The End of Sleep

Author's Note: This is an alternate ending to the movie, so there are spoilers. If you have not seen the movie yet—STOP! Go see then read this. Hope you enjoy!

They were watching as the police loaded Callaghan into the back of a police car and saw a young police officer run up to the chief.

"Chief! We found something odd at Callaghan's residence!"

Hiro glanced at the others and they all raced to Wasabi's van, Gogo snatching the keys and shoving Wasabi into the passenger seat. Five minutes later they pulled up next to ambulance as it parked in front of their old professor's house.

"An ambulance?" Gogo leaned against the car door as they all got out and watched the EMTs rush a gurney into the house.

"What do you think they found?" Hiro took a few steps in front of the car, his eyes completely focused on the door of the house.

"I don't know." Honey Lemon was clutching her hands to her chest, worry clear in her large eyes. "Do you think the professor was holding someone hostage?"

"No way. The professor…" Wasabi trailed off, unsure now what the man that had taught them was really capable of.

The team remained quiet as they waited for any information. Five minutes later, the EMTs finally came back out, carefully maneuvering the now occupied gurney through the door.

Hiro suddenly rushed forward, a police officer grabbing him and trying to hold him back.

"Tadashi!"

Fred, Gogo, Wasabi, and Honey Lemon all stared in shock as they watched their friend be rolled to the ambulance. Hiro turned on the police officer, grabbing his shirt.

"That's my big brother! Please!"

The policeman took one look at Hiro's face and immediately escorted him to the ambulance, helping him in.

Hiro glanced over his shoulder. "Go get Aunt Cass and meet us at the hospital!"

That startled the others out of their state of shock, and they immediately made their way back to the car.

Gogo glanced at Wasabi and sighed. "I'll drive. Give me the keys."

Wasabi nodded, tears clouding his eyes and clogging his throat as he handed the keys over. Fred and Honey Lemon weren't in much better states as they made their way to the café.

Honey Lemon rushed out and grabbed Cass, shaking her by the shoulders while the girl tried to explain. "Cass, Hiro's at the hospital! We need to hurry!"

Cass grabbed Honey's shoulders and pulled her close. "What do you mean Hiro's in the hospital?! What happened?! Why are we still standing here?!" Cass dragged Honey out of the café, tossing an order to close up over her shoulder.

Fifteen minutes later they were all rushing into the hospital.

Cass spotted Hiro first, rushing over and enveloping him in a huge hug. "I thought you were hurt! What are you doing here? I was worried sick!"

Hiro finally managed to get enough space to breathe and put his hands on his aunt's shoulders to keep her from squishing him again. "I'm fine Aunt Cass! Didn't they tell you anything we they picked you up?"

"We didn't exactly get a chance to get in a word." Gogo stood with her hand on her hip, watching the two of them in amusement.

Cass grabbed Hiro by the shoulders. "Why are you in the hospital? Are you hurt somewhere?" She grabbed each arm and started checking for injuries.

Hiro grabbed her face between his hands. "Tadashi is alive!"

Cass blinked at Hiro and started checking his head for injuries. "Hiro…"

Wasabi put his hand on her shoulder. "It's true. Tadashi is alive. We all saw him."

"Hamada-san? Is there a Hamada-san here?"

Hiro immediately ran over to the nurse and spoke quietly for a moment before waving the others over and following the nurse into the hallways.

Soon enough, they were all entering the room were Tadashi lay, still asleep. Hiro was immediately at his side, holding his big brother's hand, with Aunt Cass right behind him, reaching over to gently stroke her nephew's cheek with one hand while the other wrapped Hiro in a one armed hug.

The others gathered at the foot of Tadashi's bed, leaning on each other and smiling and laughing and crying as they worked through the shock of finding out their best friend was alive. Aunt Cass left at some point to talk to the doctors and came back smiling to inform them that Tadashi would be fine with some rest, he just had to stay in the hospital until he woke up and had one final checkup. Eventually, Hiro fell asleep, still clutching his brother's hand. Smiling, Wasabi lifted Hiro up and gently lay him next to Tadashi. Honey smiled when Hiro immediately cuddled closer to his older brother.

A nurse poked her head in the room. "I'm sorry, but visiting hours are over. You all have to leave now." The nurse glanced at Hiro next to Tadashi.

Gogo glared at her. "Only a monster would try to separate those two right now." The nurse flinched when Gogo popped her gum angrily.

"Yeah! Only a super villain would be able to do that!" Fred looked the nurse over suspiciously and leaned towards Honey. "Do you think she's a supervillain?" His attempt to whisper conspiratorially to Honey was unsuccessful, and the nurse glared at him.

When the nurse opened her mouth to protest and say something about hospital regulations, Honey jumped in. "Come on, he thought his big brother was dead! Do you really have it in you to make him wake up without him again?" Her eyes were huge and wet behind her glasses, her bottom lip trembling slightly.

The nurse glanced away. "I'm sorry but—"

"Miss." Wasabi smiled sadly at the nurse. "They've been separated for weeks." He glanced back at the sleeping brothers. "Would it hurt anything if Hiro stayed just one night?"

Cass stepped forward, hands clasped to her chest. "Please. I just know that if Hiro doesn't wake up next to Tadashi tomorrow he's going to think it was all a dream." She reached out and clasped the nurse's hands. "Please."

The nurse looked conflicted for a moment. Finally she sighed. "Let me go talk to my supervisor."

Cass smiled. "Thank you."

She gave them a serious look. "I make no promises." Without another word the nurse disappeared back into the hallway.

They waited nervously, Cass going back to stand next to her nephews and gently running her fingers through Hiro's hair as she watched them sleep. Gogo was looking around the room, seeing if she could spot either a place for Hiro to hide or a way for them to sneak him back in if the hospital made him leave, the others joining her when they realized what she was doing.

Finally the nurse came back, a smile on her face. "He can stay, as long as he doesn't cause any trouble."

The nurse blinked in surprise when Cass and Honey wrapped her in a hug. Cass held the nurse at arm's length for a moment before giving her another hug. "Thank you. This means so much."

The nurse patted Cass's back awkwardly. "Yes well. He's the only one allowed to stay, I'm afraid. So the rest of you have to leave."

Cass was smiling, tears filling her eyes, when she released the nurse. "Of course. Thank you so much!"

Wasabi put his hand on Cass's shoulder. "Come on, Aunt Cass, we'll give you a ride home."

Cass smiled warmly at Wasabi and started to lead the way out of the hospital, Fred, Wasabi, and Honey following behind. Gogo lagged behind in the hallway, looking at the room across from Tadashi's.

Honey glanced back. "Is there something wrong, Gogo?" She looked at the other girl worriedly.

Gogo started walking down the hall, popping her gum as she walked. "No. It's nothing. Let's go."

Gogo was silent as they all pilled back into Wasabi's van, and silent while the others wished Cass a good night, only giving the woman a wave as she walked into her café. Once Cass was out of sight, the others turned to her.

"Alright girl." Wasabi looked at her with concern from the driver's seat. "What's up?"

She looked at them all, her face completely serious. "We need to go to the police station. We need to have a chat with Callaghan."

xXxXx

Author's Note: Alright, there's part one of this two-shot. Now, I'm off to write the second half!