"Is he alright, Lex?" Alexa looked up to see Aaron peering at her intently. "He's gonna be fine, hun. We just have to get him to the hospital to be looked after, okay? Just a check up. How about you get your mother and father to drive you there and then you can see him, okay?" Aaron bent down to kiss Nick's cheek and he gave Alexa a quick hug. "We'll leave now and meet you there." Bob looked down at the doctor and held out his hand. "I'm sorry." "It's not your fault." Alexa said, still working on Nick. "I'll see you there." She looked up and motioned for AJ to join her. "How is he?" "Age," Alexa whispered into his ear. "He's not breathing. I've already paged an ambulance, but I don't want anyone panicking here." She looked up at the people huddled around them and smiled faintly. "Get them out of here. I don't care how." The ambulance sirens could be heard outside and Kevin ushered the paramedics into the house. "Okay everyone!" AJ stood up and clapped his hands together. "Nick is fine. But Lex wants him to go the hospital just to be checked out. He never could party very well!" AJ laughed and moved towards the door. He watched as the paramedics loaded Nick onto the stretcher and started shoving a tube down his throat. AJ turned back to the party guests and tried not to gag. He couldn't stand seeing his friend helpless like that. "So, folks, I guess the party is over for now, sorry! But, you know me, we'll have another one soon enough." He began gently pushing people towards the front room. "We'll help you out." Kevin said quietly and moved towards another bunch of guests, explaining the situation. It took the four men just a few minutes to clear everyone out of the house. Rho had already left with Kathy in Nick's Durango for the hospital. "We'll ride together." Leighanne said, pointing to Kevin and Kristin. AJ threw Howie the keys to his jeep. "I can't drive man, I'm too shaky. Let's go!"

Kathy sat in the corner of the waiting room, trying to avoid looking at Nick's mother. His father looked heartbroken, as did Aaron. The girls were quietly talking to each other. Roberta kept throwing looks at Jane that could kill. She had heard the stories Kathy had told her about this woman, but she didn't believe someone could be that miserable to their own child. "How long as he been in there?" Kathy whispered to Rho. She glanced at the wall clock in the hall. "About 35 minutes." The rest of the group entered the room and glanced around. "No news?" Kevin asked. "Nothing yet, Kevin." Bob answered. They pulled up some extra chairs and sat down to wait for the news. Alexa entered the waiting room and slumped into AJ's waiting arms. "How is he?" Kathy tried to keep the fear out of her voice but she knew if he was fine he they would have heard by now. "They had to open him up again." Alexa said quietly. "Oh sweet Jesus." Brian cried out and hugged Leighanne burying his face in her neck. "Why?" Kathy looked at Alexa with tears in her eyes. "What happened?" Alexa sighed and looked around the room. "One of the arteries to the heart, one that was repaired in the Bahamas opened up. They think it may have not healed properly and all the stress caused it to burst." She looked pointedly at Jane as she said this. "If he makes it through this alright, he will have to stay in the hospital for awhile, and then bed rest at home. No overdoing it until he is totally healed." "Did I have him do too much?" Kathy asked her. "Of course you did!" Jane snapped. "All that fooling around... kissing!" "Stop!" Alexa yelled. "This is exactly what landed him back in here!" She rubbed her face and then slowly looked up again. "Mrs. Carter, with all due respect. You have to let him live his life. He may screw it up or he may make all the right choices, but it is up to him. He is 20 years old, an adult. Kathy did nothing wrong, this problem would have surfaced eventually. But stress is what brought it on, and he does not need anymore of it. Right now I'm tempted to not even let you in to visit him." Jane stared at the young woman in shock. "But he's my son." she protested. "And you are part of the reason that he is in surgery right now." Alexa told her pointedly. Jane sat back down with a stunned look on her face.

"Lex?" She turned and looked into Aaron's sad, brown eyes. "Is he going to be alright? Really?" "I don't know Aaron, I can't say for sure. I hope so." Aaron shuffled over to an empty chair and sat, raising his knees to his chest and sobbing loudly. After a few moments, he looked over to his mother. "Why can't you just leave him alone? You're always picking on him, you always have!" He dropped his head to his knees and cried again. "Dr. Reeves?" Another doctor had entered the room. "Can you please come with me?" Alexa gave AJ a tight squeeze and followed the doctor out the door. The group stayed quiet, praying for their friend, a few sniffles were heard now and then. Jane was the first to break the silence. "Am I that bad to him? I only want what is right for him. I love Nick, you know I do." She looked at her husband. "Bob, you know I love him." she pleaded. "Mrs. Carter?" Kevin spoke up out. "We know you love Nick as much, hopefully more, than we all do. But you pick funny ways to show it." Jane wiped the tears falling down her face away. "I try to do what is best for him. I thought he loved Christina." "Christine didn't call or visit him the whole time he was in the hospital in the Bahamas." AJ sneered. "She didn't even know he was home until Alexa told her." Brian looked to Nick's mother. "Kathy has been so good to him. She left her whole life to come and be with him and help him. You could support her a little too." Jane looked over to Kathy, huddled in the chair, crying and being reassured by her friend. "Kathy?" Kathy looked up and the sound of her name. "I'm sorry for how I have treated you. Please forgive me?" The young woman sat stunned. "I know you have taken excellent care of Nick and that you have become close to him. I would like it if you would continue." Kathy nodded her head numbly. "Of course, I will, I..." She said, haltingly. Jane collapsed into her husbands arms and sobbed. "I'm sorry dear."

Alexa walked back into the waiting room an hour later. Her white coat was spotted with blood and she looked exhausted. "How is he?" AJ asked quietly. Alexa walked over to AJ. "Hug me first, please?" He held his girlfriend tightly and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry. Nick is out of surgery, but he is in a coma." Kathy gasped and sat back in the chair in shock. "He flatlined on the table, it took everything we had to bring him back. I can't say anymore. It's all up to him now." Alexa burst into tears and AJ comforted her gently. Brian left Leighanne's side and walked to the center of the room. "Can we all forget our differences and say a prayer for Nick?" He looked around the room and everyone nodded. They formed a circle, linking hands and bowed their heads. "Dear Lord, please look after our son, loved one and dear friend, Nickolas Gene Carter. He is young and so full of life and love. We will all miss him so. Please give us the miracle of having more time with him before you call him home to you." Brian wiped a tear off his cheek before finishing. "Amen."