Disclaimer: I don't own Big Time Rush.
Warning: Logan/Carlos. (Italics = Flashback)
Nine – A Ghostly Promise
It was quiet for a moment before Kendall's loud voice boomed into Logan's ears, "Logan? Is that really you? Oh, my God, dude! Where are you, man? We've been worried sick! I've been calling your cell phones for two days straight and this operator would answer, saying your number can't be reached or something like that. Anyways, where are you? Seriously, they said there was this terrorist attack in a plane and it blew up!"
"Um… We're okay…" Logan answered with a dead tone.
"Really? Good, 'cause the stupid reporter didn't say what plane had crashed and James and I were freaking out! Dude, I feel sorry for those people…" Kendall's voice trailed off.
"Me, too," Logan said.
"Uh, so anyway, how was the game? Who won?" Kendall's voice sounded eager and Logan could imagine the grin on his face.
"Uh… I'll tell you guys when we get home. I don't wanna ruin the surprise."
"Aw. Okay. So what're you guys up to right now?" Kendall's voice lowered, "Have you and Carlos done something yet?" His laugh was taunting.
"Not yet," Logan chuckled nervously. "Um, what's been going on over there?"
"Funny you should ask. Poor James got mauled by girls yesterday at the park. I was helping him look for a girl, but…we kinda failed. He got thousands of girls' numbers, but they all got lost because we got chased by a rabid dog. It was crazy!"
"Sounds fun," said Logan. "Um… Kendall?"
"What?"
"Can you do me a huge favour?" The sweat on Logan's hands dripped on the phone, making it slippery.
"Yeah… What is it?" Kendall sounded uncertain.
Logan hesitated, but continued on, "We're…going to stay here one more week."
He waited for the questioning to come forth, but it never did. Instead Kendall's voice came cocky, and Logan could hear the small dark snicker, "You're trying to pull it off? He'll give in by the time you guys return. Don't worry, I'll come up with another plan and you guys can have more fun. More vacation for us, too, ha."
Logan sighed, relieved, and smiled. "Thanks, Kendall. I can always count on you."
The urge of telling the blonde what was really going on came over Logan and stuck in his throat. The Alternate Voice in his head stopped him and Logan said a quick goodbye and hung up. It was still unclear of why he was doing this, but he felt controlled—like a robot.
There was a knock on the door, and Nurse Ellen came in. Logan looked at her with an intense, serious face and she smiled halfway. There was a black box in her hands, and she put it on the table.
"It was sent by someone," she said and closed the door when she left, leaving Logan alone again.
He grabbed the box and shook it. A small sound of something small sounded inside the black square. The box was pretty small, so whatever was inside wouldn't be anything explosive. Slowly, he opened the lid and looked inside. Something was wrapped with a black cloth. He unwrapped the cloth and a small paper was inside, folded in a cylindrical shape.
Logan opened it and read it to himself, "Sup. Eh, I wasn't going to do this but you got score points for being in a band, so it's stupid, I know. Also 'cause Carlos deserves better, yeah, I just pissed you off right now. Anyways, I wasn't supposed to do this, but what the hey! Since you practically lost everything in the crash, I set up a bank account for you guys. It has a couple of hundred dollars and you can use it for whatever you want. The pin number's down below, at the back of this note… That's it."
The note wasn't signed, but Logan got the feeling that it was sent from that damn Arthur. He didn't understand. Was this some kind of sick joke? Who in their right mind would give out a couple of hundred dollars without something in return? He was about to rip the paper to shreds but his Alternate Voice stopped him.
"He's a jerk," Logan growled. "How is this going to help?" He was silent. "I supposed that's correct, but–" His eyes went wide. "Well…no. That's repulsive– Okay. But if it's a joke I'll hunt down that sicko and cut out that sick brain of his." He wrapped the cloth around the paper and put it back in the black box, tucking it inside his hospital robe. "Am I still…" He listened to the hollow air in the room. "When he wakes up…got it."
ooo
The sun was hot against his skin, and he moved the joystick to get under the tree's shadow. It was cool now, though a little warm, but he could feel the breeze that swam in the shadow. He looked around and found different land and different people. There was a beautiful white rose bush sitting all alone. In another corner, there was a man sitting on the grass, crutches lying down on the grass by his side, and a tulip being twirled by his fingers.
Logan abruptly recognized the man as the flight attendant from the airplane. He frowned, and turned around to face the other side. This time, his eyes spotted a girl and a man. The girl was on a wheelchair. She was smiling at the man, who smiled back at her. She whispered in the man's ear, and the man continued to smile. He grabbed the handle bars of the wheelchair and he started to push her towards Logan's direction. Quickly, Logan turned around.
"Wait!"
He stopped and stared down at the grass. He looked up and immediately, the colour drained from his face. It was the same girl from the airplane, the one who had been shot twice. He looked at the man and identified him as a police officer.
"Are you okay?" the little girl questioned.
What caught Logan's attention was that the girl was flawless. Her skin had no blood, there were no bullet wounds, and her hair was silky and clean on her shoulders. She was wearing a white dress that stopped on her ankles. The girl smiled at him and Logan's expression went from surprise to fright.
The police officer frowned. "Sir, is something wrong? Sir?"
The words in Logan's throat were stuck. He blinked and the girl had disappeared, but the police officer was still scowling.
"Sir?" the police officer repeated. "Are you okay? Do you need to go back inside?"
Logan blinked again, but the image of the little girl didn't return. He pressed his lips together, and shook his head at the police officer, reassuring him that he was fine—which he wasn't. The police officer nodded, and headed back towards the place he was once before.
Compared with the inside of the hospital, the outside was peaceful and relaxing, and it kept Logan in a level of sanity. Inside was dark and small and felt as if he was stuck in a cage. Other than that, since he came outside, his Alternate Voice had kept silent. At least, his mind wasn't corrupted at the time by the self-controlling thoughts.
"Sir, it's time to go inside," Nurse Ellen's voice came from behind. "Doctor Reynolds has something to show you."
Logan turned around and followed the woman inside. The elevator ride was silent, and finally, they reached his room.
"Wait, this isn't my room, this is–"
"Carlos Garcia's," said Carlos' doctor as he appeared from around the corner. Trailing from behind was Doctor Reynolds. "We feel terrible for what happened earlier, but we couldn't let you in. The nurses were doing tests on him to see if anything was wrong. He's doing well."
The faint words of the Alternate Voice hummed in Logan's mind, warning him that it was a trap.
"No, it is not. Shut up," Logan muttered under his breath.
The door was opened, but before it was fully closed, Carlos' doctor spoke up, "We'll be waiting outside if anything goes wrong," he said gravely in an accusing manner.
A small click sounded and the door was closed. The heartbeat monitor made Logan's heartbeat go faster. He pushed the joystick, turning around at an incredibly slow pace, and came face to face with the bed's railing. He took a deep breath, and moved forward until he could, once again, see Carlos' angel face. Well, not entirely angel-like because it was still bruised, but it was the first thing that made Logan smile truly in a short time that really, felt like a decade. Gently, he put a hand on Carlos' cheek and stroked it, ignoring all the bumps.
Even so, the sound of Carlos' heartbeat from the machine made him feel utterly restless. The Alternate Voice kept whispering illogical words in his head; they were spoken so fast that they were not understandable. A colourful flash popped in Logan's head, and just as fast, the sound of the heart monitor began to sound deadly. The waves on the screen disappeared and transformed into a constant red line. Gradually, Logan's eyes grew big and he swiped his hand away from Carlos' cheek.
"Carlos? Carlos! No, wake up!" Logan shouted, shaking the boy furiously. "Carlos, wake up! You can't leave me!" The Alternate Voice kept shouting, which was giving him a headache. "Shut up, dammit!" He shook his head. "Shut up!"
The door opened and in came the two doctors and the nurse with wide eyes.
Logan looked at them. "Do something!" he cried.
"Do what?" Carlos' doctor asked.
"He's dying, you idiot! Are you blind?" Logan shrieked.
"Calm down," said Doctor Reynolds, putting his hands up. "Aren't you–"
Just then, the constant beep disappeared, and the soothing sound returned. Logan looked at the monitor—the waves were going up and down smoothly. He blinked and looked at Carlos. He was still breathing under the mask, eyes closed peacefully.
"It was all part of your imagination, just calm down," Doctor Reynolds assured.
Logan gave a bewildered expression at Doctor Reynolds, then the monitor, and last but not least, Carlos. Along with the horrible experience, the Alternate Voice had ceased to whisper hysterical sentences at him. He gulped. He was about to speak, but was interrupted by the voice of Carlos' doctor.
"Well, it's evident that it's not good for you to be here. You should return to your room. Nurse Ellen–"
"No!" Logan shouted, looking at the doctor with trembling eyes and lips. "Please, I have to stay here. Can't you transfer me here and give my room to a patient who needs it more? Please."
Both doctors were quiet, and then they both turned around and conversed with each other. The words that they spoke were too low that Logan had to strain his hearing to identify what they were saying, though he couldn't make out what was exactly said. Doctor Reynolds shook his head and they both turned around to look at Logan, whose face was full of anxiousness—he looked as if he was about to burst in a fit. Carlos' doctor sighed and he rubbed his chin before he opened his mouth to speak.
"I suppose so… We recommend that you don't interact with him so constantly. It could affect our process of healing all his wounds, since he did suffer a great head wound. All in all…the answer is partially yes."
As they began to leave, Doctor Reynolds whispered something to Carlos' doctor that Logan could hear all too clear, "You said so yourself that he's crazy. I don't trust you with this, Walter."
"Look who's calling the names now. Relax, the boy's partial trauma comes from Carlos Garcia. It'll be good for him to spend a little time with his…uh…boyfriend. As you said, consider it as a therapeutic remedy," explained Carlos' doctor, chuckling to himself.
Doctor Reynolds sighed loudly. "Damn you, Walter."
The door was closed as Nurse Ellen stepped out, giving one last smile to Logan. The Alternate Voice returned and Logan petrified in the seat of his wheelchair.
"When he wakes up?" Silence. "We're not returning for another week…"
He took Carlos' limp hand in his, and intertwined their fingers. Carlos' hand was warm and tender under his own. Logan's heart beat in his chest in a light manner, feeling his head clear up. It was all he could to keep his sanity and not panic involuntarily like the last few days. He bent down and placed a kiss on Carlos' bandaged head, then one on his cut up cheek.,
"I promised I will be there… I swear I'm on my way. I know you may not hear me… But that's the price I'll pay," he sang softly.
"Carlos, you okay, man?" asked James.
Carlos didn't answer. Currently, they were in a movie theater, watching the latest violence and comedy-themed movie. It was halfway through the movie, and the raven hadn't laughed one single time. He shook his head and stood up.
"I'm going to the restroom," he commented and walked out, leaving the three boys in a state of puzzlement.
Logan stared as Carlos' figure vanished through the doors. He too stood up. "I'm going to see what's wrong with him." James and Kendall nodded.
He went in the direction of the restroom and entered, but there was no sign of the raven.
"Carlos, are you here?" Logan called out, checking every corner.
He spotted an open stall and carefully pushed it open. Carlos was sitting on a corner, knees to his chest, and head buried in his arms.
"Car…los?" Logan scowled, crouching down.
The raven's head immediately went up, face white as a ghost.
"What's wrong?" asked Logan, putting a hand to Carlos' cheek, stroking it gently.
Carlos gulped and colour returned to his face. "Nothing," he answered in a choked voice.
"C'mon, tell me," Logan pressured, now stroking the boy's hair.
Carlos looked away and turned red as his mouth opened slightly. His voice was a whiny whisper, a hurt tone to it, "Nat threatened me."
Logan furrowed his eyebrows. "What?" He gritted his teeth.
"He threatened me," Carlos squeaked as tears rolled down his face.
A burning sensation erupted within Logan as he wrapped Carlos in a tight hug, but the raven pulled away, sniffling loudly.
"I want to go home," Carlos said, wiping the tears away from his reddened face.
Logan nodded.
After informing James and Kendall that Carlos felt 'sick', they both walked down the streets, wounding their way to Carlos' home. When they got to the doorstep, Carlos went quiet for a second. He looked up at Logan with a sad face.
"C-can you stay over today?" he asked with a monotone tone.
Logan wrapped his arms around the raven, squeezing their bodies together in a loving manner, and whispered, "It'll be my pleasure."
The house was dark and quiet—it was after nine and so Carlos' family was probably sleeping by now. After a few seconds, they were in Carlos' room.
"Maybe you should leave," Carlos abruptly said as he turned on the light.
Logan frowned. "Maybe I shouldn't."
Carlos sighed and sat on his bed. He pulled up his knees to his chest, and buried his chin on his arms. A pained expression crossed over his face and it utterly hurt Logan to see him like that. He sat down on the bed and embraced Carlos, putting his chin on the soft, black hair. Carlos let out a trembling breath, and settled himself on Logan's chest.
"I promise I won't let anyone hurt you ever again. I'll be here for you and keep you safe under my wing," Logan said softly, stroking Carlos' arms.
Carlos was silent. "I don't believe you."
A sharp pang went through Logan's heart. "I promise."
"Okay," Carlos answered, a hint of doubt in his voice.
"Take a shot in the dark…" Logan finished the song. "Maybe you were right," he muttered, planting another gentle kiss on Carlos' cheek. "But I'll fix it this time. I promise."
His Alternate Voice suddenly returned, denying his words.
"I will," Logan said, determined.
A/N: Ahhhh, I think I'm failing at making this story realistic. -facepalm-
