A/N: I hope everyone is enjoying this story, and I would like to thank my friend Daniel for giving me the medical information recommended for this chapter. Also, I'm going add a little humor here and there, so don't go down my throat for not making it serious enough.

"Richie, we're taking you back to the hospital to find out what's wrong," Tessa said.

"I agree," Richie quietly said.

Duncan was more worried than before, if Richie was willing to see a doctor, he must've been terrified for his dear life.

"Connor, are you coming too?" Tessa turned to face him.

"Yeah, I think it'd be best if I drive anyway, Duncan, are you going to help Tessa get Richie out to the car?" Connor turned to face Duncan.

Duncan went over and lightly grasped the lad's arm as they headed out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The entire way to the hospital, Duncan was a wreck, he couldn't get over the fact that the same boy, who he had been yelling at over 2 hours ago, was now blind. Now, Richie was helpless, the poor boy had enough trouble taking care of himself before, now he'd need someone with him practically at all times.

And Duncan knew, if he needed anyone and was going to admit it, it would be either Tessa or Connor, he wouldn't dare ask Duncan for help, not after what had happened, Duncan knew that, and he couldn't blame Richie for it. Not after the way he'd exploded at him earlier, Duncan's conscience was doing a number on him, and he knew he deserved it.

This is all your fault, he told himself, if you hadn't yelled at the boy, he woudln't be in this position now.

Simply put, Duncan knew there was no arguing with himself, he knew it was true, if he hadn't started arguing with Richie, he wouldn't have left, he wouldn't have been so angry that he couldn't see, he never would have had his accident, and he would not be on his way to the hospital for a CAT scan.

Four hours later, all the tests had been run, but before Dr. Jonathan Porter could get a chance to explain, Tessa took offence at their lack of medical practice.

"This makes no sense, whatsoever, if the boy was blind when he arrived here, how could you have let him leave in such a simple manner?" Tessa asked, "Surely you have some obligations when it comes to performing these tests when the patients arrive."

"And we do, Miss Noel," Dr. Porter said, "but I didn't see to your son when he was first brought in here. That would be Dave Myers, he's not exactly new to the medical profession, however-"

"However what?" Duncan asked, worried he would regret the answer.

"Look, Mister MacLeod, I'm going to be honest with you, Dr. David Myers has been hired into and fired from 11 different hospitals, all for different reasons, he's tried different positions in the medical profession, lately he's been seeing to the care of blind people. However, his medical care in blindness, much like every other profession prior to it, has had many flaws."

"You're saying that the reason he got out of here the first time was because of a-"

"Completely screwed physician?" Dr. Porter cut Tessa off, "Yes. He proves to have had very little practice, he's seen to 3 people with decreased vision today, he only bothered with a few simple tests that we believe your son could've easily passed from a few given hints, and when he appeared to have passed them. He just let him go."

"Tests, which tests?" Connor asked, "How could he have passed them so easily?"

"They're really very simple, Mister MacLeod, for example, every person with decreased vision who has been in here, is started off with a simple test such as having their eyes follow the doctor's hand, the draft in here could easily have given away the solution to that. Maybe or maybe not fortunately, depending on the case, we were alerted of Dr. Myers' true medical practices and - he left not long after your son was dismissed," Dr. Porter said, "but, after giving him the proper tests, I've come to one simple conclusion."

"What is it?" Tessa asked.

"During his fall, he sustained a concussion, which bruised the brain in the vision section," he explained.

"Is it permanent?" Tessa asked.

"No, not at all, and I don't think surgery will be needed, but it will depend on how his condition changes if any in the next few weeks," Dr. Porter said.

"How long will it last?" Duncan asked.

"That will depend on how hard he actually hit his head, unfortunately it would depend on how fast he was going when he fell, how hard the road was when he rolled down it, and how hard the pavement was when he stopped. And unfortunately, that cannot be determined to exact figures, but the way I see it, it's obvious he took a hard fall, and I'd say that he's lucky that he's only blind," Dr. Porter said.

"What?!" Tessa, Connor and Duncan asked.

"I have seen patients in the same situations, and some were brought in with brain damage, internal bleeding in the brain, and others didn't turn out as lucky," Dr. Porter explained.

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," Tessa said.

"I can't believe we're still here," Richie finally said, "doc, is there anything else you need to do with me?"

"I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do, so you can take him home and just keep an eye on him....when his condition starts to improve, he'll be able to see, but his entire vision will be blurred, so if there are any changes, let me know," Dr. Porter said.

Tessa took Richie by one arm, and Connor by the other as they led him out of the room.

"Are you allright, Richie?" Tessa asked.

"Terrific, I've just spent 4 hours in a strange place that I can't see, the last doctor who saw to me was obviously completely fucked in the brain, and as far as I know, this place is probably filled with stuff I DON'T want to even know about," Richie said, his sarcasm wearing thin.

"Don't worry about it," Connor said as he mussed the boy's hair, "I've seen plenty of disgusting things in my time, this place looks like Martha Stewart decorated it compared to some of the sights I could tell you about."

The humor wore thin as they headed out of the hospital, Tessa on one side of Richie, Connor on the other, and Duncan remaining a few steps behind all of them. The shock still lingered in his mind, in a way, he himself felt helpless. He was positive Richie wouldn't trust being around him while he was blind, and if he couldn't trust him, he wouldn't be able to help the lad. Right now, Duncan felt as vulnerable as Richie seemed to be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connor drove them home, he knew that Duncan's nerves were shot and he was in no condition to be driving what seemed to be a family of 4 during hectic traffic and bad weather. A storm had started up out of nowhere not long after they left the hospital. The last thing they needed was to get caught in the storm and end up getting run off the road because of it.

Duncan couldn't stop looking at Richie, they had left the hospital half an hour ago, and Richie hadn't said anything. Duncan wasn't about to say anything either, he didn't want Richie to think he was picking another fight with him. He couldn't get out of his mind the last thing he had said to Richie. He hadn't tried to be of any help to the boy, he didn't say he was sorry for his accident. He was threatening Richie, threatening to punish him, the last thing Richie had heard him say to him was senseless yelling about his irresponsibilities when Duncan was the one to blame.

He should have known there was something wrong with the lad when he hadn't returned, but instead, he was just waiting for him to return so he could punish Richie for his behavior. At the time, in addition to that, another thought had crossed his mind as to why Richie was still gone. It was a faint idea in the back of his head, but as his absence reached the 2 hour mark, he started figuring that perhaps he feared getting beaten when he returned. Duncan wouldn't have beaten him, but he knew all too well it would have been close.

Finally, Tessa broke the silence, "Richie, are you allright? You haven't said 2 words since we left the hospital."

"I'm fine, Tess, it's just that I'm still in shock myself to find I can't see anything, I never figured I'd be in a mess like this."

"Look on the bright side, it's not permanent, surgery won't be required, and as you heard," Connor told him, "you got off lucky compared to some people in your position."

"I know, I know," Richie murmured, "well, I guess it could be worse. After all, right about now, I could be in a steel drawer somewhere with a sheet thrown over me, and a tag on my toe."

"Richie, I do wish you wouldn't talk like that," Tessa said, "even if it is true, it doesn't help the situation much."

Truth was, as shocked and upset everybody was, they were relieved Richie would turn out allright eventually, however, everyone knew that the true delimma had just begun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Easy, easy, this way," Connor signaled Richie, who had both he and Tessa leading him into the shop, "careful Richie, careful."

Richie got a few feet in past the front door and stopped, "I'm a blind person, Connor, not a 747 trying to land in Chicago."

"At least you still have your sense of humor," Connor said, "you may need it to help get you through the next few days."

"Days?" Richie repeated, "try weeks, months even, Connor, we don't know how long my condition will last, it may even be years. I know you guys don't want or need to put up with me if it'll be that long-"

"You're staying right here with us," Tessa told him, "That was the deal when you moved in, that is the deal now. Consider it like marriage, through good and bad, sickness and health, you're staying with us."

"Really?" Richie's voice sounded only half-convinced.

"Yes, you have our word, you're going to stay with us, and we're going to help you until you can see again," Tessa assured him, "is there anything you need right now?"

"Na," Richie answered, "although--"

"What is it?" Tessa asked.

"Never mind, I'm going upstairs to my room," Richie asked, "I'm tired and just want to lay down."

"What?" Tessa laughed, "Oh no you don't, you are not going to try to get upstairs by yourself, I'll help you."

"Come on Tess, I can do it myself," Richie argued.

"Maybe, but you're going to have to get adjusted to being like this first before you try to convince me of that, I'm going with you," Tessa told him.

"Really?"

"Of course," Tessa took Richie's arm in hers, "follow me, and take it nice and slow."

"Nice and slow, yes I remember, that's the exact thing they told me when I walked a line for a sobriety test."

"Oh really?" Tessa slightly laughed.

She figured perhaps if she could get Richie to talk about something other than his current condition, perhaps it would liven him up a bit and make the fact he couldn't see, a little less painful for him.

"Yeah, I swear, Tess, these guys must've worked at the circus at some point. There's nothing I hate more than clown cops, they had me walk a 15-foot line, and they said: 'nice and slow', so I wouldn't stumble through it too quickly. Worst 45 minutes of my life," Richie said.

No one could resist laughing at Richie's response. For an instant, it seemed to liven up the atmosphere. As Tessa helped the boy up to his room, Connor went over to Duncan, who had seated himself across the room with his head in his hands, staring at the floor.

"Is there something you'd like to tell me?" Connor asked.

"He could've been killed, Connor," Duncan replied, continuing to stare at the floor.

"But he wasn't, and now he's back here with all the help he could ask for," Connor replied.

"Connor, you don't know what happened before he came back, I was horrible to him," Duncan said.

"Oh really?" Connor pulled up a chair and rested against the back of it, "I can't imagine you'd do anything too horrible to him."

"Connor, I-----you weren't here, you didn't see what happened, you didn't hear me say he was irresponsible, unappreciative, practically useless, I told him he was only thinking of himself, and look where it got him," Duncan said, "blind and helpless for God only knows how long."

"You didn't know," Connor told him, "you didn't know he'd take off, you didn't know he'd get himself in an accident, you're not to blame here."

"Yes I am and don't try to tell me otherwise!" Duncan exploded, "If I hadn't opened my mouth, he never would have left, he wouldn't have been so angry that he couldn't see, and he never would have fallen off his bike and hit his head, leaving him blind!"

Duncan lowered his head and held his forehead in his palms as tears fell from his eyes and down his face, "Oh..." he moaned, "I'm an ass!"

"You're a huge ass, Duncan," Connor said, "but right now, the lad needs our help, and that includes you."

"He's not going to want me helping him, I'm the reason he's blind in the first place, and he knows it," Duncan said.

"Duncan, I have been standing right next to you ever since he first got back, never did he say anything about you being responsible for anything," Connor said.

"Maybe not, but you know that's exactly what he's thinking," Duncan said, "and, and I can't blame him."

"You can feel sorry for yourself all you want," Connor told him, "right now, there is a helpless, scared, 17-year-old upstairs, wondering when he's going to see again. He needs our help more than anything right now, that includes you."

Connor headed upstairs to see how Richie was, Tessa had just gotten him down on his bed and seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep.

"How are you, laddie?" Connor asked.

"Fine, Connor," Richie murmured, "just fine, considering."

"Richie," Tessa cut in, "I've decided that it would be best if one of us stays with you at all time to make sure you'll be okay."

"Sounds great, Tess, just great," Richie moaned, "you mean like guard duty?"

"In a way, I'll take the first watch, Connor can take the second, and Duncan can take the next. Which reminds me Connor, I know you're only in town for a short while, but I think Duncan and I could use quite a bit of help right now," Tessa started.

"Say no more, I'll be glad to stay, besides, the way I see it, it's a job that requires three people anyway," Connor said.

"Well, now that that's settled, is there anything I can get you, Richie?" Tessa asked.

"No, I'm fine - I'm just tired," Richie murmured.

A few minutes later, the boy fell asleep, Connor asked to see Tessa in the next room, and then insisted that he'd watch him while she talked with Duncan.

"How is he taking this?" Tessa asked.

"That's something I think you best find out for yourself, now go on, I'll watch the laddie," Connor told her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Duncan hadn't gotten up from the chair, and just continued to stare at the floor and kick himself for what had happened.

How could I have been so foolish? Duncan pondered, I should have known when he didn't return that something was wrong, what the hell could I have been thinking that would block out the obvious from my mind?

It was then that Duncan realized Tessa was in the room, she walked over to him and pulled up a chair. Duncan looked up at her and asked, "how is he?"

"He's asleep right now, Connor's watching him, as a matter of fact, I think it would be best if we took turns watching him throughout the day, you know, to make sure he's allright, he doesn't try doing something for himself and end up getting hurt," Tessa explained.

"Okay," Duncan agreed.

"Duncan, how are you holding up?" Tessa asked.

"I don't know, Tess, I'm worried, I'm also afraid," Duncan said.

"Of what? Richie will be fine, Dr. Porter said he's going to get his eyesight back, he just doesn't know how long," Tessa told him.

"Yeah, I know, it could be weeks or months, maybe even years," Duncan said.

"So what are you saying?" Tessa asked, "Do you think we need to send him to someone else who can look after him? Is that what you're saying?"

"That's not what I'm saying!" Duncan disagreed, "Tess...the boy needs help, I just don't know if I can help him."

"Why is that?" Tessa asked, "You haven't even said anything to him since you found out about his accident."

"Exactly, Tess, he wouldn't be in this mess right now if I hadn't yelled at him, if I didn't even have enough patience to put up with his outburst, what guarantee is there that I can be of any help now?"

"Surely you must have known a few blind people in your time," Tessa said.

"Some, most of them never recovered," Duncan said.

"Is that what you're worried about with Richie?" Tessa asked.

"No, I know he's going to be allright, it's just-"

"Just what?" Tessa asked.

"Tess, I don't know what to do, I don't know how to help Richie, I don't know if he's even going to want my help, he knows what I know," Duncan said.

"And what do you know?"

"I know that it's my falt he can't see, and I know that that's the reason he's depending on you and Connor to help him, not me," Duncan said.

"You don't know that, Duncan," Tessa said.

"I know it, Tess, he hasn't said anything to me since I found out about his accident. -Did you see him when he first came back?" Duncan asked.

"Yes, he acted as everything were normal, he walked in and acted just as he could see," Tessa said, "we didn't know anything was wrong until he came back."

"Then he went silent on us," Duncan remembered, "I guess, once the secret was out, he must have figured there was no sense in trying to convince us of anything after that."

"Duncan, you know that's not true, Richie knew that he couldn't see, that's why he allowed that officer to bring him back, that's why he let you yell at him, and he didn't want us to take pity on him when he first got back, that's why he pretended he could see," Tessa realized, "if that officer hadn't told us, we probably wouldn't have found out."

"Exactly, and then what? How long would it have been before he finally told us he couldn't see? What would it take? Would we have had to ask him to help with dinner before he told us? He wouldn't know what to do, he probably would've wound up cutting himself with one of the knives. Then he probably would've told us, I - I just can't believe this, how could this be happening?"

"Duncan, you can't keep blaming yourself, this could just have easily have happened if he had been careless for one second on his bike, then we'd still be in the same situation," Tessa told him.

"I wish I could believe that," Duncan said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I wish I had known you were coming, otherwise I probably wouldn't have ran out of here until tonight, and I'd probably still be able to see," Richie said.

"Well, Duncan didn't know himself until I had showed up, I decided to drop in on all of you and surprise you," Connor told him.

"I'm surprised," Richie said, "I had been hoping you'd drop by, things have gotten real predictable and boring around here, I figured, if you showed up, and you and Mac got in an argument and tried duking it out, that'd spice things up."

"It probably would've," Connor laughed, "who knows? I might stick around for that, too."

"Are you serious? You're staying here?" Richie asked.

"Of course."

"How long?"

"At least until you recover."

Had Richie heard right? He started to sit up in the bed and was only able to raise himself from the chest up. "What did you say?"

"I'm going to stay until you can see again."

"Are you serious?"

"Personally, I don't see why not, laddie, what've I to lose?" Connor asked.

"Depending on my type of condition," Richie mumbled, "I'd say close to a year probably."

"So what? I've been around for well over 400 years, one more of seeing Duncan's sorry face shouldn't matter," Connor said.

"You two don't get along well, do you?" Richie asked.

"Oh, let's say we've had our different opinions of one another before, like the first time we met, I'll never forget it, but that's a story for another time," Connor said, "I'll say this, Duncan has a history of being quite a colorful character."

"Man, how is he taking it?" Richie asked.

"Not as well as you apparently, I'm afraid," Connor said, "he seems to think he's the cause of this."

"How?" Richie asked.

"Well, the way he sees it is if he hadn't yelled at you for whatever reason he did, you wouldn't have left, and gotten in the accident," Connor explained.

"Putting it that way, I guess there's a chance of it," Richie said.

Off in a distance, Richie listened to the howling winds and the thunder, he could only imagine how bright the lightning was and how much it was raining. He wondered how long the storm would last. But it really didn't matter to him, as far as he was concerned, he could stay in bed for the rest of his days as a blind person. He didn't know why, but since his accident, he felt exhausted, nervous, and numb. He had no idea what he was going to do with the rest of his life, and for some reason, he didn't seem to care about anything that happened anymore. No, that wasn't true, he was just talking himself into believing it, hoping the idea would make some of the pain go away. Finally, Connor broke the silence between them with a direct question, he wanted to get straight to the point about something.

"What do you think?" Connor asked.

"About what?" Richie asked.

"Do you think it was Duncan's fault?" Connor asked him.

"I don't know," Richie sighed, "at the time - there was so much stuff going through my mind, and then---then I land flat on the pavement."

"Exactly what was going through your mind at the time?" Connor asked.

"Oh, only everything I could think of at the time," Richie responded, "how could I always be such a burden for Mac? Why did he even bother putting up with me? What could I do without screwing it up? If I get the boot here, where am I gonna go? Why does he always have to yell at me every time I screw up? What do you think, Connor? Am I expecting too much from Mac for him to put up with me?"

"It's not too much to expect, in fact I think it's not enough to expect from him," Connor told him.

"Why? You should have heard us arguing earlier, we couldn't get along to save our lives," Richie said.

"Bite your tongue, laddie, Duncan is willing to do far more than just put up with you, he loves you and he cares about you, otherwise he wouldn't have taken you in," Connor said.

"You think so?" Richie asked.

"I know so, as a matter of fact-"

"What is it?" Richie asked.

Connor opened the door to see Duncan and Tessa.

"If everything allright up here, Connor? We thought we heard something," Duncan said.

"The lad just woke up and felt like talking to someone is all," Connor said.

Tessa went over to Richie's bedside, "how are you feeling, mon petit?"

"Tired, but I can't sleep," Richie groaned.

"Are you hungry?" Tessa asked.

"No."

"If you need anything, just say so," Tessa told him.

"I will."

"Pauvre petit," Tessa said as she left the room.

"Connor," Duncan said, "I - I'll get you when dinner's ready, and I'll take over watching Richie."

Connor got up from his seat near Richie's bed and headed over to Duncan, "I'm passing on dinner, but I think you should watch him, he won't admit it, but he needs you," Connor told him.

"Can you be sure of that?" Duncan asked.

Right now, Duncan wasn't sure Richie needed him at all, but Duncan was more certain Richie didn't want to be around him at all.