Title: In the World of Maggie Stone—chapter 6

Author: Tracy Winston

Summary: What's going on back in Pine Valley in the world of Maggie?

Disclaimer: still don't own em

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Chapter 6

Tourists piss me off. Never mind that I'm technically a tourist, too; but these people who just stop outside of the gate to look at the palm trees outside, or those people with twelve million children and they all have to walk shoulder-to-shoulder, they shouldn't be allowed to exist around me. Especially when I'm trying to whip my way through this over-populated airport, desperate to get to a taxi before they are all taken.

Nearly knocking over a family of three to get out of the airport, I manage to slip my way past four other people and over to a free taxi. Shoving a twenty at the driver, I give him the name of the hospital that Ethan wrote down for me, and in a matter of seconds we're off sailing our way down the busy streets of urban Orlando.

Before the cab can even come to a complete stop in front of the hospital, I've already got the door open with my right hand, and a wad of cash in the other, shoving it at the driver. "Thanks! Keep the change!" That part of the journey done, I make sure that my backpack is on securely as a slam the cab door shut and run up the stairs to the hospital.

I almost double over the nurse's station as I come to a screeching halt, my feet slamming into the wooden base, hands slapping down on the counter. "B-b-bianca Mont…"

A very confused nurse turned towards me, I assume because of the dramatic entrance I made. "Miss? Can I help you?" I can't get a response out; right now my lungs are screaming for air. "Are you alright?"

My head nods as if of its own accord. "Yeah… just… whew… out of breath."

"If you'd like to sit down, there are plenty of chairs in our waiting area-"

'I've been sitting for hours in a plane and then in a taxi, I don't want to sit down again until I'm at Bianca's side.' If only my brain could get my mouth to say that. Instead I say, "Plane… flew… hours… Bianca."

"Bianca?" I can only imagine how I must look to this woman, slumped against the nurse's station, panting for air, not even able to make a complete sentence.

But hearing my best friend's name seems to snap me back to reality, and some sort of sanity. "Yes! Bianca Montgomery. I need to see her. She's in the ICU, right?"

"I'm sorry miss, I can't divulge any information about patients except to family members. Are you family-"

Oh, not that "family only" bullshit. I did not fly all the way from Pine Valley to Orlando only to not be allowed in. Looking around, I see a sign clearly labeled "ICU" in big bold black lettering. "Found it, thanks." And before I give the nurse another thought I'm dashing off towards the ICU.

"Miss, you can't go back there! Miss!" I can vaguely hear her footsteps following me from the nurse's station down the hall towards the ICU. I'm actually paying attention to where I'm going this time, and I'm able to get my feet under control so that I don't plow down the woman standing in the hall next to a window. Instead I just bump into her arm slightly, forcing her to whirl around—quite dramatically, I might add—to see who or what bumped into her.

"Maggie! What are you doing here?"

Not exactly the woman I wanted to see, but she'll do.

"Erica!"

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After watching today's show, I thought it would be too cruel for Maggie to get all the way to Orlando only for The Kane Clan to already be on their way back to Pine Valley. So please don't mind my slightly alternate universe. I tend to like it more than what's currently going on on the show, but if you don't like it… well, you can just stop reading then :)

For those of you how are enjoying this, please let me know! I'll probably have chapter seven up later today.

Steph,

aka Tracy Winston