Chapter 17

Fallen Friend

"How to Save a Life"- The Fray

Kyle (POV)

"Buddy lets get you sweater on," I helped Brice slip into his light grey zip up sweater.

"Where we goin' Daddy?" Brice questioned.

"To the park, we're going to meet Mommy there, remember?" I chuckled; he had already asked me about the park a million times this morning.

"Oh yeah!" He shouted, taking my hand as I led him out of the apartment and onto the elevators that took us downstairs to the lobby.

"Daddy swings!" He tugged at my hand.

"Okay, okay calm down buddy, we can go on the swings if you want." I chuckled at his excitement.

I helped him up on the swing and gave him a light push.

"Higher!" he giggled.

"Higher? Okay," I pulled the swing back just a little, but to him it was much more.

He squealed and laughed when I let go.

As I pushed him I kept my eye out for Amanda, she was meeting us here after her study group. When I spotted her across the park I waved to get her attention.

"Mommy!" Brice cheered, when Amanda made her way over to us.

"Hey sweetie," She scooped him up.

"Hey," I smiled, and gave her a peck on the cheek. I would have asked her how her study group was but my phone went off interrupted us.

"Hold on a minute," I muttered, answering my phone.

"Hello," I said.

"Hello, is this Mr. Trager?" The voice on the other end asked.

"Yes, who's this?" I asked.

"This is Dr. Lynn at the Hospital of New Hampshire in Hanover; I have a patient, Mr. Thomas Foss." (AN: I have no idea if this is a real hospital.)

"Is he alright?" I panicked.

"He was brought in after suffering from a massive heart attack." The doctor's voice seemed cold and distant, like she had given this kind of news multiple times before, and now it was natural to her.

"Is…is he…alive?" I managed to ask.

"Yes, but we have to take him to surgery soon to repair the damage that was done to the heart."

"I'll…I'll be right there!" I said, closing my phone.

I glanced up at Amanda and realized that she only heard my end of the conversation.

"Kyle, is everything alright?" I could barely make eye contact with her my mind was racing so much.

"Foss had a heart attack." I whispered

"Oh my god, is he going to be okay?" She stepped closer.

"I don't know I have to get the hospital." I said, giving her and Brice a quick kiss "I'll call you as soon as I know something." Then I left stopping by the apartment to grab my car keys.

"Excuse me could you please tell me what room Thomas Foss, is in?" I asked the nurse at the front desk, when I arrived at the hospital.

"Mr. Trager?" A voice behind me asked.

"Dr. Lynn," I assumed turning to her, she was an older woman in her late 40s I imagined, her black hair was kept up in a bun, and a pair of silver glasses hung from a band around her neck.

"Yes, I'm glad you're here we were just going to take him to surgery. I can give you a few minutes if you like?" she offered.

"If that's alright, thank you." I followed her to Foss's room.

She gestured to the door; and I knock softly and went in.

"Kyle," I almost didn't recognize his voice, it was so strained and weak.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, pulling a chair over to his bed side.

"I'm fine," he lied.

"Why are you in New Hampshire Foss?" I was glad he was here, but I had no idea that he had followed me from Seattle.

"I go wherever you go Kyle," He tried to laugh.

He looked so frail, weak, and sick. He had dark circles under his eyes that looked more like bruises. His skin was a pale grey color that didn't look healthy.

It pained me to see him this way. To know that he has always been there for me, yet the one time he needed me I wasn't there.

"Foss I'm sor-" but he didn't let me finish.

"Kyle, there was nothing you could do so I don't want to hear it." Even though he was sick he still found the strength to be stern.

I gave him a weak smile and a nod. I knew there was no point in fighting with him.

There was a quiet nock at the door causing me to turn my head. "Mr. Trager, I'm sorry but we have to take Mr. Foss to surgery. One of the nurses will show you to the waiting room." Dr. Lynn informed me.

"I'll see you in a couple hours." I said to Foss, not wanting to say goodbye, I could feel my eyes tearing up but I fought them back.

"Don't worry Kyle, I'll be fine." He assured me.

I bent over him to hug him then they took him down to the O.R and a nurse led me to the waiting room.

I sat in one of the plastic chairs, leaning my head against the wall. How could this have happened, he seemed fine when I saw him just before we moved. Foss was the last person I would have expected this to happen. Every time I was around him his heart beat was normal and healthy.

I sighed drumming my fingers on the arm rest. I figured I should probably call Amanda and give her an update.

"Hey, it's me…" I sighed into the phone.

"Kyle, how is he?" She asked.

"I don't really know much. They took him into surgery a little while after I got here." I pinched the bridge of my nose, resting my elbows on my knees.

"How are you holding up?" she worried.

I almost broke and I didn't know why. I had to cover the speaker of my phone just incase. I took a deep breath collecting myself again.

"…I'm fine." I lied. "How are you and Brice doing?"

"We're fine Kyle don't worry about us."

"Okay…good… I should probably go." I muttered not really wanting to get off the phone, but I knew if I stayed on much longer I wouldn't be able to hold it together.

"Alright call me when you get anymore news."

"I will, tell Brice goodnight for me and that I love him."

"I will." She said.

"Amanda," I paused "I love you."

"I love you too, Kyle," She said softly.

"Goodnight." I whispered and she said it back then we got off the phone.

I sighed and held my head in my hands. I had to clench and unclench my jaw to fight back my emotions.

Foss was more then just someone who trained me. He was my friend, my mentor, and in more ways then one, my guardian angel. He was always looking out for me no matter what. If I was in need he just seemed to show up, it was like he could sense I was in danger. So why couldn't I do that for him? At least once why couldn't I have been there for him?

I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. I couldn't just sit here and do nothing. But what could I do I had no information from the doctors about how he was doing. All I could do was wait, his life wasn't in my hands, it was in the hands of the doctors.

I sat there for hours before someone came and gave me an update it wasn't much though but at least it was something.

"Mr. Trager?" I peppy voice asked.

I looked up at this woman, she looked really young most likely an intern.

"Yes," I rose from my chair.

"I just wanted to come and tell you that Mr. Foss is still in surgery there was more of a blockage than we had thought so it's going to be a few more hours."

"Thank you." I said sitting back down, placing my head back in my hands.

It was nearing 10:30 now and his surgery had started at four. I peered around the waiting room there weren't many people here besides myself. There was an older many and a little girl; I could only guess that it was her parent and his child that they were here for.

I hadn't notice someone standing by me until I recognized the heart beat.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, standing up.

"After I got off the phone with you I called Paul and he came over to watch Brice." She paused, wrapping her arms around me. "I didn't think you should be alone."

I held her in my arms and buried my face into her hair.

"Thank you, Amanda." I whispered

We stayed like that for a while. I didn't want to let go of her, she calmed me.

But after a while I remembered we weren't the only ones in the room so I let go.

We sat back down but this time one the couch in the corner of the room. She curled up against me and I held my arms around her.

"Kyle, I know what you're going though." She whispered.

I looked at her for a moment puzzled.

"When my Dad died, he died from a heart attack." She explained

"Amanda, I'm sorry if this is too much…"

"No Kyle, I've come to terms with my Dad's death…" She trailed off.

"Besides you need me." She gave me a reassuring kiss.

"Thank you Amanda, that means a lot to me." I smiled.

We talked a little during the hours we spent waiting for one of the doctors to come and give us any kind of news.

I heard the door to the waiting room open and Dr. Lynn walk in. Her face was unreadable I couldn't get anything from her no anxiety, nervousness, concern, nothing.

It was like trying to read a blank book. I couldn't tell if this was good or bad.

AN: I know I left you guys with a cliff hanger!!! I hope you guys like it I know you were getting tired of all the fluff and happy life style so I thought I would add some drama. I hope you liked the chapter! Thank you for reading and please comment!