Chapter Five: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For...

She slowly walked into the room, and began watching him sleep there on the bed. It almost made her laugh a little. After a few minutes, she walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. It was time he got up already.

"Hey, c'mon time to get up."

She thought she heard him grunt like usual, so she walked out of the room and went back to what she was doing beforehand. After a while, she noticed that he was still sleeping. So she tried again.

"Hey, now, c'mon, don't do this. You have to get up. You know that. Now let's go."

She tapped him on the shoulder again. And again. But still, he wouldn't move. Wouldn't open his eyes and look at her. And it was at this exact moment, she knew something was wrong. Very wrong.

She ran out of the room, screaming as loud as she could.

"Someone help me!!"

"Pneumonia?"

"Yes ma'am. Your husband has a bad case of Pneumonia."

"Bad? What you do mean by 'bad'?"

"We're going to keep him hear overnight. Maybe one or two days. Give him some antibiotics. Let his condition improve before he gets sent home."

Tami, after pacing back and forth listening to Eric's nurse tell her his condition, finally sat down in one of the chairs in the waiting room of Dillon Memorial's emergency room. She could kill him for making her worry like this. If he would have just gone to a doctor like she asked him to do a week ago, then he wouldn't be in such bad shape.

Tami grabbed her cell phone. She needed to let Julie know, and knowing that she was still at school, she would have to something that was against the rules: text her.

Dad's got pneumonia. Had to bring him to the hospital. Call me ASAP!

Matt stood in his room as he heard his mom walk inside the house after she got home from the store. He was so happy that she was here, and that she was happy to be here, but her attitude seemed like a complete 360, that he needed to find out what was going on, and he needed to do it now. It would bother him her entire stay if he didn't ask.

"Hey mom, can we talk for a second?"

"Of course, of course. Come sit down. How was school today?"

"It was okay. School is school. I uh…" Matt had a hard time wording what he wanted to say, hoping he didn't sound as much of an idiot as he felt. "I don't want to sound rude or anything like that, but I just want to know what's been going on that's making you this happy? I just… never seen or heard you like this before."

Matt's mom sighed and shook her head, like she knew this would come up. And well, she did have some explaining to do.

"Well Matt, there are things happening in my life that are making me happy. And you know things have been tough for me before. I wasn't happy being a wife, I wasn't happy being a mother, I wasn't happy with anything. But now, now I'm taking control of my life. I have a great job, I've met a great man, and now I'm here with you. And I know, I know there is a lot to discuss and a lot to take in, and I don't expect you to ever forgive me for leaving you, but I've finally figured out what's important in my life, and I don't ever want to leave you like that again. I want to be in your life." She wrapped her arms around Matt and felt the tears coming out of her eyes. She knew it would take a while for Matt to understand everything, she was still figuring everything out, but as long as he wanted her around, it would all be okay in the end.

"Thank you mom."

"You're welcome sweetheart."

Julie looked at her cell phone and noticed that a text message was waiting for her, having no idea it was even there in the first place, since she never heard it go off in her purse. She opened her phone and looked at the message, her jaw dropping. Tyra, who was sitting right next to her in her truck, noticed something wasn't quite right.

"What's wrong?"

"You gotta drive me to the hospital. My dad's there."

"What's wrong? Oh wow."

Tyra slammed on the gas petal and drove as fast as she could to the hospital, arriving in front of the entrance to the E.R. within minutes.

"You want me to go in with you?"

"No. Just call me later okay?"

"Okay. Bye."

Julie ran inside, completely passing the security guard yelling at her to stop. Fuck him, she thought. She found her mother sitting in the waiting room and rushed to her side.

"Mom!" she screamed, wrapping her arms around her in a hug. "What happened? Is he okay?"

"He's just got pneumonia. They're keeping him here until he gets better. He'll be alright."

Julie could feel the relief rush over her. Her mom didn't seem worried over it, which made everything okay. Well, sorta. There was always that chance things could get worse and he could drop dead right then and there, but let's not worry about that until we really have to. Okay?

"Visiting hours aren't until 6, and they have him sedated, so I'm going to go and get Gracie, and then I'll come back here. You wanna come with me, stay, what you wanna do? I figured we could go stop by the Alamo Freeze, get some food, you can tell Matt what's going on, and all that."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll come with you. I don't like being in here all by myself."

"I agree. Some of these people in here are giving me the creeps. Like that guy at the front desk. He's checking me out I just know it."

"Real smooth mom. Just scream it for them all to hear. They might take it personally."

"Don't say things like that. As if I'm not freaked out enough."

Tami rushed out of the waiting room with Julie right behind. They drove to Gracie's daycare, before heading for the Alamo Freeze. And of course, Matt was there at the register. What else was new?

"Oh hey," he said, completely surprised to see Julie walking inside, seeing Mrs. Taylor in her car out in the parking out. "I didn't expect to see you all here. What's going on?"

"Were just here to get food, because, um… look, my dad's in the hospital. He's got pneumonia."

"Whoa. That's pretty bad. Is he okay?"

"Well, my mom said he'll be alright. I haven't seen him yet. But I just thought you'd want to know."

"Well thanks for telling me. You want me to go with you? I could get out of my shift. It's not really busy here anyway."

"No, you don't have to do that. You don't have to worry about it. I'll be fine. Stay home with your mom. How is she by the way? You doing okay?"

"Things are going great. She seems really happy to be here, and with everything. She has to leave on Sunday, which sucks, but she said she's going to come down again over Easter, so that's good. You want me to get your food for you?"

"Oh right, yes, can you please?"

"The usual?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, coming right up."

Matt turned around to walk to the back and get her food, before he turned around and looked at Julie again.

"One more thing," he said, leaning over the counter, kissing her gently. He smiled before walking away, making Julie feel just a little bit better.

Three Days Later… March 2, 2008

Coach fell on his bed with force, enjoying the feeling on the soft mattress and the sheets after finally being released from the hospital.

"Oh, this bed feels so good. I can't believe those assholes kept me there for 3 days. 3 days, Tami!"

"Well, honey, you had pneumonia. What were they supposed to do? They told you were going to stay there until you were better. Wouldn't be in this situation if you would have just gone to the doctor like I asked."

"Well, I didn't feel like I needed to. So I didn't."

"No, you were just being stubborn."

"Oh yeah?" He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her down next to him. "You like it when I'm stubborn." He began kissing her, running his hands through her hair. After being stuck in a hospital for 3 days, all Coach wanted was some time alone with his wife. She knew exactly what he was thinking and began to laugh.

"No. No, no, no."

"What? Why not?"

"Honey, it's 11 in the morning. And our oldest daughter is right down the hall. She could come in at any second."

Coach didn't pay attention to her pleads, instead, running his hand against her waist, sliding it over the button of her jeans. He wasn't taking no for an answer.

"Julie!" Tami screamed out. Coach took his hand away from his wife waist and over his hair, when Julie walked in.

"What's up?"

"Honey, you should go and see Matt's mom before she leaves. Tell her we're sorry we couldn't come and say hello."

"You want me to do that right now?"

"Just do what your mother tells you Julie," Coach yelled out. She watched as her dad began playing with her moms fingers, and she knew exactly what was going on. And it made her want to vomit.

"Oh my God, oh my God. Gross!!" She ran back to her room and grabbed her purse, making a beeline for the front door. "You guys make me sick."

Tami waited until Julie was a short distance away from the house before she sprang up and closed the bedroom door, taking her shoes off in the process.

She jumped back onto the bed, on top of her husband as both their lips found each other. Coach took the initiative, flipping his wife over so that he was on top of her, unbuckling his belt and sliding his pants above his knees, as his wife did the same. And before he knew it, he felt his wife's hot, wet clit, and began going inside, sliding in so easily. Who needed a hospital when you had this?

"I didn't know Matt's mother was here," Coach said, almost in a whisper as he gasped for air, digging deeper inside her.

"Yeah, she… came a few days ago. Go a little faster."

"Okay."

Tami moaned a little as Coach began moving faster and faster.

"That's it right there. That's perfect," she said.

Coach moved in the same speed for the new few minutes before he was finally finished. After putting his pants back on, he lied next to his wife and stroked the top of her head.

"Glad you caved in?"

Tami laughed a little.

"Yeah. I guess so. We didn't wake the baby up this time."

Coach stood up, noticing that Gracie was still asleep in her crib.

"Nope. She's still sleeping. And Julie's still not here."

Coach eyed Tami. Tami eyed him back.

It didn't take long for him to jump on top of her again.

Matt took his mother's last bag and threw it in her truck before slamming it shut. He's been dreading this day ever since his mother walked in that front door. He's always dreaded this day every time she came to visit, but this time it was different. He always knew before that it was better that she didn't stay long, that she left when the time was right. Their relationship wasn't what it should have been. He knew his mother was never happy before she reached her breaking point and left. And well, Matt can't blame her for it, even though he would never understand why she would leave her own son. He would always have that little piece inside his heart that would hate her for as long as he lived.

But this was different. She was happy being here. She wanted to give life another shot. And so far, things were going great. So why should he put an end to her happiness. Because she left and didn't deserve another chance? That didn't seem very fair to him. Considering that she always came to visit from time to time. Always talked to him on the phone whenever she could. She didn't leave and never come back. Sure could have. But she didn't. And that's the difference.

He watched as his mother put her sunglasses on, taking one more look at the small house.

"Is that everything?"

"Yep. That's everything. Do you really have to go?"

"Oh, sweetheart." She gave her son a hug, feeling tears begin to form in her eyes. "I really wish I could stay longer. I really enjoyed being here. But Easter and Spring Break will be here before you know it."

"I'm already counting down the days."

She laughed before letting go and walking towards the front seat of her car.

"I tell you what. When I go back, I'll have a talk with Michael. See if we can't find a place to live here in Dillon."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. Maybe if we get a big enough house, you and Grandma can move in with us. Would you like that?"

"Yes. Yes, absolutely." Matt ran over to her and practically strangled her in a hug. It was more than he could ever dream of. Finally, finally, finally he could have a normal life.

The Next Day… March 3, 2008

"I tell ya Matt, that right there is pretty friggen amazing. I'm jealous." Brett told Matt the next day in the weight room, running on the treadmill.

"It is amazing. I owe you man. If it wasn't for you, she would have never come."

Landry chimed in. "Don't say like that to Brett. He'll make you do something you'll regret."

"HA! You may be right Landry, but I think I'll pass on that this time."

"Well lucky me." Matt said, taking a break and taking a drink of water.

"Hey Matt, just don't let your mom get near Riggins. She probably won't be able to resist," Bradley screamed out from across the room.

"Just like your mom, right Bradley?"

Bradley stopped working out and stood up, walking towards Matt.

"That isn't funny," he said, pretending to act serious.

"Oh, I smell a fight," Brett screamed. "Don't mess with this kid, Bradley. He's one tough motherfucker now. Show him Matt."

Matt looked around the room, seeing all the guys become interested in seeing him "fight" Bradley. He laughed and stood up.

"Alright then."

Matt and Bradley moved around slowly in a circle, waiting for the time to strike first. When Matt saw Bradley flinch, he tried tackling him, only slightly pushing him back since he was much larger. Bradley quickly got Matt into a headlock, as Matt pressed his hand into Bradley's chest and began digging in as hard as he could. Bradley screamed in pain before he let go of Matt and pushed him away. But he did it with such force, that Matt feel back and hit his head right on a 20 pound dumb bell that was lying on the floor, instead of in the rack it was lying in front of.

"Dude!" Landry screamed out as he rushed to Matt side, who was lying on the floor screaming in pain.

"Bradley, you're disqualified. Matt you win. Now everyone just pretend like you've never seen this."

"You alright man? That was quite a hit."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just give me a second."

"You want us to get Coach or someone. Take you to the nurse?"

"NO! I just hit my head. Geeze. Just calm down. I'll be fine."

"Well, okay then," Brett said before he went back to working out.

Matt stood up and waited until the throbbing in his head stopped before he headed to the showers. Even though he was alright, this bump was going to leave him with a big headache.

Billy walked inside his home that night to find Tim, once again, sitting on the couch drinking a beer.

"Well, look at that. This picture never gets old."

"Yeah, we're out of beer. You better go and get some more before you get comfortable."

"Why, so you can drink it all and mope around because Lyla dumped you? There's more girls out there Tim. You of all people should know that."

Tim was putting up with another lecture on this subject, and got up from the couch, grabbing the car keys.

"I'll just go myself then," Tim said, once again stumbling out of the house.

Billy decided to go with him, but let Tim drive. He'll be alright. It isn't like this was the first drive he drove anywhere while he was drunk.

They sat in the car in silence, Tim pressing down on the gas pedal with more force at each passing moment.

"Tim, you wanna slow down? If we get pulled over, you're done. Hope you know that."

"Yeah whatever." Tim kept pressing down on the gas pedal.

"You know what… pull over, I'm driving."

"What?"

"You heard me, now pull over."

"I shouldn't have waited for you," Tim said, shaking his head. This was just a bad idea from the start. He began breathing slowly, to try and regain his composure, and not do anything stupid. But soon everything became a blur, the song on the radio became louder, his eyes closed shut and wouldn't open, and before he knew it Billy was screaming at him to watch out.

Tim opened his eyes to see a car heading right for them. Tim turned the steering wheel and felt the truck quickly turn back to the right side of the road. But it did so at such a high speed that Tim lost all control of the truck. He felt it go back and forth, heard Billy screaming, and then felt the truck flip upside down a few times before slamming into something. A pole, a tree, another car. He wasn't sure. He couldn't hear his own voice. Couldn't tell if he was screaming as loud as Billy was, but as soon as the car stopped moving, everything became a blur again.

/tbc/