I want to thank everyone for the great reviews. Myth, I wasn't sure about the last chapter of the lie until I read what you wrote. I cracked up. Thank you. Latisha, thank you for being so encouraging. happy reading.

The next morning

Mark and Delaney walked into the ICU waiting room carrying breakfast for the three worn out people who had stayed. Dave looked up form his newspaper and smiled at them.

"Paul said he would be by later. Steph's not feeling good this morning." Mark said as he sat down beside John and plucked his headphones off.

"Yo man watch it." John grumbled half asleep, then grunted a thank you when Mark handed him a bottle of water and a bowl of fruit.

"Hey Journey, what do you want? We have coffee, orange juice, biscuits and gravy, sausage egg biscuit, and fruit." Laney called out.

"I'm not hungry." Came the muffled reply from the huddled shape on the seat.

"But you threw up everything you ate last night." Laney answered back, concerned.

When she didn't receive an answer and no one else seemed concerned she let it go. As she bent to pick up a magazine she noticed the nurse quietly motioning for her. Frowning she slipped over there.

"Are you Delaney Calloway?" The nurse asked softly.

"Yea" the young girl answered confused.

"Great. The patient has been asking for you. But he wants it done quietly because he knows there are some very concerned people out here that he does not want to upset."

"How?" Laney asked wide eyed.

"Go back and sit down and in five minutes walk to the door like you are going to the cafeteria or something. Head down that hallway until you come to a set of double doors. I'll let you in that way."

Nodding in assent Laney headed back to her seat.

"What was that about?" Her father asked as she sat back down.

"Oh I was just wandering if he could have gifts like flowers and stuff. She said not in the ICU, too many sick patients." She answered shrugging her shoulders. Satisfied Mark went back to his book. Five minutes later she was going through the double doors.

"Wow, you have glassed in rooms. The ICUs I've been in are just curtained beds close to the nursing station." Delaney stated staring around curiously.

"The trauma ICU and the Surgical ICU do but we are considered the Medical ICU. Most of our patients are infectious. We don't want the germs spreading from patient to patient so we keep them isolated." The nurse stopped and turned to the young girl beside her. "Your friend is very sick. He has IV's in both arms, and he is connected to a monitor by electrodes taped to his chest. I don't want you to be scared by anything you see. He is doing a lot better. "

Taking a deep breath Delaney nodded and followed the nurse to ICU 7. Smiling in thanks she stepped into the room alone. Randy had his eyes closed so she took a moment to study him. All things considered he didn't look as bad as everyone make him out to be. Leaning down she pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Opening his eyes he turned to smile at her. "Hey midget"

"Now who is the troublemaker?" She teased.

"Don't remind me." He said grimacing. "How mad are they?"

"More concerned than anything. Once they see for themselves that you are alright they will get angry."

"In that case I am staying in here forever." He remarked, half serious.

"Not that I don't love you or anything but why me. There are a whole roomful of people out there that need to talk to you." She asked.

"I don't know what to say to any of them." He responded quietly with down cast eyes.

"Especially Dave."

"Yea, I heard that he spanked you. But it's not the end of the world. Dave has spanked me too." She stated.

"There is a difference. You are still a kid." Randy pointed out.

"Are you saying you didn't deserve it?" Laney asked incredibly.

"Of course I deserved it. I have never deserved it more. But how do I act around him now?" He asked confused.

"Did your dad ever tear into you?" She asked.

"Yea a lot." He admitted.

"And how did you act afterwards?"

"Like normal." He answered.

"So, what's the problem?" She asked.

"Dave is not my dad." Randy said sharply.

Laney sighed in frustration. "When your dad spanked you why did he do it?"

"Because he loved me." .

"And Dave did it because?" She prompted.

"He cares for me and was worried about me." He admitted reluctantly.

"Again, what is the problem then" she asked sarcastically.

"Smart ass."

"That's what little sisters are for." She grinned. "Now let me fill you in on what's been going on out there while you have been lazing around in here."

Randy just rolled his eyes.

"Let's start with Dave. He has not left the hospital since you have been put in here. And the really scary thing is that he hasn't yelled at anyone, not even when Journey told them what drugs you were taking."

Randy gaped at her. "Journey told them I took some stuff? Oh shit, I'm dead." Delaney started laughing until the heart monitor beeped indicating his heart rate had picked up to 120.

"Randy calm down. They knew before she told them, they just didn't know what. What did you think they were mad about if not the drugs?

"Just landing in here. How did they know? What did they do to Journey? Do they know about the other stuff?" He asked, speaking quickly.

"The mood swings and violent behavior tipped them off and then the ER did a drug screen. They are not mad at Journey, though Paul has not really spoken to her. But he has a lot going on. Steph is having some problems with the baby again."

"Is she okay?" He asked concerned, forgetting about his own problems.

"She is on bed rest for the next two days. He is really torn between being there for her and being here for you." Delaney explained.

"The next time you see him make sure to tell him not to worry about me. She is so much higher on the food chain than I am." Randy informed her. "Is Cena here?"

"Yea and everyone knows about his part in all of this. Daddy was really mad until they talked yesterday. You are the only one in trouble now." She said grinning. Sobering she added. "Journey is getting close though. She is so tore up about you and the way Dave's acting that she's gotten maybe four hours sleep in the last week and I heard her throwing up her dinner last night. She wouldn't eat this morning."

Randy was silent for a long time before motioning for a pen and paper. Scribbling quickly he handed the note to Laney. "Give that to Dave when no one is looking. And don't mention your visit to anyone."

"You are going to have to face them soon." She admonished him.

"Soon, but not now." He said hugging her goody.