"Hey Brian, feeling better?" I asked. Brian had just woke up and because I was his doctor, I got to see him first.

"Yeah, are you here as a doctor or as a friend?" He asked, knowing that if I was there as a doctor he had to listen to me. That was something that rarely happened.

"Doctor." I smiled at the look on his face. "Don't give me that 'Oh great' look. I'm not going to do anything to you. I just need to discuss some things with you and your family." I sounded very professional, or at least tried to.

"It's nothing bad, is it?" Brian asked. He sounding a little worried.

"No, nothing to worry about, just stuff like what's going to happen when you leave the hospital and what you're going to need to do to stay completely problem free, just stuff like that." I knew he was still worried. "Do you want me to get your parents now or talk about this stuff later?"

"Let's do this now so I don't have to think of it." Brian said, sounding so mature I had to laugh.

"Okay," I managed between giggles "I'll get them." Brian was laughing too but I wasn't sure if it was because of how he sounded or because I look so completely silly when I giggle. I couldn't stay serious around him or the other guys. They always made me laugh.

Plans were made for Brian to stay in Florida when he was released from the hospital because he shouldn't travel just yet. Nick was happy to let Brian stay with him while he was recovering. Brian wanted to go to his own house but we (his mom, dad and me) convinced him to stay at Nick's so he would have someone there in case something happened. We also decided that they wouldn't go back on tour for at least four months to be safe and that Brian could leave the hospital soon. Dr. Smith or I would make sure he was fine once a day and a nurse would check on him twice a day.

"Hey Jackie! Got a sec?" Brian called as I started to leave with his parents.

"Sure, my shift's over so I got all the time in the world." I sat back down beside his bed.

"Did you tell Jason about this yet?" Brian asked.

"Yeah, I did. I almost forgot to tell you. He and Nat are in Europe right now looking for the perfect ring for Judy and at some conference thingy." I was lying through my teeth.

"He wanted to come back but couldn't get a flight 'til Saturday. He says he hopes you feel better and he'll call a soon as he gets a chance." I hoped Brian bought it.

"Good, I don't want him to come back just for me. I know he hates hospitals too." Brian was also lying. He wants to see Jason. I thought to myself. "Tell him I'm fine and not to hurry back I know he wants to find the perfect ring." Brian chuckled. Jason had been looking for a ring for months now and it was kind of funny.

The next day

The casket was being lowered into the ground beside Jason's mother's and sister's graves. I was in tears. So was almost everyone else at the funeral. Jason looked terrible. He was really pale and just kept staring at the casket. He hadn't cried, but he never did. He didn't need to. You could see how upset he was by looking at his face. It had been two days since he had last spoke and we were out of ideas as to how to get him to snap back to reality. AJ had come and was sitting next to me. He had taken his glasses off for the funeral and you could see tears welling in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks.

"I didn't know Jason would look that bad." AJ commented as we drove back to the hospital, "He didn't cry. I thought he would."

"Jason never cries," I was staring out the window, "I've known him a long time and I've never once seen him cry. He hasn't been talking for two days now. He's so upset that Nat's gone." We sat in silence for the rest of the ride, both wanting Nat back with us.

The Next Day

"What do you mean he's gone?!?" I yelled over the phone.

"He wasn't there when I woke up this morning and I haven't been able to track him down all day! He just disappeared!" Judy's voice shook over the phone. “Jackie, what are we going to do?"

"Don't worry, we'll find him. I'll get someone to cover the rest of my shift and be over as soon as I can." I hung up the phone. What are we going to do? I thought to myself.

From Dr. Smith's perspective

"All right Brian, we're just going to run a few tests, nothing to worry about." I told him. I was covering for Jackie. She had rushed up to me in the hall and told me all about what happened.

"Okay, it won't take a long time, will it? Nick just challenged me to a race," Brian pointed to Nick who was trying to set up the N64.

"Probably about half and hour or so, not too long." I knew Brian hated tests. "Dr. Wilson will meet you there."

"I'm playing musical doctors here. One hands me off to another." Brian joked as a nurse wheeled him down the hall.

"Hey, isn't it supposed to be Jackie's shift? No offense or anything, but Brian just feels more comfortable around her." Kevin asked when Brian was gone.

"Yes, but there was a problem at the theatre. They needed her to sign some stuff or tonight's show would be canceled." I lied. You owe me big time! I thought. You better find Jason!

"How does she organize everything at once anyway? She's always running around like crazy trying to get everything done!" Howie commented.

"I don't know, she always manages everything but it always seems hectic beforehand." I managed a smile. These guys know her as well as I do, I thought.

Chapter 5
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