Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with "That's So Raven."

Author's Note: Hi guys. I'm just writing to tell y'all that I just made up names for Ben's parents, since they'll be making a short appearance. That's all. Enjoy!

Chapter 30

"Paging Dr. Stevens. Dr. Stevens to the front desk…"

Raven stared up at her hospital room ceiling, watching the lights of passing cars cast odd shadows on the plain white paint. She was laying there in the dark, her right arm in a sling, hurting less than before, but still hurting. She hadn't seen anyone but Chelsea since school (they rode in the ambulance together) and the doctor half an hour ago…and then there was nothing. No word on Ben or Eddie or Chelsea. Chelsea…

Chelsea hadn't woken up in the ambulance and her head continued to bleed on the way to the hospital. The ambulance ride was so chaotic; the paramedics were shouting different medical terms at one another and Raven didn't understand a word of it. She kept asking how Chelsea was, but nobody would give her a straightforward answer.

"Don't worry. We're doing everything we can for her Miss."

"It'll be all right. Let's just concentrate on you."

"We're almost there; everything will be okay."

One sympathetic paramedic told Raven that Chelsea was going to be fine but he didn't sound too sure. How could he be? As soon as they got to the hospital Raven was wheeled into this dark room, treated by a very nice male doctor and then left alone to think. To think about how she should have told someone, anyone about her vision. To think that if she had told someone, her friends wouldn't be hurt.

'It's all my fault,' she thought miserably.

She thought she might start crying when two dark figures appeared in her room doorway.

"Raven!" A shaky voice cried out and Raven immediately recognized it as her mother Tanya…which meant the other person was Victor.

"Oh my baby!" Tanya cried, rushing over to Raven and wrapping her in a hug. The hug was over as soon as it began, with Tanya pushing Raven back to get a good look at her. "Are you all right? What happened to your arm? And your lip! Oh…" Tanya couldn't continue.

Raven gingerly touched the small cut on her lip with her fingertips realizing for the first time that it was there. Her cheek was sore where Deckland slapped her; the cut was probably also a product of his back hand. "I'm okay." She whispered hoarsely. Her throat was dry from all of the screaming and crying.

"What happened?" Victor said, moving to the other side of Raven's bed and gently taking her free hand.

"We were attacked." Raven answered, lowering her head. Tears burned her eyes. "Me and Chelsea. Ben and Eddie tried to help but…"

"Who attacked you?" Victor said.

"Rocky Collera and his friends."

"Rocky who?" Tanya choked out. This was the first she had heard of this boy and she felt like murdering him.

"Rocky Collera. He's a bully…he's the one that wrote 'Dyke' on my locker." Raven muttered bitterly.

Victor furrowed his brow in anger, tightening his jaw and exhaling heavily.

Before anyone had a chance to speak, the doctor came in. He was a mildly handsome man in his mid to late thirties with slicked back brown hair and a warm smile. "Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Baxter I presume." He asked softly, ushering over to Raven's bed, scanning through the papers of the clipboard he held in his hand.

"Victor Baxter." Victor said, shaking the doctor's hand. "This is my wife Tanya."

"I'm Dr. Burke." He greeted and then looked at Raven. "How are we feeling Raven?"

Raven shrugged.

"Doctor, is Raven going to be okay?" Tanya asked, sitting on Raven's bed and pulling her daughter into a looser hug.

Dr. Burke smiled slightly. "Raven sprained her elbow during the attack, but with constant elevation and some ice, it should heal in no time. There is also a minor bruising on her cheek. Again, ice should keep the swelling at bay. Other than that, your daughter is fine." He said, flipping through the papers again.

"She was very distraught when the medics brought her in, that's why I gave her the bed, but you don't have to stay Raven." He added and then turned to Victor. "You can take her home as soon as you fill out some forms at the front desk."

Victor nodded. "Thank you Doctor."

"My pleasure. The forms are at the desk, I'll inform the nurse. Take care Raven." Dr. Burke shook hands with Victor one last time before leaving.

Tanya stood up. "Come on baby, let's get you home."

Raven shook her head. "No. I can't leave yet. I have to know if Chelsea's okay."

"I'm sure Chelsea is going to be fine. " Tanya soothed.

This time a few tears escaped Raven's eyes as she shook her head again. "She was hurt so badly Mom. I can't leave until I know she's okay."

"We can ask at the nurses' station." Tanya offered and Victor nodded.

Raven sighed and then hopped off the bed. She didn't get two steps before she broke down. This time, Victor hugged his daughter, tears forming in his own eyes.

"I'm so scared." Raven sobbed, her words muffled as she buried her face in Victor's shirt. "I don't want her to die Daddy."

"Shh. It's okay." Victor whispered, gently running a hand over Raven's hair, hugging her tightly.

"I love her so much…she can't die."

Tears streamed down Tanya's face as she watched Victor comfort their daughter. Why did this happen? More importantly, how could this have happened?

Victor swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling his heart break with every sob that escaped Raven's lips. He was worried about Chelsea too. Chelsea was like a daughter to him; he had known her since she was about five years old. She was a constant fixture at their house…sometimes even when Raven wasn't there. She didn't deserve to be attacked. Neither of the girls deserved this.

It was because they were gay.

Eddie sat slouched in the waiting room chair, holding an ice pack to his eye. He had called his mother an hour ago, but she couldn't get off from work to pick him up. She was going to leave, but then she would lose pay and Eddie didn't want to do that to her. After assuring her several times that he was okay, he sat in the hospital waiting room doing exactly what the room was intended for. Waiting. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels arrived a few minutes after he settled down, asking him all sorts of questions.

"Eddie, what happened?"

"Is my baby okay?"

"Who are these boys that attacked them?"

"How did they get into school?"

"Where were the security guards?"

"Where was the principal?"

"Is Chelsea okay?"

"You say she was unconscious?"

"How did this happen!"

After being bombarded, Eddie almost thought it best to walk home, but he decided to stay. Although he answered all of their questions to the best of his abilities, he didn't have any idea how Chelsea, Raven, or Ben were, and he wanted to find out. And he wasn't leaving until he did.

Soon after, a doctor approached the Daniels and spoke very quietly to them. It was probably about Chelsea, but Eddie didn't get a chance to ask. The doctor, Chester and Charlene were gone in a matter of seconds. They hadn't come back out and it was frustrating Eddie to no end. He couldn't sit any longer. Throwing down the ice pack, he got up and decided to look for a vending machine.

As he slowly shuffled along (his stomach still hurt) he saw Raven and the Baxter's walking up to the nurses' desk. Raven's arm was in a sling and she looked very upset, but otherwise she was okay. "Rae!" He shouted, scooting over to the girl.

Raven turned and gasped. "Eddie! Oh thank God!" Raven cried shakily, running toward him. They met in the middle of the hallway and embraced, Eddie gently wrapping his arms around Raven, conscious of her arm. Tanya and Victor headed for the nurses' station, letting the friends talk.

"Are you okay?" She asked, tears threatening to fall again.

"Yeah, you? Is your arm broken?"

"No, I sprained my elbow but I'm good." Raven looked at the sling and then snapped her head back up at Eddie. "Did you hear anything about Chelsea?"

Eddie shook his head solemnly. "No. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels were here and a doctor spoke to them, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. They left so quickly I didn't get a chance to ask anything. I was just gonna wait until they came back."

"Oh…my parents are asking at the desk. Maybe they'll get something." Raven sniffled. "Any word on Ben?"

Eddie shook his head again. "No. I was in the ambulance with him…I think I heard something about him breaking his leg, but I'm not sure."

Raven exhaled. "It's all my fault."

"What?" Eddie squeaked, shocked that Raven could think such a thing.

"I should've told Chelsea about my vision. Then, maybe, she would be okay--"

"Chelsea is going to be fine Raven. I know she is."

"You can't be sure."

"Yes I can be. Chelsea's strong, she'll be okay. You'll see Rae."

Eddie hugged Raven again, resting his chin on the top of her head. Raven closed her eyes, biting her lip to keep her tears at bay. She broke away from Eddie; she didn't want to be hugged anymore. She just wanted to know if her girlfriend was all right.

Victor and Tanya walked up to them. "Eddie, are you okay?" Tanya asked with genuine concern.

Eddie nodded. "I'm okay Mrs. B, thanks."

"Did they tell you anything about Chelsea?" Raven asked anxiously.

Both of her parents shook their heads. "Nothing." Victor said.

"Eddie said that Mr. and Mrs. Daniels were here, and a doctor spoke to them."

"Yeah, I think he took them to see Chelsea." Eddie added.

"We were going to wait until they came out."

Victor seemed reluctant. "I don't know Raven. You should really go home and get some rest."

Raven stepped back, shying away from Victor's outstretched arm. "No. I told you I'm not leaving until I know she's okay."

Victor was about to protest again when Tanya put a hand on his arm. "It's okay Raven. You can stay." She said, and then added, "One of us should really go home and tell Cory though."

Victor looked at Tanya and then at Raven, sighing heavily. "I'll go."

Tanya nodded. "All right, I'll walk you out. Raven, Eddie, why don't you guys go sit in the waiting room, just in case Chester and Charlene come out?"

Raven and Eddie nodded. "Thanks." Raven said before they headed off to the waiting room.

Victor watched them go before turning to Tanya. "Don't you think we should take her home? It might take all night to find out about Chelsea."

"I know Victor, but you have to understand. Raven isn't going to leave without knowing that Chelsea is okay. I know that it's hard to accept, but the girls are in love. If it were me in there and you out here, wouldn't you wait all night?"

"If it were me and you, this never would've happened." Victor whispered angrily. "This happened because they're les…" Victor trailed off, unable to say the word.

Tanya shook her head. "Victor, sweetheart, I know why this happened, but that doesn't change the fact that Raven and Chelsea love one another, no matter what anyone says or does. Now, answer the question: Wouldn't you wait all night to hear about me?"

Victor sighed in defeat. "You know I would."

"Then just think of it like that." She said, giving him a quick peck on the lips. "Now go home. I'll call if there's any news."

"How will you get home?" Victor asked as they walked outside to the hospital parking lot.

"We'll take a cab."

"Absolutely not. I'll pick you up, just call me."

"Are you sure?"

Victor nodded. "I'll see you soon, hopefully."

"Okay." Tanya said and they kissed again.

Victor got into the car and Tanya walked back inside the hospital. He sighed, starting the car up. He knew that Raven loved Chelsea; he could tell the moment Raven asked about her. This wasn't a phase, it was forever. Victor just didn't know how to deal with it. He was going to learn though. If it took him until he died he was going to learn to accept it.

Raven, Eddie and Tanya sat in the hospital waiting room in silence, watching doctors and nurses stroll by them as if they were invisible. It had been about two hours since Victor left and there was no word on Chelsea and no Chester or Charlene. Raven was resting her head on Tanya's shoulder and Eddie was slouched in the chair looking at an outdated magazine when two distraught adults entered the waiting room.

Raven watched them look at her, Tanya, and Eddie, but she didn't take her head off of Tanya's shoulder. They looked familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen them before. The woman, thin blonde lady in her early forties, hesitantly approached them. Raven picked her head up as Tanya sat up straighter. "I'm sorry to disturb you," The woman began. "Are you R-Raven? Raven Baxter?"

Raven nodded.

The woman sighed. "Philip, it's her." She said, turning first toward the man and then back to Raven and Tanya. "I'm Julia Hartman, Ben's mother."

Raven immediately perked up. "O-oh! Mrs. Hartman. Is Ben okay?"

Julia nodded. "Yes. He broke his leg in the fall and has a minor concussion, but the doctors said he was going to be fine. He actually wanted to see you."

Raven looked at Tanya, who nodded. "Go ahead honey. It's okay."

"Room 314, just to your left and at the end of the hall." Philip said, pointing down the hallway.

Raven gave Julia the best smile she could produce at the moment, stood up and began down the hall. She turned back for a moment and saw Tanya, Julia and Philip talking.

It was dark inside Ben's room.Raven knocked on the door softly before entering.

Ben was lying in the hospital bed with a newly cast leg hanging from the pole connected to the bed. He had a bandaged hand over his eyes, groaning a little at the knock. Raven walked to the foot of his bed, resting her hand on the edge.

"Hey Ben." Raven said softly and Ben took his hand away from his eyes.

"Hi," he said wearily. "You hurt your arm?"

"I'm okay." Raven shrugged. "You hurt your leg."

Ben nodded. "Any word on Chelsea?"

Raven shook her head. "No. I'm waiting though."

"How about Eddie?"

"Eddie's okay."

There were a few moments of silence before Ben spoke up. "So, did he tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"I had a vision…about this."

"You did?"

Ben sighed. "But I didn't know that it was about Rocky until he attacked you and Chelsea. Chelsea made me promise not to tell you and I know I should've. I'm sorry."

Raven stepped closer to Ben's bed and placed her good hand on his arm, giving it a little squeeze. "It's okay. I had a vision too and I made Eddie promise not to tell Chelsea."

"I know."

There was more silence. Raven wasn't sure of what to do. Should she leave or stay? Ben closed his eyes, putting the bandaged hand back over them. "My head is killing me."

"Do you want me to get somebody?"

"No. The doctor's gave me something for the leg…I have to deal with the headache."

"I'll just leave you to rest then."

"Okay."

Raven turned to leave, but then looked back at Ben. "Thank you, for helping us."

"Some help I was…If I didn't go after Rocky like that we wouldn't have fallen--"

"It's not your fault." Raven said, cutting him off.

Ben didn't say anything after that and Raven quietly left the room. She adjusted the sling strap on her shoulder as she walked back down the hall. She froze in the middle of the hallway, her heart fluttering.

Chester was talking to Tanya and Eddie. Nobody looked happy. 'Oh God no,' Raven thought miserably. Her stomach did flips inside of her. Tanya hugged Chester.When they seperated, he nodded sadly and then immediately took off in the opposite direction, disappearing behind a pair of swinging doors.

Raven forced her legs to start working, staggering to Tanya and Eddie, who just stood there, looking grim. 'No, no, no, no.' Raven mentally screamed over and over again.

Tanya looked up and met Raven's gaze just as she reached them.

"Raven, honey…"

Raven's eyes welled up with tears. She thought she might collapse right there in the middle of the waiting room. After what seemed like forever, Raven finally choked out her words in a barely audible whisper.

"Is Chelsea okay?"