Chapter 37

The Pep Rally

Dr. Ryan started the day early. She went straight to her computer to get the Email updates of her patients. Okay, there was only one that was serious right now and had her undivided attention. Maggie Baker. The news was mixed. With the new blood transfusions, the infection was gone and her temperature was going down nicely. It was finally back to a low grade temperature. No longer was it classified as a fever. Also the blood oxy was back up to normal ranges thanks to the transfusions. The only bad new was that there was no sign of the transplant taking hold. Yes the red blood cell count was up, but only by the amount of the transfusion. The other good news that was in the Email was the fact that they were able to get another transplant amount of bone marrow lined up for another attempt. This one just might work because the conditions of the transplant were 100 times better than the last attempt.

The routine had become quite routine at the Stewart house. After the kids were off to school, the limo would bring Carey and the kids to the house. From there the kids had a choice of activities to choose from. Robbie and Carey went to the hospital to give support to Jim and Sara. More than once, Robbie ask Carey if she wanted to do something else. But she had replied the same every single time. That she was having a great vacation and helping the Bakers in their time of need was very fulfilling for her.

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Dr. Ryan came in after the Bakers were back from breakfast. Robbie had brought his guitar again and was playing for Maggie and working on some new Hannah songs. When Dr. Ryan came into the room, Robbie stopped playing.

"Well, I have some good new and some bad news and some good news. What do you went first?"

"How about the first good news." Jim suggested.

"Okay. Maggie's fever is now a low grade temp and is still going down. Also her infection has been knock down and is gone. The bad news is the bone marrow transplant failed. But the good news is we have another transplant set-up for later in the day."

"What happens if this one fails?" Sara asked.

"We'll just have to deal with that if it happens. But things are on the up swing and looking very good right now."

"Thanks doctor. We appreciate everything you are doing for us." Jim thanked Dr. Ryan.

"If you need anything just have the nurse call the office." Dr. Ryan told them on the way out. For the first time in a long time, Sara and Jim had some hope to hold on to.

"Mr. Stewart?"

"Yes Maggie?"

"Can you sing some of your songs for me?"

"Sure thing bud."

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As Hannah went to her last class of the day, she had an idea about the pep rally. She turned to Frank and told him about her idea and sent him to tell Mr. Aaron. Hannah went with Lilly to get their stuff from her locker for math class. With books in hand, Hannah and Lilly went to class.

As Mr. McDowell was going over an area problem on the board, Amber and Ashley were talking a little to loudly in class.

"Amber. Ashley. Would you like to share with us what you're talking about?"

"Yes." They both said together.

"Oooo……Tssss……"

Mr. McDowell just looked at them.

"Anyways, Mr. McDowell," Ashley started, "I don't see how this is important to us. We'll never use this in real life anyways."

"Just how do you know you won't?"

"Well, look at Hannah. She's a singer. Where does she have to use this stuff?"

Hannah just rolled her eyes and raised her hand.

"Yes Hannah." Mr. McDowell called on her.

"Well, I actually use area equations all the time."

"Can you give us an example then."

"Well, every place I play at has different sizes and shapes. My band has to be able to set-up the equipment correctly for each show. We know how much square footage we need for the equipment. What we need to know is how much square footage each place has so we know how much equipment we can use and were we can put it. In order to do that, we have to knew how to compute area of different shapes and sizes."

Mr. McDowell smile through the complete explanation of how area was used in everyday life. When Hannah was done, he turned to Amber and Ashley.

"And that is just one example of how this stuff as you put it is used in everyday life. So be quiet and pay attention."

Amber and Ashley glared at Hannah. Hannah just smiled sweetly and waved to them. Lilly laughed at them under her breath. Hannah giggled when they turned away. But everyone in class seemed to pay more attention after Hannah give her example.

The end of class was announced when Mr. Aaron asked for Hannah, Lilly, Oliver and Jake to come to the office. This was followed by instructions for all the students to met in the gym so that they could head over for the pep rally. Meanwhile, at the office, when they all got there, Ms. Darcy lead them to a golf cart that could take them across campus to the high school side. On the way there, Hannah explained how she had an idea of how they could help her with the pep rally.

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Jackson and Cooper went to the gym where the pep rally was already set-up by Hannah's road crew. Of course, everyone on the road crew was told that they don't know Jackson. Jackson and Cooper were walking around on the stage when Hannah and the others arrived. Being excited for Jackson, Hannah jumped out and run up the stairs and give Jackson a big hug.

"Hug Cooper!" Jackson whispered in her ear. Hannah let go of Jackson and quickly gave Cooper a hug too. Boy! That was close!

"Hi I'm Hannah Montana. I've been looking forward to meeting you two. All of this is just so exciting!"

"Hi. I'm Jackson and this is Cooper."

"Let me introduce you to…" Hannah turned to the others.

"We already know each other Hannah." Cooper smiled as he told her.

"OH! Well they are going to help me lead the pep rally. Has anyone told you what's going to happen?"

"No. Just to show up and that you would fill us in."

"Are the cheerleaders here yet?" Hannah asked.

"We're here." One of the cheerleaders answer as they came in. The quickly introduce their selves to Hannah. After the introductions, Hannah proceeded to hand out papers on how the pep rally would go. Once everyone was sure on what they were suppose to do, all they needed was the students to show up. As they waited, Hannah did her sound check and warmed up for her songs. About five minutes after that the students for both schools started to file into the gym. Hannah and the others went back stage. The cheerleaders stayed out front to get the crowd going.

Once all the students were in the gym, it was time to start. It was up to the cheerleaders to get the student body loud enough to get the first person out. When Jake thought they were loud enough, he ran out on to the stage. They got louder. After awhile, the sound died down enough for Jake to start.

"I'm Jake Ryan (girls screamed), thanks(he pointed and smiled). The reason we're here today is to help send some very special people off to follow their dream. (more screaming) To help us do that today is some who knows what it's like to follow your dreams. So I think if we get loud enough, we can get her to come out. Who wants to see HANNAH MONTANA?"

The students went wild. The cheerleaders encouraged them to get louder. The light on the sound meter that was in the gym went off. Hannah nodded her head and the playback for her first song started and she started singing off stage. The students realized that she was singing and quieted down a little. After Hannah sang the intro to Pump Up The Party, she ran onto the stage to the cheers of the crowd. When the song was over, the light on the sound pole went off again.

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Dr. Ryan was done at the office for the day and the bone marrow transplant was ready to be started. But because of the time it was ready, Dr. Ryan wanted to be the one to start it. After getting ready in the clean room, she and a few nurses went into Maggie's side of the room with everything they needed to start the transplant. It took about ten minutes to set the equipment up. Then Dr. Ryan took the large bore needle and inserted it into a vein in Maggie's arm. Next she pulled out the insert from the needle and attached the hap lock to the end of it and tape it to her arm. The nurse hand her a syringe of flush to clean out the hap lock and needle. With this done, a tube was attached to the hap lock. The tube passed through an iv pump. On the other side of the iv pump the tube run up to a mixing chamber. Two tube leaded into the mixing chamber. One tube went to a bag of normal iv fluid. The other tube went to the life giving bone marrow. The bone marrow was reddish brown in color. But the color lighten some as it was thinned in the mixing chamber. Everyone watched the iv tubing change color as the marrow got closer to Maggie's arm. It didn't take long for marrow to reach her. To someone with an active imagination, it appeared like the marrow wanted to enter into Maggie's arm. What it really meant was the iv pump was working.

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"Alright!!! Is everyone ready to show your support for our Olympic hopefuls? (more cheering) Before they come out, let me bring out two other people first. As you know, I spent the day at the middle school. I was with these two, plus Jake, all day today. So help me welcome onto the stage, Lilly Truscott and Oliver Oken!" Hannah and the cheerleaders waved at the crowd to get them as loud as possible before they came out. When she thought they couldn't get any louder, she turned her head and nodded. They walked out on the stage and stood by Hannah. After the things got quiet again, Hannah nodded.

"Thank you, but you didn't come here to see us." Oliver started.

"you got that right" someone hackled.

"Let's play nice." Hannah scolded.

"We're here to send off two friends of ours to a qualifying tournament for the Olympics. (more cheering. Lilly waited.) Since they been a team playing beach volleyball, they have won everything they have entered. Because of that, they got the attention of some important people that hooked them up with the U.S. Olympic committee. What does this mean? Simple by winning tomorrows tournament, they will fly out to Colorado Springs to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. (more cheers)" Lilly finished.

"Let's hear it for Jackson and Cooper!" Oliver yelled.

The crowd went wild!! Jackson and Cooper walked out on to the stage taking it all in. They wave and pumped there fists in the air. They shook hands with Jake and Oliver. Lilly hug them. And the crowd went over the top when Hannah kissed them on the cheeks. Oliver and Lilly handed Jackson and Cooper their hand mics.

"THANK YOU……"

"THANK YOU……"

"THANK YOU……"

Hannah pulled Jackson and Cooper in close and told them to wait for the crowd to yell their selves out.

"Thank you everyone", Cooper started, "I want to thank Jake, Oliver, Lilly, and of course Hannah" (more cheering)

"I also want to thank all of you for the support that you have been giving us with our run at the Olympics." (more cheering)

"I like to thank all of you too." Jackson started. "I would also like to include Coach Conn for all the help he's given us. (cheering starts) Come on coach, stand up!"

Coach Conn stood up to the roar of the students.

"There is also some one very special I would like to thank too. She has been with Coop and myself from the very beginning. She has been are number one cheerleader, fan and supporter. I know that when I look over to the sidelines and she her there, there isn't a game or match that we can't win. She couldn't be here today because she's home sick. But that person is my sister Miley. (more cheering) And if any of you tell her I said that, I'll deny it!" The crowd lost it after that. Jackson took this time to look over at Hannah. Jake watched. Hannah was smiling a very special smile at Jackson and wiping at the tears that were running down her face. Jackson mouthed 'love ya sis' to her. When the noise die down Hannah step forward.

"Now I want to sing a special song that was written for the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics by Whitney Houston."

Hannah nodded and the music started coming out of the speakers. The students quieted to listen. The pick-up notes came and Hannah inhaled and sang.

Each day I live, I want to be a day to give the best of me……

Hannah's voice spin the same spell Whitney's did when she sang 'One Moment In Time' at the closing ceremony of the Olympics. And when the last note ended, there was quiet in the gym. So caught in the spell, no one noticed that the song was over. About five seconds later, the students set the sound pole light off instantaneously. When things quieted down again, Hannah ended the pep rally.

"Remember, the tournament starts tomorrow at 7 a.m. sharp and the championship game starts at 7 p.m. that night. So lets all show up and support our Olympic athletes." With that the students got up to go home for the day. Some went to met Hannah and Jake. Others wished Jackson and Cooper good luck for tomorrow.