Four Hours Later

(Nick's POV)

I hated seeing her lying in the bed with the IV in her arm and looking so helpless. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was all my fault and the guilt continued to build up the longer she was asleep. Holding her hand, I said the 20th prayer in the four hours since they let us back here.

The opening of the door caught my attention as Cat slipped into the room. It was just the two of us now. Joe had gone home to change and bring back some food while Kevin went home to tell Dani what was going on. They both promised to be back soon but for now Cat and I were holding down the fort.

"Any changes?" She whispered coming to sit beside me. Her nails scratched my back in a soothing motion.

Sadly, I shook my head before taking my eyes off Cee for a minute. "Unfortunately no. I just want her to wake up. Is he still out there?"

"Yeah I got him a cup of coffee." She smiled. "He's determined to wait out there until she's awake and you are willing to let him see her."

I scoffed. "He should go home because that's not happening."

"You can't keep them from seeing each other Nicholas and trust me when I say that if you try, Cee will go behind your back to see him...when boys are forbidden it makes them all that more enticing." Cat said lending me some female knowledge. "Surely, you don't want her to sneak around, do you?"

"No but I don't like Josh." I grumbled giving my girlfriend a look.

She gripped my hand. "You don't have to like him but you should at least give him a chance before you go judging him. Regardless of what his transcript says, he seems like a pretty decent kid."

"But . . ."

Shaking her head, Cat gave me a look. "You could learn a thing or two from Cee ya know."

"Like?" I pushed trying to get an answer from my mysterious girlfriend.

Kissing my forehead, she turned her attention to Cee. "Cee got to know Josh despite what everyone was telling her. She ignored the rumors and chose to form her own opinion of him."

I rolled my eyes. "I've already formed my opinion of him..." I said laying my forehead on Cee's hand that I still held in mine, willing her to wake and for the first time I felt her fingers flutter. "She moved! Cee . . . come on baby girl open your beautiful blue eyes." I continued to coax her as Cat slipped from the room to grab the doctor and a nurse. Finally, after so many prayers, I saw the lids of her eyes crack open. "Hi baby girl."

-CeCelia's POV-

I awoke to the sound of Nick's voice, cracking open an eye I saw a big smile spread across his face and I managed a small smile in return before realizing I had no earthly idea where I was.

"Hi baby girl." He said looking on the verge of tears.

The smile faded from my lips as I looked around the room in confusion. "What's going on?" I asked looking down at the IV in my arm...sweet geez...what did I do...I racked my brain to try to remember. "Why am I in the hospital?"

Nick fidgeted nervously "You collapsed...do you remember anything?"

I shook my head. "No...did I hit my head?"

"No..." Nick said his tone sad. "No one knew what made you collapse so the paramedic started asking all these questions like if you were on drugs or if you might be pregnant."

"I'm not!" I spat appalled.

Nick's face dropped and his eyes got glassy with tears. "I know."

Suddenly I became all too aware that something was wrong, the look on Nick's face immediately made my throat tighten and my eyes start to water. "What's wrong with me?"

Nick bit down on his bottom lip, "The paramedic did a glucose test on you..."

He trailed off his sentence letting out a ragged breath, there was no need for him to finish...the answer was written all over his guilt riddled face. "Oh." I said attempting to hold in the tears now starting to fill my eyes.

"I'm so sorry Cee, I should have seen it...all the signs were there..."

"Can you leave." I asked my lip starting to quiver.

Nick froze, a look of shock on his face "What..."

"Just...go...please, I want to be alone." I said rolling over and laying on my side, my back towards Nick.

There was hesitation in his voice as he agreed. He placed a kiss on the top of my head before walking out of my room; when I heard the door close behind me I slowly crumbled until all sign of composure was gone. My breakdown was cut short when I heard the door open behind me and turned to see Josh.

"Hey there pretty girl" he said walking in and taking a seat in the chair next to the bed.

A smile tugged at my lips and I turned to face him, wiping the tears from my eyes. "Hi...what are you doing here?"

Josh gave me a mocking look, "What do you mean? I always hang out at the hospital...what are YOU doing here?"

"Same" I said playing along. "How long have you been here?"

Josh shrugged, "Four...maybe five hours..."

My eyes widened, "You skipped school?" Josh nodded and I cocked a brow "Do you not remember this morning??"

"Vividly actually." Josh said shifting in his chair, "I will take whatever punishment I earned for skipping, I just couldn't sit there at school and wonder if you were ok."

I smiled, "I'm glad you are here."

"Me too."

"Is anyone else here?" I questioned.

Josh shook his head no. "Just your brothers, Cat and I...but they sent Joe on errands because he was driving everyone crazy pacing and Kevin went home to tell his wife." I nodded my head feeling a little disappointed. "I can call him if you want..." He offered.

I brought my eyes to his, "No." I said giving him a small smile as the door opened and a doctor walked in, Nick directly in tow. "Where is my cell phone?"

"I have it." Nick said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out my phone.

I turned my eyes back to Josh, "Could you do me a favor and call Morgan?"

Noting that he should leave, Josh nodded, giving me a small smile. "Of course." He stood from the chair and made his way to the door, retrieving my cell phone from Nick before exiting the room.

End Chapter Notes:

Computer was riddled with viruses...killed em wooohooo...here ya go! Now on to post ANOTHER chapter, this story dropped off the planet with ratings, lets get it back in the top ten! VOTE PLEASE!