Authors Note: Happy 4th of July Everyone! :) I am so sorry that I have not been publishing new Chapters but I have been just to busy. I will not have the time to publish a Chapter in August but will hopefully have one out in September. I will do my best to keep publishing on the holidays like I aways do! This Chapter is mostly just filler. It's definitely not my best work but it has a little bit of a cliffhanger at the end. The next couple of Chapters will be more interesting. I hope you enjoy and have a Happy 4th! :)

Chapter 43

New Developments

Back at the Hospital:

Dave: Theodore?

Theodore: Yes Dave? He says in a bashful tone. Turning towards Dave.

Dave: I am glad your back safely.

Theodore: I am sorry I ran away Dave. He then turns back to Alvin.

Theodore: I just had to get away from...

Dave comes over and hugs Theodore.

Dave: Theodore I understand. This is hard on both of us. But I can tell it's especially hard on you. You are still young and you also had to deal with me being in that car accident recently.

Theodore: Thanks for understanding Dave. He says briefly smiling.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

All of a sudden Alvin starts choking and the nurse rushes in.

Theodore: What's wrong with Alvin now!?

Dave: Yes, why is he choking!?

Nurse: This is a good thing. It means he is fighting the machine that is helping him breathe.

The nurse removes the tube so that Alvin will stop choking.

Alvin: Si….mon He says in a very weak tone.

Theodore: ALVIN! YOUR AWAKE!

Alvin slowly turns his head toward Dave and Theodore. He can barely open his eyes.

Alvin: D….a…ve, Theo….

Nurse: Alvin please conserve your energy.

Theodore: Oh Alvin I am so happy! I have missed you!

Alvin does his best to smile but he is still to weak.

Dave: Alvin we are going to let you rest. You need to rest in order to get your strength back.

Nurse: Dave is right Alvin. You will be able to talk to them soon enough.

Alvin: B…B..UT

Theodore: Don't worry Alvin we will be back. He says smiling at Alvin.

Dave, Theodore, and The Nurse leave the room so that Alvin can rest.

Nurse: It will take a long time for Alvin to rebuild his strength. But hopefully, in a couple of days, he will be able to hold a better conversation.

Dave: Thank you.

The nurse nods her head and leaves.

Dave and Theodore go sit in the waiting room.

Dave: Theodore can you tell me more about why you run away? I think it will do you good to talk about it.

Theodore: I just reached my breaking point, Dave. With Simon missing, Alvin in the hospital, and Sam trying to force me into saying that Alvin jumped. I…. I just had to get away and then the stupid thought came to me and I thought I could find Simon. And that if I found Simon all of the problems would just go away and everything would go back to normal.

Dave: It's not a stupid thought Theodore. He says wrapping his arm around Theodore. You love your brother and miss him deeply. But running away is not the answer.

Theodore: I know that now Dave. I am sorry I worried you.

Dave: It's ok Theodore. I will admit I was worried but with you back it's like some of the weight on my shoulders has been lifted.

Theodore then hugs Dave and Dave Hugs Theodore back.

Dave: Theodore I don't think I have ever asked you how you are handling all this.

Theodore: It's hard. I have never been alone like this before. I have always had Alvin and Simon by my side. If I ever had something to talk about I could talk to them about it.

Dave: You can always talk to me, Theodore. He says with a warm smile.

Theodore: I know that Dave but I just always talk to my brothers. They aways help me out. I was reminded of one time once I left the hospital.

Dave: Oh?

Theodore: You remember that fire truck you got me when I was 5?

Dave: How could I forget! You had to take it everywhere you went. He says laughing.

Theodore: Well I lost it at one point.

Dave: I didn't know that.

Theodore: You had just gotten it for me and I didn't what you to know I had lost it since it was brand new.

Dave: I would have understood Theodore. But what does this have to do with Simon?

Theodore: Well I ran to our bedroom and started crying into my pillow and Simon asked what was wrong. When I told him he gave me a pencil and told me to take it outside and throw it in the air and when it comes down head to where it points.

Dave: How well did that work? He says chuckling.

Theodore: It worked the first time. I know now that it was just luck but at that time I thought Simon was the best brother in the world.

Dave: Theodore that still doesn't explain…..

Theodore: Anyway when I was out looking for Simon I found his pen. Theodore pulls it out of his pocket and shows Dave.

Dave: Theodore where did you find this!?

Theodore: In the bushes around where Simon was last seen.

Dave: Hmm I wonder why the police didn't notice this?

Dave then makes a motion for Sam to come over.

Sam: What is it, Dave?

Dave: Theodore found this in the area Simon was last seen. It's Simon's pen.

Sam: That's odd. I wonder why none of the officers noticed it? Theodore, did you find anything else there?

Theodore: No. Once I found the pen I tossed it up in the air and when it pointed forwarded I headed into the business district. Once the sun started to go down I turned down an alley and fell asleep but I had a dream that made me wake up and all of a sudden there was a man there in front of me.

Dave and Sam: A man?

Sam: Did you know the man Theodore?

Theodore: No but he knew me. I told him I shouldn't talk to him since he was a stranger but then he introduced himself as Benjamin and I just…..

Dave: Just what Theodore?

Theodore: I just felt like I should talk to him. We didn't get to talk long before the police showed up.

Sam: I wonder why the officers didn't tell me about him?

Theodore: He ran away once he heard the sirens.

Sam: Now I am very interested in this man. I wonder if he is still around.

Theodore: WAIT! I just remembered something! He says reaching into his pocket. The man gave me this piece of paper right before he ran away. He then opens up the folded paper.