A/N: This is the last chapter, sorry to say.

CHAPTER 18: The Surprise Visitors

Kristy came home about two hours later. Apparently, Charlie had told her what Nannie had told us, because she didn't say a word about Andrew's neck brace. I could still tell she felt sorry for him, though.

I know I sure did.

For Andrew, the worst part wasn't keeping his head still and not speaking above a whisper during the day. It wasn't the pain, either. It was the medicine he was given. Not only did he make a face every time he took it, but he could barely stay awake during the day. And bike-riding was out of the question, too. I knew what that was like. After I broke my wrist, I couldn't go roller-skating for eight weeks, and by the time I got the cast off, it was too cold for that. I still can't believe I didn't go crazy from being inside all the time.

On Tuesday afternoon when I got home from school, I found Andrew taking a nap. I'd just hung up my jacket and taken my backpack to my room when the doorbell rang. Normally, if I'm the first one to hear it—which, today, I was—I shout, "I'll get it!" (Okay, all together now: "INDOOR VOICE, KAREN"), but I didn't want to wake Andrew, so I walked very quietly to the door.

It was Jason and Bebe, and both of them had get-well gifts for Andrew.

"Hi," I whispered. "Come on in, but try to be quiet. Andrew's taking a nap."

Bebe nodded as they took off their jackets and hung them up before following me into the living room. Andrew was just starting to wake up.

"Andrew?" I said softly. "Hey, Andrew, look who's here."

Andrew's eyes fluttered open, and with some help from me, he sat up. "Hi," he said weakly.

"Hi, kid," Jason said as he sat on the couch, and Bebe sat on the floor next to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Well, my neck's still sore, and that sludge they call medicine makes me sleepy, but other than that..." And he gave the thumbs-up sign. "By the way, thank you for saving my life."

"Any time," Jason grinned.

"Oh, we each got something for you," Bebe said as she moved to the armchair, and they gave Andrew his presents.

Bebe had given him a Blue's Clues sound-and-picture book. If you ask me, that was definitely something he could use, because he was learning to read. Jason's present was a dark blue hooded sweatshirt with the letters "VH" scrawled in silver over the front of it. It was a little big for him, but he'd grow into it. (Oh, that reminds me. Kristy once told me that her Uncle Neal cannot, for the life of him, buy clothes for her and her brothers, because what they usually get ends up being either too big, too small, or colors that look hideous on them. It drives them nuts.)

Okay, back to the visit. Andrew loved both presents, but we wondered what "VH" stood for.

"Van Halen," Jason answered. "They were a little before your time."

"Thanks," Andrew said happily as he set the sweatshirt aside and started playing with the sounds in the book.

I gave Jason another hug and kiss. "Thanks for everything," I said. "Both of you."

He truly was, and always will be, my hero.

THE END