In my time of need

The journey back in the helicopter had been silent. Hiro was still in Baymax's arms. He hadn't spoken a word and it remained that way until they arrived and stepped back out onto solid ground.

"I need to make a phone call," He said.

"Who to?" Asked GoGo, her voice slightly suspicious.

"Who do you think, knucklehead," The words were strained as if he were trying to be cheerful.

"The police. I have a murder to report. And… deliberate arson," Hiro finished, his gaze seeming to stare just past her. GoGo nodded. Satisfied with his answer. It seemed that Hiro had thought this through on the journey – he had considered that Callaghan's crime needed to be reported, something that she had neglected to think about.

No one had suggested that they make the call while in the helicopter. For some reason, it seemed like something that Hiro had to do himself. Maybe there was the idea that if he did it himself, then maybe he might be let off with a lighter sentence.

"Is there… somewhere I can make the call?" Hiro asked.

"I'll show you," Fred said, hurrying to lead the kid inside. Once they reached the phone, Hiro stared at it with dead eyes.

"You OK? Do you need me to help?" Fred asked.

"I'd… I'd like to have some time alone. To make the call. Private time. I also want to talk to Aunt Cass. And," The boy looked so dejected.

"And?" Fred prompted when Hiro said nothing else.

"Nothing. I'll tell you later."

"If you are sure," Fred said, not wanting to leave the child alone but worrying about intruding in on his conversation with his aunt.

"I'll have Baymax with me. I'll be fine. I'm not going to make a run from it,"

"Never thought you would, little fellow. We'll get through this," Fred placed a hand on Hiro's shoulder but the teenager didn't seem to noticed.

Fred left.

Hiro breathed.

"Hiro," Baymax started.

"Not now. I need to think," The boy said, pacing anxiously.

"I wish to help," The robot continued.

"You can't! They'll…! They'll…!" His voice broke and fresh tears glistened in his eyes.

"Hiro, what is wrong? I am picking up signs of emotional distress," Baymax said.

Hiro rushed forwards and embraced Baymax tightly. He buried his head in the marshmellow like stomach and closed his eyes, feeling those robotic arms wrap around him.

"Baymax, I'm sorry," he said, voice muffled.

"I am satisfied with my care," The arms released him and the robot stared at him. For a second, Hiro feared that Tadashi might have programmed something into Baymax that would prevent him being deactivated until other environmental features were satisfied. Manly that the patient was actually well. But it seemed that the fear was in vain. Baymax turned and started to walk away. As he opened the door, Fred looked in, seeing the robot walk off. Hiro was glad that he had brought Baymax's charging port to the mansion.

"Are you done? That was quick," The older boy said sympathetically. Hiro shook his head.

"I need you to look after Baymax. He could be taken away from us. With what I've… With what happened, they might consider him to be a threat and dismantle him. Destroy everything. I can't let… I can't let that happen to h... him. He's all I… I… I…"

"I… understand," Fred said. He's all I have of Tadashi.

"Will you do it?" Will you look after Baymax for me? Keep him from the police?"

"That's what superheroes do, isn't it? Look out for one another. Keep secrets,"

Hiro nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Fred gave a small smile.

"So, do you need to get on to your calls or have you, you know, changed your mind?"

"No. I'm going to make them,"

"Do you want me to leave again?"

"Please,"

Hiro called Aunt Cass first. He wasn't sure how much time he would have to talk to her after he had phoned the police. And the explanation he needed to give wasn't exactly going to be short.

"Hello, this is the Lucky Cat Café, how may I help you?" Hiro froze as he heard the voice. How could he tell this to Aunt Cass?

"Hello?"

Hiro swallowed.

"Aunt Cass, it's me,"

"Hey Hiro, do you want picking up," Hiro had said that he was around Fred's house. And that he would be back later. He usually 'walked' back, which had involved flying on Baymax for most of the way. He'd never once asked for a lift back home.

"Uh, no. Its fine," His throat tightened. He should have thought about this he told Baymax to destroy Callaghan. He should have thought this through, he should have used that big brain of his.

"Hiro, what's wrong?" Cass asked, worry in her voice. Hiro could feel his eyes watering.

"The fire. It was a distraction to cover up the theft of my microbots. Professor Callaghan, he created it," At this point Hiro was ignoring everything that Aunt Cass was saying although he could hear the worry in her voice. Wanting to know why he thought this. Telling him not to lie.

"I… I updated Baymax, gave him armour and then went after Callaghan. I'm sorry Aunt Cass. Love you," He hung up. Apparently he should have called the police first. He couldn't stomach telling Aunt Cass everything. And she deserved to know the whole story.

He sat there against the wall for a few minutes. Fred had come in when the telephone started to ring, no doubt Aunt Cass was trying to call back the number. Hiro had waved Fred away from answering it. Fred had stayed with him. Hiro didn't know when but at some point Fred had managed to pull him into a hug and Hiro had not pushed away from it.

"I should call the police," Hiro managed to finally say, once the tears had left him.

"I'll leave," Fred said, suspecting that the boy would want peace like the last time.

"Actually, can you stay?" Hiro asked.

"Sure,"

Hiro carefully punched in the numbers. It didn't take long for the phone to be answered.

"The police," He said, in response to their question about which emergency service he wanted.

Then the police were on, asking how they could help.

"The fire at the SFIT convention, it was deliberate arson caused by Professor Callaghan to steal my microbots. I don't know what he wanted them for but I went to confront him and it's resulted in his death. His body is on the island opposite the bay. The neural cranial transmitter can be found there as can the microbots," Hiro said. There was silence as if whoever was on the end was trying to comprehend what had just been said.

Hiro gave them his name and current address. They said an officer would be dispatched to the address.

He hung up.

"They're on their way,"

"Let's get back to the-" Fred started to say but the door opened.

GoGo, Honey Lemon and Wasabi all stood there.

"Hiro, we were worried. You didn't come back," Honey Lemon said, concern in her voice as she stepped forward on her long legs.

"Look, we'll be here for you," GoGo said. "You don't have to face this alone."

"We'll do whatever we can," Wasabi added.

Hiro looked up at his friends. He still couldn't get the image of Callaghan's dying moments out of his head. It horrified him that part of him was pleased that Callaghan was dead but he couldn't help it.

"You're not going to push us away this time," GoGo said, almost a threat in her voice.

Hiro felt like he didn't deserve them.

A/N: Sorry for the delay. Uni decided to pile on a whole load of work for March and I've been struggling to keep up with everything. In three more weeks, though, all should be done and I can focus on this.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. Not much action but things should get a little interesting in the next few chapters.