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 10
Tough Love.
`
As they made their way to the elevator, Lizzie decided to ask Matt about Miranda. "Matt, I'm worried about Miranda. When she asked me if I blamed her for the crash, I saw real fear. Tell me the truth, she blames herself, doesn't she?"
Matt stopped at the closed elevator and pushed the button before answering. "Yes, she does. That was what the shouting match I mentioned before was about. She needed a lot of calming down when . . . Lizzie, how much have you been told about Ethan?"
Lizzie shifted uncomfortably. "I know he's blind. Mom told me last night." She looked up at Matt. "She took it hard?"
The elevator opened, and they entered. "Very. I've never seen her like that. When she finally calmed, we made a deal. I'd stop telling her it wasn't her fault, but she had to find out if anyone blamed her. That's why she asked."
Lizzie saw her brother's grave expression. "It hurts to even remember, doesn't it?"
Matt nodded. "I hope to never see her hurting like that again. But I'll be there if she needs me. Nothing could keep me away." Matt then had an idea. "Lizzie, I've promised not to challenge her on her feelings of guilt for a while. But you and the others haven't. Do you think you could try to reinforce the point that you don't blame her? Subtly, please, but firm. I think she needs that."
The elevator opened on the ICU floor. "Sure, Matt. I'll do what I can." Lizzie decided not to touch the other point on her mind. Not yet.
When they reached Ethan's room, Matt knocked on the closed door. "Come in" the voice inside commanded.
Matt opened the door and carefully maneuvered Lizzie's cast-incased right leg through the door. They saw that Ethan was alone. Matt asked "I thought you said your folks would be here by now?"
Lizzie looked at him. "You spoke to him earlier?"
Matt thought fast. "Miranda wanted to visit, so we came here before we saw you today."
Ethan caught on. "How is she? Does she still blame herself?"
"Some, but I think she's started to believe everyone."
Lizzie jumped in "How are you doing, Ethan? I can't imagine what it's like."
"It will take a lot of getting used to. It's surprising how much of what we do every day we use our eyes for. But Dr. Womack has given my folks info to get me with someone who works with people who suddenly lose their eyesight. I hope they can help. Having to be fed is rather humbling."
"Oh, Ethan. Sorry just isn't enough, is it?"
"It's alright, Lizzie. I'll be okay." Ethan paused. That was Matt's signal that the game was on. "Lizzie, I've been doing a lot of thinking today. I know, Ethan Craft thinking?!?"
Lizzie interrupted. "Ethan, we both know you're not that dumb."
"Thank you, but please let me finish. I've realized that I've been lying to a lot of people lately. It's time to stop the lies, before I die in one. Lizzie, I know that you and I are both in this 'relationship' so we can hide from our feelings for others. That has to stop."
"WHAT?!? Ethan, what are you saying?" Lizzie's voice was shaky.
"Yeah, CRAFT, what the hell are you saying?" Matt was playing his role, but Lizzie's voice worried him. 'Keep it together, Matt' he chided himself.
"Lizzie, I've known for a long time how much you care for Gordo. That was why I came to you, because I felt you were safe. I was afraid of my feelings for another. But now, I can't live the lie anymore. It's not fair to anyone. I have to break up with you."
"No, Ethan, NO! You can't!" Lizzie was clearly upset.
Matt hated this next part. Not because he didn't want to, but because he might want to too much. But Ethan had insisted. 'Here goes nothing' he thought. "YOU BASTARD" he screamed at Ethan as leapt to him and delivered a punch to the jaw. As Matt feared, it sounded and felt like he hit too solidly.
"MATT! STOP! PLEASE!" Lizzie pleaded with him.
Matt suddenly felt a pair of hands on the back of his collar. 'Uh, oh, we've got company.' Fearing a lot of explaining, which would not go over well with Lizzie, he backed off. His fear turned to jubilation as he saw that Ethan's savior was the one person not in on the plan who's very presence could turn things decidedly in their favor. It was Kate.
"What the hell are you doing to him, worm!"
"KATE! Calm down. It was just a brotherly reaction. It won't happen again. Will it, Matt?" Ethan tried to sound threatening.
"For now." Matt tried to sound just as threatening. "But you had better start talking, Craft."
"Drop the protective brother bit, Matt. You know as well as I do that she needs, loves, Gordo, not me. She was using me as a shield as much as I was using her for one."
"It's not true." Lizzie tried to protest. Her voice was so small it could barely be heard.
"Isn't it? Don't answer out of habit, Lizzie. Just listen. Everyone in this room has known for a long time that you love Gordo. We've all been willing to play along, hoping you'd see the truth. I'm done playing. I'm sorry, Lizzie, but it's best for all of us if we break this off now. I only hope you can forgive me in time."
"But, Ethan." Lizzie was barely holding back the tears.
"Matt, if you want to protect her, you should get her out of here and to your friends and family upstairs. She needs you now."
"Right. But this doesn't mean were finished. I'll wait for her cue on this, but if I come back . . ."
"I understand."
With that, Matt wheeled Lizzie out of the room, and made a beeline for the elevators. 'I only hope she forgives all of us.'
~~~~~~~~
Back in Ethan's room, Kate was livid. "Would you mind explaining just what that was all about? And while you're at it, why did you ask me to be here? You broke up with me, remember?!?"
"Yes, I do. It's a very long story."
~~~~~~~~
When Matt got Lizzie back to her room, the three women already there were clearly distressed by Lizzie's condition.
"What happened down there, Matt?" Jo asked sharply after getting Lizzie settled into bed.
"Ethan broke up with her." Matt said hotly. Then he looked rueful. "Of course, my decking him didn't help any."
"You decked him!?! You father and I taught you better then to fight with a blind man!"
"He hurt Lizzie! I'm not going to let that go quietly." The last thing Matt wanted to do was tell his mother that the break up was part of a plan. So he had to play his part, no matter how much he ached inside for his sister's pain.
"I understand your motives, but you can't go around hitting people. We're going to have a long talk about this."
"Yes, ma'am." Matt sounded defeated. In truth, though, he was glad this part was brief.
Jo walked over to her daughter. "Lizzie, honey, can I do . . ." she was cut short as Lizzie threw herself into her mother. The scene forced Matt to turn away in painful memory.
His eyes were met by Mrs. Sanchez. "You can't shield all of them, you know. It's okay to hurt for them, but you can't blame yourself for everything."
"I know, but I . . ." He stopped before he said too much. "I was right there."
"I know." She winked at him. That got his attention. He looked at her closely. She smiled slightly and nodded. He looked at Miranda, who did the same. "Bloody 'ell," he whispered to them, "does mom?" Both shook their head.
He looked at both in despair. Still whispering, he asked "If it's called tough 'love', why do I hate myself right now?"
"Matt," Miranda said aloud, both realizing that their side of the room was too quite and getting an idea for Lizzie, "I know you said you didn't want to, but look at how much pain Lizzie's in. Please, Matt, sing for her like you did for me."
"WHAT?!?" Matt was clearly surprised by the request. "She's my sister, how do I sing to her? It'd feel too weird."
Miranda rolled her eyes. "Matt, I'm not asking you to sing a love song. The song you sang to me spoke of finding hope within despair, finding your way out of the dark into the light. Can you think of anyone who needs that more than Lizzie right now?" Matt shook his head, almost defeated. "Right. Now unless you've got a CD or tape with the song on it hidden here, your voice is all we've got."
Matt's body language showed defeat. "I can't believe you've talked me into this." He slowly made his way to Lizzie's bedside opposite his mother. He then put a hand on Lizzie to let her know he was there. He then started to sing.
Both mothers watched and listened in amazement. Miranda was absolutely beaming. "He's going to make a great dad someday" she said quietly to herself.
Not quietly enough, as her mother heard. 'Looks like Jo may have been right,' she thought to herself, 'we definitely need to talk to those two.'
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Uh, oh! Now you know that can't be good! Or can it . . .
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 10
Tough Love.
`
As they made their way to the elevator, Lizzie decided to ask Matt about Miranda. "Matt, I'm worried about Miranda. When she asked me if I blamed her for the crash, I saw real fear. Tell me the truth, she blames herself, doesn't she?"
Matt stopped at the closed elevator and pushed the button before answering. "Yes, she does. That was what the shouting match I mentioned before was about. She needed a lot of calming down when . . . Lizzie, how much have you been told about Ethan?"
Lizzie shifted uncomfortably. "I know he's blind. Mom told me last night." She looked up at Matt. "She took it hard?"
The elevator opened, and they entered. "Very. I've never seen her like that. When she finally calmed, we made a deal. I'd stop telling her it wasn't her fault, but she had to find out if anyone blamed her. That's why she asked."
Lizzie saw her brother's grave expression. "It hurts to even remember, doesn't it?"
Matt nodded. "I hope to never see her hurting like that again. But I'll be there if she needs me. Nothing could keep me away." Matt then had an idea. "Lizzie, I've promised not to challenge her on her feelings of guilt for a while. But you and the others haven't. Do you think you could try to reinforce the point that you don't blame her? Subtly, please, but firm. I think she needs that."
The elevator opened on the ICU floor. "Sure, Matt. I'll do what I can." Lizzie decided not to touch the other point on her mind. Not yet.
When they reached Ethan's room, Matt knocked on the closed door. "Come in" the voice inside commanded.
Matt opened the door and carefully maneuvered Lizzie's cast-incased right leg through the door. They saw that Ethan was alone. Matt asked "I thought you said your folks would be here by now?"
Lizzie looked at him. "You spoke to him earlier?"
Matt thought fast. "Miranda wanted to visit, so we came here before we saw you today."
Ethan caught on. "How is she? Does she still blame herself?"
"Some, but I think she's started to believe everyone."
Lizzie jumped in "How are you doing, Ethan? I can't imagine what it's like."
"It will take a lot of getting used to. It's surprising how much of what we do every day we use our eyes for. But Dr. Womack has given my folks info to get me with someone who works with people who suddenly lose their eyesight. I hope they can help. Having to be fed is rather humbling."
"Oh, Ethan. Sorry just isn't enough, is it?"
"It's alright, Lizzie. I'll be okay." Ethan paused. That was Matt's signal that the game was on. "Lizzie, I've been doing a lot of thinking today. I know, Ethan Craft thinking?!?"
Lizzie interrupted. "Ethan, we both know you're not that dumb."
"Thank you, but please let me finish. I've realized that I've been lying to a lot of people lately. It's time to stop the lies, before I die in one. Lizzie, I know that you and I are both in this 'relationship' so we can hide from our feelings for others. That has to stop."
"WHAT?!? Ethan, what are you saying?" Lizzie's voice was shaky.
"Yeah, CRAFT, what the hell are you saying?" Matt was playing his role, but Lizzie's voice worried him. 'Keep it together, Matt' he chided himself.
"Lizzie, I've known for a long time how much you care for Gordo. That was why I came to you, because I felt you were safe. I was afraid of my feelings for another. But now, I can't live the lie anymore. It's not fair to anyone. I have to break up with you."
"No, Ethan, NO! You can't!" Lizzie was clearly upset.
Matt hated this next part. Not because he didn't want to, but because he might want to too much. But Ethan had insisted. 'Here goes nothing' he thought. "YOU BASTARD" he screamed at Ethan as leapt to him and delivered a punch to the jaw. As Matt feared, it sounded and felt like he hit too solidly.
"MATT! STOP! PLEASE!" Lizzie pleaded with him.
Matt suddenly felt a pair of hands on the back of his collar. 'Uh, oh, we've got company.' Fearing a lot of explaining, which would not go over well with Lizzie, he backed off. His fear turned to jubilation as he saw that Ethan's savior was the one person not in on the plan who's very presence could turn things decidedly in their favor. It was Kate.
"What the hell are you doing to him, worm!"
"KATE! Calm down. It was just a brotherly reaction. It won't happen again. Will it, Matt?" Ethan tried to sound threatening.
"For now." Matt tried to sound just as threatening. "But you had better start talking, Craft."
"Drop the protective brother bit, Matt. You know as well as I do that she needs, loves, Gordo, not me. She was using me as a shield as much as I was using her for one."
"It's not true." Lizzie tried to protest. Her voice was so small it could barely be heard.
"Isn't it? Don't answer out of habit, Lizzie. Just listen. Everyone in this room has known for a long time that you love Gordo. We've all been willing to play along, hoping you'd see the truth. I'm done playing. I'm sorry, Lizzie, but it's best for all of us if we break this off now. I only hope you can forgive me in time."
"But, Ethan." Lizzie was barely holding back the tears.
"Matt, if you want to protect her, you should get her out of here and to your friends and family upstairs. She needs you now."
"Right. But this doesn't mean were finished. I'll wait for her cue on this, but if I come back . . ."
"I understand."
With that, Matt wheeled Lizzie out of the room, and made a beeline for the elevators. 'I only hope she forgives all of us.'
~~~~~~~~
Back in Ethan's room, Kate was livid. "Would you mind explaining just what that was all about? And while you're at it, why did you ask me to be here? You broke up with me, remember?!?"
"Yes, I do. It's a very long story."
~~~~~~~~
When Matt got Lizzie back to her room, the three women already there were clearly distressed by Lizzie's condition.
"What happened down there, Matt?" Jo asked sharply after getting Lizzie settled into bed.
"Ethan broke up with her." Matt said hotly. Then he looked rueful. "Of course, my decking him didn't help any."
"You decked him!?! You father and I taught you better then to fight with a blind man!"
"He hurt Lizzie! I'm not going to let that go quietly." The last thing Matt wanted to do was tell his mother that the break up was part of a plan. So he had to play his part, no matter how much he ached inside for his sister's pain.
"I understand your motives, but you can't go around hitting people. We're going to have a long talk about this."
"Yes, ma'am." Matt sounded defeated. In truth, though, he was glad this part was brief.
Jo walked over to her daughter. "Lizzie, honey, can I do . . ." she was cut short as Lizzie threw herself into her mother. The scene forced Matt to turn away in painful memory.
His eyes were met by Mrs. Sanchez. "You can't shield all of them, you know. It's okay to hurt for them, but you can't blame yourself for everything."
"I know, but I . . ." He stopped before he said too much. "I was right there."
"I know." She winked at him. That got his attention. He looked at her closely. She smiled slightly and nodded. He looked at Miranda, who did the same. "Bloody 'ell," he whispered to them, "does mom?" Both shook their head.
He looked at both in despair. Still whispering, he asked "If it's called tough 'love', why do I hate myself right now?"
"Matt," Miranda said aloud, both realizing that their side of the room was too quite and getting an idea for Lizzie, "I know you said you didn't want to, but look at how much pain Lizzie's in. Please, Matt, sing for her like you did for me."
"WHAT?!?" Matt was clearly surprised by the request. "She's my sister, how do I sing to her? It'd feel too weird."
Miranda rolled her eyes. "Matt, I'm not asking you to sing a love song. The song you sang to me spoke of finding hope within despair, finding your way out of the dark into the light. Can you think of anyone who needs that more than Lizzie right now?" Matt shook his head, almost defeated. "Right. Now unless you've got a CD or tape with the song on it hidden here, your voice is all we've got."
Matt's body language showed defeat. "I can't believe you've talked me into this." He slowly made his way to Lizzie's bedside opposite his mother. He then put a hand on Lizzie to let her know he was there. He then started to sing.
Both mothers watched and listened in amazement. Miranda was absolutely beaming. "He's going to make a great dad someday" she said quietly to herself.
Not quietly enough, as her mother heard. 'Looks like Jo may have been right,' she thought to herself, 'we definitely need to talk to those two.'
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Uh, oh! Now you know that can't be good! Or can it . . .