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Bethany woke, ready to find Nick with the money, but he was gone. She sat up quickly, panic and rage combined into one hallowing emotion for her.

"God d*mn it." She cursed. Bethany stood, wiggled into her clothes and frowned. What would she tell Nate? Would she tell him? The thought made her shiver with fear of being alone.

Back in the Hospital room. Nate came sneaking in, looking tired and worn. He had been out most of the night. Up to some of his old antics, he had been out with Atticus, busier than he'd been in ages. He had acquired, two little cuts on his cheek, from an accident he wouldn't speak of... a bit of dried blood was around the wounds. He looked over at Jeffery, blinking for a moment, then he looked at his watched, and a small smile came to his face. And he took a seat in one of the chairs. He wondered where Beth was, but he couldn't think too far into it, because he fell asleep.

Bethany trudged out of the house, feeling worse than she'd ever had. She aimlessly walked to her car, her shoulders slumped, her head hanging. She should've known Nick was lying, she should've know..

When she arrived at the hospital, she could feel herself come apart at the seams. Bethany walked into the room slowly, her nose red from the cold, her hair soaked from the rain.

Nate jumped slightly, and blinked his tired amber eyes in the dark. He suddenly snapped awake, when he saw her he stood up quickly. "Hey, Beth? Are you okay?" he asked softly, hurrying over to her, careful to be quiet and not wake Jeffery.

"He wouldn't give me the money... He.. Wouldn't..." He voice was at a whisper, and hardly audible. Her face was broken, as was her spirit.

Nate blinked at her gently, "...Beth..." he sighed softly, he wrapped her in a hug, and pulled her close, trying to assure her that it was going to be okay. He didn't know, however, of what Nick had put her through.

Bethany wavered, thinking it was the last time she'd hug Nate. "He tricked me Nate.." She muttered, not hugging him back, "he tricked me.."

When she didnt return the hug, and when she spoke, he looked down at her, still holding her in his arms. "What?" he asked worridly. "He tricked you... How?... Why?"

Bethany's breathing hitched and she looked at the ground, "He told me...that if I did him a favor he'd give me the money..He promised...And I did...Then he left..He left.." Bethany's voice broke and she buried her face in her hands.

Nate let his arms fall to his sides. His eyes changed, from love, to disbeleif, and finally they became solom. He looked at Beth, not with a look of anger... But with the look you would give to a complete stranger, someone you had never known. Hr dididnt speak, he just stood there... Silent...

"Nick...Please.. I-I'm so sorry.." Her shoulders slumped and she stood. "You can leave..I won't try and stop you." She chocked, walking over to Jeffery's sleeping figure.

After a moment of thought, he headed out the door. His heart heavy and aching. He loved her still, no matter what she had done, and it was that love that made his leaving so difficult, but he continued down the hall...

((I think Jeffery should die..))

Bethany was alone now. "don't you dare disappear. I can't be alone..I can't be alone.." She sang quietly, feeling tears streak down her face. She cradled Jeffery's hand painfully, feeling her heart twist with agony.

(I was gonna have Nate rethink things, then go just a little bit crazy and run back real quick... Oh!! We could have him and Beth just make up when Jeffery dies, cuz it was like too late for the doctor's to save him?)

Suddenly, three doctors burst into the room, with various IVs and medications.

"Hurry now boys!" One of them ordered.

"Ma'am, you have to wait in the hall while we give him his antibiotics." Another said, coming to Beth's side.

"W-wait, but we...I can't pay for it." She corrected herself.

((Yeah, we can do that. ))