Finding a Twin

Chapter 22 : Making up

Chapter 22

Later...

Jeff POV

"Jeff, relax. You're fine," one of the nurses said.

I was panicking so much. There's needles in me, my wrists are burning, and I have no idea where I am.

"Jeff, lay down. Come on. You need to rest."

The nurse made me lay down. But my heart was still racing, and I still wanted to run.

"You're going to be fine. Try to relax, Jeff."

"I-I w-want R-Riker!"

"Alright. I'll go get him for you."

The nurse left, and I sat up again. There were 3 needles in my arm, there was something on my finger, and there were things on my chest. I was only in my underwear, but there was a sheet pulled over me.

The nurse came back in with Riker. I started crying, and pulled Riker into bed next to me.

"Thank god you're ok," Riker said, wrapping his arms loosely around me.

I curled up in his arms, crying. 

"Jeff, please don't cry. You're ok," Riker said, quietly.

I started to calm down. Riker always makes me calm down the quickest. 

I closed my eyes, and just cuddled with my brother. He was slowly rubbing my back.

I heard more voices and footsteps in the room. I recognized them as the rest of my family. But I kept my eyes shut. I'm exhausted.

"Everything went fine. He's getting fluids, pain medication, and blood through some needles right now. We're monitoring his heart to make sure nothing goes wrong. We had to give him stitches in some of the cuts in his arms, but we stopped the bleeding, and he's going to be fine."

"Why did he want Riker? Riker caused this, didn't he?" Ross asked.

"God, I'm so stupid..." Riker said, tightening his grip on me.

"No duh, Riker," Rocky said.

"Really, why do you think he wanted you?" Ross asked.

"I don't know... I wouldn't even want me," Riker said.

"Does he have to stay overnight?" Mom asked.

"Yes. We'd like to keep him until the morning to make sure he's 100% ok."

I sighed.

"Can I please stay with him, mom?" Riker asked.

"Yes. But you'd better be nice to him."

"Of course. I'm not letting anything else bad happen to him."

"This is like baseball. 2 strikes, Riker. One more, and... well... he'll be out," Ryland said.

"I know! I screwed up twice! But I'm not screwing up again! I get how sensitive he can be because of his past, and I'm going to think twice before I do or say anything to him. I feel so guilty for hurting my own brother..."

"Riker, we're going to head home. And since you still don't have your phone, I'm giving it back to you now so you can call us if you need anything. But next test you fail, you're getting it taken away again. Got it?" Mom asked.

"Yes, of course. Thank you."

"Alright. We'll be back tomorrow," mom said.

I heard footsteps, and then silence. I curled up even more, getting closer to Riker.

"Are you awake?"

"Mhmmm..."

"Why did you want me? I'm the one who caused this, aren't I?"

I kept silent, and just relaxed myself. Riker sighed.

I easily fell asleep, feeling safe in my brother's arms.

Morning...

Jeff POV

When I woke up, Riker wasn't beside me. I sat straight up, beginning to panic.

A few seconds later, Riker walked into the room.

"Hey. Calm down. What's wrong?" Riker asked.

"W-where were you?" I whispered.

"Just in the bathroom."

"Come back."

Riker slid into bed next to me, and I cuddled up against him. He put his arm around me.

"Come on. I need answers. Why did you want me last night?"

"Because I trust you. And you make me calm down."

"But didn't you cut because of what I said?"

"It's complicated."

"Well then explain it to me so I can understand."

"When you yelled at me, it gave me flashbacks of my parents yelling at me. They told me I was absolutely worthless. And they'd beat me for things that weren't my fault. They'd beat me whenever they felt like it, really... And I just got sort of caught up in my head, and that's why I did it."

Riker sighed.

"Well that makes me feel a little better... But I still feel so awful. Jeff, I shouldn't have blamed you. Mistakes happen, and I get it because I make so many mistakes all the time. I'm totally not mad at you, and I'm so sorry all of this happened. I shouldn't have yelled at you. Next time something like this happens, I need to address it better by being calm, and not losing my temper like some immature 10 year old."

"It's ok, Riker..."

Riker pulled me closer to him.

"Did you sleep good last night?" Riker asked.

"Yeah... I was tired... But I really really hate all these needles in my arm."

"Yeah... I didn't really sleep last night."

"Why not!?"

"I hate hospitals. They give me a weird feeling inside, and I just feel so uneasy."

"Riker?"

"What?"

"They said someone from our family donated blood to me. Do you know who that was?"

"Yeah... It was me."

"What!? I thought you said you hated needles and hospitals."

"I do. But I was more scared of losing you than I was of needles. I love you. You're my brother. And I was so scared last night. I um... I had a panic attack in the bathroom last night. I understand completely when you say you can't calm down. It's like you know you're trying to calm down, but your body won't let you. It felt like the scariest thing ever. I can't believe you've gone through that a bunch of times. I've only gone through it once, and I don't ever want to go through it again."

"Welcome to my world..."

"Yeah, seriously..."

"When can I go home?"

"I don't know... A few hours, probably..."

I sighed.

"It'll be ok. We'll go home, and you can just rest and relax all day," Riker said, rubbing my back.

"I'm tired..."

"Then go back to sleep..."

"Ok..."

I laid my head on Riker's chest, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.