Yuku free message boards

Sorry for the long wait for the update… The holidays and work pretty much kicked my butt the past few weeks… Thank you for the feedback, I appreciate it

Chapter 21

Over the course of the next thirty-six hours, Amanda stayed by JC's bedside. The doctor had requested she spend as much time with him as she possibly could. He also lifted all restrictions for visitors, allowing JC's family and friends to come and go as they wished.

After the first twenty-four hours, the nurses were noticing a difference in JC's condition. Throughout the next twelve hours, the doctors started to wean JC off oxygen. He was able to keep is oxygen saturation levels near normal at room air, but he still wasn't breathing on his own, yet.

Amanda stayed by his side nearly the whole time, only leaving to go eat something or to take a shower at the hotel. As she sat with JC, she talked to him. True to her word, she also brought him his MP3 player. Throughout the day, she kept changing the play list. Between their two computers, they had what seemed to be the entire radio catalog for the past three years on their hard drives. She picked songs she liked, ones he liked, fast ones, slow ones, even threw in a couple Christmas songs for the heck of it.

All four of the other guys were having a difficult time with JC's current condition. Justin and Gen had arrived from LA late morning on Tuesday, the accident had occurred on Monday. Joey got there a couple hours later. Lance decided his friend was more important than space and had flown in from Russia, arriving late afternoon on Wednesday. Lance seemed to be handing the situation better than the other three, but not by much. He and Amanda had sat with JC for a couple hours that afternoon after Lance had arrived. They talked to both JC and each other, or sat in silence holding his hands. When Lance nearly fell asleep in mid-sentence, Amanda told him to go to the hotel. He protested at first but quickly agreed when he about fell asleep while arguing his point he wasn't tired.

Joey was having the worst time with the situation. He'd only been able to stay with his friend for a couple of minutes the two or three times he'd visited already. Justin and Chris were hard to read. The former hiding his feelings behind his smug, tough guy persona and the latter kept cracking jokes the whole time. Gentian had yet to bring herself to see JC. She was deathly afraid of needles and hospital equipment. It was all she could do to stay in the waiting room supporting the other guys.

Amanda couldn't tell exactly how the rest of the Chasez family was doing. Karen was spending nearly as much time with her son as Amanda. The two women had been able to have two or three good talks about the future of the young couple. Amanda had been surprised by her conversations with Karen for the sheer fact she barely knew the woman, but yet had been able to talk with her more comfortably than anyone else in the world, even JC.

Karen yawned as she stood up, "I think I'm going to go eat," she said as she gathered her purse. "Any use in trying to talk you into coming?"

Amanda smiled at her concern, "Absolutely not," she replied with a yawn. "I ate when the doctors were examining him," she continued as she settled back in her chair next to JC's bed and took hold of his hand. "Besides, I think I'm going to take a catnap," she said through another yawn.

"Young lady, don't go wearing yourself out on his account," Karen warned.

Amanda again smiled at her concern. "I'm not, he's improving, I'll sleep after he wakes up," she said pointedly. Karen put her hands up to show she wasn't going to press the issue further. She had learned through her talks that once Amanda put her mind to something, there was no stopping her.

As Karen talked with JC's nurse at her station, Amanda stretched and pulled the blanket up on her shoulders. She laid her head back and closed her eyes. Five minutes later, despite being overly tired, she was still awake and very uncomfortable. She let go of JC's hand and stood up, careful not to put much weight on her left leg. As she stretched her hands over her head, she paused and looked intently at JC's face. Did you just move your eyes, she thought. When JC didn't do anything after she stared at him for a few minutes, Amanda sat back down, never really breaking her gaze on JC's face. She tried settling back in the chair and immediately knew it was not going to work. She let out a heavy sigh and leaned her elbows on JC's bed, taking his right hand in her hands.

"Ya know JC, you've got to wake up soon. I know you love to sleep and hate waking up, but this time, I know you won't regret it. Besides, I'm getting bored and my butt's falling asleep because I'm sitting on it so much right now," she said with a half smile. She raised his hand to her lips and gave it a kiss. "Please wake up soon, I miss you." She wiped a single tear from her eye and sighed.

She let go of his hand with her right hand and rested her arm on the bed and laid her head on her arm. She kept JC's hand in her left and rested them close by. She was comfortable in this position. She didn't know why, maybe it was as close to JC as she could be with out being in bed with him. She smiled at the thought. She remembered how safe she felt sleeping in his embrace. His strong arms holding her as close as possible as they slept. She remembered how softly he touched her. How easily he brushed his hands down her hair. How gently he caressed her cheek and lips with his fingertips. She smiled at the memory, so strong she nearly felt his hands on her face. She sighed. She wrinkled her nose. It hurt, like someone had hit it. She reached with her left hand and rubbed it and then settled back into her memory. There it was again, something hurting the tip of her nose. She lifted her and looked around and suddenly caught JC's clear blue eyes looking at her.

"JC, you're awake," she practically screamed. He nodded weakly just as a nurse rushed to side and started to take vitals. She and Amanda both had to keep JC from reaching for the tube in his throat.

The doctor soon arrived. He started assessing JC's neurological functions. His coordination, while shaky a bit, appeared to be intact. The doctor produced a writing tablet to test his long-term memory. JC knew his name, birth date, the year and the president. The doctor then tested his short-term memory. He asked JC one simple question. "Who is that," he asked as he pointed to Amanda.

Amanda could swear JC smiled if she hadn't known he could barely move his mouth because of the tape holding his breathing tube in place. He wrote something on the tablet and handed it to the doctor. Dr. Peterson furrowed his brow as he read what JC wrote.

"What did he write," Amanda asked softly. The doctor held the tablet up for her to read. She smiled brightly through the tears that started to flow as she read what JC had written: "Mandy". The doctor furrowed his brow again at Amanda's reaction. "He's going to be alright," she said softly and smiled at JC. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he knew she understood what he had written.

The doctor looked at her in confusion, as did the nurse. "The last thing we were talking about before the accident was nicknames. I hate the name Mandy," she said and continued softly, "I hate Mandy." She kissed his hand and smiled at him.

Chapter 22

"Ok JC, I want you to take and deep breath in and then blow out really hard," the doctor instructed as he pulled out the breathing tube. It had been only an hour since JC woke up and during that time he had shown signs of being able to breath on his own. JC coughed weakly as the tube was pulled out. Amanda held a cup of water to him and he took a small sip from the bent straw. "Now, your throat may be sore the next couple days and you'll probably sound like you have laryngitis, but there should be no other side effects."

"I'll still be able to sing," JC asked, his raspy voice filled with concern.

"All studies have shown that the majority of people report any residual side effects subsiding after ten to fourteen days. So yes, in two weeks, at the most, I suspect you'll be back to singing at full force," the doctor said as he watched JC's oxygen saturation levels for any signs his lungs were not oxygenating his blood fully. "Everything is looking good. We're going to keep you here in ICU for the night and move you to a private room in the morning."

"When will I be released," JC asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Day after tomorrow or next." JC let out a small but audible groan. "Don't worry, the way your fiancee has been talking care of you, the time will fly." Dr. Peterson was making notes on JC's chart and didn't notice the confused look he threw Amanda.

"I'll explain later," she mouthed as Dr. Peterson finished his notes and then left.

"Amanda," JC started to question just as his family gathered around his bed.

"Josh, don't scare us like that," Karen said as she bent over and kissed her son's cheek. Heather and Tyler rapidly fired several questions at their older brother while Roy stood aside and watched the scene, obvious happiness showing on his face at having his family together and well.

Amanda let go of JC's hand as she stood up and grabbed her crutches. "Where are you going," JC asked. She could see the disappointment and confusion in his eyes.

"I'm going to let you have some alone time with your family. They've been through a lot to be here. I mean Tyler had to ride in a car all the way down here with Chris… driving," she joked with a smile. "Besides, my butt hurts and I need a shower and a good night's sleep, so I'll be back tomorrow," she finished as she leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.

"I love you," JC said softly, confusion still evident in his eyes.

"I love you too," she replied with another quick kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said as she turned and hobbled away.

Karen caught up with her quickly. "You don't have to leave on account of us, you're family now, too."

"Thanks, but you've been his family longer and deserve more time with him alone." Karen started to protest. "Besides, didn't I just promise you a couple hours ago that I'd sleep when he woke up?" Karen nodded. "Well, I was raised to never break a promise." Karen smiled. "Now, I've got to go before Lance gets the good bed," Amanda finished with a smile.

Karen reached out and gave the young woman a hug. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Amanda made a brief stop in the waiting room on the way out. She gave everyone an update on JC's condition. "And y'all are welcome to see him after his family."

"Do you need a ride," Chris asked.

"From you Keebler? Not a chance," she replied with a smile and yawn. "Todd should be around here somewhere, I'll just get him to drive me so you don't miss any time with JC. I have a feeling they're gong to re-impose those visitors' hours in short order now that he's awake." As she said "awake", an uncontrollable grin spread across her mouth. The group of friends smiled along with her.

Amanda left five minutes later when Todd came into the waiting room.

It was a quick drive to the hotel and Todd walked her to her room, just as a precaution in case any of the media staking out the hotel figured out her identity. As she entered her room, she couldn't help but smile. From the light from the hallway, she could see Lance lying diagonally across the far bed, still completely dressed, including shoes, sound asleep and snoring lightly.

"Do you want me to wake him," Todd asked as she surveyed the sight.

"Nah, I'll try to wake him enough to let him know about JC and maybe to get his shoes off. But I'll be surprised if that even happens," she replied. "Can you close the door once I get the bathroom light on?" Todd nodded and did as asked when Amanda got to the bathroom.

Much as she tired over the next minute or two, Amanda could not rouse Lance and settled for getting his shoes off. She took the extra blanket out of the closet and laid it over him. Grabbing her bedclothes, Amanda slipped into the bathroom and took a long hot bath. When she crawled into bed a half-hour later, it was only moments before she fell into a deep restful sleep.

Amanda woke at six o'clock the next morning. She rolled over and looked at the other bed. Lance was practically in the same position as the night before. Rolling back into a more comfortable position for her knee, Amanda attempted to go back to sleep. Half an hour later, still wide awake, she decided to make an early morning of it. She quickly showered and changed into a black Adidas warm-up suit with a lavender tank top, pulled her wet hair into a clip and applied a light application of blush and lip gloss. She had a doctor's appointment that afternoon and they had told her she might be sent to physical therapy.

Todd knocked on her door a few minutes later. She picked up her backpack and put it on, grabbed her left sneaker and her crutches and hobbled to the door. When she opened the door she looked pitifully at the large man on the other side. "Help," she said with a pout and held out the sneaker. The man chuckled lightly and bent down to help Amanda into her shoe.

Patting her foot after he double knotted the laces, he stood up, "You know, that's not exactly in my job description," he said playfully.

"I know, but someone told me about your foot fetish…," she replied with a wink.

Todd feigned anger, "Which one was it? Fro-boy or Chuckles?"

"Neither, Keebler," she answered with a smile.

"Is he still asleep," Todd asked pointing back towards the room.

"Yeah, Space Cadet is still out like a light. I tried to wake him, but didn't work so I left a note."

Todd paused. "What's your nickname for JC," he asked as they headed out to the waiting SUV.

"Well," Amanda thought. "Up until last night, it was Coma Boy," she answered with a straight face as Todd helped her into the back seat of the SUV. Todd looked at her as if she had gone mad and a smile quickly erupted on her face. "Let's make a run for breakfast on our way, shall we?"

"You're the boss."

* * * * *

"How did he do last night," Amanda asked JC's nurse as she entered the ICU.

"All in all, fine, just didn't sleep well because of everyone else's machines." Amanda nodded. She looked over to his cubical and looked panicked. "They just moved him to his private room. He's in 5163 and should just about be ready to have breakfast."

"Any dietary restrictions?"

"None."

"Good," Amanda said as she turned towards the door, and stopped suddenly. "I almost forgot. There is breakfast in the lounge for everyone, coffee and muffins from Starbucks, Krispy Kreme Donuts, and Einstein Brother's Bagels with an assortment of toppings. I didn't know what everyone liked so I got almost everything," she said as she took Susan's hand. "Thank you for taking care of him," she finished and turned back towards the doors before Susan could say anything.

Amanda and Todd made their way to the east wing of the fifth floor. She found his room and knocked gently. JC opened his eyes when she entered his room. "Hi," he said with a smile. While still raspy, Amanda could hear a definite improvement in his voice. She smiled at how well he looked. Most of his color had returned and his eyes were brighter than the day before. They had also removed his NG tube but his central line and heart monitor leads were still in place.

"Hi," she said as she leaned over and gave him a kiss. "This place is pretty snazzy," she commented as she waved a hand around the room. It looked more like the presidential suite at a hotel than a hospital room. The décor was very warm and inviting with rich colors, hardwood floors and plush furniture. The bed was larger than a normal hospital bed and swathed in high-quality cotton sheets and matching duvet cover. "I brought you something," she said as Todd handed her a beverage tray from Starbucks and left the room.

"I smell coffee," he said with a smile.

"Yeah, a Mocha Valencia Frappuccino, especially made for you because I'm sure hot coffee won't do your throat any good," she said as she handed over his cup. He took a sip and a look of sheer delight washed over his face.

"This is so good, thank you," he said as he took her hand. "What did you get," he asked as he watched her take a sip from another cup. He knew she didn't like coffee.

"I'm not being adventurous today, a Coke," she answered as she let go of his hand and pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down.

They sat in silence for several minutes. Finally, JC spoke. "What did the doctor mean when he said 'your fiancee' last night?"

Amanda blushed, "Oh, that," she said before taking another sip of her drink. "Remember While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman?" JC nodded. "Well, remember how they wouldn't give out any info on Peter Gallagher's character unless it was family and Sandra's character said she was his fiancee? Hi, I'm Sandra. It's nice to meet you Peter," she said with a laugh as she held out her hand. JC playfully shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you too, Sandra." He paused to take a sip of his drink. "So it doesn't mean you've accepted my proposal…" He looked sad as he said the sentence.

"Now I didn't say that."

"So you will marry me."

"Not exactly that either."

"Ok, now I'm really confused."

"Let's just say that when the time is right and after you've met my parents, I probably will accept your unique, romantic and surprising proposal."

"Man speak, please."

Amanda sighed. "Ok dimwit, yes I want to marry you, and yes I will accept your proposal, but I refuse to accept a past proposal lightly in a hospital room by someone who has yet to meet my parents, much less asked my father for my hand in marriage."

"Ok, that's all I wanted to hear," JC replied with a smile.

Amanda sighed in aggravation and then smiled, "Man, you can be so aggravating."

"Yeah, but you know you love me," he said as he scooted over to one side of his bed patted the extra room.

"Is that such a good idea, I don't want to tire you out or anything," Amanda said with concern.

"It's not like we're going to do anything strenuous, I just want to be close to you," he replied with a pout.

Amanda thought for a moment, she did want to be close to him too. "Alright, but if the nurse gets upset, I'm blaming it all on you," she said with a grin as she hopped over to the bed and sat down.

"Deal," he said as she settled next to him.

"Now what," she said with a yawn.

"Sounds like nap time for you," he replied with a yawn as well.

"It's only like eight in the morning, we can't take a nap."

"Oh yes we can," JC responded as he lowered the head of the bed and put an arm around her shoulder pulling her closer. Amanda gave no resistance and rested her head at the base of his shoulder.

She sighed softly. "I've missed this," she said quietly.

"I have too," he replied equally quiet.

* * * * *

Amanda stretched and took a deep breath. She unwrapped JC's arm from her shoulder and sat up. "Good morning sweetheart," a voice to her right said sweetly.

Startled, Amanda let out a small yelp. "Keebler, don't do that to me," she said angrily. The room erupted in laughter. Amanda looked around, the whole gang was there, all smiling at her and JC. She covered her face in embarrassment. "How long have y'all been here," she asked quietly.

"Oh, several hours now. You and JC looked so comfortable we didn't have the heart to wake you up," Karen replied.

"Even if there was drooling involved," Joey added.

Amanda looked at JC and sure enough, there was a small damp spot on his hospital top. She covered her face again. "I think I'll go jump off a bridge now. Please excuse me," she replied.

"You can't be bungee jumping with your knee," a sleepy JC responded.

"Ooo, sleeping beauty awakens," Justin said.

"I wouldn't call him a beauty," Chris replied.

"Hey, now, don't talk about my man that way," Amanda replied defensively. The whole room laughed. "Ok, make that an extra high bridge…"

"What time is it," JC asked as he put the head of the bed up.

"About half past noon," Roy replied as he looked at his watch.

"Wow, we slept a long time," JC commented.

"Well, you are still recovering, and missy over there barely slept in forty-eight hours, so it's to be expected," Karen pointed out.

"Yeah, well, I hate to cut this short, but I have a doctor's appointment in thirty minutes that's on the other side of the hospital, so I need to skedaddle if I'm going to make it in time," Amanda said as she climbed out of the bed.

"Do you have to," JC whined.

"Yes, I do. We've gotten you all fixed, now it's time to get me fixed."

"But if you two get fixed, how will you ever have any children," Chris said innocently. The whole room looked at him. "I'm just saying…" The room groaned and looked away.

"Well, with that, I'm outie…"

"I thought you were an innie," JC pondered.

"Yeah, and they feel you need more observation why? Oh yea, that's right, you're taking on Chris' personality."

"And that's such a bad thing why," Chris asked.

"Like the world needs two of you, Keebler. The world's got enough problems and more of you would cause it to self-destruct or something."

"Are you saying all the world's problems are because of me?"

Amanda put her finger to the side of her face and thought. "Yep," she quickly said.

Chris pointed his finger at her, "Mom," he looked at Karen, "Did you hear what she said, make her be nice."

"Well, now that she mentions is," Karen started, "I can see her point."

"Haha, my boyfriend's mom sided with me and not you," said in a sing-song voice and stuck out her tongue.

"Did you see that," Chris cried incredulously.

Half the room responded by looking away or whistling while the other responded in by saying something along the ways of "see what?".

Amanda chuckled lightly. "Face it Keebler, you're no longer the center of attention."

"But," Chris fumed. "Hey JC."

"Yes?"

"Stop breathing so I can give you mouth to mouth."

"Eww, mouth to mouth from you? Not a chance!"

"Hey, it could be worse, it could be Joey," Chris and Amanda said at the same time. They got a surprised look on their faces and both cried "Jinx," at the same time.

"I called it first," they both said.

"No you didn't, I did."

"Stop copying me," they both cried out as the whole room erupted into laughter.

"And that light moment was brought to you by the Chris and Amanda show," Chris said.

"No, the Amanda and Chris show."

"Hey, you're on Jinx, you can't talk," Chris pointed out.

"Well the way I see it, we're both on Jinx since we both said it at the same time."

"Did not."

"So you agree I said it first, good, I win, be quiet," she said triumphantly.

"But you said my name, that lifts Jinx, not to mention, I said it first."

"Well, even if you did say it first, you also said my name, so I can speak now too," she pointed out coolly.

"But, wait, that's not how it's supposed to work."

"But nothing, that's the way the cookie crumbles."

"Cookies? Who's got cookies," Joey said from across the room. Amanda and Chris turned in his direction. "Finally, they stopped talking. Can you imagine the headache we're going to have when she comes on tour with us?" Justin, JC and Lance pondered the thought.

"You mean y'all don't already have a perpetual headache with his incessant babbling?"

The five band members looked at each other and then to her with a "huh" look.

Amanda sighed. "You mean y'all don't already have a constant headache with Chris' continuous jibber jabbering?" The room got noticeably brighter as the light bulb of understanding came on above all five members' heads. "Ok…"

"Hey, just because you went to college doesn't mean you can use those big words on us," Joey exclaimed.

"Hey, I went to college," Chris said defensively.

"Yeah, you went to a community college and got an associates degree in psychology. She went to an actual university and got a bachelor's. That's way harder," Justin pointed out.

"What's your degree in," Chris asked.

Amanda blushed. "Parks and Recreation," she said quietly.

"See, that's not much better than Psychology."

"But," Amanda interrupted, "I did change my major from Chemistry, a much harder discipline than psychology."

"Then you must have quit because it was too hard if you changed to such a puff degree as Parks and Rec," countered Chris.

"If I was having such a hard time, then I wouldn't have had a three-point-five gpa, now would I…"

"Well… Well…," Chris stammered.

"Wow, she did it, she actually made Chris speechless. All hale Queen Amanda," Justin said as he bowed in Amanda's direction.

Amanda feigned shock and tears. "I'm so honored, first I'd like to thank the academy…" she said before a smile broke. Looking at her watch she said, "Now I'm going to be late if I don't get going. See y'all later," she said with a smile and a wave to the room. They waved back.

"I like her," Chris said after he knew she was out of hearing distance.

"I do too," JC replied with a small smile. Then he remembered, "When are they getting here," he asked as he looked at his mom.

Karen looked at her watch. "Probably in the next two hours," she replied. JC nodded.

* * * * *

"Well, Amanda, do you want the good news or the bad news," Dr. Packland said as he entered the examining room. It had been three hours since her appointment began and she had been put through a full battery of tests, including a complete x-ray work-up and an MRI.

"I guess the bad news," she answered pensively.

"Well, you've got a long road of recovery ahead of you. For the next two weeks, unless you're in physical therapy, which will be four times a week, you are to stay off your leg completely. After that, as your doctor and your physical therapist decide, you will slowly start putting more and more weight on it for longer periods of time."

"Ok, if that's the bad news, what's the good news?"

"All indications by the tests show that it's only a partial tear, therefore, as long as you continue to show improvement week to week, you will not have to have surgery."

Amanda sighed. "That is good news. How long do you think the recovery will be?"

"With an injury as severe as yours, I would estimate three months at the earliest. I've seen it take as long as six and as short as two. It all depends on each individual body and will power. Now, here's the name of the best group of physical therapists in Orlando, as well as the best orthopedist, besides myself of course, up there as well. They work with the Orlando Magic and the sports program at UCF. You'll be in good hands," the physician said as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you," Amanda replied as she gathered up her belongings and hobbled out the door.

* * * * *

She hobbled down the hall with a smile on her face. It was going to be a long road, but she was going to be ok. "Hey all, I'm finally back," she said as she entered the room, and stopped. "What are you doing here," she cried out with a grin.

ItalianHB wrote:

---

awwww he flew her parents in didnt he???
awww i really love this story alot!!!!! yay!
good job - i need more now hahahah

Hi everyone!

Thanks to everyone that's readin, I do appreciate it. Please leave me a review - good, bad or ugly I want to hear what you think!!

Thanks!!

-me

Chapter 24

The next day the doctors released JC. They told him not to do anything strenuous for the next week and to follow up with his doctor. Joey had flown back to New York the previous night so he could make the next scheduled performance of Rent. Justin was flying back to LA that morning. His rehearsals for his VMA performance started the next day. Lance was flying to Mississippi to spend time with his family. Chris, Tyler and Gen were already on their way back to Orlando. Amanda had given them the key to her apartment and they were going to pick up several things and take them to JC's house. Karen, Roy and Heather were driving back up with the couple.

"You realize that I'm not the one with the bum leg," JC said as he looked at the wheel chair the nurse had brought to take him to their vehicle.

"Hospital rules. Everyone leaves in a wheel chair." She answered as she pointed to the chair.

"But…." he protested.

"Jace, just sit your butt down and let her push you out. No sense in fighting, she's going to win. Give up, I want to go home," Amanda piped up. She was sitting in a wheel chair with Karen standing behind it. "Karen, is he always this way. Because if he is, I'm seriously going to rethink this whole relationship thing."

Karen chuckled. "Yes, he is. You should know that by know. And if he weren't do you think you would be in this relationship. It was his stubbornness that got you two together."

"Really? I thought it was his poor driving skills."

"Hey, stop talking about me like I'm not here."

"Then sit down and let's get this show on the road," Amanda replied with annoyance.

JC reluctantly sat in the chair and looked over at Amanda. He heard the tone in her voice but wasn't sure where it was coming from. She sat with her elbow propped on the arm of the chair and her head resting in her hand. She looked so exhausted and stressed out. He knew the past week had caught up with her and the stress of the argument with her mother had only compounded the situation. He also knew she had talked to her supervisor and the human resources department that morning and had a feeling the conversation had not gone as planned. He planned to talk with her on the drive back to Orlando.

The whole group, including Todd and Lonnie, was ushered to the loading dock by two oversized security officers and the head of security. They were leaving from the back entrance in hopes of avoiding the media circus that had congregated in one of the front parking lots. The hospital would make a statement about JC's release after they had ample time to leave the area.

They climbed into two SUV's and drove to a shopping center near by. There they boarded the tour bus JC had rented for the drive back. He felt both would be more comfortable on a bus with couches than in a car or van. After they got settled and on the road, JC walked to the back of the bus where Amanda was stretched out on one of the couches. She had watching a movie on TV at the other end of the couch. He could tell by her glassy stare she was not focused on the movie.

"Hey," he said as he sat down on the couch opposite of hers. She looked over at him. He saw the pain, exhaustion and stress in her eyes. "You ok," he asked.

She replied with a yawn. "Yeah, I'm just ready to get back to Orlando." She turned her attention back to the TV set. They sat in awkward silence.

"Are you mad at me," he questioned softly.

She furrowed her brow and looked back at him. "No, why would you think that?"

"Um, well, you were a little short with me back at the hospital."

"Well, you were acting like a child not sitting in the chair," she replied flatly. There was another long pause. Amanda sighed. Her voice softened, "I'm really tired and just want to veg out for a bit. Can we talk about this later?"

"Why can't we do it now?"

She took a breath. "Because I'm not ready to talk about this."

"Why aren't you ready? Are you breaking up with me?

"No. Why would you even think that?

"Well, you're annoyed with me. You've called me a child. You don't want to talk."

"Stop! I can't even believe you would think that. If I were breaking up with you, I wouldn't have spent two days by your bedside using every bit of emotional, mental and physical strength and will power to try and get you to wake up. You don't know what I went through. You don't know what I'm going through. I'm sorry I'm in a bad mood, it's been a shitty few days, but guess what, it's going to happen. And I need you to realize that there are going to be times, like right now, that you can not push me and you have to give me some breathing space."

"I didn't realize me waking up was shitty."

Amanda sighed, nothing was coming out right, "You waking up was the highlight of the past few days. Meeting your family was a highlight. But I'm also dealing with a lot of other things, family, work, an injury that's got a major recover time." She stopped. "JC, please, just let me be for a few hours, please," she pleaded with him.

"But I want to be with you, to help you."

"JC, please, my life hasn't been like yours. I haven't had people constantly around me for years. Having all these people around has been mentally exhausting. Please, I need time to be with my self, to reflect on what's happened, to plan what needs to happen next."

"But…"

"JC, there is no but. Please, I am trying very hard not to say anything that is going to damage us, but if you do not stop pushing, we are both going to regret it. I love you, but please, just leave me right now."

"Fine," he replied reluctantly. "But this isn't over."

"JC, I don't want it to be over. We need to talk, I know and want that, but right now, it's more important that I have a couple hours of alone time. I'd be telling this to anyone else right now so please do not take it personally."

"You better believe I'm taking this personally. I'm trying to get you to open up to me and you keep shutting me down. I know you're in pain. I know you're exhausted. I know that you just want to be alone. But this isn't all about you. What about what me? I need to be with you. I need to talk with you. I need to figure out how to make you better."

"JC, I don't need you to 'make me better'. I'm not someone that needs to be fixed. Yes, I'm in a lot of pain right now. My knee hurts. My shoulder hurts. I'm sore all over, from the car accident, from sitting in hard waiting room chairs, from not finding a comfortable position to sleep in, from being wound so tightly about the prospect of loosing you I thought I was going to implode. And I'm scared. I don't know if my mother will ever talk to me again. I don't know if she's going to keep my father from me as punishment. I don't know how I'll pay my bills. I don't know when I'll be able to go back to work. Not that it really matters since the pain meds make me so loopy that even if they had something for me, I probably wouldn't be very good at it. I don't know if when they do have something if it'll fit into my PT schedule. I don't know how much this hospital stay is going to cost me. I don't have a car and I don't know how long the insurance company is going to take to get me a check. Not that I can drive right now, so I guess that's a moot point for the time being. I don't know if you're going to have an epiphany and decide that I'm really not the one for you. And I'm exhausted. Physically I feel like I haven't slept in a year. And emotionally and mentally from all these thoughts running through my head and trying to keep them straight and not letting them make me paranoid. And I didn't want it to come to this outburst because I hate feeling like I'm nothing more than a weak little girl that can't control her emotions," she sobbed. "So, please, when I ask a simple thing of please let me alone for a couple hours, will you please be the supportive and loving boyfriend I need, and do as I ask? Please?"

He kneeled on the floor in front of her and said nothing as the tears trickled from the corners of his eyes. He saw the pain and hurt in her eyes and wished he could say the right thing to make it all go away. He took the sleeve of his shirt and wiped the tears from her cheeks. He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "I love you," he said as he stood up and left the room.

JC slumped into the bench at the table by the kitchenette. He rested his chin on his palm and stared out the window at the passing orange grove. His mom sat next to him and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. "What happened," she asked.

"She's hurting so much right now but won't let me in," he replied as he looked over at her.

"I know, she's been putting up a façade the past couple of days."

"But why is she doing that with me? Doesn't she know I want to be there for her?"

"Josh, just give her some time. She loves you and right now I think that she just needs to decompress. She's a strong woman and she's going to survive this."

"I know. I just… just… Mom, I love her so much. I hate seeing her like this."

"I know baby, I know," she replied softly as she ran her hand over his curls as he turned and looked back out the window.

After several minutes, she excused herself and walked to the back of the bus. She peaked in the doorway and could see Amanda on the couch quietly crying. She looked up at Karen with red rimmed eyes.

"Do you want to be alone?"

Amanda shook her head.

"Do you want me to get JC?"

Again, Amanda shook her head.

"Would you like me to sit with you?"

"Do you mind?"

"Not at all," she replied as she sat down on the couch next to Amanda. Amanda lifted her head and put in Karen's lap. Karen gently stroked Amanda's hair as the younger woman continued to cry softly.

"My mom called this morning," Amanda said quietly. "She said she was very disappointed her only daughter would choose to live with a man before she was married. She said that if I continue with my decision, that I shouldn't bother to talk to her again." She took a breath. "And all I could think about was how she conspired with Rosie and JC to get us together. And how supportive she was at first. How she said that if I kept messing with his head that I would loose him. JC even said how she talked about how he could be 'exactly what I needed'. And it just hurts that she doesn't trust me or the job she did raising me. I mean, I'm one of the most straight laced twenty-four year olds out there. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I rarely drink. I don't sleep around. I mean, I'm not even sleeping with your son and he's the only man I've ever fallen in love with. And if it weren't for this knee thing, I don't think we'd be having this discussion. The doctor thinks that by kneeling on it for so long is what's aggravated it so much and caused so much damage. How ironic is it that the act of saving a life is going to cost me my relationship with my mom." She closed here eyes as she paused for several moments. She spoke very softly several minutes later, "I love your son Karen, I really do, but there are times that I wish he had never hit me that day." She signed deeply and slowly.

Karen could tell she had fallen asleep and continued to sit there and stroke Amanda's hair as she slept. After an hour, she gently lifted Amanda's head off her lap and placed a pillow under it after she stood up. She walked back up front.

"Why did she talk with you and not me," JC asked as she grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.

"I don't know how much I can or should reveal about what she said, but Josh, she's got a lot going on right now and I think she needed a mother figure to just listen to, which is something she's not getting from her own family. Don't push her to talk. Just be there for her and let her come to you," she said as she leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"Thanks mom," he said as he reached up and gave her shoulders a squeeze. He yawned. "I think I'm going to go lay down. Wake me when we get close to the house."

He walked to the back and quietly laid down on the couch opposite of Amanda. He settled on his side and faced Amanda. "I love you, please don't shut me out," he said quietly in her direction as he yawned. He soon fell asleep. When Karen checked on them a while later, she couldn't help but notice that they both looked more peaceful than they had in several days. She hoped it would last.