canwebothsurvive

This story takes place 5 years in the future. Both Mac and Billy are 22 years old.

Before I start this story, I have to clear a few things up. When Mac and Billy met for the first time in July of '99, it was love at first sight. They dated from the start out in the open, but soon, Jill
felt that they were getting a little too serious, so she decided to try and contact Amanda. Billy and Mac lost their virginity to each other in the spring of 2000. Just before summer of 2000 ended,
Amanda came to town. Mac left a note for Billy (and her family) detailing her horrible past and why
she had to leave before Amanda found her . . . alone.

"Why couldn't you let me fo with you, Mac?" Billy asked as he drove home from CL on one 'Cold
Winters Night'.

Billy saw their entire relationship pass before his very eyes. Their first meeting, first date, first kiss, first time making love, the holidays spent together (Thanksgiving, Christmas . . .), birthdays,
vacations . . . the prom. The prom where they were announced as king and queen.

Billy was shaken from his trip down memory lane by a honking horn. "NO!!!" he cried as he swirved
into a pole to avoid hitting on coming cars. Everything went black.

After Mac had left Genoa City, she found herself feeling lost and alone. Soon, Mac found out that
she needed to find a permenant place to stay to benifit her health. She was in Los Angeles. She
found herself a great well paying job as a fashion consultant at a HUGE magazine. She was almost
completely, blissfully happy. The only thing that could give her the happiness that she only dreamed about would be Billy. And he wasn't there.

"Why didn't I just stay in Genoa City?" Mac questioned herself as she began to tidy her home. "My
family is there, my friends are there. Most importantly, Billy is there."

When Mac finished the dishes, she went to her room and turned on the TV.

" . . .more tonight at 10. Now, in other news," the reporter began as a picture of Billy flashed across the screen.

"Billy?" Mac asked as she turned up the volume and leaned forward, toward the TV.

"Billy Abbott was seriously injured tonight in a near fatal accident. At this point, his condition is
critical. Testing is being done, but it is doubtful he will survive."

The segment ended and Mac turned off the TV and picked up the phone.

"Genoa City Hospital, ICU, Janet speaking, how may I help you?"

"Yes, yes," Mac said frantically in to the phone, "I'm calling to ask you about a patient that was
brought in tonight. I would like an update on Billy Abbott."

"Are you family?" Janet asked.

"Ah," Mac froze, "yes . . . I am his cousin Colleen."

"Well, Colleen, Billy is in cridical condition. He is barely hanging on. He is in desperate need of a
kidney transplant. It may very well be his only chance for survival. Unfortuneately, none of his
family has the same blood type, so none of them are a suitable match." (Just, please note
that I have absolutely no idea about anything medical, so it will probably be all screwed up).

"What's his blood type?" Mac asked.

"-A," Janet said.

"Perfect! Thanks!" Mac said before she hung up the phone. She picked it up again and dialed the
travel agency. "Hi, I would like to book three tickets to Genoa City, Wisconsin, leaving as soon
as possible."

"What's he mumbling?" Ashley asked.

"I don't know, but it sounds like a really bad dream," Jack said.

"Doctor," John said as the doctor entered the room, "hows he doing?"

"Not good," the doctor said. "He suffered a major blow to the head. There isn't any swelling or
pressure around the brain. That is the only good news that I can give you. However, we still
haven't found a donor."

"We'll find one," Ashley said optimistically. "I know we will."

"What are his chances of surviving the night?" John asked.

"Almost nil. I wont give you false hope Mr. Abbott. We'll be lucky if he makes it to midnight."

*Meanwhile*

"God, please, relieve me of this eternal pain called my life," Billy said into the bright light that
was calling him towards it.

"My son," God's voice called out, "if you leave now, you may miss what you've been waiting for."

"Please, God," Billy said as a tear slid down his cheek. "Don't give me false hope. I know that my
chances aren't good. And even if I survived, what would be so great about my life? The only thing . . . person, that I want more than anything in this world, I can't have. I haven't seen her
in 5 years."

"Good things come to those how wait," God said as the light began to disappear.

"It'll take a miracle for him to survive, Ash," Jack said.

"You can't think that way!" Ashley protested.

"If it's God's will to take Billy away from us . . ." Jack said, hoping against hope that God woudn't
be so cruel. Billy had endured so much in his young life, why would he take him away at such a
young age?

"What are you getting at, Jack?" John asked. He was tired, he was cold, he was hungry, but most
of all, he was scared that his son wouldn't survive this horrific accident.

"He's been walking around like a zombie ever since Mac left, maybe it would be better if he were
out of his misery," Jack said. "I love my little brother, and I don't want him to leave, but he's
in so much pain right now. He'd be happier. He could watch over Mac in heaven."

"Mackenzie," Billy mumbled quietly as the heart monitor that he was hooked up to stopped and
started making a horrible, high pitched noise.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please plave your seats in the upright position and buckle your seatbelts.
We are going to begin our decent to Genoa City International airport momentarily."

"Thanks again for coming with us," Mac said as she looked at her best friend from California, Jenn.

"It's not a problem, really," Jenn said as she turned to Mac. "Beside's, I've had enough of the sunshine and great job for a while. I needed a break. I was getting bored. So, I'm sure that
being bored out of my mind and in freezing cold temperatures will cure that!"

"You really are a great friend," Mac smiled.

"I want to help you Mac," Jenn smiled. "I know that there was a guy that you were in love with,
and that you still love him. I remember that you swore that you'd never go back to Genoa City
when we first met. But, I have a gut feeling that this return has something to do with him."

"Thanks for flying American Airlines. Have a happy holiday season."

They exited the plane and headed straight for their hotel. Mac dropped off her luggage and headed straight for the hospital.

"Billy?" Mac said as she stopped dead in her tracks. Something was wrong with Billy. She could
feel it. "Billy!"

"Billy!" Ashley, Jack and John shouted as the heart monitor stopped.

"You'll have to leave," the doctor said as a nurse entered the room to escort them out.

"Come on, Billy! Your not gonna leave us now! Not yet!" the doctor said as he worked on reviving
Billy.

"Billy," Ashley whimpered as a tear slowly slid down her face as she watched her little brother
linger between life and death.

"Billy!" Mac screamed as she ran out of the elevator when it stopped on Billy's floor.

"Mackenzie?!" Ashley, Jack and John questioned.

"Yeah, it's me," Mac smiled sadly. "I heard and got the first flight out. How is he?" Panick started
to wash over her.

"Better now that your here," John smiled as he embraced the love of his son's life.

Mac paced around the waiting room. Only 5 LONG minutes had passed since Billy had flatlined.

"God," Mac prayed, "please. I know that I left Billy a life time ago. You know the reasons very well. But, I always knew that we would be re-united. Especially after I . . . please, don't take
him away from me!"

"Please don't tell me that my son is . . ." John couldn't get the words out. "Is he . . . ?"

"No," the doctor said. "But he is barely hanging on. He needs that transplant desperately."

"Mr. Abbott?" Mac asked. "Can I see him?"

"I think that would be best," John said.

"Thank you," Mac said as she embraced John.

"No, Mackenzie," John said, "thank you."

Mac smiled at Ashley, Jack and John as she walked towards Billy's room.

She turned the knob. "Oh god!" she gasped when she saw Billy in the bed.

"How did this happen?" Mac asked Billy's lifeless body. "Billy, you have to come back to me. To us. I hope that you don't hate me for running out on you. On us. I know that I don't deserve you," Mac cried. "I thought about you everyday. Not a minute has gone by without you in it."

"Miss?" the nurse asked, "I have to check his vitals now."

"Of course," Mac smiled. She looked down at Billy. "I love you with all my heart and soul." She
placed a kiss on his lips.

"Mackenzie," he whispered quietly as the door shut.

"Bottom line," the doctor told the Abbott's, "if we don't find someone with a -A blood type, Billy
is going to die."

"No, he wont. I want to be the donor," Mac said.

"Look, I have a -A blood type. It's what Billy needs. I've lost him once, I won't loose him again!"
Mac said almost in tears.

"It's not that simple," The doctor said. "You blood type has six different catagories and you have
to match 5 of those before any hospital will even consider doing a transplant. It's too risky other wise."

"FINE!" Mac shouted as he patients wore out. "Do what you have too! If it saves Billy's life, it's
worth a try!"

"This is potentially fatal for you as well as Billy," the doctor cautioned.

"Look," Mac said, "I lost Billy once, probably forever, but at least I knew he was alive. I can't loose
him again!"

"You really love him, don't you?" Ashley asked.

"With all my heart," Mac said honestly. She turned back to the doctor. "Please, you know it could
be the difference between life and death."

"Fine, follow me," the doctor said.

"How do you feel?" John asked as he saw Mac come back out to the waiting room.

"I'll be fine," Mac said as she sat down, "once I know he'll be fine. And I know he will be."

"So?" Jack asked anxiously, "what're the resutls?"

"We aren't sure yet," the doctor said. "The lab was delayed, but given Billy's condition, the results
were on the top of the list. We'll know momentarily."

"Doctor?" the nurse asked. "Billy Abbott is still unconcious, but he is mumbling something."

Everyone rushed into Billy's room.

"Could you make out what he was saying?" John asked.

"Shh," the nurse shushed them.

"I lo-love you, Mac- Mac," Billy struggled, still in his unconcious state.

Mac gasped as a tear ran down her face.

"Doctor, we have the results of the tests."

"Thank you nurse," the doctor said.

"Well?" Mac asked anxiously, her eyes never leaving Billy's face.

"Well," the doctor said as he reviewed the documents in front of him. "You are a perfect match!"

Everyone hugged each other happily.

"How soon can we do this?" Mac asked.

"Now, we can get both you and Billy prepped for surgery immediately," the doctor smiled.

"Lets go!" Mac said happily. "You're going to be OK, Billy. I promise you." She leaned down and
kissed him before following the doctor out of the room.

"She really loves him," Ashley smiled as the doors shut behind Mac and the doctor.

"I hope that they can find the way back to one another," John said. "Billy hasn't been the same
since she left."

"They will find each other again. Mac already admitted that she still loves Billy and I know that Billy still loves her. He wouldn't accept not being with her. He couldn't even think about moving
on with his lofe after she left," Jack said.