A.N.- I hope you enjoy it… I tried to make it longer this time. The Italics are flashbacks, and next up is a little more Tibby. It's going to be short though because I can only write so much before I have to leave the computer room…please Read and Review

Carmen

Carmen's eyes fluttered open. She'd felt as if she'd been hit by a Mack truck. As her eyes and senses tuned in to her surroundings she saw the sun shining through a closed window with a beautiful view of Greece. It added warmth to the pasty color of the hospital walls. She tried to sit up a little to see better out of the window, but wasn't able to muster the strength. Then she heard the yelling. It was Greek and English and her head was spinning from attempting to listen to the conversation. If my head hurts like this just listening I wonder if it's really going to hit the fan once I start speaking! Her thoughts were interrupted by her name being spoken in their yelling. Quickly their voices were quieted though. Carmen shrugged it off and assumed they went for something to drink.

She reached her and towards the call button so she could get something to drink and pushed it down. Within moments, a tall raven-haired doctor stalked into the room, reading a clipboard. He looked at her and smiled, dazzling white teeth complimenting olive green eyes. He simply stated her name, almost in question form and the rich bass voice echoed through her ears leaving her almost unable to conjure up a thought. She tried to muster up some of her spirit and keep her dignity intact. Even if she was wearing nothing more than a paper gown. Her rich brown eyes connected with his and she threw out the only phrase she could connect with.

"You're not Greek!" she stated bluntly. Realizing how stupid she sounded after she did say it. When she felt her face flushing crimson, she heard the good doctor give a rumbling laugh that sent her stomach into flip flops, but soothed her soul.

"Well hello to you too sleeping beauty! My name is Dr. Nicholas Tzeranis. And yes, as you well noticed I do not look entirely Greek. Something about my nose I presume?" to this he smiled at her again and she nodded blindly entranced by his every word.

"There is a reason for that I assure you. You see, my Father and mother met while she was in America for college. Unfortunately my father didn't stay around long," Nicholas frowned but then continued

"So I'm staying with my Grandmother and carrying out a nice job here. When I heard there was an All-American Sweetheart here I came down to see how the princess was after her nasty blackout. I thought it would be nice for you to be able to communicate with someone you understand before you're plunged into the culture shock of discovery learning."

As Carmen took in all of this the doctor moved around and checked her pulse and temperature. She let him, feeling shocks of electric passing through her skin every time his warm, gentle hands touched her skin. When he was finished Carmen looked him straight in the eyes. She could almost feel the heat in the room raising and the machine hooked up to her finger stared beeping a bit faster. He smiled and she blushed, and broke the glance before she could embarrass herself more. He leaned down until his lips almost touched her ear and whispered:

"You're friend is in the hall. I'm not allowed to let people in unless they are relatives but since I see you're like her sister I'll write in the okay. I like you too and that's always a plus. Just don't get too excited before we get back your test results." he brushed his lips on her ear and stood up. "After all a girl doesn't collapse for three days without any reason whatsoever right?" With a final wink he walked out of the room, once again entranced by his clipboard.

Bridget

Bridget couldn't sleep. She was thinking about the fight. It had been the final straw before she had decided to hop a plane to the UK and become the soccer star she had always dreamed of being. Before then she had decided that she didn't want to leave the US or her friends, but the fight changed it all. She needed to remember what had happened. She needed to remember how to cry. Nestling herself into Eric's arms she began to tear down the wall of memories that should have been forgotten.

She walked into his room and into his arms. He stood there shocked, just holding her, letting her cry it all out. She cried about living without her family, she cried about living too far from her friends, and he simply listened. When she had apologized for making a fool of herself she started to leave. He grabbed her arm and pulled her down. He wanted to hear what she had to say, as a friend of Tibby's she was important too. As they talked about everything from family to death to fears and love, they moved closer to each other, as if a bridge was slowly connecting them at the heart.

When Bridget leaned in for a hug their eyes me and a jolt of electricity had flown through them. They kissed and it was purely passion, a way to let out anguish and emotions. They ended up on the bed somewhere in the midst of it all. In their heat and sweat and passion they failed to notice the knock on the door. It had been Carmen, coming to find Brian to help search for Bridget. After she had left the room it was pure hell. Bridget half threw on her clothes and ran after Carmen begging forgiveness and pleading for her silence. Carmen simply told her that it was her choice and that Tibby had a right to know but she wasn't going to say anything. Carmen remained silent, as she had promised, but Bridget's conscience was heavy.

The fight stemmed from Carmen's silence. Lena had been very hurt by not being told anything, even after Tibby knew, no one had enlightened Lena into the situation until Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby confronted each other. Lena was very hurt by that. Carmen was hurt by the fact that Bridget had thrown her in as an excuse, and Tibby had simply agreed by screaming that Carmen should've told her. Bridget and Tibby for obvious reasons stopped speaking to each other.

Tibby tried later to apologize to Lena, but she had already left for Greece, and beyond that was still too hurt to want to speak to them. Bridget had tried to speak with Carmen but had always gotten brushed off. They had all fallen out. The Pants had lost their magic. And that was why Bridget ran. She ran to escape everything that had been said. She ran to escape from her mistakes. She ran to hide from the shame of facing Tibby and Brian and the fear of facing Eric. For ten years she ran. In marathons, and soccer camps she ran, finally saving enough to accept and invitation to a well-known British soccer team. As she traveled over there, she realized she was still running.

Bridget realized she was crying, as warm tears rolled down her face and splashed onto Eric's arm. She was quietly sobbing, the tears flowing freely until Eric pulled her into his arms and whispered into her ear "You're okay, you'll always be safe with me."