Chapter 13:

He pushed Dani away and ran over to Destiny, yelling her name. He grabbed her shoulders trying to still her shaking body to no avail. He ran out to the hallway screaming for a doctor.

After 29 harrowing minutes of not knowing whether she lived or died the doctors said that episode set her back, renewing pressure on part of her brain. As a result, they had to put her back under.

Matthew arrived at Destiny's hospital room after school. Taking his jacket off and draping it across the back of a chair, he kissed her lips first, "Hi beautiful, how are you today?"

No response.

She hadn't changed much in the four months she'd been back in a coma; since that day when she saw Dani kiss him...

He placed a kiss on her belly next, "Hi little one, I'm back" he greeted.

The only change was Destiny's growing belly. She was prominently showing now and Matthew felt more love for her than ever.

He dug into his bookbag pulling out a bouquet of flowers replacing the ones he bought last week. He had also bought her new sheets, pillows and a radio, he tried to make her as comfortable as possible.

He went into his blue bookbag for his homework.

"Today we learned about imaginary numbers in Pre-Calculus. Unfortunately, the homework I have to hand in tomorrow isn't imaginary" he grumbled. Matthew explained his homework out loud for Destiny and the baby, "You are gonna be the smartest baby ever" he rubbed her belly.

"Oh, hey Matthew." He turned around to see Darren Price and Shane Morasco. They'd been visiting regularly since Destiny arrived at Llanview Hospital. It was very awkward at first since they both had beef with Matthew. Destiny was still friends with them but Matthew initially couldn't say the same.

Darren was Destiny's ex-boyfriend. They dated for 6-7 months after Matthew rejected her. He was a great guy but Matthew always got the feeling Darren felt more for Destiny than vice versa.

He didn't at the time, but now he felt bad for meddling in their relationship. He was jealous of Darren & heartbroken (so he thought) over Dani. He acted out, a LOT. At Destiny's birthday party he didn't even recognize how jealous he was of the guys in her life until he was almost fighting Nate and yelling at Darren. Destiny always dropped everything, even Darren, when Matthew needed her, he knew that contributed to Darren breaking up with her. Darren butting into her family matters and her slapping him didn't help either...

Naturally, he was less than thrilled that Destiny and Matthew were together and expecting a child.

Shane was a different story. This was all on Matthew. They were cousins but Matthew didn't lift a finger to help Shane when he was being bullied last semester. It got so bad Shane tried to kill himself. If it wasn't for Destiny, his parents wouldn't have found him in time to talk him off that roof. Things went from bad to worse when the bullies set a lethal trap for Shane that his Mom accidentally walked into. It cost her her life. The bullies were rotting in jail now but the pain was still raw.

Matthew felt so lame trying to give Shane his condolences afterward but Shane was actually pretty cool about it. He, Destiny and Shane had been really cool when she sang and they played instruments at the community center years ago.

"Hey guys, pull up a chair," Matthew greeted back.

"No change huh?" Darren asked holding Destiny's hand.

"Nah, she's still the same." Matthew responded.

"Hey Destiny" Shane spoke up " I took your advice and joined the yearbook club. My art will be all over that bad boy."

"Where are your latest masterpieces?" Matthew asked.

"That card you made for Destiny was awesome" Darren concurred.

The three proceeded to chat over Shane's sketchbook.

A couple hours passed where they ate & discussed their post- graduation plans.

Matthew looked over at Destiny wishing she could partake in the conversation. She was already missing her senior year of high school. If she didn't wake up soon, she wouldn't graduate on time next year. More importantly what will happen to their baby growing up without Destiny?

He couldn't help but feel down as he reached for his notebook staring at the picture taped to the inside cover. It was the baby's latest sonogram. He could see a face, fingers and toes. His heart swelled and all he wanted to do was gush to Destiny about how amazing it all was but she just laid there.

At first he was so optimistic figuring she'd lick this coma thing in a couple of weeks and be back on her feet. The fact that her body needed so long to heal was just a testament to how life threatening her injuries really were.

Darren placed his hand on Matthew's shoulder, "Destiny is the most determined person I know. Once she sets her mind on something she'll fight until she gets it. She's just needs a little more time."

"Thanks Darren, sometimes I need to be reminded of that."

Shane and Darren were saying their goodbyes to Destiny when she squeezed Darren's hand. "Hey you guys did you see that?"

"No" Shane replied.

"What happened?" Matthew rushed over.

Darren looked between the guys and his and Destiny's clasped hands "she squeezed my hand."

"That's awesome" Shane's eyes danced "she'll probably be waking up soon, right Matthew?"

"I really hope so. I'd better call a doctor & Shaun will want the heads up." Matthew stated.

As he rushed down the hallway he felt overjoyed. This is what he'd been praying on for months. He wanted the docs to check her out just to make sure she didn't have another setback. He knew he shouldn't but he hated that she just responded to Darren and not to him. He shoved down his jealousy and focused on the task at hand.

When he and the doctor got back to the room Shane yelled "Matthew look, she opened her eyes."

"Destiny?" Matthew shouted trying to rush past the doctor to finally look in her eyes; to see if she was alright.

The doctor held him back "I need to examine her, you three need to step out."

"But, but..." Matthew began.

"We don't want to overstimulate her" the doctor reasoned.

"Alright, I'll be outside. I have to call Shaun and my parents anyway." Matthew conceded.

After the examination, Matthew was allowed back into her room. Destiny's eyes were open and she looked over at him when he walked in.

"Destiny, I'm so glad you're awake" tears trailed down his face as he cupped her cheek and bent down to kiss her.

"No..." she whispered shakily slightly moving her head to the side.

"Destiny what's wrong? Are you alright? Do you want me to call the doctor?" he asked inches from her face.

Her eyebrows furrowed together in worry, "Who...are you?" she struggled to whisper.

Shocked, Matthew's eyes grew large as he stared into her orbs searching for recognition. His heart shattered into fragments as he found none.