CHAPTER 7

"Well Well Well, if it isn't my good ol brother Cameron. How's fatherhood, or wait I guess it's a bit early for that."
"Gary please"
"Please what?"
"I'm sorry but, I really don't have time for this."
"Oh really? Well isn't that too bad. Such a shame. Wait before I go, I was sort of curious as to when you are moving in. Josie has the top 3 dresser drawers, and I'll move my stuff out and you can use the bottom 3. Everything to the left of the closet is Josie's and don't worry I'll have my side cleared out, so you can use it. The lamp on the dresser needs a new lightbulb, just so you know."
"Gary come on."
"Well if you really think I'm gonna care for your little brat when it comes, then you are crazy"
"Gary, please "
"Wait your right. I should have said yours and Josie's. Please forgive me!"
"Gary, would you please shut up! I don't have time to stand here and listen to another one of your lectures."
"Why little brother? Problems?"
"As a matter of fact I have a few major ones, yes"
"Well do tell. What's got the goat of my little bro?"
"Amanda."
"OH, I see problems in paradise. Well welcome aboard," with that Josie walks up "Well if it isn't the mother of my nephew and my wife all rolled into one!"
"Gary," Josie began
"I'm sorry I guess I find it sort of neat."
"Gary would you just shut the hell up, for just one second!" Cameron yelled.
"Amanda is in there, barely alive, and I don't really have time to deal with this, ok."
"Amanda, what happened?" Gary asked shocked and a little embarassed.
"We were in a fire, and she was hurt pretty bad, so if you don't mind I'd like to go in and see her"
Gary nods his head in agreement, and feeling pretty ashamed, tells Cameron "Look I'm sorry."
"You of all people do not need to apologize. But, if you don't mind, I'd like to go in there, so Exuse me" and Cameron walks back around Gary and into Amanda's room. Still not believing what happened, he stopped inside the door way, and looked around the room. He walked over the bedside.
"Oh Amanda, I'm so sorry." And he grabs a hold of her hand. He begins to gently stroke her hair, and kisses her forehead. "I never knew a Princess could stay in such a horrible place" he began with a smile
"I always thought they needed the silver and gold stuff, and the brass bed, with servants, and I don't mean nurses!" Cameron began, trying to poke fun of the situation. Realizing this isn't the time for humor, he contiunes to stroke her hair, and stare at her, and has a few flashbacks of him and Amanda.

The song "Angel" by Sarah McLaughlan (sp?) starts to play softly and with a more serious tone, Cameron began " I know I've hurt you, and for that I'm so sorry, but you got to pull through. I know I'm not perfect, but who is? I'm sorry I can't be the man you've always dreamed about, but I can love you. I do love you, more then you'll ever know, or could imagine. I remembered the first time I came to town, and saw you. You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. And all those times on the hill. I've loved you since, since I first saw you. Your my life, and I cannot imagine my life without you by my side. I realize we haven't spent alot of time doing the things alot of couples do, like talk all through the night, dance till our feet hurt, hold each other so all of our worries and cares will just slip away, make out on the couch, sit outside counting the stars, telling each other are hopes and our dreams. I want to do all that with you, but we can when you wake up. I promise we can, but you have to open those big beautiful eyes first! I know that ever since we've met it's been one bad thing after another, but I'd go through it all over again, just to hold you, and kiss you. I'd go through it for you, to spare you the pain, and I'd never make the mistake of hurting you like I did. I'd do it all for you because I love you, I love you more then I've ever have." With that he heard a soft knocking, and turned to see Rachel standing and crying.

"Mrs. Hutchins, I'm sorry for what happened to your daughter, but I promise I didn't mean to, I just"
"No Cameron it's not your fault. I just heard what you said, and I know how much you love her."
"Oh gosh I didn't mean for you to hear that. I was just trying," he said embarassed
"No, I'm glad I did. She loves you as much as you love her. Your the first man in a long long time that's been so right for her. And before I forget it's Rachel now. No more of the Mrs. stuff, ok? Now, I want to see my baby"
"Right Mrs. Hutc, I mean Rachel"
"How is she?" As she walks towards Amanda
"Hey, Amanda, it's me. Can you hear me?"
Cameron responds to her question "Not very well, she's uncounsious, has broken ribs, ruptured spleen, brain injuries, it's not good."
"Oh gosh, poor Amanda. She's been through enough!"
"I know, and I'm sorry." Cameron says as a doctor walks in.
"Hello Mr. Sinclair, Mrs Hutchins. I would like to examine Mrs. Sinclair"
"Mrs. Sinclair? " Rachel said curiously
"Yes, mom, let's let the doctor examine Amanda" he said with a wink, letting Rachel know he'll explain later.
"Bye honey. Mom will be right back, hold on for me ok?"
"Bye Princess, hold tight" as he kisses Amanda's forehead.
As they leave Rachel would like to know what the whole Mrs. Sinclair stuff is about.
"Sorry about that, but the doctor wouldn't tell me anything because I wasn't immediate family, so I said I was her husband."
"It's ok, I understand. But before we go any futher, what in the heck happened to the 2 of you?"
Cameron begins to explain everything to Rachel. The doctor walks out of Amanda's room, and Rachel and Cameron turn toward him with high hopes.
"Doctor, how is she?" They both ask curious.
"Well, I" but before he could finish, a nurse came out from Amanda's room and said she's coming to.
They all run into her room, and watch Amanda rustling around, and she starts muttering.
"Amanda, Amanda. Your mom and husband are here." says the doctor but he's face turns to a worried look.
"Nurse her BP is dropping, and her vitals are weak. This shouldn't happen when she's coming around."
"Amanda, it's me Cameron. Please wake up, come on you can do it!"
But before he can continue her machine goes off, and her heart monitor flatlines.
"OH no, not again!" Screams Cameron. Rachel and Cameron stand looking on as the doctor grabs the crash cart, and yells "Charge 250"
"Nothing" yells a nurse
"Charge 300"
"No pulse" she says again.
"Oh God, Oh my god, no, don't let her die you hear me don't you dare let her die!" Yells Cameron as they escort him from the room, with a sobbing Rachel on his side...

CHAPTER 8

Cameron and Rachel clung to one another as the nurses and doctors worked to save Amanda. Cameron sits down in a chair, with a great deal of pain and hurt in his eyes.
"I can't believe this" he mumbles to himself. "This cannot be happening. It just can't."
The doctors steps out of Amanda's room, and Rachel and Cameron jump up and run over to him.
"Doctor? How is she? Is my daughter all right?" asks Rachel.
"Well, we were able to bring her back"
"Oh thank God!" sighs Cameron and Rachel, both very realived she's still alive.
"But, if she goes into cardiac arrest again, we might not be so lucky. Her heart is very weak right now, and we will have to monitor her closely."
"When will she wake up?" Asks Cameron
"Well, we aren't sure yet, but we hope soon"
"Can we go in to see her?" Asks Rachel
"Yes, but please only one at a time. She needs rest, and too much excitment might set her off again."

With that Rachel hurries in, leaving Cameron alone in the hallway, thinking over the events of the last few days, when he feels a tap on his shoulder. He turns around to find Gary standing behind him.

"How's Amanda?" he asks
"Not good. She just arrested again."
"Oh no."
Cameron couldn't bare to look his brother in the eyes.
"Cameron, I just wanted to say I'm..." but Cameron wouldn't let him finish
"No, don't. Don't even appolgize. It's all my fault for what happened between me and Josie. What we did was wrong, and a huge mistake. But you got to believe she never stopped loving you, never."
"Cameron please, please don't. Not now ok?"
"Listen, I'm free to go home. Wherever that is." explains a still hurt and confused Gary
"Good I'm glad. At least I know your ok." says a 1/2 releaved Cameron
"Yeah, I just wanted to come by and say take care, and hang in there ok?"
"I'm gonna try, but I, I,"
"But what? Cameron?" Cameron turns away from Gary, and looks down the long hallway ahead of him. Watching the nurses rush about, and the family members hustling to and from their loved ones rooms.
"Cameron?" Gary butts in
"I'm so scared. I'm scared I'll never see Amanda's smile or her eyes, or feel her smooth skin, or touch her soft silky hair, ever again. I'm afarid we'll never be able to hold hands or have long talks, or go dancing. I thought, thinking she was dead was the most horrible feeling, but actually sitting here, looking at her in this condition is probably worse. I hate this. I hate seeing her hooked up to all these machines, and to watch her nearly die twice. Well, I can't even expalin it. I hate the fact she's in there fighting for her life. Why? Why Gary? Why did I have to fall in love with her? Oh God, Gary. What if she dies?"
"Cameron, I don't know what you want me to say?"
"Nothing I don't want you to say or do anything. Listen you can go home, so go. I think Rachel is almost done, and I want to go in there and see Amanda. I'm sorry I wasted your time, I'm sorry about how much I hurt you, I seem to be pretty good at that, and I'm very sorry about what happened in Boca Lynda."
Without saying anything, Gary turns his gaze away from Cameron, and walks away, and a tear slips down Cameron's face. Rachel comes out of Amanda's room. Cameron whipes the tear from his face.
"How is she?" Cameron asks running up to Rachel
"Ok. Visiting hours are nearly over, and it's almost the twins bedtime. So I'm going to go home. Call me please call if anything changes. I'll be back first thing in the morning."
With that Cameron walks into Amanda's room, and walks up to her bedside.
"Hey there. You gave us another scare." Cameron says gently "Listen up. Don't you ever, ever do that again. Ok? I don't want to ever feel like that again. So don't you leave me ok?"
Cameron places his head next to Amanda's and gently kisses her lips. "I love you. I love you so much, Alli does too. She called, you know. She wants her mommy. I told her, you'd call her back real soon. I know you can't dissapoint her." He pauses hoping for some kind of miracle. "Come on Amanda. Come on honey wake up."he pleads.

Realizing he probably won't get very far tonight, Cameron decides to pull a chair up next to Amanda's bed, and try and get some sleep. As he closes his eyes, and starts to drift off, he hears a nosie. He jumps up, and realizes Amanda is coming to, and was trying to talk.

"SHHH Amanda you don't have to talk" he tells her "Oh thank you God.
Thank you so much!" Cameron says so full of hope and excitment.
"Cameron?" Amanda struggles to say between coughs and a few failed attempts
"Yes, it's me." and Cameron's face lights up, full of hope and love.

CHAPTER 9

The next few days pass in a blur. Cameron decided to go home change, and get some rest. He headed back to the hospital, and saw a doctor leaving Amanda's room.

"How is she?" he asks.
"Well, we are hopeful. Her vitials are stable, she's awake, and alerte. We think it's only a matter of time, before she makes a full recovery. However, stress or any upsets are bound to make her regress. So make sure she stays happy, and care free."
"Thanks I will" Cameron repiles with a smile. He walks into Amanda's room, as she's paging through a magazine.
"Hey there beautiful!" he bonces in with a huge smile
"Cameron!" she says happily, putting down her magazine
"How are you feeling?" he asks
"Better now that your here!" she says, as he comes over and gives her a kiss on the forehead.
"I just talked to your doctor and he says your doing great."
"Oh am I?" she says giving a small smile "Did he say when I can go home?"
"Woah, there honey. One step at a time." he chuckles leaning in for a kiss
Joe walks into Amanda's room, along with 2 officers, interrupting the couple.
"What's going on here?" asks Amanda
"Cameron Sinclair?" asks the officer
"Yeah?" repiles a confused Cameron
"Cameron Sinclair your under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you..." the cops voiced trailed off as Cameron turns towards Amanda. Amanda can't believe what's happening.
"What, what for? I don't understand?" she asks, grabbing onto Cameron's hand
"For the murder of Carl Hutchins, and for the theft of the Cory's money, now please put your hands behind your back" replies an upset cop
"NO! Joe do something! I testified for Cameron. I thought the DA believed us! I don't understand"
"Amanda, I can't do anything. I'm sorry. The DA is ready to charge Cameron."
"NO! I won't let you take him. He's innocent. You know it and so do I."
"Amanda, just calm down. I'm gonna be fine. I'm sure once everything is sorted out, they'll realize they made a mistake." Cameron says trying to calm Amanda down, remembering what the doctor had said about stress.
"But Cameron."
"Mr. Sinclair?" says an impatient Cop
"Amanda, I love you, and I promise I'll be back with you as soon as I can."
"Cameron I love you too. I do. I'm so sorry about everything, but I understand. And after this, I realize life is so short, and I can't imagine my life without you"

Cameron pushes away from the cops and goes over to Amanda's side, and kisses her softly on the lips. The cops were going to go over to grab Cameron, but Joe shook his head no, and wispered to just give them a few mintues.

"Cameron you have 5 mintues, we are going to be right outside." and Joe and the cops left Cameron and Amanda alone.
"Cameron, I, I,..." but she couldn't finish "It's just not fair." she finally finished.
"Amanda I know, but I'm hoping the charges will be dropped. Don't worry about me ok? You have to get better. I want to be able to hold you and kiss you, again." he said smiling.
"Oh Cameron I want that too! I promise to get better and I'm going to go on down to the station and bail you out! I promise. I sell whatever I have to.." but Cameron wouldn't let her finish.
"Oh no you don't! You keep that pretty little behind of yours parked in this bed. You hear me!"
"But"
"No buts. I don't want you to aruge with me"
"Ok, but please be careful. Remember that I love you. Don't forget that ok?"
"I won't. Hang tough, princess. I love you"
"Cameron, will you do me a favor before you go?"
"Anything you want" he repiled

"Kiss me." And without words he leans over her bed and kisses her softly on the lips, for what they want to be forever. Cameron knew he had to go, and with that he stood up, and let go of Amanda's hand. She watched as he got handcuffed and dragged off, obviously down to the station.

At the station, Cameron was brought into an interigation room.
"Joe, come on. You know that Guthrie was the one who shot Carl, and stole the money." Cameron repiled, rubbing his wrists, glad he was out of the cuffs
"Ok, Sinclair. I know that, but we need to get Amanda in here to testify under oath."
"Why Joe? She already did that, remember?"
"Well, the DA believes she was lying. They want her down here and under oath. They think with them sitting her, along with other cops, she'll change her story, and they think they can drag some other information from her as well.
"No, no way. I'm not dragging her back into this."
"Cameron if you want to keep your butt outta jail, we are going to have to drag her in."
"No, I'd rather sit in jail, then bring her back in this. She can't handle this right now."
"Cameron,"
"NO Joe. My decsion's final."
"Ok, then I'll have to go tell the DA." and Joe leaves the room, but Josie comes in.
"Well, Cameron never thought I'd see you back here." she says with a grin
"It was all big mistake."
"Ok, fine sure. Look the reason I came in here, is I got the results back from my pregnancy test and I thought you might like to know."
"Well of course I want to know? But, Please Josie tell me your not, please tell me your not pregnant."
"Well Cameron..." Josie begins, her face not revealing anything.

CHAPTER 10

Josie and Cameron sit in silence until Cameron jumps up.

"Well Josie, are you? Are you pregnant?"he asks impatiently
"Yes, Cameron I am."
Cameron nearly faints, and his face turns white.
"Oh my God. No. This is not happening."
"Wait relax."
"Relax? You just tell me I'm gonna be a dad, and you want me to relax?"
'Yes! Because it's not yours."
"What? I mean are you sure?"
"I'm 2 months along, so there is no way you could be the dad."
Cameron's face color returns to normal, and he begins to laugh hysterically. "Oh this is great. I couldn't be happier for you! For you AND Gary. THANK YOU LORD!" and he runs over and hugs Josie, and kisses her on the cheek.
"Cameron?"
"Sorry. It's just I haven't heard such great news in well, in a LONG time!"
"Well, congradulations, I guess" she respones.
Joe walks back in the room.
"Cameron, we have some good news."
"This could just be my lucky day." he smiles "What is it Carlino. I mean Officer"
"Well, Amanda is here, and she's willing to testify for you to the DA again."
"What?" his voice turning from relieved to panic. "What in the hell is she doing out of the hospital?" He runs out of the room and smack into Amanda's wheelchair.
"Damn it Amanda, what are you doing here?"
"Cameron if you think I was just going to let you rot in prison, then your, your, really stupid!"
"My gosh, your words hurt" Cameron chuckles, but then he grows serious again. "Your too ill. You can't"
"Listen up buddy. I'm just fine. I'm here, and I may be in pain, and I may be tired, but I love you and I'm gonna help you. Now just shut up, and let me do this for you."
"Please take it easy." Cameron says and the DA walks in "Miss Cory?"
"Yes?" and Cameron steps in front of Amanda's wheelchair
"If you hurt her, because of your questioning, so help me God..." but Amanda grabbed his arm "Cameron," Amanda warns. "Don't add any more charges here" And Cameron turns away from the DA.
Tyrone shows up.

"Well Amanda, are you ready?" he asks
"Yes, I guess I am," she says looking up at Cameron
"Go easy on her please" Cameron repiles, and Tyrone pushes her wheelchair into an interigation room.
Cameron paces back and forth, until the door to the inerigation room opens, a little while later, and he rushes over to it. "Well? What happened?" he asks anxiously "And where's Amanda" he asks noticing she not in the room
"Cameron, things are looking good for you!"Tyrone begins
"Seriously?" he asks happily
"Yes, Amanda gave quite a defense for you."
"She did?" Cameron asks.
"Yes she did. She really turned up the heat. She made sure you came out smelling like a rose!"
"Speaking of Amanda, where is she? I want to see her."
"Well, she got really tired, and a nurse took her back to the hospital."
Tyrone said, "But, before you go I think I should give you the good news."
"Didn't you give me good news?"
"Yes, but I thought I'd save the best news, for last."
"Well don't leave me hanging! Tell me!"
"Your a free man"
"Free?"
"Yes, free. All charges have been dropped"
"OH man thanks! This has to be the best day of my life" he says shaking Tyrone's hand happily. "Listen, I have to go and see Amanda. Thanks again" and Cameron jogs off to the hospital. He runs straight to Amanda's room, and knocks softly but notices she's asleep. He goes in anyway, and grabs a hold of her hand. "Guess what? I'm a free man because of you. You did it. How am I supposed to thank you?" he asks lovingly Amanda's eyes open, and she repsones
"How about a kiss?" Cameron smiles "A kiss? Are you certain that's not to big of a thank you for you?"
"Why don't you try and see?"
And with that he gives her a sweet kiss.
"Ya know what?" Amanda asks as they part
"What?"
"I think I handled that nicely."
Cameron laughs, "you know what I think?"
"What's that?"
"I don't think I gave you a big enough thank you"
"Oh is that so?"
"Nope"
"Well you'd better try again." and the 2 kiss passionetly until a doctor knocks on the door.
"Exuse me" the doctor says "but I thought you would like about your latest test results"
"Of course. " Amanda says
The doctor's face grows serious
"Doctor, I feel great, I mean that's what the test showed right? Right? I mean I want to go home soon. When can I go home?"
"Miss Cory, I have something I need to tell you about your results"
And a worried Cameron and Amanda look on.

CHAPTER 11

Amanda and Cameron look on with worried looks
"Doctor," Amanda began "What is it?"
"Well I have both good news and bad news"
"Good news first" Amanda blurted out
"The good news is, you can go home"
Amanda turned and hugged Cameron. Both were overjoyed
"BUT," the doctor began "You'll have to come back, first thing in the morning"
"What? Why?" Amanda asked
"Because we noticed a large mass, around your liver. We thing it may be cancerous"
Amanda couldn't catch her breath. "Cancer. Me?"
"Well, we aren't sure. We had done a few tests, x-rays, and we noticed a large mass. It may be cancerous, or maybe not. We removed it, during surgery, after the accident, but we didn't want to share it with you until, you were better. We are running tests to find out if it's cancerous or not. If it's not, then everything's fine. If it is, then we'll discuss your options laster"
Amanda and Cameron were speechless.

"You are free to go, but please get a lot of rest tonight. You will need to contiune your medication, get lots of sleep, and please don't go back to work for at least a week. We think you should be around someone, for a few days, in case something were to go wrong. I'll see you again in the morning." And with that the doctor left the room.

Amanda sat up, and couldn't believe what she just heard. A few tears slipped down her face. Cameron reached up and whipped away the tears.

He got up and placed his arms around Amanda.

"Cancer? I mean me? I, I mean why me? Why not someone else? This isn't fair. Damn it Cameron, what if I die? Alli. Alli needs her mom. Alli needs me. I can't die. I can't have cancer Cameron." And with that Amanda callopsed into Cameron's arms, sobbing.
"Amanda, we don't even know if it's cancer yet. Let's just hope for the best ok? Don't you dare think bad yet."
"Cameron, I have to face reality. I mean, what if?"
Cameron's arms tightened around Amanda.
"I'm not going to lose you, ok. I'm not. I just got you, and I'm not going to let you slip away. You hear me. Don't give up on yourself, because I haven't given up on you."
Amanda and Cameron sat and held each other for what seemed like forever, but Amanda pulled away, and went and got dressed. When she got out, Cameron asked "So you ready to go home?"
"No, Cameron. I don't want to go home."
"Ok, then where do you want to go?"
"Anywhere, anywhere as long as I have you with me." she headed out the door, and grabbed Cameron's hand led him out of the hospital.
They ended up at the hill, where they first kissed. Amanda dropped Cameron's hand, and felt the wind blow through her hair, and felt the cool air against her skin.

"Do you remember when we were up here together?" she said, breaking the silence
"Yeah. Yes I do"
"I remember, you had run up here, and I wanted you to kiss me, but you wouldn't. You started to walk away, but you didn't. You came back and kissed me. I thought you left, but you did come back. You did. Oh and do you remember when I sprained my ankle up here, and you had to carry me home?" she said laughing.
"Yeah, you hated every mintue of it" he chuckled, remembering the incident
"No, no I didn't. I just wouldn't admit it. I loved being in your arms. I felt so secure" and she sat down on a bench, and started looking at the sky towards the stars.
"There's so many of them."
"Of what?" Cameron asked sitting down next to her
"Stars. There so many of them, and there just little specks of light to us. I remember when I was little, my dad used to tell me, the toothfairy took all of our teeth up there, and placed them in the sky. That was what stars really were."
Cameron smiles. "It must have been nice having such a close family"
Amanda shirvered in the cool night air. Cameron noticed and placed his arms around her.
"We should get you home"
"No, I can't. I can't go home."
Amanda stood up, and started to walk around. "I never thought about dying. Not really anyway. I always figured I'd be around, to watch Alli grow up. I mean she'd go to prom, and learn to drive, graduate, go off to college, get married, have kids. What if I never see that? What if I never get the chance?"
"Amanda, don't. Don't talk like that!" Cameron interjected
"Well then what am I suppose to say? Am I suppose to get my hopes up, and then have them crushed? I can't. I just can't." Tears started pouring down Amanda's face, and Cameron came over and kissed her tears. He placed a hand on the small of her back. "Come on" he said, and led her to his apartment.
"I know you didn't want to go home" Cameron said opening the door.
Amanda sat down on Cameron's bed, and Cameron sat beside her. He placed his arms around here, and they sat together, holding on for dear life.
Tears slipped down both of their faces
"Cameron" Amanda said
"Yeah?" he responded
"Would you just hold me? And never let me go."
Amanda layed down, and placed her head on Cameron's chest. Cameron stroked Amanda's hair, and they layed in each other's arms crying.

CONTINUE

By Molly