*Sigh* Here's another chapter! My ideas are really coming at a trickle,
here... @_@;; Maybe all my inspiration is going towards other stuff. Maybe
I should just abandon this fic and work on other things only.... But I'm
stubborn, so I'm putting this chapter up anyway. Nyeh.
~*~*~*~
This was ridiculous. Completely and UTTERLY ridiculous. Joey had stayed home for two days, now, and there had been no signs of change at all. He was worrying himself to death, and for what? What was he supposed to do now? He didn't know what was wrong with his father, so he didn't know anything to do to make him better. Wait, scratch that; he could drive him to the hospital. That might help, right? If it wasn't a bad idea to move him....
But wouldn't he have noticed any head or spinal injuries when he'd checked his father over?
Willing to believe in the accuracy of his checks, and not wanting to sit and wait helplessly any longer, Joey gingerly wrapped his arms around his father's waist, slinging the man over his shoulder and sagging under his weight. Once he'd adjusted to the rather heavy burden, Joey grabbed the car keys off the nightstand, and carefully went out the door, towards his father's car. He wasn't legally able to drive yet; he still wouldn't be taking the test until the end of the year. At the moment, he really didn't care if it was illegal; it had to be done!
The blond strapped his father into the back seat as gently as he could, then slid into the driver's seat, starting the ignition. He'd taken lessons, at least, so it'd be okay. With a rumble of the engine, they were off towards the hospital, in decent form. After all, they hadn't hit anything.... yet.
~*~*~*~
The doctor paced restlessly beside a bed, phone cradled against his ear as he stared at a clipboard. "Hello?" A bright, female voice greeted.
"Ms. Wheeler?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, nobody by that name lives here." The voice sounded vaguely puzzled.
The doctor held back his frustration, and responded levelly. "I was told that a Ms. Serena Wheeler and a Miss Serenity Wheeler resided here. Could you tell me their new address?"
"I don't know anybody by that name. I'm sorry, sir, but this is an apartment." Was the only response.
"Thank you all the same. I apologize." He hung up, running his fingers through his wavy brown hair, and considered his options on who to call. The top choice had been Joey's mother and sister, being the only family members on the list that the teen had filled out on his last visit, which had been some years ago. Who else was here, anyway? Solomon and Yugi Motou, Tristan Taylor, Tea Gardner... This Solomon seemed to be the best bet. From what the doctor could make of it, he was probably something like a godfather. Shrugging to himself, he dialed the number.
"Hello, Turtle Gameshop, can I help you?" Yugi chirped.
"Hello, may I speak to Dr. Solomon Motou?"
"Grandpa's busy right now." Yugi responded, digging through the drawer for a pen. "But I could take a message, if you want."
"To whom am I speaking?" The doctor asked hesitantly. After all, this was rather confidential....
"My name's Yugi."
"Ah." He was on the list too; that was fine, then. "This is Dr. Rosenstein, the physician for the Wheeler family."
"Uh-huh." Yugi articulated, scribbling the name down.
"I'm calling your grandfather as a next of kin. Mr. Nathaniel Wheeler is currently in a comatose state, due largely to the imbibition of a large amount of alcohol. I believe there is some chance of treatment, but it would be very costly."
"Oh.... oh, my...." Yugi bit his lip, closing his eyes. The poor man.... And Joey must be heartbroken.... "I'm so sorry...."
"It's very unfortunate." The doctor agreed. "Would you please tell your grandfather what I told you, and ask him to call me back?"
"Yes, sir. What's your number?" Yugi asked, dutifully writing it down as the doctor told him. He hung up, then jumped off the stool. "Grandpa! Grandpa, someone left a message for you!" He raced off, pad in hand, to deliver the news.
~*~*~*~
"Joey? Can I talk to you?" Yugi asked, perched on the stool once again.
"U-uh, sure, Yug. Now? Or are you coming over?" Joey asked numbly, somewhat surprised by his small friend's call. The doctor's diagnosis had chilled him to the core. His dad _was_ in a coma; what was worse, that the doctor had said that the treatment was expensive, and also somewhat depended on his father's 'will to recover'. The practical upshot of all this?
The old man would never wake up again.
He didn't have nearly enough money for the sum that the doctor had quoted him; he couldn't even come close, and wasn't sure how he would be able to get enough, either. Scratch that option. Besides that, his father didn't HAVE any sort of 'will to recover'! He'd drank himself into this stupid coma to get away from the world; what made the doctor think that he'd want to come back? There was hardly even any point in trying to get him back; Joey would bet all the money he had left that the only reason his father was alive were his survival instincts, the only things that alcohol and anguish couldn't subdue.
But he loved his father, no matter how low the man had sunk. He loved the old drunk, and he wasn't about to let him go like this! The guy deserved better, no matter what anybody said. He'd been a good father, once... A kind, strong man, warm and loving, that any boy would be proud to call his dad.
That dad was still there, somewhere. Somewhere deep down inside, twisted and battered from misery and self-inflicted abuse from alcohol, but not yet broken. Sleeping, but not dead. He'd get that dad back if it killed him.
"How about you come to the park?" Yugi suggested. He wanted a more cheerful setting than Joey's house, which, from what he'd seen of it, wasn't very cheerful at all.
"Sure... I'll be right there...."
"I'll see you soon, okay?" Yugi hung up. "Grandpa, I'm going to the park to talk to Joey, okay?"
"Alright, Yugi." Solomon agreed solemnly. He knew very well the outing wasn't for pleasure. Quite the opposite, in fact.
It wasn't long before Yugi could be found on a park bench, sitting next to Joey. "What did you wanna talk to me about?" The blond asked, trying to shake himself out of his funk. For his friend's sake, he'd act normal....
"Joey, your doctor called Grandpa and I today." Yugi started. "And... and I'm really sorry..."
"What?!" Joey leapt to his feet, caught between shock, anger, and humiliation. "How COULD he? Why?!"
Grandpa had told him of his return call to the doctor. "He said that he couldn't find your mom or Serenity. We were the next people to call."
"He wasn't supposed to call _anyone_!" Joey fumed. "I didn't want anybody to know...." He looked away, cheeks flaming scarlet with embarrassment and snubbed pride.
"Why not?" Yugi looked up at his friend in concern, unable to hide the hurt in his expression. Joey was his best friend! Did he not trust him anymore? Was that why he didn't want anybody to tell? Had he offended Joey somehow?
"I... I mean..." Joey's expression softened as he saw the injured look in Yugi's eyes, and guiltily sat down, wrapping an arm around the smaller boy's shoulders. "You've got enough to deal with. I can handle this by myself, you know. I just don't want you to worry about me..." He gave his friend a comforting squeeze, sighing.
The pain in Yugi's expression melted away, to be replaced by surprise and compassion. "Joey, you should never have to deal with anything alone! Friends look out for each other, and I know this will be easier on you if you let me help you." The spike-haired boy smiled encouragingly. What did you know, it _did_ pay to listen to Tea once in a while.
"Yugi, please... I can handle this." Joey bit his lip, looking down. He didn't want to take advantage of his friend like this. Yugi obviously couldn't afford the treatment; he couldn't even come close. That was no way to treat a friend, trying to force your problems on them. Yugi and Gramps didn't deserve that. He'd find his own solution.
"Come on, Joey... I could get a job! Tea got one, so it can't be too hard...." Yugi suggested hopefully, grabbing the blond's sleeve.
"Yugi, I'll be fine. You don't need to wo--" Joey started, cut off in the middle of his protest.
"I hate to interrupt, but I couldn't help overhearing." A deep voice broke into the conversation. Seto stood a few feet from the bench, hands casually in his pockets and his face impassive.
Joey spun around, startled, and glared at the CEO. "What do _you_ want, Kaiba?" He flushed darker, from both anger and embarrassment. He hadn't wanted his friends to know; the last thing he wanted was for Kaiba to know too!
"I want to talk to you." He shrugged a little, raising cool cerulean eyes to catch Joey's gaze.
Joey returned the stare heatedly for a minute, then looked away uncomfortably. "Get lost; I'm busy."
"I don't take no for an answer; you should know that by now." Seto's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yeah, I know." Joey's eyes narrowed as well as he glared back. "And I'm not gonna take yes for an answer right now; I'm talking to my friend."
"Arguing isn't going to get you anywhere." Seto told him dryly. "You may as well just come with me."
"Joey, I know that I can't force you to do anything." Yugi chimed in, looking up at his friend pleadingly. "But I do know that I want to be there, to help or just to talk. Please, consider it? You don't have to answer now."
"There you have it." Seto announced. "Now that your conversation is over...." He beckoned imperiously, turning on his heel to walk away.
Joey muttered a few expletives that made Yugi blush, and the blond smiled apologetically at him. "Sorry, Yug. I guess I'll see you later, then?"
"You bet!" Yugi agreed, and stood up to go, as Joey was occupied now.
"Cool." Joey followed after the tall brunet, still grumbling. Who the hell did that guy think he was, eavesdropping on a private conversation, then tearing him away from his friend? Jerk....
~*~*~*~
It was a rare event that Seto found the time to take Mokuba to the park, and rarer still that he paid much attention to anybody but themselves. However, he'd noticed something even rarer; the mutt and the midget were arguing about something. Joey looked furious, no big surprise there; Yugi was pleading with him. Since when did Yugi start arguments like this?
Something about money matters, and Joey's father. From the video project he'd done last semester, Seto had been able to get the gist of what the blond's home life was like, and it hadn't been the best. The two of them had been.... more familiar, lately.... so what could it hurt to ask? Reassuring Mokuba that he wouldn't be gone for a few minutes, Seto had gone to fetch the taller teen, and was now leading him off towards a small stand of trees, where they would have a bit more privacy than a regular bench. He leaned against a trunk nonchalantly, looking Joey over. "Well?"
"Well? Well what?" Joey demanded, rather confused.
"Well, aren't you going to tell me about it?" Seto elaborated, looking as if it should have been the most obvious conclusion in the world.
"Why should I?" He wanted to know, skeptical of Seto's intentions. "You'll just rub it in my face."
"Well, I already know enough to do so, so you might as well give me the full story." The CEO let a smirk slowly make its way onto his face.
"You....."
"What about me?" Seto tilted his head.
"Err...." Joey's mind blanked out, just as he was thinking of which insult to pick.
"Come on, boy. Something's bothering you, something big, and I want to know about it." Seto prompted.
"Why do you even _care_?"
"We're working together this entire semester; I really would prefer to make a high mark for that imbecilic Drama class." Seto reminded. His smirk grew. "Besides, it's the master's responsibility to care for their dog."
Joey snarled. "You're a jerk, Kaiba."
"And you're a pansy. Look at you, hiding behind a facade of anger, just because you're too afraid to come out and say anything. What's going to happen, am I going to rip your head off for saying the truth?"
"I am NOT!" Joey fairly roared, absolutely bristling now.
"Prove it." Seto challenged.
"Fine!" He snapped back. "If you _must_ know, my old man's in a coma. He aint going anywhere until I find a lot of cash to cough up, and even then probably won't. Happy now?" Joey glared.
"Not quite." Seto shook his head. Joey obviously cared for his father; otherwise, this wouldn't be affecting him so badly. And if he was right, then welfare was their only source of money, which would disappear, with his father out of the picture. Essentially, the kid wouldn't be able to pay any utility bills, or tuition, or buy food, or keep a car or house....
He'd be all alone. Kicked out into the cold. And while it hadn't been quite the same for Seto, it was close enough to send a terribly painful stab of guilt through his gut. What would have happened to him if there had been someone willing to lend a hand? Would he have had a better life than he'd been given? Probably. Wouldn't he have wanted it? Definitely, desperately.
It would be a crime not to at least offer the possibility.
"What _else_ do you want, then?" Joey asked sourly. "Me to fetch you your pipe and slippers?"
Seto couldn't help but laugh at the mental image that brought up. "I don't smoke."
"Yeah? Then spill." Joey commanded.
"I want to make the same offer your little friend gave you." Seto settled back down to business. "Unlike Yugi, I could afford to pay whatever the treatment costs."
"You.... what?" Joey stared at him, trying to make sense of what he'd just heard. Was Seto actually trying to HELP him? What was that arrogant, rich pig thinking? Hopefully it wasn't one of his tricks...
~*~*~*~
This was ridiculous. Completely and UTTERLY ridiculous. Joey had stayed home for two days, now, and there had been no signs of change at all. He was worrying himself to death, and for what? What was he supposed to do now? He didn't know what was wrong with his father, so he didn't know anything to do to make him better. Wait, scratch that; he could drive him to the hospital. That might help, right? If it wasn't a bad idea to move him....
But wouldn't he have noticed any head or spinal injuries when he'd checked his father over?
Willing to believe in the accuracy of his checks, and not wanting to sit and wait helplessly any longer, Joey gingerly wrapped his arms around his father's waist, slinging the man over his shoulder and sagging under his weight. Once he'd adjusted to the rather heavy burden, Joey grabbed the car keys off the nightstand, and carefully went out the door, towards his father's car. He wasn't legally able to drive yet; he still wouldn't be taking the test until the end of the year. At the moment, he really didn't care if it was illegal; it had to be done!
The blond strapped his father into the back seat as gently as he could, then slid into the driver's seat, starting the ignition. He'd taken lessons, at least, so it'd be okay. With a rumble of the engine, they were off towards the hospital, in decent form. After all, they hadn't hit anything.... yet.
~*~*~*~
The doctor paced restlessly beside a bed, phone cradled against his ear as he stared at a clipboard. "Hello?" A bright, female voice greeted.
"Ms. Wheeler?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, nobody by that name lives here." The voice sounded vaguely puzzled.
The doctor held back his frustration, and responded levelly. "I was told that a Ms. Serena Wheeler and a Miss Serenity Wheeler resided here. Could you tell me their new address?"
"I don't know anybody by that name. I'm sorry, sir, but this is an apartment." Was the only response.
"Thank you all the same. I apologize." He hung up, running his fingers through his wavy brown hair, and considered his options on who to call. The top choice had been Joey's mother and sister, being the only family members on the list that the teen had filled out on his last visit, which had been some years ago. Who else was here, anyway? Solomon and Yugi Motou, Tristan Taylor, Tea Gardner... This Solomon seemed to be the best bet. From what the doctor could make of it, he was probably something like a godfather. Shrugging to himself, he dialed the number.
"Hello, Turtle Gameshop, can I help you?" Yugi chirped.
"Hello, may I speak to Dr. Solomon Motou?"
"Grandpa's busy right now." Yugi responded, digging through the drawer for a pen. "But I could take a message, if you want."
"To whom am I speaking?" The doctor asked hesitantly. After all, this was rather confidential....
"My name's Yugi."
"Ah." He was on the list too; that was fine, then. "This is Dr. Rosenstein, the physician for the Wheeler family."
"Uh-huh." Yugi articulated, scribbling the name down.
"I'm calling your grandfather as a next of kin. Mr. Nathaniel Wheeler is currently in a comatose state, due largely to the imbibition of a large amount of alcohol. I believe there is some chance of treatment, but it would be very costly."
"Oh.... oh, my...." Yugi bit his lip, closing his eyes. The poor man.... And Joey must be heartbroken.... "I'm so sorry...."
"It's very unfortunate." The doctor agreed. "Would you please tell your grandfather what I told you, and ask him to call me back?"
"Yes, sir. What's your number?" Yugi asked, dutifully writing it down as the doctor told him. He hung up, then jumped off the stool. "Grandpa! Grandpa, someone left a message for you!" He raced off, pad in hand, to deliver the news.
~*~*~*~
"Joey? Can I talk to you?" Yugi asked, perched on the stool once again.
"U-uh, sure, Yug. Now? Or are you coming over?" Joey asked numbly, somewhat surprised by his small friend's call. The doctor's diagnosis had chilled him to the core. His dad _was_ in a coma; what was worse, that the doctor had said that the treatment was expensive, and also somewhat depended on his father's 'will to recover'. The practical upshot of all this?
The old man would never wake up again.
He didn't have nearly enough money for the sum that the doctor had quoted him; he couldn't even come close, and wasn't sure how he would be able to get enough, either. Scratch that option. Besides that, his father didn't HAVE any sort of 'will to recover'! He'd drank himself into this stupid coma to get away from the world; what made the doctor think that he'd want to come back? There was hardly even any point in trying to get him back; Joey would bet all the money he had left that the only reason his father was alive were his survival instincts, the only things that alcohol and anguish couldn't subdue.
But he loved his father, no matter how low the man had sunk. He loved the old drunk, and he wasn't about to let him go like this! The guy deserved better, no matter what anybody said. He'd been a good father, once... A kind, strong man, warm and loving, that any boy would be proud to call his dad.
That dad was still there, somewhere. Somewhere deep down inside, twisted and battered from misery and self-inflicted abuse from alcohol, but not yet broken. Sleeping, but not dead. He'd get that dad back if it killed him.
"How about you come to the park?" Yugi suggested. He wanted a more cheerful setting than Joey's house, which, from what he'd seen of it, wasn't very cheerful at all.
"Sure... I'll be right there...."
"I'll see you soon, okay?" Yugi hung up. "Grandpa, I'm going to the park to talk to Joey, okay?"
"Alright, Yugi." Solomon agreed solemnly. He knew very well the outing wasn't for pleasure. Quite the opposite, in fact.
It wasn't long before Yugi could be found on a park bench, sitting next to Joey. "What did you wanna talk to me about?" The blond asked, trying to shake himself out of his funk. For his friend's sake, he'd act normal....
"Joey, your doctor called Grandpa and I today." Yugi started. "And... and I'm really sorry..."
"What?!" Joey leapt to his feet, caught between shock, anger, and humiliation. "How COULD he? Why?!"
Grandpa had told him of his return call to the doctor. "He said that he couldn't find your mom or Serenity. We were the next people to call."
"He wasn't supposed to call _anyone_!" Joey fumed. "I didn't want anybody to know...." He looked away, cheeks flaming scarlet with embarrassment and snubbed pride.
"Why not?" Yugi looked up at his friend in concern, unable to hide the hurt in his expression. Joey was his best friend! Did he not trust him anymore? Was that why he didn't want anybody to tell? Had he offended Joey somehow?
"I... I mean..." Joey's expression softened as he saw the injured look in Yugi's eyes, and guiltily sat down, wrapping an arm around the smaller boy's shoulders. "You've got enough to deal with. I can handle this by myself, you know. I just don't want you to worry about me..." He gave his friend a comforting squeeze, sighing.
The pain in Yugi's expression melted away, to be replaced by surprise and compassion. "Joey, you should never have to deal with anything alone! Friends look out for each other, and I know this will be easier on you if you let me help you." The spike-haired boy smiled encouragingly. What did you know, it _did_ pay to listen to Tea once in a while.
"Yugi, please... I can handle this." Joey bit his lip, looking down. He didn't want to take advantage of his friend like this. Yugi obviously couldn't afford the treatment; he couldn't even come close. That was no way to treat a friend, trying to force your problems on them. Yugi and Gramps didn't deserve that. He'd find his own solution.
"Come on, Joey... I could get a job! Tea got one, so it can't be too hard...." Yugi suggested hopefully, grabbing the blond's sleeve.
"Yugi, I'll be fine. You don't need to wo--" Joey started, cut off in the middle of his protest.
"I hate to interrupt, but I couldn't help overhearing." A deep voice broke into the conversation. Seto stood a few feet from the bench, hands casually in his pockets and his face impassive.
Joey spun around, startled, and glared at the CEO. "What do _you_ want, Kaiba?" He flushed darker, from both anger and embarrassment. He hadn't wanted his friends to know; the last thing he wanted was for Kaiba to know too!
"I want to talk to you." He shrugged a little, raising cool cerulean eyes to catch Joey's gaze.
Joey returned the stare heatedly for a minute, then looked away uncomfortably. "Get lost; I'm busy."
"I don't take no for an answer; you should know that by now." Seto's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yeah, I know." Joey's eyes narrowed as well as he glared back. "And I'm not gonna take yes for an answer right now; I'm talking to my friend."
"Arguing isn't going to get you anywhere." Seto told him dryly. "You may as well just come with me."
"Joey, I know that I can't force you to do anything." Yugi chimed in, looking up at his friend pleadingly. "But I do know that I want to be there, to help or just to talk. Please, consider it? You don't have to answer now."
"There you have it." Seto announced. "Now that your conversation is over...." He beckoned imperiously, turning on his heel to walk away.
Joey muttered a few expletives that made Yugi blush, and the blond smiled apologetically at him. "Sorry, Yug. I guess I'll see you later, then?"
"You bet!" Yugi agreed, and stood up to go, as Joey was occupied now.
"Cool." Joey followed after the tall brunet, still grumbling. Who the hell did that guy think he was, eavesdropping on a private conversation, then tearing him away from his friend? Jerk....
~*~*~*~
It was a rare event that Seto found the time to take Mokuba to the park, and rarer still that he paid much attention to anybody but themselves. However, he'd noticed something even rarer; the mutt and the midget were arguing about something. Joey looked furious, no big surprise there; Yugi was pleading with him. Since when did Yugi start arguments like this?
Something about money matters, and Joey's father. From the video project he'd done last semester, Seto had been able to get the gist of what the blond's home life was like, and it hadn't been the best. The two of them had been.... more familiar, lately.... so what could it hurt to ask? Reassuring Mokuba that he wouldn't be gone for a few minutes, Seto had gone to fetch the taller teen, and was now leading him off towards a small stand of trees, where they would have a bit more privacy than a regular bench. He leaned against a trunk nonchalantly, looking Joey over. "Well?"
"Well? Well what?" Joey demanded, rather confused.
"Well, aren't you going to tell me about it?" Seto elaborated, looking as if it should have been the most obvious conclusion in the world.
"Why should I?" He wanted to know, skeptical of Seto's intentions. "You'll just rub it in my face."
"Well, I already know enough to do so, so you might as well give me the full story." The CEO let a smirk slowly make its way onto his face.
"You....."
"What about me?" Seto tilted his head.
"Err...." Joey's mind blanked out, just as he was thinking of which insult to pick.
"Come on, boy. Something's bothering you, something big, and I want to know about it." Seto prompted.
"Why do you even _care_?"
"We're working together this entire semester; I really would prefer to make a high mark for that imbecilic Drama class." Seto reminded. His smirk grew. "Besides, it's the master's responsibility to care for their dog."
Joey snarled. "You're a jerk, Kaiba."
"And you're a pansy. Look at you, hiding behind a facade of anger, just because you're too afraid to come out and say anything. What's going to happen, am I going to rip your head off for saying the truth?"
"I am NOT!" Joey fairly roared, absolutely bristling now.
"Prove it." Seto challenged.
"Fine!" He snapped back. "If you _must_ know, my old man's in a coma. He aint going anywhere until I find a lot of cash to cough up, and even then probably won't. Happy now?" Joey glared.
"Not quite." Seto shook his head. Joey obviously cared for his father; otherwise, this wouldn't be affecting him so badly. And if he was right, then welfare was their only source of money, which would disappear, with his father out of the picture. Essentially, the kid wouldn't be able to pay any utility bills, or tuition, or buy food, or keep a car or house....
He'd be all alone. Kicked out into the cold. And while it hadn't been quite the same for Seto, it was close enough to send a terribly painful stab of guilt through his gut. What would have happened to him if there had been someone willing to lend a hand? Would he have had a better life than he'd been given? Probably. Wouldn't he have wanted it? Definitely, desperately.
It would be a crime not to at least offer the possibility.
"What _else_ do you want, then?" Joey asked sourly. "Me to fetch you your pipe and slippers?"
Seto couldn't help but laugh at the mental image that brought up. "I don't smoke."
"Yeah? Then spill." Joey commanded.
"I want to make the same offer your little friend gave you." Seto settled back down to business. "Unlike Yugi, I could afford to pay whatever the treatment costs."
"You.... what?" Joey stared at him, trying to make sense of what he'd just heard. Was Seto actually trying to HELP him? What was that arrogant, rich pig thinking? Hopefully it wasn't one of his tricks...