Chapter 28

Snek was quick to recover.

Drax had mere scratches since Snek took the brunt of the blow, however Angela wasn't getting any better. She grew weaker in the days that followed. Snek never left the hospital and remained vigilant outside her door. Doctors wouldn't let him in, the room was cramp as it was and he wouldn't fit. Still, he waited.

He fell asleep at one point, until he felt it. He woke instantly. "No… NURSE!" he called. "NURSE HER HEART, HER HEART STOPPED!" he shouted. The machine then went off, sending the signal out to the doctors on the floor. Drax was forced out of the room, he was trembling as he went right to Snek and embraced him. The two waited, despite being unable to see what was going on. He felt everything through the floor. Her heart wasn't starting. No matter how many times they tried to jump-start it. He felt every jolt and attempt, but she wasn't brought back.

"Mom… is mom going to be okay?" Drax asked.

It was a full hour, when the room emptied. The look of defeat came over the doctors, they turned and shook their heads. "I'm sorry, we tried everything…"

"MOM!" Drax shouted, he tried to get out of Snek's arms. He wanted to see her. But he wouldn't let him. "Let me go! MOM! MOM!"

"Kid… it's over." He whispered. "She's gone…"

Angela was gone.

Drax trembled, he cried uncontrollably and grabbed on to Snek. He refused to let him go. "Mom…"

Snek tried to be strong for him, but the tears escaped him too. The love of his life was departed, this time, he couldn't stop her from leaving. "I should have done more…" he whispered.

Snek took Drax to the waiting room. From there, he coiled himself and Drax up and kept him in a firm embrace. Yet, as his son mourned, Snek began to notice the nurses and doctors whispering, every so often they pointed to him. Yet, when he looked at them, they were quick to turn away and continue their conversation. He didn't like where this was going.

"I ought to take you home." Snek whispered.

"I don't want to leave yet." Said Drax. "Please, not yet."

He obliged. They stayed in the waiting room, Drax cried himself to sleep. Snek began to think of what to do next, he has a son to raise now. Yet, before he could even think of his next move. Strange people arrived in black suits. A nurse pointed to Snek as they began to approach.

He got defensive.

"Is Drax here?" they asked.

"Who wants to know?" Snek demanded

They flashed their badges. Three men and a woman, all from child services. "We have been informed that the mother of the child you are holding has passed away. We have come to take him into custody…"

"No," Snek snapped back. "He's MY son, I am his parental guardian!"

There was an odd look exchanged among the four. "Snek, you can't legally adopt him." The woman explained gently. "There is a law in place for the people who have been turned into monsters, they automatically lose their right to the child…"

"What?!" he demanded. "I am no monster though. I am an M Class Dragon, that's a hero in the heroes association!" he protested.

"It is not our decision, you are classified as a monster now. Therefore your son has to come with us, Snek, I am sorry…"

"NO!" he roared. His voice woke Drax up.

"Dad?" he asked.

"You are not taking him!" Snek protested and built up his coil. "He's MY SON!"

"Dad… who are they?"

"Don't worry about it, they think since I am like this, I can't be your father. Like hell they are going to tell me that! I said before, he is my son. I am his father, and he is staying with me!"

The woman sighed aloud as she got on the phone. She made a single call, and within an hour, he arrived. Sitch from the Heroes Association entered the hospital. "Sitch…"

"Snek, you have to release him."

"Sitch, he's my son, my flesh and blood son!" he protested. "Please, you cannot take him from me, you just can't!"

"Dad…" Drax said as his hands gently came on to Snek's face. It forced him to look down at his son. "I have to go with them, don't I?" Drax asked.

"No, I can't. I promised you!"

"Snek, you have to. This is a formality. His mother has passed. You did not marry her. You were merely engaged. You cannot claim your son until you go through proper channels…"

"Proper channels my ass! Sitch, the deck is stacked against me, they said I have no right to him because I'm like this! How can I be sure I will get my son back? Can you promise me I will?"

He was silent, Sitch had no answer for him. "Dad… it's okay."

His heart froze as Drax began to push himself up and out of his embrace. "Don't make this worst than it already is, the way you are acting… it won't work in your favor either."

"Drax… I may never see you again. I can't let you go without a fight!"

His son embraced him tightly. "I'll be okay." With that, he released him. Drax went willingly with Child services, Snek watched on as he vanished through the doors. His heart tore into two.

"My love… now my son…" it was too much for him. Snek broke down, not before howling in pain.

Sitch only gave him a pat on the shoulder. "I will do everything I can to ensure you get your son back. I promise."

Snek didn't care for promises. He wanted action. He wanted Drax back in his arms, he wants to go home with his son.