"Aaron, honey, what is it?" Jane dropped to her knees and grabbed her younger son from the doctor.

"Nick...Ni...Ni...Nick..." Aaron stuttered, sobbing.

Jane looked at the doctor with scared eyes. "What's happened to my son? What's wrong with Nickolas?"

"Can we go into the waiting room, please?" He showed them into the small room just down the hall and shut the door. "Your son woke up and requested the test results."

Kevin and AJ exchanged furtive glances, they had a feeling they knew what he was about to tell them.

"And what were they?" Bob asked.

"Nick is, more than likely, going to be blind for the rest of his life." he said, bluntly.

"What?" Jane gasped. "No!"

It's permanent?" Bob questioned, stunned.

"Was anyone with him?" Kevin spoke up.

The doctor looked puzzled. "Well, no obviously. His brother here." The doctor gestured to Aaron who was still crying in his mothers arms.

"You gave him news like that...with no one there for him...in his condition?" Kevin said incredulously.

"I..he insisted." The doctor said lamely.

"Goddamn." Kevin muttered. "You better pray that he is alright." AJ just stared at the doctor scornfully.

"How could you be so insensitive?" Jane looked up at him. "My son was in a terrible accident and almost died, how could you?" Her voice was rising and the rage was barely contained. Bob patted her shoulder and whispered to her. Out of the silence they heard a scream from the hallway. "Nick?" Jane jerked her head up. "Nickolas? Oh my God!"

As she started to rise out of the chair, Kevin gently pushed her back down. "Do you mind if I go? Just to calm him down?"

Jane shook her head. "I need to be with him!"

"You're upset, he'll sense that and kick you out just like he did Air. Let me settle him and then you come in."

"Go Kevin." Bob urged. "It probably would be better that way."

Kevin nodded and sprinted off in the direction of Nicks room.

Nick sat motionless in the bed after the doctor closed the door behind his crying brother. Blind. For the rest of his life. He would never see his siblings grow up, his friends, his future wife, children. He would never be able to draw again or play his video games. The enormity of it hit him and tears rolled down his cheeks. He started to shake his head and pound the mattress in fury.

"NO!" he screamed. "No, No, No!"

He hand came in contact with the drawing pad his mother left on the table for him. He picked it up and flung it across the room. The lamp followed, shattering against the wall, and then the Gameboy Aaron had lovingly looked after for him.

Kathy heard the commotion down at the nurses station and left on the run. She rushed to Nicks side and tried to hold down his flailing body but she was no match for him, even in his weakened state.

"Let me go!" he screamed, the fingers sticking out of the cast searching for his IV and attempting to pull it out. "Go away!"

"Let me." Kevin pushed her aside and grabbed Nicks shoulders, holding his thrashing body tight.

"No, leave me alone!" Nick yelled.

"Nick, you need to settle down." He said it forcefully, but gently. "You're gonna hurt yourself."

"I don't care!" Nicks fingers scrambled for the IV again. "Let me go!" He struggled to get out of Kevins hold. "Let...me..." Nick gasped, his eyes wide and frightened. "I can't....breathe...I..can't..." he panted.

Kevin grabbed him in a bear hug and lay him down on the bed. "Let the nurse check you okay?" I'll be right here." Nick's body shook under him. "Easy." Kevin soothed.

"I'm so scared." Nick whispered.

"I know." Kevin motioned for the stunned Kathy to move closer. "I know little bro." He held Nick tightly and talked softly to him. "It's alright."

Kathy moved next to Kevin. "How did you do that?" She was amazed that just a few words had calmed Nick down.

Kevin smiled. "Years of practice. Check him over while he's settled and then leave us alone, please."

Kathy quickly checked Nick's vital signs and nodded okay to Kevin before she stepped out of the room.

Nicks deep gasping breaths were slowing to a more normal rhythm and he lay still. "Are you still there Kevin?" Nick asked plaintively.

"I'm here bro and I'm not going anywhere." Kevin rubbed Nick's shoulders and then pulled his covers around him again.

"Are we alone?"

Kevin nodded and then corrected himself. "Yes, it's just you and me." He sat on the edge of the bed and covered Nick's hand with his own.

"I can't see."

"I know."

"I won't be able to see ever again."

"I know."

Tears started rolling down his face again. "I'm so scared Kevin."

Kevin took a deep breath. "It will be alright Nick. We're here for you." Nick started to shake under the covers again and Kevin resumed rubbing his shoulders. "There's nothing to be scared of."

Nick tossed his head side to side. "I won't be able to sing anymore! You're not gonna want a blind guy in the group!"

Kevin smiled. "Don't you even worry about that. You're still in the group, you didn't lose your voice." He turned to the doorway and noticed Nick's parents standing there with Aaron and AJ. "But you need to get yourself healthy first, no more outbursts like what I just saw."

Nick drew his hand across his eyes and nodded. "I'm sorry Kevin."

Kevin took his hand in his. "Don't apologize to me, there's someone here who needs an apology more than I do." Kevin pushed Aaron over to the bed. "You take it easy, you hear?"

Aaron hugged Nick's hand. "Who is it?" Nick asked, his eyes searching.

"It's me Nick, you scared me."

"Oh Air, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, but I was so scared myself."

Aaron climbed on the bed again and lay down beside Nick. "I know, it was just really scary." He looked around the room. "I think you broke the Gameboy."

Nick laughed bitterly. "I can't use it anymore Air, it's useless."

Aaron studied his brothers face and looked over to his parents. "Mom and Dad are here."

Jane pulled a chair to the side of the bed and Bob sat on the arm of it. "How are you, honey?"

Nick laughed again, a cold sound. "Oh, I think not too good right at the moment."

Jane held his hand and stroked his cheek. "We'll do everything we can for you, get the best nurses and therapists, someone to help you around the house.

"Super." Nick sighed. "I'm really tired and sore, can you tell the nurse I need my medication?" He turned his face to the wall.

Jane buzzed the nurse as Aaron slid off the bed. He moved to the floor and gathered up the scattered pieces of the Gameboy. After tucking the battery protector back in place, he turned the game on and was rewarded with the beeping music of the game.

"Turn that off!" Nick yelled.

Aaron jumped and dropped the machine.

"Nick!" Jane looked at her eldest in amazement. "Don't talk to your brother like that!"

Nick turned to the wall again. "Then get out please, I don't want to be reminded of what I can't do now."

Aaron left the room and Jane stood to follow him. "Nick, that was uncalled for."

"I'm just not in the mood." Nick mumbled. "Please leave."

Jane kissed his cheek and went out the door.

"Is everyone gone?" Nick asked quietly.

"I'm here son." Bob answered him.

"Dad, tell them I'm sorry. I just don't know how to deal with this. I'm okay one minute and the next I'm exploding."

Bob sat in the chair vacated by his wife. "It's alright son, you have to let it out."

Nick nodded. "Could you hand me the Gameboy?"

Bob picked the toy off the floor and handed it to Nick. "Get some rest son, we'll be back in the morning, okay?"

Nick nodded again and his eyes closed and opened rapidly. "I'm really sorry for my behaviour." he said sleepily.

"We know." Bob said. Nick clutched the Gameboy to his chest and let his eyes close. "Good night." Bob kissed him gently and pulled the covers over his shoulders. "Sleep well."