Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter two of "Just Away." I can't believe I got two reviews for chapter one. I didn't think that would happen, but I'm happy it did. I want to thank everyone who reviewed. As for other readers, please don't hesitate to review. I would love to hear your ideas for this fic. Anyway, this chapter leads into part two of "A Different Shade of Pink." The next one will feature the first appearances of the villains. Stay tuned for chapter three.

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Chapter 2: In the Hospital

A barred owl sat on a branch just above the middle of a tree near the emergency entrance to Angel Grove Memorial Hospital twenty-eight minutes later. It opened its beak and flicked its tongue. It hooted softly before closing its beak. It flapped its wings to air them out. It folded them against its back. It moved down the branch, stopping near the edge of it.

A siren caught the owl's attention. It spotted an ambulance racing for the entrance. The ambulance stopped in front of it. The EMTs opened the doors and climbed out. They unloaded Kim as Kat held her hand. They pushed her through the entrance. Alan Jacobs and two nurses rushed toward them. The EMTs released their hold on the gurney as they grabbed it. The trio moved her through the ER doors. Kat continued to go with them.

"What have we got?" Alan asked.

"The name is Kimberly Hart. This is her friend," the first nurse replied softly. "She saw it happen."

"She was practicing on the balance beam. She fell and hit her head really hard!" Kat explained in a frantic voice.

"All right. Call to radiology," Alan responded as he glanced at the second nurse.

"Of course," the second nurse answered with a nod.

"I want a full series of pictures, CT scan, EEG, MRI, the works!" Alan said seriously. "I would like blood tests done as well."

"Okay," the second nurse commented.

"Let's hurry, people," Alan said and forced Kat to let go of Kim's hand. He took it into his. He gave it a gentle squeeze. "It's a good thing you were able to call for help right away."

Kim opened her eyes slightly and saw blurry vision. She let out such a soft moan that no one heard it. She moved her head to the side a little bit. She moaned again, still being very quiet.

"Actually, it was all my fault," Kat whispered, her voice filled with much guilt and sadness. "Is she going be all right?"

Kim moved her head and closed her eyes again. She moaned once more, but no one heard her. Kat swallowed hard, feeling her heart pound against her chest. She licked her lips.

"We won't know anything for a while," Alan said as he pushed Kat away gently. "I'm going have to ask you to leave."

Kat walked away from the gurney as the first nurse pulled the curtain around it. Alan let go of Kim's hand and took hold of her wrist. He took a glance at his watch. He turned back to her.

"Kimberly, can you hear me?" Alan asked. "I'm Dr. Jacobs, and I'm going to take good care of you."

The first nurse pulled the curtain back and stepped out from it. Kat had been fidgeting. The nurse closed it again and was about to go past her when the girl touched her arm.

"Can you tell me something?" Kat asked in desperation.

"As soon as we hear anything, we'll let you know. We promise," the nurse assured. "Dr. Jacobs is one of the best doctors in this hospital. He will take good care of your friend."

Kat sniffled. "I hope she will be okay."

"Me too," the nurse agreed and let go of her. "I have seen a lot of patients during my years as a nurse. Many pulled through horrific ordeals. Others weren't so lucky."

"I was in a hospital once. I used to be a diver. I hit my head on the diving board during a tryout for the Pan Global Games," Kat whispered sadly.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the nurse said in much sympathy. "I am sure you lost the meet."

"I did. I was informed I lost it by one point. I was too scared to go near the water after that," Kat said, sniffling.

The nurse pressed her lips together. "I don't blame you. I have to go. We will let you know how your friend is doing once we find out what is going on with her."

Kat watched the nurse walk away. Her body shook quite a bit as tears filled her eyes. She knew she needed to let her friends know what was going on, especially Tommy. She was aware Caroline was living in Paris with her husband, Andre, and that Ryan was out of town at a dental conference in Chicago. She knew her brother, Benny, was living as a construction worker in Nashville. She recalled Tommy telling her about her grandfather Jordan, grandmother Katie, and uncle Steve residing on a horse ranch outside of town as well as Jason, Zack, and Trini being at the Peace Conference. She was grateful she had the team's phone numbers.

Kat shifted a bit uncomfortably. She knew she needed to use the bathroom and headed out of the ER. She turned left and went down a long hallway. She came to the third door on the left. It happened to be the women's restroom. She went inside as a young woman exited. The woman turned right and snapped her fingers while singing nonsense.

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Kat exited the restroom six minutes later. She made another left turn and headed down the hallway. She came to the seventh door on the right. It happened to be the waiting room. She spotted a payphone in the back. She could see a young woman talking on it. She entered the room and walked up behind her. The woman looked over her shoulder at her. She placed her hand over the mouthpiece.

"Do you need to use the phone?" the woman asked curiously.

"Yes, I do," Kat said urgently. She fidgeted quite a bit and felt tears sting her eyes. "It's an emergency."

"Well, I was just finishing up," the woman responded with much sympathy. She took her hand off the mouthpiece. She turned back to the phone. "I will see you later, honey. Bye."

The woman hung up the phone and stepped away from it. Kat walked up to it and picked it up. She slipped her hand into her pocket. Her body was shaking so much that it seemed it would not be able to stop. The woman put her hands behind her back.

"What's going on with you?" the woman wondered.

"A friend of mine got hurt practicing gymnastics. I saw it happen with my own eyes," Kat commented, a sniffle coming from her. She choked back a sob before swallowing hard. "I feel it is all my fault. I didn't get to her in time."

The woman frowned. "Oh, that is terrible. It's not your fault. Accidents happen. Even if you were there, it is still possible you wouldn't have been able to prevent the fall. Things can happen so fast that you don't have time to blink."

"I know, but I still feel awful," Kat said as a tear fell from her eye. She wiped another one from it. "I wish I could've done something."

"It is understandable, but just pray she will be okay," the woman assured gently.

Kat breathed deeply. "Thank you."

The woman walked away while clicking her tongue. Kat managed to get a quarter and inserted it. She dialed Tommy's number, which happened to be 569-7779. The phone rang as she grabbed the cord. It went to a second ring, followed by a third.

"Someone, please pick up. Please," Kat whispered frustratingly. A click came in the middle of the fourth ring. She emitted a relieved sigh. "Thank God."

"Oliver residence," a female voice said.

"Is this Mrs. Oliver?" Kat asked hopefully.

"This is she," the woman answered truthfully. "Who am I speaking with?"

"This is Katherine Hillard. I am Tommy's new friend. You can call me Kat," Kat said, sobs rising in her throat. "Is he there? I need to speak with him. It is very urgent."

"He is in the bathroom, but he is close by. What's going on?" Louise asked in much concern. "You can tell me."

"I am at Angel Grove Memorial Hospital. Kim fell and hit her head hard while she was practicing gymnastics at the Youth Center. I saw it happen with my own eyes," Kat explained frantically.

"Oh, no!" Louise yelled alarmingly. She breathed somewhat heavily before clearing her throat. "Is she okay?"

"I don't know," Kat said with a shake of her head. "I rode in the ambulance with her. I didn't want to leave her, but I had to."

"Mom, what's going on?" Tommy said in the background.

Kat gasped fearfully as she heard Tommy's approaching footfalls. She didn't hear anything after that, but she believed Louise was telling him what was going on. She prayed he would not get mad at her and blame her for Kim's situation. She tightened her grip on the cord while breathing heavily.

"Tommy is right here, Kat. He would like to speak with you," Louise said.

"Okay," Kat said, nodding in a slow way. "Thank you."

Louise inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "You are welcome."

Kat heard departing footfalls. She loosened her grip on the cord, her body shaking a bit. She emitted a soft sniffle before clearing her throat. She shifted her body from one foot to the next.

"Hey, Kat," Tommy said.

"Tommy, I am so sorry this happened. I tried to get to Kim quickly, but it was too late. She was already losing her balance and fell," Kat cried, squeezing her eyes shut. Tears stung at them and fell. She opened them before wiping the tears away. "I feel so bad about this whole situation."

"Calm down, Kat," Tommy responded soothingly. "It was an accident. These things happen. Even when someone is around, accidents can still occur. We can't keep an eye on our surroundings every second."

"I know, but I just wish—" Kat started.

"I understand. Kim is lucky you were there. Otherwise, she would not have been found until much later. By then, it could've been—" Tommy said and let out a shuddering breath.

"I don't want to think about that," Kat said while shaking her head.

"Me neither," Tommy agreed.

"It's hard when someone you care about gets hurt, especially if it is your spouse," Kat commented truthfully.

"Anyway, thank you so much for helping Kim and letting me know," Tommy replied very gratefully. "I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome," Kat said with a relieved sigh. "I was so scared you would be angry with me."

"I never get angry with a friend unless they did something really stupid," Tommy pointed out. "Believe me. My friends and girlfriend have done stupid stuff. I have too."

"I have as well," Kat admitted and rubbed her nose. "I am sure you are going to call Kim's parents, grandparents, uncle, stepfather, and brother to let them know about what happened. The same goes for Jason, Zack, and Trini. I hope her mother and brother can book flights to get down here. As for her father, I am not sure if he can leave that dental conference. It is likely Jason, Zack, and Trini won't be able to leave the Peace Conference."

"Mr. and Mrs. Hart have always put their children above their own needs and wants. They fought a lot, but they cared deeply for Benny and Kim. After their divorce, things got much better between them. They were in love, but they couldn't be in the same space anymore," Tommy explained.

"I will call the others and let them know. I do not have Coach Schmidt's phone number," Kat said regretfully.

"Don't worry about that. I have it, so I will call him," Tommy said gently. "I will get there as soon as I can."

"Okay," Kat said, nodding. "See you soon."

Kat hung up the phone while sighing in relief again. She wondered if Schmidt would blame himself for what happened since he was training Kim. She was sure he had a few gymnasts in similar situations. She headed over to a chair next to the entrance and seated herself. She watched the woman she talked with leave.