Chapter 11

Brian was thankful to see a darkened house by the time he and Mike arrived home. The little guy was very nearly asleep, surprising Brian who had fully expected him to lose the battle long before they reached the house. He could see a light shining from the window of his own small home. He hoped Becky had gone to bed and just left it on so he wouldn't come home to a dark house.

"This is where you live?" Mike gaped at the ranch house and surrounding buildings. He could feel resentment growing with the realization that he could have grown up here if his father had been a part of his life. He could have at least visited even if his parents hadn't stayed together.

"Grew up here," Brian smiled. "I live in the smaller house now with Becky and our son Ian."

"What about my father? Where does he live?"

"He has a bedroom in what used to be the attic of the main house," Brian pointed towards the top of the house to a small window.

"Where am I going to stay?"

Brian felt like smacking himself. When he had made the decision to bring Mike home he hadn't thought past that simple action. It was obvious that everybody in the main house was in bed, if not asleep. Maybe tomorrow, after he met everybody else, they would let Mike sleep in Crane's room or with Sam and Davey. "We'll have to figure that out I suppose but for tonight you can bunk in our place," he offered.

Mike licked his lips feeling suddenly nervous at the thought of meeting more of his family. "Okay," he agreed after several minutes of silence.

"Ian's only a toddler and we don't have a guest room, couch alright?"

"Yes sir."

Brian nodded and climbed from the vehicle and waited for his new found nephew to join him. Laying a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder he steered him towards his house. Though Brian had hoped she would be in bed, he wasn't very surprised to find Becky waiting for them. Used to working with children as she was Brian could tell she noticed Mike's small flinch when he saw her.

"Hello, you must be Mike," she smiled.

"Yes ma'am," Mike shyly agreed.

"I'm Brian's wife Becky."

"You stopped me at the school."

"I did. I'm sorry if I frightened you."

Mike shook his head. "You didn't." He saw one eyebrow raise and knew she didn't believe him. "I mean I was scared but not of you, it was just because of what happened."

Becky nodded. "Would you like something to eat? I could heat up some soup."

"I guess I am kind of hungry," Mike admitted as his stomach gave a rumbling growl.

Brian chuckled. "Sounds like more than kind of to me. When was the last time you ate?"

Mike shrugged, "On the bus I guess."

Brian exchanged a concerned look with Becky. The bus had arrived just as school was letting out, it was now near midnight. "Damn," he softly cursed as the time fully registered. Leaving Mike's side he moved into the small kitchen, taking the soup pan from his wife. "You need to get some sleep baby; I'll take care of this."

"I couldn't sleep anyway," Becky shrugged. "Not alone, not tonight." She was very careful to keep her voice low. Mike didn't need a reminder of what had happened at the school.

Brian sighed. "You're not going to be worth a damn at school tomorrow."

Becky shook her head, "School's closed for tomorrow and I've been told to take as much time off as I need. Travers left a message on the machine."

"Oh, should have expected that."

"So," Becky retrieved the pan, setting it on the stove. "I can do this while you get a bed set up for Mike."

Brian grinned and gave her a playful salute, "Ma'am, yes ma'am."

Becky chuckled and swatted him with a dish towel. No matter how bad things got, and they'd never been any worse, Brian could always make her laugh.

Adam watched the clock, willing the hands to move faster. It reminded him of when he was a kid sitting in a classroom when all he wanted was to be outside. He blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.

"He's going to be okay honey," Hannah wrapped her smaller hand around his larger and squeezed.

"I want to believe that but hoping and wishing won't make it true."

"No I don't guess it will but maybe if you add prayers to your list..."

Adam gave her a small, sad smile as he shifted to wrap his arm around her, pulling her close. He didn't know how he had ever lived without her in his life. "You're right."

"Our father who art in heaven..." Hannah began the familiar prayer with Adam soon joining in, their voices blending together as one. The clock ticked over to the appointed time just as they finished and the two stood.

"Time you woke up little brother," Adam said, feeling a bit like a broken record. The words didn't work any better now than they had during the earlier visits. He hated seeing Crane like this. Hell he hated seeing any of those he loved sick or in pain. Adam would have taken his brother's place if he could have. It was the same thing he felt whenever any of them were hurt, he supposed it came with being the oldest. Or maybe, thinking of his children, it came with being a parent.

"Does he look flushed to you?" Hannah reached for Crane, laying her hand against his forehead. "Adam I think we should get a nurse," she looked up, her dark eyes filled with worry.

"What?"

"He's burning up."

Adam left the room at a run, returning in less than a minute with the night nurse following.

Mary Lawson wasted no time with small talk as she checked her patient's vitals. She was shocked by what she found. Half an hour earlier he had only a slightly elevated temperature not the 103.6 he was currently running. "I'm afraid you'll need to leave."

"What's happening?" Adam's voice shook in spite of his efforts to maintain control.

"His temperature's elevated."

"I thought..."

Mary ignored him in favor of calling the doctor. She knew he was sleeping in an empty room in case of any problems so it shouldn't take him long to arrive. Speaking quietly into the phone she was soon assured that the doctor would be awakened in short order. Replacing the receiver she turned to find the patient's family still in the room. "The doctor is on his way, you'll have to wait outside," she firmly ordered.

Hannah took her husband's hand and quietly led him from the room. She understood his desire to stay by Crane's side, she wanted the same, but they would only be in the way. She wasn't surprised when Adam tugged against her hold. "Let them take care of Crane, we can help him more by leaving."

Reluctantly Adam nodded, he knew she was right. Giving up the fight he let Hannah lead him from the room, down the hall and back to the waiting room. Sinking onto a small couch he folded his hands together and quietly began to pray for his brother's life.

TBC...

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