AN: Here's the next chapter. I hope you like reading it as much as I liked writing it!

Chapter 3: Surprise!

Riker raced towards the water, not caring about his own safety. He needed to find the person, whoever he or she was, before…He didn't want to think about what would happen, or that the person could be Ratliff, or one of his brothers, or sister...

He took a deep breath before diving in, wincing as the freezing water snapped him back out of his thoughts. "Where are you?" Riker wondered as he waved his arms around, trying to feel around for something, anything. His heart plummeted as he felt nothing.

"C'mon, you've got to be around here somewhere," Riker thought grimly as he resurfaced. He grabbed a few breaths before going back under. "Where could you be?" He did this again, and still couldn't find anyone. "I need to find you, before…" Riker went up for air a second time. "Maybe third time's a charm?" He glanced up, made a quick wish on a star. "Whoever you are, please let me find you. Before it's too late.." He dived back in, this time deeper than before, and waved his arms around again. This time, he hit something. "Is it you?" He put his arms around it and swam back up. "Please let this be whoever it is I'm looking for…" He looked close, then realized it was.

He struggled to swim towards the shore, hoping that it wasn't too late. The person was limp in his arms, and Riker hoped he'd be able to save him or her.

Finally, he got to the shore, and picked up the person. He could tell it was a girl by how light she was. "Stay with me," Riker mumbled, hoping she would. He stumbled towards the house, and when he got to the door, he had to set her down so he could open the door.

Inside, mass chaos ensued.

"No way! You totally cheated!"

"No I didn't! It's not my fault you suck at this game!"

"Guys, stop fighting!" Rydel screamed, trying to push her brothers apart. "It's just a game!"

"No, it's not! He cheated!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"DID NOT!"

"DID TOO!"

Rydel groaned. "Ratliff, help me!"

"Sorry, Rydel, but I'm staying out of this one," Ratliff looked at her apologetically.

Rydel glared at him, then her expression changed to one of complete and utter shock as she noticed Riker and whatever, or whoever, he was carrying.

Ratliff looked at her curiously, wondering what had happened, then he followed her gaze and his mouth dropped open. The others did the same.

"Guys! A little help here?" Riker said, annoyed. Then everyone started talking at once.

"Riker, what happened out there?"

"Why do you look like a drowned rat?"

"What's that you're holding?"

"Let me see!"

"Everyone, shut up!" Riker said, and everyone fell silent. "FYI, it's a she. Rydel, go get something for her to eat and some tea or warm milk. Rocky, get some clothes for her, so Rydel can change her out of her wet ones later. Ross, go get your blanket and put it on her, and Ryland, keep her company and make sure she's OK. Ratliff, don't bug her too much, OK?" Riker looked around at everyone, and they all nodded, knowing not to argue with him when he was like this. "Good. Now go!"

Everyone scattered, doing what they were supposed to do. After everything had been taken care of, they all gathered around the sofa.

"So, what happened?" Rydel looked at her brother worriedly, since she was the first to break the ice.

"Like I told Rocky, I was going for a walk, clear my head and figure out some lyrics. Then I noticed something or someone in the water, but I couldn't see what it or who it was. The next thing I know, she went under water, and I tried to save her. It could've been any one of you, and as happy as I am that it's not …" Riker broke down, not wanting to imagine any one of his siblings or best friend drowning. Or even this girl, even though she was a complete stranger to them.

Rydel hugged him, sniffling as tears streamed down her face. Riker held her tightly, patting her on the shoulder, although his eyes told a different story. Her brothers glanced at one another, shocked, since Riker was the one who always kept them together at times like this.

"Riker, it's OK," Ryland spoke up, trying to sound braver than he felt. "We're all going to be OK, OK?"

"My little bro," Riker smiled for the first time since leaving the house earlier. "You're the man, you know that? Always managing to keep calm and rational when I can't."

"Yeah! You should be our manager!" Ross said, smiling broadly. "You know, for when our band gets famous!"

"Dude!" Rocky shook his head. "Focus! He's talking about…"

"I got it, Rocky!" Ross shot back. "Just because you think you're a musical genius…"

"I am!" Rocky protested. "You're just jealous of my…"

"Guys!" Rydel said, her head still buried in Riker's chest and her arms wrapped around him. "Focus!"

"YEAH!" Ratliff shouted.

"Shh!" Rydel clapped her hand over his mouth, as Ratliff winced. "Don't wake her up! Let her rest!"

"Guys?" Ross said, looking at the girl. "Do you think she's dead?" He poked her in the side.

"What part of leave her alone do you NOT understand?" Rydel said, detaching herself from Riker and poking Ross in the chest a few times.

"Um…OW!" Ross protested. But Rydel was in full protective mother mode by now.

"Ryland, status report!" Rydel commanded.

"Vital signs are a little weak, but they're there," Ryland said seriously, as Ross and Ratliff tried not to crack up.

"It's…not…funny…" Rydel looked like she was about to explode. "What if it was one of you? What would you think then?"

The guys fell silent, and shifted uncomfortably under Rydel's harsh, yet truthful words.

"Any injuries?" Rydel continued, as if her brothers hadn't interrupted. "Well?"

"Not that I can see, but I wouldn't take any chances. Internal ones can be even worse than exterior ones," Ryland explained.

"Should we go to the ER?" Rocky suggested tentatively. "Have her checked out?"

"No, I hate hospitals!" Ross screamed, as Rydel shushed him. "Sorry, but I do. And needles…" Ross shuddered at the thought.

"It's not about you," Rydel said. "This time, it's all about the girl. OK?" She looked pointedly at Ross, who looked dejected for a moment, then he nodded slowly.

"Yeah, we'll go right now," Riker decided. "Let's not take any chances. Rydel, pack the food and tea or whatever you prepared and bring it in a basket. Rocky, get some bandages and blankets just in case she might need them. Get a bag and put the clothes and everything else in it and bring it out to the car. Ross and Ryland, carry her out, carefully. Don't injure her any more than she already is. I'll pull the car around."

Everyone did as Riker said, and soon they were on their way to the hospital.

When they got there, everyone brought what they'd brought on the trip, and Riker had her checked into a room. They waited in the waiting room for some time, until a nurse spoke to them.

"Is she your sister?" she asked.

"No," Ross said, as Rydel glared at him.

"Yes, yes, she is," Riker lied, knowing the nurse wouldn't let them see her unless she were family.

"I see," the nurse said doubtfully. "Wait here, I'll need to have a word with my boss." She got up and started to leave, then Rydel couldn't take it anymore.

"Please," Rydel blurted out before anyone could stop her. "OK, the truth is…she's not our sister. But we care about her. We just want to know that she's OK. We'll wait here forever if we have to. But we need to know she's OK, that she'll make it…" Rydel broke down crying, and the guys hugged her awkwardly, slightly embarrassed.

The nurse softened at Rydel's heartfelt confession, and nodded at them. "I don't know. Technically, I'm not allowed to let you in if you're not family." She hesitated, as Rydel looked up at her.

"Please let us see her. We just want to know that she'll…live…" Rydel said, the emotion evident in her voice. She wiped away her tears, which were still streaming down her face.

The nurse looked away, and then back at them. "Very well. Just this once. But you didn't hear it from me. Just let me get the room ready first." She smiled, touched by Rydel's heartfelt confession.

"Thank you," Rydel said, a smile spreading on her tear-stained face.

"You know, she's lucky to have such good friends like you," The nurse replied, looking sadly at them.

"Thank you," Riker spoke for all of them. "For everything." The nurse nodded, then left.

A few minutes later…

"You can go in now. 2 at a time only though," the nurse said, reappearing before them.

"I want to go!" Rydel said, jumping up.

"Yeah, me too," Riker said, before getting up. "Ryland, keep an eye on these 3. Think you can handle it?"

"Psh, of course I can!" Ryland said confidently.

"Good, now behave. All of you," Riker said, looking at each one of them.

"Don't worry, we will," Ratliff said, smirking.

"Yeah, we'll be perfect little angels," Ross added.

"Guys," Riker said, the warning evident in his voice.

The guys nodded slowly, knowing he meant business. "Fine…"

"Good, now let's go," Riker said, as Rydel followed him.

"OK, Rydel, it might be a little tough for you when we get in there. You sure you're OK with this?" Riker stopped just outside the door, and turned back to glance at his sister.

"Oh please, I've seen you guys dancing around in your underwear. Trust me, this is nothing compared to living with you guys!" Rydel flashed her most confident smile at her older brother.

"Hey! It's not that bad! You make us sound like uncivilized cavemen or something!" Riker said, knowing he was speaking not just for himself, but also for all of his younger brothers.

"You said it, not me!" Rydel pranced into the room gleefully, then froze. "Oh…my…stars…" Her heart shattered into a million pieces as she looked around the room.

The girl was lying unconscious, hooked up to at least 5 different machines, all of which were beeping at various times. She had an IV in her arm, and looked like she'd been hit with Mother Nature's worst.

"Riker…" Rydel said, turning to him and burying herself into his chest, her sobs muffled.

"Shh, I know…" Riker said, trying not to get emotional either. "It'll be OK…"

"You don't know that!" Rydel pushed him away. "What if…?"

Riker looked into her eyes, seeing only fear and worry in them. "Then we'll know we did all we could to help her. There's nothing more we can do. Only time will tell…"

"I want to wait here…as long as it takes," Rydel decided.

Just then, the monitors changed from short, intermittent beeps to a long continuous one.

"Oh no," Rydel said, horrified. "Is she…?"

AN: Oh no! What happens next? Review, and you'll find out!