Her body shook as she sobbed. She forgot that Leila was on the phone and thoughts ran through her head. "He talked to Portia, but not me. I'm slowly losing him."
"Jude?" Andrew Quincy knocked on the door as he opened it. He saw a towel-clad Jude lying in a heap on the floor, head in her hands. "Jude, what's wrong?"
"T, Tommy, he's on, he's on life support."
"Oh God," he said.
He left the room and brought his wife back to help Jude get dressed. They then left for the hospital.
The car hadn't completely stopped before Jude jumped out and ran through the sliding doors. SHe took the elevator up to the ICU and rushed to find Leila.
"Leila!" she yelled down the hall.
"Jude."
"What happened?" she asked, holding back tears.
"We're not completely sure Jude. He was tugging at the ventilator tube so the doctor removed it. He was fine, breathing on his own, sitting up, talking to Portia and Kwest. Kwest left the room for a few minutes and he went into cardiac arrest."
"I'm going to kill her!" Jude yelled as she stalked into the waiting room. She saw Portia sitting beside Shay. "What did you do to him?" she yelled.
"What are you talking about Jude?"
Tears were streaming down Jude's face as she walked over to Portia. "What did you do to Tommy?"
Portia stood up and faced Jude. "I didn't do anything."
"Bullshit," Jude said as her hand connected with the side of Portia's face.
"Okay, hold up Shorty," Shay said as he picked her up and threw her over his broad shoulders.
"Put me down!"
"Are you crazy?" he said, taking her into a secluded family room.
"You're not her bodyguard!"
"You're right," Shay said as he put her down and closed the door behind him. "I'm not, but I don't want to see you go to jail for murder either."
"So?"
"Jude, you were ready to rip her to shreds."
"And your point is?" she said, wiping her eyes.
"It's not her fault."
Tears ran down her pale face yet again, as she looked at Shay. "I might never hear his voice again Shay."
He looked at her with sad eyes and pulled her against his chest.
"Shay I love him."
"I know you do Shorty. You always have."
"I was so stupid Shay. If I hadn't told Tommy about what Ryan did, maybe he wouldn't be in a hospital hooked to a bunch of tubes. It's all my fault."
"Shh, don't even say that. You know it's not true."
"It isn't? Because right now, if I look back, Tommy could still be alive."
"You don't know that Jude."
There was an awkward silence and Jude pulled away and turned towards the door. "I should go see Tommy."
"Okay. Try to stay away from Portia."
"I'll try. Thanks Shay," she said as she walked out the door toward Tommy's room.
"Anytime Shorty, anytime," he said to himself.