Sorry this one's a little short. I'm on my way out and I wanted to get it posted before I go. Yay for parties! It better not suck...Anyway, here's the chapter. Read, Enjoy, & Review!!

Chapter 31...

John watched as Brianna explained to her father what was going on. Frank Kavner certainly had bad timing. She looked stressed as she paced back and forth.

"What do you mean you're not coming?" she asked. "She's your daughter!"

"Yes she's in stable condition but……Fine, fine, whatever."

She angrily closed her phone, clutching it so tightly her hand shook.

"What'd he say?" John asked as she started toward him.

She passed him, not saying a word as she put her phone in her pocket.

"Bri," he followed her back into the hospital.

"He's not coming," Brianna shook her head. "He said that since Raquel is in stable condition, it's not necessary for him to be here."

John couldn't say he was surprised. Dr. Kavner hadn't even bothered to come to the hospital when Brianna had to have emergency knee surgery after a bad fall during a dance rehearsal. He hadn't been there when Gia was in a car accident and broke her leg. It seemed as long as his daughters weren't dead, he saw no reason to rush.

"I'm sorry Bri," he said, following as she walked down the hall.

"Don't be," she shrugged. "We're used to it."

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Raquel changed the TV channel, dropping the remote by her side. She couldn't find anything to watch. She couldn't get comfortable in her bed. Her head hurt. Everything hurt. Her eyes were sore from crying, her throat was raw from throwing up. She wanted to go home. She wanted to curl up in her bed, hide under the covers and try her best to forget the last few days. Fortunately, she couldn't remember everything so at least she wasn't reliving the whole thing over and over. She wiped her thumbs under her eyes, wincing at the pain she felt. She leaned back against her pillows, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

"I think maybe you've had enough. We should get back to the hotel."

"No!"

"Raquel what is wrong wi-"

"I don't need you in my face Jeff…Mind your own damn business. I'm fine."

"You're not fine."

"Shut up."

"You need to sober up."

"You're pissed because I was hanging out with somebody else…..Look Jeff, just because I've been nice to you lately, doesn't mean I like you. You don't even have a chance with me. I think we both know you got lucky once but it's never gonna happen again…so you should really just give it up."

Raquel felt her eyes fill with tears as she remembered what she said to Jeff. She couldn't believe the things she said. She couldn't believe that after that, he saved her. If it weren't for Jeff, she might be dead.

She pressed the call button on her remote and in a minute or two, her nurse arrived.

"What can I do for you dear?" the nurse asked.

"Jeff Hardy," Raquel said. "Is he still in the waiting room?"

"I believe so," she said. "Would you like for me to send him in?"

Raquel nodded, wiping her eyes again, "Please."

"No problem," the nurse said quickly leaving the room. After a few minutes, Raquel heard a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Raquel could feel her hands shaking as Jeff walked into the room. For some reason, once she saw him, the damn broke. She started crying before she could even say anything.

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Jeff rushed into Raquel's room, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling her into his arms. She sagged against his chest, sobbing. She was saying something but he couldn't make it out through the sobs. He ran a hand over her hair, not sure what else to do. There wasn't anything he could say to make what happened go away. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't change anything.

"I'm sorry."

He leaned away from her a little when he heard what she said, "What?"

"I'm sorry," she cried. "I'm sorry..for what..I said."

He pulled her against him again, hugging her, "I don't ever want you to apologize for that again."

After a few minutes, her crying slowed and almost stopped completely.

"Why would you apologize?" he asked, running his hand over her hair again. "You didn't-"

"I was such a bitch to you," she sniffed. "I treated you like crap for no reason."

"You had a reason," he reminded her as she slowly pulled away. "You were drugged. You didn't know what you were saying."

"I know I just-"

"Forget about it," he said. "Please."

She looked away, wringing her hands. The green of her eyes was paler than normal. The bruising on her face had gotten darker.

She took a deep breath, looking down, "Thank you."

"For what?" he asked, getting off of the bed and sitting in the chair beside it.

"For saving me," she said. "For getting me here, for being here now. Everything."

"You don't need to thank me," he said. "I did what I had to do."

"I wanna get out of here," she said, running a hand through her hair.

"You will soon," he said.

"Will you stay until I do?" she asked.

Jeff nodded, "Yeah..I'll be here."

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Sunday Night…

Brianna yawned as she and John walked down the hall after helping Jeff get Raquel settled in her new hotel room.

"You look tired," he said, breaking the silence.

"I am tired," she said. "Aren't you?

John nodded.

They reached Brianna's door at the end of the hall and she pulled out her key, "You wanna come in?"

John shrugged, "Sure."

Brianna opened the door and walked in with John close behind. She dropped her car keys on the table in front of the TV and the flopped down on the couch.

"You okay?" John asked, sitting beside her.

"This has been one of the longest weeks in my life," she said. "But I'm fine."

"I know what you mean," John said.

She took off her shoes and tossed them aside, folding her long legs up onto the couch. John handed her the remote and she turned the TV on, flipping through the channels. As she focused on the television, he focused on her. His mind went back to the brief kiss they shared at the hospital. He hadn't allowed himself to think about it until now. Everyone was focused on Raquel. But now, sitting just a foot away from her, alone with her, he was having trouble focusing on anything but how much he wanted to kiss her again.

She looked over at him, catching him staring, "What?"

"Nothing," he shook his head.

She arched a brow, looking into his eyes.

"I was just thinking about something," he shrugged.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," he shook his head.

"Oh come on," she scooted closer to him. "Just tell me."

John knew that telling her wouldn't do any good. He decided, instead, to show her. He put his hand on the back of her neck, rubbing her skin softly with his thumb. She closed her eyes and it was obvious she wasn't about to push him away. He leaned forward, kissing her softly. It was her who deepened the kiss, placing her hands on the sides of his face. Their tongues tangled together and he pulled her onto his lap, sliding his hands under her shirt. John got lost in her, remembering why he'd always thought there were very few things in the world that could compare to the feel of her against him. He pulled her shirt up and she pulled away long enough for him to get it over her head, leaving her in jeans and a bra. She grabbed the bottom of his t-shirt and he helped her get it off, tossing it behind him before pulling her back into a kiss. He stood, holding her up, her legs around his waist. She broke the kiss, focusing her attention on his neck just as he reached the bed.

"John," she moaned his name as he laid her down. He captured her lips again, unbuttoning the top of her jeans as she started to undo his belt.

"John."

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"John!" Brianna laughed, pushing him. She'd been trying to wake him up for at least 5 minutes.

He jumped, looking around the room. His gaze finally rested on her and he stared. His expression was a mixture of exhaustion and frustration.

"You must have been having some dream," she said, standing up. "It took forever to get you up. Come on, you gotta get everything out of your room so we can get to the airport."

"Airport?" he stared.

"Yeah," she nodded. "It's Monday morning, you guys are flying out to Des Moines. Raquel and I are going to LA."

"It's morning already?" he still seemed confused.

She laughed, nodding, "You fell asleep like the second we sat down to watch TV. You looked so peaceful I didn't have the heart to wake you up so I just got you a blanket and then I went to bed."

"That's all that happened?" he stared.

"Yeah," she said, picking up her brush and brushing through her hair. "Why?"

He laid back down, putting his hands over his face, "No reason."

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