General Hospital

Red.

I couldn't guess how it was Taylor's favorite color, I was drowning in it.

Squinting my eyes, I saw blurry figures moving slowly around me. I recognized Justin's black jacket on one of them.. My mind screamed, causing my body to stiffen. I tried to move myself, to get as far from that bastard as humanly possible, only to find my arms and legs constrained. I heard a loud crack and felt myself lifted up into the air. I lost all view of Justin's form and I could only see the pure blackness of the night sky.

What the hell is going on!?

I wanted to shout as I felt my head pushed against something soft. The pressure on my forehead made me dizzy, closing my eyes intensified the sensation. A bright light suddenly flashed in my eyes, nearly blinding me. Instantly, another came. Then another. I wanted to open my mouth to scream in protest, raise my arms over my eyes to block the light, but all I could do was shut them tightly.

"Good evening everyone. I'm Frank and this is Tulsa's Channel Four News at eleven."

"And I'm Diane. Thank you for joining us. Our top story tonight is one of tragedy. Maggie Olsen, nineteen, seen here, was attacked by an ex-boyfriend, Justin, in a local dance club tonight. He's seen here, being escorted by the Tulsa Police Department to the Public Hospital, for Maggie had lashed out against him, kicking his groin and breaking his pelvic bone. A police investigation started a few hours after the encounter. They are seen here interviewing witnesses."

"Do you know what's going on Miss?" Mia's face came into view. A microphone was shoved in front of her face.

"I saw the entire thing!" she claimed. "Maggie's totally innocent." Just as quickly, she was cut off the screen and the two reporters continued.

"Diane, who is to blame here, Maggie or Justin?"

"Well, Frank, it is rumored that he has a history of abusing her since junior high school. We can only wait until the official report is released."

"Is the nature of the charges known? Domestic violence on his account or assault and battery on hers?"

"Whatever the verdict, you can be sure that Channel Four News will be the first to report it. We're going to a short commercial break." She turned towards the camera and smiled.

"Unbelievable." Zac flicked off the television. He returned to my side and reached his arm out, gently stroking my cold cheek with the tips of his fingers. Seeing me lie helpless in a hospital bed was nearly killing him.

"Look, Maggie, you made it on television tonight." He pointed at the now blank screen. "You look beautiful.."

"This is all my fault," he whispered.

"Liar," a voice called from the doorway. He turned to see Sarah standing behind him. She walked over and comforted him with a warm hug.

"I talked to Taylor and Mia in the waiting room. You didn't force her to do anything."

"I begged her to go-" he interrupted.

"Shh.." She quieted him, rubbing his back gently with her palm.

"This has nothing to do with you. Understand?" she asked in a firm voice.

"But-"

"But nothing. This shit with Justin started years ago, before you ever met her."

"I know, but-" he broke away from her.

"But nothing." she repeated calmly. "Zac, I know you're hurting.. We all-"

"No!" he cried, shaking her hand off his arm.

"You don't understand. I'm the one who made her go to the damn club!" he exclaimed, his voice rising with every word.

"Shh..she needs her sleep," she tugged on his arm gently. "We can talk more about this outside."

"You're right," he sighed deeply, returning to my side. He leaned over to brush a kiss on my forehead before exiting. Although she'd silenced him for the moment, Sarah hadn't changed his mind at all.

"Taylor, relax," Mia finally said. She'd been watching him pace back and forth for the last twenty minutes in the waiting room. Patting the seat next to her, she added,

"Why don't you sit down? ..Taylor?" Her words had fallen on deaf ears.

"Hmm?" he snapped his head up in her direction a few seconds later.

"Never mind. I'm going for a walk, ok?"

Come with me, her eyes pleaded.

"Sure. I'm going to stay here." He finally sat down next to her and bounced his knee distractedly, rubbing his forehead with his hands. The rhythmic motion drove his girlfriend crazy.

"Taylor.." Mia reached out her hand and placed it on his leg, making him stop. As if testing his attention span, she said,

"I love you."

"You.. love me?" he slowly turned his head toward her, a questioning look in his eyes. She nodded, although unsure how much meaning was held behind her outburst.

"You love me.." the anxiety in his face slowly disappeared, the worry lines in his forehead smoothed over, filling his face with a bright smile. He reached his arms out and enveloped her in a warm embrace.

"Mia, you're the greatest." He whispered, resting his chin softly on her head.

".. Thanks." That wasn't the reaction she was looking for.

"I've gotta go now." She broke away from him and walked down the hall, trying not to show how upset she was. He bleakly watched her leave.

"Ohh.." Sarah gasped, pressing her fingertips against the cool glass window. Taking a walk of her own had taken her to the nursery in the hospital. She smiled in awe, absently rubbing her stomach with her other hand, imagining a tiny living person like those laying in front of her growing inside of her.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" She felt a warm hand on her back and turned to see Isaac next to her. He'd noticed her leaving my room for a walk, her eyes cast down. Concerned, as well as curious, he'd decided to follow her.

"Yeah.. I just can't believe all this." She smiled and pointed into the room. "I'm going to have one of those.."

"I know, silly." He smiled as she closed her eyes and instinctively leaned against his shoulder. The warmness of her body against his caused a familiar sense of comfort to wash over his own. Although his heartbeat quickened, he felt the rest of him relax.

"Silly.. yeah." She quickly opened her eyes and pulled away at the sight of Isaac and her together reflected in the window.

It's not like that, she immediately reminded herself. She clasped her hands in front of her chest, fingering her engagement ring. Issac noticed her distracted movement and could easily guess what she was thinking about.

"Do.. you ever want children Issac?" she whispered nervously.

"Well.." He replied thoughtfully, stuffing his hands into the pockets on his jeans. "I can't imagine not having kids around, if that's what you mean."

"A little Ike junior?" She joked, throwing him a half-smile.

"Absolutely," He laughed.

"Why?" he asked curiously.

"We'd better go back to check on Maggie." She quickly changed the subject, turning away from him to walk down the hall. He watched her for a few seconds before following, a few steps behind again.

"Maggie.." Taylor called softly into the room. After waiting for what seemed like hours, but was actually minutes, he'd managed to charm my room number out of the nurse at the front desk.

I'm sorry, he took in the sight of my limp state, sitting at an angle with the bed, my hands laying across my stomach. He sat in the chair on my right, hoping I would instantly open my eyes and flush the paleness out of my face with bright flashes of green. But I didn't.

This is my fault. Taylor thought furiously, running his fingers through his tousled hair.

"I shouldn't have been so busy playing these stupid games.. " He slipped his hand warmly underneath my palm and closed his fingers around mine, absently circling his thumb over the tops of my knuckles.With his free hand, he brushed a few stray hairs that fell against my cheek behind my ear and softly traced the line of my jaw with the backs of his fingers.

Of all the times I've wanted to hold her hand, touch her, hold her..This isn't how it's supposed to be. He traced his fingers gently around the shape of my slightly parted lips, lips he'd ached to feel against his own for far too long.

Not like she'd ever know, he rationalized.

She'd probably just smack me if she was awake now anyway. He smiled, slightly amused at the thought, and leaned forward.

During her own walk, Mia had calmed down considerably.

Just the stress of it all, she figured, her hands closing around the silver heart necklace he'd given to her weeks ago.

It doesn't matter that we don't love each other yet.. She turned another corner and casually proceeded down the hallway, unsure of where she was anymore. Peering into the nearest room, she gasped. She blinked a few times, as if to wash the scene of in front of her from her sight: her boyfriend holding the hand of his so-called best friend from childhood, kissing her tenderly.

"Taylor," she whispered, covering her hand over her mouth. She stumbled a few steps back, rattling a trashcan in the hallway behind her. At the clamoring sound, Taylor immediately pulled away from me. He dropped my hand as soon as his eyes raised to meet hers.

"Mia.. I can explain." He started. She violently shook her head back and forth, silencing him.

"No, don't." She whispered, clenching her fists.

"Mia." He jumped up from his chair and took a few steps towards her.

"Taylor, don't." She held her hands out in front of her, motioning for him to stop. "Don't.. come near me."

"Honey, please," Taylor tried reaching for her hand. She violently jerked her shoulder away from him.

"No." He dark eyes burned darkly at him. For once, he couldn't say or do anything to change her mind. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes momentarily to build her strength.

"I've been suspicious about this for awhile, but you don't need to explain anything." She held up her hand again when Taylor opened his mouth to interject.

"I don't care what you say, I know what I saw."

"Mia, you're the one I want to be with," he said desperately. "I.. love you."

"No, you don't." The words ached her heart as she spat them out.

"Taylor, even I know that. If you couldn't say you loved me earlier, then how am I supposed to believe it now?" Her voice began to tremble slightly. She wanted nothing more than to turn and run out of the room, but something kept her grounded. She couldn't believe the next words out of her mouth, but they needed to be said. She clasped her fingers around the silver heart that had hung around her neck every day since he'd given it to her before saying:

"I think you should stop lying to yourself." She pointed at me before taking off the necklace. Clasping her hand around it, she opened her fingers and released it to the floor before turning and running down the hallway.

"Mia!" He called behind her, but by the time he'd gotten to the door it was too late; there was no sign of her. He could only hear the echoes of footsteps and soft sobs. He fell against the door frame, closing his eyes and sighing. He reached down and picked up the necklace, watching its chain slide over his fingers as he straightened up.

"Hey," A warm hand squeezed his shoulder.

"Are you ok?" Taylor looked up into the concerned eyes of his younger brother.

"Not really Zac.. I think this means we just broke up," he managed to crack a tiny smile despite his situation.

"That's rough man, I'm sorry. What happened?" Taylor glanced at Zac to see if he was kidding.

"You didn't hear anything?"

"Nope," Zac shook his head.

"I was on the second floor, getting a Coke." He held up the bright red can in Taylor's face and cracked it open, sending a little stream of foam at him.

"Hey! I hate when you do that," Taylor jerked away, grinning. He wiped a bit of foam off his cheek with the back of his hand.

"I know. So what's up?" Zac replied with a grin of his own.

"Not much. How are you holding up?"

"Other than the fact I feel someone ripped out my heart and did the Mexican hat dance on it, pretty darn good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some comforting to do," Zac brushed past him and sat down in the chair next to my bed, as if guarding his territory.

The anxious gaze on Zac's face dissolved any temporary happiness that was inside of Taylor. Watching his little brother focus completely on me, taking my hand and using it to push the TV remote to turn it on and making comments about the people that appeared on the Jerry Springer Show in front of us, Taylor knew he couldn't do it.

"Aww.. come on!" Zac cheered at a very large woman who was wearing an extremely skimpy outfit.

"A blindfold would cover up more of her body that that awful thing.. Go for the chairs! Go for the chairs, man!" Determined to make the most of our situation, he scooted over closer to me in bed and reached his arm behind my shoulders as if we were sitting in his living room on a Friday night, completely oblivious to the presence of his older brother lingering around the door.

I can't do it, Taylor's mind echoed again. The grin on Zac's face reinforced his decision. He turned and walked silently down the hallway.