It was Sunday afternoon, and Cindy was again in the back seat of the car, starting the four hour return drive home. They would get back at about 6:00 if traffic wasn't bad. 'I wonder if Nerd-tron finally noticed the wires have been messed with or not.' she thought watching the trees go by out of the car window. Suddenly Cindy began to feel sick, and let out a small groan.
"Is everything all right dear?" her mother asked from the front passenger seat.
"Yeah, my stomach just turned, that's all." she replied. 'No, that's not all' she added on in her head. 'I feel as if something really bad just happened somewhere. Was it grandma? The doctors said she was recovering though.' She shook her head, trying to lose the feeling. When that didn't work she leaned up against the door and went to sleep instead.
When Cindy woke up, it was dark out, but she could tell that they were just getting off of the highway. As they drove down the streets, she kept an eye out for Jimmy's yard, looking for any sign that he had been frustrated or such by his invention. What she found though, or didn't find, was the lab. She couldn't make out much, but she could tell that the clubhouse entrance to the lab was no longer there. Cindy began to get the bad feeling in the pit of her stomach again, as a chill ran down her spine. 'There's that feeling again!' She began to panic in her mind. 'What happened? Where's the lab?' She took a couple deep breaths. 'Don't panic, I'm sure there's some explanation for this.' Cindy calmed herself down as the car pulled in the drive way. Afraid to look back towards the yard across the street she kept her head down as she got her bag from the trunk, and headed up to her room.
When Cindy finished unpacking her clothes, she went over to the phone to call Libby. 'Okay, take some deep breaths, nothing's the matter, everything is fine.' After some deep breaths she called Libby's house.
Libby's mother answered the phone, "Hello"
"Hi, this is Cindy. Is Libby home?" Cindy asked.
"No, I'm afraid she's still at the hospital with Sheen, Cindy." Cindy took a sharp breath in. "You should try calling her cell phone,. She may have it turned off though, hospital policy and all that"
Quite shaken up she said thank you and hung up. 'Oh my God,' she thought. 'That must be what's wrong. Sheen's hurt in the hospital, and judging from the lack off lab next door, I'll bet Neutron did something to him.' She started to fume, but suddenly worry overcame her. 'Oh gods! What if it was something I did!? If because I messed those wires up, and if tested that thing, whatever it was, out on Sheen...' She cut off her train of thought. 'No, he said if anything was wrong, it just wouldn't work.' She took a minute to regain her senses, and then picked up the phone to call Libby's cell. 'Please pick up, please pick up,' she thought as the dial tone rang.
"Hey, you got the V-mail! Sorry I can't pick up right now, but I'll get back to you soon. Leave your message at the beep"
Cindy hung and made up her mind. 'I'm going to the hospital, I should have been here for her when this happened, but I wasn't. I have to be there for her now.' She ran downstairs to talk to her parents.
"Mom!" Cindy called out frantically. "Mom! Where are you"
Her mother appeared from her bedroom, "Cindy? What's the matter"
"Mom! I have to get to the hospital right away! Libby's there, I think that her boyfriend is seriously hurt." Cindy explained.
"Cindy, I don't..." Her mother began, but Cindy cut her off.
"Please mom," she begged. "I'm her best friend! It's my duty to be there for her." Her mother let out a sigh and Cindy knew she had won. She embraced her mother in a tight hug, "Thank you!" She grabbed her keys and ran out the door.
When Cindy entered the hospital, she realized that she had no idea what room Sheen would be in. 'Boy, I guess I should have thought of the earlier.' "Cindy?!" a voice called out.
Cindy turned to see who was calling her. "Libby! Oh, Libby. Are you all right"
"How did you know I was here girl? Yeah, I'm still a bit shaken up, but I'll be fine." Libby answered walking over to Cindy.
"I called your house and your mom said you were at the hospital with Sheen. Is everything all right"
"No, it's not. Come on, I came down here to get some snacks from the vending machine, but I'll take you to his room. I'm surprised you came here, I didn't think you'd care." Libby said walking down the hall.
Following Cindy exclaimed, "Wouldn't care?! What kind of person do you think I am"
Shrugging, Libby replied. "It's just that you two aren't exactly the best of friends"
"Look, I may not get along with him too often, but it's not like I hate the guy." Cindy defended. Changing the subject she asked, "So, how is Sheen doing"
Libby let out a sigh, "Not so well. He's really been hurting." Libby's voice began to waver a little.
"I'm really sorry to hear that, I should have been here when this happened." Cindy said patting Libby's back. The two were coming up to the waiting room outside the individual care units. "I'm sure.... SHEEN?!?" Cindy did a double take. Sheen walked out of one of the rooms, not a scratch on him. "But.. but.." Both Libby and Sheen gave her an odd look. Cindy pointed at Sheen, but was talking to Libby, "You're mom said you were in the hospital with him! But, he's here! Not in there!" Cindy said looking towards the rooms and back.
Understanding now, Libby explained. "You see, I came to the hospital with Sheen, but he's not the one who's hurt, Cindy." Libby let out a breath. "It's Jimmy."
To be continued...