Best Drama
Part 1
"I’ve got this feeling you’re not gonna stay / It’s burning within me / The fear of losing / Of slipping away / It just keeps getting closer"
The monitors, the sounds, the tubes…it was all too familiar. He stood in the doorway as he watched his best friend lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life one more time. It hadn’t been that long ago when her father had tried to kill her and here she was again. Why hadn’t she listened to the doctors? She never would be here if she had just listened.
***************
AJ wandered into the kitchen where he found Courtney staring out the window watching Kevin and Nick playing basketball. He couldn’t see the tears but as he wrapped his arms around her, he felt them on his skin.
"What’s wrong, ‘Princess’?"
Not really wanting to talk about it, Courtney wiped the tears, "Nothing, ‘Bone’."
"Uh huh, try telling someone who doesn’t know you better. What’s Kevin done? I’ll kick his butt for you."
Courtney laughed despite the tears. "Kevin hasn’t done anything. Just the opposite. He’s been so wonderful."
"Then why the tears?"
Courtney turned to face her best friend. Taking a deep breath, she said, "I lost the baby."
"Oh, ‘Princess’, I’m so sorry," soothed AJ as he hugged her close to his chest. "I know you and Kevin were excited but there will be other chances."
"That’s just it, ‘Bone’. My doctor said that I would never survive carrying a baby to term. It’s too risky to my heart."
"What did Kevin say?"
"He told me that my life was more important and he’d be happy to adopt."
"There you go. Kevin’s right. Your life is more important."
"You didn’t see the disappointment in Kevin’s eyes. He wants children of his own and I can’t give them to him. AJ, I’m gonna leave him. He’s young and god, he’s sexy. He’ll find someone who can give him what he wants."
"Now you’re being stupid! You’re what Kevin wants, Courtney. He told you he’d be happy to adopt. Give him a chance. He loves you so much."
Courtney tucked her head, leaning against his chest. "I love him too, AJ."
***************
Moving to the bed, the young man put his hand on the other’s shoulder. "Have you had any sleep?"
He shook his head ‘no’ not taking his eyes off his wife.
"Go on then. I’ll sit with her."
In a ragged voice, "I can’t leave her. She’s here because of me."
"You aren’t doing her any good wearing yourself out. I promise. I’ll call if there’s any change."
Looking up at the young man, his green eyes were red and swollen and there were dark circles under his eyes. He had been there since the day they’d brought her lifeless body into the hospital.
Tears steaming down his cheeks, he pleaded, "Take care of her?"
"I promise."
Green eyes leaned over her touching his lips to hers. "I love you."
Moving to the door where their friends stood, he looked back as the young man took his place by her bed. She looked so fragile and helpless and his heart was breaking.
The tall blonde put his arm around him and the four men walked silently towards the elevator and their waiting security.
