Think of this as part 2 of the Colony meeting.
It's a sunny morning and New York breathes in the crisp fresh air. "Damn it's going to be a good day, I can feel it." He smiles looking around his open field and the clear blue sky above him. While he loves his city there's nothing like a week in his upper state.
"Hell I might call up Dad and get him up…here." He stops cold feeling an overwhelming panic surround him. Suddenly he can't breathe as he falls to his knees, "No…Dear…God…NO!"He bolts up finding himself back in his small apartment drenched in sweat.
Gentle strong hands embrace him, "You want ta talk about it?"
New York leans into his brother's chest breathing in the southern state's scent of Hickory, milkweed and rich gun powder. "No…"
"Naw? You sure?" He's only met by silent sobbing so Virginia gently strokes New York's short blonde hair. He normally wouldn't show the motherly side of himself out of fear of being laugh at by the other states but tonight he'll let it show. "It's alright…shh, don't cry. I'm right here."
"I'm not a child." New York says but he doesn't move away from his brother.
Virginia lets out a small laugh, "I never said you were." He kisses the top of his northern brother's head, "I was…I was at home watching Operation Tokyo with West and Maryland. I had a hand full of popcorn in my hand when my hand started shaking and I was overcome with God it was screaming in my head…"
New York looks up into his southern brother's shinning indigo eyes, "And you couldn't breathe."
"Yeah, I fell off the couch and lied there for what seemed like hours with Maryland screaming like an idiot in my ear. I didn't know if he was hurt too or what the hell he was doing."
He pulls in closer to Virginia, "At least you had them with you…I uh…my neighbor found me out in my backyard. I…" He stops for a moment, "I wasn't there man, I fucking wasn't there. They needed me and I was passed out in the middle of a fucking field but I felt it man I swear I heard the screaming saw the black smoke then the white...then nothing."
"Stop it, stop." He forces New York to look at him, "How were you supposed to know? Huh?"
"I…" He wipes his eyes, "I don't know…"
Virginia sighs resting his forehead on his brother's, "Let me tell you something bro, while you was passed out in that field Dad was in the car with Uncle Matt driving him to your city…our great city with Jersey right beside them with Maryland on the phone. God he was bleeding bad but he refused to stop searching for you till that neighbor of yours called him. Even then he refused help until he saw you."
"But what about you?" Both don't notice the tall figure slowly walking down the hall.
He lets out another laugh, "Didn't I just tell yah? Maryland wouldn't shut up and West was on top of me trying to be a freakin' hero or something. Damn I was afraid he was goin' ta start mouth to mouth."
"He was afraid, son. We all were." Both boys look up at their father standing in the doorway, "I was afraid I was about to lose you Lance. And I didn't know where you where but I knew you were in trouble." He strides over to his sons and sits with them on the bed.
Both look away, "We could have lost you Dad."
America gives them a knowing smile wrapping both in a needed hug, "That didn't matter to me; I'd rather die than lose you two and your sister. I'm your father and I'll always protect you no matter what even if that means I have to die to make sure you live."
The thought makes both states shutter as they wrap their arms around their father, "Dad…"
He kisses their foreheads, "We survived that day boys, we're learning to heal and I promise we'll never forget."
New York nods, "I know Daddy…did you really run all over the city looking for me?"
America pulls both his sons close letting out a laugh, "Hell yeah I did. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
"We know you would Dad cause that's what a hero would do right?"
"No…" He slips the covers over them, "That's what a father would do."
I wanted to add a quote to this but…well I didn't know what to put.
America: I got one if you don't mind. 'Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It's a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It's also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend–even a friend whose name it never knew.'
Very sweet America.
America: Thanks one of my bosses said it.
