Brother's Run

Chapter 11: Stress.

Warning: Strong language… Enjoy.

Chapter 11: Stress.

They'd taken Rory right away when we entered the emergency room. One of the bright sides of living in the small town, but I was forced to sit in the waiting room while they assessed and worked on him. I had paper work still piled on my lap, my mind wasn't able to function enough to fill them out. I chalked it all up to shock, my body felt numb, but my hand tingled with a glimpse of pain... this was really happening and I was still alive, living it.

The large man that had offered the potential life saving ride sat silently beside me. His shoulders were broad, touching my own and the suit he wore strained against the obvious mass of muscles underneath. His hair was short and blonde with striking green eyes, very close to Nico's. Even if he had extended such a kind gesture he gave off the same vibe as Nico, but I held back the unsettling gut feeling.

"Thank you…" I wasn't even sure if the man had caught the thanks, as it barely came out a whisper. My throat was dry, but the fear of missing the doctor kept me rotted to the seat.

"What happened in there?" His tone was deep and even. The question made me shift in my seat, I wasn't even sure what had happened. Even catching the end, I couldn't honestly think of anything that would justify such a beating from that brute. It made wave of rage surge through my body and my fists clenched.

"He's a piece of s**t…" I leaned forward in frustration, I was getting anxious to find out what my brother was going through. I felt a flash of heat followed by a clamy cold sweat. I wanted to be by Rory's side and let him know I would do anything to help him pull through. I thought of our first kiss and Rory's soft lips, his happy smile as we broke the lip lock and him climbing into my lap. A precious moment, to a horror filled one just minutes later.

The rage was quickly washed over with guilt and regret. I thought of the chance that I may not be able to taste those sweet lips again as I touched my own and feel the tender flesh under my fingers. I could feel myself falling apart again, I wanted to rip that man apart for inflicting such pain to my little brother.

"Loni." A unnaturally sympathetic voice broke me from my thoughts and I looked to meet the bright green eyes of Nico. "Anon, take these papers and fill them out for him." He was quick to take advantage of my shock, pulling the papers from my lap and handing them over to the man named Anon.

I looked from both Nico to Anon in shock, could this be the brother Liz was talking about? "What… what are you f*****g doing here Nico?"

"I heard Rory got into a bit of a brawl that you ended." He sat on the other side of me and I was now wedged between the two. My gut screamed to run, but my mind was frozen in the unthinkable situation. Could it honestly get any worse? Nico took hold of my hands in his, I hadn't noticed how much they had been torn open from the repeated punches. "Think we should get you into see a doctor too."

I tore my hands from his touch, "No-no. I need to know what's going to happen to Rory." I looked over to Anon, who was filling the papers as if he'd known Rory his whole life. So many thoughts now whizzed in my head, I was becoming overwhelmed and couldn't stop myself as a cascade of rage ridden questions that shot out. "H-how do you know so much about us? Why are you guys here? How come he was in front of our house?" I was standing, screaming the questions into Nico's face, but he kept calm. The previous surge of adrenaline was back, racing through my veins and it was topped with a flush of heat that made my mind dizzy.

I hated him, hated his stupid face always so composed. Like he had it all planned out, I was ready to throw a punch at Nico. I reeled my arm back and catapulted my fist into the side of his jaw, but that was all I was able to get in. Anon had grabbed me from behind I felt like a little child thrashing around, feet swinging in the air. I struggled against the bear hug I'd been wrapped in, straining trying to break free and rain more punches on the man in front of me.

Nico was rubbing his jaw and called someone over with his other hand. I'd felt a prick in my arm being held steady by the giant. I slowly lost the fight, whatever they'd given me stripped me of my strength and consciousness. "Hate... you..." I slurred before it all went black.

I woke up to the steady beats of machines in the room, my eyes focused on the setting around me. I panicked before noticing, I was still in the hospital, but I'd been stripped and dressed with a hospital gown. The room had another bed beside my own and my eyes went wide when I noticed the familiar shaggy light hair. I started to climb out of the bed when the stinging pain in my hand stopped me. I looked down to see a drip inserted into my hand.

I was quick to remove both the tape and needle from my skin, it hurt, but once I got it out I was beside my brother in an instance. "Rory…?" I spoke softly for some reason. Clutching his hand, I sat myself carefully beside him. "I… I'm so sorry Rory." My heart ached as I looked over his still body. His right arm and leg were casted, his head wrapped in bandages along with his left arm. Who knew how many other things were broken or gashed open.

The thought of committing murder to avenge my brother shot through my mind, but the sting of guilt kept me grounded as I looked on at my little brother, his face swollen and almost unrecognizable. I couldn't leave his side again. I wouldn't.

"As much as I enjoy the view Loni, I don't think I'd like others seeing your tight bare ass." My heart skipped with the sudden voice.

My eyes snapped to Nico who was now standing beside me, he pulled the gown that'd bunched in my lap exposing my leg and rear end, to cover me. I growled before I spoke "What the hell is your deal?" I shot up from the bed in a instance, "First you start filling Rory's head with nonsense and then you show up here and that f*****g giant knowing everything about Rory… like-like a stalker... Are you f*****g stalking us?"

"No, I'm not stalking the both of you." He took hold of my chin, "I'm just stalking you… Anon is stalking Rory." Nico gave one of his annoyingly smug smiles as he came in close. "You should count yourself lucky Loni, not many people live after landing a hit on me." His words were low, riddled with bits of anger.

I slapped his hand away and darted from under his looming figure. I wasn't sure how many more times my heart would thunder in my chest today, but I was sure I couldn't handle much more. "I don't give a s**t what people don't get away with. I'll call the damn cops on you for stalking." I pointed my finger at Nico's chest to make a point.

Nico scoffed at my threat. "Call the cops if you like, but the way I see it. You need my help darling. See, I got both you and your brother well taken care of right now. Besides going to the cops really won't do you any good, as soon as you say my name they'll laugh." Nico didn't know the meaning of personal space as he closed the gap between us once more. Bit of anger flicked in my fingers and I found myself trying to resist the urge to land another lucky hit.

I thought of making my escape but when my eyes flicked to the door, Anon's large figure filled it. A ball of hopelessness was building in the pit of my stomach. I just wanted a good life for my brother and I. I thought we could've had it here, we'd made it more than half a year without a major incident like this. We had done so well at avoiding any and all trouble this time around.

I felt myself breaking down, lost in the vicious cycle. What would happen now? If Jim decided to report this, we would surely be relocated and possibly separated. The realization hit me hard and Nico was a living punching bag standing open in front of me, but my vision once more settled on the giant at the door. His figure was blurred as my eyes filled, once again with salted tears.

"Hey, Loni." Nico's voice was soft, which didn't suit him at all. I wanted to push him away and tell him to f**k right off, but I was tired. Drained, both mentally and physically. "Everything is going to be okay." He'd bent down so he was eye to eye with me.

"I hate you." I seethed.

I was shaking from everything. I broke down and Nico gathered me in his arms for a hug, my skin crawled with hate from the contact. "I know." I had no fight left in me at the moment.

I couldn't make sense of anything as I broke down in his arms, after a few moment the doctor came in. I silently thanked the intrusion, Nico guided me back to the empty bed. The doctor let me know that my brother suffered multiple broken ribs along with the broken arm and fractured leg. Rory also had a concussion and multiple lacerations throughout his body. He would make a full recovery and would be able to go home in a week or two, but they wanted to keep him to monitor his brain activity. They told me he was lucky, that was a laugh.

When the doctor asked about what had caused all of this I went silent and for once I was glad that Nico was there. He took over in the matter leading the doctor out as he spoke to him.

My eyes waved over to Rory again, I couldn't hold back the choke of tears as they rushed down my cheeks. "What am I supposed to do now…?" I was whispering to myself, feeling like a child. Knowing nothing and searching for the unconditional love and guidance of a parent. I laid down on the hospital bed, curling up in the fetal position. I watched Rory's steady breaths as his chest rose and fell. I felt so tired… and I closed my eyes.