Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the digimon franchise, I'm just a fan of it.

Lifeline

Chapter 4

Back at school, the bell finally rang signalling the end of the school day for the students. As she packed her bag, along with the other students, Rhea glanced over at the vacant desk next to hers. This was normally occupied by her best friend. Emiko hadn't been seen since she got called to the principal's office. Whatever it was about, it had stopped her coming back to class. And it wasn't just Rhea who noticed. Kita, Arashi and Sammy had all spotted Emiko's absence. As they left class for their lockers, the teens were getting concerned.

"It's just weird," Sammy mused, "You said she didn't seem worried? I would be if the Principal called me."

"Well," Rhea replied, "She didn't. But I bet she was really."

"No doubt," Kita agreed, "Still wonder what's up."

"I just hope she's ok." Arashi added.

They all went quiet as they agreed with Arashi. After visiting their locker, they soon met up with the other Digidestined offspring who had all heard about Emiko's sudden absence. All kinds of reasons were racing through their minds but no one was willing to air these theories just yet. However, there was one piece of information that they knew about.

"Someone said they saw your mother," Isaye told Kai and Shin.

"What?" Kai replied. "No way."

"Yeah, Mom's been teaching all day." Shin insisted.

"If she was here, why didn't she call us out of class too?"

"She might've not needed to." Kita replied.

Suddenly, something made Rhea stop walking. The others stopped a few steps ahead and looked back at her. The expression on her face was worrying.

"W-what if something's happened to Mr Kamiya?"

"Uncle Tai?" Shin raised an eyebrow.

"It would make sense. If he was in trouble, they'd want to get Emiko to him as quickly as possible. And Mrs Takaishi would be the best person to break the news to her."

They all looked at each other as they realised that Rhea was most likely right. But, if she was, what had happened to Mr Kamiya? Soon, though they'd find out.

The group all walked silently to the front gate, lost in their own thoughts. Now that Rhea's explanation was beginning to make sense, they were all more worried about Emiko. As they got closer to the gate, a familiar voice called Kita. When they looked up, they all halted to see Matt there. His car parked across the street with Tadashi waiting in the front, very confused. This was odd.

"Dad?" Kita spoke, curiously. "What's going on?"

"Sorry kids," Matt replied, "We can't talk about it here. Shin and Kai, your parents are tied up so you are coming home with us. I'll explain in the car. The rest of you, we've spoke to your families. They'll tell you themselves. Sorry again."

Silently, Matt ushered Kita, Shin and Kai to the car. The three teens squeezed in to the back seat then they drove off. Rhea, Isaye Sammy and Arashi all glanced anxiously at each other. This wasn't good at all. When the Ishida car disappeared, the four hurried home to get some answers.

In the white Mercedes, Matt drove the kids in silence. Absolute silence. Not only was their father and uncle not speaking, which was usual, but the radio was switched off. He had also put on shades so they couldn't see his eyes. Whatever was going on, it was bad. Tadashi, Taddy for short, turned in his seat to look at his sister and cousins. He still looked as puzzled as they felt. It was obvious that they needed to ask but no one was brave enough just yet. What the kids didn't realise, as they drove along, was that there was a reason for the silence. Matt didn't know what to tell them. He knew that the shock was going to hit hard and that they'd have lots of difficult questions. He knew telling them on the move was not a good idea but he didn't like driving in silence any more than they did. But what to say when it wasn't a time for idle chit-chat? For now, they'd just have to endure silence.

Across town, in a very deluxe apartment block, Isaye had returned home to a rather sombre atmosphere. Normally, she would hear her mother singing or talking loudly before she'd even opened the door. This evening though, there was nothing. When she opened the door, Isaye got more worried as she spotted her parents sitting quietly at the kitchen table. They sat with both forearms resting on the table in front of them. It was clear that Mimi had been crying by the tissue in her hand and the sniffling. Izzy had his left hand wrapped around her right, gently rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. On hearing the door open, they both looked around to see their youngest at the doorway, looking worried.

"Mama? Papa? Is everything ok?" Isaye asked.

Izzy sighed as Mimi looked to him for help. She clearly didn't know what to say, unusual for her.

"We're just waiting for your brother," Izzy explained, "Then we'll explain. Come and sit down for now."

Even more concerned now, Isaye did as asked. She removed her shoes then walked over and sat down next to her mother, opposite to Izzy. Like Matt and the kids in the car, the three sat in utter silence and waited. Luckily, it wasn't long before the door opened again and a boy with light brown hair stepped through. Isaye's older brother, Makoto. He stopped at the sight of his family sat around the table looking sad. Just like with Isaye, Izzy told his son to join them so he could explain.

"This isn't good news, I'm afraid, kids," He began, "It's about Emiko's dad, Tai. He was badly hurt in a car accident this morning and he's in hospital."

"H-how bad?" Makoto asked.

"We're not sure. We got a phone call from Shin and Kaito's father and he just said Tai was unconscious."

"That's why Emiko was taken out of school, isn't it?" Isaye asked.

"She's at the hospital with her Daddy." Mimi finally said, shakily.

Tears began to emerge in their eyes as they realised the enormity of what had happened hit them. Though not related to Tai and Emiko, they had grown up with Emiko and spent time with Tai so knew them well.

"I-is Tai going to be ok?" Makoto asked.

"We don't know, son." Izzy replied honestly, "We'll just have to wait and see."

Mimi leaned over to Isaye and held her close as the red-head girl began to weep. Makoto just sat staring, in shock at the table, trying to understand what he had been told. Izzy reached over and put a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder.

Meanwhile, the rest of Emiko's friends were returning home, all worried about where their friend and team leader was and why she had disappeared from school. Sammy and his younger brother sat on the sofa in shock as their mother told them the news. As her sister, Nat, cried, Rhea began to frantically and desperately demand to know if Emiko was ok, if there was anything she could do and what the possible outcomes were. Her parents were very worried about the barrage of demands until Mrs Ashara told her daughter to calm down and breathe. This was enough for Rhea to sit and begin to cry too.

Then it was Arashi's turn to receive the news. He entered the apartment of his foster family and politely took off his outdoor shoes. On hear the shuffling, a blonde haired woman appeared from the kitchen. She was wearing an apron over her clothes.

"Welcome home, Arashi," She smiled, "How was school?"

"It was fine, thank you Hana," Arashi replied, "Except my friend Emiko's been missing most of the day. She was in first period but got called to the principal's office and hasn't been seen since."

The orphan was concerned when Hana's face fell in to a sober expression. She sighed then gestured for him to sit down. Obediently, Arashi did as asked. As he sat down, one of the bedroom door opened suddenly and two much younger children, a boy and a girl, ran out, laughing and screaming. Arashi smiled softly as they chased each other playfully around the apartment. Unfortunately, Hana wasn't in the smiling mood.

"Aiko, Hiroshi," She called firmly, "Please, don't. Go and play quietly in your room. We're trying to talk."

"Sorry Mama," Aiko and Hiroshi replied, sheepishly.

They slowly walked back in to the room they had come from and shut the door behind them. Now, Arashi was sat alone with his foster mother. She sat and sighed.

"I got a phone call from a gentleman who said his name was Takeru Takaishi. He said you know him as TK."

"Yeah, he's Emiko's uncle. I've met him a few times."

"Ok, well, he wanted me to let you know why Emiko was called away. It seems her father was very badly injured in a car accident this morning. Emiko is with him in hospital. Sounds like she's been there most of the day."

Suddenly, Arashi felt numb. Though he and Tai had a rocky relationship when they first met, Tai had been influential in getting Arashi in the loving foster home he found himself. Hana's husband, Jiro, was government advisor Tai had got to know over the years. They had been unlucky in that they couldn't have children of their own. Hiroshi and Aiko were kids they had adopted when just toddlers. When Arashi came in to Emiko's circle of friends, Hana and Jiro had expressed interest in helping out an older child in Tai's presence. Tai then gave them the number of Arashi's orphanage, given to him by Emiko, and told them Arashi's name. A few phone calls and visits later, the shy auburn haired boy was brought to be a part of this lively but loving family. And Tai had helped to make this happen.

"Are they ok? Emiko and her dad?"

"Not sure, sweetie. But I suspect Emiko won't be at school for a few days."

Arashi, unlike the others, merely sat quietly, lost in his own thoughts. He was clearly upset by the news but this was hardly the first time Arashi had been given sad news. Hana gently put a hand on his arm, rubbing it sympathetically.

"Are you ok?"

"Y-yeah, I'm just thinking about Emiko. She's very close to her father. I just hope she's going to be ok."

Hana didn't answer, merely smiled sadly. She then, not knowing what else to say, stood up and went back to making dinner for the family. Arashi sat, once again deep in his thoughts, trying to make sense of it all.

Meanwhile, back at the Ishida apartment, Kita, Taddy, Shin and Kai had finally been told by Matt and Sora about Tai. It took a few seconds but soon they were all upset and distressed by the news. Kita tried to hide her tears but they were obviously there. Shin and Kai let Sora put her arounds their shoulders and hug them as they got to grips with their uncle's condition. Taddy sat, silently as he sniffled, Matt rubbing his shoulder. TK had packed over-night bags for his sons to stay with Matt and Sora so he and Kari could look after Emiko. The twins weren't pleased about being away from their parents but they understood that their younger cousin needed them more right now.

Over at the hospital, Kari was sat outside Tai's room again, waiting for TK. Her husband had gone to Tai's to get some essentials for Emiko on the way back from leaving stuff for the boys. After a couple of hours of lonely waiting, Kari was alerted to her name being called. She looked up to see the blond man marching towards her with a black bag.

"Did you get everything?" She asked.

"I think," He replied, "I grabbed some clothes and some things to get a shower with. Any news?"

"Nothing. They say he's stable but that's it."

Hearing the tremor in Kari's voice, TK pulled her in to his arms and hugged her tightly. She leaned her face on his shoulder and released a long deep breath. Once she had calmed enough, she gently pulled back enough to kiss his lips, which he returned. As they parted, they smiled softly as TK handed Kari the bag. She then quietly slipped in to Tai's room. When she got there, she stopped and took in the scene before her. The chair beside the bed was vacant and a pair of black flat shoes were left discarded on the floor. But Kari's eyes were focused on the bed. Tai, as expected, remained completely still, the machines beeping quietly. However, he was no longer in the bed alone. Sleeping right against him was Emiko. She had managed to raise the rail of the hospital bed and had wedged herself in the gap between it and Tai. Her face was buried in Tai' shoulder with her left hand resting on his chest, her legs awkwardly positioned next to his. The tear marks on her cheeks were still visible in the low light and she had unclipped her hair, letting her bangs fall on to her face. With their faces close together, it was easy for Kari to see the resemble between them. With the threat of tears and slight lump in her throat, she walked over and quietly put the bag on the chair. She then started walking out of the room. Before she stepped through the door, she glanced over her shoulder at the tender but sad scene.

"You've got to hang in there, Tai. She needs you."

With a deep breath, Kari finally left father and daughter alone for the night, softly closing the door behind her.