Ryder couldn't believe it, it was his appendix? Why couldn't it be just another stomachache? Then he could just vomit once and then he would feel much better afterwards. But no, he had to be taken to the hospital because something was seriously wrong with him. It wasn't confirmed yet, but sure enough, Ryder had appendicitis.

"Joe, are you sure?" Lennox asked. "I mean, do you think we could pop over to the restaurant and surprise aunt Mel and then take him to the hospital?"

Joe sighed, she was still focused on getting them together. "Lennox, his appendix could burst at any second now." He exclaimed, this was a serious matter. "Especially since your brother kept eating that pork."

"It was so good." Ryder added as the car was pulled out of the driveway and he started to head for the hospital. "Ow. Please. Hurry!" He pleaded. Joe was going as fast as he could, he knew that Ryder was in horrible pain and he wished he could get there faster.

"I know, buddy. We'll be there soon." Joe said. "Lennox, call Mel and tell her that we're taking Ryder to the hospital." Lennox took out her phone and dialed her aunt's number. She didn't pick up, so she tried calling it once more. Still no answer.

"She's still not answering?" Joe asked and Lennox sighed.

"Keep trying!" Ryder exclaimed and Lennox turned to him, looking at him very annoyed.

"I'm trying! This is your fault!" Lennox yelled.

"Yeah, I purposely did this so I could be rushed to the hospital, in excruciating pain." Ryder said, sarcastically.

"So you admit it?" Lennox asked and Ryder looked away and then felt the pain again. He lightly grasped his side, but that only made things worse and he screamed out in pain. "Alright, alright, I'll call the restaurant." Lennox said and did so, after looking up the number.

"Hello, can you give the phone to Mel Burke. She's my aunt and I need to reach her. It's very important." Lennox said to the man who answered the phone and then gave it to Mel.

"Hello? Lennox?" Mel answered over the phone.

"Aunt Mel, we have a problem. Ryder's sick, Joe thinks it's something with his appendix." Lennox said. "We're taking him to the hospital."

"Oh my god. Is he okay?" Mel asked.

"OW!" Ryder screamed, the pain just kept getting worse and worse.

"He's in pain, I can tell you that." Lennox said and then Ryder looked at her, with a dirty look. "Fine. You talk to her." Lennox gave the phone to Ryder and both boys rolled their eyes and Ryder put it to his ear, even though it hurt to move.

"Hey Ryder, are you okay?" Mel asked.

"No. It really hurts." Ryder told her. "Ow! I just want it to stop." He cried, it was hurting so much that he wanted to cry, but not now. Not over the phone, in the car with Joe and Lennox there. Especially Lennox, Ryder wasn't going to cry in front of her. She would once again just tell her it was his fault.

"It's okay, Ryder. Just hold in there a little longer, okay?" Mel told him. "I'm on my way." Mel then ended the call and Lennox took the phone from her brother and hissed in pain once again.

"Is she coming?" Joe asked.

"Yes." Ryder choked, it hurt so much that he didn't want to talk. He didn't want to move or do anything, everything made it hurt even more. He would do anything to make it stop.

"We're almost there, Ryder. Hold on." Joe said as he turned the corner and pulled into the parking lot. He parked the car and the got out and opened the door to Ryder's side. Lennox helped the best she could, but she made it harder for Ryder.

"Ow! Stop!" Ryder complained.

"Stop being a baby!" Lennox replied.

"Come on, Ryder." Joe said and then finally, Joe was able to get a good grip on Ryder to pick him up. He started to carry him into the building as Lennox followed him into the ER.

"Help!" Joe yelled, he knew this was urgent.

"What's wrong, sir?" One doctor asked, once he came over to him.

"This is—" Joe tried to say, what was he going to say? He wasn't a relative, but what could he say? And would they let him stay with him at least until Mel arrived? "My nephew. He's sick. I think it might be his appendix." He said, calmly and cleverly.

They brought over a gurney and Joe carefully placed Ryder on top of it. "Alright, what's his name?" One doctor asked, taking a closer look at him.

"Ryder." Joe told them and they turned back to him.

"Ryder, now I'm going to put my hand, here, and I want you to tell me if it hurts, okay?" The doctor said and went to touch it, but Ryder didn't want him to. He already had Joe do it and it hurt a lot; Ryder didn't want them to hurt him again.

"No!" Ryder exclaimed. "It's hurts, just help me." The doctor then carefully placed his hand on the area and Ryder yelled out in pain again, it happened again. Ryder knew it would and got another shot of pain; he hated this.

"Alright, let's get him a CT Scan." They said and started to take Ryder off, it was obvious what he had, but they had to make sure of course.

"Joe!" Ryder yelled as they started to take him away.

"Sir, you can follow us." The doctor said, Ryder obviously wanted Joe with him. Joe nodded and followed them as Lennox took a seat in one of the chairs in the waiting room. She would have to be there to greet Mel, if she got there before Joe could get back down there.

I hope you guys liked that. :) Thank you guys for the kind reviews! I loved that and I hope you love this chapter even more and leave me some more great reviews. They got me to keep going! :D

Poor Ryder! I just love him so much. (I kind of watched "Frenemies just to see him lol)

Next chapter will probably have a lot of Joe/ Ryder moments, kind of like the fatherly stuff that I promised would be in this fic!

Please REVIEW!