Part 46

Mark was driving his car towards Westerville from where he was studying at the police academy. Ma Trixie had been shot and the word was spreading around like wildfire through all the Warblers, even Warblers that were there when Mark first joined the Warblers. All he knew about Ma Trixie was that she did not have any children of her own so she "adopted" all the boys from Dalton and especially the Warblers and their honorary members, aka Alvaro and Olivia. Mark remembered his first meeting with the woman. She had been so kind and warm and really small but still a bit on the bigger side, like his own mom and that made the homesickness so much easier to deal with because he had Ma Trixie to turn to, to hug and to talk to when he really missed his mother. She was always so happy and friendly and sweet and that someone dared lay a finger on her… if he found those jerks that did this he was going to rip them apart, no sweat. No one hurts his spare Ma and gets away with it.

Jerry was pissed off in more than one way. He was on a plane back to freaking Tokyo when he got a text telling him Ma Trixie had been shot, SHOT! How the heck was he supposed to get back there and kill the jerks that hurt the world's most caring, loving, friendly, warm, sweet, comforting and absolutely amazing person in the whole world?! He wanted to jump right out of the plane and get back to Westerville. He had known Ma Trixie for ages, even before he started at Dalton. His father had taken him to Dalton a few times when he was little and his father was having class reunions. He had met Ma Trixie the first time after one of those meetings and she had been so warm and friendly that Jerry liked her instantly. When he started Dalton himself many years later he went to the Lima Bean and before he could say anything she was there, hugging him tightly and being happy that one of her babies had find their way home at last. He had bonded with her quite fast and told her everything. She really was like a mother to him and most other boys at Dalton. She was good at giving advices… even though it still bugged him how she took over his birthday-party-planning for Wes that time.

"Are we talking about Wesley here my sweets", Trixie asked and put a hand on Jerry's shoulder.

"Wes", all the Warblers corrected and she smiled.

"Well are you?" she asked and they all nodded… in perfect sync.

"We're trying to figure out a birthd-", Charlie began but Trixie cut him off.

"It's my tiniest baby's birthday?!" she nearly shrieked. "Why was Inotinformed?"

"Uh", Jerry said and she glared at him. "We um… found out just recently? Ow!" she had slapped him on the head with her tray. The others sniggered and she bopped the three boys closest to her with the tray.

"Don't laugh at other's misfortune", she told them and then looked sternly and Jerry again. "So what are you planning to do? Where will this party be held? What kind of food are you having? I hope for your Justine and you boys' sake that there will be no alcohol. How about the cake? Will all his friends be there? Well answer me!"

"We", Jerry began.

"When is his birthday", Trixie cut in.

"In two days, the ninth", Mark answered.

"The shop is closed then", Trixie said. "You are going to have the party hear, I will wipe up a few cakes, cookies and something more foodish, you boys will handle the music I trust you know what everyone can enjoy. Make sure that Carmichael is here and the boys from the Dragon that are available, Alvaro too of course, Nathan don't give me that look, drinks I can fix."

"But", Jerry tried.

"It won't cost you anything dear."

"But-"

"Oh don't worry about Carmichael and his stupid curfew. We will have him here to keep an eye on things."

"But-"

"And for gifts, go in groups tomorrow so he won't suspect anything. You can buy whatever you think you'd buy for a boy his age. He turns 13 right?"

"Yes but-"

"Good deary, now none of you buy anything that has to do with sex, he is still too young for that. Make some funny music number for him, I think he'd enjoy that. How about that song you keep singing Justine? Something about being a family."

"But-"

"And to keep him out of the loop you just carry on like usual."

"Trxie-"

"That way he won't suspect a thing and I don't think he will care. I take it he didn't tell you about his birthday?"

"Will you just-"

"So, Jerry-bear you and Lucas and Alvaro just help him with his homework as usual and come down here around 5 pm and everything will be done and ready!"

"Ma!" Jerry cried indignant, while pointing at her with his pen.

"Okay? Good sweethearts. See you then." She patted Jerry on the cheek and stormed off with the other waiter that was giggling like crazy.

He was tapping his foot eagerly, wanting to get back on the ground sooner rather than later. He wanted to get back to her and his little brothers. He wanted to be there to comfort them and to give Trixie's spirit some strength. Not that she really needed it, that woman was stronger than all the Warblers put together, even Wes… well that was a close call. But still. Jerry felt a small smile creep onto his lips, thinking of what that woman had done for the boy that had never had any motherly love. She had helped him become the person he is today and Jerry couldn't be prouder of her. Or love her more.

Scott was not a happy camper, not a happy camper at all. He wished he was back at Stanford when he got the call, but no he had to be with his family still. Okay it was January first but still! He wanted to go to Ma but his family forbid him from going because it was just some woman. But it wasn't just some woman. It was Ma Trixie! The woman that helped Scott get the nerve to audition for the Warblers back in his freshman year, the woman that helped him when he got hit by a car outside of the coffee shop. She'd saved his life and how did his family want to repay that? By calling her some woman?! Scott was so angry he felt like crying… but he was a man and men don't cry. That's what his dad and uncles always told him… and his grandparents. But all he wanted to do right now was cry because he was so worried about the woman that was his angel… the woman that saved him.

Bastian was on a train heading from New York, where his parents lived, to Westerville. They had tried to keep him at home but he refused. A woman that meant a lot to him and his friends and brothers had been shot… and for what? Austin told him it had been for what was in the register. And since it was in the morning the register was basically empty. It was only about 20 dollars in it. Trixie, this wonderful, wonderful woman might be dying and for what? 20 fucking dollars! A life was priceless and this guy had tried to kill her for what just a hair on her angelic head was worth! She was worth so much more than that and to so many people that it really was ridiculous. What made her even more amazing was that she remembered every name and every face of all the Warblers she had adopted over the years. It was insane! Just as insane as it was thinking that she might be gone and never coming back. No he would not think that. Not now, not ever. Ma was going to be okay. She had to be.

Brad was on his motorcycle, yes it was risky and stupid but he had to get to Westerville. He had to get there for Ma Trixie! It was not fair that someone as sweet as her would be the victim of this kind of thing. She had always been a pair of open arms and a person that would give you unconditional love and comfort. She knew if you were upset and would comfort you until you were feeling your best again. The same if you were a bit sick. She would give you some of her grandma's old teas or drinks to help ease the symptoms and usually it worked. She was an angel and angels do not deserve what she got this day. Brad didn't care about the snow or the cold. He only cared about getting to her side as fast as he could. He like everyone of the seniors his senior year, 2005, knew her story. She had no children. Now. Her daughter had walked out on her when she was 20 and her husband had done the same. How someone could do something like that to someone so sweet was beyond Brad's knowledge. She had no other family, she only had Nelson and the boys of Dalton. And Brad was going to make sure he was there for her so she wouldn't be alone.

Fredric was on Bahamas when he got the text and had no way of getting back to Westerville. So he was spending all his time close to his phone, he went places with his family but always had his phone with him and checked it every five minutes. It was annoying everyone but he was worried about his second mother. Trixie was a mother to all boys in the Warblers and he would be damned before he didn't show her that he loved her. He had arranged for Christmas Stars (Poinsettia), flowers, being sent to her with all his love.

Richard was in bed with a bad case of pneumonia so he neither able to go and visit the woman that was a constant support to him and all his friends and brothers in the Warblers. He was barely awake when his parents told him what had happened in Westerville so he didn't get it at first. He got told a few times and soon realized what had happened and he begged his parents to figure out what was going on for him and maybe send a gift to her. Richard cursed the disease he'd gotten and wished he could be with Trixie now, like his little brothers surely would. He wished she knew how much she meant to him and how much he loved her.

Peter Philips looked at his best friend sitting beside him in the train cart and knew what he was thinking of because it was also going through his mind. Trixie. That loveable and wonderful woman that they all loved was shot, maybe even dying. They didn't know. All they knew was what Otto had told them. Peter remembered that call and shuddered.

"PP!" Otto had yelled into his phone. "Tell PP that Otto told you that Kim told him that Wes told him that a woman told him Ma's been shot!"

At first he had been confused until he heard the word shot. He'd flown up and stormed into Philip Peters room and dragged him off of the bed, in his hung-over state, both of them were hung-over after last night's party. They had set out at once after leaving a note for their families, to not worry them too much. Peter loved Ma Trixie because she was always so warm and friendly and everyone just loved her. She was funny, sweet, comforting, warm, lovely, loveable, soft, friendly, happy, cuddly, bubbly, smart, amazing, awesome, cool, terrific, fabulous and anything positive trait you can think of. That was her and she didn't deserve what was going on right now. He felt Philip take his hand and heard the other boys sing softly.

Philip had taken Peter's hand without thinking about it. He was thinking of that time that they had watched Chicago and had gone to the Bean talking about it and Ma Trixie was hugging a boy from Dalton, comforting him. Philip had gotten over to the piano and had started to play and sing:

Ask any of the chickies in my pen
They'll tell you I'm the biggest mother hen
I love 'em all and all of them love me
Because the system works
The system called reciprocity...

There's a lot of favors
I'm prepared to do
You do one for Mama
She'll do one for you.

They say that life is tit for tat
And that's the way I live
So, I deserve a lot of tat
For what I've got to give
Don't you know that this hand
Washes that one too
When you're good to Mama
Mama's good to you!

Let's all stroke together
Like the Princeton crew
When you're strokin' Mama
Mama's strokin' you

So what's the one conclusion
I can bring this number to?
When you're good to Mama
Mama's good to you!

It had ended with Ma hitting him on the head with her tray for making it sound as if she was a briber or a blackmailer. Nelson had said that she was not, just a tyrant and had gotten smacked for it. Philip would give everything to see something like that again. He was going to sing to her again, but this time it would not be to tease her, it would be to show her how much her "son" cared about her.

Michael cursed the person that had hurt Ma Trixie. No one is allowed to lay a finger on that woman and expect to get away with it! Michael was going to go to Westerville, pop in to see Ma and give her his love and then go out hunting. Michael had never told anyone but he had a few friends among the homeless and junkies through the homeless shelter he helped out at sometimes. He would ask them to help him look for the punk that did this so that he could kill him himself… unless Mark beats him to it because there would be nothing left if he did. Michael was gonna get that punk and he was gonna get him good.

Charles hated it when smaller people got hurt, like when those jerks had gone after Wes and Charles had helped him. Wes was a sweet kid and hadn't deserved that. The same with Ma. She was a sweet woman, sweet as sugar but much healthier for you. She did not deserve any of this shit and Charles was going to make sure she felt loved, even if it meant that he would have to force his way past Trixie's real family. (Remember that only the seniors Wes' first year knows about Trixie's situation).

Trixie mean "bringer of joy" and that was who Trixie really was. Lucas had known her since his first day at Dalton and had loved her for just as long. She was such a sweet and happy woman and you could never be angry with her or wish something bad upon her. So this punk that did this was gonna get it. Lucas would not stop until he found out who it was. His name may mean light but he was not the light now. He was the darkness that would swallow the bastard that did this. He would only be the light for the boy sitting beside him and for the younger boys at Dalton. He would not be the bringer of joy like Trixie always was… but he would be a bringer of comfort.

Brad's sisters had all but pushed him out the door, not that they had to do it because Brad was going himself. But as soon as he heard and told his family about Trixie being shot his sisters wanted him out of the house and at the woman's side. They had met her once and loved her like an aunt already. Brad did the same. Trixie was an aunt and a mom to him. A comforter, caretaker, joyful spirit and amazing woman. And he would be damned if he couldn't get to her side.

Ethan had heard it from his brother, from Joseph and was right now walking upstream to get out of that stupid plane he had been about to board. People cursed him and called nasty things at him but he did not care. He only had one thought running through his mind: "Get to Trixie and get to Joseph." When the Hughes brothers were young their uncle was robbed and killed. Ethan had no idea how Joseph would take this, so he had to get to him and get to Trixie because that woman… that woman was like a mother to them and so many others and she was amazing. She was amazing and needed her family around her and Ethan would make sure that happened.

Joseph was shuddering. He had returned to Dalton to take part of Kim's New Year's Eve party and now he was sitting in a hospital hallway waiting on news on Ma. Austin was sitting beside him, holding a hand on his arm. Joseph felt Austin's support and warmth pour into him. He was grateful. Ma was important to all of them and Joseph knew none of them would be able to stand it if she died. They hadn't been told anything and it was killing him. Ma was the best person in the world. She loved everyone and was exactly what the Warblers needed. A mother away from their own. It hurt to think that someone deliberately wanted to hurt her. They had been told by Nelson that the punk came in and aimed a gun at him. Ma had stepped in between and tried to protect Nelson. She had given the man the money, 20 dollars, 20 shitty dollars and the man shot her. Joseph felt like crying but he couldn't… he had to be somewhat strong for the junior members of the group. He would be strong for their sake because Ma would've wanted him to be there for them so he was going to. He was going to.

William had not made it back to Dalton for the party, why you ask? He was abroad. He would return a week later and he wished it would be that week now. He was in Spain with his family. He'd gotten the call in the middle of the day and since he got the call he hadn't left his hotel room. He wanted to know. He wanted to be there. He wanted to be there for the woman that was always there for any of them, even though she didn't have any obligations or biological reasons to do it… she was always there and he loved her like a son would love his mother. He sobbed slightly and wiped at his eyes. He wanted to be there with everyone else but couldn't and that hurt something terrible.

Roger was driving. He had ignored his families objections to him leaving on the New Year's Day. But frankly he didn't give a damn. All he wanted was to get to Ma Trixie and his little brothers, nothing else mattered.

Nothing Else Matters was going through his head as he sat on the floor in that hospital hallway. He was leaning against the wall, praying. Matt wasn't a very religious person but he was praying now. Praying for Ma. He knew that all Warblers most likely were. They were all praying for her to pull through, survive the surgery and then get back to her temple. The Lima Bean was hers and would always be hers. Nothing else mattered than her surviving and if the constant arrival of Warblers was anything to go by so was it for them. The only ones that weren't coming was those who had no way of getting there. He didn't blame them because he knew that Ma were in their thoughts and that they basically were there anyway. They were with them in spirit, being there for Ma. He looked up and sang softly:

So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters

Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know
Nothing else matters

He heard Matt sing softly and he felt Joseph shiver underneath the grip he had on his arm. He felt Justine sob quietly into his neck and he felt how he himself was close to tears. But he couldn't let them fall. He just couldn't. He was the Warbler leader right now. They needed him to be strong for them when they couldn't be it by themselves. He'd collapse and break in solitude later, but not now that anyone could see him. He knew Jesse was watching him, looking for slipups that he could use to tear him down. He had never trusted the guy, never. Not since he saw him enter the Warbler hall during that audition. But Ma Trixie had told him to give the kid a chance, she had told him to give his brothers a chance… to give his parents a chance to get their priorities right. She was a constant ray of sunshine in his life, a constant hope. She always had hope and she always offered a warm embrace. She knew everyone so well and didn't judge you. She never judged anyone and that someone would harm her… this angel on Earth was beyond anything Austin could imagine. He shivered just thinking on what kind of sick or depressed person it was that had done this. He could though picture Ma and him. She would forgive the son of a bitch that did this. She most likely knew him and was going to forgive him. She was that caring. She had a heart of gold and was worth ten times it's worth. Austin would be there for her like she had been there for him and everyone else. He wouldn't let her down. He would be strong for her.

Justine was sobbing into her boyfriend's shoulder. She didn't have to hide her worry and fears like he did. And what Austin returned home to. He returned home early that morning and they were just about to… uh hum "enjoy" themselves when the phone rang. If someone asked if she would remember the moment she heard that Ma got shot she would tell them yes. For two reasons, Ma got shot and she and Austin were naked, about to go at it. She shuddered at the thought. She had been smiling and teasing Austin when he got the call and then she felt extremely annoyed when he backed off of her and sat up looking angry. She had thought it was his parents again. Stupid. She should've known it was something else and she had felt insanely guilty for feeling annoyed about her time with Austin being interrupted as soon as she heard. She felt like the complete opposite to Ma. Ma would've understood. She would've gotten up and getting ready, not waiting for her lover to return to bed so that they could finish what they started. She sniffled and Austin held her closer. Austin was like Ma, sweet and caring and she really didn't deserve any of them. When ma pulled through Justine would tell her that she was going to be an amazing person, like her, from now on. She would never again use her body to embarrass annoying little gits, she would be a proper lady. Like Ma always told her to be. She would be what Ma wanted her to be.

Reed was outside the hospital taking a smoke. He only smoked when he was worried and didn't want the younger boys to see him so he was hiding. He wanted to cope alone, but he knew it was too much to wish for because deep inside he didn't want to be alone. Otto soon joined him, smoking as well. Reed didn't say anything just offering his lighter. His thought was not on Otto, he'd handle that later. His thoughts were on Ma. She would kick his ass for doing this but he couldn't help it. He didn't know how to cope. He would make sure Otto quit though, for Ma's sake.

The first time he met Ma she had dropped a cup of coffee on his lap and it was hot. She had been trying to be nice about it and tried to help him but after a while gave up and just laughed because he looked hilarious and sounded like it most likely. It brought a small smile to his lips thinking about it. She pampered him for weeks after that and he had never felt more loved. He would make sure she felt as loved now. He was.

Tom looked at his older brother. Lucas was stone-faced and deep in thought but he was still doing the Ma-move as Tom had called it. She and also Lucas would always try to comfort anyone and their hands would move to the one in need of comfort. Lucas hand had done that… it had taken his. Tom held it tightly because Lucas was his big brother and he would make the hurt go away, he always did. He would make sure everything turned out alright. He would make sure Ma was okay, he would. There was no stopping his older brother… or her. She really didn't have a stop or pause button even. She was always on the move and always on mother-hen mode. Jerry may be the Mama Warbler but Ma was Ma. She was a mother to all of them and it hurt knowing that someone could hurt her. Tom would be there for her and help her, take her hand to comfort her, like she did to him and everyone else. He swore.

'Cross my heart and hope to die', he thought and did just that. Lucas did give him a funny look but Tom just snuggled close to him and rested his head on Lucas' shoulder. Lucas just held him and that was what he needed. Lucas was like Ma and Tom would make sure he was too.

Nathan had been crying for a while but had stopped. He was so worried about Ma. He hoped she was okay. She had to be. But he also knew that she most likely would forgive the ass that did this. She had forgiven him for nearly killing Mitch and for hitting Wes so she would surely forgive this jerk too. Nathan had been so close to lose the love of his life and now he was close to losing his Ma as well. After he was disowned Ma was the only parent he had, the only grown woman that cared about him and if he lost her he would have no one… no parental type in his life. He needed her and she needed him. He would make sure he was there for her. You have his word for it. He would be there all the way, to support and comfort and help. He would be by her side, like she had always been by his. Just you wait and see, he would. He had made a mistake with Mitch, not being there when he needed him but he was not ever gonna do that mistake again. Not to Mitch and not to Ma. He would be there for her, just you wait and see.

Otto had been surprised to see Reed smoking. The guy was a health-nut regularly and here he was smoking. Smoking! It was unbelievable. That Otto smoked wasn't… he had been smoking every now and then since he was 13. Ma had caught him once and hit him with a ladle… hard… on the ass. He hadn't been able to sit properly for days. He wished she would storm out of the hospital now and slap him. That's was basically why he was out here smoking. So that she would realize it and come and beat him up, because if she did… Otto would know she was alive and that was everything he wanted right now. For Ma to be alive and okay. He wanted her to be back on her feet soon, to be Ma again. He decided that he would hug her and tell her he loved her next time he saw her in the Bean. He would… will. He will do that.

Julian was on a fucking bus because the stupid fucking train broke down in fucking Lima so he had to take a bus from there. He wanted to be at the hospital this morning and not in two fucking hours! He had to get there, he had to get to Ma! No matter what it took. He would get to Ma.

Mitch was being hugged by Nathan and he didn't mind one bit. He wanted Nathan to comfort him because he was upset. Really upset. He was afraid that Ma would die from this bullet… or the surgery. He was afraid that she would die. That they would lose her and he couldn't bear the thought. It made him think of his suicide attempt. He whimpered and Nathan held him closer whispering soothing words to him. He didn't want Ma to die. He loved her too much and needed her too much. She had been the only person to keep him afloat after the suicide attempt because she didn't look at him with sad pitying looks like everyone else did. She just looked at him with the same warmth and love she always did. She forgave him for the stupid thing he did and he hadn't thanked her enough for it. He wants to, he's going to. She needs to know. She needs to know that he care about her too… that he and everyone else loves her. She needs to know.

Eric Anderson was pissed at his family. They refused to let him take the private jet back to the states from Paris. They refused to let him stay at the hotel and wait for calls. They refused to let him get informed about Ma! They had said it wasn't anyone important and that pissed him off! She was important! It was Ma! He was getting there… he just didn't know how.

Carl and John were twins but not much alike. Except for one thing. They reacted the same to bad news and their parents knew this. Which is why they were now on a small coast guard boat, faking a appendicitis somewhere outside of the coast of Mexico. The only thought the boys had in mind was getting to the states and to get to Trixie. Maybe their methods were extreme but it was their mother's idea! And if they got grief about it… how would John know you could only get appendicitis once if your appendix was removed? He wasn't a doctor.

Alvaro was so happy he had a loving family. He had a broken foot and could not leave the hospital yet, but they were all there. Offering comfort and making sure that he knew what was going on. His mother knew of Ma. She had been at Crawford and know of the woman's love for Dalton boys. Alvaro was angry at whatever punk did this and he was gonna make sure they paid for what they did to Ma. He would not just sit and wait for the scum to jump off a bridge. Alvaro would gladly push 'him.

"I'll help", his mom told him and he had to smile.

Jesse didn't understand all the fuss. A barista got shot, so what? It happened all over the country every day. It was just another black woman getting shot. Why should he abort his vacation on Hawaii for it. He had a way of going home but he neglected telling Austin that. He just said that he could not get back and hoped that "Ma" would be okay. Seriously the Warblers were a bunch of saps and next year he would make sure that changed. Without Joseph and Austin by his side Otto would be an easy target. He would make sure the guy got knocked off that chairman seat and take it for himself, make himself captains and take all solos. No one would be able to stop him. The boys that would be sophomores would be too afraid as would the upcoming freshmen and the juniors would be falling for his charms. The seniors wouldn't be a problem after that. Just you wait and see, as soon as Austin was gone things would turn out right. Jesse would be the alpha wolf, yeah he heard about Wes' sleep-deprived hallucination. Jesse would be the alpha that ruled all the losers and weaklings, the Warblers would win it all under his leadership. Just you wait and see.

'Jag fattar det inte', Kim thought. 'Jag kan bara inte fatta det. Igår firade vi alla och vi var alla lyckliga och glada och nu… nu så sitter vi här i en kliniskt ren korridor, som stinker av sjukhus och rengöringsmedel. Jag hatar sånt här. Det är det värsta jag vet. Att inte veta något. Att inte veta om Ma kommer att klara sig, om hon är okej. Jag förstår inte… jag förstår inte kur någon kan skada henne. Hon är ett helgon, en guldklimp, en ängel… Hon är det enda i detta konstiga och rentav ruttna land som är helt igenom gott. Jag förstår inte hur någon kan vilja skada henne med vilje. Trixie är alldeles för god för att göra någon illa. Hon har aldrig retat mig när jag inte förstår. Hon bara ler och förklarar det för mig. Hon bara… hjälper mig. Inte som de andra som tittar konstigt på mig eller skrattar. När jag säger svenska saker eller översätter direkt från svenska till engelska så ler hon bara och rättar mig där hon kan. Hon ser inte ut som en fågelholk när jag säger något obegripligt och hon stirrar inte på mig i skräck när jag dricker mitt kaffe svart och starkt. Alla andra tycker jag är galen, men en sak jag har att säga om amerikaner är att det INTE vet hur man gör gått kaffe… det är bara brunt vatten. Jag lovade Ma att visa henne hur man gör RIKTIGT kaffe och det ska jag. Så fort hon är frisk så ska jag göra det, vänta bara. Sedan ska vi servera det till de som kallar mig en tok… Till the Warblers. Sen får vi se vem som skrattar bäst.'

Isaac was sitting in his bedroom at his home in Illinois. He was worried about Ma, just like everyone else and it was so hard to not just jump out of his window and get there. But he couldn't because of the damn snowstorm! The police had told the public to stay indoors and his family was following that down to a t. It was driving him nuts because he wanted to get to Ohio like yesterday! He was so worried about Ma. That woman was a saint and she did not deserve this. No one deserves this and absolutely not her!

Rob was standing by a window looking out at Westerville while waiting for news on Ma. The tiny woman with the big heart was like a mother to him and most boys at Dalton and it ate at his heart when hearing she got shot. He had not believed Wes when he called him. Not at first, no until he turned his TV on and saw the news directly from the Beam and he had seen Wes in the background. Rob was a gentle soul but for this scum that shot Ma… he would make an exception.

There is only one word to describe what Eric and Brett Everett was feeling right now. Rage.

Howard punched his wall so hard his hand went through it. His parents had forbid him from going back to Dalton before school started and he was so angry that he had punched a hole in his wall. He didn't care. He just wanted to get to Ma.

He wanted to go but they didn't let him. He hadn't known the woman more than a semester but he still liked her a lot. Logan was a bit… suspicious to people. It came from being a really rich kid. He always expected people to become his friends just to get parts of his money. That's why he felt so relaxed at Dalton. Most guys there were rich, maybe not as rich as him but wealthy enough to not want to borrow money from him. The boys that were there on scholarships ignored the rich part and just befriended him. Ma was the same. She was a "poor" woman… in everything but warmth and love. Damn he liked the woman a lot already. He hoped she'd be okay soon, he prayed for her.

Oliver was conflicted. He really wanted to be in the hallway with all available Warblers but as the only freshman actually being there he felt out of place, out of the loop because Ma didn't mean as much to him as he did to all his friends. He felt as if he shouldn't really be here. She was a nice lady that didn't look upon his artificial leg with pity. She treated him the same. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Austin. Which was kind of hard because Justine was sitting on his lap, almost blocking him completely. Oliver took the hand and Austin smiled slightly. Austin understood and he wasn't angry. Oliver smiled slightly. He belonged here… so he would stay.

Collin had been sad hearing about Ma Trixie being shot. He didn't know the woman that well and rarely went to the Bean. He told Joseph as much when he called and Joseph said that it was okay and promised to keep him posted so Collin decided to pray for this very kind woman and for his worried friends.

Peter "Pan" was trying to imagine what could make someone do what that punk had done to this sweet woman. His mother was a lawyer and his father a cop. He would ask them when they returned from their shopping trip. Maybe they knew.

Juan was confused, he was angry and sad for what had happened but he didn't understand why really. He hadn't spent that much time with Trixie but still… she was a good person but he didn't know her… so why was he so angry?

Alexander wished he knew Ma a bit better because then he would know how to feel about this.

Wes was alone in a hallway. He had snuck off from the other Warblers. He wanted to be alone because he hadn't been alone since he told everyone what had happened. He wanted to sort his feelings out. Ma was the only woman that had ever had acted in a motherly way to him before, well Mark's mom did too but Wes was sure the two women were each other's clone. Ma had taken him to his heart, taken him off the street and helped making him feeling part of a family. She understood him like no one else. She understood his fear of the darkness and small spaces. She understood how it felt like to be abandoned by your own family. At Christmas Day Wes had asked her why she was in the café with him and not home with her family and she had told him she had none. Her family had abandoned her, she wasn't wanted or loved but she was okay.

Wes often got sad, even though he hid it and often wondered if he was actually worth something or if he would be alright in the end… seeing Ma gave him that hope. She had no big money like he actually had, that Carmichael had fooled off of his father, she had no family to turn to but she was okay anyway. She created her own family, she took her staff and the boys at Dalton and made them her family, in the same way Wes did. The Warblers was his family and it was hers too. She was there Ma, well Mark and Jerry may be the Papa and Mama but Trixie was Ma, maybe that really made her the grandma.

She was fun and sweet and kind and cared about everyone, even people she didn't know that well. She was the embodiment of the Warbler spirit. The Warblers took him in just like that, something about being in the Warblers made you accept, protect, care for and help anyone, not just your own. Ma was all that, she was the Warbler Spirit. Without her this city, this world would never be the same again. They would lose and angel and for what? 20 dollars? No, not happening. Wes wouldn't let it. He had been walking as he thought of all this and had reached the hallway where everyone else was. He looked around at all the sad faces and then smiled softly. Ma wouldn't want them to be worried or cry or feel guilty or anything.

"Ma wouldn't want this", he said and they all looked at him.

"Huh", Nathan asked and Wes saw Otto and Reed walk towards them.

"Ma wouldn't want us to sit around and think everything is over", Wes said. "She'd want us to smile and think of all the good times we've had with her. We can be sad but we don't have to show it. She never shows it. She's always happy, even when it looks its worst. We should do the same, in her honor."

Austin gently moved Justine aside and got up.

"I mean", Wes went on. "Ma always smiles and is always warm and sunny and friendly and happy and sweet and caring. Shouldn't we help bringing her back by doing the same. I know Ma can see and feel us even though she is lying on a surgery table. Right?"

Austin had walked up to him and Wes looked at him. Austin smiled and pulled Wes into a hug.

"When did you get so smart", he asked and Wes 'snuggled' into him.

"Well it's not by hanging around you lot", Wes said with a cheeky grin. Austin just chuckled and heard a few snorts and chuckles around him.

The door opened to the OR opened and the surgeon came out, intending to tell the family about the surgery. But there was no immediate family, he knew that. He had been informed of it but still… the waiting room was full of teenage boys and they all looked up at him. He sighed and said…

TBC *hides*

Answer to non-members' (or not signed in members') reviews:

Singing Violet - People get upset about both.

singingtosun - Wow you really like drama I take it.