Cause And Effect.

Chapter Five

Max was rushed to the hospital. He was in critical condition. The paramedics were kind enough to let Walter ride in the ambulance with Max, holding his hand. He could feel the little bit of life fading from Max... his hand was getting colder by the second. His body was so still and lifeless...

Walter could have swore he was dead. He looked dead.

When they finally got to the hospital, He was hurried inside where Walter was to stop in the waiting room. Walter called Max's mother.

"Is my baby okay? Where are you, Wally?" Was the first thing Anne asked. Walter was an absolute mess. "Anne..." he said, trying to calm down. "W-we're at the hospital.. I found him.. in his room h-he... he just... his arm was..." Walter couldn't seem to get it out. "Oh god.." he fell apart again, sobbing into his hands.

Anne knew. She knew right away what had happened. Tears filled her eyes. "Issac... we need to go to the hospital..." she said.

She texted Rosa Hubermann.

Rosa was a stubborn fire cracker of a woman. She had a big temper and a small amount of patience. But she loved Max Vandenburg. She adored that boy. She was a softy for Max.

When she recieved the text the Max had tried to kill himself, she sorta froze. "Crucified Christ..." she whispered, a look of worry covering her usually stoic face.

"What? What is it, Mama?" Liesel asked, looking up from the book she was reading with Hans. "What's wrong, Love?" Hans asked.

"We need to go up to the hospital." She said, getting to her feet. Liesel's soft smile fell from her face. "Its max, isn't it...?" Liesel softly said. "He did it... he hurt himself.."

Rosa started at the girl with tears in her eyes. "Saumensch... how did you know that?"

"Issac is mean to him... he never got into that fight he talked about, you know?" She softly said. "Issac did it." She felt sick to her stomach, sniffing softly. "I could see it in his eyes, Mama. He's sad. He has sad eyes. And I saw marks on his arm, Mama." Liesel words brough tears to Rosa's eyes.

"Why didn't you tell us, Liesel?" Hans softly asked, looking at the young girl with a gentle but concerned stare. "He doesn't know that I know. Brigitta told me. She said I couldn't tell." She whispered, tears in her own eyes. "Is he going to be okay, Papa?"

Hans sighed, hugging her tightly. "We'll see, Liesel." He whispered. "We'll see."

~

The Hubermanns got to the hospital about the same time as Anne, Issac, And Brigitta did.

Walter was sitting in the waiting room, sobbing into his hands. Anne sat beside him, pulling him close to her. "It'll be okay, Walter." She softly said, though she was crying too. "He'll be alright... he Will be just fine."

"Max is a fighter." Hans softly said, sitting in a plastic, uncomfortable blue chair with Liesel on his lap.

When Issac walked in, Both Brigitta and Liesel glared at him. Hans and Rosa did too.

Walter looked up at him and glared with most hatred he could muster up. "Get out." He snarled. Issac looked at him as if he was confused. "What are you talking about, Blondie?"

Walter stood slowly, approaching the man. "You're lucky I don't kick your ass." He muttered, staring holes through him. Anne looked very confused. "Issac...? What is going on? What is he talking about?"

"I have no idea, Anne. I suggest you sit back down, boy."

"Don't you feel any regret?" Walter asked, looking up at him. "Calling him a faggot... hitting hit.. treating him awful? You think I didn't know that you were treating him like that? Its your fault, You piece of shit. " Walter had tears filling his eyes again.

Anne stood slowly. "Is that true, Issac?" She asked, feeling sick to her stomach. "Did you hurt Max?"

"He never got in any fights or got jumped." Brigitta suddenly spoke. "Issac did it! Issac got drunk and beat him up!"

Rosa stood as well. "Mr. Holland I suggest you go."

Issac didn't say a word, he looked between the people who were surrounding him. God, What was he thinking? He didn't want Max to kill himself, He wanted Max to move out.

He felt like an idiot. Still.. he wasn't concern for Max. Only himself. If he died, they could get him for murder...

They could charge his ass with murder or voluntary man slaughter. And with Walter seeing what he'd saw, he'd be charged, no doubt. Not to mention, domestic violence charges, Assult Charges, charges for a hate crime. He'd get them all.

When he finally snapped out of his thoughts, he realized Walter was telling Anne everything. Every last thing that had happened.

Anne suddenly lost it. She acted like she was going to kill him. But Hans and Walter got ahold of her and held her back.

"Get out!" She yelled, sobbing and kicking and trying to get away from those who held her. "Get the fuck out! How dare you! How dare you hurt my baby!"

She was a mess. Issac left. He didn't fight with anyone, he just left. Anne fell to her knees, her body wracked the sobs as held her face in her hands. "Oh my god... why didn't I notice... oh max I'm so sorry." She mumbled quietly.

Hans sat on the floor beside her, pulling his friend close to him and rubbing her back. He didn't speak. He only tried his best to calm her down, holding her tight his arms.