just one more for the ride

Mary had somehow got inventive and changed Maddie's records up at the hospital. At least she got the treatment she needed and was on the mend.

Cody managed to put a few more minutes on the cell that Dil had given him. At least, he blended around here. No one thought he might be out of place. After all, he was staying with Jesus, helping him out with his art studio. All was good in the world. It was just, he hadn't called home. He wanted to, but was afraid his mom's phone might be tapped or something. He didn't want to take his chances.

Finally, he got up the nerve to call Dil.

"So, how is she?" Cody asked first thing about Emma.

"She's great." Dil told him.

"What's she doing right now?" Cody asked.

"Sleeping." Dil sounded tired.

"What are you doing?" Cody wanted to know.

"Sleeping." Dil yawned then.

"Sorry, I didn't mean-"

"Are you OK? Is Maddie OK?" Dil asked then as if he were awake now, and he was listening.

"Yeah, we're fine. Everything is OK." Cody told him. "But she did have to go to the hospital."

"Really?" Dil sounded worried then. "Are you sure she's OK?"

"Yeah, there's just one hitch." Cody finally said.

"What's that?" Dil sounded curious.

"We have a baby." Cody felt a tickle of laughter in his throat, but it was no laughing matter.

"What? She was still pregnant with another one?" Dil was in shock.

"No. No, you have Emma. Its not Emma's brother." Cody took a deep breath, hoping he could explain it. "This, runaway, at the hospital left her baby there, and the nurse that was helping Maddie said it was Maddie's baby. So-"

"Are you serious?" Dil's voice was so loud then. Cody had to put the phone away from his head.

"Yeah, I'm serious." Cody didn't know what else to say. Really, Mannie didn't look that much different from Emma. They could have passed for siblings. But he knew Maddie was happy, and it was going to be all right. Some how.