DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the character of Kelsey and this little plot. If it sounds familiar, I borrowed it for setting the scene and have returned it in it's original packaging, unharmed.
Jake rode the elevator down to the parking garage. He and Mark had spent the morning with Kelsey before she went off to have some testing done to prepare for the BMT. They didn't know if there was a match for Kelsey, but the doctors were preparing her so they could do the surgery as soon as they found a donor.
Jake was going to go home and grab a shower. Mark had left right before him and headed to his house to shower as well. The rest of the group had returned to school and would bring their school work back to them.
Jake's parents kept him home because they knew he'd be better if he was with Kelsey. Mark's parents tried to persuade him to go to school to take his mind off Kelsey's predicament, but he'd told them he wasn't leaving Kelsey's side until he knew she was going to get better.
After his parent's talked to Jake's parents, they'd agreed that Mark would be better off staying with Kelsey. Kelsey made it clear that Jake and Mark were calming influences during this time when she was scared out of her mind.
As Jake walked to his motorcycle, he thought back to who he'd seen getting off the elevator and greeting Sly. As angry as Jake was, he knew that if Sly had told him about Kelsey, he'd hop the first plane to check on his former best friend as soon as he could. Jake just hoped his presence didn't hurt Kelsey anymore than she was already.
"Excuse me, this is a friend of Kelsey Bradford's. He'd like to be tested to see if he's a match," Sly said.
"Certainly, sir. What's your name," the nurse asked as she pulled out a piece of paper.
"Matthew Garrison," Matt said.
"OK. Just fill out this general history form and we'll draw you're blood as soon as you're finished with it," the nurse said.
"Thanks," Matt said and headed to the chairs Sly directed them toward.
"Can I see Kels," Matt asked.
"You can't physically go in the room, but you can look from the small window," Sly said.
"I want to see her," Matt said.
Sly got up and Matt followed him to Kelsey's room.
Matt looked through the window and saw the girl he'd been in love with for years looking so fragile in the bed. Ever since he'd left Pacific Coast with his family, he'd regretted leaving Kelsey behind. He'd thought about nothing else but her when he'd left. He'd thought about everything he loved about her; her smile, laugh, the way she said his name, the way she cared about Jake, the way she scrunched her nose when something wasn't right, the way she sang; the way she tolerated Sly. Even the things that might seem annoying were things that Matt loved about her and missed; the way she always had to have her own tub of popcorn at the movies, she stole his shirts before he had a chance to wear them, she gave him the silent treatment when they had a fight, the way she called him an idiot. All those things he missed.
He sat down on the closest chair and filled out the form. He handed the form to the nurse and turned it in. She glanced at it and took him to the lab leaving Sly alone to watch Kelsey.
Jake returned an hour later. Matt had run to Sly's house to drop off his luggage and call his folks. He would return to the hospital when he was finished.
Jake sat down next to Sly.
"Why is he here," Jake asked.
"Kelsey is sick. He would want to know. I didn't think he'd hop on a plane," Sly said.
"You knew he would. Despite how he's behaved, I never doubted his deep devotion to Kelsey. I can't understand why he did what he did, but Kelsey's moved passed that. What I can't get is how you could know all about what he did and why he did it, yet you didn't say a word about it. You've known Kelsey as long as you've known Matt. Why did you cover for him at the very end, knowing what he'd done and how devastated Kelsey was," Jake asked.
"I wanted to tell her. I begged Matt to tell her; let me help her, but he wasn't having any of it. He said telling her before he was ready would taint what they had together. Then he left and Kelsey went into that funk. Honestly, I didn't know what to think because I didn't know what he'd actually done or said," Sly said.
"I just don't understand how someone who could stand in my bedroom and tell me how much they cared for Kelsey could treat her that way," Jake said.
"I know you were upset at Matt, Jake. Believe me, if I thought it would have done any good, I'd have told you what was going on with Matt. He cares for Kelsey, despite what happened. He came all the way out her to be tested to see if he could help," Sly said.
"I know that, but did you think about what might happen? What if she breaks up with Mark? Do you want that to happen to your cousin," Jake asked, trying to understand Sly's motivation.
"I don't want Kelsey and Mark to break up. I thought that they needed to clear the air between them. Kelsey's very sick, Jake. I figured Matt should be here to see her and help. I thought that if Kelsey could tell Matt how she felt, it might help her. She might not get the chance otherwise. She didn't get to say all those things to him that you're supposed to say when you say good-bye. I thought this would give her that chance," he said.
"He'd better not hurt Kels. I like Mark. They are good together. I don't want Matt to upset Kelsey in any way. Got that, Whipple," Jake said, trying to sound like his menacing self, but failing as his eyes laid upon Kelsey's sleeping form.
Matt had returned to the hospital and heard Sly and Jake talking. He elected to stand around the corner and not disturb the conversation.
"I have no intention of hurting, Kelsey, any more than I already have," Matt said.
Jake and Sly turned around, shocked that Matt had snuck up on them.
"I just want to help. Kelsey's all I've thought about since I left and I realized what an idiot I was for treating her the way I did. I still love her Jake. I don't deserve to have her love me back, but I want nothing but the best for her. I want to help her in any way I can. That's all," Matt said.
Jake stared at the man he used to call his friend. "Don't hurt her. Thanks for coming," Jake said, shaking Matt's hand.
"So, tell me about Kelsey's new boyfriend," Matt asked, sitting next to Sly.
"You don't know? Sly didn't tell you," Jake asked.
"Sly knew I wouldn't want to hear about Kelsey's love life. He just said she'd moved on with her life and that made me happy. I figured she had to have a new boyfriend by now," Matt said.
Jake looked at Sly. Sly swallowed.
"Actually, Kelsey's been dating my cousin, Mark, since a few weeks after you left," Sly said.
"Kelsey's dating a Winkle? That's interesting. Especially the way she treated you after what happened with me. I can't believe she'd give a Winkle the time of day," Matt said.
"Well, she actually met Mark before she knew he was my cousin. When she found out he and I were related, Mark hated me," Sly said.
"You sure have a way with people, Sly," Matt said, chuckling.
"Ha ha," Sly said, rolling his eyes.
"You should know something about Kelsey and Mark, Matt. When you left, Kelsey actually quit the band. I was trying to convince Kelsey to stay with the band because I couldn't imagine not having her in the band with me. She refused to have anything to do with something that reminded her of you," Jake said.
"Kelsey, come on. You have to come to practice. We can't do these songs without you," Jake pleaded with Kelsey.
Kelsey turned around and grabbed Jake by the collar of his jacket.
Jake's eyes widened at the gesture and shock.
"Get it through that thick skull of yours. I'm not rejoining the band, I'm not singing. That is now a part of my past, so get someone else to do it," Kelsey said, letting go of his jacket and walking toward the exit of the school.
Jake brushed himself off, trying to compose himself. He'd known Kelsey was upset about Matt leaving, but she'd never taken her anger out on him before. He hated seeing his cousin in this state and knew he, and his friends, had to do what they could to help her.
"Jake, what are we going to do? I know Sam and Tiff can sing the songs, but some of those were written just for Kelsey," Tony said.
"I don't know. I've got to see if I can get through to her, but she's so upset. I don't think anyone can get through to her," Jake said.
The rest of the group headed off to class leaving Jake to figure out what he was going to do with his cousin.
Matt's mouth hung open. "She actually quit the band," he asked.
"Oh, yeah. She didn't talk to anyone about anything after you left. Then she met Mark on the boardwalk and they shared a chocolate shake," Jake said, smiling as he remembered Kelsey's glee at meeting Mark.
Jake sat in his room, strumming his guitar when his cousin, Kelsey, burst through his door. She didn't even bother to knock.
"Kels, forget about knocking," Jake asked.
Kelsey flopped herself down on the extra bed in Jake's room. "I have something to tell you," she said.
The way she spoke caught Jake's attention. She had a smile on her face and a joy in her tone that he hadn't heard in nearly a month.
He sat his guitar on the bed and gave his cousin his full attention. Anything that brought a smile to her face was something he wanted to hear about.
"What," he asked.
"I just met the sweetest guy on the boardwalk. We were talking about music and family and such and then stopped by Sharkey's and shared a chocolate shake. Oh, Jake, he's so cute! I can't believe he started talking like that to a total stranger. His name is Mark and I'm thinking of going on a date with him," Kelsey said.
"Whoa! You can't go out with a guy you just met," Jake said.
"Look, Jake, I appreciate that you are concerned, but you don't have to be. I can take care of myself and Mark seems like a great guy," she said, getting off the bed.
"If he makes you happy, then that's fine. I shouldn't let my instincts take away your joy," Jake said.
"That's OK, Jake. I know you love me," she said, pulling Jake into a hug.
"Got that right, peanut," he said, grinning at the use of her childhood nickname.
Kelsey rolled her eyes and headed back to her bedroom.
"Kelsey wanted to kill Sly and apparently Mark did as well. When Kelsey found out Mark was Sly's cousin, she was a bit upset but when he told her that he didn't like Sly very much, Kelsey had to laugh. She convinced him to play with the band. He agreed, but only if she came back. Mark brought Kelsey back when I couldn't," Jake said. He thought back to that day.
Sly had just left Kelsey's locker and she slammed it shut with force. Mark came up behind her and asked, "I'm glad that wasn't me," he said. Kelsey turned around. He flashed his shy smile at her.
"It's just my cousin and my friends are driving me crazy. Especially my former friend. He's such a jerk," she said.
She sat down on the bench, Mark sat next to her.
"Sounds like my cousin. He IS a real jerk," Mark said.
"Does your cousin go to school here," she asked, wanting to find out about his life.
"Yeah. I'm trying to avoid Sly at all costs," Mark said.
She stared at him, shocked.
"You're Mark Winkle? Sly Winkle's cousin? Wow," she said.
"Don't hold it against me," he said.
"Sly used to be a really good friend to myself and my ex-boyfriend. Then Sly didn't tell me what was going on with Matt and I made a total fool of myself. Now I can't look at Sly or sing with the band without thinking about what happened," Kelsey said.
"Why aren't you with the band," he asked.
"Reminds me too much of Matt," she said.
"He wasn't the only other member, was he," Mark asked.
"No, but that's not the point. I don't want to be in the band anymore. It wasn't my dream anyway," Kelsey said. "Mark, I've got to go, I'll see you later." Kelsey picked up her books and headed toward the door.
Mark started after her, but saw the empty music room and the piano. It called to him, so he sat down and started to play.
It was during that little practice session that he finally met Kelsey's cousin and the band mates. He, reluctantly, agreed to try things out with the band if he could get over his stage fright. However, he told Jake he'd only agree if Kelsey would be with them.
Jake had promised to do what he could to get Kelsey there.
Later, after Sly had, once again, ruined Mark's music, Sly apologized to his cousin. Kelsey heard his apology and told him that she might be able to forgive him.
Sly explained why he'd done what he'd done for Matt, but he wouldn't do it again if he had the chance. He told Kelsey he valued their friendship because, despite her thinking he was a creep, she considered him a friend.
The trio had hugged and Mark was on stage to perform later that night.
When he nearly backed out from performing, Kelsey had walked up to him, kissed him and promised more to come if he went through with the gig.
Jake had nearly used his amp cord to strangle Mark, but Tiffani reminded him that Mark was helping Kelsey come out of her shell. Jake reluctantly agreed to let the monkey boy live.
"I had no idea she went through all that," Matt said.
"You didn't hear about her and life from Sly," Jake asked.
"I guess I didn't want to know. It was hard for me to leave Kelsey and I couldn't talk about her without wishing we were still together, despite the distance and everything that happened," Matt said.
***Well, Matt's returned to help. What is his presence going to do to the rest of the group? What is Kelsey's reaction going to be? How is Mark going to take this?*** -mereditholiver