Chapter 39

Getting Ready

Jackson drove to the hospital to pick Maddie up. When he went into Maggie's room, he was shock by the site that met his eyes.

There in the room was his dad, Carey and Maddie singing with his dad playing on his guitar.

"No one said there was a party going on here." Jackson informed them as he came into the room.

"Well we have some good new to share with you." Robbie told him.

"Maggie's transplant worked?"

"No, but her fever and infection are gone." Sara continued.

"So Dr. Ryan was able to get another transplant lined up and started it a few hours ago." Jim added.

"We just have to wait twenty-four hours." Carey finished.

"Well, that is good news!"

"How the pep rally go son?"

"It rocked dad. Thanks for setting that up for me."

"I just wanted you to know that your stuff is important to me too. I know that sometimes you get lost in the Hannah shuffle and I'm sorry for that. I'm sure your sister feels the same way."

"She tells me all the time."

"I love ya son." Robbie pulled Jackson into a hug.

"Thanks dad." Turning to Maddie.

"Coop and Helen went to have dinner with us Maddie."

"Great! Let me get my purse."

"Oh, Carey…"

"Yes…"

"Miley wanted me to remind you not to forget that you need to help her get her wig off tonight."

"I haven't forgotten."

"She said that she be home at eleven, but Frank said ten-thirty dad."

"Thanks Jackson." Robbie confirmed he got the message.

"Oh dad, can Coop spend the night?"

"Sounds fine with me."

"Thanks dad."

Maddie grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room and lead the way to the elevator.

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Hannah finished the last song of the set and address the crowd again.

"As a special treat for this night, I'll be signing copies of my latest CD's over by the sound table." Mike walked up to Hannah.

"How you going to do that Hannah?"

"I'll use a marker. That's how I always do it." Now Jen walked up.

"But they don't have a copy of your latest CD."

"Why wouldn't they?" Now it was Julius's turn.

"Because they're not out yet."

"That's a good point." Hannah sounded down cast.

"Don't worry about it Hannah. We brought some with us. They're back by the table set up for you do the autographs at." Francis told her.

"Problem solve." Hannah smile and threw her hands into the air.

"I'm going to let my dancers and my band dance with y'all. But please try to remember I need them back."

Laughter and cheering filled the gym.

"Jimmy……PUMP UP THE PARTY!!!" Hannah yelled. Music starting to play was her answer.

Hannah's group left the stage. The kids moved aside so she could get back to the table. Once at the table, none other than Amber and Ashley were first in line. That figures Hannah thought. Hannah sat down by Frank, who had the first CD ready, and started to sign it for Amber.

"This is the best dance this school ever had. You're the greatest!! Can you make mine say, To my very best friend?"

"Sorry…Amber…right? That would take to long for me to sign one for everybody. Here you go."

"Seaview Dance 2006. Hannah Montana." Amber read.

Ashley stepped up and started to tell Hannah what to sign. Hannah looked at her. Frank looked at her. Amber looked at her.

"Oh right. That was for everyone."

Hannah signed hers and gave it to her.

"Thanks Hannah."

"Your welcome."

"I thought you decided to sign personalized messages." Frank leaned in and whispered to Hannah.

"I did. Just not for them."

At ten o'clock, the last song played and the lights in the gym came back on. There was a groan for the students, but soon the gym was empty except for our small group.

"Come on, I have to get you kids home." Frank told them.

"Where's Mr. Aaron at?" Hannah asked Jimmy.

"His at the front of the school."

"Does he still have his radio?"

"Yeah. You want to see him?"

"Yes please."

Jimmy got on the radio and call Mr. Aaron back to the gym. Once he was there, he quickly found Hannah and walked over to her. Hannah stood up from the table as Mr. Aaron walked up to her.

"Thanks for having me today." She gave him a hug.

"Thanks for coming Hannah."

"Here." Hannah handed him three CD's. Mr. Aaron looked at them.

"One for you and for each of your daughters."

"Okay. Bye."

As they walked out to the limo, leaded by Frank, Jake just realized something.

"How did you know that Mr. Aaron has two daughters?"

"The picture that he has in is office." Hannah quickly covered.

"Come on you six. It's late and I have to get all of you home in one piece."

Frank hold the door of the limo open as they climbed in and closed it. Then he walk to the passenger side of the front and got in too. The limo pulled away. In the back of the limo, Hannah did what always happen after a big show. She fall fast asleep.

"Wow! I guess performing wears you out." Amy observed.

"Does that happen to you Jake?" Zack asked.

"No. I use a lot of energy acting, but not as much as Hannah does on stage."

Watching Hannah fall asleep after a show was nothing new to Lilly and Oliver. They just had to pretend it was.

Amy was the first to be dropped off Oliver walked her to the door and kissed her good night. Lilly teased him when he got back in the limo. Jake was the next to go. He promise to get to the tournament sometime before noon. The ride to Miley's house was filled with conversations about what happened at the dance and who was with who now.

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Jackson drove for the evening. That meant a stop at Helen's house so Cooper could take her home. After the good night kiss, Cooper jumped in to the back of the car and Jackson drove to his house. The three walked into the front door at nine-thirty to find that Robbie, Carey and Cody were back from the hospital. What happen next was something that Jackson would remember fondly for the rest of his life. Everyone sat around talking about what would need to be done to get ready for the Olympics. However all conversation stopped when the door opened and a very tired Miley was steered into the house by Lilly.

"Hi Hannah what brings you back here to our house?"

"It's okay dad. We told Coop today." Jackson told is dad.

"Yeah, it was the right thing to do daddy."

"I still kind of thought you two were pulling my leg a little." Cooper admitted.

"Carey can you get this wig off so I can go to bed." Miley asked.

"Sure honey. Just sit right there and I'll get the scissors."

"Come on Lilly and Oliver. I still have to get you two home yet." Frank said from the door.

"We'll be here tomorrow Jackson. Good night Miley." Lilly said. But it was to deaf ears. She fall asleep again.

"Is this normal?" Cooper asked looking at Miley/Hannah.

"75 percent of the time Coop."

Carey came back with the scissors and started to work on removing the wig. After thirty minutes of work and waking Miley up several times so she could hold her head still, Carey had the wig off. Then she started to brush through her hair to get all the threads out of it.

"It is just amazing how different your sister looks with that wig off J-man."

"She and mom worked hard on making her look different."

"That she does."

Robbie did something he hadn't done in a long time. He picked up his sleeping daughter, held her in his arms with her head on his shoulder and carried her up to bed like the little baby girl she once was.

"Hey, we best be hit the sack too Coop."

"Right behind you J-man."

Cooper and Jackson race up the stairs to Jackson's room.

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Something woke Miley up. She didn't remember going to bed and she still had on her clothes from the day before. It was still dark out. Miley knew she was tired but she was not able to get back to sleep. She got up and got her guitar and went down stairs. She didn't see the figure sitting on the couch when she went out onto the patio. Miley sat down and started playing a song that she was working on in secret for a long time. Miley had the music down but still had no idea what the song was saying to her.

The figure on the couch heard the music start from the patio and decided to find out who it was. The figure stopped at the door and listen. Miley had no idea that anyone was listening.

"Come on. What are your words?" Miley asked the song as she played it again. Jackson had watched his dad and Miley go through this process time and time again.

"How do you do it?" Miley jumped at the question.

"How do I do what?"

"Get up in front of people, be a roll model, be famous." Jackson was pale.

"Nervous?"

"Scared too. All this week Miles, people have been coming up wishing me luck and little kids have been asking for my autographs. I mean, all this pressure to win just because I'm good at volleyball. What if we lose and let them down, let dad down, or more importantly you down."

"You're my big brother. You could never let me down."

"That's not what the elephants in my stomach are telling."

Miley felt a small light laugh come up from her tummy at Jackson's comment.

"I feel the same way before every concert and public appearance."

"You do? You never show it."

"That's because I know that it well turn into the energy I need to get through the concert or appearance once it starts."

"It well?"

"Yes it well."

Miley started to softly sing one of Jackson's favorite songs to fill the silence that fall over them. Jackson watched his sister. There was a thought forming and so he leaned against the house and waited.

"The whole time I've been Hannah, not once have you said not to be Hannah anymore. You never not supported me no matter what happen. You're my hero and I try to be like you. Win or lose. Olympics or not. My hero. My big brother. I love you Jackson."

Jackson knew he was crying. Miley was too. But he didn't care. What he did do was to walk over to Miley, took the guitar and set it aside, sat down by his sister and hugged her.

"I love you too Miley and thanks, I feel better now."

Robbie was standing in the door way. His kids didn't see him. He had watched and heard everything. Burning this memory in to his mind, he wiped at the tears on his face, turned quietly and went back to bed.

Jackson and Miley hugged for a long time before going back to bed.

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Miley got up early to help her dad make a big breakfast for Jackson and Cooper. They didn't need to call them down stairs for breakfast the smell alone brought them down. They both sat and eat their fill. There was very little conversation. After breakfast was done, Cooper and Jackson took their equipment out to Jackson's car. Miley hugged Jackson and wished him luck and assured him that they would be there before he left.

To that extent, Miley hurriedly got the dishes done and got ready to leave herself. They were waiting on everyone else to show up. Lilly and Oliver came first and the three of them started to make sure they had everything that they could think that they would need for the day. By the time they were done, the limo came with the others. Not letting them get out, our trio attack the limo with gusto. They quickly got all supplies loaded and were waiting on Robbie to get in. After Robbie was in, it only took twenty minutes to get there.

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It had taken four hours to get the new transplant into Maggie. It was now six in the morning. It was roughly twelve hours since they started the transplant. Way to soon to show any results from the transplant. Dr. Ryan had them run the test anyways. The results were not unexpected but also unwanted. Maggie's red blood cell count was starting to drop again. There was still twelve more hours before the could expect to see any results. The race was on again.