The Next Chapter (Sequel to A New Story)

5 ~Katie & JP~

The phone call to Daniel went as well as JP could have expected—that is to say, it was one of the most difficult things JP had ever done.

For now, he flagged down a taxi and the only thought in his mind was getting to the hospital as soon as possible. He didn't want to leave Katie on her own for long. In the time he had known her, it didn't take long to realize that she felt things to the extreme. She cried at those sad animal commercials; she laughed hysterically at jokes—even his bad ones. When she felt carefree about something, she dove headfirst into it; and, when she worried, she would come close to an all-out panic attack. He could only imagine her suffering right now and knew she'd need someone there to keep her calm and steady. He was becoming used to that job.

Despite their perpetual arguments over each other's love lives, politics, the state of the entertainment industry, and just about anything else they could disagree over—they were friends, and when they needed to vent about their respective employers, they had found someone they could do that with. Being the personal assistant to a celebrity, whether an actor or an author, meant keeping most of your complaining to yourself—because sharing your grumbling with the wrong person could end up with your employer on the front page of major tabloids and you out of a job.

When Daniel and Maria started spending more time together, it wasn't long before JP came to Katie's rescue after she accidentally sent the author into a tizzy over a photograph in a small-time local tabloid. After that, the two started talking at least once a week. When the couple started dating, they started speaking several times a week. After the engagement, it had turned into coffee once a week and sometimes a daily phone call.

The job of personal assistant was different for JP and Katie alike. They had both formed deeper bonds with their employers, and now also called them "friend". Perhaps it was a testament to Daniel and Maria, or perhaps it was to their assistants—either way, the close bond they shared with their employers was now starting to bleed over into their own relationship. He considered that maybe that was why they argued so much—they both held each other to a high standard, not because they were looking for an excuse to criticize each other, but because deep down, they each knew they could be better, do better, and wanted someone to hold them to it.

As much as Daniel and Maria needed each other, Katie and JP had found that having each other for support was just what they both needed—even if neither would admit it out loud.

**--**--**

It had taken JP several minutes to get Katie to calm down again when he arrived at the hospital. He walked her to the waiting room closest to the section of rooms where Maria would be placed. Once he felt confident she could be alone, he made his way back down to the waiting area nearest the ER entrance, where he was sure Daniel would arrive soon.

Waiting was one of his least favorite things to do—he wouldn't have to do it for very long.

"Where is she?"

JP recognized the voice and jumped up out of the chair he sat in, dropping the copy of "Entertainment Weekly" he had been pretending to read back on the table beside him. He stood and directed the man now by his side toward the hallway that would lead them to the waiting room where Katie sat alone. "They patched her up the best they could and they've taken her back for x-rays and a CT scan."

JP had known Daniel for a long time—and was almost certain he had never seen him looking this frantic. "Is she awake? Is she okay?"

JP shook his head. "She's not awake, yet. They think she hit her head pretty hard when she fell down the steps—she has a collapsed lung and broken ribs—the scans will show them if there's more damage."

"Tell me exactly what happened, JP," Daniel demanded as he followed him toward another waiting room.

As they walked, JP recounted, in as much detail as he could muster, what had occurred since they walked into Maria Blakestone's apartment just over an hour earlier.

"We got to Maria's around 9:30. When we walked in she was lying on the floor, unconscious. This skinny guy with black, greasy hair was kneeling beside her, holding her hand. He was creepy and not anyone I've ever seen around. He ran off, and I ran after him. Katie called 911 from Maria's side. I called them when I was about half way between the house and Central Park chasing the guy down," JP sighed. "I lost him."

Daniel stopped short of their destination, diverting their course to the closest nurses' station where he informed them of his connection with Maria—though JP was sure every nurse there recognized him—and quizzing them about her condition and current whereabouts. The information they had wasn't much more current than what JP had already given him, but JP didn't fault him—he knew the man was desperate for more information.

Though less than satisfied, Daniel finally gave the nurses a break and continued on with JP to the waiting room where Katie sat slumped over, eyes red, and cheeks stained with tears. JP moved to sit by her and rested a hand on her shoulder. "We checked in, there's no update. They'll let us know as soon as there's further news, and when she gets put in a room."