"Brotherly Love"

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Drake and Josh". The characters belong to their creators and Nickolodian, but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)

Steven and the rest of the band were still sitting in the car, waiting when they heard the commotion. "What's going on?" Steven asked.

"Maybe we'd better get going. An ambulance and Drake's parents just pulled up." Jennifer replied.

Steven's eyes grew wide as he jumped from the car. "Where's Drake?"

Just as he asked, he saw the paramedics bringing Drake out on the stretcher and his mother holding his hand. "He's hurt!" Steven shouted, running towards the house. Jennifer bolted from the car and ran in the opposite direction only to be picked up by Mike a few blocks from the house.

"You didn't have to hurt him, did you?" She chastised.

Mike grinned. "Yeah. Yeah, I did. You see, you're my girl and nobody lays a hand on you until I'm ready to dump you." He shoved her inside the car. "Now get in!"

Jennifer stared out the window, sullenly, wishing she knew how badly Drake had been hurt.

Later, at the hospital, Audrey sat by Drake's bedside while Walter remained in the waiting room with Josh. "Son, are you sure you don't want to go in?" He asked.

Josh shook his head silently and then looked down at his shoes. "I should have done something. It never should have gone this far." He whispered.

Walter pulled him close. "Drake's a strong boy, we have to believe that he's going to be OK."

"If he's going to be OK, then why hasn't he woke up yet?" Josh asked.

"I don't know." Walter replied, trying to hide his deep concern for his step-son.

Drake shifted slightly causing a soft moan to escape his lips. Audrey, encouraged by the movement, softly called out to her son. "Drake, honey its mom. Open your eyes."

"Mom." Drake mouthed inaudibly.

"Come on honey, open your eyes." She continued to coax while pressing the call button for the nurse.

"Yes." The nurse's voice came through the speaker.

"I think he's waking up." Audrey said as she held Drake's hand tighter.

Seconds later, two nurses entered the room and began taking Drake's vitals. "Drake!" One of them shouted. "Come on, it's time to wake up. You've had enough beauty rest."

His eyelids began to flutter. "Mom?" He said quietly.

"I'm right here honey." She felt his fingers wrap around her hand as she watched his eyes slowly open.

"What happened?" He whispered.

"We'll talk about it later." She swept a stray strand of hair from his forehead. "Right now, let's concentrate on getting you well, OK?" She smiled.

He attempted a weak smile and nodded and then allowed his eyelids to close again.

"I'll get the doctor." One of the nurses said quietly and left the room only to return moments later with the doctor in tow.

"I'm Doctor Sheldon." He introduced himself to Audrey and then proceeded to pin up Drake's x-rays that had been done when he was first brought in. "Your son is very lucky." He said as he scanned Drake's chart and then turned to Audrey, pointing to the x-rays. "He has two broken ribs and his left arm is broken in two places." He pulled down the x-rays and then showed Audrey Drake's MRI results. "He also has a concussion, which had me pretty worried until he woke up." He looked over at Drake who was now sleeping soundly again. "We'll want to keep him for observation for at least the next 24 hours, but it looks like he's going to be fine."

Audrey allowed her previously pent up tears to finally fall as she shook the doctor's hand. "Could you have someone get my husband and other son from the waiting room?" She asked.

Dr. Sheldon smiled and nodded slightly as he instructed a nurse to bring Walter and Josh to Drake's room.

Josh was hesitant, but followed his dad down the hallway. Walter put his arm around his son's shoulders. "Come on Josh. You heard the nurse; he's going to be OK." Josh nodded silently.

Walter held the door to Drake's room open until Josh shuffled through. His eyes immediately fell on his brother and all of the monitors that were attached to him. He could feel tears welling up in his eyes. "I could have stopped it. I could have stopped Mike before he hurt him." He whispered.

He flinched slightly as he felt Audrey's arms wrap around his shoulders. "Josh. This is not your fault and you have to stop blaming yourself." She turned him to face her. "I know you feel responsible, but there's no telling what might have happened if this Mike guy had known that you were in the house too."

"Your mother's right. We could have two injured sons instead of one." Walter said softly as he stared at Drake for a moment and then took a seat at his bedside, taking his hand in his.

Drake shifted slightly and opened his eyes, a slight smile coming to his face as he realized his whole family was in the room, well almost. "Where's Meagan?" He mumbled.

"She's still at the Henderson's." Audrey replied. "You're in ICU and she's too young to be in here, so . . ."

Drake nodded. "She doesn't know, does she?" He asked.

Audrey shook her head. "No. We wanted to be face to face with her and we didn't want to scare her."

Drake's gaze shifted to his brother whose face was full of worry. "I'll be OK Josh."

"I know." Josh said off-handily.

"You look worried." Drake replied.

"Me, worried, about you? Nah!" The two boys locked eyes for a moment, and with that gesture, in that instant, said more than a thousand words could ever say.

"I know." Drake said softly as Josh took his dad's place beside Drake's bed.

"I couldn't stop him Drake. I couldn't move." Josh admitted, trying to choke back the tears.

"It's OK Josh." Drake said quietly as he squeezed his brother's hand.

Walter and Audrey silently left the room and quietly closed the door. Audrey leaned against the wall as Walter wrapped his arms around her waist. "I don't know when I've ever been so scared." She whispered.

"Me either." Walter whispered. "But it's OK now. Drake is going to be fine and we'll get things back to normal soon."

To be continued . . . .