Accidently uploaded chapter six before this one, so my monologue on why this took so long is in the next chapter. On with the story...

Chapter 5

"Wow, Sandra, this restaurant is fantastic! How in the world did you find it?" Jim asked, looking around the French restaurant that they were in.

"Oh, one of my friends is a chef here, so when she told me all about it, I knew that you would just love it." Sandra said casually. "Happy anniversary Jim!"

"Happy anniversary Sandra." he responded, clinking wine glasses with her. So, what other events do you have planned for the evening? Or are you not going to tell me and keep them as a surprise like you did our dinner location?"

"Oh, I thought that we could go see a movie, take a moon light horse and buggy ride though the park, and then go to a café for some coffee."

"Wow, you really thought this night out didn't you? I'm very impressed!"

"May I interrupt for a brief moment Monsieur, Madame?" the waiter said from the side of the table. "My name is Peter, and I'll be serving you tonight. Our specials for the evening are cordon blue and a potato and beef stew, with ­ for dessert. What may I interest you in?"

"I think that I will have the special." Jim said, closing his menu.

"I'll have the same." Sandra chimed in, doing the same.

"Your stews will be out shortly." Peter said.

Over their meals, the two adults talked about many things. One topic that Jim kept bringing up was Leslie. "I have never grounded her before. I don't know exactly how to enforce that."

"Oh, that is simple. Basically, she is not allowed to use the phone, she must come home straight after school, she is not allowed on the computer, she cannot watch TV; basically all she can do is come home, work on her homework, eat dinner, and talk with us." Sandra replied nonchalantly.

"I see. She is in prison except at home." Jim said grimly.

"If you wish to see it that way, then yes. The way I see it as is building character. My opinion is that you should have done this ages ago. The girl is too wild, you need to tame her, teach her proper manners."

"Your desserts." Peter said, putting down plates in front of them.

"This looks absolutely divine!" Jim said. After he took a spoon full, he said, "Give the chef my regards, this is excellent!"

"I will do so Monsieur."

"I'm so glad that you are liking this Jim." Sandra said smiling.

"I'm having a great time." Jim said, smiling back. Just then, his cell phone rang from his pocket. "Now who in the world could that be?" he asked himself bewildered. Pulling out his phone, he looked at the incoming number. "This is Leslie's teacher's cell phone number; why in the world would they be calling me? The show isn't over for another hour and a half, and Leslie said that she would get a ride home!"

"Jim," Sandra said, trying to comfort him. "Leslie is fine, I'm sure. She probably forgot about the ride, and was panicking."

"Okay, I guess that could be it." he said, putting the phone back in his pocket after hitting end without answering it. A few minutes later, the phone rang again. After hanging up again, the phone rang yet again. This time, he answered it, thinking that it was Leslie. "Yes Leslie, what did you forget?"

"Mr. Donnelly, is that you?" a woman's voice said from the other end.

"Mrs. Carmichael, why are you calling me? Shouldn't you be paying attention to the play right now? What is all that noise?" In the background, he could faintly hear the sounds of people talking and cars running, but that was all he could make out.

"Mr. Donnelly, I need you to meet us at the hospital…"

"What?" Jim interrupted her. "Why? What happened? Is Leslie okay? Where is she, where are you? Can I speak with her?"

"Slow down Mrs. Donnelly! There has been an accident. It would be easier to explain if you just met us at the hospital."

"Jim, what is it? Why do you look so white?" Sandra said, starting to get alarmed.

"Leslie is in the hospital!" Jim practically shouted. "Waiter, I need the bill! Now, my daughter is in the hospital!"

The waiter Peter went running into the back to get the bill, and then ran out almost hitting another waiter carrying a tray of drinks with the swinging door. "Here you are Sir; I hope your daughter gets better. You can pay up front if you wish."

"Thank you, I will." Jim said.

"Mr. Donnelly," Mrs. Carmichael said. "Mr. Donnelly, you have to calm down! Can you have someone drive you? I don't think that you are in a state to do so yourself."

"Yes, my girlfriend Sandra can do that. Sandra, go get the car while I pay the bill."

"Sure, I'll be right back." Sandra said, grabbing her purse and walking out the door to her car.

"I'll be right there; just don't let anything happen to my daughter!" Jim commanded in hysterics.

Running into the hospital, Jim almost collided with Mrs. Carmichael. "Where is Leslie; what happened; is she okay?" he asked all at once, getting his balance again.

"We are waiting for the doctors to come out and tell us, so just take a seat and calm down. Where is your girlfriend?" Mrs. Carmichael said, looking behind him.

"She went home, she hates hospitals." Jim replied, taking her advice. Nice lady, ditching him like this. No wonder Leslie has been so distracted for the last couple of weeks. I bet that the two of them don't hit it off real well. Mrs. Carmichael thought.

While they waited, Mrs. Carmichael recanted how the show had been going so well, until the second act when Leslie and Maggie fell down the stairs. Slowly, some of the kids from the show showed up at the hospital to see how either Maggie or Leslie was doing. Most of them were there for Maggie, because she was the only one who knew the lines, so she was the only one who could play Christine. When Mike showed up, nobody knew why he was there, because he just sat in a corner by himself.

About two hours later, the doors to the ER opened and a doctor came out. Everyone in the waiting room stood up, thinking that it was the doctor that they were waiting for. "Is there a Mrs. Carmichael here?" the doctor said, looking at the clipboard in his hands.

"Yes, I'm right here." Mrs. Carmichael said.

"Mrs. Carmichael, my name is Doctor Porter. I am happy to say that Maggie's ankle is not broken. She has a severe sprain, and it could take weeks to heal. I'm sorry that this took so long, there are just so many patients here." the doctor reported.

"What about the other girl I brought in here? Leslie Donnelly, is she okay?" Mrs. Carmichael asked.

"Leslie is my daughter, may I see her?" Jim asked anxiously.

"I'm sorry Sir, but I am not her doctor. I will send him or her out when they can though." Doctor Porter said.

"Can we see Maggie?" one of the girls asked from where she was standing. "Is she going to have to stay here over night?" one of the boys asked. "Is she going to be able to finish the play Mrs. Carmichael?" another girl asked.

"Yes, you may see her, and no, she will not be spending the night here. As for if she can act, she can not event walk, so I strongly suggest against it." the doctor said.

"But then we will have to postpone the rest of the show!" Jessica wailed.

"Hush, everyone, if you are quiet, you may go see Maggie. All of you have to be out of here in an hour though!" Mrs. Carmichael said.

After most of the cast had wondered back into the ER to find Maggie's room, Mrs. Carmichael, Mr. Donnelly, and Mike still left in the waiting room. "Mike, don't you want to see Maggie?" Mrs. Carmichael asked.

Looking up from his blank stair at the floor, Mike just shook his head. "I'm more concerned about Leslie." he mumbled. Another two hours passed before another doctor came out into the waiting room. By this time, it was past midnight, so they were the only ones left in the waiting room. "Mrs. Carmichael?"

"Yes? Are you the doctor taking care of Leslie Donnelly?" Mrs. Carmichael asked.

"Yes, my name is Doctor Ashley." she said, extending her hand.

"How bad is it? May I see her?" Mr. Donnelly asked, standing up again.

"I assume that you are her father?" He nodded. "I'm sorry Mr. Donnelly, but Leslie is in a comma. She is stable now, and we have taken numerous x-rays and CAT scans and MRI's, but we don't know why she is under. We are going to keep her under close watch, so you don't have to worry about her slipping any farther away than she is." She paused, making sure that what she was saying was sinking in, but not freaking them out too much. "I promise, Leslie will have the best doctors watching over her at all times. If anything in her condition changes, we will know the second it does. We have put her in her own room, so you are welcome to stay there with her until she recovers. I know that this is hard for you to believe and understand, but she will be okay."

Halfway through the doctor's speech, Mike had retreated into his corner again, Mr. Donnelly had collapsed into his chair, and Mrs. Carmichael was standing with her hands over her mouth.

"We are allowing her to have visitors, but no more than three at a time, so if you like, I can show you to her room."

"That would be nice." Mr. Donnelly mumbled, getting up again.

Once in her room, Leslie's father broke down completely, just seeing his daughter lying in the hospital bed, hooked up to all the machines, and totally helpless. It brought back too many bad memories from when her mom had died a few years ago from leukemia. She had been in the same physical and mental state that Leslie seemed to be in, for quite some time. "Oh my poor baby, my poor daughter!" he moaned, rushing over to her bed side.

Oh Leslie, I'm so, so sorry! I wish I could have caught you when you fell or something! Mike thought to himself. He didn't dare go near her bed, because he knew that her father wanted to be alone, so he just stood against the wall next to the door. Mrs. Carmichael was also crying softly; she couldn't bear to look at one of her beloved students in such a bad predicament.

The next day, a car full of flowers and balloons were delivered to Leslie's room in the hospital, full of get well cards and chocolates. Mrs. Carmichael was sure to send coupons for coffee, because she knew that Mr. Donnelly wouldn't get much sleep from worrying too much. Leslie had plenty of visitors, but only one came every day.

"Good morning Mr. Donnelly." Mike said, walking into the room. He had some donuts and coffee with him from the hospital cafeteria.

"Hey Mike, how is you mother doing this morning?" Mr. Donnelly asked, sitting up in his chair.

"She is very concerned about Leslie, but other than that, she's doing pretty well. The doctors say that she should be able to come home in a few days."

"How is the new baby doing?"

"He is doing just fine; as healthy as can be, thank goodness."