A/N – Okay, don't revolt! I'm updating. Enjoy! (Well, kinda.)

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Chapter Seven – Who's to Blame?

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Sadie settled into her couch, sighing deeply. As much as she hated to admit it, she had enjoyed her night out with Liam. It must have been that Irish charm.

He had been a complete gentleman. He opened doors, pulled out her chair, took her to the fanciest French restaurant she had ever laid eyes on, paid for everything, and took her home—no questions asked.

Could Liam actually have a heart? …Naaaah. He had to have some ulterior motive.

Before she could ponder her date any further, the house phone rang and she jumped. Reaching for the receiver, she pressed 'talk'. "Hello?"

"Hi, yes. Is this Sadie Harrison?" an unfamiliar, yet warm, female voice asked.

"This is," she responded, quick checking the Caller ID. It read 'Private Number.'

"I'm afraid we have some unfortunate news." Her stomach dropped. Was it her mom in Europe? Was it her dad in Montreal? "I'm afraid your sister's been in an accident."

"Jude?" she breathed.

"Yes. We just found the vehicle off the side of Route 27. She's in critical condition at the ER in Wolf Point."

Wolf Point. Wolf Point. Why did that place seem so familiar? Sadie gasped. That's where Jude was going to look for Tommy. "I'm taking the first flight to Montana. Thank you." She hung up the phone and grabbed her coat, heading for the door.

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Sadie stormed in the front doors of G major, making a beeline for the receptionist desk. Today, she had been replaced by a new blonde woman, but she didn't have time to linger on that thought. "Where's Kwest?" she demanded, hoping this woman was an airhead.

"Studio B," she supplied, not even looking up.

Sadie glanced around and headed for her left, passing Liam's office. He chuckled from his open door. "Back so soon?"

"I don't have time for this," she muttered, rushing over to the door to Studio B. Without so much as a knock, she flung the door open.

"We're working in—" He stopped mid-sentence seeing the worried look on Sadie's face. "What's wrong?"

"It's Jude. You need to take me to Montana."

Kwest half-laughed. "What?"

Sadie could feel the tears beginning to drip from her eyes. "She's been in an accident. She's in critical condition. I need you to come with me to Montana."

"Sadie, what…?"

"Please, Kwest," her voice was pure begging.

I…okay. Just let me grab my coat and we'll take a cab to the airport."

Sadie nodded her appreciation. "Thanks, Kwest."

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Kwest and Sadie were waiting in the terminal for their 5 o'clock flight. It was the earliest they could have received, not that Kwest kept it a secret that they needed to be in Montana as soon as possible.

He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number from memory. After a few rings, the voice mail picked up. "It's Tom. I'm not here, or busy. Leave me a message and I'll get back to you when I can." A loud beep sounded and Kwest sighed.

"Kwest, man." He took a deep breath. "Tom, call me back. Jude's in the hospital." Leaving it at that, he flipped his phone shut.

A nasal voice echoed over the P.A. Now boarding Flight 91A to Culbertson, Montana.

"That's us," Sadie muttered, grabbing her small purse. Kwest stood and pulled her into a tight embrace. "What's that for?"

"Just 'cause."

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Tom sat on the edge of his bed the next morning, exhaustion still in his bones. Sleep was not something that had come easy last night—if at all. All he could think about was the hurt look on Jude's face when he told her he wasn't coming back.

But how could he, really? He had a daughter now. That was big. Bigger than anything else Tom had ever had in his life. And he wasn't going to screw it up.

A loud buzzing from his bedside table startled him. Reaching over, he picked up his cell phone and checked the screen. 1 missed call. 1 new voice mail. Holding down the 1, he waited for the operator to relay his message.

Kwest's voice drifted through his phone and Tom could tell right away that something was wrong. "Kwest, man." He paused and Tom could hear his heavy, nervous breathing. "Tom, call me back. Jude's in the hospital."

His stomach fell through the floor. Jude? In the hospital? He had seen her mere hours ago and now she was lying helpless on some hospital bed?

Standing quickly, he rushed into the kitchen, where Portia was cooking some pancakes and Brigitte was coloring at the table. His daughter looked up and set down her crayons, smiling at him. "Morning, Daddy!"

"Good morning, Brigitte," he muttered.

Portia turned to face him, up to her elbows in batter. "What's wrong, Tommy?"

"It's Jude."

"Look, I know she caused a little bit of a scene yesterday, but I'm sure we'll all be fine."

"She's in the hospital," Tom added quickly, not sure what else to say. Not much else was going through his mind. Just Kwest's nervous voice. It's Jude. She's in the hospital. It's Jude. She's in the hospital.

Portia was silent for a moment, searching for words. "She…but how?"

Tom sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I don't know. Kwest called and told me. I'm not sure what's going on. I'm gonna call him back now actually." Before anyone could respond, he was out the back door.

Brigitte looked up at her mother, a worried look in her eyes. "Is Daddy okay?"

"Yeah," Portia nodded. "Daddy will be fine."

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Tom speed dialed Kwest's cell phone and he picked up on the first ring. "Kwest, what's going on, man?"

"Jude. She got in an accident off Route 27." Tom groaned. That was only a little while up the road from the house. "They found her car a few hours ago and they got her out. But she's in critical condition at Wolf Point Hospital."

"I'm on my way."

"Sadie and I will be there in a few. See you there." Tom flipped his phone shut, collapsing back against the house. This was all too much. He opened the door and peeked into the kitchen.

"Portia, I'm going to the hospital. I'll be back later, okay?" The woman nodded and Tom smiled sadly at Brigitte. "I'll be back soon, okay, Sweetie?" She lowered her head and sighed, before rushing out the front door.

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Tom burst through the front doors of the small hospital, heading straight for the nurses' station. "Excuse me!" he yelled, hoping someone could help him as soon as possible. A petite elderly nurse gave him a sideways look.

"Yes? Can I help you?" she asked.

"Maybe, I'm looking for Jude Harrison. She's in ICU." He breathed deep, hoping to calm himself down. Nothing was working.

"She's down the hall, but she can't have visitors." Tom groaned.

"I need to see her!" he insisted, balling his hands into fists.

"Look, I'm sorry, sir. She's not in any condition to be entertaining visitors." The nurse was obviously losing patience with him, but her words hit him deep.

Not in any condition…Not in any condition… "How is she?"

"She's touch and go," she replied simply. "She lost a lot of blood, and it was a long time before anyone found her. There's not much more we can do for her."

Tom slumped to the floor, burying his head in his hands. "This is all my fault," he muttered under his breath.

The nurse eyed him warily. "Sir, are you okay?"

"No," he mumbled into his hands.

"Okay, well, I'll be over by the nurses' station if you need anything." She turned and headed back toward her work, throwing him one last glance over her shoulder.

"Oh, Jude…What have I done?"

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Chapter Seven! I'm an updating-MACHINE! I'll try and get another one up tomorrow! Leave me feedback. I live for it!