Neil was having breakfast, when someone knocked on the front door. As his father had left to buy some groceries, Neil opened the door.

"Hi, can I help you?" Before him stood a young woman, probably his age. He had no idea who she was, but right now that didn't mean much.

"Can I help you? You bastard!" The woman yelled at him as she slapped him in the face at the same time.

"Hey, what's your problem?" Neil called out surprised.

"My problem? First you blew our date and than you don't even call. It's been a week. If you want to break up with me, tell me. But don't act like such a coward!"

"Oh, uh, why don't you come in?" Neil stuttered. Hadn't Kurt mentioned something about a girlfriend? Well, he figured he had just met her.

"I don't want to hear any lame excuses." Holly stared at him angrily.

"Well, you might want to hear this one." Neil smiled uncomfortably. When he grabbed for his crutches he had leant on the wall before he opened the door, Holly noticed for the first time that he was injured.

"What happened to you?" she asked in an already calmer voice.

"Why don't we sit down first. Uhm, do you want something to drink?"

"I want to know what happened!" She replied determinedly.

"Okay, I don't remember." Neil stated dryly.

"You don't remember what? That we had a date? That I'm your girlfriend? You really are one ..."

"I don't remember anything." Neil cut in. Then he explained quietly what had happened. He hoped she would believe him. He knew that his story sounded strange, but it was the truth. He couldn't tell her anything else.

"You hate camping." Holly looked at him in disbelief.

"Well, I don't know about that. But I was camping. And I fell into that stupid hole and now ..."

"Now you don't remember anything." Holly finished for him. "Do you remember me?" She asked hesitantly after a moment.

Neil bit his lip. He knew his answer would hurt her, but lying wouldn't make much sense. "I'm sorry. I don't remember anyone. I didn't even recognize my father." He shrugged apologetic.

"Considering your relationship with your father, that doesn't mean much." Holly replied dryly.

"What do you mean?" Neil looked at her confused.

"Well, your relationship with your father never was the best." Holly explained.

"Oh ..." Reflecting on the little time he had spend with his father, that didn't surprise him. "How bad was it?"

"You really want to know? This could be your chance for a new beginning with him." She wished she had never brought this subject up.

"Just tell me."

"Okay ... most of the time you were more fighting than talking. You were angry at your father for never being around and treating Mark like his favorite son and your father was angry at you for drinking too much alcohol, smoking pot and coming home way too late at night on the weekends ... and sometimes even during the week."

Neil stared at her for a few moments. "This is even worse than I thought. ... I smoke pot?"

"Yes, every weekend." Holly grinned at him. "And it's not as bad as it sounds."

"No wonder we don't get along." Neil looked down at his hands, lost in his thoughts.

"Well, I'm sure that he's not quite that innocent in all this. You know, you are different than most of the other guys we hang out with. You're actually pretty smart. I think you just do all this to get your father's attention."

Neil looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Wow, are you a psychology student or something?" He chuckled.

"I might consider study that should I ever get into college." Holly smiled. "First I have to get through highschool."

"Yeah ..." Again Neil looked down at his hands. For a moment he had thought that he remembered her being a college student. But they were still in highschool. His mind was playing tricks on him. Yet he couldn't get the image out of his head.

"Are you okay?" Holly asked worried. "You look a bit pale all of the sudden."

"Huh? No ... yes, I mean ... I'm fine." He stuttered.

"Maybe you should get some rest."

"Yeah, maybe I should."

When he didn't say anything else, Holly got up. "I let myself out. Is it okay when I come by later the day?"

"Yes, sure. I'll look forward to that. I guess you can tell me a lot of stories about me ... us." He said smiling.

"Oh yes, I can. See you later." She bent down to give him a kiss, but stopped when she noticed him flinch at the sudden close contact. Disappointed she stepped back.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled.

"No, it's okay. I'm sorry. I guess we both have to get used to this new situation." She gave him a warm smile and left.

XXXXXXX

Shortly after Holly had left, Chuck returned home. He found Neil sitting in the living room, deep in thought.

"Hey, I'm back." He called out to his son. When he met Neil's eyes, he was shocked at the sadness, confusion and hopelessness in his eyes. "What happened?"

Neil stayed quiet for a moment. "Why did you go on this trip alone?" He finally asked.

"What?" Chuck looked at him confused.

"After Mom's funeral, you and Mark left. Why was I the only one who had to stay?"

"You didn't have to stay. You just didn't want to go away. I guess you're stronger than Mark and I were." Chuck said quietly.

"I don't feel strong." Neil whispered in a shaky voice.

"You are, believe me. I may not have always seen that in you, but the last few months ... I have been very proud of you." Chuck went over to his son and sat next to him on the couch. He regretted that he had never told his son this before. He reached for Neil's hand and this time he didn't hesitate to take it. "I'm very proud of you, son."

Angry Neil pulled his hand away. "What are you proud of? That I smoke pot? That I drink alcohol and stay away all night? I don't care why I did this, but it's nothing to be proud of." Neil yelled at him.

Stunned Chuck looked at his son. "Did you remember anything?"

"No. Holly came by and told me. My own girlfriend stood before me and I didn't even recognize her. I don't recognize anything. Not you, not this house, the clothes I wear, nothing! I wouldn't even remember my own name if Kurt hadn't told me. When I look in the mirror, there's a stranger looking back at me." Neil had gotten so agitated, that he didn't even notice the tears that were rolling down his face. Exhausted he leant back against the couch and closed his eyes. He just wanted to shut out everything. He suddenly wished he had never woken up in that hospital. Than he wouldn't have to go through this nightmare.

"Neil ..." Chuck was at a loss of words. He wanted to help his son, but he didn't know how. He couldn't give him his memory back. When he had told him that he was proud of him, he had meant every word, even though he hadn't realized that before. "Neil, you're not that person anymore that Holly described you to be. You ... you have changed a lot ... in the last months. You turned into a man that I'm really proud of."

"What do you know? As far as I know we weren't even really talking. All we did was fight." All energy had drained out of Neil's voice and he had hardly spoke louder than a whisper.

Chuck wanted to tell him that that wasn't true, but the words wouldn't leave his mouth. Neil was right. They had done nothing but fight. All the time Neil lived in this house and later when they were working together for NASA they were fighting. And in the time in between they had hardly talked at all.

"Neil ..." He started again.

"Just leave me alone." Neil interrupted him and got up. After he grabbed his crutches he left as fast as he could.

Tbc

A.N.: Thanks for reading. I hope you liked this chapter. If so, please review. :-)