Reality Check by CHINSKY

Disclaimer: I own tall bald guy. A.K.A. Dr. Livingston. That's all. Oh, and mentions of Madison. Damn.

A/N: Took me forever to post this chapter. I read over it like 50 times. Sorry guys. Read my one-shot if you're a Freddy/Summer fan. I like that one best out of all my fics. I'm terribly terribly sorry this took SO LONG (since what, August?) but you know, school started, drama started, (whoo for Ragtime!) I've been trying to write other fics, (I have like 5 in the making)...It's hard. If you're patient I'll love you forever. On with the story...

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Zack gaped and time stopped. "What…what happened?"

Summer spoke fast, her voice full of fear. "Dewey got a call on his cell phone. Freddy was in a car accident. We have to go to the hospital now Zack. Let's GO!"

Zack nodded but his body wasn't responding in the right way. When he tried to move, he stumbled. When he tried to speak, there was nothing. "What…what hospital?" He managed to choke out the words.

"Smithtown. Zack let's move!!"

He shook his head, trying to develop the thought that was in his brain. "No…too far. Shouldn't we…drive?" Drive. All at once, Zack's memories seemed to come floating back. Fast rewind. Kiss-Cheese Fries-Diner-Summer-Party-Freddy-Madison-Beer-Rachel-

STOP! That was it. Freddy. Madison. Driving? Zack was stunned.

Summer stopped finally. "Good point. But whose car?"

"Freddy's." Zack choked out.

"What are you talking about Zack? Freddy's in the hospital, didn't you hear me?!"

"No!" He exclaimed. "Driving. Freddy! He was wasted! He drove!"

Summer's mouth dropped. "No way…you don't think…"

He shushed her. "No…you're right Summer. We have to go."

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Zack's brain snapped into full gear. They ran to Zack's house and took Zack's mom's car. If Summer hadn't been with Zack to tell him to slow down, they would've gotten a ticket. Zack's mind was on fire.

No. No way. Freddy wouldn't…he couldn't…drive…no….He's not that stupid. But, he was drunk. I saw how drunk he was. Why didn't I stop him? Why didn't I fricking comprehend…He was going to drive. How stupid could he--I--have been?!-

"ZACK!" Summer yelled at him, as he almost missed the turnoff to get to the hospital.

Zack swerved, and then regretted it. Could I have just hurt Summer? Maybe myself? What if that's what Freddy was doing? What if all he was trying to do was-

"Zack." Summer spoke, her voice loud and resonant, so Zack turned to look at her as they pulled into the parking lot. "You did not do this. Stop beating yourself up. You can't help him now. It's not your fault. If you can't concentrate, we're not going in there."

He nodded, but still took a breath to think his thoughts. She's right. Zack, you need to stop this. Listen to her. Listen to Summer. Just be there for Freddy. He nodded again and got out of the car. As they got to the doors, Zack grabbed Summer's hand.

"Thanks Tink, I needed that."

Summer just smiled weakly. "Let's go."

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Dewey was already in the ER, pacing back and forth. What happened? Why won't the frickin' doctors tell me anything? I need to know! If they can't tell me, who are they gonna tell? His parents? Yeah, good idea there. They barely know the kid and he-

At that moment, Zack and Summer came bursting into the ER, holding hands. Wait a minute, Dewey thought, holding hands?

"GUYS!" Dewey called out to them; they spotted him and rushed over. "Guys, where have you been? I've been here for at least a half an hour and the goddamn doctors won't tell me a frickin' thing! He was in some kind of accident, I don't know what, but if I don't find out soon there's going to be some unhappy people in this emergency room. Is he okay? Where was he, what happened, I have to know, I got a call on my cell about an hour ago, I don't even know why they called me-"

"DEWEY." Summer interrupted, her voice loud and clear. "Stop it. By ranting and freaking out you're not doing anyone any good. Not even yourself."

He nodded, and exhaled a breath he had been holding in. "You're right," he murmured.

Zack nodded. "Listen to Summer. She knows what she's saying."

Summer smirked at Zack, and Zack internally thanked her. Thank you Summer. Somehow, his brain had gone to overdrive to calm. Almost too calm…things seemed to be going in slow motion. His thoughts dripped down like molasses and he leaned against the wall to regain a hold on things. He hadn't even noticed that the door banged open again.

"Hello? Zack, you in there?" He was surprised to see that Tomika was waving a hand in his face.

He now noticed that Tomika, Lawrence, Marta, Katie, Marco, Billy and Gordon were now huddled near Summer and Dewey, trying to figure out what Zack and Summer already knew. Nothing.

"What? …Oh, yeah…. Hi Tomika. How is…um, everyone?" Zack asked absentmindedly.

Tomika raised an eyebrow. "How the hell do you think?" She gestured to the rest of the group. Lawrence was now staring at the floor, not talking to anyone. Marta was sniffing quietly, sitting in a chair by herself. Katie, slumped in a chair, had a very depressing look on her face. Marco and Billy were quietly chatting amongst themselves, both a lot less animatedly than usual. Gordon ran to the bathroom looking awfully pale.

Zack looked sheepish and a faint tinge of color arose on his cheeks. "I didn't mean that."

Tomika nodded, "I know. I didn't mean to…yeah. You know. …Do you have any idea what happened?"

"No. The doctors won't tell us anything," Zack replied as though it were his mantra. He couldn't let the band know what was lingering in the back of his head. Freddy drove drunk. He just didn't want to believe it until it was confirmed.

As they were speaking, a tall balding man came over to the group. "Do any of you have relations with a Mr.…" He looked down at his clipboard momentarily, "Freddy Jones?"

Half the band jumped out of their chairs, Dewey nodded animatedly and responded, "Yes, yes we do. What happened??"

The man held out his hand as Dewey brushed him off impatiently. "I'm Dr. Livingston." The doctor introduced himself. "Please, come with me to our discussion room so I can inform you."

Dewey and Dr. Livingston headed to the room, and the rest of the band followed. Dr. Livingston, paused, looked behind him, and cleared his throat. The band didn't move. Their faces were ceased with worry. Dewey just nodded at them, "It's okay guys. Sit down. I'll tell you all later."

The band reluctantly sat back down, or resumed as they were. The moment the door closed on Dr. Livingston and Dewey, Eleni, Michelle, Frankie and Leonard came in through the other door. Summer took it upon herself to explain the circumstances. Eleni and Michelle had obviously been crying.

The girls look a wreck, Zack thought to himself.

He watched as Summer sat them down, and explained what they knew. He watched as Frankie's face paled. He watched as Eleni and Michelle let out yet another sob. He watched as Lenny buried his face in his hands, refusing to look at the rest of the world.

He wondered if Summer told them the truth.

Summer rubbed Michelle's shoulder, and then left them. She returned to her seat beside Zack. Seeing as though he was looking at her, she pressed her lips together, as though to smile, just without the heat or energy that was once alive yet an hour earlier.

Zack tried to smile back, but it felt so out of place that his smile quickly faded. She inched closer to him on the bench they were sitting on, and rested her head on his shoulder. She was exhausted, he knew, by just looking at her face.

He never really saw her face look that way before. He then wondered if his face held those same emotions.

He leaned an inch closer to her ear, and whispered, "Thanks, Summer."

She just shook her head, and buried her face deeper into the crook of his neck. She looked close to tears.

There was a small lock of hair that fell over her face. Zack found his fingers pushing it away.

They lay there together, both emotionally drained, just waiting. Waiting for what they knew would be the inevitable news.

What seemed like years passed, and finally, Dewey emerged from the door. Summer sat back up again, but slowly, as though reluctant to leave her new comfort zone. Once she sat upright again, Zack felt as though something was missing. He missed the heat of her body against his own.

He looked at her, but she refused to look back.

"Dewey, what happened?" Katie called out. She sounded weak, and unhealthy, though Zack thought that probably everyone did.

"Yeah Dewey, please tell us?" Marta cried next. She spoke in a very inferior voice. It was as if a little child had asked. You felt it twisting in your heart. How could you tell a child something this awful?

Dewey sighed, and looked anywhere but his band mates hurting faces.

"Well…guys…" He started slowly, "we're allowed to see him now."

"That's great Dewey. We don't care. What the hell is wrong with him?" Frankie snapped.

"Frankie, shut up, we don't need that right now." Eleni sniffled, as she was still upset and crying. Frankie just shrugged it off.

Dewey cleared his throat once more. "Guys…Freddy was in a car accident. And he broke his arm. Yeah…that means no drumming for a while."

That stopped their endless bickering. A few of the band members let out sickening groans. No one spoke, but Alicia cut through the silence and asked the question that was clear in the back of everyone's minds.

"Shit. Dewey…was…was he drunk?"

Zack clenched his jaw, and waited. He knew the answer.

Dewey nodded solemnly, his face white as a sheet. "Yeah Alicia. That's what the doctor said."

Zack closed his eyes and focused on the emptiness. He didn't want to see the looks on the faces of his friends, the looks of those so utterly deceived and tricked. Freddy had tricked them. To them, he was the guy who had everything under control. Everything under his fingertips. Big man on campus. Not anymore. No, not anymore.

"Go on." Summer called out. They all knew he wasn't done.

Dewey nodded and looked at the ceiling again. "Um…he also broke his nose. When…when the car…crashed, he hit his head the dashboard. The passenger side airbag…didn't go off."

Zack was puzzled. Passenger side? He thought. Who was driving? He drew in breath sharply as he realized…

Madison.

Dewey spoke his thoughts. "There was another girl in the car. M…M something."

"Madison." Zack called out. A few of the band members looked at him.

"That head cheerleader chick?" Marco asked, puzzled. The effects of being drunk at the party still hadn't worn off completely, though he didn't look as bad as Freddy had.

Zack nodded. "They were at a party together." He looked down at the ground and couldn't help the thought forming in his head. Why didn't I stop him?

"Wait a second…Isn't that chick only 15?" Gordon asked.

Dewey brushed that aside. "Look…dudes…He…He's also…shit guys, I don't know how to say this but…when his head hit the dashboard…it hit it in the wrong way, and…" He blew out air, seriously pissed off. He was pissed off at himself, at Freddy, at the stupid chick in the car…

Zack's breath was shallow, and his pulse quickened. He almost didn't want to hear what was coming, but he felt he had to know. "Dewey…" He waited for Dewey to look at him. "Please."

Dewey took a breath, but finally finished.

"Guys…he's in a coma."

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A/N: You can hate me, it's okay. I know this ending is rough, but I just had to. Cliffs are evil but I'll come out with a new chapter soon, um, hopefully…. ::knock on wood:: I hope you like. Reviewwww!!