Chapter Eleven: Follow If You Lead

Becky woke up the next morning in the tent city near the loft, little Sarah Harrison curled up in her arms. She sat up, trying not to wake the baby...when she realized where she was.

"Oh man..."she moaned softly. Sarah began crying, and Mrs. Harrison suddenly appeared, taking the baby from Becky's arms as Becky stood up, brushing herself off.

"Thank you so much for staying out here with us last night, Becky. I don't know how I could ever repay you for all you've given to us..."Mrs. Harrison began. Becky smiled.

"You don't have to repay me. Ever. I don't mind doing this,"she insisted. "I need to call home and tell them where I am, they must be worried sick. But I'll come right back and work with the k--"Becky was cut off as she went into a horrid coughing fit, choking violently, her whole body shaking as her lungs screeched. She clutched her chest, taking in deep breaths and trying to calm herself. Once the coughing stopped, she was left shivering a little. Mrs. Harrison patted her back nervously.

"Oh Becky...thank you for all your hard work, but I really think you should go home and rest now,"she said. "Go warm up, I'd hate to think of you getting sick."Becky shook her head.

"No...no, I'm fine, really. Just a cough,"she insisted. "I'll be back soon."

Meanwhile, Becky's entire bohemian family had set out in search of her, when she hadn't returned that morning. They had decided to split up, Aaron and Jason searching the east side, Mark and Roger the west, and Maureen, Joanne and Roxie driving around the village. Collins had returned to the loft in case Becky called home.

As Aaron and Jason walked down the side walk, Aaron couldn't help but notice his friend's very concerned behavior, a side of Jason he rarely saw.

"You're really scared for her, aren't you?"he asked, watching Jason's nervous eyes dart about the streets.

"She's like a sister to me,"Jason muttered in reply.

"That's not the reason,"Aaron stated. Jason frowned.

"What do you mean?"he snapped.

"She's more than just a sister to you, isn't she?"Aaron asked.

"No! Aaron, don't say that,"Jason warned. "I'm just scared for Uncle Mark. He was freaking out this morning..."

"Come on, Jase. Why can't you just admit that you have feelings for Becky?"Aaron sighed suddenly. Jason was shocked.

"Because I don't, Aaron!"he yelled immediately. "Just drop it."

"You know she feels the same way about you,"Aaron continued.

"Aaron, stop lying,"Jason grumbled.

"I'm not! Why do you think Becky gave you that candle for Christmas? The candle, Jason. You know what that candle symbolized for your parents,"Aaron insisted.

"Aaron, no..."Jason sighed.

"She wants it just as much as you, Jason,"Aaron went on.

"Becky and I can never be together Aaron, and you know it. I could never let myself be with her, I'd be putting her health in danger. There's too much chance, too much risk. I couldn't take it!"Jason blurted out.

"How will you be happy if you never take a chance?"Aaron asked. Jason just sighed.

"I'm checking the tent city where the Harrisons live,"he muttered, walking ahead.

Becky had just called Collins at the loft and explained to him where she was. Collins had assured her he would contact Mark and Roger, so now she was back, holding baby Sarah. The baby was shivering, and looked very pale, and kept coughing in a small, struggling way.

"Mrs. Harrison, Sarah doesn't look good at all,"she commented. "You should really think about getting her to a doctor."

"I would, but we have no way to pay for a doctor,"Mrs. Harrison pointed out.

"What about that clinic that was around here?"Becky asked. Mrs. Harrison sighed.

"That was shut down a few months ago. That cyber-arts company has been slowly tearing the East Village apart,"she said sadly. Becky offered a sympathetic smile.

"Well I'll ask around at Life Support and see if I can get someone to come down here and help,"she insisted.

"Bless you, Rebecca,"Mrs. Harrison said, smiling as she took the baby from Becky's arms, joining her other two children. Becky began coughing again, but stopped when she spotted Jason approaching her.

"Hey,"Jason greeted awkwardly.

"Hey,"Becky replied, a hint of coldness to her voice. Jason sighed.

"Look Becky, I'm sorry about the way I acted last night. I was a jerk, I shouldn't have tried to stop you from leaving..."he began.

"Forget it,"Becky insisted. "I'm not mad. You were just being thoughtful, I understand. Besides, I couldn't be mad at the birthday boy,"she added, with a grin.

"Oh wow! My birthday! With everything going on, I completely forgot,"Jason admitted, laughing a little. That's when Aaron, Roger and Mark came running around the corner.

"Becky!"Mark called out, running over to his daughter. He wrapped her into a tight hug, letting out a deep breath. Then he pulled away so he was staring her in the eyes sternly. "Rebecca Anna Cohen, never do that to me again!"Becky looked very guilty.

"I'm sorry, dad. I stayed with the Harrisons. I needed to help the baby,"she insisted. Mark sighed.

"I know, but you should have come home, you should have told someone..."he said.

"I'm sorry. I really am,"Becky assured him. Mark hugged Becky again, letting out another deep breath.

"I know you are. But you scared us-"That's when Becky started coughing again. Shaking and heaving and unable to breath correctly. Mark, Jason, Roger and Aaron all surrounded her in a flash, holding her up, patting her back.

"Hey, Becky, are you all right?"Aaron asked, as Becky's fit came to an end, and she was left shaking again. She looked terrible, pale and exhausted. But she forced a smile, nodding her head.

"Yeah,"she croaked out. "It's just a bad cough. Everyone gets one once in a while."

"Becky, you're getting sick,"Mark warned. Becky shook her head.

"Just a cold. It's fine, really. I feel fine,"she persisted.

"Are you sure?"Mark asked. Becky nodded again.

"Yeah,"she replied. "I'm not missing Jason's party tonight for anything!"Roger grinned, patting Jason's back.

"Wow, you're going to be seventeen,"he realized. "You know, Mark was seventeen when he and I first met."

"I was not!"Mark cried. Roger laughed a little.

"Well, I thought he was,"he corrected. "You always looked too young for your age."Mark scowled, and the others all laughed as they left the tent city together.

A/N: Just letting you all know that there will not be any updates until Monday night, because I'm going to be in Florida with my chorus all weekend. I wanted to get this one up before I left, and I'll try to get another one up as soon as I get back! Sorry for the delay, I hope everyone is still enjoying this!