Chapter 5

She walked slowly into Nick's room in ICU. She didn't know what to say. All she felt was the attachment of him to her. She loved him. She knew she felt this way when she first rescued him from the car accident several days ago.

"Nick," she whispered. "You don't personally know me, but I saved you about 6 nights ago. My name is Valerie Lanier. My sister loves you guys, but to be honest I can careless about your music. I hope you wake up. Your friends need you.... a lot. Your friend Brian, he's going through a hard time. He's the worst out of all of you. He could use his best friend. He could use all the help he can get. I don't know about you, but I would want to be up to help my friend."

"I've already been here," Brian said entering the room in his wheelchair without his nurse.

"You shouldn't be here!" she scolded at him while standing up from Nick's side.

"Don't be my mother. Please. I know, but I was getting bored and I needed to see my friend."

He moved over by Nick's other side.

"You like him?" He asked Val suddenly.

"What?... Um... yeah, I do."

"Don't hurt him. I know he'll like you when he first sees you, just please don't hurt him. He's been through so much and he doesn't need someone to hurt him."

"I won't I like him too much to hurt him."

"Ok, I trust you. Hey Frack, it's Frick here. I'm sneeking up here for you. I need you buddy. You need to get up soon, before I start physical therapy because once they get me going there will be no stoping me and then you'll never be able to beat me at b-ball."

"Do you guys compete a lot," Val asked.

"No, but it always keeps us on our feet. We just say we do to get better. It helped me recover after my heart surgery. I still haven't recovered from that, and now THIS happened and I don't know what to do."

"You'll get through it," a male's voice said causing both Brian and Val to turn around. Standing in the door was Joey and Jamie behind them. Joey had been talking.

"Hey Joey, and Jamie right?" Brian said.

"Yeah. You're good," Jamie said as they both walked in. "You should be back in your room mister!"

"Thanks I know. Just gimme a couple more minutes here."

"O.k. I'll be back in 5 K?"

"Ok thanks." Brian said turning back to Nick as Jamie left with Val.

"How are you doing with all this?" Joey asked.

"It's overwhelming. With Nick and everything, it's amazing just to think if he doesn't wake up. And then there's me... don't get me started."

"If you need anything, you know me and the other guys are here for y'all right? I mean you're my friend too and friends help each other."

"Thanks, I know you guys are here for me, but that still doesn't change the fact that it's gonna take me a long time to heal. Not to mention walking again."

"I wish I could help. Um... Is that all that's wrong with you."

"Miraculously yes. The doctors said I was lucky that i only hit my head and that I didn't break my spine, I could have become paralyzed. That would be permenant, at least this isn't."

Just then, Jamie came back in.

"C'mon Brian, let's get going back to your room."

"Alright, I could use some rest anyways. Bye Joey, bye Nick." brian said as he was wheeled out of Nick's room.