Broken.

Scene Five.

A/N: Let me know if you want me to wrap this up soon, or keep it rolling a little longer. Thanks for the reviews!!

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Owen pulled up to a random house and looked out his window. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes for a moment, he popped back to reality and opened the door. He walked past a sign that said "Ray Cataldo Landscaping" and he shook his head. Looking ahead, he saw Ikey with a rake in the yard.

"Ikey," Owen said loudly, louder than he anticipated his voice would carry. Ikey turned around and couldn't help but smile. He caught himself and returned to a normal look, leaning on his rake.

"Owen, what goes on?"

"I wanted to tell you, in case you hadn't heard already."

"Heard what?"

"Eddie's in the hospital. Ray, your boss, put him there. I just thought you should know." He turned to leave, but Ikey's voice stopped him. He didn't ask about Eddie, but instead, why Owen had come.

"Why are you telling me this, Owe?" Owen stopped short and paused to think.

"Ya know, seeing Eddie like that, all beat up, bleeding in an alley, it shook me. Few things shake me in this world, Ikey. What you did? That shook me. It might be unforgivable. But someone said to me this was bigger than all that."

"It's bad, isn't it? You wouldn't be here if it wasn't bad."

"It's not good, I'll tell you that. We might need you for this one." With that, Owen got back in his car and drove off, leaving Ikey in the yard. He looked to the sign stuck in the ground and kicked it over, as he made his way to his car.

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"We heard about your business partner," said Mr. Thomas, the owner of a coffeeshop Best Friend Windows was trying to snag for a job.

"News travels fast," Nick responded.

"Sorry to hear about that, hope he's all right."

"I appreciate that."

"This will sound terrible, but on a completely selfish level, I've got to ask: why should I hire you, if half your workforce is out of commission."

"That's a good question, Mr. Thomas," Nick paused. "A really good question. So good in fact, I don't have an answer for you. The truth is, we'll get it done. One way or another, we can make it happen."

"I'm sure the two of you could—hence the we, but it's just you for a while, are you going to be a one-man-band or what?"

"Looks that way. But I can assure you, my partner never gives up, so he'll be on the job as soon as he can."

"I'm sure he will," he gave Nick a smile and a nod. "But from a business perspective, I just don't think I can sign on for this."

"When do you need the windows replaced by?"

"I want them before the spring. I figure, new season, new windows."

"I can make that happen. I have a lot of… silent partners. We can get it done on time and on budget."

"It's not exactly a convincing case."

"Ok then, on time, on budget, or your money back. Guaranteed."

"Now we're talking."

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"Phil…" Pizza Girl sat in Physical Phil's living room, watching him stare at nothing in particular. "Phil!" That shook him out of his reverie.

"Yeah?"

"What's in that head of yours?"

"A lot of thoughts. Kind of swirling around."

"You want to see him, I know. This must be hard for you."

"All these years, I've never wanted to get out of here more than I do right now."

"Then do it." He smiled toward her.

"You know it's not that easy."

"You've done it before."

"And look how that turned out?"

"The car won't break down this time. We can go from here, straight to the hospital, up the elevator, and donezo."

"That simple, huh?" He laughed.

"You can keep your eyes closed?"

"I don't think I can."

"When your parents used to visit every year, who would help you out with the luggage and everything to keep them in the dark?"

"Eddie."

"And when you run out of beer, who picks up a case before you even realize you were almost out?"

"Eddie."

"And when no one else is around and you start feeling lonely, who keeps you company?"

"Yeah, ok, I get what you're doing."

"I don't think you do. He's your best friend. He does things for you that you can't. Maybe you should do the same for him?"

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"Hey Hannah," Nick greeted her as he was on his way back from the coffeeshop. She was in front of the grocery store, holding a full bag.

"Nick, hey. How are you?"

"Ok. Well, considering."

"You have that look on your face."

"What look? I have a look?"

"Yeah, it's that, I have good news, but don't want to say anything look."

"Wow, I can convey all that in a look?"

"You got the same one when you aced Mrs. Maier's English mid-term and I nearly flunked it junior year."

"You remember that?"

"Of course I do, it's the worst grade I ever got," she laughed. "So what's up?"

"I just nailed down a job for Best Friend Windows. Over at the coffeshop. "

"That's great!"

"Yeah, if only my best friend was actually able to celebrate with me." Hannah turned more serious.

"It's a good thing, you getting the job. It'll be good news for when Eddie wakes up."

"There's still no word on it, yet. I don't exactly have Owen's optimism. I don't really know what to think."

"Nick, it's been less than twelve hours. Just give it some more time. The whole town is pulling for him."

"So they've all heard by now, huh?"

"The news spread like wildfire. I guess it wouldn't have been kept a secret for long, with half my block seeing Ray taken away in handcuffs."

"I'm really sorry, Hannah."

"Don't be."

"No, I am. I wish it weren't true. I wish none of this happened."

"Well, at least I know what kind of man Ray is now. If you can even call him a man," she looked down with some regret, but Nick recognized this and changed the subject.

"Do you need help with those?" Pointing to the groceries.

"Oh, no, it's all right. I was going kind of stir crazy, so I thought I'd cook for people. Come by later, I'll save some for you."

"That'd be great. Only if there's enough."

"There's always enough for you, Nick. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye Hannah." And they parted ways, Nick looking back and smiling in her direction as she walked away.

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Janet was sitting by Eddie's bed, leaning over him. The nurse had told her to just talk to him like normal, but the situation was anything but. Instead, she sat with his hand in hers, and she watched him breath. The doctor entered, holding up the chart, which made Janet stand.

"Dr. Stevenson, how is he? I didn't get much information last night."

"Hi there," he said sympathetically. "Why don't you take a seat."

"That's never a good sign."

"There's a few things I'd like to discuss with you. He has several broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and a few broken fingers," he explained.

"Oh god."

"Those are the minor issues," Janet looked up surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"We're concerned about his head trauma. We may need to get him back into surgery if he isn't responsive in the next few hours."

"But you said it could be up to a week or more before he woke up, why the need for another surgery?"

"Another CT scan showed some inflammation. We'd like to keep an eye on him, run some more tests, and if it doesn't get any better, it'll have to be surgery. We'll take good care of him."

A few moments later, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Ikey…"

Janet was surprised to see him. The doctor stood up and moved to leave.

"We'll let you know about the tests. Just stay positive. If he wakes up in the next twelve hours, we'll be homefree." He nodded to Ikey, who responded with a quick smile. His eyes moved to Eddie and he looked surprised.

"Owen said it was bad, but geez."

"Owen told you to come?"

"Not exactly, but he let me know what's the what."

Though Janet didn't agree with what he had done, she never treated Ikey differently, something he had come to appreciate more than she'd know.

"How's he doing?" He asked softly.

"That has yet to be seen," Janet started and sighed. "They might need to do another surgery. We'll know more later." He nodded, keeping his eyes on his friend.

"Will you stay with him for a minute? I should call Nick and let him know what's going on."

"Sure, no problem."

"Thanks," as Janet headed for the door, Ikey took a seat next to the bed.

"Hey man," he said quietly. "It's been a long time. You haven't talked to me in a while, so I guess this is like any other situation, you… not talking to me. Sorry, bad joke." He paused and put his head in his hands. "There's so much to say, I don't even know how to say it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about everything that happened last year and I'm sorry you're going through this now. You need to get better, Eddie. We're all pulling for you and the guys, they need you. I need you. Even though we haven't talked in ages and you probably hate me, you're still my friend. I might not be yours, but you're mine and I need you around. Just knowing you're around makes everything a lot better."

At that moment, Eddie's little finger moved. It caught Ikey's eye and he looked up.

"Eddie?" The finger moved again, but his eyes weren't opening.

"If you can hear me, move your finger." There was nothing. "Come on." Again, no movement. Janet walked in the room and Ikey jumped up.

"His finger moved!" He said, excitedly. Janet looked to her boyfriend and called out for a nurse. She hurried in and they explained what happened, but she replied,

"It happens sometimes, in coma patients. A slight movement. I'm afraid it doesn't mean anything." She walked out, leaving a crestfallen Ikey and Janet in her wake.

"It does mean something, Janet," Ikey responded. "I think he heard me. You should talk to him. He's in there, listening." A tear fell down Janet's cheek.

"Thanks, Ikey."

"Can you do me a favor? Don't tell the guys I was here."

"Why not?"

"It's complicated. But hey, let me know what happens as it happens."

"I'll keep you updated."

"Have a little faith. It's going to work out." Ikey left the room and Janet went back to her position by her man, finally ready to let the words flow.