"Brian?" Sarah stuttered.
"Sarah? What's wrong?"
"O god Brian…" Sarah began to break down again upon hearing his voice on the other end of the phone. "Kevin...Kevin got hit by a car, and he's in the hospital, I'm here now, and they won't tell me what's going on, or if he's ok. I tried to talk to them, to anyone, but they won't answer me, and I can't see him, and I don't know what's going on, and I'm scared…" Sarah trailed off, her voice failing her.
"WHAT?!" Brian screamed, "Sarah, just wait there, the guys and I will be right there, and I'll call Kev's parents…it'll be ok Sarah, just sit tight." Then the line went dead.
Placing the phone back on the hook, Sarah stumbled back into the waiting room, and waited for Brian and the rest of the boys to get there. She didn't know how much longer she could sit here alone…knowing Kevin was less then 100 feet away, and not knowing how he was.
"Sarah! Are you ok?" Sarah's head snapped up and she saw Brian, Howie, AJ, and Nick crowding around her. Her head was completely empty, void of all thought, her eyes red and blood-shot, and her nails bit up to pieces. She looked like shit, and she wasn't trying to hide it.
"O my god." AJ muttered, "Girl, what have they put you through?"
"Nothing…nothing. I'm fine really. Where's my Kevin?" Sarah's voice sounded like a 6 year olds', and she was clutching onto Brian and Nick, her eyes darting from face to face periodically.
"Sarah, you know Kevin's back there, and the doctors are taking care of him." Howie explained, speaking very slowly. "And he's gonna be fine. Brian's called his family, and they're going to be here as soon as possible, they're trying to get a flight."
Then the memory of what had happened crept up on Sarah slowly, and suddenly her face crumpled. "I couldn't do anything. I wanted to, I wanted to. Brian, get Kevin please?" When Sarah saw the resignation on Brian's face she turned to Nick. "Nick, can you go get Kevin?"
"No Sarah I can't. I'm sorry, but he's gonna be fine." Nick whispered, his voice cracking.
"NO!" Sarah screamed. "I want my Kevin, I want my Kevin, I want my Kevin!" She threw herself forward into Brian's arms, and sobbed against his chest.
"Holy shit." AJ muttered, rising to his feet. "Nick, go get Sarah something to drink." Nick rose to his feet and left for the cafeteria quickly, wanting to flee the disturbing scene behind him. Pissed beyond belief, AJ approached the front desk, and began to ask a million questions a minute. "Why haven't you told her anything?!" He yelled, pointing to Sarah. "She's insane from grief! Why the FUCK haven't you taken care of her?"
"AJ!" Brian yelled. "You're not helping! Now get over here and help me calm Sarah down." Just then Nick came running back with a glass filled with water, and a can of coke. The group of four pulled up seats around Sarah, and began to comfort her. Softly AJ and Brian launched into the chorus of "No One Else Comes Close".
No one else comes close to you
No one makes me feel the way you do
You're so special girl to me
And you'll always be eternally
Every time I hold you near
You always say the words I love to hear
Girl with just a touch you can do so much
No one else comes close
"Gary Baker wrote that song Sarah. Kevin gave him those lyrics. Just wrote it down one day."(Author's note: O.K., I know this is a lie, but this is FICTION alright?) Brian softly told her. "It was from his heart, and it was about you. You see? He would never leave that. He's gonna be ok." The guys watched, concerned, as Sarah pulled herself together. All of the sudden, a look came over her face that they had never seen before. Puzzled, the boys watched as Sarah stood up in front of them, a look of dazed triumph on her face.
"You're right." She smiled weakly at them. "I KNOW you're right." She let their confusion hang in the air for a minute before thrusting her hand in front of them. "Look." She ordered them softly.
"Is that what I think it is?" Nick wondered aloud, "Is that an engagement ring?"
"Yes." Sarah replied, a shy smile on her face. She looked at the amazement on the guy's faces, and then continued, "So you see, he has to get better because now he has a fiance, and we're going to get married." Sarah tried to smile through the tears streaming down her cheeks and falling off her chin. "And I'm going to have his children, and you'll all be god-fathers. Lots of children, and we'll name the first boy after his father, and, and…" Sarah trailed off as she leaned forward into the arms of the guys, and they enveloped her in a huge hug, just the five of them.
Sarah reached down inside of herself, trying to find that strength that she knew she had, that strength that she knew Kevin loved. And as hard as she tried she couldn't find it, it just wasn't there. And then she realized. Her strength was Kevin, and Sarah realized that he couldn't be strong for her now. He had to be strong for himself. And as Sarah cried she thought "I will be strong for him. And for me." But for the moment all she wanted was to be hugged. And even though she was, she knew the most important arms weren't there.
It was hours later, and there was still no sign of Kevin, or a doctor to tell them how he was doing. Sarah and the boys were still sitting in the waiting room. Brian was on the phone with Kevin's mom and brothers, trying to figure out what was going on with their flight. From what the group could hear of his conversation, things were NOT going well, and it was possible that the Richardson's couldn't get there until the next day, or possibly even the day after that.
Sarah was too tired to think of anything besides her own problems though. She was honestly trying to look on the bright side of things for Kevin's sake, but that was becoming harder as time went by. Sarah was exhausted, plain and simple, and she desperately wanted someone to worry about things for her. She took another sip of her water, and then sat back and stared at the cup for a good 5 minutes before she realized what she was doing. "Jesus Christ." Sarah muttered, rubbing her throbbing temples with the tips of her fingers.
"What's wrong?" Howie asked, focusing in on her. "You need something?"
"No, but thanks. It's just that I think I'm losing my mind." Sarah tried to joke, but didn't succeed in lighting the attitude.
Genuinely concerned, Howie rose to his feet, and crossed the room to Brian. "Listen man…I think something's wrong with Sarah. She needs some time…" Howie pointed across to where she was sitting, staring down at her rings, once again lost in thought.
"Alright," Brian whispered back to him, rising to his feet slowly, and walking towards Sarah. "Hey Sarah…" Brian murmured softly near her ear, are you…" Just then his voice trailed off as his eyes zeroed in on her necklace. "Ummm, Sarah? Where did you get that?" He asked, pointing to her angel pendant.
"Kevin's mom gave it to me. Kevin has one too, they keep you from…" then the realization of what Sarah was saying hit her, and gripping the arm rest to help her she raised herself to her feet slowly, finding her strength. Calm, and collected, Sarah walked to the front desk, and when a nurse wasn't looking Sarah slyly turned the room assignment book around, and checked down the names. After throwing Brian a look to keep quiet she sprinted off down the hall, running towards what she knew was Kevin's room.
This action was not lost on the boys, and exchanging confused looks, they began to chase her. AJ realized where she was going first, and yelled after her, "Sarah! Please Sarah, don't do this!! You're only going to make yourself more upset!" But Sarah was deaf to his protests, and kept running down the winding halls, towards what she needed to see.
Upon reaching the door, Sarah threw it open, and sprinted towards the bed where Kevin lay, barely conscience. Her hands began to explore his chest, searching for his pendant, pleading with Kevin…asking if he was wearing it. At the same time tears were creating streams down her cheeks as she gazed at Kevin's bruised and swollen face. The rest of the group tumbled into the room after Sarah, and Brian moaned when he saw her begging Kevin, and Kevin's dull eyes staring back at her.
"PLEASE!" She sobbed, "Kevin you have to be wearing it, please…" Her fingers still on their mission, she began to talk of happier things with her fiance. "I love you baby…and when you get out of here we'll get married, and we'll be so happy…" Just then a parade of doctors rushed in, and began to wrench Sarah away from Kevin's immobile figure. Sarah fought them with all her strength, but she was no match for them. As they pulled Sarah out of the room, sobbing hysterically, Brian and Nick could swear they heard Kevin whisper 'I love you.' Just before the door was shut on him…
"What do you want from us ma'am?" A doctor yelled in Sarah's face, "What is it that you need so badly, that you run in here and throw yourself on a patient-"
"Her fiance" AJ interrupted, sliding a protective hand onto Sarah's back.
"Her fiance." The doctor corrected himself. "Again I ask, what would you like from us?"
"Well, for starters, you could tell me what is going on with him! I've been here for hours, and I have heard nothing. Tell me what's going on!"
Leaning back on his heels the doctor looked over the rim off his glasses, and addressed her once again. "Alright miss, here is what is going on with Kevin...