Together Again
by Katie

Rating: PG-13/R (Its pretty mild and tame for the most part, the rating also depends on how mature you all are.)
Disclaimer: I don't own the amazing characters of once and again, you know the drill.
New Synopsis: This story takes place years after Jessie and Katie split. They both have their own lives and both have a daughter.  This is their story. For the most part this'll be dealing with either Jessie and Katie or Madison's lives. For those who liked Riley, I'll try to add her in every so often, I just didn't get into her character, and so unless there's a big demand for her to come back, I'll just put her in when necessary.
Writer's note: Before you read this, I would advise you to read the following: Graduation, The College Years, One Last Breath, and the previous installments of this fic, Together Again. There will be references to events and feelings that are from them. Sit back and enjoy.
Writer's note 2: If you have any questions about this fic, any of my previous stuff or about me, feel free to ask. 
Writer's note 3: Sorry for the lack of TA, I was on hiatus, but I've finally gotten some time to write. Thanks for all the responses! It means a lot to me. : )

PART 13

Just in case you forgot what happened in TA 12, here's the ending…

Carrie jumped onto her bed and just started screaming. "AHHHHHHHHH! WHY CAN'T I JUST BE NORMAL FOR ONCE??? WHY CAN'T I JUST FIND SOMEONE TO LOVE ME? WHY CAN'T MADISON…" Just then, Carrie started gasping for air. She quickly clenched the middle of her shirt, right in front of her chest. Still gasping, Carrie slammed her body against the back wall and tried yelling for help. Realizing that her c.d. player was still blaring, she soon discovered that no one would hear her anyways. Tears were running down Carrie's now pale face. Losing any energy that was left in her body, she slowly began to slide down onto her bed. Her eyes began to close and soon enough…

She was breathless. Like a porcelain doll that was abandoned and abused, Carrie lied helpless on the bed. Her screams would forever haunt that room, and that household. By the time the paramedics had arrived, it was obviously too late. Carrie died alone. With tears running down her face, a torn and tattered soul that just needed a little tender care would never get the chance to be fixed. Carrie's parents were lifeless. They had NO idea of the pain their daughter was going through. Nothing in Madison's life would ever prepare her for the news. Especially the now bone chilling journal in Carrie's bedside table…

It was now 9:06 pm. As Maddy was finishing up cleaning the dishes, still warm with a slight hint of macaroni and cheese, the horrifying phone call began. Madison dried her hands quickly, picked up the phone and looked at the caller I.D. It was the hospital. At first, Maddy thought nothing of this. "It must be Mom," she thought as she went to click the TALK button and began to bring the receiver to her ear.

"Hey Mom, I left you some macaroni and cheese in the refrigerator if you want it," Madison said without even thinking anyone else would be on the other end.

"Hi honey. I need to talk to you." There was a slight sadness in her tone, but Madison didn't catch on.

"Ok, what is it?" Madison questioned. "Are you ok Mom? Is everything alright?"

"Umm…I'm afraid everything isn't alright. Sweetie, are you sitting down? If you're not, you might want to."

"Alright…" Madison said and sat down around the kitchen island. "I'm sitting down."

"Well, I'm not sure how to say this but," Jess began. "Carrie is…dead."

At first, Madison thought it was just some sort of cruel and unusual joke. "You've got to be kidding me, right?" Her heart began to slowly race, unsure of those awful words.

"This is no joke. She died earlier this evening."

Madison was speechless. Streams of tears started to pour out of her eyes. Her breathing became heavy and she felt like the world was spinning around her. Her whole body was trembling at the thought of Carrie being dead.

"…Hhh…how could this happen?" Madison finally managed to get out. She felt like her heart would collapse at any moment.

"Her heart stopped. From what I can tell, something just pushed her heart over the edge. Something SO traumatic that Carrie's heart finally became to weak and gave up. She had her music on so loud that no one could hear her screaming her final breathes."

Madison couldn't stop crying. How the hell could this happen?! The two of them had become so close. Maddy could have killed herself for the fact that the last thing that happened between the two of them. She was so upset that she didn't tell Carrie that she liked her. The heartache was too much for Maddy. Now Carrie would never know. They would never get a chance to be together. That hurt Madison more than she could have ever realized. But in another sense, perhaps it was better this way. Not that she was dead, but that they wouldn't ever
be with each other. The crossroad had ended, but the agony was still ever lurking in the shadows of Madison's soul. Kelly would continue to be the center of her life, but could she really love Kelly on all levels while having Carrie on her mind?

"Oh God Mom, this is all my fault." Madison was absolutely hysterical, and not in a good way. She was in total shock.

"It's ok Madison. I know that you're upset right now. You're good friend just died. You didn't do anything. She was born with a weak heart, and sadly, it was only a matter of time before her heart decided to stop struggling." Now Jessie was starting to slowly cry. She had known Carrie since she was a little girl. They had a special bond. Carrie was like a second daughter to Jessie. The thought of Carrie no longer being around, was an unimaginable thought.

"No, Mom, it WAS my fault!" Madison violently screamed into the phone. Trembling at that thought, made her want to puke.

"Madison, it wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself." Jessie was doing her best to keep her daughter calm.

"Mom, why don't you ever LISTEN to me?! You wanna know why her heart stopped?" She paused. There was no looking back now. It was time to finally come forward. "I'm gay! But Carrie never knew that. She kissed me today. I didn't know how to react so I turned her away." Madison was now coughing heavily, for the pain was almost too much for her. She knew that she had to continue. "I turned her away. She was so upset after. Oh God, Mom, what have I done?"

At first Jessie was speechless. In all of her years, she never expected anything like what had happened in the past 24 hours to be happening. Katie proposed to her, which was amazing. Madison just said she was gay. And her favorite patient had just died.

"Madison, stay right there. I'm coming home."

Still crying, Madison replied, "Don't worry about me Mom. I'll be fine by myself. I've learned how to deal that way I suppose. I don't want to keep you from more important things." The utter tone of her voice was enough to make a grown man cry. Madison was feeling more depressed than ever before. When Jessie heard those words, she couldn't believe it. She had turned into the one thing she never wanted to be: a bad mother. Now Jessie was really crying.

"Oh Maddy," she started, trying to collect her thoughts. "Don't ever think that my job is more important to you. Just stay there, I'll be right home. I am so sorry I've made you feel that way."

"Ok, bye."

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