A/N: This was kind of inspired by How To Save A Life by The Fray. The idea popped into my head and I decide to go with it. I have an idea of how I want the next chpter to go, so maybe if you're lucky I'll get that out within the next few days. The first chapter is on the short side, but the rest will longer. That said, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star or anything associated with it.

Tommy Quincy sat frozen as he watched the sight in his rearview mirror unfold. The light was green, but he didn't notice. He watched as Jude, unable to move, stood in the path of a car that was going dangerously above the speed limit. He didn't hear his own scream as he flung his door open and ran toward her. He pushed his way through the rapidly forming crowd. He froze when he saw the sight before him. Jude was sprawled on the ground, unmoving. He kneeled down at her side and put her head in his lap. "Someone call an ambulance!" He screamed over his shoulder. He was crying, but he didn't care. He heard sirens in the distance, and soon two EMTs were loading her into the back of an ambulance. "Would you like to ride with her, sir?" One asked. Tommy nodded mutely and climbed in. He held her hand the entire way, and he whispered a promise in her ear. "I'll never leave you."

At the hospital, they told him to wait in the waiting room. He was shaking as he sat in a hard plastic chair. "Tommy, where is she?" He looked up to see Sadie running towards him, with Kwest close behind. "What happened? Is she okay?" Sadie's voice shook, and it was all Tommy could do not to cry again. Kwest put an arm around Sadie's shoulders. "She was hit by a car. I don't know where she is, or how she's doing. They just told me to wait out here." Sadie dropped into the chair next to Tommy's and started to sob. The three sat that way for a while, one blaming himself, one sobbing, and one praying that Jude would be okay.

"Where's my daughter?" Stuart Harrison's voice filled the waiting room. "Dad!" Sadie cried, rushing to her father's side. She buried her head in his shoulder as she continued to cry. Stuart rubbed her back and held her tightly. When he spotted Tommy, his face hardened. "If I find out you had anything to do with this, you'll be sorry." He kept his voice even, but Tommy understood the threat. "Dad, don't" Sadie choked out. Tommy nodded, and continued to stare at the wall. It was all his fault. He told her he was leaving, and she ran after him. He hit the back of his head against the wall repeatedly, punishing himself for being so stupid. Please, just let her be okay. After what seemed like hours, a doctor in his mid-twenties came out.

"Is there someone here for Jude Harrison?" he asked. The four stood and looked at the doctor expectantly. "I'm Dr. Adam Brent." He and Stuart shook hands, while the other three waited impatiently. "Is she okay? How is she?" Sadie asked, her impatience taking over. "At this time I can only disclose information to immediate family." Dr. Brent said, looking at the small group. Tommy walked out of the room silently, and kwest followed. He knew his best friend, and he knew that when he was unhappy he could do some stupid things.

"Tom, man, wait up." Kwest said, quickening his pace to match Tommy's. "Leave me alone Kwest. I don't want to talk right now." He pushed open the door at the end of the hallway and stepped into the cool winter air. "I know you, and I know when you're upset you do some pretty stupid shit." Kwest said, leaning against to the wall next to his friend. "Like what?" Tom challenged. "Well, after Jude's sweet sixteen party, you went out and got drunk, then slept with her sister." So maybe he has done stupid stuff, but he a guy, and that's what guys do right? "Kwest, it's my fault. If she-if she dies, it will be my fault." He started smacking his head against the wall again, blaming himself. "What are you talking about, T? How could this be your fault?" Kwest asked, worrying that his friend would put himself in the hospital with all that head-banging. "And why do you keep doing that? She's not going to die. She's a fighter, and she's stubborn as all hell."

He knew when Tommy pulled a cigarette out of his pocket it was time to stop him. He grabbed the cigarette ad threw it on the ground. "Why did you do that? Can you let me be miserable in peace?" "Do you really want to go down that road again? Do you remember what it was like, coming off the drugs and alcohol? Now why do you think this is your fault?" Tommy sighed, and sat on the ground. "We were supposed to go out for dinner. A date, a real date. My dad showed up at Jude's concert. You remember my brother Alex right? He's really sick; the doctors say he won't live much longer, maybe a month or two. I was supposed to take a plane tonight to go home and help take care of his daughter, Julia, and Dani. Dani, she tries to be strong, but I know she can only handle so much. I hate the thought of my little sister trying to be strong one, when I should be there. I was late for my date with Jude, because I had called home to find out exactly what was going on. I showed up late, told her I had a plane to catch and I didn't think I'd be coming back. I walked out and she ran out after me. She was in the street because of me, If I hadn't left, she wouldn't have run out and the car wouldn't have hit her."

"It's not your fault. You couldn't have known that car would come. Don't blame yourself." Kwest said, rather forcefully considering his usually calm demeanor. "My family needs me, but so does Jude. I promised I'd never leave her. I can't break that promise. What am I going to do?" They were both silent for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts. "Let's go inside, maybe Sadie and Stuart can tell us something." Tommy chuckled. "Yeah, if he doesn't kill me first." The two got up and silently walked back to the waiting room. Sadie was pacing back and forth, her face red from crying. When she spotted the two men, she walked over to them. "How is she?" Tom asked, fearing the worst. "There was hemorrhaging in her brain. They stopped it, but she's still unconscious. She broke a rib and fractured her ankle. Her back is messed up, something called a burst fracture. She's just lying there on the bed, hooked up to all these machines. I'm really scared." At that moment Stuart came into the room. "I got special permission for you to see her, Tom. I know how much she cares about you. And I'm sorry for what I said before. I'm just worried about my little girl." They shook hands, all differences put aside. "I understand. We're all worried. Thank you." After getting directions, Tommy headed to Jude's room. It was just as Sadie had said. He pulled a chair up next to her bed and sat down. He took her hand in his, and interlaced his fingers with hers. "I'm sorry Jude. I'm so sorry."