A/N: I don't own Instant Star. I don't own I Will Follow You In The Dark by Death Cab For Cutie. Reviews are always welcome.

Episode 13 - Collide

Ever since our weird exchange, Shay started partying hard and was seen with another model, actress, or whatever every night according to the tabloid fodder. When I asked Darius about it he just said that was normal behavior. I didn't ask Tommy about it; he'd probably get all suspicious. So, against my better judgment I decided to try to bump into him at one of the many clubs he frequented and told Tommy I was going to be hanging out with Kat and Jamie who were visiting for the weekend. So, I had ulterior motives, I really did want to hang out with them, though. God, was I a total idiot. (cue music)

Part 1

Kat and I were getting ready at Jamie's house and Jamie was complaining as usual. "You know you guys don't have to make yourselves beautiful for little ol me," Jamie said from downstairs. "Shut it Andrews and be prepared to pick your jaw off from the floor," said Kat sauntering down the stairs. "Uh, ummm" he stuttered. "That's what I thought," Kat said. Kat had brought home one of her projects for Jude to wear and of course she would be getting free exposure, so it was a win win situation for everyone. "Very nice Jude" Jamie said before hurriedly opening the door to their stretch hummer limo. Kat gave him a murderous look. "I meant the limo my little pint size bundle of love," he said quickly. "Nice recovery Andrews, I give it a 4.5 for the wobbly landing," I said.

Part 2

Pretty soon we were being seated at the VIP area where Shay was with two anorexic looking models and an empty bottle of Jack. He pushed the two off of him and made his way over the table, not without knocking over a waiter who was bringing drinks to another table. "Hey Shay," I said. "Jude, must be my lucky night for you to grace my presence," he said smoothly. "Jude, you said you come here all the time," Jamie said. Kat immediately kicked him in the shin under the table. "Wanna dance, shorty?" he said with smile. Before waiting for an answer he scooped me up and starting dancing. "So this is Jude hanging out with us," said Jamie. "Shut up Jamie and ask your girlfriend to dance," Kat said. "Uh sure," he said and both made their way onto the crowded dance floor.

Part 3

"Didn't realize Shay was quite the Patrick Swayze," Jamie said. "You've seen Dirty Dancing" Kat said with a smirk. "No…" he said. "Funny how I don't believe you, Andrews" Kat said. Shay was all over Jude who was trying her best to pry his hands every time they slid to an inappropriate spot. "Shay how much have you been drinking," I ask concerned. "Today, or in general," he said laughingly and pulling me closer. "Come on Jude you gotta loosen up," Shay said while nuzzling her neck. "Well, obviously you've had enough tonight," I said trying to get some breathing room. "Why don't we go somewhere and talk," I say. "Thought you'd never ask, girl," he said.

Part 4

I try to find Jamie and Kat, but it's impossible with the crowd on the floor. I'll leave 'em a message later and hope they forgive me. Shay took his keys out of his pocket. "Why don't you let me drive Shay," I say. "Alright, I'm in a generous mood," he said. He threw up once before we got in. Not pretty at all. I had hoped that some fresh air would do him some good. "Jude I love you," Shay said and started laughing. "Shay you've had way too much to drink to profess your love to anyone," I say. "I LOVE YOU JUDE," he said while trying to stand up on his seat. "Shay what the hell are you doing! Sit down," I say. "Not until you say it back," he says. "What!" I say. "Fine whatever, Shay I love you too, happy" I say while he clambers back down and puts on his seat back. I thought it was over, but then he grabbed my face and started kissing me while I was driving. For that split second I lost control of the wheel and the world was spinning.

Part 5

"Jude…" I could hear a voice calling, but every time I got closer to it the further it sounded away. I remember being in the car with Shay and then nothing. I just knew that I was feeling really sleepy, but somehow I knew I had to stay awake. But it was just too hard and fell asleep. Shay was pacing the waiting room. Jamie and Kat had just arrived. "What happened," Kat asked. "I don't remember," Shay said. "I must have blacked out," He said. "Yeah probably at the time that the car hit the telephone poll," Jamie said unsympathetically. "Listen, I was drunk okay everything is a little fuzzy. "Did you even bother calling everyone else?" Kat asked. "No, I hadn't gotten that far" Shay said. "Jamie call her parents, sister, Georgia, E.J., and Kwest," Kat said. "And what are you going to do my little honey bunny," Jamie asks. "I'm going to bring Shay to Tommy, so he can tell him face to face what happened to his wife," Kat yelled angrily. "Okay, so you two play nice," Jamie said before going outside to make the calls.

Part 6

Shay and Kat found Tommy still at the studio working. "Hey Kat, where's Jude," Tommy said. Then he noticed Shay for the first time who had his arm in a sling and a couple cuts and bruises on his face. Kat quickly left the room.

Part 7

She heard Shay talking, then yelling, then definitely furniture breaking, and then Tommy ripped open the door and was at a dead run to the parking lot. Shay, meanwhile, was on the floor unconscious. Since, he was too heavy for me to move, I called Jamie and we brought him to the hospital for the new cuts and bruises that he got courtesy a la Tommy.

Part 8

We all found ourselves sitting in the waiting room, again. Tommy and Shay were both pacing the floor. They wouldn't even look at each other, I'm not quite sure how Tommy was able to restrain himself from beating the living crap out of him, but he did. We were soon joined by Jude's family, Georgia, E.J., Kwest, and Darius. The surgeon came through the doors. We all waited with baited breath for him to tell us how the surgery went. "The first surgery went well; she was pretty bad when she came in. She had a punctured lung, a concussion, her arm was broken, her knee and ankle were both sprained, and she had lost a lot of blood, and she's not able to breathe at her own. She is still in critical condition. Now all we can do is wait. I will keep you updated as soon as we find out anything else," the doctor said and left. Then the nurse came in. "You folks can stay here as long as you want, but you can only visit her one at a time, and family members only. Sorry, hospital policy" she said.

Part 9

Jude's parents saw her first and came back looking pale and exhausted. Tommy was about to go in when the nurse stopped him. "I'm her husband" he said and she let him pass. Tommy pulled up a chair close to her bed and sat down. He was so afraid to touch her because of all the wires and what not she was hooked up to and didn't know what to do. The nurse heard him sobbing and came in. "You know, you might not think she can hear you, but they can," she said. "It's okay to hold her hand, you know," she said. He was about to thank her when he looked around and she was gone. So he picked up her hand and started talking.

Part 10

He must have dozed off because he was jolted awake by one of the machines. Then the nurses and doctors came in and he was taken out of the room. "What's happening?" he asked. But no one answered any questions and he was once again pacing the waiting room. An hour later the doctor came back out. "We lost her for a few minutes," he said. "But luckily we were able to get her back and her condition is still the same as before," he said.

Part 11

(a few hours later)
Jude's parents were asleep on the couch. Darius and Shay had both left. Kat told him that Shay had checked himself into a rehab facility and Darius was helping him get settled. Jamie and Kat had to fly back to New York, but made Tommy promise to call them if Jude's condition changed even the slightest. Tommy put a blanket over Jude's parents and sat down with his head in his hands.

Part 12

(Jude's condition had worsened. She lapsed into a coma and has been that way for a little over 3 years)

Tommy was holding Jude's hand and was telling her about his day, as usual. He went through the same ritual he had done the day she had been brought to the hospital. Most of the hospital staff knew him by name and would ask about Jude. No one minded if he stayed past visiting hours. He was particularly tired today and the bags under his eyes didn't do much to deny it. He was making himself more comfortable when Jude opened her eyes. "You look like hell, Quincy" I say with a croak. "God is that God awful noise coming from me," I ask. Tommy still in shock quickly poured me a glass of water and brought it to my lips. I spluttered most of it and barely got a few drops. "God, say something Tommy you're starting to freak me out here," I say. Instead he gathered me in his arms and started crying. I held onto him with as much strength as I could muster until he was able to compose himself. "Tommy what is it? I've only been out for like a day or two right?" I say. Tommy wiped his eyes on his sleeves. "Jude, you've been in a coma for a little over 3 years." At that moment we were interrupted by the nurse who was doing her early morning rounds who immediately brought in all my doctors and Tommy was ushered out of the room leaving me all alone.

Part 13

After a night and day of observation the doctors let me check out of the hospital with a miraculously clean bill of health. We had finally arrived home and everything seemed so familiar yet different all at the same time. Tommy cooked us dinner and we were lounging on the couch. "Jude…" he said. "Hmmm" I said comfortably nestled against his chest. "I wanna play you something," he said. "Okay, but you're totally making me lose my comfy spot," I say. He just rolled his eyes at me. He took a calming breath and started strumming his guitar. (This song is called "I will fallow you into the dark" by the band Death Cab for Cutie off their 2005 album Plans)

I Will Follow You Into The Dark

Love of mine some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son fear is the heart of love"
So I never went back

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
Cause we'll hold each other soon
The blackest of rooms

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark

I had tears in my eyes. "Oh, Tommy it must have been so hard for you. Why didn't you give up? Move on with your life?" I ask. He brushes the tears away and kisses my forehead. "Jude, you're my soul mate. I would have followed you anywhere, whether in this life or the next." I buried my head in his shoulders and held on to him never wanting to let go. I started kissing his neck and navigated my way to his lips. "Jude, are you sure you're ready to…" he said. I kissed him to shush him and said, "Tommy you were there in the room with me when the doctor announced my clean bill of health, right?" I said. "No, I know it's just that I haven't….um…for three years and…" he stammered. I held his hand and brought it to my lips. "Tommy I'm just as nervous as you are," I said. And with that we both walked upstairs to our bedroom with butterflies dancing in our stomachs and closed the bedroom door.