Chapter Twenty
Nightmares...
It always felt a little weird to be somewhere you have never been or haven't been to in a while. For Blake, this couldn't be anymore truer as she sat in a café. But she was there for a reason. She looked up from her book and smiled as she saw Hailey and Matthew walking towards her. "Hey mom," Hailey said giving her mother a hug. "Thanks for meeting me on such short notice," Blake said returning the hug, "How's the arm, Matthew?"
"It has its days," Matthew said flexing his left hand, "Still waiting on the new one." "So, what brings you to Vale mom?" Hailey asked. "Yang called and asked me to confirm something," Blake said taking a drink of her tea. "If it's about what I think it is, then the answer is yes," he said calmly. Hailey looked at her partner as her mother asked, "How long having you been having them?" "They started a few weeks after I woke up," he said looking down at the glove on his left hand.
"What are you two talking about?" Hailey asked puzzled. "Matthew has been having nightmares about what happened," Blake said looking at her daughter, "He's been keeping it a secret from you and the others because he thinks he can handle it alone." "Actually, I have a feeling that Aunt Yang has tried to ask me about this a few times," he said slowly closing his left hand, "But every time she's tried to ask, someone interrupts and she tells me she'll talk to me later.
"As far as not tell the others, I haven't been able to. I have physical therapy from the time sparing practice ends till dinner, than I have it again as soon as I'm done until ten. By then, everyone is already asleep and I'm trying to complete any homework assigned before I head to bed. Which ends up being anywhere between midnight and one in the morning." He rubbed his eyes with his right hand before continuing, "I almost asked Hailey if we could reschedule this until next week so I can get caught up on some sleep, but Summer has had me going to the range with her to test some new ammo for her weapon every weekend sense we got back."
"Your sister doesn't need your help testing those rounds," Hailey said as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him as she tried not to cry. "Have you told Goodwitch about this?" Blake asked sounding a little upset. "No offense, but how can I when the therapist is waiting for me as soon as I'm done with training or dinner and won't even let me talk to a teacher about an assignment?" he asked looking at her. "When was the last time you actually had a decent night's sleep?" Hailey asked noticing the tired look on his face.
"The night before we came back," he replied before yawning, "I think those nightmares have been getting worse." Blake was quiet for a few seconds before pulling out her scroll and said, "I don't doubt it." Hailey looked over at her mom and asked, "Who are you calling?" "Ruby," Blake replied, "But not until after I let Goodwitch and Yang know about what is going on." "Somebodies gonna get it," Matthew lightly sang before laughing. "And you need to get some sleep now," Blake said looking at him.
"Not going to argue," he said sighing, "And I don't think I'm going to be able to move." "What's wrong?" Hailey asked. "Pain meds wore off," he said as his eyes snapped shut, "Oh that hurts." "Where are your meds?" she asked sounding worried. "Therapist threw them out saying I didn't need the-" He gasped as his eyes shot open. His left hand grabbed the edge of the table and crushed it before his right arm went limp. "Mati, are you alright?" Hailey asked worriedly.
"Somethings wrong," he said with a shaky breathe. "I'm calling the hospital," Blake said quickly dialing the number. Hailey took his right hand in hers and squeezed it saying, "It's going to be ok, Mati." He gasped once more before his entire body went limp. "Mati?" Hailey asked as her eyes went wide, "Mati!? MOM!" Blake dropped her scroll on the table and quickly checked his pulse. "He's still alive, but he passed out from the pain," she said before picking her scroll up. "Don't you dare die on me, Mati," Hailey said as she heard a siren approaching.
"Not going to," he said faintly as he slowly turned his head and looked at her. She leaned over and kissed him softly as EMS pulled up. "I'll be ok," he said as the paramedics came running up. After a few minutes, Hailey watched as Matthew was loaded into the back of the EMS. "Go with him," Blake said placing a hand on her daughters shoulder, "I'll let everyone know what's going on." Hailey gave her mother a quick hug and said, "Don't let Summer and Yang near their weapons." "Easier said than done," Blake commented as she watched her daughter get in the EMS before it drove away.