Unexpected 6: Street's #1 Fan

Chapter 27: Recovery

"I searching for my pops." said Rubio as he came in the ER waiting room

The older nurse sitting behind the counter examined the young boy up and down, took off her glasses, and then smirked. "You're dad's here? Give me a last name, boy."

"Es-tri" he said

"You mean Street, right?" she said annoyed, correcting his pronunciation, "And the correct way to say it is 'I am searching'. Gotta practice that English, son."

He nodded embarrassed.

"Ma'am, kid's bilingual! How many languages do you know?" Luca said placing his arm around the teen's shoulders. He came from behind and stood defiantly towards the nurse.

Before she could say anything, which wasn't much since she was stunned, Luca pulled him to the side. He showed Rubio a smile and they fist pumped. "Your pops in recovery, bed 16. Tell nurse Sharon, she's nice." he instructed the boy, pointing at the vitals area

"Yeah! Thanks, Tío Cosa."

Luca smirked and nodded, as he watched him go.

Rubio followed the nurses' instructions and went through the double doors. He was surprised so many people were inside! Several curtains had been pulled together to divide the patients' stalls, as nurses and other personnel moved quickly around. Additional beds ha been stationed outside the curtains, and some patients were sitting in chairs. The place was crowded! He acted cool, counting the curtains.. until he heard a familiar voice.

"Baby, I'm sorry. I know it hurts but I want you to know I'm here and I ain't going anywhere. I'ma make it up to you, I promise. I already gotta plan. Ok?" Hondo said, as he heard Nichelle sob quietly on the other side of the call. She hadn't stopped crying since her parents broke the news.

Rubio watched from the corner, where the nurse had failed to close the curtains. He recognized Hondo's voice but was struck when he heard it cracking. The kid hung his head, listening to the man sob quietly. He continued on as he felt terribly sad for Hondo. The guy was always serious and frowning but to see him whimpering and shedding tears was heartbreaking.

Now Rubio was scared for his own pops. If Hondo was so sad, what awaited him with his own dad? His knees buckled with every step he took, palms so sweaty he had to wipe them on his jeans, his backpack felt heavy, as if it was filled with solid rocks, his pulse increasing steadily, his breathing getting faster... Curtain #16.

"Pops?" he said quietly, placing one hand on the curtains. He pushed it aside and was pleasantly surprised Street was wide awake, sitting on the bed drinking something out of a paper cup. Phew! He could breath!

"Rubio? What are you doing here?" Street asked pleasantly surprised

The kid raced to him, and laid a huge hug. Boy was he happy to see his pops!

They got acquainted and the officer explained everything that happened. Rubio's jaw seemed to have faltered for he kept dropping it lower and lower as Street kept adding horrible detail after horrible detail.

"So, where's ma? She in the program for captain?"

"No, buddy. Listen" Street began, he needed to tread carefully, "She had to step out to help me. But, hey! We're still proud of her, ok?"

"¡Ay bendito! * Where she now?"

*this phrase means in this context is used to express sadness or compassion*

"She's um..." he paused to think what to say, he didn't wanna startled him, "the doctors are helping her out. She got hurt a little bit, but she'll be fine. You know how tough she is, right?"