Brother (Short Story)

The Drums Of The City Rain

"Remember when you and I would make things up? So many nights, just take me down to the place we can hear them play. I miss that sound. 'Cause now we don't sing so loud, to the drums of the beating rain." -Brother by Gerard Way

• • •

"Where is he? Where's Mikey? Where's my brother, dammit!"

Gerard barged into the reception room after being driven to the hospital. He was overwrought and on the border of hysterics. It didn't help that the receptionist wouldn't tell him a damn thing.

"I'm sorry, sir. You're just going to have wait until the doctors are done to see your brother." She repeated for the hundredth time.

"Just tell me," Gerard begged, "How is he?"

The receptionist looked up from her computer to regard the distraught man who resembled that of a train wreck. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair unkempt, and face puffy. To say the least, the man in front of her was broken and crumbling on the inside, and perhaps she felt an ounce of sympathy for him.

"I'm not supposed to say anything, but I hear the patient is in critical condition. They say he might not make it." She relented in a hushed whisper.

"Thank you." Gerard exhaled gratefully and the woman nodded, turning back to her work. It wasn't exactly the news he desired to hear, but it was something.

Gerard sauntered to the waiting room and sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair. He settled his head between his knees, breathing laboriously to keep from breaking down. It was all he could do to push back the tears, and refrain from lashing out and causing a scene.

He had called everyone to let them know Mikey's condition. Lindsey was on the next flight home. David and many other family and friends promised to visit the second they had a chance. Bandit would have to be picked up from day care by her grandmother, Lindsey's mom. Gerard's heart went out to his baby girl, for she didn't have a clue about her uncle - he couldn't bring himself to tell her yet.

Gerard had even contacted Mikey's girlfriend to fill her in. He disliked her, but she had the right to be informed. What aggravated him about the whole conversation was her reaction. She didn't bother nor care about his brother, and it showed when she refused to put aside her plans to visit. Needless to say Gerard hung up on her, pissed and seething.

The following hour was torture for Gerard. He had bounced on his toes in anticipation, played games on his phone, and read the outdated health magazines on display - everything he could to distract himself. He even tried to sweet talk the receptionist to omitting information again, but she wouldn't budge. Gerard was out of diversions, so contrition seeped its way in. If he'd just apologized to Mikey sooner, tried harder, then neither of them would be here. Gerard couldn't escape how familiar this all felt, except the roles being reversed. He vowed to himself that when Mikey got out of the hospital, he'd atone for his foolishness and be a better brother. It was the least he could do.

A voice had startled Gerard and jerked him out of his thoughts. When he glanced at the person in front of him, he immediately distinguished the doctor's uniform and exhausted expression all doctors seemed to carry. Gerard promptly bounded to his feet.

"Mr. Way?"

"That's me. Tell me, Doc, what's the damage? Is my brother going to live?" Gerard braced himself for the worst.

"Well as you know, your brother did try to commit suicide. When the paramedics responded to an emergency call, they found your brother at a hotel and were able to find your contact info at the front desk. Now, your brother, he purposely overdosed with so much narcotics and alcohol in his system, his odds of survival were very slim-"