=Normal POV=
[Saturday, 6/15/2019; 5:00 pm]
[Archian City; Haddock Home]

Nobody moved, spoke, and it felt like they couldn't breathe. Hayden won the fight, but Dimitri surely wasn't going to allow himself to be beaten by a 19-year-old. Dimitri grabbed a gun and was holding it at Hayden's forehead, and yet, Hayden didn't seem at all scared.

"You're about to die, and you're not even going to attempt to beg for your life?" Dimitri asked.

"You came here to kill me anyway, what will begging do?" Hayden inquired calmly. "But, no; I won't. Not for the likes of you," he added.

"You're not scared to be killed?" Dimitri pushed the gun more.

"No," Hayden replied.

"Why?" Dimitri decided to ask. "I'm about to shoot you, and you don't even flinch or blink,"

"When you got nothing; then you still have nothing to lose," Hayden said.

"Hayden!" Gabriel scolded.

"Seems like they don't feel the same," Dimitri chuckled.

"They were fine before me; they'll be fine after," Hayden shrugged.

"HAYDEN!" more of the group yelled now, not liking how Hayden was talking. However, Trayden felt like something was off. There was no way that Hayden felt that way about life; this was for another reason. Trayden knew Hayden was planning something.

"So what are you waiting for? I'm not gonna fight you; I know you'll open fire on them. You planned to kill me whether I beat your guys or not. I knew it was pointless; I guess I just wanted to have a bit of fun before I died," Hayden informed. "Do it," Hayden walked forward more until the gun was touching his forehead. Dimitri seemed to step back, hesitant almost.

"I said do it! Go on, what are you waiting for? It's what you wanted, right? You've got me right where you want, so fucking do it. I was supposed to die that night anyway…So go the fuck ahead, do it. Shoot me. Finish what you started!" Hayden grabbed his hand and held the gun at his forehead again. "Do it. Do it, do it, do it, do it. I'm begging you to pull the trigger and make all this shit stop for me,"

The others didn't understand, and it scared them. Why would Hayden talk this way? Did he want to die? Dimitri growled and pulled the gun back and glared. "Argh!" he stepped back more. "I can't. It's too easy, and you look pathetic. After all that talk about showing me what happens when I mess with you…You're just willing to die. Just like your father…God, all he did was tell me to kill him and leave you and your mother alone…And then he went all heroic and got himself killed to protect you two,"

"Well, I'm not my dad. I got nothing to save…You took my parents from me. And it's just been two years of endless hell. So, go on. End it for me, please?" Hayden hit his knees, tears in his eyes that the others said before he lowered his head.

"No. No, I won't end you. If you wanna die so bad…Do it yourself," Dimitri stated.

"Hah, I've tried!" Hayden laughed now, the tears falling down his cheeks. "Three god damn times since my parents were killed. Every time I try, someone shows up to stop me, spouting off all this shit about supposed to be alive or whatever. I'm only alive because no one will let me die…" he stated.

"HAYDEN!" Trayden yelled quickly. "How dare you talk that way!"

"Get over it. Come on, Tray; you aren't stupid," Hayden scoffed as Trayden flinched a little at Hayden's tone with him. "Did you really think I was getting better?" everyone's eyes widened. "I only did all that shit to get everyone off my back. There's no fixing me…I just wanted everyone to think I was okay, back off long enough to think I was cured…And then when the moment was right; I'd end it,"

"Everything was just a lie?!" Alyssa snapped at him.

"Good actor, huh? Yeah, maybe I was happy for a bit…But it won't last, sooner or later…It'll be gone," Hayden retorted. "So, go on, Dimitri. Put me out of my misery,"

Dimitri looked at the gun in his hand, then tossed it down to Hayden's level. "Then you do it, and I'll make sure they don't stop you this time," Dimitri stated as he raised his hand and the others with guns backed off. "Go on, end it. Why wait for the inevitable? Go ahead, lad. All it will take is one shot to end the pain, and you can have some peace," Dimitri said.

Hayden sighed as he looked at the gun, reaching for it. "Hayden...No...Don't listen to him!" Trayden begs.

"Do it, Hayden...Why suffer anymore? This illusion of happiness won't last. You'll be alone again, thrown to the cruelness of this world. Be at peace; you'll be with your parents again..." Dimitri smirked.

Hayden picks up the weapon. "You're right..." he said, loading a bullet into the chamber. "I should do it. I thought my life was perfect once, and it was taken from me; I was helpless and defenseless to stop things from spiraling out of control because I was scared and alone...Life can change in the blink of an eye, why should I hold onto this hope things will be alright just because I'm happy now?..."

"HAYDEN HORRENDOUS HADDOCK! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK SUCH WORDS!" Gabriel yelled.

"How dare I speak the truth? Tell me where I'm wrong, Uncle Gabriel?" Hayden chuckled sarcastically. Hayden put the gun to the side of his head.

"Go on, Hayden...End it. Who will stop you this time? That's all they did; stopped you from having peace two years ago. Forced you to live in the pain and hurt. Made you talk about what you went through? Drugged you up so you couldn't let out your emotions...Go on and finish things. For once...Be in control of your own choices," Dimitri urged.

"What's stopping me?" Hayden asked, then closed his eyes. "What's stopping me?..." he repeated before sighing. "Nothing. Nothing at all," he added, placing his finger on the trigger. "Oh...Wait...There is one little thing..."

"And that is?" Dimitri inquired, arching a brow.

Hayden's eyes narrowed darkly as he turned the gun on Dimitri. "You messed with my family, and you're a fool if you think I'm letting you just walk away. Remember...I told you that if you didn't kill me; I would show you what happens when you mess with me? Above all else, like my father...I'm a man of my word,"

"N-Now...Hang on a second, Hayden. I didn't do anything," Dimitri put his hands up.

"Perhaps you weren't in the house, but those men were on your orders to take out Chief Spencer Haddock's family, make him watch, and then kill him. My parents are dead because of you. My life changed and spiraled out of control because of you. Everything bad that happened to me is because of you. Yet, you have the balls to come here, and hold my family at gunpoint to make me give up? I know what you tried to do just now; get in my head, break me enough to kill myself?" Hayden asked.

"YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO DIE!" Dimitri snapped angrily.

Hayden shrugged. "You know...Your worst mistake in your plans was giving me a loaded gun...Of course," Hayden chuckled a little, shrugging. "That was my intention all along. Get you to lower your guard, your men away from their weapons and my family...Make you think I wanted to die so you'd hand over your only on-person weapon...And then turn it on you. Did you really think I'd let you kill me? Did you honestly believe I wanted to die? Did you believe you'd won and would leave this yard alive? Boy, you got another thing coming. Since you're the one who caused everything…I think I'll kill you; then go about my life,"

"Don't be brash. Hayden..." Dimitri said, his voice cracking with a bit of fear. "You're surrounded, and my people will fire at you long before you can try to kill me," Dimitri warned with a scowl.

"Oh, you think so? Did you know that my father and my uncle both trained me how to shoot when I was 13 years old? Do you know I've never missed a still or moving target, and I can shoot with pinpoint accuracy to the head, neck, and heart with only one shot?" Hayden asked. Dimitri flinched a bit. "Believe me, even if they open fire; I will still put a bullet in your skull before they can react,"

"You tried to break me. Well, I have news for you fucker; you can't break what is already broken. All you can do is pick up the pieces and put yourself back together. I spent two years doing this...Lowering my walls, my guard, letting people in, talking. Two years to put my life back together after what you did. Maybe I'm not perfect, and maybe things will never be how they were...But I'm not ready to die just yet," Hayden informed.

"You won't kill me. You don't have the balls," Dimitri growled. "You won't risk them!" he motioned to the people behind Hayden.

"Don't I? Dimitri...I don't think you quite understand the position you're in. I have a gun, you're defenseless, and I can hit you before your people shoot me. Besides, I don't think they will. I assume you've threatened their families, and that's why they do as they are told. Out of fear, not want. They are doing this to protect their families, the same as I," Hayden informed.

"Go ahead then, kill me," Dimitri glared.

"Then it would make me no different than you. I'm not a murderer like you are; I'd rather hold you here and then sit back and enjoy my life while you rot in prison for the rest of your life for murdering my parents two years ago with no proof to back it up your claim that it was my father's fault. As stated, there was no investigation, you assumed, and now my parents are dead because of it. So give up, Dimitri. Don't make me have to shoot you. You've got nothing left to fight with," Hayden retorted coldly. "If you insist on a fight; I will kill you. I lost one family to you, I ain't gonna lose these people behind me. I won't lose another family,"

"Fine, you win," Dimitri muttered.

"Tell your men to stand down and toss their weapons," Hayden ordered. Dimitri glared.

"Stand down, toss them…" Dimitri stated. Without hesitation; the remaining six men tossed their weapons away.

"I think I'll take it from here, Hayden…" Dustin stepped forward. "But nicely done, son. You'd make one hell of a cop, just like your old man," Hayden handed him the gun now.

"I'm good, thanks…" Hayden replied. Vincent and Silas didn't waste time either; one of them had already called things in, and police were on their way to arrest the twenty or so people present.

"Everyone on their knees, hands behind your heads!" Vincent demanded. Those conscious did so, including Dimitri. Police arrived not more than five minutes later, hurrying through, arresting others, and taking them out.

"I'm proud of you, Hayden…And your parents would be too. Ridiculously proud," Gabriel hugged him tightly. Hayden winced at the feeling; his body was sore as hell, and he knew he was likely injured more than he was before the fight.

"Thanks…" Hayden tried to smile; this was still hard for him. Hayden looked at his friends and boyfriend; they all seemed a bit hurt at how things went earlier when Hayden talked to them the way he did about wanting to die and saying that nothing ever helped, even putting a gun to his head. Hayden went to get closer to them, but suddenly, out of the corner of his eye; he saw Dimitri break free of the cops preparing to arrest him. Dimitri swiped the first gun in his reach, loaded a round and pointed it dead ahead. Hayden's eyes followed it to Trayden. "No!" Hayden felt nothing but fear strike him as he scrambled over. "Tray, move!"

Hayden shoved Trayden out of the way from the shot and felt himself get hit upon taking Trayden's place. He was surprised not seeing any blood at first, and Dimitri talking pulled him from his thoughts. "You're gonna die a hero, just like your old man. Say hi to your father for me…" Dimitri smirked. Hayden, though breathing heavy, and in immense pain, grabbed his gun, and loaded it. "What are you gonna do? Shoot me? There's no way you'll ever-," Hayden fired, abruptly halting the man's laughter. The area fell silent, Dimitri hit the ground, having got shot in the upper right shoulder.

"That...Was for trying to kill Tray..." Hayden panted as he kept a hand over his chest, struggling to stay standing. Dimitri looked at Hayden, almost shocked. "Just so you're aware; I missed shooting you anywhere that would kill you on purpose. But I swear to you on my parents' graves that the next shot will go in your head and between your eyes if you open your mouth one more fucking time about my parents or make an attempt to hurt anyone I care about," Hayden stated coldly. However, he was hurt bad and staggered the next step he took.

"Babe?..." Trayden whispered. Hayden was breathing heavy as he tried to focus, but couldn't; it just hurt too much. Hayden's gun dropped from his hand to the ground. Hayden stood there, slightly hunched over and moving his hand to only see his hands covered in his blood. Trayden started towards Hayden, and he saw the blood. "H-Hayden? A-Are you hurt?" Hayden began losing consciousness, everything was blurry and getting darker. "Hayden!" Trayden caught Hayden before he slammed against the ground. This is when Trayden was able to see that Hayden had been shot in the chest. "He's been shot!" Trayden alerted everyone else. Hayden coughed up blood as Trayden tried to put his hand on the wound, and hold pressure there. "Hayden!? Hayden…Gods, no…Please no…" Trayden cradled Hayden's figure in his arms and was very much crying, scared to lose him. "Idiot! Why didn't you say something! Why did you do that!"

"C-Couldn't let you die..." Hayden managed weakly. "Besides...You're always saving me, aren't you?..." Hayden's passed out.

"Hayden?...Hayden!? Gods no...Hayden, come on! Wake up!" Trayden pleaded.

"We need an ambulance, now!" Hannah Grimborn demanded, hurrying over. Gabriel wasn't far behind. Hannah checked Hayden's breathing and pulse. "Weak pulse, faint breathing, no exit wound..." she stated.

"Easy, easy, Trayden…Set him down," Gabriel tried. Trayden carefully set Hayden down as Gabriel took off his sweater and pressed Hayden's chest to stop the blood flow.

"Ambulance is here," Dustin informed after five minutes. Paramedics rushed back, moving in place of Gabriel. Gabriel pulled Trayden back as Hannah was explaining things to them while they worked to get Hayden ready for transport.

"We gotta get him to the hospital in the next ten minutes or he's as good as dead," said one paramedic hastily.

"Then stop stating the obvious and fucking go!" Gabriel demanded. Trayden watched from the ground as Hayden was carried away quickly, his shirt and hands had Hayden's blood all over it. Trayden shook with fear; if Hayden died…He'd didn't know what he'd do. Rachel quickly came to her eldest's son's side to console him, knowing he was desperately worried about Hayden.

"I-Is he gonna be okay?" Trayden asked in his mother's embrace.

"I-I don't know, son. All we can do is pray. Ssh now," Rachel soothed, looking at Gabriel and Hannah.

"He'll be taken right into the operating room upon arrival," Hannah assured. "They'll know more on the injury then,"

"We got this, Director Raseri," one of the officer's stated. "I think your son needs you more," he added.

"Right, thank you," Dustin nodded.

"We're coming to the hospital too," Syrus said.

"Family, yes, but it's not a good idea for everyone to go," Gabriel informed. "At least until we know more," he added.

"Everyone returns home. There's no need for witness statements. Vincent, Silas, and I will be enough," Dustin mentioned. "Trayden, if Gabriel says it's okay…You may go to the hospital,"

"That's fine with me, Dustin," Gabriel nodded.

"I'll go with Trayden, Dustin," Rachel said. "You take the kids home; Tray is in no condition to drive right now,"

"Understood," Dustin replied. The others wanted to be there for Hayden, but not much could be done right now. It had already been a trying day, and there wasn't anything more they could do except wait for an update. Slowly, everyone departed the residence, and Dustin made sure the power was cut from the breaker before locking up and leaving. Gabriel, Spencer, the Jorgenson Family, Rachel, and Trayden went to the hospital.

. . .

[7:20 pm]
[Archian City; Archia Hearts Hospital]

For those sitting at the hospital; it was the longest, most stressful waiting period of their lives. Gabriel had arrived first with little Spencer and learned right away that Hayden arrived ten minutes before him and was taken right to the operating room. Rachel and Trayden arrived next, and then the Jorgenson Family. Gabriel updated them that Hayden was already in surgery, and he didn't have anything more than that. Rachel texted Dustin, and Dustin said he would alert the other parents. Everyone was worried, but all they could do was wait and pray. Trayden had changed upon arriving at the hospital since he had his clothes from before the graduation in the car.

Rachel suggested that Trayden change and toss away the bloodied clothing. Everyone was sitting around, just hoping the door would open and the doctor would emerge to tell them everything was alright. It had been a little over an hour since Hayden's surgery began by Gabriel's watch. By 7:30 pm, the small group saw the door open, and a male doctor come out.

"Family of Hayden Haddock?" the man asked.

"Yes!" Gabriel stood quickly. "I-I'm his Godfather," he said afterward. "H-How is he?"

"He's very lucky to be alive, sir," the doctor informed in a calm tone, but it was still serious. Gabriel and the others sighed a breath of relief but knew there would be more. Knowing Hayden was alive, was enough for the moment. "I'm Doctor Kristopher Moller," he introduced.

"I'm…Gabriel Forger, Hayden's Godfather. This is Hayden's son, Spencer Gabriel Haddock," Gabriel shook the doctor's hands after showing Spencer in his arms.

"Silas Jorgenson, Hayden's uncle. This is my wife, Felicia, and our children, Syrus and Alicia," Silas stated.

"Rachel Raseri, a friend of the family, and this my son, Trayden…He's Hayden's boyfriend," Rachel said softly.

"Pleasure to meet you all," Kristopher nodded. "Now, I know you want information on Hayden's current status; he is alive, and will live. The surgery went fine, and there were no complications. However, I was told by the paramedics upon Hayden's arrival that Hayden did stop breathing during transport," everyone gasped. "It lasted a minute, and they were able to revive him. I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's my job to tell you these things," he continued.

"We…Understand. I-Is there anything else?" Felicia inquired, trying to stay calm.

"As you know, Hayden was shot in the left side of the chest. Thankfully, the bullet missed all the main blood vessels, but it did damage the lung, causing it to collapse partially. We've put a tube in his chest, called a Chest Drain, to suck out the air and reinflate the lung. The drain will be removed when there is no more air left to take out. Following that; Hayden will need a lot of rest to allow the wound to heal properly," Kristopher explained.

"H-How long is his recovery?" Gabriel questioned.

"I should say between four and six weeks," Kristopher stated.

"And…How long will he have to here?" Silas wondered.

"The standard is five to six days, but that can change depending on the chest drain removal, and if the lung stays inflated. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell that right now. Perhaps in a few days; we'll have a better idea," Kristopher informs. "He's on oxygen, and medication to prevent any infections,"

"What about his normal medication? The anti-depressants," Rachel asked. "I'm…Also Hayden's Psychiatrist," she added.

"We'll administer them while he's here. Just let us know what ones he's on, and the normal time he takes them," Kristopher said.

"Venlafaxine, seventy-five milligrams. Twice a day; 6 am and 6 pm," Rachel said.

"He hasn't had his second dose…" Alicia mentioned. "Because of all the stuff that happened at the house,"

"Hayden will likely be out until tomorrow morning while we monitor closely; we don't want him moving too much and opening the wound. We'll ease off the stuff keeping him in a slight medical coma around 5 am, and he'll be awake right around the time for the 6 am dosage," Kristopher assured.

"We should go home for tonight, Gabriel. Hayden won't be up until tomorrow morning; we can come for 8 am when visiting hours start," Silas offered, offering his hand on Gabriel's shoulder. Gabriel managed a nod, agreeing.

"By then, we'll have him in a regular room for his remaining time here. For now; he's still in recovery. All the items that were on him are with him in the room," Kristopher said.

"Thank you, Doctor Moller," Gabriel said.

"You're welcome. If there are any changes between now and tomorrow; you'll be informed. He's in good hands," Kristopher reminded. With a nod, and a few more handshakes; the small group left. Syrus was already telling the others that Hayden made it through surgery. Rachel updated the adults, and they got to the parking lot. After saying goodbye; everyone left the hospital. Anxious for tomorrow when they'd get to see Hayden when he woke up.