Author's note: What is this? An update for Lay Me Down? (gasps) It can't be! Oh, but it is, peeps. I would like to say thank you to each and every last reviewer for the first and second chapter. You guys have inspired me to continue this story so much and for that I thank you as well, so enjoy!


Chris didn't know where the dark grounds of the hospital was leading him, but knew somewhere amidst the cloudy, glum skies, Jason deemed to be around, for he knew there was no where else he could go in the sense of they were far from their Tampa homes if he ever did escape the hospital to grasp some piece of mind at home and the fact that any form of a restaurant or hotel was another mile and a half away, which he knew Jason hadn't even gotten that remotely far from the medical facility. The blonde's eyes wandered about his surroundings, not even sure why Jason would even dream of coming out here due to the cold, wet atmosphere - he would've been better staying inside the building, but he knew Jason wouldn't have it any other way due to just wanting to get away from the hospital and it's medical staff.

Maybe he went back inside, Irvine thought.

No, he couldn't have - there were only three known ways through the facility: the main entrance, the one located on the side, and the emergency room. Why would he even go back inside when his whole purpose of walking out on he and Dr. Montage was to just away from it all? That was scratched off Chris' list of the younger man's whereabouts, which narrowed down the options but didn't make the search for him that much easier - his phone went directly on voicemail each time he called, not to mention the lack of lights around the hospital didn't do too much justice for the Manhasset native, who was starting to grow annoyed each second he found himself thinking he was getting closer to Jason when in reality, all he was getting at was going back around in circles. Twenty minutes passed, giving Chris the notion that maybe he did leave, but where to?

There were no signs of public transportation and there weren't many places he could go at five in the morning - most businesses were still closed. Well, even if he didn't leave the grounds it didn't hurt to look for him around the neighborhood and by then the sun would be out, giving him the light he so desperately needed to find the blonde man. Chris made his way to the rental, looking at his surroundings one last time if of course Jason did pop back up before getting inside of the vehicle, not sure as to where he'd even start in hopes of trying to find his fellow Canadian.

By the time Chris pulled off the lot, the sun already took its place in the sky, allowing a sigh of relief to escape Chris' lips, now all he needed to do was find him, a difficult task it still came down to be since the only thing he had to go by were his instincts. If Jason didn't turn up anywhere by the time seven o'clock came, the only thing Chris could do is return back to the hospital, because Jason, as stupid and careless as he appeared to be that morning, he wasn't the only person on his mind or on his list of priorities yet here he was searching for someone who might have not even wanted to be found.

This was beyond selfish of Jason, knowing the current situation they were in, only making Chris even more frustrated than before. How could he just walk out of the hospital without saying a word when his friend he'd known almost his entire life lie nearly on his deathbed? The actions that occurred from Jason was clearly out if character yet that still didn't excuse his behavior, whether he couldn't handle the news of Adam, possibly dying sooner rather later than now. For all either of them knew, Adam could die at that very moment, without any kind of warning.

His eyes averted to the few shops and restaurants that appeared to be open, none of them unfortunately looking to be in business yet. Well, that narrowed a few of the many options he had down, but that still didn't mean that would put him one step closer to finding Jason considering there hundreds of other places that needed to be checked, which Chris himself knew he wasn't doing. As he declared before looking for the missing man, if he didn't turn up by the time seven o'clock rolled around, Jason wouldn't be getting any sympathy from him. A part of him couldn't help but pity the younger man, understanding that this wasn't something he could just take take in and react the way he did, but that also was no excuse for reacting the way he did and not making an effort to state his whereabouts.

Over an hour and a half-empty gas tank later, Chris pulled up to the local park. This was becoming ridiculous: out on a manhunt for a grown man, who couldn't have been any less responsible when it came to communicating with others. He looked at the clock on his wrist 7:10. Still no sign of him and he needed to be back at the hospital incase further details about Adam's condition arose. This would be the last place he tried before heading back to the hospital and then he was done: Jason would find his own way back up. And if he wasn't admitted then that wasn't his problem.

"Have you seen my doll?, a young girl who looked no older than six asked the moment Chris stepped foot in the park. The older man eyed the small child, clearly not in the mood to talk to anyone, not even someone who appeared to be as angelic as her.

Allowing a heavy sigh to escape his thin lips, the lead singer of Fozzy ran his fingers through his blonde hair before opening his mouth once again, "No, sweetheart, I haven't," he paused for a second, trying to find the words to say in order to finally send her on her way, "Maybe if you checked your tracks? Sorry, hon," he gave the child a sypmathetic smile before turning down the stony pathway, leaving the young girl to head down the opposite direction.

Chris looked at the scenery up ahead, trying his hardest to make himself believe that Jason somehow turned up here, although a park would be the last place he'd expect him to be at. Well, it never did hurt in trying. Placing any doubts he had in mind of the younger man's choices of hiding, the older Canadian progressed down the area full of greenery. Where would he be if he ever came to a park?, the thought ran through Chris' mind, creating more of the doubt he wished to keep in the back of his psyche. There weren't even that many people out here today, so there happened to be his answer right there. Maybe if he just looked about some more he'd come to the conclusion...or not. He wasn't going to find him, but wait...it seemed as if he made judgement too soon, because the minute Chris found himself ready to turn on his heel back to his car, he was greeted with none other than that tired, worn-down face he hadn't seen since early that morning.

That bastard. Stumbling from under a tree, looking as if he'd been drug through the mud while there were people - well him at least that were half-worried to death about him. Chris stopped in his tracks, squinting his blues to clarify the person he'd seen obviously a wreck wasn't just some stranger but in fact Jason. The Manhasset native could feel the blood underneath his skin boil with every second he thought of just how worried he'd been for almost the last two hours, clinching his fists as hard as his hands would allow while his body stamped through the soggy, rain-ridden grass.

"Its nice seeing you again too, Jase." The words spew out viciously as Irvine's body shook in complete fury. How dare he just up and leave the hospital without any explanation whatsoever? Nevermind that he made no effort to dial him when he realized that he wasn't comin back anytime soon.

"Chris," was all he could say, clearly at lost for words since he appeared to be the last person he'd see in the park. He knew the older man wasn't happy and for that the only thing he could do was keep his mouth shut as he looked in Chris' weary blue eyes.

"Fine time for you to be out having fun in the park. What the fuck, man? You bail out of the hospital and you just expect me to go and chase after you? What kind of shit is that?"

"I'm sorry, okay? I just couldn't take being in that hospital much longer...so I left - walked around for a few hours to clear my head and figure out just how I'm going to tell Judy any of this...that's if she doesn't know already. I think its made news in Toronto by now and hopefully she hasn't tuned in to the news yet."

"Do you want me to talk to her? If you don't want her to find out from the hospital or from the news, I'd advise you call her now, because I have a feeling the doctors have already taken care of that duty for you, just saying. The last I heard from the doctors they were preparing Adam's room for him, I haven't gotten any word from Dr. Montague since then, but he did say he'd call me in case something else did come up. Look: just call her, man. What's the worse that can happen?"

"Everything. I just don't want her to go in shock from it all." Jason said returning to his spot back under the willow tree. His exhausted body lean against the large tree, the only thing keeping him from falling face first onto the ground.

Chris softened his voice just from looking at the physically and mentally drained man, "She'd go into shock if she found out from someone other than you. You're like her second son, if you were to tell her it wouldn't hit her as hard. I don't have much time to be here, because I was supposed to have been back at the hospital with you over ten minutes ago, so do you just want to take a cab back to the hospital and just tell her now, or what? I know you're going to have to sit down and talk to her, then."

Jason nodded his head, "You'll keep me updated on whatever you hear I until I get back?"

"You know I would," Chris said looking in the younger man's eyes. "Hurry, before its too late."

"I-I will. See you in a little bit."

Chris nodded his head, "Yeah. Grab a coffee or something, man. You look spent...Anyways, I'll see you then." Chris waved, leaving Jason to the inevitable phonecall he'd dreaded since early that morning.

Since five, he walked up and down the wet streets of Tampa, fighting within himself about how he would eventually approach the news of Judy possibly not ever seeing her son live to see the age of forty. He pictured how the conversation would go, when exactly would be the right time to tell her, and what exactly would her initial reaction the moment it set in that she might not even have a son before the day was over. He didn't want to sound pessimistic of things, but he knew whatever the outcome of the motor accident that currently put his best friend in a motor accident, it wouldn't be good. There was a lose-lose situation in all of this, unfortunately, which only made this decision to finally notify the woman of such news that much harder.

Helping herself to a glass of orange juice, a happy sigh escaped Judy Copeland's lips, knowing today would be a day she would relax after spending the last few weeks or so shopping for the upcoming candle party she had been planning for months now for she and the women of the local gardening club. She couldn't remember the last time she'd woken up to a day that required little no work besides working a little on the garden out back or going to the store for a carton of eggs and milk for her homemade pancake mix. Today would be a day she'd enjoy a round of breakfast, some time out in the garden, and a movie she would end up finding on Lifetime Movie Network as she always did when she was able to enjoy a day away from her usal activities and errands.

Grabbing the television remote that sit on top of the small tv that sit on the counter, Judy turned her sights to the television, ready watch the daily news until she heard the cordless ring, breaking the train of thought she had, regarding her plans for the day. The brunette woman grabbed the phone from its cradle, finding the number on the caller ID to be rather familiar, but not sure of who exactly was calling, "Hello?"

"Jude?"

"Jason? Oh, what a lovely surprise to wake up to! How are you, sweetheart?" Well, she obviously had no clue of the accident yet. Just great.

Jason closed his blue eyes as his fingers wrestled through his blonde hair. This wasn't going to be easy, not by a long shot, "Hey, I'm good. How-how are you?" he stammered, wanting to kick himself in the gut for damn near giving himself away if he already didn't. Why was he even asking the obvious when he knew she appeared to be in an incredible mood? A mood he didn't want to bring down once he revealed his true reasons for calling her so early in the morning.

"Oh, I'm great. Finally, I have a day all to myself, can't tell you how many times I've dreamed of this day the last two months. So who forced you to dial my number? Was it Adam? That big prankster."

She just had to mention his name, didn't she? "No, that's not why I-well, it is but...Jude, I think you need to sit down for what I'm about to tell you."

"Oh, God, is it Adam?" She placed her hand over mouth as tears began to form in her hazel eyes. Please don't let it have been what she thought. The older woman took a seat in one of the stools against the counter, feeling as she'd lose her balance if she didn't get there quick enough. "Jason, please don't tell me something serious has happened to him. I can't handle knowing that. Not Adam."

The tears came running down Jason's face again, trying his hardest to stay strong long enough to get the words that he nor Judy wanted to hear him say, but would have to anyway. "Yes, its about him," he wiped the tears from his now red face. "Some time in the middle of the night, Adam was in a car accident,"

"Oh, no! No, you-can't be serious. Not my Adam, not my boy." she whispered, her soft voice barely audible.

Clutching the phone closer to his cheek as he used his other hand to shield his crying face, Jason uttered, "Yes, Jude. The doctors-the doctors don't know how much longer he has to live. God, Jude I didn't want to tell you this. I really didn't, but-" Before he could say another word the man on the other end broke out into a fit of sobbing, unable to finish his last words. "Jude, I'm sorry for not telling you when it happened, I just couldn't - bring myself to telling you just yet! I'm sorry." The tears came down even harder as both he and Judy sobbed through the phone, neither one of them able to say another word until a minute later, and through the words, the sobbing still took over.

"Jason, don't-don't beat yourself up over this," she sobbed. Then her eyes averted to the tv screen: the scene might've taken place in Tampa, but the news still happened to make it to Toronto. Nothing else needed to be said once the woman saw her child on the screen a battered and bloody mess. It took a minute to grasp the scene before her and when it finally set in that the fallen victim of the head-on collision was her son, her body hit the kitchen floor like ton of bricks, ending the phonecall immediately. So much for saving her of the heartache.

His blue eyes shot open in an instance, finding it ever so hard to breathe amidst his heaving, ragged breath. Just a dream, it was only just a dream. Of course the figure lying opposite of him seemed to have taken notice first. Chris turned on the table lamp, sitting beside the hospital bed that lie a seemingly alive Adam, being sure not to bring yet another nurse inside the tiny hospital room. For the last hour or so nurses came in and out of the room to check up on what yet have been declared to be a comatose patient since he managed to last after the surgery...barely it seemed, because he could not breathe on his own.

Chris rubbed his tired eyes, giving Jason a knowing look, "Why don't you just tell the woman before I do? The hospital isn't, because they think we're family."

"Its not as easy as it sounds." Jason said, removing his legs from the squeaky hospital cot and onto to the floor. The former world heavyweight champion closed his eyes, "How would you go about telling someone's mother that their son or daughter might not live to the see the age of forty, might not be able to even have kids?"

The older Canadian squinched his blue eyes the moment he heard those words, finding it hard to believe that came from Jason's mouth. The guy really was stupid. Chris leaned his body forward, "Why would I even tell someone's mother that?"

"Exactly, which makes this so much more difficult. I would ask you to do this, but I feel as if I have to. I owe it to Jude."

"Oh, look at you. Mr. Hero. Well, tough guy, if you don't want me to tell her you best to be getting to that now. What are you going to do? Wait til-"

The phone vibration from Jason's cell allowed a moment of silence, granting yet another knowing look from the former undisputed chamption to be passed towards Jason, who appeared to be holding off from looking at the caller ID, for it might have been Judy.

"You gonna answer that?"

Jason's eyes met Chris' in correspondance, "...Of course, just gotta check the caller ID." And he did, a sigh of relief escaping his pink lips when he realized it was just his wife. "See? Its just the wife," he laughed to feel at ease, but knew he was anything but. "If you'll excuse me," he continued, staggering out of the bed in order to get out of the room. Chris could only imagine how he'd act if that really were Judy on the other end. Averting his eyes over to her son, a frown formed on his scruffy face.

The kid wasn't even done with his life yet here he lie on life support, possibly never able to see the light of day again, something he knew Adam himself would have no such thing of if he were able to talk for himself. Nothing came from his scratched lips, but the artificial breathing that came from the ventilator, his chest collapsing with each beep that came from the heart monitor.

Better this way or no way at all, his mind reasoned.

"He seems to be doing okay thus far. I'm trying to stay optimistic, but I can't. How'd you hear?"

"On my way to the airport I heard there had been a car accident earlier: former WWE wrestler Edge. I know Judy's going crazy over this. Have you talked to her yet?"

"No," Jason scratched his head, hoping she wouldn't say those words, but did anyway. "No, I haven't. News really does travel fast, doesn't it?" he asked, wanting to avoid furthmore questions from his wife. Then he realized he would end up discussing the Judy situation anyway. " I-", he paused, managing to gain worriness from his wife when it took him longer than usual to finish his explanation. "I-I'm afraid when I do talk to her this will be brand new news to her. She doesn't live here, word isn't going to travel as fast...and I just don't know how I'm going to tell her this."

"But isn't that the hospital's duty? I'm sure they have his records up there. Have they not notified her yet?"

"Well...since Chris and I kinda stretched the truth, there's really no need for that. I mean we're considered family, so they didn't feel the need to go much further than that."

"You two pretended you were family? And I guess the receptionist just let you right through, didn't she? Jase, why didn't you two let Judy handle this?"

"Hon, how was she going to handle anything when she's not even here in person? Look: I'm going to tell her, but we just thought he need someone, anyone to be here. He has no real family that lives here, babe. What else could we have done?"

"Discuss this out with Judy." Denise sighed, "Just promise me something, will you?

"Anything."

"Please don't ever do anything like this in the future. I mean it, Jase. And send my condolences to Judy when you eventually do get in touch with her, I know this won't be easy for her."

Jason nodded his head, "Of course. I love you."

"I love you too. See you in a few weeks, baby. Bye!"

"Bye." The line clicked, ending the phonecall after the two exchanged goodbyes. Well, if he wasn't confident about speaking to Judy about any of this, he really wasn't now. The pit of his stomach felt heavy as his body became anxious, fearing the inevitable would possibly turn out as it did in that nightmare he had not too long ago. Eventually he would have to speak to her, but when? Days, even weeks from now? The woman would probably be unable to contain herself if she found out weeks after the fact and he knew he couldn't do that to her. He just couldn't. Closing his blue eyes, a heavy sigh dripped from his lips before looking back at the cellular device in his hand. Before Jason knew it, his fingers began dialing her number, ready to send the call through until another came instead. Judy.

The rapidness from his beating heart created an even anxious tone in his body, making it difficult to keep the large cell phone within his grasp. His hands shook like a wild man while his jaw quivered, not keeping him any safe from biting his tongue, that clearly had no desire to speak now, but would be forced to once his hand hit that green talk button. And finally it did...

"He-hello?"

"Jason?" Her voice echoed unto the phone, shaky as ever if she had been crying just prior to calling him. Had she? No, she couldn't have. But then why else would she be calling him so early in the morning? Unless she did find out, which he knew she did, but just didn't want to admit to himself. The desperation in her voice broke his heart, because he knew she found out, now she was calling to get an explanation of him. "Please tell me its not true, please tell me my boy is alive and well. Just clarify that this all some sick joke and..."

She obviously didn't want to believe any of this either.

Before Judy could say another word, her words were replaced by the sound of muffled sobs and just as quick as he told himself he wouldn't shed yet another tear, for Adam wouldn't have wanted to see this, the tears that threatened to fall down his cheeks came trickling down his face even faster. Just damn. What else could he say, though besides the truth? Nothing. Nothing at all besides, the same words he heard hours before from Chris,

"No, Jude, its not."