The band was huddled into one spot backstage, they weren't nervous at all, after all it was just a concert in their hometown.
"Hey guys," said Tori as she entered the backstage area. "How's it going? You have quite a crowd out there."
"It's going," said Ryan. For some reason he didn't seem as energetic as he usually was before a concert. Troi noticed, as well as the rest of the band.
"Ryan are you okay?" she asked. "You look kinda tired."
"I'm fine, I just didn't get much sleep last night, that's all," he said.
"Dude she's right, you do look kinda pale," said Stever.
"Guys, it's the lighting or something," Ryan insisted. "It's cool, alright. I'm fine." The time had come to go onstage, and Ryan grabbed his guitar and started for the stairs. The band followed in his suit, and Tori wished them luck. Ryan had just about reached the stairs when he suddenly stopped.
"Ryan?" said Dan. Ryan heard Dan's voice, but it was unclear. It seemed to echo in his brain. The world was spinning around and around, faster and faster, quickly becoming one big blur. And then it stopped, and there was nothing.
"RYAN!!" Tori screeched. She ran to the stairs and fell to her knees beside the small heap which was Ryan.
"Oh my god, Ryan wake up!"
"He's out cold you guys," said Stever. "Jon go get Mrs. Dennis."
"I'm on my way already," he said as he ran off.
"This is bad, this is so so bad," said Dan. He looked at Tori," he's not breathing."
"What do you mean he's not breathing?" she replied. "Give him fuckin' CPR and get him breathing again!"
"I don't know CPR!" said Dan. "Stever?"
"Not me!"
"Oh my god you guys are such a big fucking help," she said frusterated. She pushed Dan out of the way and started CPR, even though she had no clue what she was doing. "Shit! He can't die," she said through her teeth. "He can't. Dammit Ry wake up!"
"Dan call an ambulance," Stever ordered. "Don't even think about dying on us man," he said outloud. A nightmare cme true, and eager audience waiting in the venue, Ryan lying motionless on the floor, and the complete feeling of helplessness.
The steady beeping was the only sound to be heard in the dim hospital room in which Ryan lie. It was the sound of his heart moniter, an obnoxious yet comforting sound. Tori sat on a chair beside the bed, silently stroking the back of Ryan's hand.
"You know young lady, visiting hours are almost over," said a very perturbed sounding nurse.
"I'm sorry ma'am," said Tori. "Please, I just need a few minutes."
"Is his mother staying tonight?"
"Yes ma'am, I think so," she ansered.
"Are you the sister, or the girlfriend?" she questioned. Tori remained silent for a moment.
"The girlfriend," she admitted. She looked back at her sleeping boyfriend with a heavy heart and heavy eyes. The nurse, though stiff and domineering, felt sorry for the girl. She could see that it would be hard to pry Tori from Ryan's side.
"I'll tell you what," she said. "I'll just pretend I heard you say 'sister'. As long as your 'mother' is here, you may be permitted to stay."
Tori's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Thank you so much."
"Just don't tell anybody it was me, got it kid?" she said sternly.
"I won't." The nurse left in a huff, and then Mrs. Dennis entered.
"Hey Tori," she smiled. "How's our sleeping beauty doing?"
"Still sleeping," she sighed. "How come you're so calm?"
"Because I know exactly why it happened, and I'm part to blame, and I also know that he's going to be just fine," she said as she took a chair beside Tori. "You see, I had too many things scheduled for the band, and what with finals and all it was rough on Ry. The nerves with exams made him lose his appetite, and throw in recurring insomnia. . ."
"He collapses from exhaustion," Tori finished.
"You got it." Tori and Mrs. Dennis both sighed heavily, hoping for good fortune.