A/N: Happy New Year all my fabulous reviewers! I didn't get a chance to post this b4 the new year, as I kind of suspected, but I'm sure the wait is worth it! I officially love chapter 5, my beta gave me a good idea how to end the chapter, so I hafta re-write it and have her look at it to make sure it reads good. :D I hope you all enjoy this chapter…it seems the message board I'm also posting this story on, the interest has seemed to have dwindled, so I'm starting to wonder if I'm getting boring or something. sighs I promise, chapter 5 is loads better; Jude even sings another song again…so keep with me, the pace is picking up…I just hope interest doesn't dwindle here as well…

Chapter 4

Jude walked down the hall and paused as she reached the door to Tommy's room. She took a deep breath and entered the room, and gasped at what she saw, tears coming to her eyes.

In the center of the room was a solitary hospital bed which Tommy lay prone on. His bed was surrounded by machines that gave off beeps and bleeps every few seconds. There were several tubes and wires running in and out of his body, some she recognized from watching ER, the IV, feeding tube, respirator, and the rest…she knew they had something to do with saving his life, but she couldn't comprehend their purposes. His head was wrapped in white bandages, completely covering his dark hair. His cheeks were cut and bruised, but she knew it was him.

She let out a soft sob as she moved closer to the bed. Her eyes studied his form and her mind spun. She wanted to take his hand, but she was afraid of hurting him more by doing so. She sat down in a chair that was positioned next to the bed and she sat there, crying silently to herself.

The door opened and a nurse stepped in. She checked the machines and recorded something down on a clipboard. She turned to Jude.

"It helps if you talk to them." She said, a sweet smile on her face. Jude nodded, and took a shaky breath. The nurse seemed to have read her mind and placed a comforting hand on the younger girls shoulder. "You can take his hand too…it won't hurt him…if anything, it'll let him know you're here." She said, and walked towards the door. Jude turned her head and as the nurse's hand touched the door knob, Jude managed to say

"Thanks."

The nurse turned and smiled sadly at her. "You're welcome." And left the room. Jude took a shaky breath and reached out and took Tommy's hand, gently and carefully, as if her touch would break it. She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed the knuckles.

"Come on Tommy, you hafta wake up…" She said, tears falling down her face. "We have an album to finish ya know…you can't get out of it this easily." Jude said, sniffing and she took a shaky breath to hold back her sob. "I need you Tommy…I can't do this without you. We tried this before, remember? I need you. My music is nothing without you; even if you say you do nothing…you do. You're my inspiration, my mentor, my co-writer…my partner…my lover…" Jude let out another sob and it was a long time before she could say anything else. "You see Tommy…I need you. None of this matters if I can't share it with you. I love you too much to loose you." Jude said, tears streaming heavier down her face. She was silent and couldn't say anything more.

The only sounds in the room were Jude's shaky sobs and the beeping machines.

March 22, 2008

3:05 am

Tommy's Hospital Room

Dear Diary

I can't stop crying. I came in here, and I knew it was going to be bad, but I never expected this. When I stepped into the room, I was greeted with the various beeps of the machines. Tommy lay in the center of the room on the hospital bed and I barely recognized him. There's so many wires and tubes, I was afraid to touch him. His head is wrapped in thick bandages and his face has a couple of small cuts on it. I couldn't see the rest of his body, I don't think I'd want to. I walked slowly to the bed and sat down in the chair next to it.

I just stared at him a moment, taking everything in. His face is so pale, and he looks almost like he's sleeping…only he's not. Georgia told me to go home, to get some rest…that the hospital would call me if any changes happened. She doesn't understand. I can't leave. I can't leave here without him. I'm determined to make sure Tom Quincy doesn't give up on life…not now. It might seem selfish, but I need him, and I won't let God or the powers-that-be, take him away from me. Not now, not ever.