Heart of a Volunteer
Chapter 4: November 24, 1966
A/N: This is going to be a very very hard chapter for me to write. I'm not going to give anything away. I'll explain more at the author's note at the end of the chapter.

Bristol, Tennessee
November 19, 1966
6 Months Later

Danny Jr. has graduated with a M.D. Eric is a junior in high school. Chelsea and Jamie are finishing middle school. Danny is a Literature teacher at the high school. Evelyn and he have gone on a few dates, but no talk of marriage yet.

Danny followed Eric into the house. It was empty except for Evelyn since the girls were still in school and Danny Jr. was out with his new girlfriend.

Evelyn walked into the foyer wiping her hands on a dishcloth. "Why are you two home early? Are you sick?" she asked Eric putting the back of her hand to his forehead.

"Eric, you should go upstairs and change," Danny said, and Eric walked up the stairs.

"What's the matter?" Evelyn asked.

"Alex collapsed today in gym," Danny whispered motioning her to the kitchen. She sat at the table. Eric had known Alex since preschool. They'd gone through everything together- from sharing toys to liking girls. They were both very cute, very popular boys at their co-ed catholic school. Evelyn converted to Catholicism after Danny's *death*, and Rafe did also soon after Danny was born. It was known that Alex had a heart problem from a young age. He wasn't supposed to live after the age of one. He was seventeen.

"Is it serious?" she asked. "What hospital is he at?"

"We need to pray, Evelyn," Danny said. "They're taking him to Knoxville. We need to pray," he repeated.

"Is Eric going to the hospital?" she asked.

"I told him I'd take him. Unless you want to," he started.

"No. Eric has found more of a father in you than I ever thought he would. He needs his father, Danny. Go with him," she said.

He nodded. He started up the stairs, but stopped when he saw Eric was ready. "Are you sure you want to go?" Danny asked him.

"Yes," Eric said courageously.

"Then let's go. Evelyn, start eating without us. We might be late," he said. And with that Danny and Eric started to make the expedition to Knoxville.

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Danny and Eric walked through the corridors before they found Alex's family, sitting, waiting. "Eric," Mrs. Harrison, Alex's mom, said as she hugged him. "I'm so glad you came. He's in a coma, but if you want to go in you can. Katy's in there now."

Eric nodded and sat next to Danny in some seats. A few minutes later, Katy walked out. Eric stood up and hugged her, and she wiped away a few tears. "He loves you," Eric whispered. "No matter what happens, you have to know that."

Katy nodded in understanding. Danny felt imensely proud of Eric, even though he wasn't his biological father. Eric walked into the room. He left his hand on the doorknob, ready to leave at any moment, but pushed himself towards the bed.

His friend was badly bruised from his fall, and many of his teeth were knocked out. Eric had never seen so many tubes, and they were all going into his body. He walked to the side of the bed. "You're not gonna die. You wanna know why? Because your family, and every one of us guys, and especially Katy love you too much to let you die. You won't die, okay Alex? I won't let you. You have to be strong. And I'm gonna be strong right here with you."

Eric remained silent, listening to the machines keeping Alex alive. "It isn't supposed to be this way," Eric muttered. "You're not supposed to die. Not this young. It's too soon. We never got to go see Elvis. Remember how we said we wouldn't get old until we saw Elvis? Man, you can't die on me now." He finally let himself cry.

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It was hard to get through the week with Alex's illness hanging over them like a storm cloud. The girls were under the impression that Alex was going to be fine in a few weeks. Evelyn and Danny Jr. would only talk about the medical aspects of him. So that left Danny. The only one Eric felt he could talk to.

Eric sat in the biplane as Danny worked on it's engine. "He's a lot like you, Danny," Eric started. "He's real quiet and a real good listener. And he's real dedicated to stickball," Eric said smiling. Eric, Alex, and a bunch of other juniors would gather at the McCawley/Walker field every weekend for a rousing game of stickball. Eric and Alex were the originaters, and Danny didn't know what Eric would do. Even if Alex did somehow make it out of this alive, he wouldn't be able to join in another game of stickball. "Except for when he and Katy were doing something."

There was silence other than the clanging of Danny's wrench to the engine of the plane. "He was a real groovy kid," Danny remarked. Eric gave him a look and laughed.

"Never use that word in front of my friends," Eric threatened. Danny chuckled, too.

"Time for dinner," Evelyn said standing at the door of the barn.

Eric and Danny walked out of the barn. "Anytime you need to talk, I'll be there to listen," Danny promised.

"Thanks," Eric said. "I'd like that."

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Thursday was Thanksgiving. Aunt Lucy, Uncle Tommy, Grandpa Richie, Uncle Mark, Anna, and Ryan were all coming to their house for the big meal. The house was especially solemn with the absence of Rafe and the declining of Alex's health.

After everyone had their fill of turkey and pie, the men retreated to the living room to watch football while the women talked while washing dishes. Evelyn picked the phone up when it rang.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Is Eric there?" A girl's voice asked.

"Hold on," Evelyn got Eric and he took the receiver.

"Hello?" Eric asked.

"It's Christina," the girl said. It was Eric's old girlfriend. They were still good friends.

"Hey," he said.

"Listen, Alex is brain dead," she said.

"What?" Eric asked, unbelieving.

"Eric, go down to the church. Someone will drive you to see him."

The two phones hung up. Eric hugged his mother, who stood shocked. "What is it?" she asked calmly.

"He's...Alex is brain dead," Eric said trying to compose himself. He walked out the door and drove his pickup to the church.

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That night, Eric said goodby. He knew it could be his last chance. He didn't know what else to do, so he prayed. He prayed whenever he got a free moment of silence.

But his attempts were futile.

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On November 24, Alex Harrison died. He was seventeen years old. He was the kind of person that never said a harsh word, was always upbeat. He had heart problems from a young age. The world had this brilliant human being 16 more years than they were supposed to. Thank you, God. We love you always, Alex.

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A/N: There was a 17 year old boy who died on November 24, 2001. His name was Matt. There is truth behind everything I put about Alex. I based Jamie and Chelsea on one person, me. And in this chapter, my brother Michael is Eric.

Matt had a girlfriend named Katy and had family and friends that loved him. He loved playing wiffleball with my brother and he had heart problems. Matt was exactly the kind of person you would want for a friend. He was nice and always happy, never said a rude word. I've never seen so many people come to mourn one. And they came to mourn Matt. So, I hope this was not written in vain. RIP MPV.