As I laid on one of the lounge chairs by our in ground pool, I watched everyone that I had really gotten to know better since Kari and I had snuck into the Orlando Arena last summer. Nicole, Kevin, Howie, and A.J. were in the pool, Nick and Brian were barbecuing, Sam and Regina were playing with the girls, and the Carter kids were running around and chasing each other. The only person missing was Kari.
I guessed Brian noticed it too. Every once in awhile he would turn away from the barbecue and glance around the yard, his blazing blue eyes darting back and forth. Every time he would let out a small sigh and then turn back around dejectedly, only to start up his search again a few minutes later.
I still felt really guilty about his break up with Melani, so I decided to go over to him and apologize. "Brian?" I asked softly as I came up from behind him and Nick. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure," he replied flatly, putting down a pair of tongs and moving closer to me. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Look, I'm really sorry for what I said that day at the hospital. I didn't mean any of it, I was just so upset, and I had to blame somebody. I really hope we can be friends again."
Brian gave me a small smile. "I understand Amy. I would have done the same thing if I was in your position. You sure slapped Melani hard though, damn girl!"
I grinned. "Well, I try."
"Amy!" Nick stuck his head out of the screen door that connects the backyard to the kitchen. "Phone for you, it's Kari!"
"Okay!" I ran into the house with Brian following me. I took the phone from Nick. "Hello?"
"Amy, it's me." Kari's voice sounded distressed and weak. "I-I'm not gonna make it to your house today."
"What? Why not?" Brian's eyes filled with worry when he noticed the expression on my face. "What happened Kari?"
"Look, just come to the hospital. I can't talk much longer I-" Kari stopped.
"Hello? Kari? Kari?!" After a few minutes the phone clicked. "Shit," I silently cursed. "Nick honey, I have to go to the hospital. Something's wrong with Kari. You guys can eat without me, I'll try to get home as soon as I can."
Nick nodded. "All right."
I went to grab my keys and head out the front door but Brian pulled me back. "Wait for me. I'm coming too."
"You?" I asked in disbelief. "Why?"
"Because I need to talk to her before it's too late." Brian looked like he was ready to cry. "Please?"
"All right, come on."
Brian smiled and we got into my car and drove to the hospital.
* * * * *
"Amy?" Kari called out as Brian and I slowly walked into her room. She looked ten times worse than she had yesterday; she looked small and pale. "Thank God you're-" She stopped when she noticed Brian come in behind me. "What are you doing here?" she finished coldly, slowly turning her head away to avoid his gaze.
"Kari, I need to talk to you."
"What about?" she asked curiously, still trying to avoid eye contact.
"About us."
"Us? Brian, don't you get it? There is no 'us', and there never will be again."
"That's because you won't let there be," Brian said softly as he sat down in a chair close to the bed.
"I won't? If I remember correctly, you were the one that broke up with me."
Brian winced. "I know. But please, hear me out now."
Kari sighed. "All right. It's not like I have anything better to do until my surgery."
"Surgery?" I asked worriedly. "What surgery?"
"That's what I have to tell you. My liver is basically destroyed. I need a transplant. They found a donor, and my surgery is in a few hours."
"Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine Amy, you have to stop worrying so much. Now Brian, what do you have to say?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being so insensitive when I should have been caring. Today I saw how happy Summer and Autumn were with Amy and Nick and I realized something. We weren't ready to have kids. There was no way that the girls would have been happy with us, we don't know how to raise kids. I don't blame you for your decision, and I'm sorry that I let you go because I was so stupid." He paused. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want you back. I know there's no way that you ever will take me back, but I just had to get that off my chest." When Kari didn't say anything, Brian stood up. "Sorry I wasted your time. I'll be going then."
Kari watched as Brian slowly trudged to the door. "Brian, wait! I... I love you."
Brian turned around. "You what?"
"Damnit Brian, you know you heard me!"
"I know, I just wanted to hear you say it again." He rushed towards her and they kissed.
"Aww," I said. "I'm glad you guys are back together."
Kari pulled away from Brian, and he frowned. "I'm sorry Bri, but you're gonna have to wait until after my surgery. If you guys don't mind-" she yawned. "I'm kinda tired."
I nodded. "Okay. I'll come by to see you after your surgery."
"All right." Kari yawned again and then slowly closed her eyes.
"She looks like an angel when she sleeps," Brian whispered as we walked out of the room.
"Too bad she's a devil when she's awake."
* * * * *
"So what's wrong?" Nick asked as Brian and I came back into the backyard. Him and the others were sitting around the picnic table. Their plates were clean, so I assumed that they hadn't eaten yet.
"Oh Nicky honey, I told you that you guys could've eaten without me," I said as I took a seat in between him and Nicole.
"No, we couldn't have," Kevin said, glaring at Nick. "Someone wasn't paying attention and burned the food!"
I shook my head and sighed. "Nick, what the hell am I gonna do with you?"
"Cook him?" Brian asked hopefully. "I'm hungry."
"Some best friend you are," Nick mumbled. "I already put more food on the barbecue, don't worry about it."
"Did you feed the girls?"
"We did," Regina said proudly, pointing to her and Sam. "And then we put them down for a nap, they were gettin' cranky."
"Thank you. So anyway, Kari needs a liver transplant. All the alcohol she drank that night completely ruined her liver, so her operation is today."
"And on a much happier note, Kari and I are back together," Brian added.
"I hope that makes her feel better," Nicole said. "Because if that doesn't nothing else will."
"I hope so too Nicole." I sighed. "I hope so too."
