Teenage Alex injured, Gregory protective big brother.
"Alex, it's going to be ok," Gregory murmured, grasping the hand of the sobbing boy laying in the back seat of his car. "You are going to be ok."
The whimper that came from Alex broke his heart. He couldn't stop seeing his father swinging the bat at his brother. He couldn't stop hearing the crack and the deafening scream as Alex had hit the floor. He could feel the bruises forming on his hand from where Alex had almost crushed his hand, squeezing in pain. His breath was coming faster and faster; he was nearing a panic attack. The red glow of the sign for the hospital finally came into view. Gregory took a deep breath, steeling himself for Alex.
As he braked outside the door to the ER, Alex was jostled, moaning in pain. As Gregory reached to grab Alex from the back seat, he met his brother's eyes. The pain-filled tears that coated his cheeks and the gasping whimpers of pain made Gregory's heartbreak again. Gathering his trembling brother into his arms, he whispered into Alex's ear, "I'm so sorry."
With his fifteen-year-old brother cradled in his arms, Gregory walked into the emergency room. He was immediately meet with two nurses and a gurney. "Your father called ahead," one of the nurses informed him. "He said it was a dirt biking accident." Gregory didn't want to argue, tell them that it was actually a baseball bat swung by their father that had broken his brother's leg. He just wanted Alex safe and out of pain. He nodded. Laying Alex down, the nurse whisked him off, while the other nurse led Gregory to the waiting room and the mountain of paperwork.
When Gregory was led back to his brother two hours later, he was informed that Alex had a compound fracture in both his fibula and tibia, which had already been stabilized by plates and screws.
Walking into the room, Alex looked so small and fragile on the hospital bed. His right leg was elevated on a pillow, wrapped in a splint up to his knee. His head turned; glassy eyes meeting Gregory's.
"Hey," Gregory said coddlingly, reaching to wipe smeared eyeliner under Alex's eyes.
Alex suddenly tensed. His voice trembled, as he asked, "Is dad here?"
Gregory's heart dropped, his protective instincts kicking in. "No!" he quickly exclaims, brushing Alex's hair from his eyes. "And he is not going to be."
Alex's lower lip started to tremble. "Alex, are you in pain?" He shook his head, tears threatening to fall. Alex clumsily reached for his brother's hand, pulling him to sit down on the edge of the bed. And here the two brothers stayed.
Eventually, the doctor came in, filling Gregory in on Alex's treatment. As dawn broke over the town of Roswell, the two brothers exited the hospital, one slowly limping on crutches, while the other followed with a bag of prescription bottles.