SS-Hi minna-san! I'll get started quickly since nobody really reads these intros and cuz it's been awhile since I posted. But I was kinda off Digimon for awhile since the stupid UPN station got ALL the way to the 'Takuya returns' episode then skips the new episodes they were SuPpOsEd to run and went all the way back to the 1st episode!!!!! ARGH!!!!! *calms down* I know that this story is based on season 1, but I was just...off.
Tym-Yea, that, plus a few projects that knocked her off course, and another fic to continue...but it's nothing she couldn't handle...
SS-Hm, Tym isn't that mad about the Frontier thing...and he's unusually nice...how scary. DISCLAIMER: We own Digimon-We don't own Digimon=Me writing fics that'll never become shows. Got it? Good, cuz I'm not too good at math. Now a few quick notes.
&words to readers&
~Numerous people are asking if TK's going to die. Now, a drama-ish story wouldn't be good if you knew every ending...but I will say this statement: In my opinion, TK is the cutest, sweetest, most innocent guy on Digimon. Both his older and younger versions are adorable and his hats are nice additions. Ok, that's all I'm saying...maybe you can figure it out from that whether or not I'm going to kill him off. But if you don't understand my statement (Tym-I know I don't.), don't worry, cuz you'll find out in this chapter (But plz don't skip to the bottom right now and read it).
Tym-Okey dokes...before she goes starts rambling...let us begin!
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Hold my Hand
Ch. 3 Hanging on
*Still Matt's POV*
When Tai and I got up to my lil brother's room, I could see Kari talking to him as if he really was just sleeping. For a while, we just stood there, listening to Kari's story...until I heard footsteps coming towards us. I looked up, it was my dad, but he went past me and straight to mom. I couldn't make out their entire conversation, but I knew it involved those choices the doctor told us about earlier.
"Hey Matt, wanna go inside to talk to TK?" I nodded, and we walked in and sat near him. I'd say about 15 minutes passed before my dad came in, motioning for me to come out. I was getting nervous, but did as I was told. When we got outside (The hallway), dad started talking.
"Matt, your mother and I have been talking...and we think that we should take the chance and take TK off that machine." I froze. If someone pushed me hard enough I would have fallen and broken into millions of puzzle pieces. Still, I managed to shake my head, as I wasn't able to say 'no' verbally. Dad sighed. He knew I was going to say that, so he started up this planned lecture. The words went through one ear and out the other, I didn't care about what he had to say, no was no. However, my heart ached, the chance to see my lil brother smile or laugh again was so tempting. Even if it didn't work out, it seemed like part of myself would never forgive me if I didn't try. I could feel dad grab my shoulders and shaking me, there I go again...I've went into one of my trances. His voice is getting louder, but I can't bring myself to speak, at least, not while this on-going debate was playing out in me between my head and my heart.
Suddenly, the shaking stops, a new voice comes in, and I can feel myself being dragged away. The new voice finally gets me out of my trance...actually, slaps me out of my trance.
"Ow!" I rubbed the spot on my head where I was hit.
"Sorry, but you needed to snap out of it, plus I didn't feel like punching you in a hospital."
"Thanks Tai. I guess you could hear my dad huh?"
"It was kind of hard not to. I told him that I'd talk to you about all of this."
"What's there to talk about? I'm not going to let them do it." Then again, part of me was saying that that wasn't true.
"Come on Matt, you need to think this through."
"Hey, when we were outside you couldn't believe it. You said that you didn't want them to take him off."
"Well, that's true, I was thinking that. But then, I imagined it was Kari (knock on wood) in TK's position, and I saw it another way. I thought that if I didn't take this chance, I'd never see her smile, hear her laugh, hold her close, teach her games, I'd never be able to do anything with her ever again. When I thought about that...I couldn't think about not taking this risk. Now I ask you...could you?" It was like Tai had read my mind, how could I not take this risk? Besides, I really had nothing to lose. If we kept him on that machine, he'd pass on eventually. And if we take him off, he'll pass away, but at least there's a chance he'd pull through. I believe in TK, so I guess there's nothing left to do but follow through with the plan.
Tai and I walked back to my dad, and I told him it was ok. I told him that they could take him off. "All right Matt, let's go tell the doctor-"
"Hold up! Can you wait 'till the others get here?" I looked from Tai to dad, and he nodded.
"Of course, go call them up. Matt, let's go." I nodded to Tai, and he called Kari and they both went to the phone. Meanwhile, dad and I found mom and we told the doctor. He said that he'd wait until we were ready, and left to get some papers. Mom and dad went in to say 'goodbye' to TK, and I stayed outside...I'd say 'goodbye' to him after mom and dad were out. I know that this is a time when we should all be together, but they don't need to hear what I have to say.
Tai and the others got back after 10 minutes or so, and they talked to me for a while. I appreciated all of their comforts, but I still worried...terribly.
Mom and dad came out soon after, so I told the others to wait there (As it was a private moment) as I walked in. I closed the door behind me, then looked at my lil brother, and took a seat next to him. I knew what I wanted to say, but I was never good at explaining my feelings. So I did my best, hoping that somewhere along the line, he'd understand.
"Hey TK. I know that mom probably poured her heart out a few minutes ago, so I'm just letting you know that I won't be like that. Listen, I know how warm and inviting that light must be, but you got to come back to us, ok? You have no idea how much we would all miss you if you didn't wake up soon, so please come back. Of course, I can't blame you for wanting to stay, it must be a heck of a lot nicer there as appose to here. It's never dark or scary, so you'd never need to come to my room at night. No more school, so you won't need Izzy or Joe's help. Mimi won't ever call the fashion police on you, Tai doesn't need to teach you soccer, and Kari and Sora won't have to talk to you anymore." I wasn't doing a very good job at expressing my emotions. I mean, here I was, spending my possibly last moments with TK and I'm trying to get him to turn away from paradise.
"Actually TK, forget most of that. Just...just please...come back." I was holding his hand now. "I promise to be a better brother, and this kinda thing will never happen again. I guess I wasn't paying much attention because ...because I was thinking about the fun week we were going to spend together. Never count your chickens before they hatch...heh." I laughed nervously, I wouldn't come back if I were TK after hearing what I was saying. "I'm sorry TK, I can't even say 'I love you', or 'I'll miss you' right." I mentally kicked myself...why couldn't I just say that before?
"Um...I better wrap this up kid. Hey, I found what you were trying to give me." I took out a blue case with my name written kinda messily in paint on it, then looked at it thoughtfully. "It's so cool TK, thanks. Now I have a place to put my harmonica." I took out said instrument and was about to put it in, but kept it out. "Whenever you couldn't sleep, you'd ask me to play something to calm you down. So I'll play for you, and whatever happens, just know that your brother is here." I brought my harmonica to my lips, and started playing that familiar tune. I don't think anyone knows that I only know one song. I keep changing it around so it sounds different, but it's the only one I know. I would've learned more...except we got sucked into the Digital World and I didn't bring my books along. From the corner of my eye, I could see mom and dad in the window. I guess the music slipped through the door, but I didn't care. I was playing for TK, no one else.
It ended after a few minutes...and I suppose the doctor couldn't wait any longer because he came in shortly after I stopped. "Are we ready?" I didn't look at him, nor did I move from my spot, I just nodded. Mom came in and stood on the opposite side of the bed, standing next to the doctor and the machine. I could hear dad telling the others to wait outside, I guess this is real a family thing. However, the other digidestinded were like another family to TK, but I wouldn't object at a time like this. The last thing I wanted was for TK to hear a fight. He put his hand on mom's shoulder, and I kept my hand on TK's...I wasn't about to leave him now. "Uh...who will *ahem* take him off?"
Mom and dad looked to each other...then to me. I shook my head furiously...did they really expect me to do it?! In the end, the doctor pulled the plug...and the once annoying beeping sound came to a slow stop. It was replaced with a more annoying long beep...but I hardly heard it because I was concentrating on TK. I was hoping for him to move, to breath, or to squeeze my hand back. When nothing came...my breathing became jagged. I could make out the faint sound of the doctor saying something about the time, and writing it on his paper...but I didn't want to accept it...not yet. Mom wasn't trying to hold back her tears like I was...she ended up running out of the room, with dad and the doctor close behind. I guess they forgot about me...and obviously had given up on my baby brother. But I didn't. TK wasn't called the child of hope for nothing...for his sake I wouldn't give up.
It was getting harder to hold back the tears, but I couldn't let him see me like this. Even if he wasn't able to 'see' me, I couldn't let TK know that his big brother was crying. I brought his small hand up to my face, closed my eyes, and sniffled. 'You can't leave me. You think that you need me to be there for you...to help you and teach you, but I think I need you more than you know.' I opened my eyes...the warm tears threatening to fall. "Please don't leave me alone....not again. I hate to say it, but since Kari isn't here...please, stay away from the light. We all love you TK, it wouldn't be the same without you here with us." I can't believe I couldn't say that before, and right now...I was thinking that it was too late. So I let the tears fall, most of which landed on my jeans, but one or two landed on your hand. Then...your hand moved. I blinked. My mind, which had given up on TK, convinced me that my hand slipped from the tears, but my heart told me he had squeezed back. I breathed heavily, then looked to the monitor to see which part of me was true. The machine beeped once...then twice...it was very slow...but the annoying beeping was back. I looked down to TK, and saw that his chest was rising and falling. The hope returned to my eyes, and a small smile crossed my face. He squeezed my hand slightly, and suddenly, everything felt fine...my heart was right.
(More time+nothing to do=longer chapter)
Dad was still with mom, so they didn't notice what I had seen. However, I was so happy and shocked, I couldn't yell to them that TK hadn't left us. A minute or two had passed, and I kept my eyes on him, waiting for his breathing to become regular. Soon, the beeping was the way it was before, and TK slowly opened his eyes. He turned to me, and I couldn't do anything but smile.
"Hi Matt..." His voice was soft, but I heard it anyway. I managed to find my voice, and replied.
"Hey TK...how are you feeling?" He looked around before answering me.
"I'm fine Matt, but why am I here? Were you crying?" I realized that I hadn't taken the time to wipe my eyes, but I didn't feel like letting go of his hand. So just this once...I admitted to him that I was.
"Yea, I was crying...but you can't tell anyone." He smiled and nodded. I missed that smile. I can't believe I ever thought of not taking this chance.
"I won't tell anyone Matt...but why am I here? What happened?" I didn't want to tell him about the crash...no need to trouble his mind right now.
"You just got a bump on your head, and you fell asleep for awhile. But don't worry, everything's fine now."
"I know that everything's ok."
"You do?"
"Uh huh...it's all ok because you're here, and I know that you wouldn't let something bad happen to me." I'm glad that he still thinks that I can do anything, and that as long as I was there, he didn't need to worry. However, sooner or later he'd find out that I'm not Omnimon (As appose to Superman or some other super hero). Oh well, until then, I'll gladly take on his role. I hugged him gently so that I wouldn't hurt him.
"Well, I can't do everything...but I promise not to let anything hurt you from now on." I heard him whisper an 'Ok.' and I kept on smiling. Meanwhile, mom had finally stopped crying, and she looked at us through the window. She must have thought that I had lost it, after all, I was hugging a brother she thought had passed away. She walked in with dad following her.
"Matt, what do you think you're doing?!" I let go of TK, and remembered that she didn't know.
"Mom...I-"
"It's ok mom, he's just hugging me. I'm fine." She and dad stared at him in disbelief, and TK looked at them oddly. "What's wrong with them Matt?" I only smiled, waiting for mom to get over the shock. I was right, in a blink of an eye she was at TK's side, hugging him and launching a million questions at him. Dad was the same, except he couldn't hug his son since mom was busy doing that already. I thought that I should leave them for a while, and quickly left the room. When I got outside, I found the others crying and leaning on each other in the waiting room.
"What's wrong with all of you?" I mentally kicked myself when I remembered that they didn't know.
"What's wrong with you Matt? How could you be so happy when your brother has just passed away?" I looked at Tai, then to the others.
"It's ok...he's fine." Kari stared at me.
"He-he's ok? TK's ok?" Once I smiled, she gasped, ran up, and hugged me. She was still crying a lil, but they were tears of joy, not sorrow. It took the others (Even Izzy) one or two more seconds to realize it...then they all ran up to me and soon I was finding it hard to breath when they all smothered me.
"I can't believe he made it!"
"That's because he's a survivor."
"I knew he'd pull through!"
"He sure it one though kid."
"I'm so glad everything turned out all right."
"When can we see him?!" After hearing Kari's question, I decided that TK should see his other family now. Besides, I'm sure mom and dad are done hugging him and stuff by now. I led them to the room, but when I got there, I couldn't believe how wrong I was. Mom still had TK in a death grip, and dad was busy talking with the doctor...who evidently had come in earlier.
"Um...maybe a little later." Upon hearing my voice, TK spoke out through mom's embrace.
"Matt?!" I turned around, then rushed over to him.
"What's wrong buddy?" By then, mom had let go off him and I sat down.
"Where did you go? Where are the others??"
"I just left for a second, and the others are right there." Hearing their cue, Tai, Kari, Izzy, Sora, Mimi, and Joe came over to his bedside. Dad led mom and the doctor outside...as to leave us alone for a moment.
"Hi everyone." The other digidestinded greeted him, and pretty soon, we all forgot about the fact that we were in a hospital and talked about anything. It really cheered TK up, in fact, he seemed perfectly normal by the time the doctor came back.
"Excuse me, but I need to run a few tests on TK. All of you can come back later." Everyone said a short goodbye, then headed for the door... including me.
"Wait! Matt, can't you stay with me?" I looked to the doctor, who plainly shook his head.
"Sorry buddy, guess I can't. But don't worry, I'll be outside with the others, just yell if you need me ok?"
"Um hm, ok Matt." I waved, and closed the door as I left. Turns out most of the other digidestined had to leave anyway, but Tai and Kari were still in the waiting room. I went over to them and sat down, and things were pretty quiet, but that was ok.
"Tai, I'm kinda hungry, can I go get something to eat?"
"Yea, sure." He dug into his pocket, pulled out some loose change, then handed it to her. "You remember where the cafeteria is right?"
"Uh huh, of course I do."
"Then be back soon ok?"
"I will Tai." She left, and I sighed.
"You know that she's going to go to the vending machine and buy candy right?" Tai matched my sigh.
"Uh huh." I smiled.
"Ok, just checking." More silence...but if we had nothing to talk about, then there was no need to say anything.
"Did the doctor say when TK could leave?"
"Nope. He has to run some tests, and then maybe he'll tell us."
"Oh, well-"
"Matt!!" I shot up and ran towards TK's room, with Tai close behind. When I got there, I saw the doctor standing by a table with some medical equipment and TK was sitting on the bed with his knees drawn up to his chest. I was confused, but went to his side immediately.
"TK, what's wrong?! Did he hurt you?!" He shook his head, then pointed to something on the floor. It was a needle, and then something in my head clicked. TK was always scared of shots, I put my hand on his shoulder.
"It's ok TK, it's ok. He has to give you a shot to make sure that you don't catch anything."
"Actually, I had to take some of his blood." TK paled further, and latched onto my arm. "I need to have a sample to make sure that everything's ok." I nodded, and understood, but explaining that to TK wasn't going to be easy.
"Hey doc, can I have a second with him?"
"Sure, of course. I'll be right back with another needle (Apparently he only had one with him.)." I placed my hand on his other shoulder and moved him so that he faced me, then I looked in his eyes.
"TK, if you want to get out of here you have to do what the doctor says." He looked away from me, but nodded slowly. "You understand right? Hey, I'll be right here, so you don't need to worry. Just squeeze my hand when it hurts kay?" Other nod, but I think he felt better. The doctor came in a few seconds later, and he got ready to finish the job he started earlier. TK took hold of my hand and the doctor hook up a line from the needle to a small bottle. TK closed his eyes tight, and the doctor inserted the needle into his arm. At first, I felt nothing...but after one or two seconds....
"Esshh!!" I couldn't feel my hand anymore, just pain. Soon I had my eyes shut like TK's. All I could think about was when it was going to end. "Ahhhaa...ouch." When the tormenting minute was over and TK let go of my hand, I shook it furiously and held it lightly. 'I never knew he had a grip like that!'
"Matt?" I looked over to my lil brother, and he stared at me. "Are you ok?" I didn't want him to know that I got more pain out of that than he did, so I shook my head.
"Course I am. See, I told you it was nothing big."
"Uh huh. I knew I could trust you." I nodded, then Tai and Kari came in. Just in time too, I grabbed Tai and went outside while Kari unloaded the treats she bought onto TK's bed. Normally, I would worry that he'd get a sugar high, but the aching in my hand overcame me.
"What's wrong with you Matt?" I shook my hand, then responded.
"Show me where to find the x-ray technician, because I'm his next patient." I elaborated as he led me downstairs, and if I had a dollar for every time he tried to hide his grin, I'd be a millionaire.
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SS-Hm...well there you go, TK didn't die. Yea-ness! And maybe I'll write up one more ch. to wrap this all up. Anywayz...I would normally add in a few more notes, but not this time. I hafta set my VCR...new episodes coming out Feb. 10th!!!!! *runs out...runs back in* Sweet Dweams minna-san! *runs out again*
Tym-That was...interesting. Ahem...if you thought this ch. was interesting r/r! And if you didn't...r/r anywayz! Cya dudes and dudettes! And get ready for a small surprise in the next chapter brought to you by me...Ashes! *runs out*
