Evan had woken up several times, but had never regained full consciousness. Hank had let him known that he was there taking care of him and than his brother had been out again. Hank felt horrible, he had studied so many years and worked as a doctor for so long and there wasn't much he could do for his brother now.
His father hadn't brought what Hank had asked for. Only one thin blanket, instead of water he got a bottle of vodka to drink and some sandwiches. No medications, not Hank's bag, not even an ordinary first aid kid, no clothes for Evan. The couple hadn't left the light on.
Evan stirred and slowly woke up. He tried to open his eyes once, twice and at the third time he was able to keep them open for a few seconds, but they closed halfway again. All he could see through the little slid was darkness. He was not lying in his bed, that was for sure. He was so cold and tried to find a blanket. He felt one around his legs and got himself out of it to wrap it around him.
That was the moment, when he realized that he wasn't alone. His head fell back to rest at...legs? Who is that and where are we?But Evan was too tired to figure out what was going on, he was dizzy again and felt sick, his body ached all over, especially his side. He tried to bent over, but a sharp pain let him cry in agony and fell back. Tears were running down on his face and he screamed for help.
The cry in pain got Hank out of his dreamless sleep, he was confused at first, but when he heard his brother screaming for help the confusion and the rest tiredness was gone. "Evan! What's wrong?"
Evan wasn't able to say a word, he wasn't even sure that the legs he was lying on and his brothers voice weren't just new hallucinations. Breathing caused more pain and the rising panic caused him to breathe faster.
"Evan, I'm here. You have to try and stay calm, you hear me kiddo?" Hank got his legs away from his brother to kneel beside him. "Come on, I'll breathe you through this, you're ready?"
"Haa...ank? You...'re reeeeeally there?"
"Yes, Ev, I'm here and I won't leave you. Just breathe with me, okay?" Hank took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Try to do like I do." He took another deep breath and let it out slowly. He knew Evan tried hard, but he couldn't make it. "I know you're scared, but I'm here and I won't let anybody hurt you again. You're safe now, so please try to relax."
"Can't...hurts...sooo mu...pain."
"I know, Evan, I'm so sorry." Hank heard the tears in his own voice. He laid down beside him and rested Evan's head on his arm. He held him tight, so Evan could hear his heartbeat. He had helped him, when he was a boy, so maybe it would do now.
"Cry?...pain?"
"No don't worry, I'm okay, kiddo. I'm just so sorry that you're in pain. Try to relax."
"No...no fault. Hear your heart." Evan said and tried to take deep breathes like his brother had showed him. Breathing hurt like hell, but he wanted to make Hank stop crying. His breathing slowed down slowly, but it did at least.
"That's it, Evan." Hank was more than relieved that his brother finally calmed down. "You're doing a good job."
"Henry?"
"Yes?"
"I don't feel good...think I..." Evan couldn't finish, he felt his stomachs contents made their way up to his throat.
Hank reacted with the speed and calmness of the doctor in him. He helped his brother to bent over and run gently circles with his hand on Evan's back. "It's okay, just let it all out." His voice sounded reassuring even though it was anything but okay. He was sure his brother had lost around eighteen lbs so far, well it was a guess, but it was part of his job to see what was wrong with people and weight was one factor. And he really didn't want him to lose anymore.
"Hank?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry, but I guess I just ruined your shoes. Bad day for your clothes to be around me, huh? Told you to stay away from me."
"That wasn't today Evan, you've been out for many hours and I'd never stay away... Hey, Evan? Hey stay with me, don't you pass out on me again, you hear me?"
Evan's breathing didn't sound good and his body was tensioned by the pain in his ribs. Not a good combination. Hank was afraid that one of the broken ribs could perforate his lung, if that didn't happen already. Agony was written on his brothers face, but no loud came over his lips and now it was Hank's turn to panic.
"Talk to me, Evan. Scream, if you're in pain, don't keep it inside. It's just gonna hurt you more." He shifted him in a position that should release any possible pressure on the ribs. Evan's eyes were still open, but he seemed so far away and Hank suddenly knew that is brother didn't want to keep his screams, it was more that his mind was trying to shut the intense pain out. His brother was close to fall to unconsciousness and he couldn't allow that.
"Don't you dare to leave me alone, Evan R. Lawson! I came here just for you!" He reached out for his brothers hand and placed his other hand above his heart. "Scream, squeeze my hand, hell break it, if that's what it takes to release some of the pain. Just don't leave me."
His brother seemed to gain some control back and what started with low groans ended in several long and loud screams. Everyone of them broke a piece of the doctors heart. But he knew it was better this way than have him going into shock.
The light went on again and Emily and Eddie came down. "Son, can't you control your brother? There's no way to watch TV with this annoying noise down here."
He was going to tell his father to not call him son anymore, but Evan's pain had to be stopped and he would do his best to make it happen. "He's in agony, Eddie! Bring me some painkillers to help him!"
"And tell me, Henry, why exactly should Indo that?"
Even after what had happened until now, Hank still had a hard time to believe what he just heard. "Because he's your son! One that does everything to make you love him. He wants you to be his father. Isn't that reason enough?"
"No. Don't care about it."
"Eny?" Evan's voice was weak and nobody seemed to hear him. He heard his father and Hank talk about him, but he wasn't aware enough to understand what was going on. All he knew was that he was in too much pain and that he was going to be sick again and that he needed his brothers help for this and that he needed Hank to hold him tight, cause the new sickness would make his pain even more unbearable. He cleared his throat, speaking up hurt his lung, but he needed Hank right now. "Henry?"
Hank turned around and was with his brother in no time. "Sick again?" He didn't have to wait for an answer, he could see it in Evan's face. He helped him to bent over and stroke his hair. "Just let it out."
The pain went from worse to worst in one heartbeat. The pain was too much for Evan. He finally broke down, screaming, groaning, crying, convulsive sobbing. "Eny, help me. Please make the pain stop! Eny, please!"
It was heartbreaking to hear the pleading and not being able to do anything more than keep him in the best position and to hold on to him. Tears watered his eyes and he looked up at Emily. "You're a doctor, it's your duty to help people in pain. Emily please give him something. Give me a syringe, I'm gonna do it myself. All I need is the bag in my car."
To his surprise she gave Eddie the gun and said. "I'll get it."
"Please, I can't stand the pain anymore. Take it away, Hank."
Oh God, Evan, if I could only take away your pain and go through it for you. I'm so sorry, little brother. Please, just be okay. "I know, Evan, it hurts and I'm gonna do something about it in a minute, just waiting for my bag, okay? I promise you will be better in a moment." He saw Emily coming down with his bag and sighed in relief.
"Go away from him, I'll give him the meds."
"No! He's my brother and I don't want you to touch him again. I'm doing it."
"You go away from him. You can prepare the meds, I give you that one. But, I will give it to him. And I swear by God, if you make one wrong move your father is gonna shoot the little bastard! It's either my rules or no relief for him. Your choice."
"Henry, please, help me! You promised to help me, please!"
"Okay, give me my back and I'll prepare the syringe." Hank got up and walked away from Evan to the opposite wall.
"Hank, don't leave me! Help me! Hold me, please!"
Dr. Lawson didn't know how much longer he could handle this. There was the determination to ease his brothers pain and the urge to hold him as tight as possible. "It's okay, Evan. Emily will give you something for your pain and then I'll be back with you in just a minute." He was getting the medicine ready so that Emily didn't have to do anything else than to give it to his brother.
"No! No! Don't let her give me another shot! I'm begging you, Henry!"
"I know your scared, Evan, but it's okay, it's just pain medication. See? I give it to her, I prepared it."
Hank couldn't bear the terrified look in his brothers eyes. He hated to let this happen to him, but he had to go through this to get control over Evan's pain. He closed his eyes for a moment, when Emily went down at the place where he was kneeling just a few moments ago. He wanted to help his brother, but still felt like betraying him and he didn't want to keep that image in his head.
He heard Emily say that she's done it and opened his eyes again. Emily stepped back and he went on his brothers side again. Evan was suspiciously quiet all of a sudden and he was surprised just how fast the medicine had worked. But he saw the look in Evan's eyes that he had earlier as if his mind was trying to shut everything out again. "Hey Evan, it's okay. Stay with me for a few minutes more and then you can sleep, ok? He laid his warm hand on Evan's cold cheek.
"Henry, why did you let her do this to me?"
"You were in pain and I had no choice so I let her …."
Evan was becoming more and more incoherent, but he had to tell Hank... he just had to let him know..."She switched syringes." It was barely a whisper, but to the doctors ears it seemed like someone had been yelling in his ears.
"What?!" He tried to hold on to the hope that it was just Evan's fear and panic talking or seeing things, but a look in his eyes said all. The drug he had been given was already starting to work.
Evan was desperately holding on to Hanks hand, like it was a link to sanity to reality, it was getting harder.
"What the fuck did you give him you horrible bitch?!"
"Step back from him, Henry." Eddie answered instead.
"NO!"
"You step back or I'll shoot him and will let him bleed to death here."
"I have to leave for a moment again, Evan, try to be strong, I'm right back!" In the corner of his eyes he saw Eddie giving the gun back to Emily and then he heard them whisper. "You keep Hank away and I get Evan and we're on the road." - "What about him?" - "We'll sedate him to give us some time and if he wakes up he can do whatever he wants. We'll be too far for him to find us."
"Evan, listen to me carefully. Please, try to focus! They are going to take you away from me. Please no matter how much pain you feel, try to hold on to me and I do the same. You hear me?" He whispered in Evan's ear now. Well, he got a nod. He wasn't sure that he really had gone through, but he just had to hope for it.
He held Evan tightly. The younger man was already mumbling about their mother kissing him with her bloody death mouth. Well, so far to the nod.
"Hank, get away from him!"
"NO WAY!"
"You get away from him, or I'll come make you let him go."
"Nothing you can do will let me go off of him. Nothing!"
Eddie came down now and pulled at his youngest sons legs. Hank didn't let go and Evan felt a new wave of pain rolling over his body. Eddie got up to get a better grip on Evan and he was pulling harder. Hank got up himself and held him back. Evan was screaming in pain. That got on for another minute.
Suddenly a shot filled the air. Hank looked up surprised and even Evan was coherent enough to be still for a short moment. When he felt the wet run down his face, Hank noted that Emily had shot at him. But he didn't let go off his brother. And the fight over Evan went for another round, while the poor young man was fighting the drug and the pain that thread to make him crazy.
Another minute later, Hank's world was spinning, his legs were giving in and he fell on his knees, still holding on to his brother. A moment later he fell down on the floor and was dizzy and sick, but he still didn't let go of Evan, who had fell with his brother and was screaming in even more pain, if that was possible at all.
Hank was trembling. He felt losing grip on Evan. He spoke one last thread: "You're not gonna take him. You do and hurt him again and I'll hunt you down and kill you."
Evan was pulled away from him. Hank said a low "NO!" and for a moment Evan seemed to take over the drug, remembering his brother had told him to hold on to him as tightly as possible. His hands reached forward and he got a hold of Hanks hands and that gave the doctor a bit more energy to fight as well.
"Stop fighting, Evan, I'm gonna bring you to our old nice places remember? You will meet many old friends."
All of a sudden all the memories from his childhood came back. "NO! Hank don't let him to it!"
The brothers fought again with all energy was left.
But all fighting was useless, Eddie pulled Evan several times and the entwined fingers of the brothers lost grip. Evan was screaming for Hank, before he finally understood his brother couldn't help him. He yelled at Hank. "My diaries, Henry! First three years!" That was it. With no hope the drug took over and drowned him in another bad trip.
Hank tried to crawl towards Eddie, but didn't have the energy anymore. His head was hurting, spinning and he saw black spots all over the room. Evan was out of sight now. Emily and Eddie had taken him away. Hank touched his temple and thought that it wasn't a bad wound, just a scratch and that he would get up and follow them wherever they would take his baby brother, but the darkness finally embraced him.