Blake pov

Beep…beep…beep

That sound. I hated it. I wanted nothing more than to drown it out, but in a way, it was comforting. An indicator that Miguel was still holding on. Still fighting.

Before I waste any more time, I sit in the chair by his bedside which I assume was used by his mother or grandma.

I take a shaky breath and attempt to blink away the tears threatening to spill at the sight of what Miguel had become. What I'd been unable to prevent.

Every fiber of my being wished it were me in that bed. I wanted to take his pain away. He didn't deserve this. He was one of the last people who'd ever deserve something like this.

"M-Miguel," I whisper in a shaky voice as choke back a brief sob.

By sheer willpower and a lot of blinking, I calm myself down enough not to lose my composure.

I gently grip his wrist and the warmth of it reminds me that somewhere deep in there, he's still alive and fighting.

"Buddy, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," I repeat before briefly burying my mouth and nose in my sleeve for a second.

I'd read that coma patients might be able to hear people speaking to them or possibly feel physical contact as well.

Even if he could hear me apologizing over and over or telling him how he didn't deserve this, it wouldn't help him. I had to be strong for my friend. I owed him that much.

"Listen dude, I don't know if you can hear me, but I know you're fighting. You can't lose to something like this, you're Superman," I whisper tightening my grip slightly but not enough to potentially cause harm.

"You're one of the strongest people I've ever met. You once said you looked up to me, but thinking about it now, it was the other way around. There's something truly special about you, Miguel. You saved my life man," I whisper with the ghost of a smile.

He really did save me. I had looked up to him in a way. He had a heart I'd never even dreamed of. Such a kind soul but a strong fighter at the same time. We'd both made mistakes, but he'd saved me from a different path when I first moved here. He's the reason I broke off from Kyler and them. All I can say is that ditching those punks was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I let out a rather emotional sounding chuckle.

"If someone told me back then that the skinny kid who I saw get pepto bismal dumped on his head would end up becoming one of the most important people in my life, I… probably would've laughed. You're the reason Cobra Kai started in the first place, you indirectly saved me and Sensei Lawrence along with so many others. You're a hero," I whisper sincerely.

I shake my head with a small smile before continuing.

"I messed up really bad man. I don't know when I'll see you again. Yeah… when, not if because of anyone can overcome the odds and find a way to come back stronger, it's you, Miguel. Never give up buddy. Never. You'll always find another way," I whisper with the first genuine smile I've made since before school started.

"I know that because after all… you're the champ," I whisper before gently letting go of Miguel's wrist.

The slight chill returns to my palm as I slowly stand up. I gently fix the blankets and make sure not to step on anything or trip on any wires. I turn and take one last glance back at Miguel. Then I shut my eyes and smile. Even in his state, Miguel found a way to help someone feel hope again.

Somehow, I could overcome this and pull through. I'd find a way just like he would.

"Sayonara… Miguel Diaz," I whisper and crack the door open.

Luckily, the janitor didn't budge and stopped mopping to glance up at me. His eyes morph into an expression of fear.

"I'm not gonna hurt you," I whisper steadily putting my hands up.

"L-listen, I-I heard some of you said and… maybe the news isn't always right. I'm not gonna tell until the morning. I don't have a choice unless I wanna risk my job or even my freedom. Get out of here before I change my mind," the janitor remarks in a genuine tone.

This catches me off guard, but I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

I nod and soften my gaze before turning to leave.

Before I make it to far, I turn and look at him.

"Thank you," I say in a genuine tone before turning to walk away.

The trip back goes by a lot faster but I'm still careful.

I have a close call once I enter the stairwell as two nurses are walking a few flights down and chatting without a care in the world. I quickly tip toe out of sight and don't move until I hear one of the doors far below open and close.

I quickly but also quietly make my way back down to the basement floor making sure to avoid causing any racket that could echo in this stairwell.

As soon as I make it back to the room, I grab Miss Diaz's phone and spend most of the night continuing my research on Detective McCarthy.

It didn't take an idiot to realize he had a bone to pick with me as a lot of his reports to the news had to do with me and less so with Robby. I also check to see if any news has been documented about anyone besides myself.

I see nothing involving my parents. One article explaining that Noah was discharged from the hospital and recovering at home.

Even more surprising is the lack of information on Tory. The only thing I found was the first article posted the afternoon after the fight listing her as another student with charges.

Despite my prior friendship with Tory, she deserved to be held accountable same as Robby and me. Not only had she started the whole fight, but she'd had a weapon apparently which could've ended in someone actually getting killed.

Right before the clock struck 5:30AM, I finally managed to connect the dots about how Valley Fest had been swept under the rug.

The head honcho of the football team's dad was a police detective. The witnesses prevented him from going after any of us in Cobra Kai without risking a lawsuit against his own son.

Right before I decide to call it a night and take an actual shower in the rather broken down bathroom in my hospital room, I look up the West Valley High School directory.

I had dirt on this detective and I'd use whatever I could to prevent him from further ruining my life. I'd eventually get caught one day, but if I could stop him even a little from ensuring I would never actually get out of prison, I'd do whatever I could.

I finally find James McCarthy in the school directory and the phone numbers of both of his parents listed.

I dig through the drawers in the table beside my makeshift operating table and find a pen without a cap.

"Please work," I whisper to myself.

I rip off a small sliver of the sticky note Miss Diaz left me and quickly jot down his personal phone number. I never knew if or even when I'd have the chance to call him without risking my location, but just in case.

Luckily, the pen still had some ink left after a few test scribbles.

Once that's done, I finally get in the shower. The lights flicker a bit before working fully and I'm glad the water is still hot down here. The shower is complete heaven. Despite there being no soap or shampoo, I let the hot water wash dirt and grime out of my hair and the areas of my body Carmen didn't clean before the surgery. I'm careful not to get the bandages with my stitches wet but I do alright for the most part.

Once again, I had no towel so I was forced to wait and shiver in the air conditioned room. Luckily, the steam from the hot water made it bearable, but it still took a while.

I slip back into the same pants and underwear I had on. When I turn to look at myself in the mirror, I'm saddened at what I see.

The dark circles under my eyes are unmistakable. My face looks slightly gaunt and the muscle on my upper body has thinned slightly. The color in my dark brown eyes seems to have lost all its shine and spark. I could make up the very slight outline of my ribs but it had thankfully only been a week of surviving off of trail mix so I didn't look anywhere near starving.

I use the spare toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste to brush my teeth until my gums nearly bleed. I didn't realize how much I missed brushing my teeth because bad breath and yellow teeth are gross.

I sigh and put my shirt and hoodie on but don't pull my hood up. Seeing what I had become physically along with fully witnessing Miguel in that bed left me with a sense of emotional emptiness.

Maybe I should just quit. Was this whole thing even worth it?

Why keep running if I'd get caught or die alone in a ditch? I couldn't grasp what the point of delaying the inevitable was.

As I continue to stew in a pit of self pity, I hear the door open and in steps Miss Diaz. She immediately gives me a stern expression once we make eye contact. Despite the early morning hours, she seemed alert and ready for the day.

However, she knew the minute she walked in that I had disobeyed her instructions. Call it mother's intuition.

"You went to see him didn't you," she remarks as more of a statement than a question.

I simply hang my head and the emotions continue. My heart begins to hammer and I don't respond with words. The stress of the whole situation catches up with me and I squeeze my eyes shut and grit my teeth.

"I-it should've been me. I should be in that bed. Not… Miguel. I couldn't save him. I couldn't…" I whisper through gritted teeth and shaking fists.

Before I can help it, a single tear leaks out of my eye.

The next moment sends my emotions into a whole new spiral as I feel a warm thumb gently wipe the single tear away.

OST: Pokemon: The First Movie – "Brother, my Brother" (Guitar cover by Guitarrista de Atena feat. D Hunter)

/SNrtDLnQRSo?feature=shared

I glance up at Miss Diaz's calming expression. Her soft smile makes me feel safe for the first time since everything went wrong. I finally let the walls crumble.

She pulls me into a hug that I return and bury my face into her shoulder as I begin to quietly sob uncontrollably.

"Hey, wait up!" I call out to the Latino kid covered in Pepto Bismal

"What the hell do you want? Your friends already left," he sneers at me

—

"So this guy's gonna teach me how to fight back and finally give those assholes what they deserve the next time they cross us?" I ask glancing at Miguel.

"Yeah," he answers full of hope.

"I'm in," I remark

—

"Even though I kick your ass everyday at Cobra Kai, I still see you as my best friend," Miguel remarks genuinely.

"Thanks man," I remark although it meant more than I could ever say.

Those along with many more memories swim through my head that come with a lot of tears as Miss Diaz simply rubs my back affectionately as I sob into her shoulder.

Luckily, I've always been a quiet crier so I won't attract any attention, but letting it out like this was something I hadn't done in a long time.

I cried for Noah who was in the same position I was once in. A relationship that I'd sent crashing and burning this time.

I cried for my family who were most likely worried sick and it was all my fault. I'd never sit at the dinner table, hear my mom nag me about school work, talk to my dad about sports and life, or receive advice from my brother about girls ever again.

I cried for Miguel, Hawk, and my other friends because I'd never be able to high five or train alongside them. No more deep conversations with Miguel, no more joking around with Hawk, and no more Cobra Kai or Sensei Lawrence.

I cried for Amelia, the girl I'd missed out on a whole amazing future with. I'd never be able to show her just how special she was to me. I'd been too caught up in my own bullshit to realize my feelings and now we couldn't be together.

Miss Diaz continued to soothe and comfort me without saying a word. I hope she was able to pretend I was Miguel.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. For all of it," I finally whisper when I calm down enough.

Miss Diaz finally locks eyes with me and gives me a sad smile.

"You can't blame yourself for what happened to Miggy. He wouldn't blame you and neither do I," Miss Diaz whispers sounding sincere.

I hang my head and continue to stabilize my breathing.

"Miguel was lucky to have a friend like you. He never had friends like you guys before we moved here. You meant so much to him," Miss Diaz says with a tone that conveys gratitude.

This makes me grin slightly.

"When he wakes up and you see how strong he is once he gets back on his feet, you'll know I was the lucky one," I remark sounding proud.

Miss Diaz pulls me into another hug that I return. I can't see her face but I hope she feels the small sense of hope that begins to swirl through my gut.

Third person pov

At the precinct of LAPD

Detective McCarthy sips his morning coffee as he gets ready to begin reading through yet another large stack of papers about the West Valley Fugitives.

The trail was still cold on Blake Murphy and his superiors recommended he start focusing on Robby Keene until Murphy crawled out whatever rathole he was hiding in.

He simply responded to the orders with "yes sir" but he had no intention of following through. He knew Robby Keene was a priority as well, but Blake Murphy was personal for the detective.

He'd been frustrated enough that some teenager had managed to escape the likes of him. How did some karate kid manage to stay away longer than most hardened criminals McCarthy had been tasked with chasing. He'd managed to track down and catch most within 48 hours or less.

As if God heard his thoughts, an officer burst into the office.

Before McCarthy could berate the man for intruding without knocking or notice, the cop spoke.

Detective McCarthy's world froze when he heard the next few words. He'd only picked up on the five words that mattered.

"Blake Murphy,"

And

"West Valley General,"

Authors note: WE BACK! Also this chapter was the debut of the instrumental acoustic remix of "Brother my Brother," from the first Pokémon movie. The reason I'm bringing this to you guys' attention is that it's the theme I chose for Blake and Miguel.