A/N: I am so, so sorry about the long wait. My project at work is finally done so updates should be more quickly. I've already got half of fifteen written. That is if you still want this to continue...
Thank you to everyone who have stuck through this with me. DegrassiLuver4Ever11, dexter, crystal, adamo4me, Lizzy, Ravyn Jayne, Roxie 24, man freakzoid, smoothNCreamy, SkittlezzChika, and BlueBabyBre.
Thank you new reviewers...bla11, howdyrockerbaby1, citygal509, snickrz, shoe, anna, meg, and Jibery Slash Puppet (great name by the way...I love it.)
Thank you to those I might have overlooked or forgotten. It is not intentional and I apologize. All your reviews mean so much to me.
Fucted Up Kid: Email me, my address in on my bio. I'll give you more info about Vixen. Thanks for reviewing.
Kate: Sorry I didn't send this first hides under desk I've been so busy at work that I just wanted it updated. I know you understand. I love you and you're still my main source of inspiration. Thank you, love.
---------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Fourteen
Marco entered his house, still holding on to Dylan's note. He felt scared, anxious, and somewhat sick to his stomach all at once.
He sat down in the sitting room and unfolded Dylan's note.
Marco,
I know this seems odd, especially coming from me but this is what I came up with while sitting alone in my room yesterday. I'm sorry if you think I've been avoiding you, well, I have been. I can't face you. Right now it hurts.
I ended up writing a poem, as strange as it sounds. I wanted you to have it.
When We're Not Together
When we're not together...
My thoughts drift alongside memories of you
Things we've done
The way you smile brightly
That helps me forget my worries
And celebrates our wonders.
When we're not together...
My moods come into play more often
And make me yearn for the strength
I feel with you...
The security I find in your eyes.
When we're not together...
I sometimes feel so very alone.
For myself and for you...
Imagining you being without
My loving feelings
As I am without yours.
When we're not together
My best wishes still go with you always
Wishing to share in your excitements
Wanting to comfort your hurts
Needing to be reassured that
You're keeping warm and well.
When we're not together...
When we're not together...
I seem to spend my time wishing that we were.
So you see, you can't leave me. I need you. I love you. Please don't make me wait any longer for your decision.
I love you,
Dylan
Marco started crying again. He couldn't believe Dylan had pulled this on him. He was making it harder.
'I can't do this. I have to choose between family and friends. I know I'll be happier here. I know I won't have to worry about my sexuality here.' Marco thought. He continued to muse over things for a while.
Marco reread Dylan's letter through his tears. This boy who couldn't pass English without help managed to write something so moving. And not to mention thought provoking.
Dylan sat in his afternoon classes like a zombie. He knew he'd be better off at home but couldn't seem to bring himself to leave.
Paige found her brother wandering aimlessly right before last class that day.
"Dylan, what are you doing down here? The senior wing is that way." Paige stated, pointing down the hall.
"Have you seen Marco?" asked Dylan looking around frantically.
"No. He hasn't been in any of our afternoon classes. Why?" asked Paige with concern.
"Damn, Damn, Damn!" exclaimed Dylan.
"Dylan, what's wrong?" asked Paige a little frantic.
"I wrote him a letter, it's no longer in his locker because I went to get it back. Now he's gone and I don't know if he's read it or what he thinks about it. Paige, my life could be over and everyone forgot to inform me," Dylan said, breaking down in tears again.
Paige looked at her brother with sympathy, "Come on, hun. Let's get you home. I don't think you need to be here right now." Paige gently guided her brother toward the front office to sign out.
Silently Paige seethed at Marco, 'If he leaves I'm going to fly to Italy and kill him for putting Dylan through this. And if he stays, I'm gonna put him in traction for a month for making Dylan worry so much about his potential departure.'
Paige drove Dylan home and got him into the house. She noticed their answering machine was blinking and pushed the button without thinking to check the caller ID.
"Hey Dylan. This is Chris. I wanted to let you know I was thinking about you and was wondering if you would give me a call soon. Thanks. My number is..." Paige was going to write the number down but Dylan walked up and hit delete before it was said.
"Who was that?" asked a very curious Paige.
"That cousin of Marco's that I used to play hockey with," said Dylan shortly.
"Dylan, please call me when you get home. I think it's time we talked," Marco's voice said from the little black machine.
Dylan's heart stilled at the sound of his lover's voice. He sounded like he had been crying. It didn't sound like a good talk either.
Paige looked at Dylan and gave a slight smile, "Better call and see what he's decided. I would love to be able to do it for you but I can't." She handed him the cordless and started to walk away.
"Paige, will you sit with me while I make this call?" asked Dylan tentatively.
"Sure." Paige said as she sat on the sofa.
Dylan steeled himself for bad news as he dialed the phone number that had become more familiar than his own. After two rings, a sad voice answered.
"Marco. I heard you wanted to talk." Dylan started.
"Dylan, what are you doing home early? Are you okay?" asked Marco, clearly concerned.
"Other than the fact that I can't seem to stop crying, I'm fine. I couldn't face last period today and Paige brought me home." Dylan explained.
"Oh. Can you come over? I think we should talk in person." Marco asked.
"Sure. I'll be there in 15 minutes. I need to collect my thoughts before I leave." Dylan said with a firm voice.
"Okay, bye." Marco said as he hung up the phone.
Dylan hung his up too. He turned to Paige, "He wants to talk in person. I don't know if this is good or bad."
"Think happy thoughts but prepare for the worst." Paige suggested as she walked him to the door.
Dylan nodded and kissed her on the top of the head, "Thanks, squirt. I don't know when you got so insightful but I'm glad you're here."
Paige smiled as she shut the door on her brother.
Marco paced up and down his sitting room while waiting for Dylan. He'd just faced the hardest decision of his life, granted not a long life but still hard nonetheless. He knew that the person that deserved and needed to hear his answer first was the one headed in his direction. Some people may not agree with his ultimate choice but it was for the best in the long run.
Dylan tried to drive carefully to Marco's. He'd look back on this day and probably want to kick himself at the shear stupidity of his decision to get behind the wheel.
And then it happened...Dylan got sideswiped. It was a horrible accident. Broken glass. Twisted metal. Ambulance and fire trucks. Police. Screams of pain. Tears falling. Blood. And one very still, silent boy.
Marco tore out of his house the moment he got Paige's phone call. A call that would probably haunt him for years to come.
"Hello?"
"M-marco?"
"Paige, what's wrong? What's happened?"
"It's Dylan...sob"
"What's Dylan?"
"He's...he's...been in...an..acc..acc..accident. He's at the h..o.sptal."
"I'm on my way, do you need a ride?"
"No, Chad's driving me there now. sob"
It only took a minute but that extremely simple conversation played over and over again.
Marco rushed into the Emergency Room and found Paige sobbing on Chad's shoulder.
"Oh My God. How? Where? What's?" Marco rushed frantically to say.
Paige turned and latched herself on to Marco with a death grip.
"Paige, do we know anything? How's Dylan?"
"I don't know. They can't tell me anything," sobbed Paige.
Marco ran his hand up and down Paige's back in a soothing manner.
Just a few minutes later, a doctor emerged from the side door. He scanned the anxious faces in the waiting room, zeroing in on the blonde clinging to the dark teen. "Ms. Michalchuk?" inquired the doctor.
Paige nodded and left Marco for Chad. She leaned against him for support as she faced the young guy in scrubs.
"How's Dylan?"
"We don't know yet. He hasn't woken up and we've got a few more tests to run. Are your parents on their way?" asked the doctor.
"Yes, they should be here in a few minutes. Can I at least see Dylan?" implored Paige.
"No. We are prepping him for surgery and I need your parents to sign some papers," replied the doctor, almost coldly.
"Surgery?" asked Marco, his voice barely above a whisper.
The doctor turned and looked at Marco again, seeing him for the first time. "Yes, but I can't discuss it with anyone outside of the family," replied the physician. His voice is what said it all, the disdain and contempt at having to deal with teens was getting to him. He didn't care to be nice to insignificant people anymore.
Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk chose that moment to rush through the door. Seeing their daughter with the doctor made them rush even faster.
Paige turned at the sound of high heels on the tile floor, "Mom, Dad, they're prepping Dylan for surgery but won't tell us what happened. And this asshole," Paige spit out, pointing at the doctor, "doesn't give a damn. He's been fairly rude to me and Marco. He won't even give me a straight answer."
"I am Jonathan Michalchuk. How's my son?" Mr. Michalchuk asked coldly, looking at the Doogie Howser wannabe.
"Mr. Michalchuk, I'm Dr. Kildare. Dylan's sustained some mild injuries and some more serious ones. He's got a collapsed lung and some internal bleeding that must be surgically stopped. I need for you to sign some papers and we'll be on our way." Dr. Kildare said professionally.
"Fine. Bring them to me. I just want my son taken care of now." Mr. Michalchuk replied forcefully.
The nurse brought out the forms and told them where to wait for news of Dylan's surgery.
The five moved silently down the sterile green hall to a door marked 'Surgical Waiting'.
Mrs. Michalchuk was questioning about the accident when Marco broke down that it was his fault. She tried to reassure him that it wasn't but he couldn't fight the guilt.
Marco retreated to a corner of the room to sulk in silence. 'I could have told him over the phone. I could have waited. I should have gone to him.' Marco continued his silent abuse until he gave himself a headache.
Paige jumped up and turned to where Marco was sitting, "Wait, Dylan said you had an answer. Are you leaving?"
Marco sighed, "I had an answer and depending on what happens here, my answer might change. So, I don't know anymore."
Four hours and a few complications later, Dr. Doogie (as the five were now calling him) emerged from a door on the far side of the room.
Mrs. Michalchuk gripped her husband, as Paige grabbed onto Chad. This left Marco gripping the chair in a white knuckled grip.
The doctor looked at them in some self induced trance and didn't speak.
"Well?" asked Mr. Michalchuk as his patience wore thin.
The doctor shook his head to clear it and said, "Dylan's out of surgery and stable. We had some complications but they seem to be taken care of now. I'm a little concerned because he hasn't woken up yet."
The doctor started to leave.
"Can we see him?" asked Marco.
"Only family can see him after they set him up in the room. It should only be another 20 minutes or so," sneered the doctor.
Mr. Michalchuk stood and glared at the young doctor, "As of now, these boys are family and they will be visiting Dylan. Any problems?"
The doctor shook his head as he left the area.
A pretty blonde nurse came and got the five to see Dylan about a half hour later.
Paige grabbed the door frame at the sight of her brother. He was paler than the sheets that he was placed between. His vibrancy seemed to have disappeared in a few short hours. He wasn't the same person that walked out her front door to see his boyfriend, and it scared her. Steeling herself slightly, she entered the room.
Marco stood in the doorway looking at the man he'd fallen in love with in a cold hospital bed. It was too much to take in. He turned quickly and headed down the hall a little way and sat against the wall.
Chad took notice of Marco abrupt departure and decided to follow. He knew Paige had her parents and Marco needed someone too.
Chad approached Marco carefully and slid down next to him. "You going to be okay?"
Marco had his head rested on his knees, his head raised slowly when Chad spoke. "I don't know. I was ready to give Dylan my decision and now he's lying there. I can't think straight."
Chad smiled tersely, "I know, man. It's gotta be hard."
"You have no idea. It's my fault he was emotional and driving. I love him more than anyone else in the world, Chad. I can't lose him now," Marco said, crying quietly.
Chad looked down the hall toward Dylan's room and back at Marco. "I think you need a few minutes alone with him. He'll listen to you. Get him to wake up. I'll see what I can do about the Michalchuks."
Marco gave him a watery smile and nodded.
The boys stood together and approached the doorway. The Michalchuks looked at Marco and agreed to leave when Chad suggested it.
Marco sat down by Dylan's bed and stared through his tears at the love of his life. He didn't know why but he felt compelled to speak amongst the flood of memories.
First meeting Dylan in Paige's basement. Blonde, muscular, absolutely gorgeous...
"Hi, love. I don't know if you can hear me but I love you."
Running into him in nothing but a towel later that day...wow!
"I am sorry that this happened. I'm sorry I didn't tell you my answer sooner."
The first kiss in my foyer. The first date..."I need you to wake up. If you don't, my decision will change."
Our first time together physically. The first time I heard 'I Love You'.
"I can't do this without you, love. I need you. Paige needs you. Chad needs you. We aren't complete without you."
Hockey finals, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, soccer.
"I love you. Please come back to me."
The last time he'd seen Dylan, Dylan backing away from him crying.
The last memory tore Marco into two. It killed him to know that Dylan's last thought of him was sad. He needed to make this right. He needed Dylan to wake up.
Marc was fully crying by now. He didn't care anymore. He wanted Dylan back.
Clasping his hand firmly, he placed a kiss above Dylan's knuckles.
"As long as you wake up, I am staying. I couldn't leave. I couldn't risk losing the love of my life."
Marco stayed there all night watching as Dylan slept in a dreamless sleep. There was no way he was leaving when Dylan needed him the most.
---------------------------------------------
Please review. Let me know if you want this to continue or should I end it at the next chapter. Thank you for reading.