A Tour of faith
Nat was sitting with the rest of the band debating on whether or not to cancel the big end of summer tour. Nobody really felt like rehearsing anyway tears ran down Jesse's face and Nat put his arm around her. Alex sat in front of his drum set trying to cheer everyone up by playing strange rhythms with his sticks.
Copper said "Nat I have an idea but it's going to involve still going on the tour. None of us have the money it will cost to travel to Russia and search for Rosalina. The fans love her and they'll be upset when they find out about the accident."
Nat snapped "just get to the point Copper! I don't care about what the fans are going to think. I just want to know how I'll be able to hold her in my arms again."
Copper said "Nat I'm suggesting that we have the band go on tour and have a telethon to benefit the search for Rosalina. Then your dad and I will go to Russia while you're in school and she'll be home by Christmas."
Nat swallowed the air that he'd been holding and said "what if it takes longer than Christmas? How long do you expect me to keep raising my hopes only to have them dashed?"
Copper said "everything is going to be fine Nat. Please don't lose control like you did last night. Look at your little brother he misses her just as much as you do and he's held together very well."
Jesse said "Nat hasn't been crazy he's been very helpful. All the same I don't want to cancel the tour if it's a way to help us find Rosalina. I think Nat needs all of us to work as a team right now."
Nat smiled a sad smile and said "Jesse of course I need you guys. You guys are my family and families have to hold each other up."
Alex hugged his brother and said "Nat do you really think they'll find her? I miss her so much it almost feels like we're loosing mom again."
Nat said "dad and Copper will do the best they can. All we can do is hope for the best and that she'll be ok."
Dean said "Rosalina must be scared right now. She hated planes before this but was ok because Nat was always next to her. After what just happened to her I don't think she'll even fly with the band."
Nat said "guys you're scaring Alex. I'm going to go grab something that will help him calm down. If you guys laugh at him I'll never speak to you again."
Nat left the room and grabbed Mr. Rock bear out from under Alex's pillow. He came back into the room and handed the tiny bear to Alex. Alex squeezed the bear tightly and said "this is what I want Nat to be able to do with Rosalina."
Nat blushed and hugged his brother. Then he heard his cell phone ring and answered it on the first ring. Nat held his breath when he heard a girl say "I need you Nat Wolf."
Nat let out the breath and said "who are you? Copper if this is some kind of trick I'll- kick your butt!"
The girl said "I'm scared but I'm alright. I'm both close and far away and far away but close. We fight but we love each other. Have your father drive you to hospital near the statue of liberty and you'll see who I am."
Nat had millions of questions but his mouth wouldn't let them out. There was only one girl who made him feel like that and it was Rosalina. He said "alright I'll have my dad drive myself and the whole band up to that hospital. I hope you are who we think you are."
Nat ran out of the room and said "dad I think Rosalina is alive and she just called me. Either that or it was some crazed fan pretending to be her."
Mr. Wolf said "Nat if Rosalina is alive she's in Russia. It's not good judgment to travel around a strange city at night. Plus we wouldn't have any money to pay her medical bills."
Nat said "dad she's here in New York! She gave me a bunch of riddles like she always does. She said she's at the hospital next to the Statue of Liberty. She's needs me dad please drive me over there. I need to know that she's safe I don't think I can wait until morning."
Mr. Wolf said "alright Nat I'll take you as soon as rehearsal is over. I just want to take you though because if she's hurt badly I don't think she wants everybody staring at her."
Nat hugged his father and went to get his coat. Then he went into the guest room and said "Copper I have to go some where with dad. Is it ok if we end rehearsal early today?"
Copper said "we didn't really have much planed so I think we're done. Thanks for letting me know Nat. Have a good night."
Meanwhile Rosalina was lying in a hospital bed. She was scared and didn't remember what had happened to her. She just wanted Nat and the rest of the band to hug her and tell her it would be alright. A nurse came in and introduced herself as Jesse.
Nurse Jesse said "it's good to see you awake sunshine. You've been asleep for two days we were afraid that you were in a coma."
Rosalina put her head in her hands and sobbed. Nurse Jesse tried to comfort her but decided that it would be best to leave her alone. It wasn't long after Nurse Jesse had left when Rosalina felt a touch on her shoulder. Her arms, back, neck, shoulder ached from when the rescue worker didn't catch her. She gingerly pulled away and when she did she was looking into Nat's soft deep brown eyes.
Nat said "Rosie don't you ever scare me like that again! I need you Rosie more than you can ever understand."
Rosalina tried to sit up but fell back on the pillows in pain. Nat looked at her in panic and tried to rub her back. Rosalina said "I've been like this since I woke up. No one will tell me why I'm in so much pain. I don't remember much about the crash. I just knew that I needed you Nat. Please don't touch me Nat I know you're scared but please don't touch my arms, neck, back, or shoulders."
Nat said "Rosie I promised Alex I'd give you a hug from him and the rest of the band. You know how little kids are they think hugs solve everything. If I can't hug you I'll have to kiss you."
Rosalina sighed as Nat bent over to kiss her on the lips. Then Mr. Wolf came in and said "Nat we have to go home soon. You know how your brother hates being left alone."
Nat said "dad Rosalina is in a lot of pain right now. I'm trying to do something that will ease it."
Mr. Wolf said "a kiss won't end her pain Nat. Haven't the doctors given her any medication for her pain?"
Rosalina said "no they haven't and I'm in so much pain I can't even sit up. Nat thought a kiss would help me not feel it as much."
Nat leaned in and quickly kissed Rosalina. Tears stung his eyes but he refused to cry in front of her. Luckily she didn't see the tears threatening to fall down his cheeks. Mr. Wolf told Rosalina that he hoped she would be feeling better soon then both he and Nat left the room.
When Nat and Mr. Wolf got home Alex was waiting in the living room. He saw the tears in Nat's eyes and knew that Rosalina was far from being alright. Alex asked "Nat is Rosalina going to be coming to band rehearsals again soon? Did you give her a hug for me and the rest of the band? Mom always said that hugs were the best medicine for pain and fear."
Nat felt his anger boil over and he snapped "Alex Rosalina is going to be lucky she can walk! Shut up about what mom always said! You don't even remember her Alex!"
Mr. Wolf said "Nat how could you talk to your brother that way. He just asked how Rosalina was. I want both of you to go to bed. It's been a long day for all of us."
Alex and Nat went upstairs to bed. Alex climbed into bed without even looking at Nat. It wasn't what he said that made him upset. It was the fact that what he said was true. He didn't remember their mom.
Nat said "Al please talk to me. I'm worried about you. I'm sorry that I hurt you Rosalina is just in a lot of pain and I panicked. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I love you little brother."
Alex sighed and said "Nat I don't care about what you said. Let's just go to sleep Nat."
The next morning Nat and the band went to the hospital to see Rosalina. Nat asked "how do you feel Rosie? Is your pain any less then it was last night?"
Rosalina said "my neck doesn't hurt as much but my back is killing me. I could use a back rub Nat. Is that still an option Nat? I love you please do this for me."
Alex said "Rosalina do you need a hug?"
Rosalina said "I could use one but let Nat and I talk first."
Nat said "could you guys give us a minute alone please?"
The band left the room leaving Nat and Rosalina to talk. Nat said "Rosie have the doctors told you why you're in so much pain?"
Rosalina said "Nat don't get upset. They think I slipped a disk in my lower back and I have to go in for surgery. They can't give me anything for the pain because I'm having the disk removed tonight. I'm scared to death Nat please help me."
Nat said "Rosie just promise you won't leave me. I'm going to have the rest of the band come back in now. Do you want them to know what's going on or should I keep it between me and you?"
Rosalina said "don't tell them please. I don't want to worry anyone Nat. The only person who needs to know besides you and my dad is Copper. I already told him so you can just keep it to yourself. I'm really tired Nat could you hold my hand while I fall asleep?"
Nat said "I'm going to hold your hand and not let go of it. Now close your eyes and go to sleep Rosalina."
Then rest of the band came back into the hospital room and found Nat sitting beside Rosalina on the bed holding her hand. He'd fallen asleep with her leaning against his shoulder. Mr. Wolf gently shook Nat awake and gave him a hug. Then Nat realized that Alex hadn't left the room with the rest of the band.
Mr. Wolf heard crying coming from a small area behind the door. He said "Alex we know you're back there. It's ok you can come out now."
Alex ran to his father tears pouring down his cheeks. Nat asked "Alex how much of that did you hear? Rosalina asked me to keep what's wrong with her a secret Al. If you open up your mouth and the rest of the band members find out she'll break up with me."
Alex sniffed and said "I heard enough to know that Rosalina is having surgery."
Nat said "yes she's having surgery on her back. She didn't want anyone to know but me her dad and Copper."
Alex said "is she going to be ready for the tour in two months?"
Mr. Wolf said "Nat the nurses asked me to tell you that we need to let her rest. I know you love her but we can come see her tomorrow."
Nat said "dad I promised that I'd hold her hand and not let go of it. If she wakes up and she's by herself she will freak out."
Dean said "Nat they're also giving her the drug that will put her to sleep for the surgery. She won't even notice that you're not with her until after the surgery."
Nat said "dad will she even remember that I was here? I know that after mom had surgery she didn't remember Alex was her son."
Mr. Wolf said "Nat, Alex come here there's no way to tell how she'll be after she comes out. Drugs and pain make people do crazy things. Sometimes pain makes you hurt the people you love the most."
Nat ran back over to Rosalina and whispered "Rosie please remember I love you. Nothing is ever going to change that. Most importantly the band is your family. Please be ok Rosie – I need to see you smile because it keeps me on the ground."
Nat and the band left the room. Copper said "how about I take the entire band out for lunch?"
Nat said "I just want to go home and go to sleep. The rest of you can go don't worry about me."
Jesse said "Nat are you ok? Rosalina would want you to go with us. You know she hates it when you mope."
Nat said "I'm not moping! I just want to get some sleep because I didn't sleep well last night."
Copper said "Nat I know Rosalina being in the hospital scares you. Sometimes the best thing to do when something scares you is to forget about it. The rest of us are scared to Nat we're just hiding it so we don't worry her."
Nat said "Dean I'm ok I just need to deal with this my own way."
Alex said "Nat remember when you said that going to practice would make me feel better? You were right and now I think you need to come to lunch with us."
Nat said "this is an entirely different thing Alex. I needed you at rehearsal you don't need me at lunch."
Mr. Wolf said "you need this for yourself Nat. We are just trying to help you relax. Rosalina will pull through this. It's just a simple surgery yes she's going to be in a lot of pain afterwards but that's what you and the rest of the band are for."
Nat said "I just wish I could have held her hand a little while longer. She's probably woken up and is thinking that I ditched her. I can't lose her she means the world to me dad. I could tour the world and have all the faith but never find another girl like her."
Mr. Wolf hugged him and said "Rosalina is a smart girl I'm sure she knows that. Speaking of your tour Rosalina is going to have to stay in the hospital for at least two months. What you said about faith gave me an idea. This tour will be different from the others because it will be broadcasted on live television. Rosalina will be able to see your tour from start to finish. We will call this tour the tour of faith because we never lost hope that she would be ok."
Nat said "dad that's the best idea you've ever had! I have to tell Rosalina as soon as she wakes up. I'll come to lunch with you guys so we can talk about this more."