"Oh!" Peter jumped up, he was so focused on cheering Mike on that he forgot they even had to play in the first place. He strapped his guitar on as Micky sat down at his drum set and Davy grabbed the maracas.
"Hello!" Micky said into his microphone. "We are ¾'s of the Monkees and I hope you enjoy."
Mike glared at him for the comment but eventually shrugged it off and sat down, clearly in discomfort. Peter was worried and wanted to go over and make sure he was alright but saw Paul and Danny, as well as the paramedic, go over to check on him.
Peter smiled and let out a sigh of relief and made sure his guitar was in tune when Davy stepped up to the microphone.
"Also congratulations to all the contestants. You've been doing great so far."
They all looked at Mike who stuck his tongue out at them.
"Good luck and thank you," Peter said quietly, adding to the introduction and seeing a smile grow on Mike's face. Peter smiled back and played the opening of 'I'm a believer.' They played a few more songs as some people came out and skated around to the music and Micky and Peter kept a close eye on Mike when they could. Peter watched as Danny said something to Mike and Mike waved him off as he put his head between his knees. He caught Davy's eye and jerked his head over to Mike. Davy looked and nodded but then shook his head in a 'there's nothing we can do right now' way and they ended their sit with 'If I ever got to Saginaw again.' Then jumped down off the stage and made their way over to Mike and his team mates.
"Mike!" Peter said "are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I just have a headache." He said.
"We're thinking he has another concussion."
Peter's eyes filled with worry as he looked back at Mike, who groaned as he rubbed his forehead.
"Mike?" He asked, placing his hand on his shoulder.
"Do you know where you are?" Micky asked, taking a step toward them. Mike frowned and looked around, almost like he was searching for context clues.
"Mike?" Davy asked, becoming worried himself.
"A building." Mike finally said.
Peter closed his eyes and rested his head on Mike's back.
"What day is it?" Davy asked. Mike frowned thinking.
"Friday like a good life." He said. Micky sighed.
"What?" Davy asked, confused. "Well, you're close, it's Saturday."
"Saturday's child." Mike said happily.
"Yeah Mike." Micky said.
"Hello." Mike said, looking at Micky.
"Hey Mike," Micky said "we should get you to the hospital."
"I'm gonna vomit." Mike said and ducked his head over as he threw up.
"Come on, Mike," Micky sighed, rubbing his hand on Mike's back to calm him down. His breathing evened out and he stood up straight again.
"There you go," Micky smiled at him.
"There she goes." Mike said "She's walkin' away."
"What?" Danny said, looking at Paul.
"Patsy Cline." Micky said. "It's a song she sang."
"I love her. Can I marry her?" Mike asked "the rooms spinnin'"
"Hang on, let's…" Micky said, wrapping his arm around Mike and leading him to the bench. "Let's sit you down, okay?"
"Mike?" Peter squeaked, taking a step toward them. Tears filled his eyes as he sat down beside him. "Are you okay…?" Mike looked at him.
"Hi." He said.
"Hi, Mike," he said sniffling. "Please be okay."
"Can only one of ya talk please." Mike asked.
"What?" Peter said worriedly.
"Mike, are you seeing double?" Davy asked.
"My head hurts." Mike said as he laid his head on Mickys shoulder.
"Okay, come on," Micky whispered. "We're gonna get you help, okay? But in the meantime…" his voice trailed off as he gestured to the paramedic to come over.
"You're gonna be okay Mike," he said gently as she rushed over.
"Okay Nez, let's see what we got here." She said as she forced his eyes open and shined a light into them. Mike hissed.
"I know," She said "I know it hurts, but I have to do it okay."
"Hmm. Let me sleep." He said, trying to turn his head away.
"No can do Nez, get him to the hospital and checked out." The paramedic said "I don't want to see him back here for a week."
"I need to," Mike said, trying to get up. "We need the money."
"Nez don't force me to call an ambulance. Because I will."
"Mike, please," Micky said with a sad smile. "It's okay. We're good on money for a little while. Don't worry about it. Just rest or you'll end up hurting yourself." Mike didn't answer, but he did throw up again.
"Come on," Micky said 'let's get you checked out."
"Okay," Mike whispered, then looked at Micky.
"Hi."
"Hi Mike." Micky said as he led him out of the skating arena as Davy had a quick talk to the owner about getting paid and their instruments.
"My head hurts." Mike said.
"I know it does," Micky said, keeping his arm around Mike. "But it'll be okay. I promise you."
"Don't be making promises you can't keep." Mike said.
"I'm not." Micky said as they reached the car.
"Liar." Mike said.
"Okay, if you say so." Micky said as he helped Mike in, Peter got in next to Mike and sat down.
"Hi." Mike said.
"Hello Michael." Peter said.
"I don't like it." Mike said.
"What?" Peter asked with a worried frown. "What don't you like?"
"Michael….it's stupied."
"It's your name," Peter said softly. "It's…do you want me to call you Mike instead or…?"
"No, that's stupid to."
"Then what do you want to be called?" Micky asked. Mike was quiet.
"What do you want to be called?" Peter asked.
"My head hurts." Mike said.
"You want to be called 'my head hurts'?" Peter said, confused.
"No Peter," Micky sighed and turned around to look at Mike. "We're gonna take you to the doctor, okay? They'll probably give you stuff so your head won't hurt so much. How does that sound?"
Mike's only response was beginning to sing to himself.
"Crazy, I'm crazy for feeling so lonely.
I'm crazy, crazy for feeling so blue."
Micky sighed right as Davy came to the car.
"They'll hold onto our instruments for us until tomorrow." Davy said "Hey Mike, how are you doing?"
"Worry, why do I let myself worry." Mike sang. Davy frowned.
"Mike…?"
"I'm not Mike…it's stupid." Mike said.
"Oh, okay….then what do we call you?" Davy asked worriedly. Mike shrugged. Micky pulled out of the parking lot and onto the highway to the hospital.
At one point in the ride, Mike was looking out the window when he suddenly tapped Davy on the shoulder.
"Yeah?" Davy asked, trying to stay composed.
"Hi," Mike said quietly and Davy couldn't help but let out a sad laugh.
"Hello."
"You're squishy." Mike said.
"Thanks…I think." Davy said. Peter giggled at the statement.
"What does that mean?" He asked Mike, who shrugged.
"He's squishy….like a squishy thing." Mike said then gagged.
"Hold on Mike, we're almost there okay." Micky said as he turned into the hospital parking lot.
"Hi Oh silver." Mike said as he leaned out of the car and threw up.
"Okay, here we go." Davy said as he got out of the car and Peter went over and helped Mike out not even avoiding the throw up on the door.
"Come on, Mike," he whispered, wrapping his arm around him. "We're here. Let's go."
"No!" Mike coughed, shaking his head quickly.
"Why not?" Peter asked, gently rubbing his hand on Mike's back.
"'M fine." Mike slurred "don't need bills."
"Mike you have a cracked skull, you're going to the doctor if we have to drag you in hang the bills!" Davy said and Micky and Peter both looked at him.
"No, need to pay other things…brent, good," Mike slurred.
"Mike, please…" Peter said softly.
"Don't worry about worry about money or anything," Micky said, going to the other side of him. "You need help. Just take it."
"I…don't…" Mike started to say only to be shushed by Davy.
"Just let us help you." He said with a sigh. Mike looked at him.
"Hi." He said.
"Hi Robert." Davy said "let's get you inside okay."
"Hmm, okay," Mike said suddenly as the others helped him inside.
