=Normal POV=
[Friday, 5/10/2019; 6:50 am]
[Berk High School]

As planned; the group of friends took it up with their parents and Gabriel about their plan to spend Sunday the 16th of June with Hayden, throwing one huge graduation party for friends and their families. Everything was a go for the idea, and Gabriel felt it was very thoughtful for them to do all this for Hayden. The rest of the sleepover that night was standard stuff; gaming, snacking, talking. Hayden mostly worked on his new song, but took part in eating and talking to the others. It had been a week since then, and the group of friends was at school. As usual; the friends met at the breezeway in C-Hall.

"Can't believe it's three weeks to the talent show!" Alicia giggled.

"We're gonna kill it this year," Tyler said.

"We killed it last year on a song change and Hayden's lead. We're gonna destroy it this time with an original that he wrote," Syrus chuckled.

"It's gonna be good," Trayden said, looking around.

"Looking for Hayden?" Alyssa asked.

"Yeah; something seemed off about his last night. He went to bed at 9 pm, and…I haven't heard from him all morning," Trayden confessed.

"Well, he is a single father, Tray. Maybe Spencer was having a rough morning, which would keep Hayden busy," Devon informed.

"Probably," Trayden nodded. The time continued to tick by, and the warning bell sounded. Hayden never showed up.

. . .

[11:20 am]

All through the first half of the day, Hayden didn't show for his classes. Going into lunch hour now, the friends sat down and started to eat.

"Still no Hayden?" Miya inquired.

Trayden shook his head to her. "And he's not answering messages. None of them have been read. I tried calling between classes too,"

"Maybe he's sick?" Bryan shrugged.

"Didn't mention anything to me, but it's possible," Trayden stated. "Guess I'll just have to wait and see if he replies,"

. . .

[2:30 pm]

There had been nothing from Hayden all day. No calls, no texts, and no showing up. Truthfully, Trayden was starting to get worried. It wasn't like Hayden to be this quiet, and not replying at all. Hayden hadn't even read the messages; they all say delivered. The final bell rang, and the friends met once more.

"Anything at all?" Alicia inquired.

"No…I may stop by his house on the way home and check in," Trayden said.

"Try calling him again?" Evan offered. Trayden got his phone and pressed the contact ID for Hayden. Unfortunately, the call went right to voicemail. Trayden shook his head while slipping the phone away again.

"We on for the sleepover at your place tonight?" Ford asked.

"Yeah, come around 4:30," Trayden nodded.

"Got it," the friends replied. Soon; they split off and went to get home. There was a sleepover at Trayden's tonight, but it seemed like it was going to be a worrisome night about Hayden for Trayden.

. . .

[10:30 pm]
[Berk; Raseri Home]

There was still nothing from Hayden; even the others hadn't heard anything. Everyone was in the living room, relaxing and watching TV with the Raseri parents, Dex, and Aria. Eliot and Cole were already in bed. Devon and Miya were preparing to leave as it was late and she was about two weeks from giving birth to her and Devon's first baby. However, there was knocking on the door as Dustin got up to see who could be there at such an hour. Trayden and the others were hoping it was Hayden.

"Gabriel? Wasn't expecting to see you this evening," Dustin greeted. Instantly, Trayden was worried. Last time Gabriel showed up, it was because Hayden had a mental breakdown and was admitted to the mental hospital in Berk for treatment. "Please, come in,"

"Thanks. I'll keep it easy as I'm rushing…Is Hayden here?" Gabriel asked.

"No, he is not. Is he not at home?" Dustin informed.

"And that makes me worry more," Gabriel sighed.

"Gabriel, what's happened?" Rachel asked as Gabriel came into the living room with Spencer in his arms, and Dustin on the right side.

"I don't know," Gabriel admitted.

"Trayden and the others said Hayden missed school today," Dustin mentioned.

"I'm aware of that. I know where Hayden went, and when he's supposed to be back…The problem is that he's hours late, and not picking up his phone," Gabriel said.

"I think we should start with why he wasn't in school," Dustin cleared a space for Gabriel to sit down on the couch.

"You know that the two-year anniversary of his parents' deaths is coming up in a little over a month…And Hayden has been falling into that…Quiet mode of his when he's upset. Not like shutting down, freaking out, and what not. He's just…Always in deep thought, far off look in his eyes, going to bed early, not doing things he likes. I haven't seen him touch his music and drawing stuff since the start of the month," Gabriel started.

"So why wasn't he in school, Gabriel. I need to know these kinds of facts to figure out what could be happening effectively," Dustin pushed.

"Hayden confessed to me that since the funeral…He has not been to the cemetery. Hayden said he wanted to go, and I said we'd go today…But he insisted on going by himself, and I wasn't sold on the idea for reasons that I'm sure are very obvious," Gabriel informed.

"You're afraid he'd freak out and lose control of his emotions; no one would be there to stop or help him," Rachel mentioned.

"Exactly," Gabriel nodded. "Hayden said he'd be okay and check in with me every thirty minutes after arriving. I told him that if he started having any trouble, call me, and I would drive up to sit with him. Hayden left around 8:00 this morning. He checked in when got there and kept in contact all day as agreed. Hayden said he'd be home by dark, around 7:00 pm…He never showed up, and he would answer calls or texts…"

"What is the last update you got from him, and what did it say?" Dustin inquired.

"Hayden's last text was at 6:10 pm; he said he was leaving and on his way home. When he didn't show by 8 pm, I called; there was no answer. I texted, and they aren't even showing as read. His phone goes right to voicemail," Gabriel looked at Dustin with concern.

"Four and a half hours without a single update after saying he was on his way?" Rachel looked at her husband now. "Seems a little suspicious if you ask me,"

"Easy, Rach…" Dustin stated. "Gabriel? Spencer and Valarie are buried in Archia Memorial, right?"

"They are," Gabriel nodded.

"I'll send a patrol car there and see if Hayden's car is present; we'll decide what to do depending on those results," Dustin informed while getting his phone and dialing a number. "It's Director Raseri. I need you to send a patrol officer to Archia Memorial Cemetery; I want a status report on if there is a 2016 Alpha Night Fury Convertible, black, with the license plate NYT-RDR1. The owner should be a 19-year-old male with auburn hair, green eyes, and freckles along the cheeks and nose by the name of Hayden Haddock," he ordered calmly. "Yes, right now I'd like it done, please. Call me back as soon as you have the information. Thank you,"

"Deep breaths, Gabriel. If anything has happened to Hayden; we'll be right on it," Rachel tried to comfort.

"It's not so much if anything happened…What worries me is what happened to Hayden…" Gabriel sighed, looking down at Spencer, fast asleep in his arms.

"We'll get to the bottom of it," Dustin promised. Of course, Trayden was worried; he didn't like knowing that Hayden went to the city alone to be at his parents' graves. Trayden understood, but now there was a concern for where Hayden was as he hadn't answered in four and a half hours. Fifteen minutes later, the people on the room held their breath when Dustin's cell phone rang. "Raseri here," he answered. "Ask him to check cameras to find out what happened, and get back to me. Thank you," he hung up.

"Please tell me he was there?" Gabriel hoped.

"The car is, and Hayden is at Archi Hearts Hospital," Dustin said.

"What?..." Gabriel panicked instantly.

"Gabriel…Easy," Rachel tried.

"What happened, Dad?" Trayden dared to ask.

"I don't know, son. This is all relayed information from the patrol car I sent there. The groundskeeper informed the officer that he called an ambulance after finding an unconscious teenager with auburn hair on the ground. Hayden's is at the hospital in the city, but no status on him. I'm actually surprised they haven't contacted you yet, Gabriel," Dustin stated. "Ambulance arrived at the cemetery around 7 pm,"

"What was the cause for needing an ambulance?" Miya questioned.

"Finding an unconscious teenager at the grave; Hayden was face down and unresponsive to attempts to wake him. The groundskeeper decided to call for an ambulance after finding a pulse and that Hayden was breathing. I asked if the officer would see about checking any cameras to find out what happened," Dustin said.

"I-I have to go there," Gabriel got up quickly. Dustin's phone rang again.

"Raseri," Dustin greeted. "I see, thank you," he ended the call. "No cameras, so whatever happened; Hayden has to tell us,"

"I'm going there now, and I'll let you know," Gabriel informed.

"Let me watch Spencer, Gabriel. It's late, don't drag him out. And your concern will be on Hayden; I can watch Spencer for the night. I probably still have Cole's old pack and play in storage," Rachel offered.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" Gabriel asked.

"Not at all," Rachel smiled. "Please, just let us know how Hayden is as soon as you know?"

"Will do. Thank you, Rachel," Gabriel said, handing Spencer off carefully. "Hayden keeps the bag fully stocked with food, diapers, bottles, etc.," he added in.

"Don't worry about a thing. Go on," Dustin urged. Gabriel kissed the top of Spencer's head and quickly left the house to get in his car and head for the hospital in the city. Trayden was just worried about Hayden, none of this sounded good, but he would have to wait to find out just like the others.

. . .

[11:45 pm]
[Archian City; Hospital]

Gabriel wasn't sure where Hayden had been admitted to, but his first guess was the emergency room, so that's where Gabriel went. Reaching the desk; the woman looked up from her rectangle-shaped glasses with a smile. "Can I help you, sir?"

"Hi, I'm looking for my Godson, Hayden Haddock? I-I was told he got brought to the hospital about an hour and thirty minutes ago from Archia Memorial Cemetery…?" Gabriel said quickly, and with concern. The woman clicked a few keys and looked at the screen.

"Yes, I have him right here," the woman smiled. "I'll let you in; he'll be in the room that is off to the right when you walk in and turn the corner,"

"Thank you. Do you…Happen to know what happened to him?" Gabriel pushed.

"I don't have that, I'm sorry. You'll have to ask the doctor inside," the woman mentioned.

"I'll do that, thank you," Gabriel said as he went to the emergency room doors as they buzzed and Gabriel was let inside. Following the directions to Hayden's room; Gabriel turned the corner and found the room on the right. Gabriel moved past the curtain and saw his Godson on the bed, unconscious, and looking beat up. Hayden had scrapes, cuts, bruising on his face and neck. "Oh, lad…" Gabriel went to Hayden's side to get a better look.

The wounds had been cleaned up, some stitched, and others covered, but the damage was there. The left eye was black and blue, Hayden's lip was split in two places, there was bruising and cuts in different places on the cheeks, forehead, and nose. There were scrapes on Hayden's arms, bruising and some cuts on the knuckles; Hayden's right wrist was in a brace. He was hooked up to some machines, but that was only so the staff outside the room could monitor him.

"Are you his guardian?" asked a male voice. Gabriel turned to see a doctor in his mid-thirties standing at the doorway with a clipboard in hand.

"I am. Gabriel Forger, Godfather," Gabriel introduced, offering his hand, which the doctor took to shake.

"Kris Campa, ER doctor on tonight," Kris said.

"What happened to my Godson?" Gabriel inquired.

"Unfortunately, Hayden here has been unconscious since he arrived and who knows how long before that. We don't know what happened exactly, but this appears to be a mugging in my professional opinion. Minor cuts and scrapes on his face and arms, his left wrist is broken, and there are multiples bruises in various places. The most prominent ones are under the left eye, some on the arms and midsection. There was some bleeding to the side and back of his head too. I suspect that he might have been hit with something or whacked his head, so there is the possibility of a concussion; we'll know more when he awakens. Two cracked ribs on the left side and one bruised one on the right. Whatever happened, your Godson didn't give his attacker or attackers an easy time," Kris informed.

"I swear this boy never catches a break…" Gabriel sighed.

"What do you mean?" Kris questioned.

"It's been a hard two years for him is all…" Gabriel said. "When can he be released?"

"Once he wakes up, and we do a few standard things. Shall I informed police of the mugging?" Kris inquired.

"Not yet. We'll need Hayden awake to tell us what happened first," Gabriel stated.

"Understood. I'll come in to check on him again in a bit unless he wakes up before then," Kris left the room afterward.

Gabriel pulled up the chair and sat at Hayden's bedside. "Don't worry, lad; everything is gonna be alright…" he said quietly. Of course, his main worry was how Hayden's mental status would be after this. Gabriel was also debating if he should call Dustin and updating him on the situation; he decided he would wait until morning, and give Hayden a chance to wake up and hopefully stay relaxed through everything.

. . .

[Saturday, 5/11/2019; 1:45 am]

Gabriel had fallen asleep in the chair but woke up when a nurse came in to check on Hayden's vitals. Gabriel sat up, rubbing his eyes and looked at Hayden, who was still unconscious. The nurse flashed a smile to Gabriel, then left the room to continue her rounds. Gabriel checked his phone; he saw texts from Syrus, Dustin, and Trayden asking about Hayden, but Gabriel wasn't going to call now; it was almost two in the morning. Gabriel got up and left the room to use the bathroom; he returned about ten minutes later after grabbing a coffee from the waiting room.

"U-Uncle Gabe?" came Hayden's voice. Gabriel quickly set his coffee down on the rolling bed table and moved to Hayden's side.

"I'm here, laddie," Gabriel assured; he reached up and flipped on the light over the bed so Hayden could see better.

"W-Where am I?" Hayden asked nervously. "Where's Spencer?!" he panicked.

"Easy, son…Take it easy. You're in Archia Hearts Hospital, and Spencer is with the Raseri's for now. It's a bit late when I came, and I didn't want to be moving him around a lot all night," Gabriel explained.

"W-What time is it? H-How long have I been out?" Hayden questioned.

"I don't know how long you've been out, kiddo. I know that you were brought here by ambulance at 7:20 pm from the cemetery. The doctor said you'd been out all the time, but the groundskeeper said he tried for five minutes to wake you up when you were found unconscious. We're hoping you can fill in the blanks for us?" Gabriel said. "And it's about 2 am right now,"

"I-I don't remember…" Hayden admitted.

"What is the last thing you do remember?" Gabriel inquired now.

"I-I was visiting mom and dad…I had texted you that I was on my way while finishing a cigarette to calm down for the drive home, and a couple of people approached me. Everything…Gets fuzzy after that…I think I passed out when they ran off…" Hayden looked down.

"It's alright, don't push it, laddie. I'm sure it'll come with some more time. How do you feel?" Gabriel wondered.

"My body hurts…" Hayden replied. "And I'm tired…" he yawned.

"Okay. I'll see if I can get the doctor to administer some pain meds, and then maybe you can get some more sleep. We'll deal with police tomorrow," Gabriel said.

"Police?" Hayden arched a brow.

"The doctor thinks you were mugged, Hayden. And based on what you told me; it sounds that way. I was scared, Hayden…I went to Dustin at 10:30 last night to ask if you went there for the sleepover; he's the one who found you by sending a patrol car to the cemetery and speaking with the groundskeeper, who said he called you an ambulance when you wouldn't wake up," Gabriel looked down sadly. "I was afraid I'd lost you, son…"

"I-I'm sorry I worried you…I-I did plan to come home when I said…" Hayden sniffled.

"Ssh, don't cry. What's important is that we found you, and aside from some minor injuries; you're alright," Gabriel assured, hugging Hayden carefully. "I'll go see the nurse or doctor about getting you some pain meds…Stay here, alright?"

"Don't think I'm going very far in my condition…" Hayden replied. Gabriel kissed Hayden's forehead and exited the room. Hayden looked down, wiping his eyes and lying back on the hospital bed. Why did these things keep happening to him? What did he ever do to deserve all he go? Hayden hated it so much, and he wanted it to stop. It was beginning to get to him again, in the sense he wanted to close himself off to avoid getting hurt. Maybe this was just because he missed his second pill due to the mugging or whatever, or the general situation of what took place. Hayden felt like maybe if he got some sleep, and took his pill tomorrow; he'd be alright, or at least he really hoped so.