I'll Walk

Part Two

KC watched as Claire's parents and Connor and Alli took turns seeing her. Mrs. Edwards had told him that he could go first if he wished but he had refused. He didn't feel as if he deserved to see her,after all he was the cause of her accident. With a groan he put his head in his hands,resting his elbows on his knees. He was startled when someone suddenly tapped him on his left shoulder. He looked up with his eyes glistening with tears.

Alli stood there with one hand on her hip as her other hip rested against the wall. "Are you going in to see Claire?" She asked in a soft voice full of sympathy.

KC just shook his head,feeling sick to his stomach.

Alli's voice suddenly took on a hardness he had never expected. "So what,your going to act as if this didn't happen? Your going to act like you don't care? I'm disappointed in you KC. Me,Connor,her mom,and dad are trying to get her to wake up and yet you aren't even willing to go in that damned hospital room and take her hand and talk to her!" Her hand suddenly came out of nowhere and slapped him across his face before she stomped off in a huff.

He touched his reddening cheek with a hand,wincing in slight discomfort. He sighed to himself. Perhaps Alli was right. Perhaps he SHOULD go in and see Claire. Making his decision quickly,he stood to his feet and on legs shaking from nerves,he walked into her room.

Claire lay on the hospital bed completely motionless and pale except for the bruises on her face. She was hooked up to all sorts of IV's. He could feel his heart break into pieces at how delicate and fragile she looked under the hospital sheet. He glanced down to where her legs were and felt his heart sink. What would Claire do when she found out she might never be able to walk again? He walked over to the bed and seated himself in the chair next to it,scooting closer. At first he didn't know what to do with his hands,finally he came to a decision and placed his hand over her's.

"Hey Claire. I---I admit that at first,I didn't want to come in here and see you like this. Helpless,I guess. But Alli,Alli convinced me to stop being a jackass and get my butt in here. Claire,I am so sorry for arguing with you. I know that your in here because you were so upset with me. I never meant to make you think that I thought you were a freak. I actually think your----amazing and wonderful and smart." He took a deep breath to prepare himself for what else he was about to say. "I really like you Claire. I like you as so much more than just a friend. So you just need to wake up Claire. Me,Connor,Alli,your mom and dad...we need you to wake up. I know you can do it Claire,please wake up." He said pleadingly,bringing her hand to his lips to kiss it. He suddenly felt a hand threading through his shaggy hair and his gaze flew up to Claire's face. She was staring back at him with wide,slightly frightened blue eyes.

"KC?" She whispered his name croakly.

"Claire." He stated happily,smiling at her as he brushed the hair from her forehead with one hand.

She gave him a tentative smile back before she frowned and her eyes became filled with horror. "KC? Why can't I feel my legs?" She asked in an urgent whisper,tugging at the blanket so she could see the damage that had been done.

He looked down at the blankets,fiddling with a piece of string that was hanging from it. He couldn't meet her eyes. "I think your mother or father should be the one to tell you." He told her quietly,voice husky.

"No." Claire whimpered,grabbing his hand gently to get his attention. "I want you to tell me KC. you."

KC sighed,his eyes flitting back to her,his gaze shifted once again to the blanket for a single moment before he said,"The doctors...the doctors said that there is a chance that you could be....paralyzed." He swallowed his tears quickly,Claire didn't need to see him crying that woul only upset her farther.

She didn't say anything for a while and at first KC wondered if she had heard them then finally she said,"Oh."

It was said so simply,as if it wasn't anything serious. KC was shocked,he acted more upset then she did. He looked at her in disbelief. "How can you be so calm Claire?" He wondered aloud,shaking his head lightly.

Claire threaded her fingers through his and shrugged. "Because if I am paralyzed for life,it must've happened for a reason." She told him.

He looked at her. "Claire,this did not happen for a reason. It happened because of ME. You were upset with me. You wouldn't even be here if we hadn't gotten in that argument." He said bitterly,hating himself in that moment.

"I overreacted KC. I shouldn't have run out like I did." She told him weakly feeling ashamed. She knew that KC would never be cruel to her so she honestly didn't understand why she acted the way she did. Why did she believe a guy she barely knew over her friend?

KC laughed slightly,tasting his salty tears on his lips. "Neither of us should have acted like we did." He agreed with a nod of his head.

Suddenly the grin fell off Claire's face almost as soon as it had appeared. "KC? Did you mean what you said? Before I woke up,I mean? About liking me as more than just a friend?" She asked,looking into his gorgeous green gaze.

He bit his lip nervously,a hint of a blush beginning to creep up his neck. "I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't true Claire. You know that." He stated.

Claire began to blush as well,a silly smile appearing on her lips. "I hoped you would say that." She said huskily,voice scratchy.

KC immediatly took the pink jug of water and poured the water into the plastic cup next to it. "Here." He said,handing it to her.

She gave him a thankful smile and drank the water thirstly. Once she was quenched,she handed the cup to him so he could put it on the stand then she placed a gentle hand on his wrist,giving him as much of a flirty smile as she could manage but failing because of her bashfulness.

He looked at her with wide eyes,filled with surprise as she pulled him down to her level and kissed him softly. Their lips fit together so perfectly,it was as if they were made for one another.

When they pulled away,Claire looked at him sweetly,face still flushed. "Whatever happens,whether or not I walk again and I know that I will,I can handle it...as long as you are right there with me." She said in a firm,determined voice that allowed no argument----not that that KC would've argued anyway.

KC smiled back at her confidently before kissing her at the corner of her mouth once more.

A/N: So I may write another oneshot/twoshot that says whether she walks again or not. It really just depends.