Chapter Three

Early the next morning, Carol returned to the hospital. For today was a big day for Dave. It was the day of his surgery.

When Carol walked into his room, it was empty. She immediately panicked and ran out of the room and into the hallway. "Dave," she called out. She quickly searched the hallways and randomly checked rooms. He was no where to be found.

She went to the front desk. "Excuse me," she said franticly. "I can't find my found."

The nurse looked up form her computer. "Excuse me," she said, thinking that Carol was playing a trick on her.

"My friend, Dave," she said, "who is a patient here, is missing from his room and I can't seem to find him."

"When was the last time you saw him?" the nurse asked.

"Last night." Carol was starting to get a little impatient.

"Do you know where he went?"

Carol's mouth dropped open in disbelief. She couldn't believe the nurse's stupidity. She wanted to say how stupid can you get, but what came out was, "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you where the hell he went."

"Indoor voice, please," the nurse said, "this is a hospital."

Carol threw her hands up in desperation. "Why did I even bother?"

"I'll call security and see what they can do."

"Yeah, you do that," Carol said before walking away from the desk.

She was walking down the hallway, back to Dave's empty hospital room when a voice behind her sarcastically said, "I thought I heard your lovely voice." She quickly turned around saw that it was Dillan. He was "looking" out his door. "I love waking up to it."

"Sorry," said Carol.

"Sorry?" Dillan said with surprise. "No fight?"

"I don't know where Dave is."

"Dave?"

"Yeah, my-"

"Friend," Dillan finished, filling output.

"I went to the nurse," she said.

"I heard."

"Was I that loud?"

"Yes."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dave enter the hallway. "Dave?!" she yelled and ran up to him, leaving Dillan by himself. "You are so lucky you are on crutches and getting surgery soon, mister. I would have tackled your ass to the ground."

Dave smiled. "I heard you were looking for me."

"Where the hell were you?" Carol asked. "I was so worried."

"I only went for a little walk," he laughed.

"A walk? You should be in bed, resting," she scolded him.

"But mother, I may never see the outside again."

Carol playfully hit him. "Don't talk like that."

Dave looked behind Carol and saw Dillan, his threat or who he thought would be a possible threat. "Hey," he said to him.

Dillan nodded his greeting.

"Ten more minutes," Dave said. "Let's go get me ready for my surgery." He didn't want Carol around Dillan.

"Okay," said Carol. She turned around to say her good bye to Dillan. But the spot where he was at was now empty and his room door was closed. She didn't even hear him leave. "I'll meet you in the room," she said to Dave.

Dave gave her an unsure look, but left to his room anyways. She made sure to watch him go into the room before knocking on the door to Dillan's. Not a sound could be heard from behind the door.

"Dillan?" she called.

"Come in."

She slowly opened the door and peeked her head in. Dillan was sitting on the bed, looking, if he could see, out the window.

"And you want?" he oh-so-kindly asked.

Carol ignored his attitude and strolled into the room. "What are you doing in twenty minutes?"

"Why?"

She glared at him, but then realized what he was trying to do. He was trying to get a rise out of her. Usually she would be up for the challenge, but not today. She was way too worried about Dave. She took a deep breath before asking Dillan a question. "Can…can I came back here in twenty minutes…while Dave's in surgery?"

He didn't say anything for a couple of minutes. She knew he wouldn't answer or he would say no to her. "Okay then…," she said, breaking the silence. It was worth a try.

Carol moved towards the door. "Sure," he finally said quietly.

She gave him a surprised look before saying, "Thank you."

"You should leave now," he said. "God knows I don't want to deal with you right now, before spending who knows how long later."

"Okay. See you," she said before leaving a very shocked Dillan.

"Where did you disappear off to?" Dave asked Carol when she walked into his room.

"I was just talking to someone," she replied. "It's no big deal. How are you?" She was distracting him, trying to change the subject. For some reason, she got the feeling that he didn't like Dillan. If he knew she was talking to him, she didn't know what Dave would do. "Are you ready?"

"Kind of nervous," he said.

"That's normal. But don't worry. Everything is going to turn out fine."

"You just jinxed me Carol."

She laughed and gave him one final hug and kiss on the cheek. Two nurses walked into the room. "Are you ready?" one of them asked while both were getting him prepared for the surgery.

Dave gave a weak laugh. "As ready as I'll ever be."

One nurse went up to Carol. "You can wait in the lobby or go home if you want."

"I'll be in room 28," she said. "Can you get me when the surgery is done?"

The nursed nodded and said to Dave, "Lets get this show on the road."

As the nurses wheeled him out of the room, he called out to Carol. "Have my McDonalds ready for me later."

She laughed, remembering one time when she was visiting. She had asked him if he wanted something special to eat after his surgery. He had replied with McDonalds.

"See you later," Carol said.

When they weren't in sight anymore, she went to Dillan's room. Music could be heard coming from behind the door. She knocked softly and heard him bid her in. She walked in and saw that Dillan was sitting on his bed, guitar in hands.

"Here already?" he asked.

"You know I can't resist you," she joked.

He snorted. "I wish."

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing before you interrupted me."

She stuck her tongue out at him, forgetting for a second that he was blind. "That's right," she said, remembering that he and John were in a band. "Do you just play the guitar?"

He shook his head. "I also do vocals."

"Coolness."

She stood at the edge of his bed, wanting to ask him a question, but didn't know if it would be rude or not. "How do you know how to play?" she asked and hurriedly said, "Since you can't see and all."

"I don't need eyes to see," he said.

"Oh," she said, wishing that he would elaborate.

"I've been playing the guitar since I was little. I grew up around them. I remember where and what cords are what. By the sound it makes, I know if I hit the right cord or not," he said. "I doubt that you would understand," he added.

Carol narrowed her eyes at him. "It was a nice little speech until you said the last part."

Dillan shrugged. "It's true."

She ignored him and walked to the window. "You have a perfect view of the parking lot."

"How nice," he said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry," Carol quickly said. "I didn't mean to-"

"Stop," Dillan interrupted her. "Just stop it right now or leave. I don't need or want your pity."

"I didn't-"

"Shut up."

Carol opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She closed it and moved towards his bed. He was "looking" her way, even though she knew he couldn't see, it still gave her an unnerved feeling.

"I've always wanted to know how to play the guitar," she said, trying to get on his good side.

"How nice," he replied sarcastically.

Dillan didn't hear her reply to what he said. Why wasn't she being her feisty self? Why did he even want her to be? Was it that he actually enjoyed her company? No, he thought, never in this life time.

"Come here," he said, patting the side of his bed. He felt the bed move as she sat down.

He gripped his guitar, debating on whether or not he was going to do what he was about to do. "Here," he said and gently handed Carol the guitar.

She just looked from the guitar to him and back again. She wasn't sure if she wanted to take it or not. She saw Dillan frown and then she quickly, but gently took it out of his hands before he could say anything.

For two hours Carol spent her time with Dillan. He taught her what cords were what. He even attempted to teach her a song. All in all, it was an enjoyable experience. But what she didn't like was that whenever he touched her hands, to move her fingers in the right place, she would get the butterflies.

Finally, a nurse walked in, telling her that Dave's surgery was a success and that he was back in his room resting. Carol thanked her before she left the room.

"I have to go," Carol said. She handed him his guitar back. "Thank you."

Dillan grabbed the guitar and nodded.

"Bye," she said, walking to the door.

"Carol," Dillan called.

She looked at him. "Yes."

He hesitated for a second before asking, "What color are your eyes?"

Confusion came over her, bus she answered anyways. "Green."

"Okay. Tomorrow is my last day."

"Oh. What time are you leaving?"

"Whenever John picks me up."

"Oh…well, don't leave without saying good-bye."

Dillan laughed. "Believe me, I won't. Besides, John won't let me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked defensively.

"You should go to your friend now," he said, ignoring her question.

"But-"

"Go."

She glared at him, not liking how it always seemed that he was ordering her around all the time. She slammed the door on her way out.

Thank you to luckygurl12 and ohayo for reading and reviewing.