A/N. Ok, so I suck at updating. I think I've said that before. Anyways, I had some personal stuff to deal with, and it's been dealt with so...I'm back! Hopefully you guys will still like my story. This is a filler chapter, sorry, but it'll hafta do until I can write some more angsty drama...which we all love. Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter Fourteen

Arthur Carlin sat in the police station, his head hung low in shame. He relayed the events of the night over in his head. I hit Ashley, he thought. His daughter's best friend was lying in a coma in the hospital because of him. He raised his hands to his forehead and pressed hard, trying to remember the details from earlier that evening. He had woken up at the sound of a door slamming – Clay and Spencer leaving. He vaguely remembers grabbing a glass of Scotch off of the counter and drinking it. The liquid had burned his throat. After checking his messages, and once again hearing his wife's message, he had grabbed the keys to the van and left.

Arthur, it's me. Paula had said. I'm not coming home. I've thought it over and I don't think that I can stay. We've tried to make it work, but we can't. We're aren't the same people we were all those years ago. I know you think that I am leaving you for Ben…I'm not, but I am staying with him. He understands what I am going through. He can help me right now. I'll come for my things tomorrow night. Don't tell the kids until I'm there, please. I don't want them to get the wrong idea.

The wrong idea…Arthur thought. His wife was leaving him, how could this message be misunderstood? Arthur rested his head against the cool wall, wincing at the pounding in his head increased. He didn't even remember hitting anyone. He had been on his way to the hospital to see Paula. He thought his driving was fine…he never wanted to hurt anyone. It wasn't until he saw his front bumper – bloodied and dented – that he realized he must have hit something. When he saw Ashley being taken in from the ambulance…a hit and run…he knew.

The guilt he felt overwhelmed him. How could he have been so careless? Drinking and driving? After the countless speeches and lectures he had given to his kids about the consequences of such an act…and now he had nearly killed someone? Not someone, he thought, Ashley. Spencer's best friend. Spencer. How will she ever forgive me for this. What if Ashley dies? He leaned forward and buried his head in his hands, tears threatening to fall from his closed eyes. What if she dies?


Aiden burst through the metal doors, determination filling his eyes as he ran to the nurse's station. "I just got a call. Ashley Davies was brought in on a hit and run. Where is she?"

An apologetic look crossed the nurse's face as she stood. "I'm sorry. Only family is allowed to visit right now."

"You don't understand. I am her family. Please."

"I'm sorry son," the nurse said, looking back down at Ashley Davies' medical chart. This poor girl might not survive the night, and yet neither parent had showed up to the hospital yet.

"Please, just tell me her room number," Aiden's eyes pleaded with her, "Please."

The nurse shook her head, "I'm sorry son. You can visit her tomorrow when the second floor's visiting hours are open."

Aiden's eyes lit up as he mouthed 'thank you' to the nurse. Racing to the elevator, he headed up to the second floor to find his best friend.


Spencer held onto Ashley's cool hand, rubbing her thumbs gently over Ashley's knuckles. "You know, if you wanted my attention, you could have just bought me something." Spencer sighed as she took a mental list of Ashley's injuries. "God Ash, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I had only trusted in you…trusted in what we had… I should have never blamed you for my family's problems. You wouldn't have been out on the beach if I hadn't…" Spencer brushed away her falling tears.

"She would never blame you," a voice said from the doorway.

Spencer wiped her eyes again and turned her gaze towards the figure. "Aiden."

He walked over to the bed and grabbed Ashley's other hand in his. "You always have to be the center of attention, don't you?" He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on the brunette's forehead before turning towards Spencer. "She'd never want you to blame yourself."

Spencer's bottom lip trembled, "But she wouldn't have been near that road if I hadn't…"

Aiden shook his head, "Stop that. Ashley needs you to be strong for her now."

"But…"

"No. I don't blame you for this, and Ashley wouldn't either. She loves you more than anything, Spencer," Aiden said, smiling at the blonde.

"How…how do you know?"

He grinned, "She told me." Spencer's shocked expression urged him to continue. "Last week, the mall, about 2 o'clock. We were sitting in the food court. I think she was bitching about some English assignment, and we started talking about your birthday. She really wanted to make your birthday special."

Spencer smiled softly as she remember how excited Ashley was when they went to the club. It seemed like ages ago. "She did."

"She told me that she would do anything for you Spencer. And Ash is never one to back down on a promise.

Spencer's eyes watered again as she gazed softly at the comatose brunette. "I just never thought that she could die because of me."

"She'll pull through this," he said in an attempt to reassure Spencer.

"How do you know? I've never seen her so…so vulnerable before."

"I have," Aiden said as he remembered how broken Ashley was the last time she was in the hospital…after the baby. "And I'm sure," Aiden started. "She'll make it." He lowered his voice, "She has to."


Hours later Spencer was once again alone with her sleeping friend. It was nice having Aiden there. He was the only other person that could match her love for Ashley. She inhaled slowly as her hand brushed over a cut above Ashley's eyebrow. Spencer wondered if it would scar. "It would be a sexy scar if it didn't fade," she rested her hand on Ashley's stomach and lowered her voice "Although you could make anything sexy." A grin tugged at her lips, "Why are you always asleep when I start to bear my soul to you?"

Spencer leaned forward in her chair and rested her head next to Ashley's hand. "You know you can't leave me, right? You know that I'm nothing without you. You made me the person that I am today. You gave me everything I needed, and I'm so sorry that I hurt you." Clasping hands with Ashley, Spencer continued "I lied when I said that my family was falling apart because of us. I just didn't want to see the truth…but I see it now. You are my family, Ashley. I never got the chance to tell you how much I..." Spencer's voice cracked as she struggled to get out the words, "How much I love you Ashley. You told me once that you thought I was special, but you are the special one. The way you always look after me, protect me…you make me feel safe, Ash, and I only wish that I could do the same for you. Please come back to me. Let me prove myself to you, please," Spencer closed her eyes as she finally succumbed to sleep, "I love you," she whispered into the dark hospital room.

From the doorway, a figure moved back into the shadows of the hallway. Paula's eyes glared with disgust at the scene that had just unfolded. Oh no, she thought, I'm not going to let this happen.