Hidden Truths - Season One

Chapter Four: Still Here

USAF Academy Hospital

Colorado Springs

ICU Room 103

Hannah blinked, her vision blurry. Her arms ached, her head felt heavy, and her throat felt dry. But she was alive. She blinked again, and the blurry shapes swam into focus. She saw her mom and dad, Jessica and Clay all at her bedside. She smiled weakly at them, and for a moment, putting aside how she had gotten there in the first place.

"Hey."

"Hannah!"

Olivia immediately jumped up from her chair and engulfed her daughter in a tight hug.

"Oh, my baby!" She began to sob in relief as Andy joined in on the hug. They had waited for what seemed like years for Hannah to wake, although it was in reality only a few days. Hannah groaned in protest from the hug, not because she was embarrassed in front of her friends, but because she was still sore. Olivia and Andy relented.

"Mom... Dad... Clay... Jess... I.." she coughed, her voice hoarse. Olivia sprang to action grabbing a tall glass of water left on the bedside table, and holding it in front of Hannah. Still feeling too weak to grab the glass, Hannah leaned forward and allowed her mother to tip the glass forward, and take a drink.

"It's okay, sweetie, take your time." Andy said.

Hannah finished her drink and leaned back. "I'm... I'm so sorry.." tears began to form at the corners of her eyes, and she put her head in her hands.

"I just... everything was going wrong, and I felt like I was letting everyone down... I thought you'd all be better off without me. I didn't want to be a burden..."

"Oh, Hannah." Olivia sighed, hugging her daughter gently.

Hannah looked up to see them all staring warmly at her. Olivia took her daughter's hands.

"You're not a burden. Don't even think that for a second. We love you, and nothing in this world will ever change that."

"You're my best friend." Jessica said. "I know I haven't shown it. I've... frankly... I've been a complete bitch lately. I didn't trust you when I should have."

"And I didn't reach out when I should have. Several times." Clay said, looking down, ashamed. "I am so sorry. And it killed me every second you were lying there, when I was afraid I wouldn't be able to tell you any of this. I know I won't be able to completely make up for before, but I want to be here for you now like I always should have been."

"And I'd like to start over... if you'll let me." Jessica said.

Hannah looked at them. Before her attempt, none of their words would have reached her. She would have assumed that they had some hidden agenda; that they were just telling her what she wanted to hear, then they would use her for what they wanted, and discard her when they were done. But somehow, this time, she believed them.

She didn't quite remember what had happened since her attempt. She thought she recalled seeing Clay and Jess at some point. But that had been a dream... hadn't it? Regardless, something stirred within her. Yes, she had wanted to die, and had started to regret her actions right after carrying them out. She thought she wouldn't have been given a second chance. And yet somehow, against all the odds... she had.

She wasn't completely okay. She still felt broken, used and hollow from the past year, and the actions of Bryce Walker. But she was still here.

And she wanted to get better.

She looked at her friends and family, and smiled.

"Yeah." she said. "I'd like that. I may not have planned for it, but... I'm still here. I have a second chance."

And she wasn't going to squander it.

Seth's Compound

Time: Unknown

Justin woke up. For a second, he had no idea where he was, and that terrified him. But then, he remembered where he was.