CHAPTER TWELVE
(chapter title – No One Is Alone)

Exactly a week later, Sara was released from the hospital. She had been tested for phenomena and other viruses that could've entered her immune system. Dr. DeVaney was kind enough to send Sara's results by mail. She had said that the results would arrive in three days time.

Sara was now in her room relaxing when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." she told the person. Tiffany, Jennifer, Carolyn and Kristen entered her room.

"Hey Sar." The girls greeted her in unison, rushing up to hug her.

"Okay girls, fifteen minutes of visiting then Sara needs her rest." Mark told the girls.

"Okay." The girls said as they found spots to sit around Sara's room.

"We're just here to drop off homework." Jennifer joked. Sara laughed and stuck her tongue out at her friend.

"Peter's been asking about you." Kristen told Sara.

"Really?" Sara's ears pricked up at the mention of Peter's name. Kristen went on to tell Sara the details when Sara got a pain on the side of her chest and looked uncomfortable.

"…so then I said – Sara? You okay?" Kristen asked. Sara nodded. The girls shot each other concerned glances as Kristen continued to tell Sara about Peter.

"Okay girls, time's up." Mark came in exactly fifteen minutes later. The girls protested and said their goodbyes to Sara. As soon as everyone was out the door, Mark came inside and sat down next to Sara.

"Where's Dad?" Sara inquired.

"Work – he has a gig tonight, remember?" Mark reminded her, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. Sara smiled up at him. The pain on the side of her chest returned, causing Sara to wince.

"Sar? You okay?" Mark asked. Sara shrugged her shoulders as Mark felt her forehead.

"I'm gonna go take your temperature." Mark stood up and went to the supply closet where the thermometer was kept. He returned and told Sara to place the thermometer under her tongue and keep it there.

Five minutes later, Mark removed the thermometer from under Sara's tongue and checked it – 102.5.

"You're not going anywhere tonight missy." Mark told her, showing Sara the thermometer. Sara moaned and curled up in a ball. She really wanted to go to her dad's concert, but not tonight.

"Can I get you anything to eat? Soup or a sandwich?" Mark asked. Sara shook her head and closed her eyes. Mark kissed her forehead and stood up, closing the door behind him.

He made his way to the phone to call Roger to tell him about Sara's condition.

"Hello?" Roger answered the phone.

"Hey babe. How's it going?"

"Pretty good – we're just taking a break. How's Sara?"

"That's what I'm calling about."

"She didn't run away again did she?"

"No she didn't."

"Then what's up?"

"Sara has a fever of 102.5. She's not coming tonight."

"Poor baby – she'll be devastated."

"I know."

"Did she have anything to eat?"

"I offered to make her a sandwich or some soup and she said she wasn't hungry."

"She always says that. Just make her a bowl of chicken noodle soup."

"Rog – I'm gonna respect her and not make her anything. If she gets hungry, she can tell me."

"Okay baby."

"Oh, there are two other things that I've noticed."

"What?"

"Sara's constantly wincing at a pain on the side ofher chest and she's been complaining of aches and pains."

"I feel torn here – I want to play at my gig, but my daughter's sick. I don't know what I'm gonna do."

"If I were you, baby, I would cancel your gig."

"Mark! You don't mean that!"

"Yeah, I do, your – I mean our daughter needs you."

"Mark, I don't have time for this. I've gotta go." With that, Roger hung up.

"I love you, too." Mark mumbled and hung the phone up. He had tears in his eyes as he climbed the stairs to Sara's room. Roger didn't seem to care that his daughter might have something wrong with her. All he cared about was his stupid gig.

"Daddy?" Sara croaked as Mark opened the door. He walked over to her bed and sat down next to her.

"I'm here, sweetie. What is it?" Mark rubbed her back in a circular motion.

"I-" she struggled for breath. "I love you."

"Aww. I love you, too." Mark gathered her in his arms and held her close. Sara coughed dryly. Mark reached over, handed her a Kleenex and rubbed her back. When Sara was done coughing, she discarded the Kleenex.

"Wanna watch a movie?" Mark asked, going over to Sara's movie collection.

"No, I just wanna sleep." Sara told him, snuggling under the covers.

"I was gonna work downstairs. Wanna come with me?" Mark knew he was pushing her too much.

"No, that's okay." Sara's voice drifted off and she fell asleep.

"I'll get a bell or something if you need me. I don't want you to lose your beautiful voice." Mark told her, kissing her forehead and stepping out of the room. Looking around the house, he found a doorbell that played 'Jingle Bells' and placed it near Sara's bed. Noticing that she had kicked off most of her covers, Mark put the covers back on her and headed back downstairs.

Roger came home around six to change and get ready for the concert, which was at seven at the Life Café.

When he was all ready, Roger walked to Sara's room to find her still sleeping. Carefully sitting down next to her, he took her in his arms and held her for a bit.

"I'm really sorry that you're not feeling good, baby, but I'll make sure Daddy gets the concert on film. Lauren will be here soon to take care of you. I love you." Roger whispered in Sara's ear. Lauren was Tiffany's older sister and the sweetest girl that Roger knew – besides Sara.

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"This is my last song for the evening." Roger told the group of people in front of him. They all groaned, which made the rocker smile. He loved leaving people wanting more.

"This song." He strummed a chord. "Is dedicated to my daughter, Sara, whose home sick. It's called No One Is Alone." Roger waved at Mark with his camera to his eye.

"Before I sing, I need my volunteers from the audience." He motioned to Joanne, Maureen and Jeffery to come to the stage. They all smiled as they stood next to Roger.

"Okay – Jeffery, you're the Baker, Joanne, you're Cinderella and Maureen you're Little Red. Once we come to it, I'll sing Jack's part. Can you guys handle this?" Roger asked his friends. They nodded and went to the front of the stage as Roger went to stand with his band.

"Mother cannot guide you.
Now you're on your own.
Only me beside you.
Still, you're not alone.
No one is alone. Truly.
No one is alone.
Sometimes people leave you.
Halfway through the wood.
Others may deceive you.
You decide what's good.
You decide alone.
But no one is alone.
" Joanne sang.

"I wish..." Maureen sang.

"I know.
Mother isn't here now."
Joanne sang.

"Wrong things, right things." Jeffery sang.

"Who knows what she'd say?" Joanne asked Maureen.

"Who can say what's true?" Jeffery sang.

"Nothing's quite so clear now." Joanne sang.

"Do things, fight things." Jeffery sang.

"Feel you've lost your way?" Joanne sang.

"You decide, but." Jeffery sang.

"You are not alone." Jeffery and Joanne sang.

"Believe me,
No one is alone.
" Joanne sang, placing a hand on Jeffery's shoulder.

"No one is alone.
Believe me.
" Jeffery sang.

"Truly." Joanne sang.

"You move just a finger,
Say the slightest word,
Something's bound to linger
Be heard.
" Jeffery and Joanne sang.

"No acts alone.
Careful.
No one is alone.
" Jeffery sang.

"People make mistakes." Joanne sang.

"Fathers." Jeffery sang.

"Mothers." Joanne sang.

"People make mistakes,
Holding to their own,
Thinking their alone.
" Joanne and Jeffery sang.

"Honor their mistakes
Everybody makes.
" Joanne sang.

"Fight for their mistakes." Jeffery sang.

"One another's terrible mistakes.
Witches can be right, Giants can be good.
You decide what's right you decide what's good.
" Jeffery and Joanne sang.

"Just remember." Joanne sang.

"Just remember." Jeffery sang.

"Someone is on your side." Jeffery and Joanne sang.

"Our side." Roger and Maureen sang.

"Our side--
Someone else is not
While we're seeing our side.
" Jeffery and Joanne sang.

"Our side." Roger and Maureen sang.

"Our side--" Jeffery and Joanne sang.

"Maybe we forgot: they are not alone.
No one is alone.
" Roger, Maureen, Jeffery and Joanne sang.

"Hard to see the light now." Joanne sang.

"Just don't let it go." Jeffery sang.

"Things will come out right now.
We can make it so.
" Jeffery and Joanne sang, smiling at each other.

The audience applauded as Maureen, Joanne and Jeffery headed back to their seats. Mark smiled at each of them as they sat at the table.

After the concert, Roger was getting ready to go home when Mark came up behind him and hugged him. Roger smiled and turned around, facing the smaller man.

"Hey babe. Sorry I was a jerk earlier. Can I make it up to you?" Roger asked.

"Yes, you can. Tonight, the pool. No clothes." Mark answered, smiling. Roger laughed and kissed Mark on the lips. Mark smiled against his lips, interlacing his fingers in Roger's hand and led him to the car. Mark drove all the way home holding Roger's hand. That was Mark's own little way of telling Roger how much he loved him.


A/N: don't own the lyrics to No One Is Alone. belongs to respected owner. 'nuff said.