A/N - Hey, there! I didn't expect such fast reviews. lol. At any rate, I hope everyone got their preview. I sent it to everyone who guessed "Who Am I Fooling?" If that was you…Congrats!

This chapter is kinda weird. I tried to keep everyone in character, but it was tough. Remember that Vic is in trouble, so everyone is at their wits end. :3 Sorry I ended it when I did. But you'll see why I did. If everyone doesn't hate me, I'll trying and post another chapter in the early morning tomorrow :-D

Enjoy and review!
-JQ-

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Chapter Three…Breathe Me 'til Your Last Breath

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Don paced outside Victoria's room, debating whether or not to go in. Sadie had called him a few minutes ago, informing him that their mother was in the hospital because she overdosed on painkillers.

God, Vic! How could you do this to yourself!

"Don?" Jude's blonde head popped out into the hallway, eyeing him with a very worried look.

"Hey, there," he muttered, trying to calm down.

"You coming in? I'm sure she'd want you here." Jude smiled at him, leading him toward the door. "I'm glad Sadie called. I almost forgot and then we thought you should be here."

"Thanks. I appreciate it." Don stepped into her room, gasping. Victoria was lying helplessly in the hospital bed, tubes strapped to every inch of her skin. Something to help her breathe, something to help her stomach digest, something to help blood flow. Machines beeped and whirred in rhythm to remind them that at least she was still alive.

"God," he whispered, taking her limp hand in his.

"I'm sorry you have to see her like this," Sadie said lamely, moving out of the way for him. "Did you want some time alone?"

"Please," he said, never taking his eyes off of Vic. The two girls walked out into the hallway, leaving him and Vic alone.

"Victoria, how could you do this? I mean, you have two wonderful daughters. You can't let them grow up alone. That's not fair to them." Don sighed. "You're beautiful and amazing, Vic. And you need to realize that. You can't die. Not like this. Not without a goodbye."

"Excuse me…sir?" He turned around slowly. A young doctor was standing in the doorway.

"Yes, sorry." He stood up quickly, feeling very out of place.

'"No, it's alright. I just need to check her vitals." Don stepped out of the way while the doctor examined Victoria carefully.

"I'm gonna go check on her daughters," he muttered, leaving the doctor alone as he went to go find Vic's children.

"Don, is everything okay?" Sadie called from down the hallway.

"Yeah, the doctor's just checking up on her. Like doctors do, right?" He laughed a bit too loud, revealing how absolutely uncomfortable he was in this situation.

"How is she?" Jude asked.

"She's…I don't know," he admitted. "Do the doctors say when she's supposed to wake up?"

Sadie shook her head. "No. They said it's all up to her now. There's nothing else they can do. They are surprised how well she reacted to her stomach being pumped though. They said she's tough."

"She'll be fine," Jude said with finality in her voice. "I've got to go check on Tommy. I left him in the waiting room." She made her way down the hallway, back to the hospital entrance.

Sadie laid against the wall, sighing deeply. "I don't know why she would ever do this, Don. Do you?" She searched his face, looking for that elusive answer. "You know her better than anyone. Was anything going on we didn't know about?"

"Well," Don inhaled sharply, glancing in the door to Vic's room.

"What? What is it?" Sadie demanded, eyebrows creasing in worry.

"After last week, she was pretty upset, so…but, no…that wouldn't have been that bad, would it?"

"What about last week?" she asked, confused.

Don looked at her. "Her job?"

She cocked her head to the side. "What about it?"

"She…didn't say anything?" He was obviously surprised.

"No."

"Sadie, I don't know how to tell you this…She was fired. Last week."

"Oh, God." Sadie's eyes widened in shock. "Why wouldn't she tell me?"

"Maybe she didn't want to upset you." He shrugged.

They were silent for a moment. "But she wouldn't have done this to herself because of her job, would she?"

"Well…" Don's face grew very sheepish all of a sudden and Sadie frowned at him.

"What else, Don? And don't lie to me," she warned.

He looked up at the ceiling, refusing to meet her eyes. "She…she proposed to me, Sadie. Last night."

Sadie chuckled. "But why would that upset her?"

"I said 'no.' "

"But why would you do that?" she demanded.

"Because…there were some things going on…and I didn't think it was right…you know, to marry her…with those things going on," he rambled on.

"What other things?"

Don took a deep breath. "See, right before you came home, she was at my place. And I got this call…see…and you mom….She found out. And I knew she would eventually, but…I couldn't stop it. I don't know why, but…you know, you can't change, right? And then…she ran out, and I couldn't stop her…"

"Don, what happened? What did she find out?"

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Jude walked over to Tom, who was lounging in an empty area of the waiting room, girly magazine in hand.

"Hey," he said, noticing her approaching. He set down the magazine, stood up and pulled her close for a hug.

"What's going on? I sent Don up there a little while ago. Did he find the room okay?"

"Yeah, he's in there now."

"Good." Tom smiled warmly, wishing he could do something to make this easier for Jude. "Anything new?"

"No. I think we still just have to wit on her to wake up. But she's strong, right?"

"Like mother, like daughter," Tom's mouth curved up into a slow smile, pride shining from him.

"HOW COULD YOU!" Sadie's voice boomed down the hallway, startling both Tom and Jude.

"Is that…Sadie?" Jude darted for Vic's room, worried. "Sadie?"

"HOW DARE YOU EVEN COME HERE!" she screamed, getting in Don's face.

"I said I was sorry." He took a step back, pressing himself up against the wall.

"Sadie, what's going on?" Jude wondered. Tom stepped between Don and Sadie, hoping she wouldn't rip his eyes out instead.

"He…! He cheated on her, just like Dad!" Sadie turned back to him, red in the face. "You're just like him! How could you! You were supposed to be different! But you're just like him! Get out! Get out!" Sadie pushed past Tom, shoving Don violently.

"You cheated on her?" Jude whispered, breathlessly.

"Girls, you have to know. I never wanted to hurt her," he pleaded.

"Don, I think you better go," Tom said calmly. He nodded, sighing deeply.

"Dr. Sanders!" The doctor's voice broke up the four out in the hallway. The young doctor Don had left with Vic popped his head out the door. "Dr. Sanders!"

"What is it?" Don asked.

"She's gone into cardiac arrest." The doctor bolted down the hallway in search of some help. "Dr. Sanders!"

They all rushed into her room, forgetting the argument they had just been in. Victoria's body was just as they had left it. Except now, her face was pale as a ghost, and the machines were no longer rhythmic.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

All of their eyes went to the large machine to Victoria' left. Jude gasped, eyes widening at the sight of the long green line going flat.

"Mom!"

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A/N - Hate me, hate me. But leave a review!

40 reviews for the update :3 unless I feel nice and finish it early. But reviews make me write faster!

-JQ-

Know what song it's from? Tell me and you'll find out a secret!