"Why did Jack say that? He knows that for me the name is a comfort zone. A zone I only went into because of my par-parents." Ali was sobbing so hard now she didn't care who heard her. "Jackers, he cam up with that because it made me think of being little. He and I would play in my back-yard with my Dad and his talking and laughing. Why would he say that and in front of people we just met!" I don't know what to think any more, Ali thought to herself. She decided she should quiet down a little because she was now aware that the others on the balcony had gone inside.

Ali continued to sob now more controllably on the balcony. Thoughts of death and pain raced through her mind yet again!

~*~*~*~*~ Justin & Chris ~*~*~*~*~

"Dude, sh-sh-sh-she is not on the third floor. Wh-wh-where else are you going to look, she couldn't have gotten that far!"

Chris was obviously out of breath. But Justin didn't care. All he cared about was getting Ali back and being able to comfort her. He didn't know why he wanted to, but he felt this was his job to find her and get her happy again! "No! Come on man! We have to move! I know you're a lot older then us, but that arthritis can't be kicking in now can it?"

"You're amazing the girl you've got a thing for is missing and you're worried, but yet you find the time to bag on me!"

"You know I can't resist it." Justin laughed, but it was a slight laugh for he was out of breath, but he kept running.

"Great something to look forward to in my old age right?"

"Don't you know it! Here lets go down to the second floor, maybe there is like a casual waiting room or something that she would well wait in!"

"Oh yes very technical Dr. Timberlake. Alright let's go, but if we don't find her, we take the ELEVATOR up got it?"

"Alright, alright. I really don't want to see you on tour." Justin was definitely proud of himself for thinking of this shots. Usually Chris was the comedian.

They ran down the stairs to the second floor and as soon as Justin spotted the balcony section he went there. His feelings were correct. He saw Ali hunched over her back moving up and down showing she was still crying. "Look Chris, would you mind if I went out there and you went up and told the guys she was ok and that I would bring her up soon?" Chris didn't have to say anything. As soon as Chris was backing towards the doors, Justin went outside.

"Ali?" Justin pulled a chair next to her.

"What are you doing here?" Her faces was so red she could have had clown paint on.

"I came here to find you. Chris and I ran around the whole hospital, but when we found you he headed back to tell everyone else you were ok."

"I just couldn't stay in there. There is so much death in this place so much and I feel like if I stay here any more I'll get sucked into it."

"Death doesn't suck you in, it is jut a course of life. But death isn't the only thing that happens here, LIFE happens here. Babies are born everyday, people are cured and peoples lives are made better everyday."

"I know that, but none of those apply to people I care about. When Jack dies I die too! He is my life and without him well I can't think of myself without him."

"Jc is going to get better because of this place ya know?"

"Yes I know that, but when he is better you are all gone. And by the time Jc is better Jack is gone and I'll never see him smile or frown and even laugh again."

"I will not leave you alone I promise, but what do you mean Jack is dying?" Justin had no idea what she was talking about.

"He didn't tell you?"

"No."

Ali went on to explain the whole horrible fact of Jack's horrible condition while the exact story was being told elsewhere.

~*~*~*~*~In the hospital room~*~*~*~*~

"Hey everything is ok, Justin is with Ali. They'll be here soon."

"Now that almost everyone is here I'd like to tell you all something. First thanks a lot Chris for going to find her."

"No problem!"

"Well I wanted to tell you about why I'm here..."

"Look Jack, you do not have to do this."

"Yes I do. See well about 4 days ago, actually 5 days since it's past mid-night, I found out that I had a I had a tumor in-grown to my heart. The usually procedure is to remove the tumor, even though it is a very risky job it is done for the last chance of hope. Since my tumor surgery is out of the question. The surgery would be very painful and unnecessary and unhelpful. It would also shorten my time. I only have about nine days left and I wanted to tell you that so it didn't come as a shock to you."

There was an awkward silence in the room until, "Jack you'll be in our prayers and we will be here for you." Lance said that with so much heat and meaning it brought tears to Jack's eyes.

"Thank you very much. I have excepted my fate and I am ok with it. I really thought death would be the scariest thing to experience, but it isn't. The one I'm worried about the most is Ali. Her parents were killed three years ago, right before my father. Ever since that we've been closer then anything. I was there for her she was there for me. That's how it's always been and now it can't stay that way."

"I'm very sorry." Jc started.

"Me too," Lance, Joey, and Chris said in unison.

"Thanks, I guess we'll just have to wait till they get back."

"Do you guys mind if I get to go to sleep. I am really tired."

"Yea, not that you're ever not tired, but I think we all are tired."

"Ok, lets get some sleep."

With that the lights went out and everyone went to the designated sleeping areas.