Disclaimer: Same as always, you know the routine...I don't own any of the People or places mentioned, 'cause they were invented by some genius working for Disney, which I also don't own. If I did, I would be like Scrooge McDuck, diving into and swimming in money...anyway...

Thanks to those who have reviewed previous chapters, I hope you enjoy reading this one. It's taking me a long time to finish, I know, but I can't help it. My tutors insist on giving me work for some reason...can't think why...

The look on the nurse's face when she sees me would normally make me laugh if I didn't feel so terrible.

"That bad am I?" I groan. She ignores my question and turns instead to Fulton.

"What's been going on here? How did this happen?"

"Hey, don't blame me lady, I'm his friend, we both are. It was an...accident during practise."

"Hockey?" She surmises, looking at our jerseys. "Ah yes, I've had a few of your lot in now and again...but never as bad as this. Quickly, get him onto a bed and I'll see to him. You two can go back and get changed."

"We want to stay." Fulton's voice is firm, his stance immovable. The nurse sighs.

"Fine, but try not to get in the way." Dwayne and Fulton drag me over to one of the few beds in the Medical Room and gently lay me down. I close my eyes gratefully as the coolness of the pillows surround my aching head, but moments later they're forced open again as the nurse shines a torch into them. I retch on the pain caused by the brightness of the light, but can only moan wretchedly.

"I know honey. "Murmurs the nurse. "But I have to do this. Hold still now..." A moment later the torchlight is replaced by blissful darkness as my lids slide shut again. I hear her turn to my two friends. "What's his name?"

"Adam Banks."

"Ah...yes, I've heard of him. Your star player, isn't he?"

"He is that ma'am." There's unmistakable pride in Dwayne's voice as he says this and if I had the energy, I would smile.

"How did this happen?"

"We were in practise, playing against each other and he went after the puck but another player pulled out in front of him and Adam went over his back. He hit the boards first and his helmet came off, then he fell on the ice and cracked his head off it."

"It was an accident, wasn't it?"

"I...don't know what you mean." Fulton feigns confusion, but I don't think the nurse is convinced.

"He wasn't deliberately thrown?"

"...No...of course not. Why would anyone want to do that to our best player?" His fake joviality is too obvious, but the nurse decides to leave it at that, for which I'm immensely grateful. A soft, cool hand is placed against one side of my head as the nurse gently explores the gash on the other side.

"Was he unconscious at all?"

"I don't think so." Answers Dwayne "But there was a lot going on, I can't be sure. Is there a problem?" He's worried, I can hear it in his voice. So far I've hardly said two words for myself, but I think if I open my mouth I'll be sick. The pain in my head is unbelievable and I can't concentrate properly...I don't even know if I'm drifting between sleep and consciousness or not. Everything seems so unreal...I can't get a grip on what's happening...

(Fulton)

I stand nervously beside Dwayne as the nurse looks closely at the wound on Adam's head. He's not looking good at all...in fact he's in the worst state I've ever seen, including all those years ago in the peewee championships when he got knocked senseless by McGill. His skin has gone a horrible blue-grey and the darkening blood streaming down his face isn't helping his appearance one bit. I can see anxiety in the nurse's eyes as she pulls back from my friend and there's a new, hurried efficiency to her actions. I hear Dwayne ask if there's anything wrong and she turns to us, her expression no longer calm.

"He needs to go to hospital right now. He's not responding at all well to light or sound and he's too lethargic. That cut on his head worries me. It's very deep...he'll need x-rays and scans, just to make sure nothing's damaged." She immediately rises and heads for the door. "I'm just going next door to my office to phone the Dean. He needs to know about this and then I'll phone for an ambulance, I need to get help as quickly as possible. You two stay here with Adam and let me know immediately if there's any change in him." Dwayne and I just nod and watch her hurry away, the urgency of the moment catching us all in its fierce grip. X-rays? Scans? This is looking very bad...

As the door closes behind the nurse, Dwayne turns to me, his face almost as white as Adam's.

"Oh God Fulton, what's Charlie done to him?" There are tears in his eyes and I wonder for a moment just how close the two really are. Then, berating myself for diverting from the issue at hand, I put a hand on his shoulder and squeeze it slightly. I wish I could reassure him that everything's going to be fine, but the words stick in my throat. I can't lie to him. Instead, I look down at Adam, who's lying on the bed in his bloodstained Ducks jersey his eyes slightly open and barely flickering. The dark blankness of the previously grey-blue eyes scares me and I move to sit on the bed beside him. Dwayne follows me and sits on his other side and together we endure a frightening vigil that seems to last hours.

Glancing at my friend I see him blink slowly and smile a little, dark shadows of pain flickering through his eyes-the first emotion I've seen since we left the changing rooms. I grin reassuringly.

"That's it Banksie. You stay with us now, hang in there. You'll...you'll be..." My voice trails away into nothing. No matter how hard I try I can't fool myself, let alone him. Just like I couldn't lie to Dwayne a few minutes ago, I can't deceive Banks either and he knows it. A sad look crosses his face before his eyes close and he sighs. I feel an eruption of anger at Charlie as I watch him, contenting myself with thoughts of what I'm going to do to him once I get hold of him to stop myself storming off to find him right now. I can't leave Banks, we're friends and I owe him a lot. Considering how much he's had to deal with in his life it feels somehow wrong to desert him when he needs me most. Doing that would make me just like everyone else. I even feel a little ashamed that I never cared enough to force an answer out of him before last night. I've known for a long time that his home life wasn't exactly perfect, but I didn't suspect just how bad things really were. He's always been such a private kid, even after everything the Ducks have been through...but I suppose he's always distanced himself from the team as much as possible; no one's really tried to involve him much in stuff the team does. Again I feel shame at myself and pity for Adam. He's had to cope with so much...but he hasn't really coped, has he? I was shocked last night when I found out he self-harmed. I didn't expect it of Banks. It just didn't fit. Sure he was quiet and often self-contained, but he always seemed happy enough. He covers things up well...he would though, wouldn't he? He's had years of practise. I feel tears threaten my eyes as I dwell on Adam's troubled past and the things he's had to deal with and hate myself for having such an easy life and loving parents and siblings.

At that moment the nurse hurries back in, an air of preoccupied haste about her.

"How is he?" She asks, leaning over me to get to Adam. I shrug.

"Same, I think. He's gone to sleep now, and I can't say I-"

"He's what?" She gives me an alarmed look and turns back to Adam, checking the pulse in his neck against her watch. She then pulls out her little torch again and shines it into each of his eyes. The difference this time is that there's no response from Banks. Last time he looked like he was going to be sick, but now there's no movement from him at all...my throat closes over in fear and panic begins to overtake all reasoning.

"He-he's not...?"

"No, he's alive, but he's in a very bad way." She turns to face Dwayne and me. "His condition has deteriorated much faster than I anticipated. I had hoped to have him in hospital before he lost consciousness, but-"She shrugs hopelessly.

"Is this bad?" Dwayne's voice is quiet, his eyes wide and helpless. The nurse shakes her head.

"I'm going to have to be honest with you boys. I wasn't expecting this to happen; I thought he would last until I could hand him over to the paramedics. If he doesn't get treatment soon he could well go into a coma, and if that happens before the ambulance gets here, he may never wake up..." A shocked silence follows her statement. I can't believe it...don't want to...Dwayne is trembling, I can see it from here. For once I know exactly how he's feeling, because the same emotions are running riot through me right now. We're losing our best friend...facing a future without Adam Banks in it...and it's all Charlie's fault...

"I'll kill him!" I growl, turning on my heel and storming from the Medical Room. I hear Dwayne shout to me, begging me to stop and calm down before I do something stupid...I ignore him and slam the door behind me, a senseless hatred fuelling my mind and body, making me forget every promise I made to myself about staying with Banks.

(Dwayne)

I hover indecisively between the door and Adam's bed, wanting to go after Fulton and stop him before he commits murder, but I realise that Adam needs me more. He needs me to be here for him.

"I'm going to ask again," The nurse's quiet voice startles me and I jump slightly. I had completely forgotten she was there. I turn to face her. "Was this deliberate?" How do I answer her? Of course it was deliberate, but will I have to tell her who did it? I've no objection to Charlie getting kicked out of Eden Hall, but if he finds out I told someone he'll come after me...I can't handle that. But on the other hand, if I can help someone else get to Charlie before Fulton does...

"Yes" I whisper, hanging my head, my mind made up. There's every possibility that I'm facing a lifetime of pain and torture for this, but I'm doing it save Fulton and most all Adam. "It was deliberate. The other player that pulled out knew Adam would hit the boards and the ice. If he hadn't stopped in front of him, Adam would have been able to turn in time, but..." I can't go on. Tears are choking my voice and I'm overwhelmed with fright. I'm shaking violently, anticipating the next question...

"Who did it?"

I can't answer. I just shake my head, unable to speak. But if I don't tell her, Fulton will find Charlie and I know for a fact that he'll kill him. The look in his eyes was enough to tell me that much. There's only one way of stopping the supposedly inevitable.

"Charlie Conway." I mutter, my head bowed in defeat. It's the only way to save Fulton. I can't let him throw away everything because of one defective captain. He's got so much going for him right now, but if he harms Charlie, what'll happen? Will he be thrown out? Will they take away his scholarship? I can't let that happen.

But what will they do with Charlie? He's the captain of the most successful hockey team they've ever had, plus he's good for publicity. He'll probably only get a month of detentions, then he'll be off the hook and no one else will know the truth...

Oh God, what have I done?

From me to peeps: Handy isn't it, the Review button being just below the end of the chapters? It's there to make everybody's life easier...(hint hint) ;D