"Step by Step, Brother"

By Lorrie

Chapter 8 – Relapse

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

"Megan, why don't you stay in here with Josh while I go check on your mom and Drake, okay?" Walter asked as he winked at his step-daughter.

"Sure." Megan shrugged. As soon as Walter left the room, she threw a pillow at her step-sibling. "Why did you let him get hurt, you big boob?" She said in a harsh whisper.

Josh's mouth dropped. "Let him get hurt? You weren't there, Megan. You don't know what happened." He shook his head in disbelief. "You don't know anything."

"I know that Drake is upstairs in ICU and I can't get in to see him because I'm too young. I know mom has been worried sick about both of you and probably broke every speed limit between home and the hospital getting us here. I know that you usually watch out for Drake because you know he's prone to getting into trouble, but you're usually pretty good at keeping him safe. What happened Josh?"

Josh hung his head. "I, I, I don't know." He stammered. "We were lost in the woods and arguing about who got us lost. Drake ended up walking away from me. I watched him for a few seconds, knowing that he'd turn around and come back, but then I turned away from him and when I turned back, he was gone. There was no one on the path."

His eyes were pleading with his younger step-sister.

"Go on." Megan encouraged.

"I followed the path he had taken and called out for him and then I found the spot where the ground had given way and I knew that Drake was somewhere down the ravine."

"How far did he fall?" Megan asked.

Josh shrugged. "I don't really know. It was just dumb luck that he fell against a tree. If he hadn't he probably would have wound up at the bottom of the ravine."

"Dead." Megan finished.

Josh shuddered at the thought of losing his step-brother and slowly nodded his head.

Walter quietly entered Drake's room and found Audrey gently stroking the teen's hair. "How is he?" He whispered.

Audrey smiled. "He ate a little bit." She nodded with an uncertainty about her as she felt Walter's arms wrap around her shoulders.

"He's a strong boy. He'll be fine." Walter assured her.

"I want to believe that." Audrey cried softly. "The doctor was in here a little while ago and said that he's a little concerned with Drake's head injury."

Walter released his embrace and faced his wife. "What's wrong?" He asked.

Audrey shook her head. "I don't really know. Dr. Thomas said he wanted to run a few tests, but we would wait and see how Drake makes it through the night."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Audrey stood up. "You know what? I'd love a cup of coffee."

Walter ushered her out of the room and to the cafeteria for a brief break. When they returned to ICU, nurses and doctors were busy in and out of Drake's room.

Meanwhile, on the third floor, Megan turned to Josh and started to say something, but suddenly stood eerily quiet.

"Megan, what's wrong?" Josh asked.

"Something's wrong with Drake." She said quietly. "I feel it."

Josh shook his head. "So, you're psychic now or something?" Josh asked.

"Or something." Megan replied, picking up the phone and dialing the ICU.

"ICU." A nurse answered loudly over the shouts going on in the background.

"This is Megan Parker, my brother Drake is in ICU 2. Could you tell him his current condition?"

The phone was silent.

"Hello, are you there?" Megan asked.

"I'm sorry, I can't give out that information." The nurse replied.

"But I'm his sister!" Megan demanded. "Let me speak to my mom or dad. I'm sure they're right there in the room with him."

"You'll have to call back later." The nurse replied hastily and hung up.

"Well?" Josh asked.

Megan shook her head wearily. "They won't tell me anything and they won't put mom or dad on the phone. Josh, something is really wrong. I'm going up there."

Josh swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Wait! I'm coming with you."

"What's going on?" Audrey asked, near hysterics as she watched the nurses and doctors.

"I'm sorry, you'll have to wait outside." A nurse pushed them away from the door and Audrey's face turned ashen as the door to Drake's room was closed in her face.

Walter steadied her and helped her to a chair. "I don't want to sit down! I want to know what's going on with my son!" She shouted.

"Mrs. Nichols." Dr. Thomas' voice rang in her ears.

"Yes!" Audrey answered quickly. "What happened? What's going on with Drake?"

"There's some swelling of the outer covering of his brain. He's had a mild seizure."

Audrey felt as though she had been smacked across the face. "A seizure." She whispered. "Is there brain damage?"

Dr. Thomas kneeled down on one knee, bringing himself eye level with Audrey as she sat in the chair. "We don't know yet. He's on several monitors and his brain activity looks good, but . . ."

"But what?" Walter asked.

"I'm afraid that your son has slipped into a coma." Dr. Thomas said quietly.

Audrey's mouth dropped. "A coma?" She shook her head adamantly. "No, you're wrong. He was talking to me just an hour ago. He ate a bowl of chicken broth. He can't be in a coma." Her eyes pleaded with the doctor and then with Walter.

Dr. Thomas cleared his throat before speaking. "We have him on oxygen as a precaution. He's hooked up to several monitors; one to track his heart rate, one to measure brain waves, a blood pressure cuff and of course he still has an IV line." Dr. Thomas paused. "Would you like to see him now for a few minutes?"

Audrey mutely nodded as she tried to stand, leaning heavily on Walter for support, physically and mentally.

Neither Walter or Audrey were prepared for what they saw when they entered ICU 2. Their normally active teenage son lay motionless in the hospital bed, monitors beeping all around him. "He looks so small all of a sudden." Audrey whispered.

"Can we sit with him for a few minutes?" Walter asked Dr. Thomas.

The doctor nodded. "Try quietly talking to him. We've found that in some coma cases, it helps the patient if they're reassured."

"He can hear us?" Audrey asked.

"Yes, in all likelihood, he can hear us."

Audrey picked up Drake's hand and held it in hers for a minute. "Drake, honey, it's mom. Your dad and I are right here. We're not going anywhere."

Mom! Mom, can't you hear me? Why do you sound like you're crying? For that matter, why can't I open my eyes?" Drake's thoughts were running wild.

What's going on here? He tried desperately to move any part of his body, but nothing seemed to respond. Great, I'm trapped inside my own body! Somebody help me! He screamed internally.

"Come on pokey!" Megan prodded Josh along the hallway.

"We're gonna get caught!" Josh said in a harsh whisper.

"What's the worst they can do to us? We have a right to know what's going on with Drake!" Megan replied.

"Yeah, but what if we make it to the ICU just to find that he's fine and was just sleeping or something?"

Megan turned on her heel and faced her older brother. "I'm telling you, something is very wrong!"

To be continued . . .