Okay, pleaseeee don't hurt me for not updating in like a month. Let's backtrack, shall we? Within the last month, I've been sick twice (I'm still sick now), I had midterms, work has been insanely intense and long, and I've been stressing over next year's classes (when I probably should be stressing over the classes I'm in now…but I got into all honors and AP classes, so yeah! Junior year's going to be fun, and stressful, too). So yeah, you can believe my excuses or you can come hunt me down. Either one is good. Except I'd prefer choice one, but you can pick whatever you want. So…on to the chapter. Hope you like it!

-Kaitlin

Izzie's Point of View

"Dr. Montgomery? Sara's heart rate is rising. She needs you!" I screamed.

"I'm busy, Dr. Stevens. You can do this; I know you can," she said with a groan from the bathroom.

"I mean…I know what I'm doing. I just can't do it. I'm not allowed," I said.

"Just do it, Stevens. Would you rather get yelled at by the chief or let this little girl die because you were too scared of being reprimanded?" she asked as she heaved again.

And for the second time, my heartbeat is louder than the incessant ticking of the clock.

Time stopped, and I felt as if I couldn't move. My brain was reeling with possibilities. What if I mess up? What if I can't do this? This poor little girl, she's going to die and it's all my fault. It's all my fault because I was too damn nervous to take control of the situation.

It felt weird being the one in control again. I've been an observer who hasn't been able to take initiative for quite some time. And now that I get to call the shots, it's like I'm in a whole different world. A parallel universe. But the thing is…I can't seem to find my way back down to Earth.

So it's to my surprise when I find myself grabbing vials of medicine and injecting them into Sara's IV. And it's a huge shocker when I see that her heart rate is slowing down to a normal pace.

But why was it that my heart seemed to be racing?

In a trance, I walked over to the conveniently placed rocking chair, and plopped down on it. I was still in a daze from all the commotion, but when I heard the sound of the toilet flushing and the sink running, I snapped back to reality.

Addison rushed out of the bathroom, eager to help in case of an emergency. To her surprise, Sara's vitals were pristine and the one with the elevated heart rate was me.

She smiled. "You did it."

I nodded as I replied. "I did it."

"How's it feel, you know, to be back in the game?" she asked me.

"Honestly, I don't know what I'm feeling. I was scared that I was going to mess up and give her the wrong medicine or the wrong dosage. And I kind of spaced out and didn't realize what I was doing until it was over. But she's okay, and that's all that matters. I did a good thing," I said. "I saved her."

Addison smiled at me, and then at the baby. "You did, Izzie. You saved her," she said. "But she's not the only one."

"What? What're you talking about?" I asked.

"Well, think about it. You saved Sara, but in doing that, you saved yourself," she told me.

The only thing I could do was smile.

Hannah's Point of View

After Kara and I finished coloring, she designated it 'talking time'. She considered us best friends, and although I hadn't planned on being a five-year-old's best friend any time soon, she wasn't half bad once you got past the nonstop chattering and perkiness. But then again, I was the exact same way at Kara's age, so I really couldn't blame her.

She decided that she wanted to know all about me. Where I was from, why I was here, what I was going to do in the future. For a five year old, she was pretty deep. And despite the unfathomable age difference (it's a known rule that pre-teens do not speak with five-year-olds), I found myself becoming protective over her. And I know that once Izzie finds out she's going to tell me that it's adorable that I befriended a patient of hers, but I'm going to tell her that it sucks. It sucks because, just like everything else in my life, she's going to be taken away from me. It's like I can't become attached to anything anymore, because I live in constant fear that it's going to leave me. Just like Izzie did almost twelve years ago, and just like my parents did now.

But I'm hopeful that now, as I embark on my journey with Izzie and her friends, that I'll find stability and a real family that I'll be able to hold onto forever.

And that's all I ever wanted in the first place.

"Hannah!" Kara shrieked.

I snapped out of my daze. "Yeah, Kara?"

"You weren't paying 'tention to me. I asked you a question," Kara said, trying to seem angry. It wasn't working.

"Sorry. What'd you ask me?"

"I asked you if you had a mommy."

I stiffened. How do I answer that? I paused for a moment before answering.

"Yes, Kara, I have a mommy. I have two, come to think of it."

Her eyes widened. "You have two mommies? That's so cool! How come I don't got two mommies?"

"Because, Kara, I'm different. Have you ever heard of the word 'adopted'?"

She nodded. "My friend at school said he was adopted. His real mommy didn't want him anymore so she let another mommy take care of him."

"Yeah, well I'm adopted. And my real mommy gave me up when I was born, but not because she didn't want me; she just couldn't take care of me like she would have wanted to. So I was adopted by a nice family when I was born and they raised me," I told her. "But now my adoptive mommy and daddy are in heaven, and I'm living with my real mommy again," I said, a small tear escaping from my eye.

"They're in heaven? Why?"

"They…they died in a car wreck," I said, my once scattered tears turning into sobs.

Kara scooted over in bed and allowed me to climb in with her. She gave me a big hug, as big as a tiny child could give, and she reassured me that everything would be alright.

And because of her, and her loving ways, I realized that everything really was going to be alright in the end.

Of course, at the ripe old age of five, Kara didn't have much of an attention span. Her loving hugs ended abruptly as she asked me if I was ready to talk again. I agreed, and embarked upon quite an adventure.

But one question in sparked a conversation that really hit home.

"Hannah, how long have you been living with your real mommy?"

"Not too long. I like just moved in. Why?"

She looked at me sideways. "Do you love her?"

"Do I love her?"

"Yeah, do you love her?

I paused for a second. "Yes. Yes, I love her very much. I'm so happy that I have the chance to get to know her, and the opportunity is more than I could have ever asked for."

"That's nice. I'm happy you're happy," she told me. "Let's watch TV now."

I giggled. "Yeah, it is nice. And I'll watch only if you let me pick the show."

"Fine," she said, "but it better be something good. Cause my daddy always watches the news when I'm in the room and it's boring."

"I promise I won't put the news on," I said, standing up to grab the remote. But when I stood up and walked towards the table where the remote was resting, I faced the door. And standing in the doorway was the one person who I'd been waiting to see all day: Izzie.

She stood there, tears glistening in her eyes, and I knew she had heard what I had said. She motioned for me to come toward her. I did, and she pulled me into a warm hug. A loving hug. A motherly hug.

"I love you, too, Hannah. So much. And I promise I'll never let you go."

Short, I know, but it ties up some loose ends. Hope you liked it! And I'm going to try a lot harder to get these updates out to you at a faster rate, as long as reality listens and doesn't get in my way.

REVIEW and I'll love you forever. Feedback is ALWAYS appreciated!!!