***The Next Morning***

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Nick woke up early the next day. A nurse had come to check Jessica's blood pressure. Then, the nurse left.

"So, you're still not awake," he said to her quietly. "Being stubborn, huh? You've always been stubborn. So have I. We're two of a kind. I know you'll wake up. God won't take you away from me. He knows you're needed here by many people. I have to go make a phone call, but I'll be right back." He placed her hand down, and walked to a waiting room where he found a telephone. He called Brian's cell.

"Nick! Where are you? We have a concert tonight!" he said when he heard Nick's voice.

"I can't be there, Bri."

"What do you mean?"

"Last night, Jessica was in a car accident. I have to stay with her."

"That's terrible. How serious?"

"She's in a coma. They don't know if she'll ever come out of it. And, I kind of caused it. I refused to talk to her when she came by last night. She left crying. Then, got hit by a car."

"It'll be alright, buddy," Brian said.

"Will you please call Kari? She hates me and I think she need to know about Jessica."

"Okay. I'll call her. Take care of yourself, Nick. Oh yeah, what hospital are you in? I'm sure Kari will want to stop by."

"University. Room 308."

"Thanks. Call me later."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."

Nick walked back into Jessica's room. There were nurses getting ready to take her somewhere.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"We have orders to take her in for a CAT scan. It won't take long."

He sat back down and waited for her to get back. Ten minutes later, Kari walked in."

"You idiot!" she said. "Why didn't you call me last night? You could've done something. She needs a real friend here."

"I am a real friend," he said.

"Yeah. And that's why you let her practically get killed. She called me after she left your place last night. She told me what happened. How could you do that to her?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Kari."

"Where is she anyway?" Kari asked.

"She had to be taken for a CAT scan."

"Okay. Well, I'll just wait here." She sat in another chair across from Nick. They sat there and she glared at Nick until he couldn't take it anymore.

"Why do you have to act like this now?!" he shouted. "You're sitting over there giving me the evil eye for no reason. If it makes you feel any better, then yes, I blame myself. It's all my fault. Is that what you want to hear? Cause right now, I don't think it matters. We can't change the past, so we have to accept the present."

"I'm sorry, Nick," Kari said shocked at Nick's outburst.

"You have no idea how much I'm beating myself up about this. I really don't need you to keep telling me what I did wrong. Believe me, I know."

The nurses brought Jessica back into the room. Nick hated seeing her being wheeled around by strangers. "I'll let you have some time alone with her, Kari. I'll be back soon. Nick walked out the door and headed towards the hospital's chapel.

Back in Jessica's room, Kari sat where Nick had been, by her bed.

"Jessica, I don't know what to say. I don't even know if you can hear me, but I'm gonna talk anyway. I really want to be mad at Nick. But, the other part of me says he's being a good guy by staying beside you while you're here. I should lay off of him for a while. He really is having a bad time with this. So am I. I really want you to get through this. I know you're strong. I've known you all of eight years. If you can't make it through this, then nobody can. You're a fighter, Jessica. You always have been."