A/N: Thanks to all my loyal reviewers, I had hoped to have this chapter out sooner but I had run into a brick wall with this chapter and was delayed in finishing it by starting my original fiction, working on the prequel to another story and getting ready for school to start. So thanks again to all my loyal reviewers and there's only a couple more chapters to go!
Tommy felt himself being shaken awake early the next morning. "Wuzznit?"
"Tom, wake up."
"Adam, do you know what time it is?" Tommy groaned.
"2:30." Adam replied. "I know, I'm sorry for waking you up but we've got to get to the hospital, Jason had to take Billy in."
"What? Why?" Tommy asked, wide awake now.
"Apparently he thought he could try to walk without having someone help him and he fell. Thank God Jason was working on a book report when it happened." Adam told him.
"Is Billy alright?" Tommy asked as he threw a t-shirt on over his shorts.
"He's in a lot of pain but he's fine otherwise. Rocky and the girls are already there, I came to get you."
"Alright then let's go." Tommy told him, grabbing his jacket on the way out.
"Where's Billy?" Tommy asked the minute he spotted Jason coming towards them.
"They took him for an x-ray to make sure he didn't break any bones or anything." Jason told him.
"What was he doing trying to walk on his own anyway?" Adam asked.
"I honestly don't know." Jason told them. "I was almost finished with my book report when I heard a crash come from downstairs and since Tommy was asleep I knew it wasn't him. I went downstairs to find Billy on the floor. When I asked him what happened, that's what he told me."
"That's not like Billy; I can't imagine why he would do something like that." Tommy muttered.
"Well, I know that he wants to walk by the time he graduates." Adam replied. "I guess I can understand in a way; I remember how frustrated I was when I broke my leg and had to use crutches."
"Billy has always been stubborn." Jason replied. "But I agree that it was a stupid thing to do and he probably knows it, too."
"Where are Rocky and the girls?" Adam asked suddenly.
"Tanya took Kat home and Rocky was dozing off on a chair when I last saw him." Jason told him.
Adam nodded and walked off down the hallway, deciding to give Jason and Tommy some time alone to talk. He suspected that Tommy needed his best friend more than anything right now and Adam knew what that was like; there were times where he had things that he would only tell Rocky, things that only Rocky could understand and times when Rocky was the only one who could cheer him up. He knew that Jason and Tommy were as close as he and Rocky were, if not maybe even a little closer.
Jason glanced at his friend who had his head in his hands. He could tell Tommy was exhausted, Jason was exhausted himself. "So what exactly happened between you two earlier?"
"What do you mean?" Tommy asked, looking startled by the question.
"I mean between you and Billy." Jason said. "When I brought him here he kept mumbling your name over and over again and was saying something that I couldn't understand but it sounded like he was saying he loved you."
'Quick Tommy think of a lie.' "Well, he probably didn't know what he was saying; it's common with most concussions." Tommy said, shrugging it off like it was nothing.
Jason shook his head. "I don't think so." He said. "Why don't you just tell me the truth, Tommy?"
Tommy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "What do you want me to tell you, Jase? That I like Billy as more than just a friend? That the reason he was so determined to walk on his own last night was because I couldn't bring myself to really tell him how I felt?"
Jason frowned. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"Billy admitted his true feelings, how he really felt and all I could tell him was that I liked him but wasn't ready for an actual relationship."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Jason asked, clearly confused.
"Don't you get it, Jason? Billy thinks that I don't want to be with him because of the wheel chair."
"Well is that true?" Jason asked softly.
"No! Of course not." Tommy told him. "I could care less. I'm just not sure if I'm as comfortable with all this as Billy is."
"Have you talked to him?"
"Of course." Tommy said. "And he said that we could take it as slow as I wanted."
"So explain the problem to me." Jason told him. "Because I'm not seeing one. It sounds to me like Billy is being very understanding about your feelings."
"He is; he's being very understanding." Tommy replied.
"So what's the problem?" Jason asked again.
"The problem is me, Jase. I'm confused. I want to just take Billy in my arms and tell him that I love him and that I want to be with him but something inside me won't let me."
"You need to give into the part of you that wants Billy." Jason told him.
"Why do you want me and Billy together so badly?" Tommy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because I hate seeing you two so miserable." Jason told him. "You're happier when you're around Billy then I've ever seen you before. And Billy, he changes when he's around you, he's a completely different person. All I want is to see you two happy."
Tommy sighed. "Alright Jason, if it will make you feel better then I will talk to Billy."
"Good." Jason said smiling. "But it's late now so I think you should wait until later when he comes home."
Tommy nodded, trying to stifle a yawn but failing. "I would like to get a couple more hours of sleep."
Jason nodded his agreement and drove them home after talking with Adam who said he'd take Rocky home.
