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.18.

Other Side of the World

The fire fades away
Most of every day
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're the other side of the world to me

- KT Tunstal

Tommy lit another cigarette and sat back against the plush leather couch of his rented Paris apartment. It had been his home for three weeks. He had spent a week in Montreal with his parents before flying out to Ireland to visit with his maternal grandfather. After two weeks with his grandfather, he flew out to Paris. He had been there ever since. He often spent his time wandering around the city or checking out the music scene.

He now sat in front of the television watching Untitled: Jude Harrison. He smiled softly as Jude began to recap the series. She had finished her album. He was proud of her. Kwest had sent him a copy of the album before he took it to New York.

"This has been one wild ride. I never expected any of this. Who knew I would have one a reality show and end up with one of my own. The album will be released a week after you see this. I am proud of it. It is a great album. I wouldn't have been able to do it without Kwest and you."

The MTV logo suddenly appeared across the screen. " This just in: Infinite Abyss front woman, Samantha Martez is in critical condition after a near fatal car crash. Martez and lead guitarist, Spencer Walsh were on their way to the wedding reception of IA's bassist, Johnny Howard and actress, Vela Sirago when the SUV was slammed into by a drunk driver. Walsh escaped the crash with a broken leg and few scratches. Word on the status of Martez is limited. Stayed tune for more music news ten to the hour, every hour, here on MTV."

Tommy's heart stopped. Samantha was in critical condition and no one had bothered to contact him. He reached over the table to grab his cell phone.

"Kwest, what the hell is going on?"

"Its Sam, man.. She's.."

"Get over yourself and get your ass back here, now. We are at St. Vincent's. She is in emergency surgery. Get here, now! A ticket is waiting for you at the airport," Portia yelled and hung up.

Tommy looked at the phone. Ten minutes later, he had everything packed and was rushing out the door to catch his plane.

Portia tossed Kwest's phone at him and headed down the hallway of the hospital. She was stressed to the max. Tommy was still being an ass head and Samantha was lying in a OR. Her parents had yet to arrive. Portia and Kwest had been two cars behind Samantha and Spencer. They had watched a car lose control and pummel Spencer's black Mercedes SUV. It had all happened in slow motion. She closed her eyes and slammed her hand against the wall. She should not be in a hospital worrying about her ex- husband's wife.

"What?" Sadie panicked. "Is he okay? Oh my God. Okay, I will try to be there as soon as I can."

"What's going on?" Jude asked, once Sadie had put her cell down.

"Spencer and Samantha were in a car accident. He's okay, but they aren't releasing him. Samantha is critical. The car was hit on her side. I am going to catch the next flight to New York. Kwest is going to arrange it."

"I am going with you," Jude said.

"Do you really think that is a good idea?" Sadie asked. She received no response.

Tommy was anxious. He could not find anything to busy with himself. All he could think about was Samantha and everything that had lead them to this moment. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. He hoped that when he woke up he would be in New York.

Sadie and Jude rushed into the hospital. Sadie spotted Kwest standing next to an upset Portia. Infinite Abyss and their families had taken over the private waiting room.

Jude was surprised to see a young woman that resembled Tommy among them.

"How is he?" Sadie asked to no on in particular.

"He's okay," Johnny answered. "He's got some bruised ribs, some cuts, and a broken leg, but other than that he's good."

"And Sam?" Jude asked.

The woman that looked like Tommy rolled her eyes.

"Do you really care?"

Before Jude could respond, Tommy busted into the room.

Eric Martez rose to his feet. He was appalled to see his daughter's absent husband appear. For months, his daughter suffered because of him.

"Get out! You have no business here!" Eric hollered.

"Eric!" Jacqueline, Samantha's mother shouted at her husband. He was all ready making a beeline to his son in law before anyone could stop him.

"I should have destroyed you before you ever had a chance to look at my daughter. Go back to where ever you were hiding."

"Eric, he is her husband. She loves him," Jacqueline attempted to reason.

"He doesn't deserve it! My little girl is fighting for her life," Eric stormed from the room. His wife trailed behind him.

Tommy looked around the room. Kwest, Portia, Darius, and Liam sat together against one wall. In the back of his mind, he wondered what Liam was doing there.

Johnny, his new wife, Wes, his girlfriend, and Sadie sat against the other wall. It was then that Tommy noticed his big sister standing in the corner. Jude stood off to the side, observing the scene.

"Genevieve, what are you doing here?" Tommy asked, hugging his sister.

"Hello, my favorite sister in law is in the hospital. Mom and Dad couldn't make it. So, here I am."

"It is so good to see you."

"Right. You're lucky I am not giving you the look of death like the rest of the gang. Tommy, I hope to God you've gotten your head on straight."

"Excuse me, I am looking for Mr. Tom Quessey," a doctor called out to the room.

"I'm Tom," Tommy said, turning to face the doctor.

"Come with me, Mr. Quessey."

Tommy looked around the room. His eyes met Jude's for a moment. He couldn't look at her right now. He needed to be a husband. He needed to make amends.

Tommy nodded and followed the doctor. His sister held his hand along the way.

"Mr. Quessey, Samantha endured a lot of internal damage. Were you aware that your wife was pregnant, sir? The amount of trauma on your wife's body was extensive. There was a great deal of internal bleeding. Her ribs are cracked. She suffered a major concussion, on top of the miscarriage. It was an ectopic pregnancy. Mr. Quessey, Samantha has slipped into a coma.…."

Tommy did not hear anything else. Not only had Samantha been in an accident, she had been pregnant.

"How far along?" Tommy rasped out. It was all becoming too much for him. He felt like he was drowning underneath it all.

"Just about 8 weeks."

"I need a moment," Tommy said and walked out. He couldn't think. It hurt to think. It hurt to breathe. He left his sister to deal with his in laws and the waiting room full of people. He slipped out to the garden off the waiting room.

He lit up a cigarette and savored it.

"When did you start smoking?" Jude asked from behind him.

"Shit!" Tommy cursed as he burnt himself on his cigarette. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry," Jude shrugged. " You never smoked before."

"I did. I was on the patch and gum when you met me. I picked it back up in France."

"So that's where you've been."

"I've been around. I was in Montreal with my parents. I visited my mom's dad in Ireland. Then I went to France. I used to spend a lot of time there. I had dated a supermodel that spent months at a time on the French Rivera."

"Oh."

"She was pregnant. She was pregnant and I didn't even know it. She's in a coma and I'm here having a pity party," Tommy complained.

Jude reached out to place a hand on Tommy's shoulder.

"Don't Jude. Please, just don't. I cannot do this right now."

A wounded look crossed Jude's face.

"All right, Tommy." She stepped farther away from him.

"I'd like to be alone if you don't mind."

"Sure," Jude said, quietly. She pushed her hair behind her ears and walked back into the hospital.

"You're bloody git, you know that, right?" Liam spat in disgust.

"What do you want, Liam?" Tommy retorted. He finished his cigarette and dropped it to the floor.

"Your wife is in there and you are out here chatting it up. What the hell is wrong with you? I knew you could be brainless, but I never realized how much of an idiot you truly were till this moment."

"I don't have the patience to deal with you, Liam. What are you even doing here?" Tommy sighed.

"I'm here for Sam. You remember Sam, right? Your wife? The woman you promised to love, honor, and cherish till death do you part."

Tommy didn't even think what he was doing until the first punch was thrown. Next thing he knew, Kwest and security were pulling him away from Liam. Liam laughed as he got the last word.

"I loved her better than you ever could or dream."

Kwest shoved Tommy down in the chair next to Samantha's bed. It was well into the middle of the night. Those in the waiting room had all ready cleared with the exception of Portia and Genevieve. The guys had taken Jude and Sadie back to Spencer's place, while Samantha's parents headed off to their New York home. Eric had tried to have Tommy kicked out, but he was her husband, much to many people's dismay.

" I know you two have a lot of problem. I know that when you screw up you take everyone else with you. But the girl in that bed, the girl right in front of you fell a part. You have a real knack for sending women to pieces, especially women I care about. You did not just hurt Sam. You hurt Jude, Sam, Sadie, and Portia. It's time that you grew up. I am not going to always be around to save your ass. She loves you. She deserves a lot more than this. They all do."

Kwest squeezed Tom's shoulder and met Portia at the door.

"Do you think he'll ever get with the program?" she asked.

"I sure as hell hope so," Kwest replied. He wrapped his arm around Portia and walked down the hall.

Tommy hesitantly placed his hand on Sam's. He ran his fingers over her wedding ring.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't completely honest with you. I am sorry I didn't stick around to fight. I am sorry for everything.. . . I need to be upfront with you. I care about Jude a lot. She's my best friend. I think I may love her. I'm an asshole. You're in a coma and I am telling you that I love someone else. Liam, was right. I am in idiot, but Sam.. Sam, I love you, too. I need you, Sam. I'm not exactly sure how to live without you. I need you to wake up. I need you to be okay. I need you to forgive me. I need you. I am so fucked up," Tommy rambled. He exhaled a breath he had been holding. He laid his head on her hand. "I think I am more screwed up without you. You kept me from crashing. And I couldn't even keep you from being crushed."

Somewhere amongst the fog, Sam heard him talking to her. She didn't think it was possible to hurt anymore than this. It was then that she started to slip away….