Run from your problems, but you cannot run from yourself.

It was midnight, yet the crowd outside hadn't thinned. A few left, but most stayed, anxious to see how LP was doing. The nurses allowed them to stay outside as long as they promised to keep quiet and stayed outside. Austin, Alan, Tino, Phil, Aaron, and I were the only ones allowed in the waiting room.

The police came in for questioning about an hour ago, but left. The hospital staff had brought us food and water and allowed us to sleep on the couches if we wished while we waited for LP to be taken out of surgery and given the status update.

Poor, poor Alan. I watched him pace the room, cradling a box of tissues and always within ten feet of a trash can. The worrying big brother couldn't sit still. He attempted to sit-once. Alan lasted five minutes before he had to walk to get a drink of water. I was physically and emotionally exhausted. Some of the nurses had noticed a knife wound I had all but forgotten about and bandaged me up, but let me stay out in the lobby with the rest of the band.

Right now, at 12:46 in the morning, I was laying down on the couch with my head in Aus's lap. He was stroking my hair now that I finally calmed down enough. Alan was, no surprise, still pacing, his face still bright red from the tears. Tino, Phil, and Aaron were sitting in chairs around the lobby. I could see the people still waiting, a few sleeping, a few talking softly outside.

"She'll be fine, she'll be okay." I could hear him mutter to himself, trying to reassure frazzled nerves. The surgery wouldn't be done until about four in the morning, so we had a while to wait. It was just a waiting game now.

I closed my tired eyes and thought about family. All I had left was LP. She was the only blood related family I could say was alive.

But how long would that last?

Dad was gone, but was he ever really my father? After the years of abuse and struggle, he never acted fatherly to me. It was always my mom who was there for me. Now she was taken, up there with Mitch, Austin's mom, with grandma, with all the others. I nearly lost it again at that thought, no more regular family.

But we're not alone.

Austin, Alan, Of Mice and Men, the fans, they're my family. Who was the ones to take care of me and LP when we were in trouble? Them. Who had caused the trouble? Dad. Who had paid?

Lily-Pearl and Mom.

Alan was LP's brother-through and through. I swear, that ginger was deeply in love with my little sister and would do anything for her. He never left her side, and if the doctors weren't there to restrain him, Alan would run into the surgery room and hold her hand, even though she was deep in sleep.

Austin was more than my brother. Austin was mine, and I was his. He was there to watch out for me, to pick me up when I fall, and he was there to protect me when challenges came my way.

But who could forget Tino, Phil, and Aaron? They were just as much as family as Alan and Austin! I could easily see the three of them as the triplet insane uncles. They had different personalities, but loved to joke around. They could be serious when needed, but it was more fun to play pranks!

Of Mice and Men was my family. No doubt about it.

"Raelyn?" Austin asked me, pushing my thoughts to the side. I turned around to lay on my back, facing him.

"I'm sorry about your mom." He told me, but the tears still glistened in his eyes. I wrapped my arms around his chest, burying my face into his shirt.

"She was just as much my mom as yours." I murmured. I could feel Austin shake as the tears spilled out again. We sat there for many minutes. Aaron came up, patting Austin's shoulder reassuringly.

It was four hours later when the doctor came out. Tino and Phil were asleep in the chair. Aaron ran out to get some food. The fans were still outside, patiently waiting for the news. The crowd had thinned out a little bit more, but there was still enough people to completely take up the cement and benches. Austin was asleep, tangled in a pile with Alan. I moved over to a chair, watching the clock and reading a magazine for the past hour. The lack of sleep was affecting me.

"Raelyn Croft?" The doctor asked quietly. I nodded and followed him to the far corner of the room.

"My name is Dr. Mike Fuentes." He extended his hand and shook it, recognizing the name.

"Is Dr. Vic you brother?" I questioned. He was my doctor that visited me in the hospital. He smiled with a nod as I explained my quick encounter with his brother.

"So we have some news for LP." Dr. Fuentes started. We took seats by an automatic fireplace that was set on low, despite the fact is was the beginning of summer.

"Please, how is she doing?" I asked him. He pulled out his clipboard and studied it for a moment before responding.

"She made it through the surgery. It was a miracle, considering where the bullets hit. Her lungs were filling with blood and we had a panic, thinking she wouldn't breathe through the blood, but we managed to clear it out and fix up everything." I barely held it together through the end before collapsing into my hands.

"She made it, she made it..." I breathed out over and over. Dr. Fuentes smiled. I relaxed a little.

"Lily-Pearl does have two broken ribs from the bullet hitting them. Her lungs, although repaired, are still healing and weak. She won't be able to do to much physical activity for the next month or two until they are able to reach a better condition. We'll keep her in the hospital for the next few days to keep an eye out on her lungs, but we'll hopefully be able to send her home at the end of the week." He explained. I looked to Alan, dead asleep on the couch, worn out from the stress.

"Thank you so much." I shook his hand again as we stood up.

"She should be waking up early in the morning. You can come into her room in about three hours when the sleeping medicine has worn off. She'll be groggy and in a little pain, but she'll be fine." He explained, tucking the clipboard under his arm. I couldn't stop grinning. I wouldn't loose my sister just yet.

"We've been through a lot in the past few hours. I can't thank you enough." I sighed. He smiled and started to walk off before turning to me again.

"Oh and Raelyn, I'm sorry for the loss of your mom." He tried to throw me a smile, but I could only focus on my sister for now. I had to slow myself from running, but walked quickly to the doors. People outside saw me and stood up. The men and women of all ages halted their conversations and looked to me.

"Any news?" Someone asked. They all murmured it through the crowd. I smiled and told them.

"LP made it. It was a miracle, but she made it through." I explained. The outside erupted into claps. I couldn't stop grinning, despite everything. People started to file out, now that the news had been delivered. A few people came up and gave me a hug, telling me to wish LP well for them, although they were strangers I would do it.

I watched as the last people filed out and I waved goodbye. I think some of the nurses inside were pleased to see the four hundred people go. Once they left, I walked back inside to the sleeping figures. Aaron came in behind me, surprised to see me up. A cup of coffee was in his hand.

"The news?" He asked me, taking a sip. I told him and he grinned like me before taking a seat and drinking his coffee. Aaron was an addict.

I knelt beside Alan and Austin, both asleep on the couch. Gently at first, I tried to shake the ginger awake. I called his name softly a few times, but he snored away.

"Princess....Princess...." I said a little louder. Alan blinked, brushing away the ginger hair that fell in his eyes and stretched his arms.

"What? What's the news" He asked. I smiled at him. He bolted up right, realizing where he was and what had happened.

"LP..." I started. His face fell and I could already see the drops of liquid pain form on his eye lids.

"Oh no." He breathed out.

"She made it." I told him. Without warning he scooped me up in a hug, tightly pressing me against him, just breaking down with joy. He spun around a few times. The nurses watched us warily.

"She made it, she made it, she made it..." He kept repeating. I smiled and hugged him back as he finally set me down.

"Can we see her now?" He asked me. I shook my head sadly, but that didn't deter his joy.

"We can see her at seven. She'll be awake by then." I explained. Alan nearly broke at the seams with happiness. Instantly, he rushed to Tino and Phil's side, shaking them violently until they woke. He told them the news and they clapped with joy.

Aaron sipped his coffee, obviously amused. He wore a grin that said, I knew before all you fools. But he was happy and joyful, and gladly watched Alan barely contain his ecstasy.

This time I sat beside Austin, gently running my fingers through his hair. The poor guy needed some sleep, although I dearly wanted to tell him. After five minutes, his eyes fluttered open. The guilt of waking him lasted only three and a half seconds.

"What is it?" He asked groggily, sitting up on the seat.

"LP made it through the surgery. She somehow survived, and the doctor said it was a miracle." I explained, reiterating the words that Dr. Fuentes told me. I barely got through my story before Austin enveloped me in a bear hug, so happy for her.

It was happiness all around. Aus held me for many minutes as I looked over his shoulder through the window. The moon was starting to disappear as the sun began to illuminate the far end of the sky.

From outside, by a small fountain, I swear I recognized a familiar figure. One with tattoos, and a heavy weight on his shoulders. The piercing blue eyes met mine for a moment, holding them before breaking off and turning away.

I didn't know if I'd ever see him again, but for now, I had to focus on my sister.

"Rae, this is awesome." Aus murmured into my shoulder. I could only nod and watch the figure disappear.

Notes

YAY!!! LP MADE IT AND YOU GUYS THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO KILL HER OFF!!!!

I WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO YOU WONDERFUL, AWESOME PEOPLE!

Sorry that this is a bit of a long chapter, but I needed to get all of this in! No more cliff hangers, none at all, but this isn't the end! There's still a little bit left, but not much!

Thank you all for sticking with this and I love you all to death! You're all the reason why I keep writing, and you guys inspire me to! This isn't the final goodbye, SO KEEP READING!!

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