Chapter 15

Howie sat frozen. The doctor was so grim. Nothing good could come from him. He swallowed hard and awaited the terrible news.

"He just came out of OR." The doctor explained. "He was coughing up blood because the bullet pierced his stomach. But we were able to fix that up.

"He also had two broken ribs and one cracked one. Those were set and wrapped. Right now he's in a recovry room in ICU. I can only allow family to see him."

Everyone was numb from the list of injuries that had been inflicted upon Brian. Nobody could survive abuse like that. Howie licked his dry lips.

"S-so he's okay?" He asked in a shaky voice.

The doctor's grim mask broke as his face brightened with a smile. Howie felt his heart soar.

"He'll be just fine." He smiled. "Now who's going to see him."

"I am." Howie announced.

All heads turned to stare open mouthed at him. Howie was sitting up in bed. His arm was pinned to his side in a sling which limited all movement. Weariness was evident in his features. Yet he had been the first to demand to see Brian. The doctor looked him up and down. He opened his mouth to speak, but Howie beat him to it.

"Yes I am family." He motioned to Kevin, AJ, and Nick. "We're all family."

The doctor nodded. "I'll get you a wheelchair and then bring you right up."

Howie settled back with a sigh. His lips were drawn back in a tight smile.

Brian was going to be okay.

*~*~*~*~

Howie's entire body was screaming in agony. It was protesting the stiffness of the wheelchair. He forced his body to ignore it as Kevin pushed him up to Brian's room. The doctor stopped them at the door.

"He may be sleeping," He informed them. "And if he's awake he'll be groggy and sore. Be easy with him and try not to joke. Laughing's going to hurt him for awhile."

All the boys nodded in understanding. The doctor slowly opened the door and stepped aside. Kevin pushed Howie into the dark room. AJ and Nick crept in after them. There was a steady beep of a heart monitor.

As the doctor predicted, Brian was asleep. His face was slowly regaining the color it had lost. His body was dwarfed by the large bed and the oxygen mask that covered his nose and mouth. The front of his hospital shirt was open reveling a bandage that started just below his arm pit and ended just below his navel.

Even though he knew he was going to be okay, Nick still felt his eyes tear up. His best frienh, his Frick, lay in front of him looking like death itself. Nick couldn't take his eyes off the bandage that seemed to engulf his midsection.

"That wound's going to leave him hurting for awhile." The doctor whispered. "And he's going to have to relie on the IV for nutrients too. But no matter how bad it looks, I assure you he's in the clear."

Kevin nodded and looked around him. AJ looked relieved. His face was pulled back in a shaky, but real smile. Nick had tears forming in his eyes. Kevin couldnt tell if was from happiness or sadness. Howie was sitting akwardly in the wheelchair. A fine layer of sweat was standing out on his forehead. Even though he was in obvious pain, he wore a huge smile.

Suddenly a tired groan filled the room. All eyes shot to Brian as his eyes slowly fluttered open. His blue eyes shot nervously around the room until it landed on a familiar face. A small smile was noticeable behind the mask. It was gone as quickly as it came. He struggled to sit up but collasped back against the pillow with a cry of pain. Kevin and Nick were at his side with in seconds.

"Take it easy Brian." Kevin soothed. "You're okay now."

Brian's scared eyes rested on Kevin's face. he licked his dry lips before speaking.

"W-where am I Kev?" He rasped. "What happened to me?"