Chapter 3: Breaking News
Every news channel in the world played the same story. "Breaking news! Bombs have been dropped on the Canadian Parliament building!"
Alfred flipped to another channel.
"The attack happened at noon today. An unknown plane flew over the main building and released a bomb."
He changed the channel once more.
"It is unknown whether or not there are any survivors but so far there have been no signs of life within the rubble. We fear that the Canadian government has fall-"
Alfred grumbled and switched of the tv before he resumed pacing the waiting room at the nearby clinic. It has been nearly 5 hours since he had arrived with Matthew and there still hasn't been a word about his condition. All Alfred could think about was the blank, glassy look of Canada's eyes as he was taken back to the E.R. seeing his brother like that struck deep in his heart. 'Please be okay Mattie…'
The waiting room was stuffy and overcrowded though it only had 5 occupants; America, France, England, Prussia and surprisingly Russia. Everyone but Alfred had claimed one of the stiff chairs for the wait.
Arthur sat next to Francis and held him close, whispering words of comfort. "Calm down… I'm sure they'll be out any minute now to tell us that he's alright…."
Beside the two, Gilbert sat, bouncing his leg up down in worry, anxiety, and overall, stress. His ruby colored eyes were dulled and bloodshot. Three words rang clear in his head and repeated themselves over and over. 'He'll be okay he'll be okay he'll be okay he'll be okay.' The albino pulled a small picture out of his pocket and smiled down at the delicate blonde nation in it. He had taken that picture last week when Matthew came over. It was the day Gilbert confessed his feelings for Matthew. He sighed and put the picture of his boyfriend back in his pocket and stared at the doors to the E.R. silently begging for someone to come out, to tell him Matthew was okay. A gasp escaped his lips as a nurse slipped through the door.
The nurse was bombarded by the nations, all of which asked the same question though Gilbert yelled the loudest. "Is Matthew okay?!"
Through the yelling the nurse spoke is a loud tone. "Will you all step back and let me speak! You can't hear what I have to say if you're all yelling!" With that everyone stopped yelling and stepped back. "Thank you. Now, can I have a family member please come with me."
Everyone looked at Arthur as he shakily stepped forward, his face pale with worry. "I-I'm his father."
The nurse gestured for Arthur to follow and he did. They walked back through the E.R. doors and into a small office.
The nurse was the first to speak. "Matthew has survived but… He's in critical condition. The gash in his chest was extremely deep and long. If it gets infected then he will most likely die, that is, if he survives the night."
Arthur's face grew paler at the last part. "D-Do you think he'll survive?.."
She bit her lip and looked down. "Honestly I don't… His injuries are extremely sever." She put a hand on his shoulder and looked at him solemnly. "I'm sorry Mr…. Uh.."
"K-Kirkland, Arthur Kirkland." He said shakily.
The nurse spoke while she led him back towards the door. "I'm sorry Mr. Kirkland but prepare for the worse."
Arthur stopped and grabbed her arm slightly. "C-Can I go see him?" He said, struggling to keep his voice from cracking.
The nurse bit her lip and look at the chart again. "Yes but only you for now. The rest will have to wait about another hour."
He nodded and followed the nurse into Canada's room. It was rather large for only one person. There was a curtain surrounding the only bed in the room so he couldn't get a glimpse of Matthew. "Is he behind this curtain?"
She nodded and put a hand on the curtain. "Mr. Kirkland… Be prepared… He doesn't look well…"
Arthur gulped and nodded, preparing himself for what he might see. As the nurse pulled back the curtain, he gasped. "B-Bloody hell!" He ran to the side of the hospital bed. Matthew lay in the bed, connected to multiple loud machines, and he was unmoving. England noticed how pale he was. He almost looked like a corpse. There was a mask strapped to his face that delivered oxygen to him and there was also an IV that dripped a crimson liquid into him. The next thing he noticed was the giant bandage wrapped around his chest that was stained red. He felt his blood run cold and the room started to spin.
The nurse grabbed his arm and pulled away from the bed before closing the curtains once again. "I'm sorry sir, that's all for now." She lead him back to the waiting room and back to the other nations. "We'll update you if something changes with Matthew."
Arthur nodded. "Thank you ma'am…" He turned to face his fellow nations.
"Arthur! How is Ma-" The words died in Francis's throat when he saw the expression on Arthur's face. His eyes widen. "Mon Dieu… D-Don't tell me he's…"
Alfred ran to England and hugged him, tears rolling down his face. "Please tell me he's okay. Please tell me he'll make it…" He was trembling, afraid of what he knew Arthur was going to say.
The brit hesitantly hugged back as he broke down into tears. "A-Alfred h-he…" It was a struggle for the words to come out for if he said them, he had to admit it was true. His son, his eldest son who he had neglected for most his life, was going to die. 'This is all my fault…. If I had been looking after him like I was supposed to then maybe… Maybe he wouldn't have been attacked…'
"Arthur! How is he?!" Alfred snapped, pulling Arthur out of his thoughts. "Is he still alive?.. J-Just nod or s-shake your head." He sighed in relief when he felt the nod on his shoulder but tensed when Arthur spoke.
"T-They don't think he will s-s-survive the n-night…." He burst into sobs once again. Francis picked him up and took him over to the chairs as he quietly sobbed with him.
Prussia stood there, unable to comprehend what England had just said. The love of his life was expected to die in the next few hours. 'T-This can't be real… This has to b-be a d-dream! He can't… He can't die!' He reached his hand to his face as he felt warm tears roll down his cheeks. 'No! No crying Gilbert! He's not going to die!' He clenched his fists and held back his tears. "I'm going to find the jack-wagon that hurt mien Birdie! I'm going to kill them!"
Everyone looked up at him in surprise and Alfred stood up from his spot on the floor, wiping stray tears from his face. "I will to! No one gets away with hurting my bro!" He walked over to Gilbert and put a hand of his shoulder. "We're going to kill that monster."
Neither of them noticed the smiling Russian in the corner. If they did, maybe they could have prevented what was soon to come.