His Brothers Keeper --- part 12
"Rock....wait....wait up!" Blues called after the little bomber as he sped ahead of him.
"Come on Blues hurry!" Rock cried.
"Hunn...Rock ....I gotta stop...I...gotta rest" Blues panted. "Come on lets's sit down for a sec"
He hobbled over to a grassy hilltop and gingerly flopped down in the cool grass. "Ahhhh"
Rock took a seat by his brothers side, staring up at the clouds as they drifted by. He looked over at his brother from time to time before finally working up his nerve and asking what was bothering him.
"Blues....what was Bass like ...before........you know?"
Blues sat back up, taking a deep breath, "He and I were inseparable Rock, the best of friends. We defied the rules and beliefs of our kind , we set no limits for ourselves, we ran against the wind. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, even though it was so long ago. Bass, he was beside me , a friend in the night, playing in the dark in the moonlights glow.
And the secrets that we shared and all the mountains that we moved.
Our friendship caught like wildfire outta control till there was nothing left to burn and nothing left to prove.
And I remember what he once said to me . How he swore that the pain would never end.
I remember how he cried holding me oh so tight. Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then.
Against the wind we were running against the wind. We were young and strong and running against the wind.
After I left Dr. Light's that night I went on the road searching, trying to make sense of it all.
And the years went slowly past, and I found myself alone . Surrounded by strangers , but without a friend I found myself further and further from my home .
A...and I guess somewhere I..just lost my way....there were oh so many roads.
Scared and confused ...I was living to run and running to live, never worrying about the pain or the loneliness I showed.
I moved eight miles a minute for months at a time , broke every rule that would bend . But I began to find myself searching ,searching, for shelter again and again.
Against the wind I was running against the wind. I found myself seeking shelter against the wind.
Rock nodded, plucking at the grass he sat on. "But you found shelter, right here with us "
"Ah yes those drifters days have past me now.. I have much more to think about . Family and commitments. When to stay put and when to bail out!~"
"Blues !!!" Rock laugh tackling him to the grass " you wouldn't bail out on me !!"
"Well...."
"Blues!" Rock pouted.
"Ok ok....huh Rock look over there"
"what"
"Super noogie!!" Blues whooped rubbing his knuckles into Rock's hair.
"Aghgg not fair raaaaa!" Rock resumed his tackle, and the two roll down the hill to the bottom.
"Ha hunn...ok ..ok..." Blues gasped , getting to his feet "you win"
Rock got up, laughing. "Ok.......tag your it !!' he turned and took off running .
Blues leaned on the crutches, "Oh ya this is fair !!!!!" he called.
"Blues look ....lo...wow you look tired Blues" Rock said as his brother leaned against the railing, having finally caught up to the little whirlwind. He had led Blues on a chase through the gardens and eventually wound up here on the crossing bridge.
"Wow Blues look duckies !!"
"Oh goodie...." Blues snorted .
"Don't you like duckies" Rock comented.
"Love them, " Blues stated "I hear they go very good with red wine"
"Blues!!!"
"What?" he asked innocently.
Rock, decided to ignore Blues and returned his attention to the ducks. leaning over the side. "Here duckie "
"Rock, be careful!!" Blues yelped grabbing him by the seat of his pants when he slipped.
"Sorry Blues' He eased himself off the rail and looked out across the water at the lights of the city, as they sparkled on the surface. The sun was almost gone and the lights shown like gems in the darkness. He wished Blues could see it....then as an afterthought he shut his eyes, and let his other senses take over. He was rewarded with a vivid picture of sounds and smells , that he hadn't noticed before. Something most people took for granted.
"Hey Blues?" He asked looking at the waters smooth surface once more . "If I jumped off a bridge would you jump in after me?"
"I think we've already proven that one " Blues replied dryly.
"Ok......If I FELL off of a bridge would you jump off after me ?"
"NO" Blues said matter of factly
"Oh" Rock mumbled disappointed.
Blues turned to him, a warm smile on his face " No...I'd be at the bottom waiting to catch you" He wrapped an arm around his little brothers shoulder . "Come on Rock, we're way past curfew"
*********************
"I'm home" Dr. Light called as he walked into the living room.
"Hey Dad, shhhh!' Blues smirked pointing to his to his lap. Rock lay curled up fast asleep, his hands clinging to Blues shirt.
Dr. Light smiled gently as he pick Rock up, and carried him off to his room.
Blues sat listening to the clock. It felt strange he'd only been here a couple of weeks and yet...he felt ...at home. Part of him was overjoyed at finally having his family to love and care for.......but another part of him cried out to keep his distance, and his independence.
"No...I ....want a family . I can be independent and still be here....can't I?" Blues sighed // Rock's enthusiasm must be wearing off on me // he gave a small start when a weight fell on to his lap, "Hello Tango' he smiled patting the green tabby as Dr. Light came back into the main room. And sat next to him. Blues felt his stomach clench up, this was it, it was now or never. He had to tell his Father....... everything.
"Dad...I...I have something to ask you " he began.
"Hmmm go ahead"
"Can .....can I come home" his voice cracked a little at the end .
"Blues your always welcome here as long as you'll stay' Dr. Light said. He gave Blues a hug of welcome.
Blues gasped is body tensing instinctively. He could feel himself sweating, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He wanted to tell him...but oh...how he wanted to turn and run as far and as fast as he could . Blues forced himself to sit down on the couch, taking Tango in his arms. He held the cat in a death grip to his chest. "D....dad..if...I... I'm going to stay. I can't keep this secret from you anymore.
Dr.Light sat next to Blues on the couch. "Go on Blues' he urged.
"There's something I gotta tell you...something ...I should of told you..a long...time ago...."
***************************
3 weeks later
"Hey Rock," Blues walked into his little brothers room.
"Hey," Rock smiled putting his pj's on. "How'd it go?"
"Um...not too bad.....I guess" Blues shrugged "It's still kinda weird having to talk about well.....everything....but....but I feel happier ......I guess the therapy must be helping "
"How'd Dad take it when you told him?"
"He wasn't happy ...I think he was upset that I kept it from him for so long...or that I felt I had to keep it at all...."
"Duh...Blues , despite what you think.. we do care about you ya know....especially Dad " Rock sat up on his bed.
"Ya....I know ....I care too.....I....I just have a little trouble showing it...... that's another issue I'll have to work out." Blues ducked his head slightly.
"Just remember what I said, don't be anybody but you ...just you.....just be Blues . The REAL Blues" Rock stated putting a hand on the others shoulder.
"That's the problem Rock,...I've been so many places, seen so much..I've had so many disguises, been so many different people ..R...Rock I.......I don't know who the real Blues is anymore"
"That's why you have us......" Rock smiled " we're right beside you....and when you figure out who you are...we'll still be right beside you...........if you'll let us"
"I...I don't....I" Blues stammered
"Blues, don't give up, you can beat this......don't let it kill you" Rock pleaded.
Blues nodded holding his brother in a tight embrace, he sat down on the bed.
"You ok?' Rock asked, still held tightly against his brothers chest.
"Ya...ya" Blues wiped his eyes and let Rock breath again. "The shrink said I have some sort of complex going on...you know....from all the negative treatment I got for being blind, and when Wily......did.....th...that...to me .....she says I....retreated into myself....somewhat
"Somewhat?" Rock cocked an eyebrow.
"She says I use my anger as a wall to keep others away from me."
"Wow , she's good" Rock smirked.
"And .......I have a problem with control" Blues mumbled.
"Nooooo" Rock teased "Not you!"
"Weeellllll........of course not. I have no problem with control as long as I'm in it"
"Oh Blues" Rock, sighed ..."Oh...you came up here to tell me something?.."
"Ya..." Bluess nodded " I came to say goodbye, and to give you this '
Rock gasped a little, as he took the paper from Blues hand. "M...my ..poem.."
"It's very good" Blues said.
"Thank you" Rock blushed. He let his finger trail over the bumps. Words he had written.
"You know Rock, I'm impressed. You learned Brail all by yourself"
Rocks cheeks burned brighter, "Thanks..Bl-..goodbye?" Rock looked at Blues, his blues eyes shining "Where are you going?"
Blues sighed, sliding off the bed. "Somewhere....I need time for me Rock. I like being part of a family ....but I have to get use to it ....ya know?" Blues asked hopefully.
Rock began to mumble something softly, and Blues realized he was reading his poem.
"Rock....Rock....come on..." Blues pleaded "Don't do this'
"But your leaving again.."Rock sniffed.
"But ..I'm coming back ....I promise. I'm here to stay. I just gotta take some time to adjust ....I'm not use to this........all of this............any of this . It's wonderful and terrifying all at once"
"Really?' Rock asked.
"Really, really " Blues hugged him. "we'll be together, me , you , Roll, Dad..Tango, Beat....even that annoying beast you call a dog"
"Rush is a great dog" Rock cut in.
"Ha ha ...ok...fair enough" Blues set him down. "Thanks Rock"
"For what?' The small bot asked.
"For helping to set me free of my own fears...." Blues smiled before walking out the door to his own room.
Rock looked down at his poem, A smile playing on his lips. He picked up a pen and added another line.
Which way you going brother or need I ask
Cause I'll be waiting brother....your free at last.
The little blue bomber, never realized that he had fallen asleep at his desk. Nor did he notice when a shadow slipped into his room and gently laid him in his bed.
" If you see a shadow on your wall a night, don't be afraid cause it won't hurt you . It's only me watching over you" Blues whispered, quietly. Tiptoeing to the desk, he smiled as he brushed a hand across the new lines of the poem..and carefully, added another before creeping back out the door.
****************************
Rock sat on the rooftop watching the sunset as he often did now, he looked out over the endless fields where he'd seen Blues disappear....that morning. Part of him had wanted to go with him. But the other part knew that Blues had a wild streak and would always demand his time alone..he would always run against the wind ....that was just Blues.
"He's coming back" Rock told himself as he went into his room, and flopped down on the bed.
His fingers gazed a paper and he smiled, as he picked up his poem and guided his hands over the last four lines.
// four lines? // He thought, Rock sat up and brought his hand across the page again.
I wont forget you brother for all eternity
I'll always love you brother like you loved me.
Rock folded the page back up a smile on his face,
"Huh?" he reached out and pick up another page "What's this?' He slowly read the poem, a brightness coming to his eyes as he finished.
Rock carefully put both poems in his dresser. Then the little bot snuggled under the warm covers of his bed. Dreaming happy thoughts of adventures he and his brother would share...now that they had finally come to understand each other.
Rock smiled as he drifted off . Somewhere deep in his mind a poem swirled around in his thoughts. It would be treasured forever by his little heart.
If you ever feel alone
If your ever helpless with fear.
Remember that you have me.
And I always will be near.
Always know that I care
No matter what I say, watch for suddle clues.
And when in need , you'll find me there.
Love you always, your big brother.....BLUES
END?
* Ya I know I cheated a little -- Blues little spiel about him and Bass is actually a song
By----Bob Seger ( Running Against the Wind ) But I thought it suited him so........
Viceroy--
Well that was it...I hope everyone enjoyed it. I actually really liked this story.. and I'm thinking of doing a sequel to it. That is if anybody wants a sequel........maybe.
Well for now that's it...I gotta finish all the others stories I have going ....I'm starting to get death threats from ticked off fans EEP!!!