Chapter 14.

Come What May.

By the time Rachel had finally come back home, she was greeted by a worried Yakko, and Dot. She immediately saw that both of them were just standing there, teary eyed. More so Yakko then Dot though. Rachel immediately placed her purse on the counter, then sat down on the couch and motioned for Yakko and Dot to join her. As they did, Yakko couldn't help but notice that Rachel had a grim look on her face. Right away, the eldest Warner immediately knew that something was wrong. As he sat down, he felt Dot snuggle up against him as she too sat down on the couch. And for the next few moments, all of them just sat there in complete silence. Yakko definitely knew that something was wrong, because neither Jasper nor Wakko hadn't returned yet. Yakko suddenly gasped as he well remembered all about his baby brother. Yakko and Dot had gotten the call from Rachel saying that Wakko was on his way to the hospital, and that LAPD had found him. After a brief moment of silence, Rachel cleared her throat, then spoke.

"You all remember me telling you that your brother was on his way to the hospital on the phone, right?"

All Yakko and Dot could do was nod their heads as tears rolled down their faces. Rachel immediately looked them in the eye, and took a deep breath before continuing on.

"Well… how do I say it? We—Jasper and I—and LAPD found your brother tonight, and… h-he's on his way to Saint Joseph because… *sniff* h-he was shot. And his blood sugars got the best of him."

After taking another deep breath, Rachel continued where she left off.

"Your brother… he looked so terrible, and so sick. Detective Chaney, and Detective Layton took him there when we found him. Wakko's currently in the ER, under immediate surgery. Jasper, Zach, and Ren are there with him right now as we speak. He lost a lot of ink, and I hate to say this."

At this point, Rachel was definitely in tears as she told Yakko and Dot what had become of Wakko. Still, she continued telling them what happened.

"But the doctors don't know if he'll… you know, pull through… or not."

Yakko suddenly closed his eyes and bowed his head.

"NOOO! Please, don't say it. Wakko will pull through this. I know he will. He's been through worse then this before. Trust me, both Dot and I have seen it. If I know anyone who's as though as nails, then it's Wakko. So, please… don't say that he'll die… please?"

Yakko, at this point, was deeply emotional and was crying like a baby, tears rolling down his face. And the same was said for Dot, whose whole entire body was shaking just from her crying her head off, and bawling her eyes out. Rachel immediately took them into her arms and just sat there with them as they cried. Suddenly, her phone buzzed and as she looked down at it , Rachel saw that she had gotten a text from her husband.

"Hey babe, it's just me, Jasper. Using Zach's. Mine's dead. Bring Yakko, Dot, and yourself down here, and now. It's Wakko, aka Pipsqueak. And it's not lookin' good. But, the little guy's a fighter. He lost a lot of ink, and his sugars are expediently low. But he's fighting. Plus, we're talking about the same kid that's been through hell and back once before. If ya remember Doctor Temple, he told Zach, Ren, and I that Wak flatlined once in surgery, but they have him back now. But I need you all down here, and now, please?"

Rachel immediately turned the phone off and right there, she started weeping alongside Yakko and Dot. After several minutes of shedding tears, all three of them got themselves ready to leave for the hospital. As they got in Rachel's Chevrolet Suburban, all Yakko could do as he continued shedding tears was that his baby brother would make it. His baby brother…

His baby brother, Wakko Ryan Warner...

And!... CLIFFHANGER! So, so sorry for that, but hate to say this… but Here and Now is officially finished! And if you're still interested in what will become of Wakko, I'll let you know this one thing… you'll have to wait as I come up with a plan for this story's sequel. Don't mean to be mean, but this story's finished! And now, if you'll excuse me…

God bless all in this upcoming 2022!

JalcoFox officially signing off here!