who could be calling at 11:45?

"Ello?" he said sleepily into the phone.

"Gordon Bombay?" the voice asked.

"This is he. May I ask who's calling?" Gordon questioned with a yawn.

"Ah, yes. This is Hennipen County Medical Center. Do you know a young man named Charlie Conway?" the man on the other end asked Gordon.

Gordon perked up immediately when he heard the boy's name. "Yes, yes. Is everything alright? Why is he at the hospital?" Bombay asked when it registered WHO was calling him.

The man on the other end seemed to hesitate.

"Hello? What's wrong with Charlie? Is he okay?" Gordon asked, softer this time, feeling a sick feeling settle in his stomach and a knot form in his throat. "Is Charlie okay?" he asked in a desperate tone.

"Sir, you may wanna come down here for this..." the man said with sympathy. Why did he need to go there? Why was he sympathetic? What was wrong with Charlie?

"I'll be right there. Where do I go to find him?" Bombay asked.

"Just asked what room he's in and tell them who you are. They should take you to him." the man said.

Gordon nodded and thanked the man, hanging up the phone.

What was going on?

~~~*~~~

The lady behind the counter scrolled down the computer screen. "Conway, Charlie. Room 306." she said, and Gordon thanked her before rushing towards the elevator.

He pressed the button and tapped his foot impatiently. When the elevator made a ringing sound and opened, he rushed in and went up a floor.

Bolting out the elevator door and scrambling to room 306, he saw two doctors blocking his path.

They glance up at him, clipboards in hand. "Sir, can we help you?" they asked.

"I-I need to see Charlie." Gordon stuttered.

"I'm sorry, visiting hours are over." one said.

"But I need to see him! I'm his legal guardian, and no one has told me what happened! What's wrong with Charlie? Why is he here? Is he okay?" Bombay demanded.

"Mr. Bombay, I presume?" another doctor dressed in white asked as he approached them.

"Yes, what's wrong with Charlie?" he asked.

"Follow me." the man said, leading Gordon Bombay away from Charlie's room.

Gordon looked around at the white walls and people dressed white, pushing carts around with hurry. It smelled of a hospital.

The suspense was growing in Gordon's mind. What could have possibly happened to Charlie?

"You might want to sit down for this..." the man instructed Gordon, motioning for the chair in front of his desk. They had walked into the man's office.

"No, it's okay." Gordon said.

"No, really. You might want to sit down for this..." the doctor insisted.

Gordon's eyebrows furrowed as he obeyed. "Is it that bad?"

The doctor cleared he throat and wrung his hands with nervousness. "You see..." he said, unsure of how to break the news. He decided the best way would be just to say it. If he over-analyzed it, he could never get it out. It was the one thing he disliked about being a doctor. Breaking the bad news. "We found him on the floor of a convenience store bathroom. He was bleeding profusely, and I doubt he would have lived had he been there much longer." he explained.

"So he's alive? He's okay? How did this happen?" Gordon asked in one breath.

"Yes, he's alive. I can't say so much for him being okay, however. You see, sir, we think Charlie might have tried to commit suicide." the doctor said, somewhat wishing he wasn't a doctor.

"Wha-what? What do you mean?" Gordon stumbled over his words. "What do you mean?" he demanded with confusion.

"There are several deep scars and a bloody razor blade. It seems he tried to commit suicide. Had the janitor not unlocked the door, there's no telling if he would still be alive." the doctor said with sympathy.

"But...no...he wouldn't do that...He...wouldn't..." Gordon mumbled to himself, trying to process this all in his brain. "He couldn't..."

"I'm sorry..." the doctor said, leaning back in his chair, hating that he had to be the one to tell the man.

"No..." Gordon said again.

The doctor gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "We're currently in the process of performing a blood transfusion. Luckily we had the right type ready. It's still possible he can pull through." the doctor said and stood up.

When Gordon didn't say anything, the doctor sighed and walked out of the room, leaving Gordon Bombay sitting alone.

Bombay leaned forehead and buried his face in his hands. How was it possible? It couldn't be true...

Could it?

Was Charlie really that driven? That miserable?

Was it something he had done?

Gordon sighed and placed his chin in his hands. He would have to call the Ducks...Tomorrow was a Saturday, so they wouldn't be missing any school.

He would have to tell them...