One day Logan and Zack were at the Youth Center training in the newly built boxing ring. Zack was holding the hand targets. "That's it Logan... that's it... keep on concentrating...," he said as Logan kept throwing punches and hitting the target as Zack moved them around.
Suddenly after he kicked a target with a crescent kick, he drew in close and, in a flash, pressed his fist to Zack's midsection. "Man if you keep that up in the Ninja Finals Tournament you, Tommy, and Jason have got it in the bag," Zack said chuckling, nodding at Logan then glancing over at Jason and Tommy, who were training on their own.
"Maybe, Zack, but, we still have to train harder to better our chances," Loan grunted, then turned his head when he heard young voices laughing.
A smiled crossed his lips as he spied Angel and Dana over at a table near the wall, laughing and talking with Kimberly and Ashley. He slipped from the ring, snagging his water bottle on the way and headed over to the group. Reaching their table, he asked, casually, "And what do you find so funny ladies?"
"Oh nothing much just girl stuff," Ashley smirked, giving him a knowing look.
"Translation you're talking about teenagers," he said, giving a snort. Dana and Angel just laughed. Shaking his head, he began to walk off but a teenage male sitting alone in a far corner caught his eye making him pause and look around more closely.
What he saw was the young male seemed nervous, fidgeting in his seat while staring at something or someone with a great deal of concentration. He followed the youngster's gaze and saw he was watching Tommy and Jason spar. He didn't recognize the kid but that wasn't too unusual at the center.
Shrugging, he turned away and made for Billy, sitting in another section of the room, working on his invention at a large work table. "Hey Billy, how's the invention coming along?" he asked, genially, sitting down while taking a sip from his drink, choosing to face the front entrance of the room.
"Still a few kinks to work out," Billy grunted, distracted, his eyes on the screw he was tightening. "Hey, isn't it a little warm out a for a sweat shirt?" He asked out of the blue.
"Huh?" Logan blinked, confused. Billy paused only a moment to point off across the room. Frowning, Logan saw another teenager just walked into the center looking nervous. The teen wore a sweatshirt despite the heat and was rubbing his wrists as if they hurt.
However, Logan didn't see anything suspicious about either teens behaviors, teens were odd even at the best of times. "He might be just cold blooded," he said, carelessly.
Billy just shrugged, not caring either way, as he returned his attention to his invention. Logan split his attention between watching Billy work and keeping an eye on the two teens across the room. When Billy took a break, he drew Logan into a discussion about the Ninja Finals.
"I'm telling you Logan, the team to beat this year is Hamburg…" Billy began to say, warming up to his subject when his eyes caught sight of another stranger in the room. "...what is that guy doing?" he said, frowning, staring over Logan's shoulder.
Turning partially around, Logan stared at the teen Billy was asking about. It was the one he'd already noted earlier, only the kid was no longer looking over at the sparring Tommy and Jason but over at a mat. "From the looks of it, he's watching Trini practice," Logan said, easily. He watched as Trini went through some Kung Fu moves.
"He seems to be paying her a little too much attention and is behaving way too suspiciously to my mind," Billy said, darkly.
"He doesn't mean anything by it Billy that's just the way he is," Logan said soothingly. He knew about the guy and was not concerned about his odd behavior.
"How can you say that? Do you know him?" Billy demanded.
"I know of him. You really shouldn't make such snap judgments about people until you actually meet and talk to them, Billy. It leads you to make the wrong assumptions about them," Logan warned.
"What do you mean?" Billy asked, surprised.
"That young fellow has autism. It's a condition that prevents him from expressing his emotions or being able to interact with others in social situations. Autistics are often thought of as cold and unfeeling but they're not and they are definitely not stupid or mentally challenged, usually just the opposite."
Billy blinked at him in shocked surprise then turned his head to stare at the male in question again. "Is that why he looks at her so intensely?"
"It means he's particularly fascinated by martial arts not because it's a girl or guy doing it, probably doesn't even notice that. When autistics are totally taken with a certain subject, they put their whole attention into it to the point of seeming rude, unlike us. Their brain patterns allow them to absorb every little nuance of what is going on and duplicate it with nearly uncanny accuracy. Unfortunately, their single minded concentration makes people uneasy but that's when people must be more understanding and ask before automatically suspecting them of something or chewing them out for something they can't help," Logan explained, patiently.
Billy thought deeply about that while continuing to stare at the other teen. Logan smiled a little, glad he'd made Billy realize making snap judgments about someone was wrong. He watched as the boy under discussion kept staring at Trini for a little while longer then his eyes drifted to another sparring pair when she was done.
A voice from behind him made him snap his head back around. "Hey!"
Standing there was boy about his own age, wearing dark jeans, a sleeveless black tee, with tennis shoes on his feet. He had light brown hair and brown eyes.
"You Logan Elivro?" he asked.
"Last time I checked," Logan said easily, leaning back in his chair.
A sly grin tugged at the male's mouth as he introduced himself. "I'm Chuck Allen from Hamburg High," jabbing at thumb at himself.
Logan nodded. "Yeah, I've heard of you...part of their Ninja Team."
"That's me! What do ya say to you and me sparring a little before the competition, eh?" Chuck asked, arching an eyebrow at Logan.
"What... you can't wait a couple weeks?"
"Let's just say I'd like to scope out the competition."
Logan gave him a cool, appraising stare then slowly shook his head. "Nah, I don't think so," he said firmly, turning away from Chuck to look at Billy again. Over his shoulder Chuck fumed.
"Are you afraid to spar with me?" he demanded, angrily.
Logan glanced back at him, eyes narrowed, but his manner still calm when he said, "No, just patient." Then he turned away again, proceeding to ignore Chuck.
Chuck was now red faced and furious at Logan's attitude. "You're a whimp... all talk, no bite!" he jeered. But Logan allowed the insults to roll off his back.
He continued to harass Logan as the other made a circuit of the gym. It was when Logan was lifting weights with Tommy spotting him that Chuck, after hurling a few more testosterone laden insults and still not getting the desired response, finally backed off and went somewhere else in the center. After finishing his set, Logan wiped himself off with a towel while Tommy held out his bottle which Logan took a moment later and drank deeply.
"Bout time that idiot stopped yammering and left," Tommy observed, disgust in his tone.
Logan nodded. "Guy's got a serious attitude problem." Suddenly, the sound of raised, angry voices made them both whip around to see where and who it was coming from.
"LEAVE ME ALONE YOU RETARD!" Chuck barked, face and manner furious as he threatened the autistic teenager who was standing nearby and had been apparently watching the boy work out on the punching bag. Chuck was now in the kid's face and threatening him with one of his gloved hands.
The teen was looking at the floor, arms crossed over his chest defensively. "I…I...I was just trying to tell you…," the boy tried to explain when Chuck cut him off rudely.
"I don't need some retard telling me how to kick so why don't you get out of my face before I…" he snarled, drawing back a fist but gasped in the next instant when someone grabbed his wrist. He turned his head to glare at Logan who was giving him a hard, cold stare.
Before Chuck could yank his fist out of the other male's hand, Logan growled, "So when did you want that sparring match?"
A slow, cruel smile curled Chuck's lips and he stopped struggling. "How about right now, hot shot?" He asked, sneeringly.
"Deal!" Logan released Chuck's wrist and stalked off to gear up.
A few minutes later, the pair faced off in the ring with Tommy and Jason in Logan's corner. The rest of his friends gathered close to the ring to watch. Ashley climbed up so she could speak to him and said, "You go show him he's not the big dog around here," then gave him a peck on the cheek for good luck.
"I plan to," Logan said putting in his mouth guard then slapped his gloves together before walking to the middle of the ring to meet Chuck.
The two circled each other a bit, feeling each other out before Chuck charged forward throwing a frontal kick then a couple roundhouses that Logan blocked taking several steps back. Chuck then tried to follow up with a punch which Logan deflected with one hand then back handed Chuck hard across the face with the other. Going with the blow Chuck tried to nail Logan with a round house which Logan ducked under then followed up with a spin kick nailing him in the face, sending him to the floor.
Logan stood over him in a fighting stance and stared down. "Still think I'm all talk?" he demanded coldly. Chuck glared up at him for only a moment before curling up and leaping to his feet again.
After blocking a couple more blows Logan tried to get him with a hopping side kick but Chuck stepped out of the way then grabbed Logan, driving a knee into the guy's gut. After pushing his opponent back, Chuck nailed Logan with a crescent kick then turned to hit with a side kick sending Logan back to the corner. Logan lost his balance, tripping himself. He made a grab for the corner post to steady himself. Looking up, he saw just in time, Chuck charging him with a leg coming in high. Time seemed to slow down as Logan watched the leg's progress as it came down, took late realizing where it would hit. Before he could react enough to get out of the way, the blow came down on his forearm, breaking it but he didn't flinch as he hit the mat.
Ignoring the pain and the people shouting angrily from below the ring, Logan brought up a leg and nailed Chuck hard with a side kick, sending the male backward. Getting to his feet quickly, Logan, rage on his face, lunged forward nailing Chuck with a crescent kick then a spin kick, getting close enough to his opponent to jab an elbow to the face with his good arm. Without a pause, Logan hit Chuck with a side kick then leaped into the air, spinning to nail Chuck with a kick hard enough to send the teen out of the ring to land forcefully on his back on the unforgiving floor.
Staggering a bit, Logan walked to the ropes and leaned forward to scowl down at his opponent who was out cold for the moment. His friends stood nearby in shocked silence for a moment before charging the ring and climbing up to see how badly Logan was hurt. No one bothered with Chuck on the floor.
"LOGAN ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?" Ashley shouted, her voice anxious and worried.
He nodded, despite his arm hurting fiercely. He hid it behind him as they charged forward. "Yeah I'm fine."
"Don't lie to me Logan! Your arm is broken. Now let me see it," Kimberly demanded, trying to get a look at it.
"Leave me be, I'm fine, " he insisted, avoiding her.
"Then show us the arm and move your fingers," Ashley persisted, giving him a deep scowl.
Now what. He would rather use magic to heal his arm but he couldn't risk doing that with so many watching and none of them were going to let him out of their sight. Sighing inwardly, he bowed to the inevitable.
"Fine, call an ambulance," he said, less than graciously.
Nodding her head briskly, Ashley looked over at Ernie who was already on the phone. Less than five minutes later, an ambulance arrived, Logan allowed the paramedics to tend to him on the ride to the hospital. His friends followed in one of their cars. At the Angel Grove General Emergency Room, he lay on a bed with his arm in a splint, ice surrounding it. His vitals had been checked, his arms gently looked at then resplinted and iced, before the nurse said a doctor would be in to see him shortly.
He sighed and watched the passing traffic of nurses, doctors, and patients that passed by his open doorway. Less than ten minutes later, a familiar doctor stepped into his room carrying a chart.
"Afternoon Logan. I heard you had quite an accident," the doctor said, smiling at his patient.
Smiling in return, Logan nodded sheepishly. "I guess you could say that Doctor Hart, but really it's nothing."
Dr. Hart shook his head. "You're something else, Logan. Not many people could shrug off a double fracture with such aplomb and continue fighting. That's what my daughter and other witnesses said you did after your arm was broken. Must have a really high pain threshold. Now lay still while I check you over." Dr. Hart commented as he listened to Logan's heart and other vitals. "We're going on up to X-Ray so if you would get up carefully and sit in this chair." He indicated a wheelchair he'd pulled out from the hall.
"I can walk..." Logan began to object.
"Sorry, hospital policy," Dr. Hart said firmly.
Sighing, Logan didn't argue, getting off the table easily then sat in the chair.
"Now I'm going to take you up to X-Ray but I expect you're an old hand at this," Dr. Hart said, conversationally, as he rolled Logan along the hall toward an elevator.
"Uhm, actually it's my first time," Logan admitted.
Dr. Hart was surprised but didn't comment as he wheeled Logan into an elevator and the rode it down a couple of floors then he rolled his patient out and down a hallway.
In quick order, Logan was taken into a suite and his arm was X-Rayed quickly. The technician gently positioned his arm then took several pictures. Then he rolled Logan out to a waiting room. While he waited, Logan stared at all the anatomy posters and leaflets in the room. It was rather fascinating.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hart had gotten the X-Rays and had shoved them into clips on the light-box and stared at them in some confusion. He was so puzzled, he didn't hear the door open behind him.
A sudden gasp, made him flick the light-box off and turn his head toward his daughter, Kimberly.
She moved to his side in an instant and stared at the darkened box. "Dad turn it back on," she demanded. When she saw him about to object, she cut him off, "I know all about doctor/patient confidentiality, Dad but you know Logan is like a brother to me and that I wouldn't breathe a word of what I see to anyone but you," she said firmly.
He sighed and stared at her a moment longer than flicked the switch back on. He stared at the image again as he heard his daughter gasp.
Pulling the films without a word and putting them in the boy's folder, he and Kimberly went into the room, Logan waited in.
"Well it is broken but not as badly as anyone thought," his expression was puzzled but he only said, "...I'll have you taken back upstairs where they'll cast your arm then you can go home, alright?"
"Sure, thanks," Logan said, relieved but then nearly choked when Dr. Hart added.
"However, I do need to speak with your father."
"Huh?" Why?"
"You're a minor, its required before we can actually treat you," the doctor said, quietly.
Not happy about this but seeing no other choice, Logan gave him a number. "Thank you." A nurse appeared. "Heidi, will you please take Logan back to his room and set up for casting. I'm getting parental consent then you can start."
"Certainly doctor. Okay, Logan, let's go for a ride."
"Go on with him Kimberly," her father insisted. She nodded and walked beside Logan as he was wheeled away.
When they were out of view, Dr. Hart went to a nearby phone and dialed the number. The phone rang a few times then a deep voice answered. "Hello?"
"Hello, this is Dr. Alan Hart at Angel Grove General. Am I talking to the father of Logan Elivro?"
"Yes, this is he, is something wrong?" the voice was concerned.
"I'm sorry to tell you but your son broke his arm today in a fighting bout at the Youth Center. I need your permission to cast his arm," Dr. Hart said briskly.
"What? Is he alright otherwise?"
"Yes sir, except some bruises, he's just fine."
"That's good to hear. Yes you may cast his arm," the voice said quietly.
"Thank you sir, but I do have something else I need to ask you. There was something odd on the X-Ray and I would like permission to conduct a full body scan to find out what it is and to ensure it isn't spreading?" the doctor requested, carefully.
There was silence on the line for some moments then..."I'm sorry, Dr. Hart, but I can't give my permission for that," the voice said firmly.
"Very well, sir. We'll take care of your son and release him in about an hour," Dr. Hart said, unhappy but not surprised he couldn't get permission for what he really wanted done.
"Good, thank you for taking care of him. Goodbye," the voice said politely then hung up.
Shaking his head, Hart went back upstairs to tell the nurse to set Logan's arm, told his daughter to see that the boy got home, ordered some pain meds though Logan had said he didn't need them, then left them to see other patients. Mentally, he was very concerned for the boy and offered up a prayer for him. 'Keep safe Logan,' he thought.
Kimberly was worried by what the X-Ray meant but could say nothing. She only hoped it meant nothing as she took her friend to a corner in the suburbs, warned him to rest and bid him goodnight after giving him a worried look. After watching her turn the corner he streaked away back to the warehouse.
Finally alone, Logan sat at the manager's desk, his dinner before him and a fire going in the fireplace. He couldn't take his eyes off his cast. "Strange thing this is...never had one before," he muttered to himself.
Slowly he reached out with his other hand to take hold of the casted arm. Concentrating, he phased his arm out of the plaster, raised his hand again then waved it over the break, healing it. He experimentally flexed his fingers and felt no pain. Setting the cast aside, he went about eating his dinner.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~~o~o~o~o
"What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday...good friends, good music, and friendly conversation. Glad the park wasn't too busy, either," Tommy commented, sitting on the blanket they'd laid on the grass under a tree. He eyed Logan who was trying to play his guitar despite the cast.
"Logan, really, you should wait until your arms a bit more healed before trying to use it so soon," Kimberly admonished, worried about him as she sat next to Tommy.
Logan sighed and gave her a small smile and laid the guitar aside, "Okay, guess you're right about that. It's just I don't want to disappoint Ernie."
She smiled and patted his shoulder. "You just sing and I'll play for you when you need it. Ernie wouldn't want you to strain and damage your arm further so don't worry about anything."
"Except your arm is perfectly healed," Red Dragon smirked. Logan gave him a mental snort in return.
"Now this is totally one of my favorite songs," Kimberly sighed as the powerful voice of Michael Jackson poured from their radio and Trini started humming it as she ran her fingers through Jason's hair whose head rested on her legs eyes closed in his relaxed state.
As the song came to a close, a sudden shout of fear made them whip their heads around. To their horrified eyes, they saw a man chasing frantically after a runaway baby stroller rolling down a steep park sidewalk. Reacting as one, the group leaped to their feet and took up the chase.
Out of the corner of his eye, Logan saw Chuck ride by in the opposite direction with three others on motorcycles leaving the scene, uncertain at the moment what that meant he turned his focus on what was happening now.
On the sidewalk ahead of him, three people on roller blades joined the chase. It was great to see so many concerned people racing after the rapidly disappearing stroller but he didn't stop running himself...gritting his teeth, he poured on more speed. As he ran, he noted the teens on blades were doing some very familiar moves but he didn't let it distract him.
Halfway down the hill, to his surprise, Bulk and Skull appeared on scooters and joined the chase. As he Tommy, Billy, Trini, and Kimberly were passing by an old couple on a bench, Logan saw something that almost made him freeze in his tracks.
The bladers jumped from the sidewalk, flying nearly thirty feet into the air to the pavement, still moving fast. They had nearly reached the stroller that was about to plunge off a steep embankment just ahead when two of the bladers threw the third of their number at the carriage in a desperate attempt to halt it.
Arriving at the same point, Logan and Kimberly launched themselves airborne too. Flipping like acrobats, the pair soared through the air as the blader did the same with feet tucked close and arms out-stretched. All three of them landed ahead of the stroller, arms out to prevent it from striking them. Inside a baby laugh from what Logan could guess was the thrill of the ride.
Panting hard, Kimberly carefully reached into the stroller, undid the safety strap and picked up the baby. She checked it over quickly then seeing it was unharmed, hugged it close, soothing it. Beside her, Logan and the blader worked to catch their breath. The rest of the two groups caught up and looked relieved. Logan recognized the bladers.
"Those were some pretty awesome moves guys," Tommy complimented the rescuers, panting, the rest of their group crowding around to see the baby.
From behind they heard a relieved cry and turned to see the apparent father running up to them. Kimberly smiled and walked forward to place the baby in the frightened father's arms.
"Oh God! Jacob...are you alright?" the father asked his son anxiously. The baby just gargled happily to see the man. The father turned his attention to his son's rescuers. "Thank you all so much for catching him before he was hurt," he said, gratefully and hugging his son close.
"You're welcome, sir. We're just glad we we're able to stop the stroller in time," Kimberly said.
"Yes, you were all so very wonderful and quick. I thought I was going to die when I saw his stroller go rolling off after those punks hassled me," the father said, smiling. "Great moves too."
Logan eyes narrowed hearing that. So, that's what Chuck was up to... what a bastard, he thought, angrily. To the father, he just shrugged and smiled back. Turning to the bladers, he said, "you guys were awesome too. Amazing toss on the run like that," he said in admiration
"Hey, thanks but you guys were incredible too...a running high jump and flip...fantastic!" the blader that helped in the rescue said. "By the way my name is Rocky and this is Aisha and Adam."
"We're Tommy, this is Billy, Zack, Jason, Trini, and the two daredevils were Logan and Kimberly."
"I'm Hank Anderson," the father said then pointed at his son, "...and this little daredevil is Jacob."
Before anything else could be said, Bulk and Skull staggered up to them covered in thorn bushes, their scooters in pieces and their arms and legs bearing multiple scratches.
"Huh...looks like you guys fell off the path there, are you okay?" Mr. Anderson asked.
"Yea, we're okay, sucks that our scooters are trashed though," Skull grunted.
"Sorry about that but thank you for trying to help," Mr. Anderson said to them. "Well, Jacob here has had enough excitement for one day so we'd better get going. Thanks again, everyone." Hugging his son, Mr. Anderson grabbed the stroller and walked back up the hill.
"Good thing you guys were nearby," Billy commented.
We were just rolling up to speak to Mr. Anderson when we saw some punks bothering him. They bumped or pushed the stroller, we couldn't see which, and it started rolling off," Rocky explained. "We know Mr. Anderson from school. He's our teacher at Stone Canyon High. He's the best and it wasn't nice the way those guys treated him," Aisha added in.
"Why those nasty creeps. Wish we could have been there," Tommy said, angrily. "So, you attend Stone Canyon? Does that mean you guys are here to watch the Ninja Competition?" Rocky, Adam, and Aisha shared a look.
"Yeah, you could say that. Sorry to hear you guys had to pull out," Adam said. Logan hid a knowing smile.
"Kind of hard to get in when one of the competitors is wearing this," Logan said raising his casted arm and they shared a laugh.
"Well, we should go. See you again at the competition," Billy told the bladers and they parted on smiles and goodbyes.
"Hope Stone Canyon wins, they deserve it," Tommy commented as they walked away.
"I have a feeling they're good enough to do that," Logan said then turned to Trini, "You still want to get in some training at the center this afternoon?"
She looked at him doubtful. "Yes, but are you sure you're up to it?"
He smiled. "I'll be fine if we go slowly," he assured her. The rest decided to go along too, so they left for the center together.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o
For the next couple of hours, Logan and Trini practiced their Kung Fu forms, doing slow movements while their friends did other things. Trini kept a close eye on Logan to make sure he wouldn't over work his broken arm. It annoyed him to have to pretend. He could hardly wait for his vacation to begin so he could take this cast off. At least by the time he returned, no one would question his healed arm but that was some weeks off yet.
When they finished up, Logan wore a light layer of sweat on his body. Signaling an end to their session, he gave her a nod and smile before heading off for the locker room to shower. On his way there, his mind was on his vacation plans. Reaching his locker, he was about to open it when something odd caught his attention. A strange odor filled the air. He sniffed around a bit...it was familiar which sent a chill down his spine.
Hurriedly, he followed the scent which led him to the shower stalls. A low moan emanated from the far stall where a broken mop sat against the wall. He ran to the stall and shoved the curtain aside. Slumped against the back wall was a boy with blood covering the front of his sweatshirt and pooling on the floor beneath him.
Logan knelt down quickly while pulling his sweatshirt off. He used it staunch the gaping head wound, attempting to stop the bleeding. His quick exam showed no other wounds but the kid looked beaten to hell. The kids front was covered in blood as was the floor beneath showing how long he'd been sitting there bleeding.
As he worked on the kid he screamed loudly for help, "HELP! SHOWER ROOM! SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE!
The kid moaned showing that he was still conscious. "That's it kid, stay awake, no sleeping now," he urged as he tied his sweatshirt around the kid's head. The boy hissed in pain. "Sorry, I know it hurts."
He heard running footsteps in the outer room and moment later familiar faces appeared. Zack and Jason stared down in shock at the injured kid.
"Logan what the hell happened?" Jason asked.
"Jesus Christ,' Zack muttered.
"Has someone called for an ambulance?" Logan demanded.
"Yeah, Trini heard you through the wall and yelled at one of us. Billy told Ernie to call an ambulance and he sent us here to find out what's going on," Jason hurriedly explained. "Does he have other wounds besides the head?"
"Not that I could see but someone certainly beat the hell out of him," Logan said tightly. "Any of you know who he is?"
"No, not seen him before," Jason said. Zack just shook his head. "Who the hell could have done this?" Jason asked more to himself than anyone else.
"Don't know, I found him like this. Jason go get some towels so we can get some of this blood off and, Zack, go out there and direct them where to come," Logan ordered. Zack and Jason nodded and took off while Logan tried to get some information from the kid. "Come on buddy stay awake, come on! Tell us your name! What's your name?"
The boy's eyes focused on him. "James."
"Ok, James, you gotta stay awake now, no sleeping. My name's Logan. Do you know who did this to you?" Logan asked. Jason didn't answer, he was losing ground fast. Jason returned with the towels and squeezed close to Logan to he could begin toweling off the kids arms looking for other wounds but finding only minor cuts and lots of bruising.
"Someone worked him over good, Logan," he said tersely. Logan just nodded, his face angry.
Jason and Logan tried their best to keep James calm and quiet but awake while they waited for help to arrive. Some ten minutes later, Zack appeared and behind him was Ernie and the paramedics.
With quick efficiency, James was given treatment, loaded on a gurney, then carried out to the waiting ambulance. Safely aboard, the crew started the engine and were rushing off to the hospital leaving Logan and Jason standing covered in blood in the parking lot with their friends and Ernie standing with them.
"Who the hell could have done this? I'll make sure they are never allowed in the center again," Ernie snarled angrily. "Don't clean up yet guys. The cops are going to want to collect evidence and question you first," he told them, as police arrived just as the ambulance vanished from view.
Over the next hour, James and Logan submitted to questioning, a CSI team went over the bathroom Logan let his sweatshirt go with them, and everyone else was questioned before finally being allowed to go back to their own business. It was a very subdued bunch that said goodbye to each other and parted. Ernie muttered angrily to himself as he went about cleaning the bloody stall.
As they parted in the parking lot, Jason repeated his question, disbelieve and anger in his voice. "They beat him to a bloody pulp, who could have done that?"
"A more important question is: why did they do it?" Logan growled. Everyone agreed.
Logan hurriedly walked home, staying out of sight he streaked away as fast as he could. Once back in his warehouse home, he didn't stop until he was in the bathroom.
After phasing out of the cast, he jumped into the shower fully clothed, sank down in a corner of the stall and allowed the warm water to fall on him as he huddled in a fetal position, rocking back and forth in distress...tears mixing with the falling water. He stayed until the water turned cold then finally dragged himself out. He tossed his wet clothes in the washer, toweled off, then redressed and put the cast back on his arm.
With no appetite, he skipped dinner and headed back out. For the second time in two days, Logan was in the hospital emergency room once more. He went to the receptionist and asked about a patient that had been brought in earlier. Before she could ask why and who, a voice called to him from down a hallway.
He turned and saw Dr. Hart heading toward him. Turning away from the receptionist, he met the man halfway.
"So, what brings you back here, Logan?" the doctor asked.
"I came in to check on the boy that was beaten at the center. I found him. His name is James and I wanted to see how he was," Logan explained.
"Ohh, I see. Nasty case that one is. Makes me wonder who could have done such a thing," Dr. Hart said, sadly. "He's in ICU. He was beaten very badly, the head wound was minor but he did suffer a concussion so he's being monitored closely. Nothing was broken and no organs damaged, fortunately, but still he is in bad shape."
"May I be allowed to see him?" Logan asked.
"Well, normally only family is allowed but since you're the one that found him I guess it wouldn't hurt, but only a few minutes. He's too weak for much more than that and the police have already tired him out asking questions earlier."
"Do they know who did it?"
"Don't know, wasn't allowed in the room when he was interviewed and they were tight mouthed when they left. Hope that means they know who did it and go arrest the person or persons," Dr. Hart said, anger in his voice.
He gestured for Logan to follow him. They took an elevator up to a quiet floor that held the ICU. Dr. Hart led him to a cubicle where James lay surrounded by equipment monitoring him, a white bandage wrapped around his forehead, his eyes closed. Beside the bed in a chair, a middle-aged woman with short, blond hair sat crying.
"Ms. Adams?" Dr. Hart spoke. The woman turned red rimmed eyes toward them and frowned in confusion. "Excuse me for troubling you, but this is Logan Elivro, the one who found your boy and got him help. It's thanks to him James was found in time before it was too late to help him. Could he see James for a moment?"
A sudden smile of gratitude spread across her face as she got up quickly and gave an embarrassed Logan a hug. "Thank you...thank you for saving my son," she sobbed.
"Uh...you're welcome ma'am. I'm glad I happen to be there," Logan said, awkwardly hugging the woman and patting her back.
"I'll leave you two alone," Dr. Hart said, smiling a bit then left.
For an uncomfortable few minutes, Logan held Mrs. Adams before she finally pushed away and took her seat again. "Please, have a seat and talk with me," she said, softly. She blew her nose and wiped her face off.
Logan did as she asked. They were silent for a few moments before she sighed then said, "I thought we left all this violence behind us when we moved here, but I guess no where's truly safe even in Angel Grove."
"So your family moved here huh? What does your husband do for a living?" Logan asked politely.
"He left us a couple years ago when…" she started then stopped as if she were reluctant to reveal the reason. Logan didn't press her.
"It's okay, none of my business..." he began to reassure her.
"No, actually it's the same reason my son is being harassed. My husband left us when James ... came out...I guess they call it," she said, sadly.
Logan blinked then turned to look at James before turning back to her. "Oh, so he couldn't handle James being gay and you think the attack on him was for the same reason," he said carefully. She gave him a wane smile and nodded. Logan shook his head and rubbed his face.
"Unfortunately, yes. Where we used to live, James would get beaten up but never this badly before. He was always being bullied and threatened. No where could he or I seek comfort, not even at church," she said, sounding bitter and resigned. "Our former pastor would give weekly anti-gay sermons. It made James feel so horrible like he was a freak and could never be loved. I swore after the third session of that, we would never set foot in a church again and moved us here," she said.
"It's like the middle ages all over again just a new target," he grumbled, angry at the stupidity of people. She nodded in agreement and pleased he wasn't one of the haters then noticed the cast on his arm for the first time.
"What happened to you," she asked in concern.
Smiling he held it up. "Souvenir of my last sparring match, but you should have seen the other guy," he said lightly.
"Sparring? What kind? Boxing or martial arts?" She asked.
"Martial arts."
"I know we just met but I don't know anyone here very well. You go to the center a lot?"
"Yes, I work there and I have a circle of good friends who also go there too," he said.
She seemed relieved by that information as she asked, "Could you teach him? I've tried to sign him up, but all have refused to take him. No one would have to know, you could teach him privately, and I could pay you. I'm just so worried that now they know he's gay at the school, as soon as he recovers and returns, he'll be helpless against those who will gang up on him."
Logan eyed her steadily a moment. "I'll be happy to teach him and, no, I don't want you to pay me. I make a living performing there. I'll speak to my boss at the youth center about teaching James after hours. I'm sure he'll allow it."
"Oh, that is so kind of you. Thanks. This is the first piece of good luck we've had since coming here," she said, smiling gratefully.
Logan smiled back then gave her a contact number where he could be reached then left the ICU. As he thought about the conversation he'd just had, he took the elevator down to the emergency room and walked past the treatment area. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice.
"I tripped and fell down the stairs," the voice said. He paused and looked into the treatment room and saw Angel sitting on an examination table.
"Hmm, that was some hard fall, young lady," the doctor examining her said as he gently tested the shoulder that was quite obviously out of place. "Okay, you just sit there quietly a bit while I and your daddy go get something that will fix this right up." The doctor left her side and stepped out of the room. Logan had moved away from the door and pretended he was waiting for someone as the doctor and a man that had Angel's hair and eyes passed by him then disappeared out of view.
He stepped into the room. Angel, whose head was down at first, sensed him there and jerked up to stare at him in surprise. They stared at each other for a moment then he went over and took out a couple of tongue depressors from a jar and went to stand by her.
"Bite down on these," he said, softly handing them to her.
Eyeing him a moment, she seemed to make up her mind then reached out with her good arm and did as she was told. After grabbing a thick book on the counter, he walked over to sit next to her. He took the book and made her hold it in the hand of the injured shoulder.
"Hold that tightly and let your arm hang," he instructed. She did so but moaned when it hurt. "I won't lie to you. This will hurt but only for a moment especially if you stay relaxed. Ready?" She nodded. "Okay, on the count of three. One...two...is that a robin," he said, suddenly, looking behind her out the window.
She looked in that direction and in that second's distraction, he smoothly popped her shoulder back in place. She'd given a muffled squeal that ended just as fast as she fell back into his waiting arms. "...Three..." he said, warmly. She sobbed in relief and a little pain, turning her head into his chest, dropping the book and spitting out the now cracked depressors as she did so.
As he held her and rubbed her back, an old memory popped into his head and a tear came to his eye. He had been ten years old and studying at the Wind Ninja Academy when he'd taken a bad fall just like Angel had done. But unlike her, he was determined to be seen as strong and uncaring, so he toughed it out, walking away as if nothing was wrong. When he was alone, he tried to pop his shoulder back in place by himself but was having difficulty.
Suddenly, he realized he was no longer alone. The head sensei's adopted daughter was standing there looking down at him. After studying him a moment, she bade him to bite down on the stick she held, he did so reluctantly and as he had done with Angel, she popped his shoulder back in place then soothed his pain away with a song as she held him.
"Baby mine, don't you cry,
Baby mine, dry your eyes,
Rest your head, close to my heart,
Never to part, baby of mine,
Little one, when you play,
Don't you mind, what they say,
Let those eyes, sparkle and shine,
Never a tear, baby of mine,
If they knew, sweet little you,
They'd end up, loving you too,
All those same, people who scold you,
What they'd give, just for the right to hold you,
From your head, down to your toes,
You're not much, goodness knows,
But you're so, precious to me,
Sweet as can be, baby of mine."
The memory faded as he sang the last note of the song to Angel as he held her, memory and reality merging together. The young girl relaxed though still held him tight as she listened to the song.
As silence fell, he thought now was a good time to ask the question in his mind. "Did you really fall down?"
She pulled back a little to stare into his eyes but said nothing. Her answer was in her eyes. He sighed and hugged her tighter.
"Does it ever end or? Get better?" she asked, softly.
He was silent for a moment then sighed, sadly, "It does...in time...just never give up hope," he murmured. Their moment was interrupted by the return of the doctor and her father. The doctor held a large, heavy book.
"Who are you? What are you doing in here?" the doctor demanded. Angel's father's face was furious and his fists were clenched.
She huddled against him a moment longer, hugging him tightly in fear. He returned the hug then gently detached her. Getting up from the bed. He said nothing as he picked up the dropped book he'd used and the tongue depressors. He returned the book to its rightful place and tossed the depressors into the trash. Only then did he say, "What I can and I guess War and Peace would work every time," he said nodding at the book the doctor was holding before moving past the two and down the hall until he was out of the hospital.
PLEASE REVIEW