Hank kept his promise and arrived 9 minutes after the call at the store. He looked at the man that was bent over to vomit. He stopped the car and ran to the three people. "What happened? Who is it?" He asked while the man was still throwing anyone could answer he saw the back of the man's head, saw the hair. "Evan!"
His brother turned around, vomit running down his chin, wide glassy eyes. "Hank, glad you're here!" He cried with hanging shoulders. Exhaustion, pain and extreme fear let him look like a vulnerable kid and his head rested on his big brothers chest before Hank could say anything.
"It's okay, Evan, I'm here." Hank held his brother tight and rubbed his hands down Evan's back. He was angry, when he noticed his drunken state. He stank like he had taken a shower in alcohol, but all the anger was gone, when the hot tears wet his chest. Something was very wrong. He trusted Evan and couldn't believe that he would have left the house to drink so much. "It's okay, kiddo. Please let me look at you. I'm sure you're in a lot of pain.
"Yes, my leg hurts like hell and I have a bad headache. Thank you, Henry." The doctor nodded and had a look at the head wound. He cleaned it carefully and decided that it didn't need stitches. He looked in the eyes and was pretty sure that his brother was dizzy, but didn't have a concussion.
"You don't seem to have a concussion, but I think we should call for an MRI in the hospital. Let me see your leg." Please don't let his ankle and knee cap be broken. Oh Ev, all this blood. He examined the ankle and foot first. The foot was bruised, but okay. "Just some painkiller and two weeks and your foot will be fine. Your ankle is swollen, but I think it isn't broken, probably snapped, when you hit the ground."
"Or when the car hit him," Vanessa said.
Hank was so busy worrying and taking care of his brother that he forgot about the two women. "Yes. Did you see what happened?"
"Well, we were cleaning the floor and had the door wide opened. A car came to a stop and we heard a door open and close then the car sped away. We were finished and walked out, locking the door, when we saw your brother stumble and swaying, before he started crossing the road. He actually was aware enough to look for any cars before he did. When he was almost on this side of the road a car came by with way too much speed. We tried to warn him, but it was too late. He saw the car and tried to jump away, but the car hit him on his leg and he was thrown through the air, crushing with his head at the tree. That's pretty much all. He was disorientated and most of what he said didn't make any sense except that he insisted of calling you and not for an ambulance. Five minutes after my sister called you, he started vomiting and did so about four times before you came. Too bad we couldn't see the car real good. It was very fast and we were focused on your brother."
Hank suddenly felt very sick to his stomach. The image of his brother flying around after a car hit him, made him angry and anxious. "Thank you for taking care of him. He was lucky that both of you were here to help him and I'm glad you called me. If I'd come home and he hadn't be there and I couldn't have reached him, I think I would have died worrying."
"That's okay," both sisters said as one.
He cleaned the leg and was shocked about all the blood. It wasn't enough to be dangerous, but as far as he was concerned every drop of blood from his brother was too much. The knee wasn't smashed or broken, but he had a good idea that there were sprained ligaments. "Okay, Evan. You gonna have to stay in bed as much as possible and probably some therapy after it healed some. Other than that I'm giving you some painkiller and we will do a x-ray at home with our new equipment. Let me have a look under your shirt, will you?"
"Can we do it later at home? Please?"
"Okay, you're right." Than he turned to the women. "I'm gonna stop his bleeding and bandage him. I will drive him home then. You can go now, we kept you enough. Thank you again."
The women left and Hank waited till their car was out of sight. "Evan, why aren't you at home?"
"I don't know, Hank, the last thing I remember is that I slept and then...something woke me, but I don't know what it was."
"Don't lie to me! I'm pretty pissed. You're drunken and walking around the road, where is no room to walk in the first place. You could have been killed, do you think I like that thought? Tell me, do you think I want to find my little brother dead? So, tell me why you left home and where you did get this drunk?"
"I honestly don't know what woke me and what happened … wait someone was on the door. I opened it and let the person in, but everything else is just black."
"You're telling me that you don't remember who was there?"
"I can see how mad you're at me. If I knew, I swear I'd tell you, Hank." Heavy desperate sobbing shook his whole body and the doctor knew his patient, no his brother was telling the truth. Any added pressure would just make things worse.
"Okay, let me fix you and then I'm gonna help you in the car. I believe you, but as soon as you remember you're telling me, alright? Oh, I didn't notice... damn, and let me pull the shards out of you and clean those wounds, too."
Evan nodded, calmer but still crying. His emotions were so messed up that he didn't groan or hissed in pain, while his brother was working on him. But that was probably good so, because Hank was sure that the pain would be immense and he thought that Evan would be in enough pain for the next days.
He was busy for another twenty minutes and it took five minutes to get his brother into the car without hurting his leg. He carried most of the younger Lawson's weight and found himself thankful that it wasn't much to carry, but he felt guilt at the thought as soon as he had it, because his brother had lost some more weight lately and was now definitely underweight. He gave him strong painmeds with a syringe to make it work faster. Evan tried to pull back his arm, when he saw what his older brother was up to and for a moment there was so much fear in his eyes and he looked like a panicking wounded animal. But after a few soothing words from his brother he let him do it's job. The medicine worked fast and he was already pretty out of it, when his brother closed his belt.
Hank got on the driver seat and stared at Evan for a while. He felt like crying himself. Just the thought that his brother could have laid there, dead, let his own body ache. He would find out what had happened, why Evan didn't stay at home and he would find the bastard that had hit his brother with the car and then just drove ahead, like Evan wasn't worth anything at all. Not even taking the time to see, if there was any help needed. You're gonna pay for this, pray that the police finds you before I do!
Driving home had never felt this far. Silence filled the car, all he could hear was the breathing of his brother and it wasn't very calming. It was irregular, probably because of the pain, the shock and of course the heavy alcohol abuse. He hoped his brother would remember more of what had happened, when he had some good rest and time to relax a bit.
He got out of the car and then got his brother. Evan woke up and tried to keep his eyes open, but didn't succeed. "Come on, wonderboy, try to stay with me for a few moments. I need you to help me with bringing you to the house and to your bed. Will you do it for me?"
Evan nodded and kept his eyes half opened. He was just jumping along with one leg, but it did help his brother. Hank smiled when he finally got him into bed. "Thanks, you did a good job. I'm glad you helped me."
"Do anything for you," was the mumbled answer and that made him smile even more. He put the blanket over the now sleeping man on the bed and sat down for a moment to watch him. "You're the best little brother there is and I would do anything for you, too, you deserve it." He leaned over and blow a soft kiss on Evan's forehead, stroked his cheek and left the room.
He went to the kitchen to make some coffee for himself, sure he needed it to stay awake. He felt sleepy and exhausted, but didn't dare to fall asleep, because he was afraid Evan could need him and he would overhear it. He saw the two cups on the couch table, that was the first thing that made him raise an eyebrow, the second was the sugar near the coffee machine.
Sugar? When did Evan start to use su... Not, Evan, but Eddie does. So he was here to drink coffee with Evan. No, no, I mean he's an asshole, but I can't believe that he took him out to a bar and had some drinks with him after I told him about the problem. Okay, I have to ask Evan, when he wakes up and God knows, Eddie, when I find out that you filled him up and then kicked him out of the car a few miles from home, I won't give you enough time to say your prayers before sending you to hell! Everything near him fell down to the floor with one fast movement of his arm.
"Uh... is there a problem?" Emily asked. "The door was open so I came in. Seems like it isn't a good timing, huh?"
"Yes! No! It's just a horrible day and I'd like to lay down and just forget about it. Evan is totally drunken and had an accident."
"He drove when he was drunken?" Emily asked shocked.
"No, someone hit him with a car, when he was crossing the road. It wasn't exactly his fault. But I'll find out who did this to him. He isn't hurt very bad, but it still makes me want to yell at someone, you know?"
"Of course, honey." She took him into her arms. I have no idea what you're talking about. If he'd been killed it would make things difficult, but I wouldn't exactly be sad. Not really, amused fits that much better.
"The next stupid thing is that one of my patients little daughter had surgery today and I have to be at the hospital soon. They want me to talk to the doctor before he leaves. I wish I could cancel it, but it's their child and I know why they want me there and I'd like to see how the girl is doing. Would it be too much to ask, if you could stay with Evan for a while? I think it won't be longer than two or three hours."
"Sure, don't worry, I'm gonna take care of him. Do you want me to look at his wounds or so?"
"No, I think I got all of that done. I'll do the rest, when I'm back and if I have to go to the hospital anyway, I'm gonna set a MRI for asap. Don't think it's that bad, but you never know and I don't take any risks especially when it's my brothers life."
"Okay, I take care of him and give him some painkiller when he wakes up. And you better hurry to come back and kiss me." She smiled. Evan would have said she smiled like a snake at the sight of a mouse.
Dr. Lawson kissed and thanked her and left the house. He hurried to come back soon.
Dr. Peck went to the younger Lawson's room. He was asleep or seemed to be. Truth was that he woke up, when Hank had smashed the door. He knew there was a good reason that his brother had left him alone with her. He was over the silly idea to run away. Hank was taking care of him and he felt good around his big brother. He heard the woman talking on the phone, the door wasn't closed. With a lot of pain he managed to get up and listened.
"I got the tickets for both of us, we can leave in a few days. Only you and me and a lot of money, mine and yours or what will be yours before we leave." She laughed. "I love you, too. The annoying idiot is out of it and I make sure it lasts for a while and his brother is with some patients to take care of them. Why don't you come over? If he comes back earlier, we'll find a way to explain your being here."
This bitch! She tells someone she loves him and it isn't Henry! How can she do such a thing to someone caring like him? She should be happy to have him and all she does is breaking his heart, when it took him so long to trust another woman at all. I hate her, but I wished I would have been wrong and he could be happy. And she's planned that trip with this other guy and not Hank. Here was I complaining that he didn't tell me, when the poor guy didn't know about it himself. I'm gonna tell him. And when that guy comes here, I try to find out who he is and tell Hank about it, maybe take a pic with my cell phone.
He turned around, but hissed in pain, loud enough for Emily to hear it. He tried to get in bed before she came in, but she was faster and saw him falling on his bed. "What are you doing?"
He wanted to lie at her, but he was just too mad. "I hate you, you betray my brother, when he was so good to you!"
"And what are you gonna do about it?" She laughed.
"I'm gonna tell him everything, about this guy and you and that trip that you and him want to make. St. Tropez, huh? You're such a whore!"
"You think he'll believe a drinker more than his girlfriend?"
"I'm his brother and he knows I wouldn't lie to him, not about this!"
"He also knows, that you never liked me and that, well, could make him doubt you."
"Never!" The bell was ringing and she got up. He tried to follow her, but she was too fast and then he saw Eddie coming in. "Dad, you need to help me."
Eddie looked at Emily and then at Evan. "What's wrong, son?"
"She, she's a whore. She has another man, and is leaving with this guy. She's betraying Hank. He likes her and she plays with his feelings. And she invited that guy to come here! Can you believe that? We have to call Hank and tell him about it, we have to throw her out that he hasn't to see this bitch again."
"What happened, Emily?"
"He heard, when I talked to you. My fault. But it won't matter anyway, right?"
"She called you, Dad? When? Why?" Evan was confused. He knew something was wrong, but he still couldn't put his finger on it. The painkiller gave him a hard time to think clearly.
Eddie was standing by Emily and she whispered something in his ear. He nodded. He took the sleeve of her shirt and ripped it down then hit her twice in the face.
"That's good, Dad, Hank wouldn't like it though that you hit her, but I understand. She deserved it for what she's doing to him."
Eddie came to Evan now. "Let me bring you back to your bed. Get some rest and I'm gonna take care of things. Don't worry."
Evan let himself be moved to bed. "Thanks, Dad." Then he saw Emily on his fathers side. "Bitch, don't let her touch me." He saw the syringe in her hand. "Dad, stop her, I don't want any medicine from her."
Eddie put all his weight on Evan and pushed his arms down. Evan was shocked, didn't understand what was happening, maybe he did, but didn't want to know. "Why, Daddy?" He said with tears in his eyes.
Emily knelt down next to him and put the needle deep into his arm, she slowly pressed the liquid into his vein. Eddie kissed her before he turned to his youngest son. "She is my wife. Mrs. Eddie Lawson. You could say she's your new Mom." They both laughed while Evan was feeling dizzy and his eyes heavy. He was very sleepy, hardly able to keep his eyes open. He closed them and they left after a few seconds. He didn't know what was going to happen, when Hank would come home, but he remembered now that it was his father who had picked him up earlier that day.
I have to write it down, before I forget! It took a lot of his strength, but he turned around at reached down under the bed. He grabbed the diary he was using since a month. He tried to write down what he knew about his father and Emily. His handwriting was bad, when he started and was worse when he finished. He wrote letter after letter so that it was readable at all. He managed to put the diary back to its place, before he lost all strength and darkness took over.