Name: After the cut

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I don't own Zac

Zac walked down the halls feeling the warmth of the newly pored coffee in his hand. He felt a slight breeze hit his face as a nurse and a doctor rushed past him and in to another room. He didn't know the time but it felt late, the air was stale and all he could smell were latex gloves and puke.

Amanda took a deep breath and stared at the television. David Letterman was on and so was the hysterical Robin Williams, but she wasn't laughing. She felt a lot better but that was probably from the IV sticking in her hand and she could have sworn the patient in the room across from her was not breathing. She felt scared because she felt like everyone had left her to rot in that hospital bed she felt cold and alone and she had this urge to just rip out the needle from her hand and say screw this and just walk out unseen.

Zac followed the signs and soon got to a small private room with a view of the city. He walked in hearing the laughter from an audience on TV

"How you doing?" he asked as he sat in the chair that was placed next to the bed. Amanda turned her attention towards him and smiled "better, I'm just happy I'm not alone"

Zac put his coffee down on the table and grabbed her hand "I wouldn't leave you" he paused for a second still keeping a grip on her hand. He knew he had to apologize for what he said "listen…I'm sorry for saying…"

Amanda put her hand up to stop him "your right he was the wrong guy for me, I mean he didn't even stay here for long" Zac felt her squeeze his hand as she smiled "I should of listened to you better"

Zac looked up at the small TV screen and saw Robin Williams running through the audience. He chuckled and then looked at the clipboard hanging on the wall with Amanda's diagnosis.

"The doctors say they caught it early enough" Amanda said after noticing Zac reading the clipboard.

Making light of the situation she giggled "Just one spinal tap and I'm back at work"

Zac nodded and clenched his teeth "It's a little more serious, you're lucky they caught it so early"

Amanda shrugged and looked up at the TV "still doesn't take the way the fact I'm stuck here for a few more days"

Zac stood up and looked down at her "you could of died it's not funny" he said angry now at the fact that she didn't care about her condition.

Amanda look up at him and threw her arms up in the air "I'm still here though survived and alive so chill besides why are you getting so upset"

Zac looked at the clipboard again "I don't know why I care so much for a selfish self involved girl like you" he looked back at her quick enough to see the hurt reaction on her face. Between the silences all that was making noise was the AC that cooled down the room making Amanda get goose bumps on her arms. "You don't mean that, you like me and I know it" she said coldly watching the fluid being fed through the needle in her hand.

Zac shook his head and walked over towards the door grabbing his coat off the table "I thought I did…" he said taking one look over at her as he stepped through the threshold of the door "I'll see you when you come back to work" was all he said as he left the room.

Amanda watched the door now hoping that he would come back but he didn't now it was just an empty room being filled with the laughter from the TV

"Meningitis….who would of thought" she said to herself as she closed her eyes.

How could he of said that, she thought as she scrunched up her nose feeling an itch, I mean he didn't mean that…did he.