My note.…that episode (Can't Hardly Wait), totally rocked…but more on that later. This chapter is based on some spoilers, it will show the beginning of 'bad' Darcy and the 'real' reason Craig eventually comes back to Toronto. I'm not sure if Banting is a real university in Canada (couldn't find any information), so I'm making this stuff up.

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT

CHAPTER 15: JOYRIDE

"C'mon Spin, put a little heart into it", Marco joked as the band practiced their new song. "Sorry, but seeing your girlfriends half naked pictures plastered all over the internet, kinda breaks your concentration", he snipped, tossing his drumsticks across the room. "Sorry man", Marco apologized and walked over to pick up the drumsticks and placed them on the coffee table.

Ashley came over and put a comforting arm around Spinners shoulder. "This blog thing is probably just a phase she going through Spin…it'll all blow over soon and then everything will be back to normal", she reassured him with a squeeze. "You know what we need?", Marco asked excitedly. "We need to figure out what were going to do next week, when you guys are on spring break".

"What do you have in mind, Mr. Del Rossi?", Ellie asked from her place on the couch as she paged through Jimmy's latest sketchbook. "Well", he gasped, putting his guitar down and sitting down next to Ellie. Spinner came over and sat on the coffee table and Ashley, on Jimmy's lap. "Dylan wants to see Paige, but she doesn't get off until Monday evening. If we leave right when you guys get out of school on Friday, we could be in Calgary by then".

"You mean, like a road trip?", Jimmy asked uneasily. Marco nodded. "So we'd be leaving one school for another?", Ellie added, confused. "Not entirely, you see, Banting is only about six hundred miles from Vancouver, we could pick up Paige and.…", Marco started to explain. "Vancouver?", Ashley interrupted. Marco looked at their confused faces. "Didn't anyone get the e-mail Craig sent?", he asked. Ashley, Ellie and Spinner shook their heads.

"I did", Jimmy spoke up. "He starts his concert tour, on Thursday, to promote his cd release", he explained. "And we could be there for his first show", Marco added. "But how Marco, Vancouver is almost three thousand miles away?", Ellie questioned. "Easy, we have seven.…um, six drivers", he stated, correcting himself when he glanced at Jimmy. "Each on can take a shift…we can do this".

"We'd have to take your mom's van", Ashley said to Jimmy as she got up from his lap and stood behind him, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Do you think she'd let us?". Jimmy looked up at her. "Maybe", he answered hesitantly. "But I don't think I can make it…", he added just as the doorbell rang. "Pizza here…", he said, letting out a relieved sigh.

Ashley followed Jimmy to the door and took the boxes from the delivery man as Jimmy paid. "This sounds like fun, doesn't it?", she stated, handing him the two small boxes and following him into the kitchen. "No, not really…I had this offer once before, remember?", he asked, referring to the road trip Hazel planned right before they broke up. "I cant go, Ash".

"Why not Jimmy? You're so much stronger now…and plus, I'll be there", Ashley reassured him as she took some pop cans out of the refrigerator. "Yeah, but Ash, I haven't traveled since before the shooting.…things are different now", he pointed out. "I cant just up and leave, I have to plan everything out….make sure the hotel rooms are accessible and the bathrooms….what about physio, I cant just miss a week.…".

"These are all things I know, Jimmy", she stated, turning back to the side of the fridge and looking over his daily schedule. "I can help you transfer if you need me to, you've already taught me how to help with your cath, and I know how to do all of your daily exercises", she replied, assuredly. "You forgot one", he whispered. Ashley looked over the list until her eyes settled on 'morning bowel care'. "I cant expect you to help with that", Jimmy insisted. Ashley gave him a small smile. "It's a part of your life, and so am I….we'll deal", she shrugged.

Jimmy stared at Ashley for a moment, he was beginning to see her in a different light. She always wanted to be included when it came to his care and never got upset or grossed-out by what she learned. She was more than just his girlfriend…more than just his best friend.…she was his everything.

Jimmy smiled and held out his hand. "Do you want to go?", she prodded, sitting back down on his lap and rubbing his cheek. "Yeah", he sighed into her touch. "As long as you're there".

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Oh my God….if the ground wasn't so filthy, I would so get on my knees and kiss it", Paige stated when they finally reached. "Paige we drove over two thousand miles to pick you up, this was a measly six hundred miles.…how did you ever survive that two month road trip with Hazel?", Ellie asked, annoyed. Marco and Dylan both laughed. "We stopped like every two hours", Marco answered. "And shopped a lot", Dylan chuckled.

"So this is where he said to meet?", Ashley asked, looking at the outside of the old run-down diner. "Yeah, he said he only has about an hour before rehearsal and this was the closest place", Marco stated checking for any sign of Craig. Ashley looked over at a nervous Ellie. "Are you okay El?", she asked cautiously. "Of course Ash, I already told you…I'm over Craig and I've totally sworn off all men, already involved in a relationship", she chuckled.

"Every member ever in Downtown Sasquatch and the Michalchuks…welcome to Vancouver", Craig called out, running from across the street. They all turned to face him. He shook the guys' hands and hugged the girls, holding Ashley a little bit longer than she was comfortable with. "C'mon, I've only got a hour for lunch", he stated, leading them into the restaurant.

Jimmy sat at the end of the table as the rest filed into the u-shaped booth. Craig returned from the bathroom and sat down next to Ashley, separating her from Jimmy, instead of sitting in the vacant spot next to Spinner…and began talking about the concert. After lunch Craig took his friends to the arena for a tour, photo shoot and private jam session. They watched him solo practice for about a hour before they returned to the hotel to get ready.

"Okay Vancouver, I have some special guests here tonight", Craig said into the microphone after his first set of songs. "My old band mates and friends came here to cheer me on tonight…so I'd like you to give them a huge welcome", he added, pointing to the front row. "And now after saying that.…I'd like to ask one of those friends to come up and sing a duet with me".

Ashley sunk down into her seat and starting shaking her head lightly. "C'mon Ash", he coaxed. "No", she mouthed, looking up at him. "Go", Paige encouraged. "Paige", she warned through clenched teeth. Craig had the crowd chanting "Ashley", "Ashley"…..

Ashley looked over at Jimmy, and he smiled at her. "Go up there, Babygirl….sing for me", he said, giving her a huge smile. She smiled a little and reluctantly stepped up onto the stage. "Ladies and gentleman…Miss Ashley Kerwin", Craig announced, then whispered something into Ashley's ear. She immediately stiffened as the music to 'Everything's Dust', started to play, but sang it perfectly.

After the song Ashley stood on the stage feeling uncomfortable, nervous…out of place. She had always dreamed of being a famous singer, but being up on that stage changed everything. The life she thought she once wanted, was not at all what it seemed to be, was not at all what she really wanted…and she wasn't comfortable again, until she was sitting next to Jimmy, with her hand held tightly in his.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey there.…yes this is a short one, but it is meant to only set up a few storylines. And you probably guessed it by now, Craig still has feelings for Ashley...or is it something else? Hmmm? You'll find out in an up-coming chapter.

I totally had to use the one of my favorite phrases from 'Can't Hardly Wait'...when Jimmy called Ashley, 'Babygirl', I just about lost it...that was soooooooo adorable. I could go on for days about how much I loved that episode...so let me sum it up...that was my absolute favorite episode of all time! (Some parts were a little over-kill, but it worked).

I took the medical 'stuff' from a book I read in junior high, about a boy who was similarly injured in a car accident. I don't know that much on the subject, so I couldn't get too techincal...but I wanted to show how simple things, we take for granted, are major issuses for Jimmy.

Reviewers...Samitiny, thanks for the review, I always look forward to hearing what you think about the chapters. Unmei06...Wow! Thank you so much for the amazing compliments. I hope to hear from you again and I look forward to reading your next story. Raina-Bess...why thank you, that was such a nice compliment. I hope I handled the touchy subjects in this chapter, as sensitively as last chapter.

Disclaimer...Degrassi is Linda Schuyler's and the song 'Joyride' belongs to Roxette.