Hope you like this chapter. And don't worry, Zeke will be making progress in the next few chapters

"How is he?" Libby asked as soon as she had walked into the house.

"He hasn't come out of his room," Karl began.

"He hasn't eaten anything," Susan added.

"He hasn't slept either," Ringo said.

"I could hear him throwing up in the middle of the night. I'm worried about him," Sunny concluded.

Libby looked to Dan with big, teary eyes.

"Have you checked up on him?" Libby asked, worried for her half-brother.

Karl shook his head.

"We only just woke up and started talking," Karl explained. "We'll go in now."

Karl, Susan and Libby went into Zeke's room. Sunny, Ringo and Dan stayed outside.

"So, how have you two been," asked Mr. Fitzgerald.

They shrugged.

"We've mainly been worried, I suppose," Sunny said, not looking anyone in the eye.

"I'm sure he'll be fine after he gets everything out of his system. People have different ways of coping with certain situations," Dan added, seeing his student's worried looks.

"I sure hope so," Ringo said, his arms crossed.

The three stopped talking immediately when Karl brought Zeke out. Zeke had passed out, and was limply in Karl's arms.

Libby was sobbing, as was Susan. Sunny brought her hand to her mouth in shock and fright when she saw poor Zeke.

Karl laid Zeke on the sofa. He began calling Zeke's name.

"Zeke, can you hear me?" Karl said loudly.

Zeke woke up, and blinked a few times before he was able to see properly.

"OH, Zeke, don't do it again! Come on, stay with me!!!" Karl said loudly.

Zeke had fainted again.

"Call an ambulance!" Karl said.

Ringo ran and got the phone. In a matter of minutes, an ambulance had arrived.

"Ok, we're going to need to take him to the hospital quickly to get checked up," the nurse said. "How many times has he fainted, did you say?"

"Two," Karl answered quickly.

"He's going to be okay," Dan was whispering repeatedly into Libby's ear. He was wondering why she was so anxious.

_________

At the hospital, Zeke was laying on a bed almost motionless. Still, he would not speak.

The doctor was checking him over, and Libby, Karl, Susan and Dan were waiting outside, watching.

"I'm going to go and get a coffee," Karl said. "Does anyone else want something?"

"Yeah, I'll come with you," Dan said.

The two walked down the corridor.

"Mum, can I tell you something?" Libby asked nervously.

"Of course, sweetheart," Susan said.

"Mum, I was thinking of postponing the surrogacy for a while."

"What? Why?" Susan said, surprised. "I thought that you really wanted that!"

Libby closed her eyes and breathed heavily.

"I do really want it, but I can't do it," Libby said, not looking her mother in the eyes.

"Is this because of the hospital, because trust me Lib, we'll get that baby!"

"No, it isn't because of the hospital..." Libby trailed off. "I feel guilty."

"You feel guilty? Sweetie, why should you feel guilty? You've done nothing wrong!" Susan said, still shocked by the sudden change of heart.

"Please don't argue with me, mum. I know what I'm doing," Libby said. "I feel guilty because I already have a son..."

"And he's fine with you having another baby, he said so himself!" interrupted Susan.

"I know that, but I already have son, and yet I want another baby. Zeke has absolutely no biological family left, and still I'm here wanting to add to my already great family! I just feel so guilty for the poor boy; I can't do it!"

Libby began to cry.

"Oh, Libby, have you talked to Dan about this?" Susan asked, worried and quiet.

Libby shook her head.

"I'm scared to. What if he opposes to this? What if he suddenly doesn't care and he wants to have the baby still? I've made everyone suffer already for this baby, and now I'm asking for Dan to just let everything else go and stop the surrogacy."

"I'm sure he'll be okay with this Libby, but I still don't think that you should feel guilty," Susan said softly.

"I can't help that."

"I know, and I'm proud of you, sweetheart."

_________________

"Well, the good news is that there isn't anything wrong with his," the doctor said after he had finished checking up on Zeke.

"Then why did he faint? Why did he throw up? Why isn't he talking?" Susan demanded.

"Well, the fainting and vomiting is simply a side effect of shock and stress. He has been put under quite a lot of that in the past few years. As for the quiet, I have to say that there is no medical reason for this, and that he is just trying to sort things out and cope with the before said shock and stress."

"When will he be allowed out?" Karl asked.

"Today. We'll just ask you to fill out some release forms, and then he can go home."

"What about school? When do you think he should go back to it?" Libby asked.

"Well, as soon as he feels up to it would be good. The sooner he gets into a normal routine, the better I suppose. Now, onto those forms..."

R & R please!!!!