Greya's POV....

Just when I thought the clouds were opening and rays of sun were shining brighter upon me; BAM! Another storm rolls in.

It's been a great week up to this moment. My team made it to the championship game which happens to be later tonight. Loxley is enjoying his music sessions with Professor Phelps. He's been less stressed the last few days; his muscles haven't been contracting as much. Could be because we've fallen into a morning routine where I go over to his house and help him with his stretching and range of motion exercises that his PT says he should be doing daily but needs someone to help him with those. I also think him playing music and being able to sing really benefits him too. Gives him a sense of independence and a boost in self confidence. We've been happy together too. He's trying not to focus so much on his past and I'm trying not to focus on an impending doom.

A week of bliss and I almost felt like I was ready to talk to my counselor about weaning off my anti-depressants. That is until now. That impending doom I was trying to let go of, has casted yet another shadow upon my life. It's 2am and Chase is screaming in pain and clutching his lower right abdomen. Fynn's about to drive us to the emergency room.

"Grey! It hurts!"

"I know bud, can you walk to the car?"

"Nooo!"

"I've got him Grey," Fynn swoops in and cradles him in his arms.

It's probably not a good idea that I'm driving, but Chase is clutching to Fynn for dear life, so I hold back my tears and anxiety enough to get us safely to the hospital.

Fynn carrie's Chase into the ER while I give the lady at the registration desk all of Chase's information and insurance card.

My hands are shaking, Fynn's standing next to me with a crying 13 year old in his arms. The lady is looking at us strangely, probably wondering if I'm on drugs from how anxious I look or wondering what two twenty-one year olds are doing with a screaming young teen. I'm sure she's seen much worse, this being L.A. and all. Frankly I don't care what she thinks as long as she gets my brother seen by a doctor soon.

Luckily with Chase's cries of pain and the fact that I've told the lady that he's blind and all of this is extra scary for him, we're immediately sent to an exam area.

Two different nurses enter and both begin taking vitals and assessments.

"Who's touching me? Grey tell me what they're doing?"

I'm on one side holding his hand, Fynn's on his other side of the bed, trying to stay out of the nurse's way.

"Does he need two nurses? Since he can't see, he relies on the sound of our voice and he'd be more comfortable hearing from one nurse and having limited people touching him." I tell the two nurses who stop what their doing for a moment. One nods at the other and leaves our room.

"Chase, my name is nurse Jackie. I'm going to take your temperature with a digital thermometer that goes next to your forehead but it won't touch you."

"O...okay. Ouch! My stomach really hurts!"

Jackie checks his temp and charts it in the lap top.

"I know you're having a lot of pain, can you point and show me exactly where so I can check?" This nurse is very nice. She seems to know what to do with kids and I appreciate her explaining everything to Chase first.

"Here. It hurts in this area." Chase places his hand to the right, below his belly button.

"Is it okay that I feel your belly?"

"Um, sure. Fynn? Where are you?"

"I'm right here little man. Want me to hold your other hand?"

Chase nods his head.

Nurse Jackie lightly palpates Chase's belly. Chase flinches and hisses when she touches the area of pain.

"I'm going to step out for a few minutes so I can find your doctor. He's going to feel your belly too and then he's going to want you to have an ultrasound, which is a way of taking a picture of the inside of your belly so he can see what's going on in there."

"Okay, hurry please!"

The nurse leaves. Someone needs to give him something for his pain. I hate seeing him suffering and not knowing what's happening to him.

A few minutes later Dr. Schwartz comes in and does his assessment then has the nurse give Chase the much needed pain medication. Someone brings in the ultrasound machine and explains how it all works and what to expect. The Dr. stays in the room and watches the monitor as the ultrasound tech rolls the wand over Chase's abdomen.

Meanwhile, Fynn and I remain holding his hands. I try my best to stay calm and positive for Chase's benefit, it's hard when I'm falling apart inside. Fynn thankfully notices my struggle and begins distracting Chase by talking about the new comic book he just read.

"It looks like Chase will need his appendix removed," Dr. Schwartz says.

"What do you mean? What does that consist of?" This can't be happening.

"Yeah, how will you take it out?" Chase asks next.

"Well, you'll need a small operation. You won't feel anything because you'll be asleep through the procedure. We make three small holes and we use special instruments that go through the little holes and cut out the organ that's causing you all this pain. When we remove it all, we apply a special glue that closes the small holes so you'll only have very tiny scars. When you wake up, you'll feel a little sore for a few days, but you won't feel any more of the pain you're feeling now."

"Grey, I'm scared." Chase turns his head towards me.

"I know it's scary, but this will make you all better. You're the bravest and strongest person I know so I know you'll be good as new when Dr. Schwartz removes your appendix."

I'm scared too Chase, so scared. Good thing he can't see my face or Fynn's. Fynn is good at hiding his emotions for us, but I know him, he can't hide them from me.

"I'll have nurse Jackie come in to prepare you. Miss Matthews, you'll need to sign a consent. We'll get him into surgery within the next hour. In the meantime, I'll give you some pain medication Chase which will help you feel more comfortable." The Doc tells us.

Yes, get him the pain meds.

As the doctor steps out, I follow him. "Am I able to escort him to the operating room? He needs to hear exactly what's going on, every step. He's scared and he can't see and we usually describe everything for him...."

"Miss Matthews, take a few deep breaths." He places a firm hand on my shoulder. I feel like hyperventilating.

"That's it, in through your nose, out through your mouth. Chase is in good hands. You're welcome to come with us as far as the operating room doors."

"Okay," I take another few calm breaths.

"Looks like you'll have lots of support while you wait for your brother," he says and points to my left.

I turn my head to see what he's pointing at and just about collapse at the sight of my friends. It's barely 3 A.M. and they're all here; Cohen, Declan, Ari, Loxley, and Liam.

Ari is the first to rush at me with a hug. "What are you all doing here?" I allow my tears to fall. Everyone else walks up to me and we're now in a group hug in the hallway.

"Fynn texted us. Where is the little man?" Cohen answers.

"Right in there," I pull away from the group and point to the door in back of us.

Everyone makes their way into his room. Loxley is the last to enter and stops before we walk in to give me a more personal embrace.

"H...how are y...you holding up, L...love?"

"Not to well. Hospitals aren't my favorite place. Too many bad memories at hospitals," I hold onto him tighter.

"Thank you for coming."

"Of c...course, Love. I'm h...here for y...you and Ch...Chase. W...we all are."

He doesn't have his cane or crutch with him, so he grabs my hand and walks with me back into Chase's room.

As we enter, Chase is already explaining to everyone how the doctor will be removing his appendix. The pain meds must be kicking in because he's chatting up a storm now. Having his whole family here with him helps too.

Nurse Jackie returns with papers for me to sign and helps Chase dress into a hospital gown. Everyone takes turns holding his hand and giving him words of encouragement. I'm so thankful for this group. They mean the work to us.

Twenty minutes later, Chase is ready to be brought to the operating room. Everyone goes to the waiting room while I keep a hold of my brothers hand while he's rolled down the hallway.

"You've got this little brother. It will be done and you'll be awake again before you know it," I tell him.

"Don't worry Grey, I'm not scared anymore. Tell everyone to stay and wait for me."

"No one's going anywhere. We'll all be here when you wake up. I love you, Buddy," I lean over and give him a kiss on his head.

"I love you too Greya. See you soon!"

I choke back tears. My voice straining. "See you soon."

And just like that, he's whisked away. I stay standing by the double doors, to afraid to move or do anything really. I'm not sure how long I stand here, but Fynn finds me and drapes his arm around my shoulders and leads me to the waiting room.

We're all sitting next to each other. I know they're encouraging me to stay positive, but I'm not able to focus on their words. I'm numb. I can't lose my brother. I'd never recover.

"C...come here L...Love," Lox pulls me into his side and I rest my head onto his shoulder. He doesn't need to say anything, instead he lightly brushes his fingers up and down my arm to comfort me.

Another hour of waiting passes. I'm going out of my mind sitting here, unable to to help my brother.

Everyone talks quietly amongst themselves. Fynn and Declan leave us to go get us all some coffee.

I get up and stretch and walk a lap around the room hoping to relieve some of my nervous energy.

That doesn't work, so I sit back down in a chair on the left of Loxley and gently move his bent left arm towards me and begin massaging his arm muscles.

"Y...you d...don't need to d...do that r...right now," he softly says.

"I need to do something. I'll feel better if you let me."

He leans closer to kiss my temple. "Okay, Love. Th...thank you."

I'm glad to have something to do, to help. I can't do anything for Chase right now, but I can do something for Loxley. It's calming for me, rubbing my fingers down his arm and stretching his fingers and wrist. It may benefit him, but it also benefits me, being able to lend a helping hand.

"What y...you've been d...doing for m...me every morning is w...working," he smiles.

"W...watch," he slowly pulls his hand from mine and shows me how he can slightly bend and straighten his elbow. It's not a lot, maybe an inch or two at most, but normally he needs to use his right hand to grab into his left arm and forcefully move it.

He's smiling while showing me and now I'm smiling too.

"Wow, that's fantastic. I'm so happy." I take his weak hand into mine and hold it.

"Thank you for making me smile," I nudge his shoulder with mine.

"You m...make me smile e...every d...day, beautiful."

I start crying again.

"Hey, d...don't cry. Ch...Chase is a r...resilient kid, j...just like h...his sister," he kisses my head this time.

"We've got the coffee," Declan says as him and Fynn come back with 2 trays of caffeine for us.

"Thanks guys. This means so much to me and Chase that you're all here."

"Of course we're here, where else would we be?" Ari says as she takes her coffee and plops down in the chair next to me.

"And when he wakes up, we will still be here spoiling him with what ever he wants." We all smile at her.

"We sure will. That kid can have all the braille comic books we can find," Cohen chuckles.

Just as were all distracted and smiling, the doctor enters through the door, and all time and reason cease for me. Everything's in slow motion while I watch him remove the scrub cap from his head and hold it in his hands.

This scene before me is a rush of deja vu as memories of the doctor telling my father and I that my mother had passed and my grandmother has suffered a fatal brain aneurism.

Suddenly my head's spinning and then.....nothing.