'Shawn' pleaded Topanaga. 'Please sit down. We're not going to know anything for a while.'

'Yeah, man' chimed in Cory. 'You're wearing a hole in the floor.'

Shawn stopped his restless pacing only to shoot him a furious glare. He stood looking down the long corridor where Angela had been earlier wheeled into one of its rooms and shuddered. She'd been so dreadfully pale and her body felt so cold. He sat down heavily on a nearby chair and rubbed a tired hand on his face.

The wait was killing him.

He tried to push out the memories of the day when his father died. He'd seen too many people go away from him in his young life and he reaffirmed his earlier oath – Angela was not getting away. He wouldn't let her go because he needed her. Wanted her.

Loved her.

Shawn nearly lost his composure and totally broke down as images of their relationship assaulted him. The way she smiled at him, the way her eyes would light up when he'd compliment her, the way she'd get that tender look which he knew was reserved only for him, as she kissed him or ran a hand through his hair…

Sometimes they'd do nothing but talk.

Shawn never thought that he'd meet someone else that he could be totally open with other than Cory, but at some point Angela had become a much closer and trusted confidante. He'd told her his most intimate thoughts regarding life, death, his hopes and ambitions for the future – and instinctively, he knew that these things could never be discussed with his best friend.

For lack of better words, Cory simply had no depth. And in a way, it didn't seem possible that he ever would simply because he hadn't ever suffered the way Shawn had.

He'd hated to admit it, but the stark reality was that they were from different worlds. Cory's unending optimism while endearing to Shawn during their adolescent years as a beacon of hope had been very annoying during the past year as reality never seemed to temper it. Topanga, while also a very dear friend, was also far removed from the extent of hurt that he or Angela had suffered – and in spite of Cory's outraged spluttering, Shawn had told him many a time that even if Cory weren't in the picture, Topanga was not his type.

His hands shook as he clasped them tightly. It was horrible sitting out here waiting to know what was going to happen, asking questions anxiously but never receiving any answers. As Shawn sat there on those plastic chairs, he suddenly realized with a sickening crunch of clarity that except for Angela, none of his friends really knew him.

He felt cold, and miserably alone. More than ever, he wanted Angela to wake up. He wanted her to take him into her arms so that he could let go of the frightening tightness in his chest.

He belonged to her.

The thought struck him, as a thunderbolt would strike the earth. Suddenly, his insecurities, his fear of commitment seemed utterly baseless. If he already belonged to her, then what was he so afraid of? Even during their breakup in college, he'd gone on one date only to realize that no girl could compare to Angela and that she was the only one he'd ever love.

Suddenly, the bends in life's roads seemed intriguing and exciting. Shawn could see himself walking down those many paths with Angela. And the thought didn't scare him anymore.

His elation at this epiphany was broken into when the doors of the student medical centre opened and in burst Jack, Eric and Rachel, flustered and worried.

'Shawn!' Jack made him a beeline for him straightaway. Sitting next to him, he put a brotherly arm around his shoulder. 'We came as soon as we heard. Angela…how is she, has the doctor said anything?'

Rachel and Eric stood nearby listening intently.

Shawn gave a watery smile. 'Still waiting for some news. They…they won't let me go in to see her.' And even before he knew it, his face crumpled and a sob choked its way out.

Jack drew him closer and murmured, 'She's going to be fine, little bro. You hang in there ok? What Angela needs is for you to be strong right now. You hear that? We're Hunters and Hunters don't give in so easy.'

Shawn laughed through his tears and looked up at Jack, perhaps for the first time in his life with that genuine familial warmth he'd always wanted to feel ever since he first knew that he had a brother. It felt inexplicably good to have Jack offer his support, to feel that he had family with him.

'Look Shawn,' Jack took a deep breath and struggled with his next words, 'I…I know that you only think of me as your half-brother but whatever issue you have with me, don't let it hurt Angela ok? If, God forbid, she needs to be treated or you need any other type of help, you know that I'm here.'

Shawn closed his eyes as the words stung and pricked at his conscience. 'Jack, I need to apologize to you…I never meant to keep harping on the fact that we're half-brothers. I…well, you are my brother ok? And I look up to you and respect you a lot. Its just that you remind me of a lot of things that I don't want to face up to and I just took that frustration out on you.'

Jack looked perplexed. 'What are you talking about?'

Shawn sighed, 'We'll talk later, ok? It's been a while in coming, I'd say.'

Jack nodded, accepting that for now and simultaneously happy that at last his relationship with Shawn was genuinely becoming stronger.

Rachel came closer to give Shawn a reassuring hug and Eric punched him good-naturedly. Shawn was wiping away what seemed like the millionth tear that had caressed his cheek when the doctor came out.

Instantly, Shawn was on his feet.

'Where's Angela? How is she? Can I see her now? I really need to be with her, please let me in!'

The doctor fingered the thick folder in his hands and the group crowded around Shawn, all waiting with bated breath for his reply.

When he spoke, it was the last thing any of them expected.

'How long has Angela been suffering like this, and why?'