*!It's Easier to Run!*

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~~~~~~~~~

It's easier to run

replacing this pain with something numb

it's so much easier to go

than face all this pain here all alone

Something has been taken from deep inside of me

The secret I've kept locked away no one can ever see

Wounds so deep they never show they never go away

Like moving pictures in my head for years and years they've played

~~~~~~~~~~~

Driving down the interstate into Carolina, Angel listened to the CD's that Jeff had in his player. She shuffled from Our Lady Peace to Linkin Park, and just sang along with the music.

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If I could change I would take back the pain I would)

(Retrace every wrong move that I made I would)

(If I could stand up and take the blame I would)

(If I could take all the shame to the grave I would)

(If I could change I would take back the pain I would)

(Retrace every wrong move that I made I would)

(If I could stand up and take the blame I would)

(I would take all my shame to the grave)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

She heard her cell phone ring as she was singing along, and she turned to pull over so she could answer it. She didn't like talking on her cell when she was driving, because it took away from her concentration on the road. As she pulled over to the side of the road, she felt the brakes go out from under her feet.

"Holy shit, I'm going to crash."

Opening her cell quickly while trying to steer the car, she heard Paul's concerned voice on the other end of the line. She needed help and she needed it fast.

"Paul! Jesus, wherever you are, get help on I-96. The brakes on Jeff's Vette are gone, and I can't steer or stop it. I'm going to crash."

Throwing the phone down onto the seat, she grabbed Jeff's thought book, as the car went into the guardrail and down the hill. She saw the tree before it saw her, and then faded into the blackness of the night.

****************

"How could you let her drive it with faulty brakes? If you knew, you shouldn't have given her the car. Jesus Jeff, she might die."

Matt was scared. Over the past few months he had become very protective of Angel and to see her the way she was now, well it pissed him off that he couldn't do anything. It all came back to that damned Corvette. His best friend was lying in a bed in some hospital because of the brakes. He couldn't even fathom life without Angel.

Shawn was absolutely beside himself. He sat with his sister, not letting her go. The last thing he remembered thinking was 'It's in your hands now.' Faced with the possibility of losing her, he couldn't seem to leave her bedside. He had to make her keep fighting. Him and Stephanie kept watch when Shawn needed a stretch and Matt ate slept and cried in the waiting room, as he waited for some word.

No one could seem to leave. Everyone came and visited but they, like Matt wouldn't leave.

"Matt I didn't know the brakes were bad. I drove the car to the arena and there was no problem with them. Shawn can even tell you that, we ended up driving together. I gave her the car to drive home in so she could do some thinking. She was totally into it."

"Then someone tampered with the brakes on your car Jeff? Is that what you're saying?"

"I don't know Matt, but I have that care checked all the time. You know that about me man. Why would I send her out in my car when I know she would get hurt?"

"I don't understand it Jeff. Your car was fine and then it just died. Something isn't right here, and now Angel has to pay the price."

***********

The door opened to the waiting room and Paul and Stephanie walked back in. They looked tired, Matt noticed. He didn't talk to Paul much but he could tell that he cared about Angel, and about his best friend.

"Guy's she's out of surgery, and she's fighting. The doctors have her in the Intensive Care wing, but they don't think it's as serious as they thought a few hours ago when they brought her in. They managed to stop the bleeding. I think me and Stephanie are going to get something to eat and come back. Has anyone gotten a hold of John yet? I thought he might want to be here."

At that moment Shane burst through the door, still dressed in his wrestling clothes, makeup still applied.

"Jesus, I just got a call from Amy. She told me to get my ass down here. How the hell did this happen? Amy said something about the brakes just died in Jeff's car?"

"Sit down Shane; I'll explain the whole things to you buddy." Matt said, helping Shane to her seat.

Shane sat down as Matt started telling him about what happened in Jeff's car. Shane's expression went from worried to concerned. He was trying to keep it cool but he was dying inside. He should have told Angel to just come clean about them dating. They used John as their go between and now everyone was wondering where the new boyfriend was. When his girlfriend was lying helpless in a hospital bed and no one had a clue.

"Guys, don't bother calling John anymore. He won't come. He's not her boyfriend. He's her friend and everything but she led you to believe something different then what is actually real."

Jeff stared at Shane in shock. How did he know that Angel and John weren't together and weren't lovers. From what he'd seen, Angel and Shane barely spoke to one another. Matt should be the one who knew.

"Shane, she's going to be alright man. It was really serious for awhile, she was losing a lot of blood, but the doctor stopped it. For the most part anyways. Shawn's resting up in the lounge if you want to go see her. They only let one of us in there at a time."

Matt understood everything that Shane was feeling right now. Angel had told him two weeks ago that she couldn't go out with him because of his best friend Shane. It seemed that Angel and Shane started talking when the others stopped talking to her and they had managed to keep it hidden. John helped her out when he found out. Matt figured Shane was what Angel needed right now, if she did wake up.

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Shane walked down the hallway with the nurse and she pointed him to the right door. He took his mask off because he didn't think Angel would need to see that if she woke up. He laid it on the chair and ran his fingers through his hair. She was fine but she looked so helpless.

"Angel, I don't know if you can hear me, but it's Shane and I'm here. It took me awhile, and I'm sorry I Didn't come right away, but just wake up and don't hold this against me alright?"

He touched her skin, noticing that she was still as soft as ever. What she was doing in Jeff's car, he had no idea. He just didn't like seeing her this way.

"Shane..."

Shane almost fell backwards in the chair. He hadn't expected to hear her talk, let alone have her know he was sitting right there with her.

"I'm here baby. I know you can't talk much so we'll talk more later. Are you feeling alright? Do you need me to get you anything?"

"You're wearing your superhero thing. Water would be good though. What happened to me? How long have I been out?"

Angel coughed and tears welled up in her eyes. She remembered the brakes failing and her crashing, but how did she get to the hospital?

"You've been out according to Matt, about six hours. They gave you surgery to stop the internal bleeding, but it seems that you're doing fine now. You scared the hell out of a room full of people though. Shawn is pretty much being considered for the mental ward. We finally got him to sleep in the lounge."

"How's Jeff's car?"

"Angel don't worry about the car. I'm going to let the nurse, and everyone else know you're awake. Just rest and relax for a few minutes. I'll be back."

************

Shane went out and told everyone that Angel was awake. Paul and Stephanie decided to take off, and they gave Shawn their best to pass along to his sister when he got the chance to see her. Matt and Jeff decided they needed to talk to Shane, and let Shawn be with his sister first.

"Shane, what's the deal here? Why isn't John here, and how do you know they aren't together anymore?" Jeff asked.

Shane knew this was coming. He didn't really want to hear it from Jeff right now though. Matt was cool, he was accepting of everything Shane did as long as it didn't hurt his family. Shane knew this was the scenario where Matt would get caught in the middle. How do you tell your best friend that you're dating someone he might potentially care for?

"Jeff sit down, and I will tell you everything."

Shane watched Jeff sit down and shot Matt a concerned look. This wasn't going to be easy. Everyone was on edge because of the accident.

"I'm listening."

"John and Angel never went out. Not even once. It was just planned to look that way."

"Why would she lie about something like that? She's physically been hanging out with Cena, and it's everywhere, even on Raw."

"Jeff, man let me get this out alright? Remember when you and Shawn gave her the silent treatment? She was home a lot with me and Matt. Matt inadvertently pushed her in my direction and I'm a guy, I took notice. She's the most beautiful girl, and her boyfriend and brother pushed her away. We grew closer because of that, and John agreed to help is hide it. Not the best decision I'll grant you. It's just not something we want broadcasted."

"So you knew there was something unfinished between us and you still started dating her anyway? I'm right in assuming that much am I?"

Matt listened to the tone of voice from Jeff and he had to get involved. It seemed Jeff was just looking to pick a fight now.

"Jeff, hear Shane out. Angel's lying in a hospital bed, severely injured and you're out here behaving like a five year old. You chose the way this is playing out when you chose to ignore her. Shane's being honest with you now. Man to Man. I know you're emotions are all messed up right now, hell so are mine, but you guys are friends, damn good friends. For my sanity and Angel's just let it go. You guys fighting is not going to help her right now."

Matt made a lot of sense and Jeff knew it. Before the accident he had acted like an ass and pushed Angel away. He didn't like the fact that he had pushed her into his best friend's arms though. He was glad he made the attempt before the accident to make things right. He just wished with all his heart she wouldn't blame him for the brakes failing.

Shawn came back into the waiting room and saw the group of guys huddled around each other.

"Shane, she's asking for you again. Here, change into these. I had some spare clothes in my car. That outfit has the whole hospital talking about evil beings."

Shawn sat down in the lounge chair and pulled out the book Angel gave him to give to Jeff. It was the only thing besides herself she managed to save out of the car. He was upset that she was more worried about Jeff's car then she was herself though.

"Jeff, this is from Angel. She had it on her when they brought her in. She told me it was important to you, and that I should give it back. She also told me to say thanks. You would know what that meant."

"Yeah I know, and I'll come back tomorrow when she's a little more rested up and talk to her about it. I know she's had more then enough drama for tonight. She might want to be with Shane for awhile too."

He slapped Matt on the back, waved to Shawn and headed out of the waiting room to the elevator. It amazed him that she fought for her life and still managed to grab his thought book out of the car with her. He knew she was worried about his reaction to his car being totaled, but she didn't know he was worried about her blaming him. He had to make sure to clear all of that up later tomorrow when he came to see her.

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