Chapter 11

Roger was upset and Maureen and Kirsten were in charge of making sure he didn't do anything stupid in the hospital. The musician wanted to take Lizette home right then and there but the doctor had other plans.

"Mr. Davis, we have to make sure that she stays okay. There are still too many unknown factors in her sickness for us to release her this early." Dr. Wilson had reasoned.

All the others, including Collins and Angel who had shown up quickly once they knew Liz was awake, agreed that the doctor was right. Roger knew he was right too, but that didn't mean he had to be graceful about it.

Mark, Collins, Angel, Joanne, and Danni had gone off in search of caffeine and snacks leaving Roger to the diva and Mark's girlfriend.

"Couldn't we just-" Roger tried for what had to be the twentieth time.

"No Roger, we couldn't." Maureen snapped.

"We could just do what the doctor says." Kirsten added. "Seems simpler that way."

"Yeah but I could-"

Maureen was reaching her wits end, which was saying something. "No Roger!" she exclaimed, startling the handful of people in the waiting room. "You couldn't." He sighed and hung his head finally admitting defeat. He knew that everyone was right and that the best thing to do was to listen to the doctor and to his friends. That was the best thing for Lizette.

Kirsten patted him on the arm and smiled. "Don't worry Rog. She'll be okay. She's got some of you in her and you're stubborn. Liz'll be okay."

"Thanks Kir." The musician said and leaned his head on her shoulder. Dr. Wilson came out a minute later and Roger jumped up. "So?" he asked.

"Lizette is doing better and we've tested her for just about everything that we could think of and then some. Aside from being HIV positive, she seems fine. I believe you can take her home in a few minutes." Dr. Wilson told him. "But she'll need to be brought in periodically, maybe once a week, to ensure that she doesn't relapse. I don't think her small body can survive many more."

"I'm not sure I can afford…" Roger trailed off. This was his daughter and he couldn't even make sure she got the care she needed. He really needed to think about getting a job.

Dr. Wilson nodded sadly. "I know your situation. Look Mr. Davis, I hate seeing this happen and especially to children and I know it's happened more times to you than you want to count." He paused. "I'd like to call this a case study. Lizette's treatments will be free because I'll write this entire thing up as a paper to help other doctors."

"So she can get the help she needs without me having to knock over a bank?" Roger mused.

"Yes." Replied the doctor hiding a smile. "I'll need you to sign a few forms but that's essentially how it works."

"Thank you doctor." Roger said sincerely.

"It's really my pleasure. I'll go get Lizette ready to be discharged." The two men shook hands and parted. Roger walked back over to the waiting area where his friends and Danni had congregated. He quickly explained what was going on and they all waited anxiously for Lizette to be released.

A nurse came out with her moments later and Roger and Danni broke into nearly identical grins. They went to hug the girl and then moved aside to let the other Bohemians do the same. An hour later, Mark, Roger, Danni, and Lizette were home.

Mark let them into the loft and Danni took Lizette to their room to get her dressed in non-hospital clothes. Roger's beeper went off and Mark gave him a look, he opened his mouth but Roger was way ahead of him.

"I know Mark." He said. He walked into the kitchen to take his pill and noticed that the message light was blinking on the answering machine. "Hey see what that is will ya?" he said.

Mark nodded and went over to the machine. He hit the play button and a young man's voice filled the loft. "Roger? Rog are you there? Fuck man pick up if you're there. Fine, okay shit! Look Rog this is Adam, shit. Dad, Dad kicked me out, said all that shit about me being too old to stay at home with him. So he kicked me out. Then I met this girl and we got into trouble. We're in Alphabet City now Roger, I'm not sure exactly where but there's sound equipment around and some homeless people with shopping carts. Look dude, if you know where that is please come get us cause I have no fucking clue what to do here."

Mark and Roger exchanged a look. "Was that your brother?" the filmmaker asked his friend.

"I think so." Roger replied. "He must be at the lot. I've got to go get him." He sighed and looked at his daughters' room. "Just when I thought the day couldn't get any more interesting." He put on his leather jacket and headed out the door.

Danni emerged from her room as he closed the door. "Was that Dad?" she asked Mark.

"Yeah, he had to go…get something." He answered. Danni rolled her eyes and retreated.

Meanwhile Roger had made it to the Eleventh Street lot where Maureen performed. He looked around swearing under his breath. It had been over a decade since he'd seen his little brother and he had no clue what to look for. Suddenly he heard his name being hissed from a corner.

He turned around and saw his brother Adam. The kid had to be at least twenty by now and he looked more like Roger than he ever had before. Their hair was the same color and texture though Adam's was longer and pulled back into a low ponytail. He was the same height and they were even dressed similarly. What set them apart were their eyes. Roger's were a brilliant green and Adam's were more hazel, like their mother's.

"Wow." Roger said softly. "It's good to see you Adam."

"Can we do the pleasantries when we're not standing in a dump heap surrounded by homeless people?" Adam retorted.

Roger laughed. "Please kid. I've spent a few years coming here. There's nothing to worry about from these people." He looked around. "I thought you said there was a girl with you."

"Fuck!" Adam swore. He moved back over to the corner and pulled on a lump of blankets. "Micah come on. We can get out of here." A head appeared out of the blankets and a body emerged after it.

Adam took the girl's hand and led her back to where Roger was standing. "Micah this is my older brother Roger. He'll look after us."

"Will he?" the girl, Micah, asked in a slightly British accent. She was a pretty girl under the grime of the streets. She was about six inches shorter than Roger and Adam with long, thick, black hair. Her eyes were a startling shade of amber that contrasted nicely with her mocha colored skin.

"Yeah, I guess I will. I can't just have my brother slumming on the streets and you're with him so…" Roger trailed off. "Alright let's go. Mark's probably worried as it is and I'll bet money that Danni will be pissed that I left."

"Then let's get the fuck out of here." Adam agreed.