Accident? Tadashi's mind couldn't seem to process the words, what kind of accident? Where they okay? What happened? Where they alive? Oh God Hiro….
"Yo Tadashi everything okay?" Wasabi asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. Tadashi tried to answer, but his limbs froze in place with the phone still against his ear.
"Mr. Hamada, are you still their?" Officer Jarrus asked. Tadashi tried to answer, but he couldn't get his body to cooperate, mind reeling from the news. Concerned, Fred gently pried the phone from Tadashi's hand and said,
"Hello this is Fred, Tadashi's b-…uh friend… He kind of froze, what's going on?"
"Tadashi, is everything okay?" Wasabi asked as Fred talked to the officer. Tadashi couldn't even turn his head to look at Wasabi, his mind still reeling from the news he had received.
"What!" Fred exclaimed. "Oh… yea I'll get him down their! Thanks-er well...maybe not… never mind. Come on guys, we need to go!" Fred shouted, hanging up Tadashi's phone.
"What's going on?" Honey Lemon asked in concern.
"Tadashi's parents where in a crash. Wasabi can you drive us to San Fransokyo Hospital?" Fred asked, tentatively reaching out and touching Tadashi's shoulder. Honey Lemon gasped, covering his mouth and asked,
"A-are they…?"
"He wouldn't say. Now we need to go!" Fred snapped, gently pushing Tadashi forward, causing Tadashi to stumble slightly before his legs started cooperating again. Fred quickly guided Tadashi through the crowd of people, hastily throwing apologies over his shoulder as he shoved people out of the way. Tadashi was sure he would have collapsed to the floor by now if it wasn't for Fred practically holding him up as they moved through the crowd. As they approached the doors, Professor Callaghan stepped in their path saying,
"Mr. Hamada! Where are you off to in such a hurry? I wanted to congra-"
"Listen we really don't have time for this," Fred snapped, startling Professor Callaghan.
"Mr. Lee tha-"
"Tadashi's parents where in a car crash and we need to get to the hospital," Honey Lemon gently explained. The professor's eyes widened momentarily before he stepped out of their way saying,
"I'm so sorry Mr. Hamada…I will explain the situation to everyone. I will contact you later…"
"Thanks, let's go!" Gogo exclaimed, running past the professor with Honey Lemon and Wasabi hot on her heels. Fred started to guide Tadashi out, but stopped when Professor Callaghan suddenly reached out and grabbed Tadashi's shoulder saying,
"If there is anything you need, don't hesitate to contact me." Tadashi looked over at him and numbly nodded his head, eyes glossy. Fred led him over to the glass doors and towards the parking lot where Wasabi had already gotten the car and brought it over to the curb closest to the building. The pair climbed into the car and they were off.
As they drove through the city, Tadashi snapped out of his daze and found himself getting more and more frustrated as Wasabi drove, going what felt like Tadashi, well below the speed limit. Tadashi tried to keep himself calm and not snap at Wasabi, but he was quickly losing his patience. Tadashi couldn't take it anymore though when he stopped at a stop light when the light turned yellow even if he could have easily made the light.
"Did you really have to stop for that one!" Tadashi snapped glaring at a car as it drove by in the lane next to theirs.
"The light was yellow!" Wasabi argued.
"You could have made it!" Tadashi snapped.
"Yellow means slow down! Not speed up!" Wasabi cried as the light turned green. Fred placed a hand on Tadashi's shoulder and said,
"Tadashi, snapping at him won't get us their faster." Tadashi wanted to say something, but the look on Fred's face made him take a breath and forced himself not to let out a frustrated growl. A part of Tadashi angrily said he could have gotten to the hospital much faster, another said he'd probably get into an accident. Tadashi shut his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. He was already so tired…He felt someone gently take his hand and opened his eyes to see it was Fred. He tiredly looked at Fred and whispered,
"I'm sorry…" Fred gave his hand a squeeze and whispered,
"It's okay. I can't imagine how hard this must be." Tadashi tried to smile, but he found it took to much energy to do so. "It's okay," Fred assured when he saw Tadashi's half smile. "You don't always have to be the strong one." Tadashi weakly nodded his head, leaning heavily against Fred and felt his boyfriend wrap his free arm around Tadashi. Normally Gogo would mock them mercilessly when they acted too "mushy gushy" but apparently even she couldn't make jokes right now.
Tadashi tried to convince himself that his parents where okay as they pulled up to the hospital. Maybe they just got scraped up badly and needed stitches or worst case they had a broken bone or two. They were fine, he was just being ridiculous. Tadashi kept repeating this to himself as they raced into the hospital, but he really couldn't convince himself that it was true.
The group ran into the hospital and when they reached the receptionists desk they all started talking trying to get the poor woman's attention.
"Everyone please!" She cried. "One at a time! Who got here first?"
"We're together!" Fred said.
"I'm looking for my parents, last name Hamada." She quickly started typing into her computer, asking Tadashi for more information as needed. After a minute her face fell and she said, "I am so sorry Mr. Hamada…it appears…you're parents….they died before they reached the hospital…." Tadashi felt his body go cold and mind go numb. No….this couldn't be happening….they couldn't be…gone…Tadashi felt his legs shaking and give out underneath him. Strong arms wrapped around him before he could hit the ground and gently guided him to a chair. The person sat down next to him and left their hands on his shoulders. Someone else took Tadashi's hands and squeezed them. He finally heard a fuzzy voice filter through his ears saying,
"Tadashi? Tadashi can you hear me?" Tadashi finally focused on the figure and saw Fred looking at him with a mixture of concern and sadness.
"T-th-the-they're…gone…" Tadashi whispered, voice cracking. "I-I…" Tadashi couldn't finish before he completely broke down. Fred wrapped his arms around him and pulled him against his chest. Shaking with sobs, Tadashi wrapped his arms around Fred as he rested his head on top of Tadashi's head. The hands on his shoulders started rubbing them in a soothing matter as he felt more bodies press against him.
Tadashi knew he probably looked like an idiot, but he didn't care. His parents and Hiro where gone…he'd never see th-…Hiro. Oh God Hiro. He was just a child. Tadashi felt his throat tighten as he thought of his baby brother whose life was cut far too short. It was over before it even had begun.
He couldn't breathe, he had nothing left. His family was gone. His parents, his guardians, his inspiration gone, and Hiro….Hiro…his best friend, his precious baby brother, dead. He had so much to live for…he was going to change the world. But now he wouldn't have the chance to do so, and it was all his fault. They were in a car crash. They were only driving to see Tadashi; he killed his parents and brother. He was a murderer. Tadashi screamed into Fred's chest, not caring if he looked ridiculous or disturbed the people around him. It didn't matter, nothing mattered anymore. He wished he was in the damned car as well so he'd be dead as well. He didn't want to be alive when his family was dead. Before Tadashi could sink further into his dark thoughts someone asked,
"Hiro Hamada?" Fred partially pulled away from Tadashi, keeping an arm around his waist saying,
"We're here for him." Tadashi slowly looked up at the doctor and croaked,
"I-I…I thought he was dead…" The doctor kneeled down in front of Tadashi and said,
"No, he's alive…he's scared and asking for his brother. Is that you?" Tadashi numbly nodded his head, unable to form words. The doctor nodded and said,
"I can take you to him." All Tadashi could do was numbly nod his head and follow the doctor, his mind not quiet processing what he was hearing. Was Hiro really alive? He didn't want to get his hopes up only to have them crushed again. But would the doctor lie to him? Wouldn't he only say Hiro was okay if he really meant it?
Tadashi could barely breathe as the doctor led Tadashi to Hiro's room. He didn't even glance over at Fred when he linked his hand with Tadashi's. All he could think about was Hiro. Was he going to be okay? Was he seriously hurt? If he was asking for Tadashi she had to be for the most part okay…right? All Tadashi would do now was sent a prayer that Hiro would be okay because Hiro was all he had left and he wasn't sure what he'd do without his baby brother. Soon the doctor stopped and said,
"I'm sorry but I can only allow one visitor at a time right now." Wordlessly everyone besides Fred started walking back to the waiting room. Fred gave Tadashi's hand a squeeze saying,
"If you need us just come get us. We'll hang out here okay?" He then pecked Tadashi's cheek before letting his hand go and following the others. Tadashi took a deep breath and stepped inside the room, eyes instantly falling on his little brother.
Tadashi felt like he was punched in the gut when he looked at his brother. He looked so small and fragile, lying in the giant bed hooked up to so many machines, his small frame covered in bandages and bruises, his eyes closed as he softly breathed in and out. Tadashi wanted to scoop him up in his arms and hold him and never let him go. But he was afraid he might hurt Hiro if he did that.
"We just want to keep him here overnight to make sure nothing is seriously wrong with him." The doctor explained. "He had several cuts that needed stitches but other than that he should be fine to go in the morning." Tadashi nodded his head and slowly walked over to the chair that was beside the bed and sank down onto it, the doctor wordlessly leaving.
"Hiro…I'm so sorry…." Tadashi whispered, carefully cradling Hiro's hand in one of his own and reaching out to run a hand through Hiro's hair causing Hiro to stir and tiredly mumble,
"Dashi…?"
"Yea buddy, it's me. I'm here, you're safe." Tadashi whispered.
"Mama…? Papa…?" Hiro whispered, eyes growing watery. Fighting back his own tears Tadashi whispered,
"I'm…it's just us now buddy…" Hiro started to tremble as tears streamed down his face.
"A-a-are t-t-they dead?" Hiro whimpered. Unable to fight his own tears Tadashi said,
"Y-yea…they're gone…" Hiro started to cry even harder, Tadashi tried to calm him down but he continued to cry. Tadashi felt his heart clench as he carefully climbed onto the bed and wrapped his arms around Hiro. His brother instantly buried his face in Tadashi's chest, shaking uncontrollably. Tadashi wanted to curl up in a ball and cry right along with Hiro, but he couldn't. He was the oldest sibling; Hiro needed him to be strong. So he would be.