Nick was awoken by a knocking at the door. He glanced at the clock. 6:55 P.M. He quietly got up, realizing it was probably dinner. Sara just laid in the bed, not even stirring in her sleep. He threw on his robe, answered the door and got the food. He had planned on them eating at the table, but knew that Sara would be exhausted. He gathered up the sack, two plates and some utensils and headed back into the bedroom. He sat them on the nightstand and sat on the bed. He reached over and softly caressed her skin. "Rhi, honey, the food's here." He kissed her on the lips and smiled when she responded back. "I must've worn ya out," he giggled. All she did was smile, but that soon faded as she smelled the food. "What's wrong?" Nick could see she wasn't pleased.

"What's that smell?"

"I got your favorite, Chinese." He smiled, hoping that she would become somewhat excited. All her face showed was disappointment about having to eat. "Sweetie, you have to eat," he said sternly.

"Fine," she sighed. "I'll do it for you." Much to her surprise, she enjoyed dinner. Maybe it was Nick's company. Maybe it was the wonderful time they had shared earlier. She wasn't sure what it was, but she was actually eating, not picking at her food like she normally did at their dinner time.

Nick was relieved to see her digesting something. He knew if she was going to get better, he would have to start forcing her. He hated doing it, but knew it was for her own good...and for his. He couldn't imagine being without her now. Before, imagining life without her put a deep pain in his heart, now, it just tore his insides apart. He looked at his beautiful girl as she sat in her pure white robe and he practically melted. After they finished eating, all Sara wanted to do was be held in Nick's arms. He did as she wanted; enjoying every moment her breath touched his skin.

About an hour later, Sara woke up to find Nick fast asleep. Her stomach was feeling queasy again, so she quietly skidded into the bathroom out in the hall so she wouldn't wake up Nick, her knees hitting the floor as soon as she shut the door.

A half hour later, Nick felt a shiver run down his body. He looked down and saw that his arms were grasping at nothing. "Where'd she go?" he questioned quietly. "Sara?" he called out as he got up and retied his robe. "Rhi, where are ya?" He walked out of the room and saw the bathroom light peeking out underneath the shut door. "Damn it," he whispered. "I swear, if she's gettin' sick again," he felt like he was at the end of his rope with her. Did she want to die? Was that it? "Rhi, open up, it's me!" he shouted through the door. There was no answer. "Rhi?" He put his ear against the door and heard nothing. He reached out one of his shaking hands and opened the door, turning pale at the sight he saw. There, lying on the cold linoleum floor in front of the toilet was Sara, her robe loosely wrapped around her small body. "Oh my God! Sara!" He picked her up, holding her cool, motionless body in his arms. "Sara, please wake up!" He was crying by now, unable to hold back the pain and fear he was feeling. He held her head against his chest, rocking her back and forth. He pressed his warm lips against her freezing forehead. "Sara, what are you doing to us?" he cried softly.

Twenty minutes later they were at Ruskin Memorial. Relieved to hear that she was still alive, he explained Sara's state to the doctors, telling them she had been bulimic for over a year. He watched through the window as they connected an IV and various machines to her little body. He decided it was time to call his mother.

"Hello?" asked a half asleep Jane.

"Mommy, it's me," cried Nick.

"Nicky, what is it?" He had her full attention once she heard his sobbing.

"Mom, its Sara, she's...she's..."

"Honey, what's wrong with Sara?" Jane was trying to remain calm, but expected the worse.

"I found her passed out on the bathroom floor, she's alive...she's so sick!" he cried aloud.

"Oh my goodness, we'll be right there."

"Thanks mommy," he said, hanging up the phone and returning to watch his girl as the doctors did their thing, monitors beeped and the IV emptied into her weak body.

Fifteen minutes later Nick saw his mother and BJ running through the doors, panicking as they saw him still sobbing.

"Nicky," said his mother, embracing him as he clung to her.

"I've been trying so hard to help her. I know she loves me, how could she not wanna stay alive?" He felt like he was going completely crazy.

BJ was in shock. Never had she seen her brother pour out emotions like this. She didn't know what to say.

Jane looked through the window and saw Sara lying on the table. "Oh my..." was all she got out before a doctor walked out.

"Mr. Carter, I'm Dr. Windsor."

"Yeah, I remember," Nick said through his tears.

"The young lady will be okay as long as she gets some help, but I'm afraid that there was no chance for the baby."

"Baby?" all three of the gasped.

Nick's expression turned into one of horror. "She was pregnant?" he cried softly. "Oh my God!" he cried a little louder.

"Maybe you would like to go into my office," comforted the doctor.

Jane did her best to lead a zombie-like Nick into the private room. BJ stayed outside, staring into Sara's room, feeling like she needed to watch over her for her brother.

Once they stepped into the room, Nick broke down even more. "I never knew...I mean, she never..."

"Honey, she probably didn't know. Dr. Windsor, how far along was she?" Jane asked as she hugged her son.

"Only about a month," the doctor said sadly. "Mr. Carter, I'm very sorry. I thought you knew." Nick said nothing, just sobbed. "Please, feel free to stay in here and talk. I need to go back out and check on Ms. Jones."

After the doctor left, Nick sank down in his seat and onto the floor. "Mom, she never told me...she didn't even know...she doesn't realize how much I need her!" he yelled out.

Jane sat on the floor next to her boy. "Sweetie, we need to get Sara help and we need to get it ASAP. I know how much you need her and I know how much she needs you. We're gonna help her. You alone aren’t enough to make her see what she's doing. She needs professional help," she comforted while letting Nick lean on her shoulder.

"I know she's gonna flip once she finds out about the baby. Oh God, we had a baby," Nick choked on his words as he began to cry harder.

"Honey, you have to be strong for Sara." Jane found herself beginning to cry. "You're still her best friend. She needs you right now."

"I don't know if I can do this." His blue eyes were showing fear.

"Do you love her?" Jane asked simply.

"More than anything," breathed Nick, trying to stop his crying.

"Then I know you can do this. You were never one to turn away from something you loved."

There was a knock at the door. "She's slowly coming to," said the doctor. "I think she'd like to see you."

Nick breathed in deeply and walked into the hallway and into Sara's room. She was still lying in the bed that seemed huge compared to her small frame, but her body was no longer motionless. Her eyes fluttered as soon as the door opened.

"Nicky!" she exclaimed quietly.

"Shh," he smiled big, so glad to see her awake.

"Nicky, I'm so sor..."

"No, don't. No need for apologies in this situation. All you have to do is promise me that you're gonna let me help you, and that means getting some real help."

Sara knew this was coming, but as she stared into Nick's blue eyes, she realized that if she didn't get help then she may not be around to stare into them much longer. "I promise," she said seriously.

He didn't know how to bring up the pregnancy situation. How was he supposed to tell her that there had been a baby inside her and it died? Against his better judgment, he knew he had to let her know before she left the hospital. That way if she slipped into too deep of a depression, there would be professionals around 24/7. Hell, once she left and came home he'd hire a professional shrink if he had to. "Sweetie, we have to talk."

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