A/N - Well, here's fourteen. This is short, but you'll see why. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon. Thanks for all the continued love and support!

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Chapter Fourteen - I guess that would be a 'no'

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Sadie reached out and grabbed Kwest's hand, pulling him toward the glass windows of Jude's room. "She…I…"

Kwest's eyes widened as he looked inside. Doctors were crowded around her body, but he could just make out her still form. They were all rushing around, attaching machines and removing ones, trying to stop the steady note that had been ringing through Sadie's ears.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

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Tom pulled his Viper into the hospital parking lot, hoping he beat Kwest and Sadie there. He just wanted a couple minutes to talk to her. To explain to her that he changed his mind and he wants to be with her. Now and forever.

Taking a deep breath, he walked in the automatic sliding hospital doors. Nodding at the nurses, he continued his path over to the ICU, hoping to look like a relative of some hopeless individual. He cocked his head to the side, spotting Kwest and Sadie perched outside a room.

Rushing over, he gasped. Jude--his Jude--was surrounded by countless doctors and nurses. They hurried about. "What…what's going on?" he breathed, pressing his hands up against the glass.

Sadie and Kwest both looked up, noticing him for the first time. "Tom…" Kwest reached out and pulled his best friend into a hug. "She…she's not doing well. The doctors don't think they can do anything else for her," he whispered in his ear.

"No," he moaned, burying his face in Kwest's shoulder. "She's strong. She can do this."

"She's fighting, man. Look at her." Tom glanced up through the window, but all he saw was Jude's still body, pale as a ghost through the gaps in the hospital workers. He choked back a sob, his eyes fixed on the sight in front of him.

Only one thought was going through his mind. This is my fault.

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The three of them were frozen outside of the room for what seemed like a lifetime. They watched the doctors come and go, each of them giving the small group a sideways look before continuing on their way.

A younger doctor stepped through the door and walked over to the three of them. "Folks?" They broke their contact away from the glass, hoping this man brought good news. "I need you guys to go back to the waiting room. Standing there is only distracting the people trying to save her. I know you want to be here for her, but we need you to wait somewhere else."

Tom furrowed his eyebrows in anger. "Look, Doctor. I need to be here. She needs me to be here--"

Kwest reached out and grabbed his best friend's arm. "Tom, let's go."

"But she needs me! I need her!" he protested as Kwest pulled him away from Jude's room. "I love her! I love her!" Tom's voice echoed down the hallway and the doctor shook his head sadly, before walking back in her room.

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Portia heard a faint ringing from downstairs, but she ignored it. She was completely content lying in her bed and ignoring the world around her.

It was probably Tom anyway, with some sorry excuse for abandoning his family. She didn't want to hear it. She already had enough damage control to do without him adding anymore pain.

Poor Brigitte had lost her father--twice. A child needed two parents and Portia had been so glad that her daughter was going to get that. But now, the little girl needed to deal with losing her father. And knowing he could be there for her--just chose not to.

A soft knocking at her door startled her. "What?" The door opened just a crack and Portia saw her mother stick her head inside.

"Portia? That was…that was Tommy."

She rolled over, hiding her tear-soaked face. "Figures. What excuse did he have now?"

"It's Jude…She…" The older woman's voice broke and Portia sat up, worry filling her.

"Mom? What is it?"

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Tom was alone in the waiting room. Kwest was in the cafeteria, picking up a new cup of coffee and Sadie had gone to the bathroom almost an hour ago. Sitting here helpless was not good for him. He wanted to rush in there and help.

But what good could he do? He'd already done enough damage as is.

"Mr. Quincy?" The sound of his name startled him. Turning, he saw the same doctor who had told "Can I speak with you a minute?"

He nodded, walking off the side with him. "How is she?"

He looked down just for a second, and Tom's chest tightened. "Sir, we did everything we could, but…She was too far gone. I'm sorry…We lost her." The doctor's even tone echoed in his mind.

We lost her…We lost her…We lost her…

No. Something had to be wrong. Jude…little Jude. She was only seventeen. She couldn't be dead.

"Tommy?" Sadie's soft voice called. She walked over to them, a hopeful look on her face.

"They lost her," he choked out, face blank.

"What?" Tears welled up in her eyes and she stared at the doctor in disbelief.

"She's gone…" Tom let the words fall from his lips, before his body went limp and his mind went black.

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A/N - (ducks) What did we think? Leave me a review!