No Time to Waste
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
Chapter 6
None so, as those who will not.
`
As Lizzie was being examined, Mr. Gordon went to sit with his son. Meanwhile, the McGuries sat in the same waiting room they had just left. Or rather, Sam and Jo sat. Matt was making an unintentionally comic display of pacing, sitting, and pacing again.
"Matt," Jo said, "I'm sure Lizzie will be fine. She seemed okay after you took her to Gordo."
"I know. I'm sure she'll be fine. She just had to see him for herself."
"That's not what's worrying you, is it?" Sam asked, a light dawning. "You're trying to figure out how to tell Miranda how you feel." Matt stopped in his tracks. "It's okay, son. You have every right to be nervous. But why not just tell her the way you told us?"
Matt exhaled noisily and flopped into a chair. "It might have been so easy, if I hadn't made such a fool of myself when I had that crush on her a couple of years ago."
Both parents smiled in remembrance. "Yes, well, that is an added problem. Still, I think that, if you speak from the heart, she'll believe you."
"I hope so." Matt didn't sound convinced.
~~~~~~~~
After Dr. Martin was done with Lizzie, she gave the family the new. "Lizzie appears to have suffered no ill effects from her concussion. Of course, she will need a series of follow-ups to be safe. Grade three concussions are nothing to fool around with. Her lung sounds are also strong. I understand we have you to thank for that?" She gave a sharp like at Matt, who nodded. "That little stunt broke more regulation than I know how to count. It turned out well, but don't do it again." Matt nodded meekly. Dr. Martin leaned toward him and said in a loud whisper "That's the official line. I think you did great." Matt smiled slightly at this. Dr. Martin stood straight again. "All and all, I'd say she's a very lucky young lady."
When the meeting was over, Matt asked to sit with Lizzie alone for a while. They talked about little things, neither willing yet to talk to the other about the revelations in their lives. Lizzie because, well, he's still just Matt to her. She had no way of knowing how he'd grown. Matt because he didn't want to hit Lizzie with that particular bomb this soon in her recovery.
~~~~~~~~
At 3:00 that afternoon, the McGuire parents came back to Lizzie's room. "Matt, I'll stay with Lizzie. You should go with your father." Jo gave him a meaningful look.
Matt took the hint. "See ya later, Lizzie."
`
When they were out of earshot of Lizzie's room, Sam spoke first. "May I ask how much you told Lizzie?"
"About Miranda, nothing. I thought it was too soon to hit her with that. Dad, I'd like to go talk to her, Miranda I mean. I really can't waste time on this"
Sam stopped. "Do you know how you're going to tell Miranda? I know you said there was no time to waste, but I think you should be sure of what you're doing first. If you think this would be big for Lizzie to hear, what do you think it will be like for Miranda to have you tell her this?"
"Thanks for the pep talk, dad." Matt said wryly.
"Sorry. I know you're growing up, and I know you need to do this. I guess I still feel the need to protect you somehow. You probably don't need me to, but . . . "
"Don't need you," Matt cut in, "are you kidding?!? Dad, I need you now more then ever. Maybe not as much to protect me, but I need your support, your advice, your respect, and I still need you when I get in over my head. In fact, I'd like you to be there when I talk to Miranda. Not necessarily in the room, but knowing you're there will help."
"Sure, Matt, I'll be there." With that, they headed toward the elevators.
~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, a few rooms away from Lizzie, other events were unfolding.
~~~~~~~~
Dr. Javier was in Ethan's room, arranging with Mrs. Craft the follow-up MRI. They were surprised when a soft, scratchy voice from the bed interrupted them. "Quiet down, will ya."
While Dr. Javier's face showed amazement, his voice was incredulous. "Mr. Craft?!?"
Ethan was slowly rubbing his face and head, trying to clear the fog. "No, you want my dad. I'm Ethan. Who are you?"
"I'm Dr. Javier, your neurologist."
"New what?"
"Neurologist. It means a doctor who deals with the brain."
Ethan slowly opened his eyes. For a spilt-second, his face showed panic, but the look passed. "Does that mean something happened to my brain?"
Dr. Javier caught the flash of panic, but decided to answer the question. "Yes, I'm afraid it does. Do you remember being in a car crash?"
"No, but I think I fell asleep. How is everyone?"
"Alive. I'll tell you more about them in a minute, while we examine you. But first, I'd like to ask you one question. What can you see right now?"
Ethan's head rose toward Dr. Javier. "Nothing."
~~~~~~~~
As the McGuire men approached Miranda's room, they heard what sounded like a mild argument. "Maybe this isn't a good time to walk in on them." Sam observed.
"Maybe, but I think I'll stick my head in and check. If it's possible, I'd still like to do this." Matt turned to his dad. "Would you mind being close to the door? I might need a bail out."
"You sure I should be so close? I know you want me near, but if I'm too close, I may hear things you wouldn't want me to."
"If Miranda's folks leave the room, then I'll want some privacy. Have I said thanks yet for coming with me?"
"You just did. Good luck."
"Thanks." With that, Sam let Matt pull ahead, then angled for a chair on the wall beside the door.
As Matt reached the door, he found he had walked into what sounded to be an old argument, with Miranda and her parents all looking exasperated at each other. Miranda hadn't noticed the new addition to her audience. "How can I not blame myself, Mom? I. Was. The. Driver. If I had only been paying more attention, I wouldn't have three friends unconscious in this place."
Matt couldn't believe his ears. "How in the hell do you figure YOU'RE to blame?!?" Sam winced. 'Not my choice for opening lines' he thought.
Miranda threw her arms up in frustration. "I am NOT going through this argument again. Why don't you go sat with Lizzie, in the bed I put her in?"
Matt stalked toward her. "I just came from talking with her." Miranda's face showed she caught his word choice. "Yeah, I said with. She woke just before noon today. She's okay. From the sound of it, she's got a clearer head then you."
"Go away."
"No."
"WHAT?!?"
"NO. Not until you stop with the guilt trip."
"This is NOT YOUR CONCERN!"
"YES IT IS!"
"HOW DO YOU FIGURE THAT?!?"
"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU AND I CAN'T TAKE YOU BLAMing yourself for this and I can't believe I just did that."
As Miranda and her parents stared at him in stunned silence, Matt collected himself, then pressed on. "I came up here tell you that, but I wasn't sure how. Yelling at you was NOT high on my list of ideas."
"This is crazy, Matt. We've already been through this once. Why do it again, and why now."
"I know you have reason to doubt me, but I ask you to hear me out first. As for why now . . . Miranda, think about what's happened. If I've learned anything this last few days, it's that we can't waste time. Not on important things."
"Miranda," she looked up to see Mr. McGuire standing in the doorway, "I think you should know that mister . . . doctor Gordon believes his sincerity, as do his mother and I. He has really grown these last few days, something of a baptism by fire. Please give him a chance to tell his story. What have you got to lose?"
"But . . ."
"I've seen the change in him, too" Mrs. Sanchez added, slowly walking to the side of the bed opposite Matt. "It's hard to believe that this strong, helpful young man is the same person as the one who sent all those balloons." She tried to restrain a chuckle at Matt's reaction to the reminder. "But then, I'm not sure he can be called the same person." She took Miranda's hand in hers. "If you don't listen to us about anything else today, listen to this: Give him a fair chance. Mothers know about these things."
Matt tried to keep his face neutral, but he couldn't believe what he had just heard. Miranda's mom was helping him?
Miranda saw something in her mother's eyes, and gave in. "All right. I'll give him a chance. But no promises."
"Fair enough" said Mrs. Sanchez. She then turned to the two men, who were both looking at her with two very different looks of surprise. "Let's give them some privacy." She then shepherded them out the door, and out of earshot.
`
Miranda turned to Matt. "This had better be good, Matt"
"I guess I'd better begin." And so, Matt begin telling his story, from his first notice a couple of months ago, to the night of the crash, to his guilt, to his talks with Mr. Gordon and his parents. As he spoke, Miranda couldn't believe this was Matt. 'Maybe he has changed' she thought.
When Matt reached the end of his story, he said "I'm not expecting you to feel the same way about me, not right away. All I ask is that you give me the chance to prove myself to you. May I court you?"
"Matt, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I believe you." He started to smile. "But, your right, I don't feel the same. It's just too soon." His face started to fall. "But, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I'll let you," here she only half stifled the giggle, "'court' me." As his face perked up again, she asked "where in the world did you pick up the term 'court'?"
"From all those sappy movies you and Lizzie watch."
"Hey!"
"I'm kidding!" Both were giggling at this. When they settled down, Matt changed the subject. "How would you like the first thing we do together to be a bit of matchmaking?"
"Weird, but interesting choice. Who?"
Matt's grin widened further. "That's right, I stopped before I got to that part. Something happened when Lizzie woke I think you'd be interested in." He then launched into that story, and soon, he and Miranda were working out a plan for Lizzie and Gordo.
~~~~~~~~
A/N: When will Gordo wake? Where does Ethan fit in? Stay tuned.
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
Chapter 6
None so, as those who will not.
`
As Lizzie was being examined, Mr. Gordon went to sit with his son. Meanwhile, the McGuries sat in the same waiting room they had just left. Or rather, Sam and Jo sat. Matt was making an unintentionally comic display of pacing, sitting, and pacing again.
"Matt," Jo said, "I'm sure Lizzie will be fine. She seemed okay after you took her to Gordo."
"I know. I'm sure she'll be fine. She just had to see him for herself."
"That's not what's worrying you, is it?" Sam asked, a light dawning. "You're trying to figure out how to tell Miranda how you feel." Matt stopped in his tracks. "It's okay, son. You have every right to be nervous. But why not just tell her the way you told us?"
Matt exhaled noisily and flopped into a chair. "It might have been so easy, if I hadn't made such a fool of myself when I had that crush on her a couple of years ago."
Both parents smiled in remembrance. "Yes, well, that is an added problem. Still, I think that, if you speak from the heart, she'll believe you."
"I hope so." Matt didn't sound convinced.
~~~~~~~~
After Dr. Martin was done with Lizzie, she gave the family the new. "Lizzie appears to have suffered no ill effects from her concussion. Of course, she will need a series of follow-ups to be safe. Grade three concussions are nothing to fool around with. Her lung sounds are also strong. I understand we have you to thank for that?" She gave a sharp like at Matt, who nodded. "That little stunt broke more regulation than I know how to count. It turned out well, but don't do it again." Matt nodded meekly. Dr. Martin leaned toward him and said in a loud whisper "That's the official line. I think you did great." Matt smiled slightly at this. Dr. Martin stood straight again. "All and all, I'd say she's a very lucky young lady."
When the meeting was over, Matt asked to sit with Lizzie alone for a while. They talked about little things, neither willing yet to talk to the other about the revelations in their lives. Lizzie because, well, he's still just Matt to her. She had no way of knowing how he'd grown. Matt because he didn't want to hit Lizzie with that particular bomb this soon in her recovery.
~~~~~~~~
At 3:00 that afternoon, the McGuire parents came back to Lizzie's room. "Matt, I'll stay with Lizzie. You should go with your father." Jo gave him a meaningful look.
Matt took the hint. "See ya later, Lizzie."
`
When they were out of earshot of Lizzie's room, Sam spoke first. "May I ask how much you told Lizzie?"
"About Miranda, nothing. I thought it was too soon to hit her with that. Dad, I'd like to go talk to her, Miranda I mean. I really can't waste time on this"
Sam stopped. "Do you know how you're going to tell Miranda? I know you said there was no time to waste, but I think you should be sure of what you're doing first. If you think this would be big for Lizzie to hear, what do you think it will be like for Miranda to have you tell her this?"
"Thanks for the pep talk, dad." Matt said wryly.
"Sorry. I know you're growing up, and I know you need to do this. I guess I still feel the need to protect you somehow. You probably don't need me to, but . . . "
"Don't need you," Matt cut in, "are you kidding?!? Dad, I need you now more then ever. Maybe not as much to protect me, but I need your support, your advice, your respect, and I still need you when I get in over my head. In fact, I'd like you to be there when I talk to Miranda. Not necessarily in the room, but knowing you're there will help."
"Sure, Matt, I'll be there." With that, they headed toward the elevators.
~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, a few rooms away from Lizzie, other events were unfolding.
~~~~~~~~
Dr. Javier was in Ethan's room, arranging with Mrs. Craft the follow-up MRI. They were surprised when a soft, scratchy voice from the bed interrupted them. "Quiet down, will ya."
While Dr. Javier's face showed amazement, his voice was incredulous. "Mr. Craft?!?"
Ethan was slowly rubbing his face and head, trying to clear the fog. "No, you want my dad. I'm Ethan. Who are you?"
"I'm Dr. Javier, your neurologist."
"New what?"
"Neurologist. It means a doctor who deals with the brain."
Ethan slowly opened his eyes. For a spilt-second, his face showed panic, but the look passed. "Does that mean something happened to my brain?"
Dr. Javier caught the flash of panic, but decided to answer the question. "Yes, I'm afraid it does. Do you remember being in a car crash?"
"No, but I think I fell asleep. How is everyone?"
"Alive. I'll tell you more about them in a minute, while we examine you. But first, I'd like to ask you one question. What can you see right now?"
Ethan's head rose toward Dr. Javier. "Nothing."
~~~~~~~~
As the McGuire men approached Miranda's room, they heard what sounded like a mild argument. "Maybe this isn't a good time to walk in on them." Sam observed.
"Maybe, but I think I'll stick my head in and check. If it's possible, I'd still like to do this." Matt turned to his dad. "Would you mind being close to the door? I might need a bail out."
"You sure I should be so close? I know you want me near, but if I'm too close, I may hear things you wouldn't want me to."
"If Miranda's folks leave the room, then I'll want some privacy. Have I said thanks yet for coming with me?"
"You just did. Good luck."
"Thanks." With that, Sam let Matt pull ahead, then angled for a chair on the wall beside the door.
As Matt reached the door, he found he had walked into what sounded to be an old argument, with Miranda and her parents all looking exasperated at each other. Miranda hadn't noticed the new addition to her audience. "How can I not blame myself, Mom? I. Was. The. Driver. If I had only been paying more attention, I wouldn't have three friends unconscious in this place."
Matt couldn't believe his ears. "How in the hell do you figure YOU'RE to blame?!?" Sam winced. 'Not my choice for opening lines' he thought.
Miranda threw her arms up in frustration. "I am NOT going through this argument again. Why don't you go sat with Lizzie, in the bed I put her in?"
Matt stalked toward her. "I just came from talking with her." Miranda's face showed she caught his word choice. "Yeah, I said with. She woke just before noon today. She's okay. From the sound of it, she's got a clearer head then you."
"Go away."
"No."
"WHAT?!?"
"NO. Not until you stop with the guilt trip."
"This is NOT YOUR CONCERN!"
"YES IT IS!"
"HOW DO YOU FIGURE THAT?!?"
"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU AND I CAN'T TAKE YOU BLAMing yourself for this and I can't believe I just did that."
As Miranda and her parents stared at him in stunned silence, Matt collected himself, then pressed on. "I came up here tell you that, but I wasn't sure how. Yelling at you was NOT high on my list of ideas."
"This is crazy, Matt. We've already been through this once. Why do it again, and why now."
"I know you have reason to doubt me, but I ask you to hear me out first. As for why now . . . Miranda, think about what's happened. If I've learned anything this last few days, it's that we can't waste time. Not on important things."
"Miranda," she looked up to see Mr. McGuire standing in the doorway, "I think you should know that mister . . . doctor Gordon believes his sincerity, as do his mother and I. He has really grown these last few days, something of a baptism by fire. Please give him a chance to tell his story. What have you got to lose?"
"But . . ."
"I've seen the change in him, too" Mrs. Sanchez added, slowly walking to the side of the bed opposite Matt. "It's hard to believe that this strong, helpful young man is the same person as the one who sent all those balloons." She tried to restrain a chuckle at Matt's reaction to the reminder. "But then, I'm not sure he can be called the same person." She took Miranda's hand in hers. "If you don't listen to us about anything else today, listen to this: Give him a fair chance. Mothers know about these things."
Matt tried to keep his face neutral, but he couldn't believe what he had just heard. Miranda's mom was helping him?
Miranda saw something in her mother's eyes, and gave in. "All right. I'll give him a chance. But no promises."
"Fair enough" said Mrs. Sanchez. She then turned to the two men, who were both looking at her with two very different looks of surprise. "Let's give them some privacy." She then shepherded them out the door, and out of earshot.
`
Miranda turned to Matt. "This had better be good, Matt"
"I guess I'd better begin." And so, Matt begin telling his story, from his first notice a couple of months ago, to the night of the crash, to his guilt, to his talks with Mr. Gordon and his parents. As he spoke, Miranda couldn't believe this was Matt. 'Maybe he has changed' she thought.
When Matt reached the end of his story, he said "I'm not expecting you to feel the same way about me, not right away. All I ask is that you give me the chance to prove myself to you. May I court you?"
"Matt, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I believe you." He started to smile. "But, your right, I don't feel the same. It's just too soon." His face started to fall. "But, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I'll let you," here she only half stifled the giggle, "'court' me." As his face perked up again, she asked "where in the world did you pick up the term 'court'?"
"From all those sappy movies you and Lizzie watch."
"Hey!"
"I'm kidding!" Both were giggling at this. When they settled down, Matt changed the subject. "How would you like the first thing we do together to be a bit of matchmaking?"
"Weird, but interesting choice. Who?"
Matt's grin widened further. "That's right, I stopped before I got to that part. Something happened when Lizzie woke I think you'd be interested in." He then launched into that story, and soon, he and Miranda were working out a plan for Lizzie and Gordo.
~~~~~~~~
A/N: When will Gordo wake? Where does Ethan fit in? Stay tuned.