Disclaimer: I do not own the television show "8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter", nor any of characters. Why would I be here on fanfiction, instead of off in Hollywood somewhere, if I did? lol.

A/N: Love this show! This is my first fanfic for this particular tv show.

"Mom, can I go to a party tomorrow night?" I questioned, tucking a strand of my blonde hair behind my ear.

"Well, Bridge, it all depends on where the party is going to be held, at what time, and who it's hosted by," said my mother, not even turning away from the vegetables that she was chopping.

Eek. These were just the questions that I didn't want to answer. I shifted uncomfortably and glanced down. "Well, it's at ... at someone's house, and the party might go till ... I don't know, twelve, and ... and it's hosted by this girl at school," I stammered.

That was when Kerry, my annoying little sister, stuck her nose in. She marched into the kitchen. "Actually Mom, it's at this college guy's house, and it's going to be an all-nighter," she offered, on her way out the door. "I'm off to Kyle's house!" she called over her shoulder, and then slammed the door.

Rory, our weird little brother, had followed Kerry into the kitchen. He grinned and leaned against the wall with his arms folded. "This should be good," he murmured.

Mom straightened up and put her hands on her hips. She stared at me. "Bridget Hennessey, is what your sister said true?"

I shook my head, but my eyes gave away the truth.

Mom sighed in disappointment and turned back to her vegetables. "Well, that's that. No party for you, Bridget. You're only seventeen! I'm not having you go to some college party for an all-nighter! Are you crazy? No way, and that's final!"

"Fine," I muttered, stomping off toward my room.

I could hear my brother chuckling back in the kitchen.

"Rory, go play in traffic!" I bellowed, continuing up the stairs.

It was a couple hours later when the telephone rang. I hopped off the computer chair and dashed to the phone.

"Hello?" I said into the receiver, hoping that it was some guy asking for me.

"Cate Hennessey?" asked the oldish, male voice on the phone.

"Just one moment, please," I said. I brought the cordless phone into the kitchen and handed it to my mother, without looking at her. "For you."

Mom took the phone and answered. "Hello?"

I could only hear her side of the conversation, of course.

"This is she." pause. "Yes .. yes." pause. "Oh, my! Yes, I'll be right there. Oh, my God!"

I glanced at my mother. She had tears in her eyes now.

"What is it?" I demanded. "What?"

She sniffed, and clicked the button to turn off the phone. "Bridget, we have to go now! Call your sister, tell her to get ready, because we'll be there shortly."

"Mom, what's going on?" I cried. I was getting scared. "What is it?"

"Just call," my mother growled, hurriedly turning off the oven and things while I dialed Kerry's cell phone number.

"Kerry, we're coming to get you now. Be ready!" I must have sounded frantic.

"Why? What's going on?" asked Kerry, sounding worried.

"I don't know," I said quietly. "Just get ready!"

I hung up the phone and quickly shoved on my shoes and grabbed the coat. By this time, my mother was waiting at the door.

She ushered me into the car and we took off, speeding, until we reached Kyle's house.

"Hey, Mom!" I cried, the realization hitting me. "What about Rory? We left him home! Why didn't he have to come?"

My mother turned her eyes away, as Kerry hopped into the backseat of the car. "What's going on?"

"That's what I want to know!" I cried, looking at my mother. "Mom! Come on!"

Mom looked at us, and tears were now streaming down her face. "Rory," she blubbered.

"What about him?" I demanded. "What?"

"There was an accident," whispered my mother. "After you girls left the kitchen, Rory went outside for a bit. He was hit by a car."

I heard the words "Oh. My. God." come from the backseat. I couldn't say anything.

Go play in traffic.