A/N: HA! I got another chapter out! G> Sorry about the wait. Hope you enjoy! - Lauren

Chapter Three: Awake

Three weeks and Alan Tracy still had not opened his eyes. The nurses had to forcefully hold Jeff back upon arriving at the hospital, he paced the waiting room not even noticing his family coming to sit down and wait with him, nor the crowd of searchers and media standing at the front of the hospital hoping with bated breath any clue as to the condition of the boy they had been covering for a week now; so that they could feed there viewers need to know. Alan was diagnosed with sever pneumonia, and several infections.

"He was found in an almost old fashion hospital gown, and all of his cuts seemed to be cleaned, but not soon enough it seems as some were infected. We have started him on antibiotics and have him on an oxygen mask for now. We are also working on getting his temp. down, we are having a bit of a hard time with that however." Doctor Smith a tall langley man told them that first day.

"Will he be okay?" Jeff asked.

"It's too soon to tell, he was gone for a week, and the infections are fairly bad. We don't know how long he has had such a high temp. There could be brain damage, and he might loose his right arm if we can't stop the infection." Gasps could be heard from around the room. "These are worse case scenarios mind you, we are working on them now, and will do everything in our power to get him healthy again." With that the doctor had left.

The many doctors assigned to Alan had managed to get the infection in Alan's arm under control, his fever however did not want to go down as a result to the trauma Alan slipped into a deep coma a day after being admitted. They were keeping the oxygen blowing into Alan's mask at a low level now however and they all seemed happy about this, but were still worried. Someone was always with Alan day or night, at first they had to pry Jeff away from Alan's bedside. His family and friends began a routine that let everyone see Alan for a little while everyday. This seemed to help Alan's vitals so the doctor ordered that he be allowed visitors after hours.

Fermat sat curled up in the lounge chair beside Alan's bedside just staring at his best friend. His time would be up in ten minutes, and he wanted to spend as much time with his friend as he could. A moan brought his attention to Alan's face, Fermat's heart began to race in anticipation. So many things could come from Alan waking. The knowledge of what brain damage if any had occurred, the knowledge that Alan was really getting better, and so much more. Fermat smiled in excitement.

"A-A-Alan? Wake up Alan..." Another moan was his answer, Tin Tin walked in just in time to hear the last moan. A look of pure joy crossed her face before she ran the rest of the way in.

"He's waking up?" Tin Tin exclaimed. Alan turned his head away from the voices a look of pain on his face.

"Shh...Mmm-head hearts..." Alan mumbled.

"Alan, can you open your eyes?" Tin Tin whispered.

"To...bright...sleep..." With that Alan was gone again. Fermat looked like he wasn't sure if he should be happy his friend finally woke up and seemed to be undamaged, or to be disappointed that it had only been for a short amount of time. Tin looked exuberant however and ran out of the room to share the good news.

Alan Tracy felt himself becoming more aware, he had been desperately climbing out of the dark hole he had fallen into and was now high enough to see the light. He had reached the top now twice, each time finding it to much for his over whelmed senses to bare and he would fall a little ways back into the darkness before catching himself and climbing up again. He could feel that he was stronger now and new that he would be able to stay longer this time, he also knew that something felt different and he wasn't sure if he would like this difference when he found out what it was.

But Alan's concentration remained on his one goal, waking up. He could deal with the rest later. He gasped for a breath as he got a great foot hole that suddenly seemed to just materialize at the top of the rock, with any luck he would never see this place again. Alan's head reached above the clouds into the light in an instant he was no longer on a rock but laying in a warm bed, covered a in warm blankets in a cold white hospital room...he was just relieved it was a modern one. Squinting against the glare Alan turned his head to look at the person sitting in a chair next to him. His father was sound asleep, he head tilted towards the ceiling in a most uncomfortable looking position. Alan new when he woke up, his neck was going to be severely sore.

Slowly feeling began to return and small aches could be felt all over his body, his head felt like someone had filled it with led but what was really annoying was the feeling of cotton in his mouth. Quick explanations for all of this filled his head, having been drilled in to him as he was trained as an Emergency Responder so that he could help his brothers. The explanations did little to relieve the feeling however.

Alan was saved when the door quietly opened, and Tin Tin's face appeared in the doorway. She at first looked at Jeff, before she winced then looked over at Alan. Her eyes widen in shock and excitement. Before she could begin to yell, Alan placed his index finger against his lips silencing her. She nodded in understanding before coming all the way into the room. Alan glanced at the water pitcher beside his bed and Tin Tin was quick to grab a glass and a straw before helping Alan wash the cotton taste out of his mouth.

"Alan what happened?" Tin Tin asked worriedly.

"It was dark...there was something chasing me...a storm..." Alan mumbled back. Alan saw a jerk on the other side of him and noticed his dad was waking up. Alan went on, "I found an old abandoned building...I don't remember anything after that. Sorry." Alan mumbled bit and pieces of strange things ran through his mind, he was afraid he might be called crazy if he said it aloud.

"Alan?" Jeff mumbled before coming more aware and sitting up straight. "Your awake! Thank God..." Jeff hugged Alan tightly. Alan was sure is was his imagination but he thought he saw a tear in his fathers left eye. Has a doctor come in to see you yet?" Jeff quickly stood up taking charge again. He walked quickly out of the small room before returning with Alan's doctor.

"Mr. Tracy! It's good to finally meet you. Thought you were going to sleep the year away. Can you tell me what the date is?"

"Umm...it was June tenth when I went into the woods, according to Tin Tin I was missing for a week, and I have been here for here for three weeks...so it would be..." Alan groaned. "Time to go back to school." The doctor grinned and gave a laugh.

"Very good, can you tell me what happened?"

"I remember going into the woods, it was dark and I almost turned back twice, I wish I had now. I was three forth's through the dare and only had to walk back to the school when I found that I had no idea where I was or how to get back, which is really weird because I am normally really good with directions. I began to walk in what I thought was the way back, but it must have been the wrong way because I walked for ten minutes longer then it took me to get to the point where I had been. Something began to grown behind me, I remember running and being chased, clouds rolling in and blocking my only source of light...I found an abandon building, a hospital I think...I don't remember much after that, just being sick." Alan lied, it truth he was quickly starting to remember everything up to becoming very ill clearly, but it was so unreal, he wasn't about to open hi mouth.

"Do you know how you got out of the forest?" Jeff asked.

"No, last thing I remember I was freezing and laying in bed." That was the truth, he had know idea how he had gotten out, not of his own accord that was for sure. That little thought caused him to pale.

"Are you okay?" Tin Tin asked noticing the suddenly change in Alan's face.

"Yeah...I just feel...strange...I don't know why..." Alan mumbled. The doctor frowned as did Jeff.

"Well, I want to run some tests, if you will just lay back and relax I am going to go schedule you for a CAT scan right now." Alan groaned but lay back suddenly very sleepy again. He was asleep before the doctor could leave the room.

"Help us, please help us." Alan looked around the pitch black area he was floating weightlessly in. He could see nothing. The voice...voices spoke again.

"You're the one...he's the one...his mind is not completely open yet...it will be..." The voices seemed to fade away and Alan was left alone in the darkness.

The darkness shifted and he was back in the abandoned hospital, a boy...the boy in his dreams lay in his hospital bed, alone in the building, crying. The boy looked up.

"Please, I need your help...we need your help!" Suddenly the room was filled with children of every color. Most were crying all were looking towards Alan in a pleading manner.

"How? How do I help you?" Alan asked feeling overwhelmed and not just a little confused.

"You have to open your mind! You have to see!" The boy cried. Alan was jerked backwards and everything went black again.

Alan woke again with the same jerk only to have a loud voice come out of a speaker blare into his face.

"Alan, don't move. You are currently having a CAT scan of your head." Alan looked around the tube staying as still as possible. When his bed moved out of the tube he sighed in relief. The doctor and his father walked into the room.

"You had us a little worried there, you fell asleep and have not even come near waking for three days." The doctor said. We are doing another scan of your head to find out what's going on."

A sharp pain shot through Alan's head and his gasped accordingly. The pain got worse and Alan curled up into the fetal position trying desperately not to cry. He no longer cared a moment later as it increased even more, he did not notice the tears, the blood gushing from his nose nor the trickle from his ears. He did not hear his own screaming sobs nor the shouts from the doctors and nurses or the panic yelling of his father. Finally after what felt like an eternity Alan Tracy passed out, going completely silent. The room froze for less then a split second before everyone jumped back into there work of trying to find a problem. Jeff sobbed completely frightened, a very unusual state for the astronaut. He grabbed a pile of gauze and began cleaning his sons face. The hospital personal did not dare try to take over.

"His mind is now open..."