Chapter Eleven: It pays to be prepared.

The rumble of Tadashi's moped filled the silence as they drove towards the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology. It only took Hiro a moment to realize where they were headed, though the greater part of him was too distracted to protest. At least it wasn't the hospital. Or anything resembling one.

"What does your nerd school have to do with treating my injuries?" Hiro asked. He seemed to realize the answer almost as soon as he'd asked it and fell silent.

Tadashi pulled up in front of the Ito Ishioka lab as smoothly as possible, parking the scooter. "You'll see soon enough," he replied, a slight smile on his face as he anticipated his brother's reaction. "Come on. I'll help you up the stairs."

If Tadashi was taking him where he thought he was, chances were good he might run into the gang, which meant he'd have to be reintroduced all over again. He knew it would have to happen eventually. Hiro wasn't sure he was ready for that just yet, especially not in his current condition. So he was very relieved when Tadashi bypassed the open lab area in favor of his private work space.

"In here," Tadashi beckoned as he slid his key card and opened the door. "I was hoping to show you this under different circumstances, but it can't be helped." He flipped on the lights as he entered the room, moving towards a swivel stool at the back of the room. "Sit," he instructed his brother, sounding more like he was giving an order than a request. He sent the stool across the floor with what was possibly meant to be a gentle push but had more energy behind it than was absolutely necessary.

The stool ran into Hiro's legs, causing the bruises there to flare up. "Ow!" he complained as he took the offered seating and moved to park himself on it. Tadashi didn't sound like he was playing around and he definitely didn't want to press his luck that his brother would change his mind about the hospital issue. That and the strength he'd used to push the stool said all he needed to know about his brother's current mood.

A telltale beeping sound came from over by the round window, the circular light on the red case sitting there lighting up before the thing unfolded and the robot inside inflated. Once properly activated, the robot stepped free of the case, waddling forward, unhindered by the stool that would have been there if Hiro weren't sitting on it. He came to a stop a meter or two from the injured boy. "Hello. I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion. I was alerted to the need for medical attention when you said 'ow'."

Tadashi dispensed with the usual theatrics he'd employed the previous two times around with this introduction, for which Hiro was thankful. He was having a hard enough time as was just keeping his lungs going without making his ribs hurt too much. In fact, he was so focused on this aspect that he didn't give his brother's creation the proper attention.

The older Hamada was, admittedly, a bit disappointed when Hiro didn't seem to react to the greeting, though he supposed he couldn't blame his brother for it. "Baymax," he said to the robot, "my brother, Hiro, has managed to bang himself up pretty badly. I need you to scan him and let us know what we're dealing with."

Baymax seemed to contemplate his creator for a moment before turning back to Hiro. "I will scan you now," he announced, performing the function in less than a second. "Scan complete. You have sustained multiple contusions across eighty percent of your body, primarily focused on your chest and legs. You have also sustained multiple abrasions, which need to be disinfected and have an antibacterial substance applied to reduce the risk of infection. I also detect multiple fractures to your rib cage. These injuries have occurred to three ribs on your left side and two on your right."

An outline of a human body had appeared on Baymax's stomach from an internal projector as he spoke, each injury appearing on the outline as he announced it. The image looked far from pretty, making almost the entire outline fill with red.

"I thought as much," Tadashi said as he let out his held breath with a heavy sigh. He stepped forward, glancing back at Baymax. "Suggested treatments?"

Baymax blinked as if he were thinking for a moment. "I suggest disinfecting all abrasions, then applying an antibacterial spray before covering with suitable bandages."

Hiro gave a half glare at Tadashi's direction. "You could have warned me," he protested, though he rather suspected the rib injuries after all of the evidence had manifested. All the same, it was good to know, though he wasn't sure how he'd conceal that from his aunt when push came to shove.

"I also recommend ingesting some form of painkiller to manage the pain," Baymax finished, one hand in the air, finger pointing up as he made his point.

Tadashi gave his brother a knowing look. "See? Now if you'd just stop being such a big baby, I can finish cleaning out those cuts and scrapes and we can get you bandaged up."

Hiro looked around, realizing he'd never really thought much about what was in his brother's lab. They'd cleared it out after his death, the first time, so he wasn't entirely sure what all was in there. He hadn't, understandably, been there the first go around. "Clean me up with what, exactly?"

Not to be deterred, Tadashi moved over to the desk and pulled out a first aid kit. "With this, bonehead," he replied, opening the good-sized container. Just like the one back home, this one was as well stocked, if not better so, than a paramedic's bag. "It pays to be prepared and I knew I'd need this one day."

Hiro resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Surely his brother didn't intend to clean him up in the middle of his robotics lab when just about anyone could come crashing in. Well, okay, not just anyone. The door was key-coded from the outside. You had to have a card to get in. But that didn't totally negate the possibility of someone coming in at the least convenient moment.

Tadashi moved back to Hiro's side. "Okay, little bro, hands up so I can take off your shirt. I can't see what I'm doing if you're wearing it."

"Would you like some assistance?" Baymax inquired as he watched the older Hamada help his brother out of his red t-shirt, followed by his white undershirt, revealing all his injuries in full Technicolor. And they were just as pretty as advertised.

Smiling at his creation, Tadashi nodded. "Many hands make light work," he said as he held out a hand for Baymax to proceed.

"This isn't going to hurt is it?" The last word came out as more of a yelp as the robot applied a disinfecting spray to Hiro's back. He bit back a scream as he almost jumped out of his chair. "Son of a-" he cut off whatever else he was going to say at an admonishing look from Tadashi.

Moving back to the med kit, Tadashi pulled out a pair of gloves and put them on. "Baymax, would you mind holding Hiro so he can't bolt while I clean the grit out of those cuts?" He pulled out more antiseptic and a box of cotton swabs.

Hiro had to look over his shoulder to see what Tadashi was doing as his swivel stool had moved so he was facing the door. "What are you doing?" he asked a bit nervously as Baymax moved to face him, placing firm vinyl hands on his shoulders.

"The patient has been secured. Please begin treatment," Baymax announced as he seemed to look into Hiro's eyes. "I would ask that you please try to remain still and relax while the treatment is administered."

Tadashi moved back over with a dripping cotton swab. "Now, remember, you only have yourself to blame for this," he told Hiro as he prepared to clean his brother's wounds. "If you'd just agreed to go to the hospital, they could have used some kind of local anesthetic so you wouldn't feel this. As things stand, I'm sorry in advance for this."

With that, Tadashi applied the alcohol-soaked cotton to the boy's back, causing Hiro to hiss in displeasure, unable to rise from his seat because of Baymax's restraining hands.

Some ten or twenty, or who knew how long really, minutes later, Hiro gasped in relief as his brother applied the final strip of tape to his chest, securing the bandages in place. The antibacterial spray Baymax had applied had cooled the pain somewhat, which helped, but the pressure of the tape on his ribs definitely did not feel good. He knew his brother wasn't trying to be mean, but it still felt like there might be a hint of vindictive pleasure involved. Or maybe that's just how he'd feel if their roles were reversed.

"Almost done," Tadashi said, sure his brother was more than ready to put his shirt back on. "Good thing you won't have to drop your pants here," he joked.

Hiro turned his head to give his brother a withering glare. "Ha ha," he said, his expression decidedly not friendly. "Like that would ever happen." There was no way he was going to risk anyone but his brother seeing his underwear, especially not when he recalled that they should be getting a somewhat unwelcoming visitor sometime soon.

With more than a little help, Hiro wiggled back into his shirts, settling the fabric back in place with a sigh. It took too much energy to resist much of anything and he felt more than a little worn out by the end of it.

"Okay," Tadashi said, closing up the first aid kit. "I think that's going to about do it. I can finish everything else back at home."

A few bandages already covered parts of Hiro's legs, the parts that didn't require him to drop his drawers. Thankfully, he'd convinced his brother going that route could wait. His knees, after all, had the worst scrapes of his lower body. And he rather thought he could take care of his thighs without help.

"I cannot deactivate until you say you are satisfied with your care," Baymax said, seeming to realize the treatment was done. If he had his way, he would keep a close eye on his patient, though, just in case.

Hiro leaned forward, supporting himself by pressing his hands against his sore knees. Breathing was decidedly harder with tape on his chest, even if it wasn't meant to be restraining. He had to take shallower breaths or risk more pain ripping through him. "I am... satisfied with my care," he managed with his limited breath.

Baymax blinked once before turning to waddle back to his case. The red top folded back into place just as the door knob turned from the other side of the room. Right on time, Hiro thought, too distracted to give much thought to the implications that might mean.

"Burning the midnight oil, Mr. Hamada?"

Professor Callaghan stood there, looking a bit confused when he saw another person in the room, one who looked a bit pale, if he was being honest. He blinked a few times, his expression unsure.

"Oh, hey professor," Tadashi called out as he stowed the first aid kit out of sight. "I was just finishing up."

Then understanding dawned on the professor's face as he turned his attention back to the boy in the room. "You must be Hiro. Bot fighter, right? When my daughter was younger, bot fighting was all she wanted to do."

It was at that exact moment that Hiro realized he didn't have Megabot. He resisted the urge to look around frantically, knowing Yama had his small robot in custody. That, of course, left him one of two options. Either he went after Yama to get his robot back, or he initiated the auto destruct option he'd built into the thing in case something like this happened. He let out a sigh, knowing there was no way he could go after Yama. Not after what had happened.

"Uh..." Hiro managed as he looked back up. He tried to reconcile himself with the multiple images of Callaghan that he'd gotten the past... well, two lifetimes, he guessed.

"Have you thought about applying here?" Callaghan continued, obviously having said more while Hiro had zoned out. "Your age wouldn't be an issue."

Tadashi moved back around from the desk. "Oh, I don't know," he answered for his brother, "Hiro's pretty set on a career in bot fighting." He gave his brother a wry look as he passed him to stand closer to his professor.

Hiro scowled. That was a rather low blow, all things considered. "No I'm not," he protested as he awkwardly got up from the stool.

"Glad to hear it," Callaghan said as the boy moved to join his brother. "Too many people get hurt at those events. You'd be much better applying to go here. It's much safer that way."

Tell me about it, Hiro thought as he rolled his eyes at Tadashi's knowing look.

"We press the boundaries of robotics here," Callaghan continued as they all exited the lab, the door closing behind them. "Our students go on to shape the future."

They'd reached the elevator now, the professor pushing the call button. "But, if you'd rather an easy ride, my program's not for you," he added, making Hiro wonder just what his brother had told him about him.

But, before he could ask the man, the doors slid shut between them, the elevator car sliding back down to the ground floor.

"So, what do you think?" Tadashi asked. "After all, you did just meet Robert Callaghan, your idol."

Oh yeah, Hiro realized. He'd idolized the man. At least he had until he'd met him and realized just how bitter and twisted he could be. After that, all respect for him had gone out the window. But that was another lifetime. Maybe in this one, things would be different. After all, he had some new information that might help on that end. "I uh..."

Tadashi looked at him expectantly until the elevator doors opened on the first floor. "Is that all you have to say?" He smirked a bit, probably thinking Hiro was simply too dumbfounded, or possibly in pain, to give a proper reaction. "It's okay," he assured. "It'll take some getting used to. Come on. Let's get home before Aunt Cass closes up shop."