| "Tay looks like hell." Zac stated flatly, looking into Jamie's room. Everyone had been taking turns checking on the both of them,, Taylor and Mr. Vaughn keeping a constant vigil at Jamie's bedside. Even John Rzeznik decided to stay in town until he knew Jamie was awake. That was weird friendship if Zac had ever seen one, John made sure to bring food and coffee to Taylor and always placed a kiss on Jamie's forehead before he left. Tay looked awful, he thought to himself again. He needed to sleep in a bed and eat something besides the damn fast food and gallons of coffee John was always bringing him. Three days of this shit was enough. "Later man," Zac said to John as they passed each other in Jamie's doorway. "Later. Hey daddy.." John grinned in Mr. Vaughn's direction. "Need a lift? When Jameson wakes up she'll be in your shit for reekin' bud." Jamie's dad grinned at John and kissed his daughter on the forhead. "Back soon pumpkin. Poeple think I need to shave or something." "Speaking of showers," Zac began cautiously, trying not to rile his brother, "I can run you home for a quick one dude, you look like shit." "No." Taylor stated simply and adjusted his position in the chair, taking a quick look at Jamie's various monitors. Everything seemed to be working all right, the doctor had told them so, but Jamie still did not open her eyes or respond to Taylor's pleading with her to even squeeze his hand. "Jeez Tay." Zac finally blurted out, frustrated. "Come home and take a shower. EAT something. Mom is only one woman, dude. Give her a break. She can't keep running separate meals up here for you and JAMIE would want you to go home for a while. You WANT her to see you looking like this when she wakes up? 'Cause she WILL wake up...she's too much a hard ass not to." Zac's voice got steadily louder as Taylor only stared at Jamie, oblivious to anything he was saying. "Zac..we've tried.." Jade said softly. "He's not budging so just leave him." she said. Ike nodded in agreement. "You guys suck, you wimps." he said angrily. "TAY. GET OFF of her and get some rest, she will just be pissed..have you LOOKED in a fucking mirror?" Zac's main concern was for his brother's heath, he had the darkest circles under his eyes that he'd ever seen. Touring never even drained him like this. "TAY!" he shook his brother's shoulder trying to get his attention. Taylor felt his blood boiling. How could anyone expect him to leave her side, when she'd crashed her bike because he'd pushed her too hard? Tried to make her see things she was not ready for? He HAD to stay. Why couldn't anyone see that? He tried to tune Zac out, knowing his brother meant well but after the last comment, he snapped. "ZAC SHUT UP!! I am not leaving, I don't care what I look like, I don't give a shit if I need to shave. I have to be here when she wakes up and I am NOT leaving until she can leave with me!" Taylor stood quickly, ready to yell some more and make everyone understand that he absolutely had to stay until she opened her eyes. "Bullshit. This is NOT your fault and even Jamie knows it, Tay. Just 'cause she's too damn chicken to.." Zac stepped back in shock as Taylor got in his face. "Shut. UP. Zac." he said angrily. "I am NOT leaving and it's NO ONE'S business what we talked about...why I was so mad...GOT IT?" the last came out in an angry roar. Jamie's brain raced in a panic as she heard Taylor and Zac arguing. She fought to try to open her eyes, open her mouth, make Taylor see what Zac was saying was true. Her arm ached, but her leg was no longer sore and she took a deep breath. "Yeah. I got it. All right?" Zac finally relented, realizing that Taylor was going to shoulder all the blame no matter what. "You still look like shit. And you stink." he folded his arms over his chest and waited, sure Tay was going to take a swing at him, but it was better than watching him sit like a statue. Taylor started to take a step toward Zac, not knowing why, just that he was angry, then froze when he felt a small hand dig into his forearm and pull. His heart stopped in his chest, then began to pound wildly as he looked down and saw Jamie's hand wrapped around his arm. "Jame? Oh my god Jamie..." Taylor was instantly down in the chair and at her side. "Jamie?"was all he could manage to get out as her eyes fluttered open. "He's right." she said her voice cracking. "You look awful Tay, I'm so sorry." she whispered and tightened her grip on his arm. Jamie's chest tightened and tears filled her eyes as she watched the tears stream down Taylor's tired face. "Jamie no...I'm sorry baby..." he whispered as he looked into her eyes. "No. Taylor. NO." she said and laid her hand on his cheek. "Not your fault, Tay, it's not...please baby..." she whispered back, tears streaming down her face as well. "Tay please..." she begged, "stop...don't cry...please..." she winced as she moved her body, trying to get her other arm around him and realized she was wearing a cast. "Jamie..don't move, okay?" he sniffled, "let the doctor look at your first." he leaned closer and cupped her face in his hands. "I'm all right Tay. Really." she said, reaching out to caress his cheek again. "Jamie you have no idea...you have no clue what you looked like...when I found you...I thought you were..." he squeezed his eyes shut as more tears spilled over, taking the same worn path the rivers he'd cried before carved out. "Tay...oh no...oh my god...shhh...don't cry baby...I'm so sorry..." she told him, both oblivious to the onlookers and the fact that there was not one dry eye in the room. She continued to stroke his cheek, wiping tears away as they fell, Taylor held her hand against his lips kissing it over and over, wet with his own tears. He wanted to gather her in his arms and hold her close, feel her against him and know she was okay. "Tay...please..." she sniffled, "don't cry any more baby... I am so sorry." she told him again and took a deep breath. "Tay listen to me.." she said, using the hand against his cheek to tilt his face to her. "Look at me.." she told him and waited for him to open his eyes. Her body shook with fear and she closed her own eyes taking another deep breath. She opened them to find Taylor's dark blue gaze locked with hers. "Taylor please...stop crying...I'm sorry. I am sorry I left like that, sorry I had so much to drink, sorry I couldn't say what I wanted to say...what I should have said a long time ago." Taylor held his breath as she spoke, feeling her and tremble against his skin, and watched the tears roll down her face. "Jamie shh...let the doctor come check you over..." he told her as she traced his lips with her fingertips. He caught hold of her hand and kissed it again. "No..just listen..." she said. "I am sorry you saw whatever you saw that made you so angry Tay, I can't remember everything clearly...and I never meant to...I'm sorry...Tay..." she tried to continue, tell him what he wanted to hear, but her sobs were getting in the way. They made her chest hurt and her throat close. "Shhh... Jamie it can wait...I am just so glad you're awake...it's all right baby..." he soothed, stroking her hair back. "No..no...no...Tay...I love you...I never meant to make you...god I'm sorry..." she blurted, sobbing, her eyes squeezed shut. Taylor froze in his spot and only stared at Jamie, his eyes on her face and wondering if he'd heard her correctly. He suddenly hugged her to him, twisting his own body so as not to hurt her, but still hold on for dear life. "Jamie.." he sobbed into her neck, "baby, I love you...you scared me so bad, Jame. I thought you were..." Her free hand raked through his hair and pressed him to her. "I'm sorry Tay...I love you so much.." she sobbed again as Taylor loosened his grip and leaned up to look at her. "I love you too Jamie." he looked into her eyes and stroked her hair back. She looked up into his eyes and gave him a weak smile. "Okay that is enough." Jade stepped forward, wiping her own face. "Don't you ever do that to me again Jameson, or I will have to KILL you. D'you hear me?" "Hi Jadeleigh..." she answered as Taylor pulled his chair closer to the bed and laced his fingers through Jamie's. "Well well , lookie who's awake. 'Bout time Miss Vaughn." the doctor strode in and managed to get everyone out of the room, barring Taylor, who still would not leave Jamie's side |