"There you were wild and free / Reachin’ out like you needed me/ a helping hand to make it right / I am holding you all through the night."

‘Green-Eyes’ stood off from the others on the telephone. "Yeah, you might as well postpone the shows....she’s in ICU...We’re NOT leaving her until we know she’s okay...Put them at the end.....I don’t know. We haven’t had a chance to talk to the doctor yet. I’d say at least two weeks worth, may be more...Sure, I’ll call as soon as we know something."

He hung up and joined his other three friends as they sat watching the young man.

"What did they say?" asked the shorter blonde.

"They weren’t happy but they’re going to reschedule some shows."

The young man came out of her room and plopped down between the shorter blonde and the shorter dark-haired friends. He felt drained and his head hurt. He leaned back running his hands through his hair.

"How is she?" asked ‘Green-Eyes’.

The young man raised his head. "Her dad scared the crap out of her but I managed to calm her down and she’s asleep again. I sure hope the doctor keeps him away from her."

"How about you?" asked the tall blonde.

The young man shook his head. "I don’t know. Seeing her hooked up to all those machines scares the hell out of me."
‘Green-eyes’ said, "You’ve got to stay strong for her. She needs you."

The young man looked at him and then at the others. "She needs ALL of us."

*****

When Courtney got off the school bus, she spotted Alex sitting on her front steps with four other guys. She was so excited to see him that she ran the whole block to her house and into Alex’s arms.

"Oh my god! Alex! When did you get here?" asked Courtney excitedly as she held on to him.

"About ten minutes ago! I want you to meet the guys."

Courtney stepped back but Alex kept his arm around her waist. She asked, "Are these the guys in your group?"

"Yeah. Over there leaning against the post is Kevin. He’s the oldest. Next to him is Brian, his cousin. This is Howie here, and the little blonde kid is Nick."

"Hey," said Courtney very aware of Kevin’s stare.

They all said their ‘hellos’ and Courtney couldn’t help staring back at Kevin. His eyes were so intense and he was so serious.

Alex said, "We’re getting ready to leave for Europe in a few days but I couldn’t leave without introducing you to them or telling you where we’re going."

Courtney turned to Alex. "Europe? What for?"

"Mr. Pearlman thinks we’ll do better over there."

"What am I going to do without you, Alex?"

"Nana and Pops will be here. You can go to them."

"What about Denise?"

"She has to go with me as a chaperone since I’m underage. I promise, I’ll call you every day and I’ll write."

That made Courtney laugh. "You HATE to write, ‘Bone’?"

Kevin caught the nickname she’s used and asked, "What did you call him?"
"It’s my nickname," said Alex. "’Bone’ cuz I’m so skinny. Courtney, where’s your dad?"

"California. He’s started making long hauls that keep him away for several days at a time, sometimes a whole week. He’s not due back until late tomorrow."

"No wonder you don’t have as many bruises."

Courtney looked around at his friends worried about what they would say.

Alex said, "Don’t worry. I’ve told them about your dad and they aren’t going to say a thing."

Courtney breathed a sigh of relief and Kevin said, "We’re headed to Nick’s in Tampa for a party. Why don’t you join us?"
"I’d love to."

Alex said, "Go grab your bathing suit, Princess."

*****

The four friends had decided one of them needed to stay with the young man at all times to make sure he ate and got some sleep so ‘Green-eyes’ had taken the first round.

The young man spotted the doctor coming down the hall and cornered him. "We need to talk to you."

"Let’s go have a seat then."

The young man led him back to where ‘Green-eyes’ was sitting and took a seat across from the doctor; he and ‘Green-eyes’ were together on the couch.

‘Green-eyes’ spoke up. "Doc, we’re all concerned for her safety, that her father will come back and harm her."

"Technically, there isn’t much I can do. He IS her next of kin."

"She’s eighteen though. She’s of legal age," protested the young man.

"But she can’t make any decisions for herself. Unless there is some legal document from her giving someone else power of attorney, there’s nothing else I can do. I shouldn’t tell you this but since I’ve seen how she reacts to you and her father. He wants her off life support."

That enraged the young man. "He wants her dead so he won’t get into trouble."

‘Green-eyes’ remained calm and said, "It’s been several hours since her father was here and you haven’t done anything about taking her off."

"Frankly, I didn’t want to do anything without talking to you first. I was hoping that she had something in writing to counter her father’s wishes."

"She never imagined he’d try to kill her," said the young man angrily.

‘Green-eyes’ remained calm and now said, "She has a power of attorney and a living will. I convinced her it was necessary given his tendencies."

The young man was thrown for a loop by this and looked at ‘Green-eyes’. "Why didn’t she tell me?"

"She was going to as soon as we got home. She just had it done in the last couple of days by Ali’s dad."

The doctor asked, "When can you get the documents?"

‘Green-eyes’ looked at his watch. It was early in the morning as he said, "Later this morning. I do know that she doesn’t want to be kept alive by machines either."

*****

Alex and Courtney were sitting alone by the pool with their feet dangling in the water watching the others playing around. Kevin had gone to get them a drink and they were talking.

"Alex, what’s up with Kevin?"

"What do you mean?"

"Does he have a girlfriend?"

"No. Are you interested?"

"Sort of. How much does he know about me?"

"Enough to know not to rush you. Courtney, not everyone is like your father."

"I know. You’ve taught me that. For some reason, I feel like I can trust him."

"You can."

Kevin returned and handed Alex his drink and then Courtney’s. Alex got up and left the two alone. Kevin sat down beside her and hung his feet in the water too.

"Alex has told me so much about you. I feel like I already know you."

Courtney looked down into the water trying to avoid Kevin’s eyes.

Kevin realized she was uncomfortable and said, "Why don’t we take a walk so you can talk without worrying who will hear you?"

"I’d like that."

Kevin stood first and offered her a hand. Courtney put her hand in his letting him help her up and the two walked towards the beach holding hands as Alex looked on.

Howie saw it too and said, "Looks like Courtney is learning to trust people...reaching out."

"A helping hand to make it right," said Alex. "I’m glad she is able to do it. I just wish she’d find someone who is going to be here with her in case her father hurts her so bad that she can’t get to a doctor.

Part 4