We're all here for you Alex
Nat woke up in the middle of the night because he thought he heard Alex crying. He rolled over and climbed out of bed. Alex was crying in his sleep again. Nat gently woke him up and said "it's alright Alex. It was only a bad dream. Shh you're safe now I've got you."
Nat picked Alex up and held him close. After a while Alex stopped crying and said "I hate this Nat! I hate feeling like my heart is broken! You said I was getting better but I feel worse then I did before."
Nat sighed and said "Alex things will get better. I know things seem really hard right now but you have to trust me."
Alex sniffled and said "you don't get it! Oh god my head hurts!"
Nat put his arm around Alex and said "lie back down and I'll go get an ice pack."
Nat came back with an ice pack and put it on Alex's forehead. Then he said "do you think you can go back to sleep now? I'll sit right here and hold your hand I promise."
Alex said "Nat I'm afraid I'll have that dream again. I hate it that's why I stopped skating I thought that if I didn't skate I wouldn't have that dream."
Nat sighed and said "Alex your headache will only get worse if you don't sleep. Before we go back to sleep tell me some of the good times you had with Juanita. That will help her not seem so far away. Dad had me do that when I missed mom."
Alex said "when I first met her I thought she was a boy. When ever we skated together even when I was upset she made me smile."
Nat said "see Alex I told you that talking about how much fun you guys had together would cheer you up."
Alex sighed and said "Nat do you think Juanita was thinking about me?"
Nat asked "Alex what are you talking about?"
Alex said "before Juanita died do you think she thought about me?"
Nat put his hand on Alex's shoulder and said "I really don't know Alex. I'm sure that she knew you loved her."
Alex said "thank you Nat. I think I can sleep now but please don't leave."
Nat said "I'm not going to Alex. Now close your eyes and try to sleep."
In the morning Nat woke up to someone calling his name. He said "Alex it's only five."
Then he heard someone say "Nat you promised me a hug."
Nat opened his eyes and saw Rosalina standing in front of him. He said "you weren't coming home until tonight. What happened?"
Rosalina sighed and said "surprise! My mom managed to get me a flight home early. I'm sorry did I wake you?"
Nat said "come here Rosalina. I missed you how are you? "
Rosalina gave Nat a hug and asked "can we talk?"
Nat said "I promised Alex I wouldn't leave."
Rosalina said "Nat I need to talk to you."
Nat said "Rosalina if I get up Alex is going to start having those dreams again. I can't move. I'll talk to you tonight ok."
Rosalina started to cry and she ran out of the room. Nat was confused and wanted to follow her. He stood up and quietly left the room. He heard Rosalina crying in the music room. Nat went into the music room and said "Rosalina?"
Rosalina didn't respond she just cried softly into her hands. Nat walked over to her and said "Rosie what's the matter?"
Rosalina sighed and said "Nat I know that Alex needs you but did you think for one second that I might need you to?"
Nat sat down beside Rosalina and said "I guess I didn't I'm sorry. Alex didn't wake up when I moved so we have a few minutes."
Rosalina slide closer to Nat and said "I'm being selfish Alex needs all of us and I'm asking you for help."
Nat said "Rosalina you're going to tell me what's wrong. Alex might be my brother but you're my girlfriend. I should have been there for you when you needed me."
Rosalina sadly said "I miss my grandmother Nat. I barely got to see her after the divorce."
Nat hugged Rosalina and said "Shh it'll be ok. We can't help Alex if you're so depressed. I love you Rosie."
Rosalina asked "Nat why do people say that if they don't really mean it?"
Nat sighed and said "I don't know Rosie. Oh crap I forgot about Alex. If he wakes up and I'm not there he'll kill me."
Rosalina said "Nat you have dark circles under your eyes. Have you slept at all these past few days?"
Nat said "no Alex has needed me."
Rosalina gently said "go lie down Nat. I'll sit with Alex. I slept for most of the flight home. You look sick and I want you to rest."
Nat protested and said "Rosalina you need to sleep to. I'm fine I just need to rest my eyes for a few minutes."
Rosalina said "if you don't get some rest you'll end up getting sick."
Nat closed his eyes and fell asleep on Rosalina's shoulder. Rosalina smiled and softly kissed Nat's cheek. Then made him comfortable on the couch Rosalina heard Alex crying for Nat and quickly ran into Nat's room. Rosalina said "Alex Shh it's just me."
Alex sobbed "Nat where're you? You promised you wouldn't leave."
Rosalina gently said "Shh Alex Nat needed some sleep. I'm here though."
Alex threw himself into Rosalina's arms sobbing. Rosalina didn't know what to do she hugged him tightly and rubbed his back. She had never seen Alex so depressed and afraid before.
After Alex had stopped crying he said "Rosalina why does Nat say he'll help me and then leave? Is he angry at me for needing him more then I used to?"
Rosalina spoke gently and said "no why would Nat be angry at you? He loves you very much Alex. He just needed to get some sleep."
Alex sniffled and said "I should handle this on my own. Nat needs some time to himself and he has been so worried about me lately he hasn't been sleeping."
Rosalina said "Alex look at me. You don't have to handle your grief on your own. You have a family who loves you."
Alex said "Rosalina when is Jesse coming home?"
Rosalina said "Alex is there anything you want to talk to me about?"
Alex said "I'm fine Rosalina."
Rosalina said "Alex don't lie to me. I've been around you long enough to know when you're upset."
Alex started to cry again and Rosalina hugged him. Alex cried until he fell asleep in Rosalina's lap. Rosalina stroked Alex's hair and held his hand. Then she gently moved him off her lap and went to talk to Mr. Wolf.
Mr. Wolf said "what are you doing here Rosalina?"
Rosalina said "I'm worried about Alex. He cried himself to sleep in my arms. He really misses Juanita."
Mr. Wolf said "Alex will come to me when he needs me."
Rosalina sighed and said "he thinks that he has to handle this himself. I feel really bad for him."
Mr. Wolf said "I'll talk to him later. Right now Rosalina I think I should take you home. You need to get some sleep."
Rosalina said "do you mind if I stay with Alex?"
Mr. Wolf said "Nat and I will handle Alex. You need to get some sleep. I'll take you home ok."
Rosalina nodded and said "just let me check on him first. He was pretty upset earlier."
Rosalina went upstairs and saw Alex sleeping on the bed. She noticed he was shaking and covered him with a blanket. She was just about to leave when she heard Nat screaming. She ran into the music room and said "Nat Shh everything is ok."
Nat fell of the couch and screamed "where am I? Get your hands off me! Who are you? Rosalina help!"
Rosalina was confused until she realized that Nat was sleeping. She gently put her arm around him and shook him awake. Nat sat up and said "Rosalina what happened? Why am I in the music room?"
Rosalina said "are you ok Nat? You were having a really weird nightmare. Do you want to talk about it?"
Nat said "we were at the concert and then someone grabbed me. They wouldn't let go and I had no clue where I was. Rosalina I'm just glad that it was just a dream."
Rosalina hugged Nat and said "I think lack of sleep is getting to you. I want you to go to sleep Nat. Don't worry about Alex I took care of him."
Nat said "Rosalina I have to stay with Alex. I promised I wouldn't leave."
Rosalina said "Nat if you don't sleep you're going to keep having dreams like this when you do sleep."
Nat yawned and said "I gave my word Rosie what part of that don't you understand?"
Rosalina said "the part of it where you aren't realizing that you need to sleep. Alex feels guilty about needing you so much. He thinks he needs to keep his feelings to himself and you and I both know all that's going to do is hurt him more."
Nat said "Rosalina that's why I need to go to him. If he's that upset he's going to try to reach for soda again and if that happens Cooper's going to force me to kick him out."
Rosalina spoke gently and said "are you crying Nat?"
Nat sniffed and tried to hide his tears from Rosalina. Rosalina wasn't fooled and gently said "are you really that worried about Alex? Lie down Nat I'll go check on Alex. We'll talk when I come back. I think there's more to this then you're telling me."
Rosalina went downstairs and said "Mr. Wolf Nat is upset about something. Do you mind if I stay with him?"
Mr. Wolf said "if you can get Nat to sleep you can stay. He hasn't slept since the night you left. He's been really worried about Alex and whenever he starts to fall asleep he wakes up screaming."
Rosalina said "I'll talk to Nat. He might sleep better if he talks about what's bothering him."
Rosalina went into the music room and sat down on the couch beside Nat. Nat said "Rosalina can I talk to you?"
Rosalina scooted closer to Nat and said "that's what I'm here for. Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"
Nat sighed and said "before I tell you promise you won't tell Alex."
Rosalina put her arm around Nat and gently said "I won't say anything to your brother. If you tell me what's wrong you might sleep better."
Nat started to cry again and Rosalina hugged him. After a long time Nat said "ever since Juanita died I've been afraid of loosing you. I've been trying to keep that fear to myself but I just can't do it anymore."
Rosalina didn't know what to say. She just squeezed Nat's shoulder and hugged him tighter. Then Rosalina heard Alex crying and she said "Nat I'll be right back ok."
Nat didn't say anything he just nodded. Rosalina stood up and went down the hall into Alex and Nat's room.
Rosalina gently put her arms around Alex and said "what's wrong?"
Alex sniffled and said "I heard what Nat said. He's been having problems of his own and I've done nothing to help him."
Rosalina said "Alex go back to sleep. How much of that did you hear?"
Alex sniffled and said "all of it. Can I go give Nat a hug?"
Rosalina sighed and said "I guess if you promise to go back to sleep."
Alex and Rosalina went into the music room. Nat sitting on the couch crying quietly into his hands Alex walked over to Nat and said "are you ok Nat?"
Nat sighed and said "Alex what are you doing up?"
Rosalina said "he heard everything you said and he wants to give you a hug."
Nat said "come here Alex. I'm sorry if I scared you."
Alex gave Nat a hug and said "Nat I'm sorry I didn't help you."
Nat said "Alex you have helped me. If it wasn't for you I would have gone crazy."
Rosalina smiled and said "do you think that both of you can sleep now?"
Nat yawned and said "yeah I think I can."
Alex didn't say anything. Nat looked at him and saw that he was already asleep. Nat smiled at Rosalina and said "can you help me carry him into the bedroom."
Rosalina said "sure Nat I'll carry him."
Nat and Rosalina carried Alex into his room and laid him on Nat's bed. Nat asked "Rosalina where are you going to crash?"
Rosalina said "right here on your bed with you and Alex."
Nat smiled and said "perfect Rosie. Thanks for helping with Alex today. I think he knows now that we're always going to be here for him."
Rosalina said "Nat why are you afraid of loosing me? I'm never going anywhere."
Nat smiled at Rosalina and said "Juanita told Alex the same thing. If what happened between those two showed me anything it's that you can't wait forever to tell someone you love them."
Rosalina said "Nat I already know you love me. You've held nothing back for the year that we've been dating. Now close your eyes and no more bad dreams."
Nat lied down and closed his eyes. For the first time in a while he felt like nothing would ever come between him and Rosalina. Rosalina put her arms around both Nat and Alex and fell asleep.
