Dez sat in the hospital waiting room, wringing his hands and wondering how it all went wrong so fast. He kept replaying everything in his head; it just didn't make any sense. Why—how did come to this? What possibly went wrong? He thought things were getting better, but now... He just didn't know. He didn't know anything anymore. His mind was fuzzy, tuning out the real world, trying in vain to figure out what he did wrong, what he could have done better. So many became faintly aware of people talking urgently around him; he looked up in a daze, vision blurry with tears he hadn't known he'd been shedding.
"I think it's the right decision, Mike. What other choice do we have?" Mimi Moon was gripping her husband's hands hand looking at him pleadingly.
Mike looked down. "I know, but...It just doesn't feel right, somehow."
"It would be best for him. We have to think about Austin." Mimi sighed, casting a nervous glance toward the hallway where her son was in surgery. She had to convince him that it was the right thing to do, because if she could convince him, she could convince herself. It had to be done.
Mike nodded, his wife was right after all, they had to think of Austin's health first.
"W-what's going on?" Dez choked out, confusion clear on his tear-stained face.
Mike and Mimi exchanged a glance. "Well, Dez," Mimi began, "we were thinking that, in light of the current situation, that we should...um...should..." her gaze dropped nervously. This might be harder than she thought.
Mike squeezed her hand and held Dez's gaze steady, he had to support his wife."We are going to let Austin stay at the...center. Indefinitely."
Dez's eyes widened. Did he hear that right? They were just going to give him away? Really? "But—no! You can't do that, h-he needs you guys, you can't just abandon him there!" Dez exclaimed.
"We're not abandoning him, honey. We're helping him, in the only way we can." Mimi leaned forward and grabbed Dez's hand. "We love Austin more than anything, and we always put his needs first. He needs to be with someone who can help him, and they can."
Dez pulled away from Mimi. "You can help him. He needs you, not those people." He looked at them pleadingly, "Can't you see that?"
Mike gave Dez a look, "How would you know what's best for our son. Dez, listen to me, this is what's best for Austin."
"I'm his best friend, Mr. Moon. I know what will help him, and it's not that place." Dez insisted.
"He's my son Dez. I know what will help my son." Mike's patience was growing thin.
"Not if you don't listen to him. He's been crying out to you! He needs you! Please, just hear him out, he doesn't need to go back there. He—" Mike threw up his hand to stop Dez's rant.
"Do not challenge my parenting, Dez. Austin will go back to the center, and he will stay there. You have no say in this matter." Mike glared at the pale red-head in front of him.
"It'll destroy him." Dez whispered, never taking eyes off Mr. Moon's, despite the tears that were again streaming down his cheeks. "Please," he begged. "Please."
Mike looked at Dez with ice-cold eyes. "Austin will be going back to rehab. That's final."
Dez sank back into his chair, his clouded eyes staring at his hands, but seeing nothing. He didn't speak again, the tears silently falling down. He couldn't change their minds, they saw him as an idiot. He'd failed his friend again. How many times did that make? He didn't know, too many. How long would it be before he was actually able to help Austin? It just didn't make sense to him. Austin needs his family, he needs them to love him. Why did they just keep hurting him, and why couldn't they see it? Dez squeezed his eyes shut, but the tears kept falling.
When Dez finally looked up, he had no idea how much time had passed. He noticed that Mike and Mimi were talking to the doctor, he also noticed all the blood on the doctor's jacket. Austin's blood.
Mimi noticed Dez looking their way and gave him a reassuring smile. The doctor left and Mike followed, but Mimi came back and sat with Dez.
"He's going to be alright." She smiled again. "He's asleep now, but you can see him after he wakes up."
Dez looked up at her and tried to return her beaming smile. "That's great." He said sincerely. "But..." he looked down.
"What is it, Dez? Mimi asked worriedly.
"Who's gonna tell him...y'know." Dez asked.
Mimi smiled sadly at the distraught boy, "Mike is, sweetheart. You know it is for the best. You shouldn't worry so much."
Dez looked away. There was no point in trying to argue with her, she was the one who convinced Mr. Moon that this was a good idea.
"Dez, sweety, I'm going to go see Austin. I'll let you know when you can see him." Mimi smiled and patted Dez on the shoulder as she stood up. Dez continued staring at the floor.
"He's awake." Mike said as he and Mimi reentered the waiting room. "We've said what we needed to say to him. We're headed home."
Dez looked at Austin's parents. "You're going home?"
"Yes, we'll be back tomorrow," Mike said. "To discuss the details with him." He and Mimi turned and left the hospital, not waiting for Dez's response.
Dez stood and watched them leave, then he hesitantly made his way toward Austin's room. It was hard to get the last image he had of Austin out of his head. There was so much blood. He looked so dead. If Dez was honest with himself, he was scared. What if Austin was mad at him? Mad to still be alive. As Dez approached Austin's room, he trembled slightly, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. He couldn't cry before he even saw Austin. He couldn't.
Dez reached Austin's room and knocked. "Austin? I'm coming in." Dez smiled and opened the door.
"Dez."