A Broken Crew

Chapter 10

Grey continues. "By this time I mean that I broke my left wing as a kid and it healed wrong. I was wondering how much worse it was than that." He wasn't lying. That was really what happened.

"Oh." August's voice was tiny. "That's awful. You mean you haven't been able to fly? I... couldn't imagine that..." He wiped his eyes again. "Sorry, I just get really emotional." He gave Grey the shot. "There, now you won't feel anything. He splinted the wings, pressing them up against Grey's back in as proper of a position as he could. "Why don't you lay down on the couch? I assume it would be too hard for you to get upstairs to a bed. Just rest. Don't sleep though, we can't risk that if you have a concussion. We'll take good care of you. Do you need any food or water?"

A small smile teases at Grey's lips. "I've flown- sort of- once. Atlas took me into the air." This clearly is a happy thing for him."He's really nice, August." He says this part for August only to hear. "But really, really lonely."

August glanced at Atlas. "He took you flying? When? He's not even supposed to do that." He turned his head back to him. "I... I think he hates me." he said softly. "He always seems so angry around me, and no matter what I try he just gets angry with me." He sighed loudly. "I've never seen him be happy. I've never seen him do anything but yell at me. He does hate me." He looked sad.

Grey reaches for August's hand. "He loves you- he's just very jealous of all the attention you get. He acts out to get attention. If you've ever seen him fly- he's so happy and free up in the air. He's really sorry for what he did, you know." Grey stays quiet on purpose so only August will hear this. "He thinks you guys hate him."

August reacted with surprise. "Hate him? I don't hate Atlas at all! Whatever gave him that idea!?" He paused. "What is he sorry for? He's never done anything."

Grey looks- sort of- over at Atlas. "For what he did when you were kids. He thinks you hate him because, from his view, you don't pay any attention or care. Same with your parents." Grey feels slightly guilty for telling August this but feels he needs to know.

"As kids? I don't remember-" August stops. "Oh." His voice is quiet. "I do remember." He was silent for a moment. "Mom and Dad were really angry with him, but I didn't know he was still... that he..." He looked very sad. "How come he didn't tell me, or Mom? She'd be so surprised." A couple tears trickled down his cheeks. "It's because of me." He looked down. "My parents spend all their time taking care of me and making sure I don't get sick." He looked more sad. "He told me that. When we were kids. If I was stronger..." He shook his head. "What's the point in saying that?" he said. "I'm not strong." He wipes his nose. "I promise to make up with him when he's better." He gave a small smile. "I definitely will."

Grey smiles back. "He's probably going to be mad at me for telling you." There's a definite laugh in his voice. "But I think it'll be OK. " Grey squeezes August's hand gently. "And I hope it'll help- for both your sakes."

August smiled. "Now rest. No more talking. Try not to sleep though, okay?" He patted his hand. "Auggie." August turned around and Dakota was hugging him. He patted Dakota gently on the shoulder. "Oh, Kotes, it's this again, isn't it? It makes sense, given what you must have seen." Dakota sighed loudly, like a little child. "I... I didn't drink, Auggie..." August gave a tiny smile. "That's good. I'm proud of you." Dakota leaned up against him. "Yeah... I spent all my money too!" August looked confused. "On what? What'd you spend your money on?" Dakota shrugged. "I.... hmm..." August pushed him up. "Come on, go take a shower, you'll feel better." He pushed Dakota towards the stairs. "Go on, shower." Dakota nodded and toddled up the stairs. August sat back down. "What's he talking about?" he asked Grey.

Grey looks away. "Apparently he bought "time" with me from him just to get me out of there." He says sadly.

"Oh." August was still quiet. "Your dad drinks too, huh? I think Dakota likes you. I think you remind him of himself. I love Dakota so much, I wish we could help him for good. And you, too." August looked sad. "You guys shouldn't have to be like this. Shouldn't have to live like this. You and Dakota deserve to be happy."

"This is the first time he's beat me." Grey says, almost in defense, though it's half-hearted. "As long as I stay out at night and keep delivering groceries, I generally escape him. " *Of course, that's only the way it's been for the past year, but they don't need to know that. NO ONE needs to know what happened.*

"That's a lie." August's voice is blunt. " You look the way Dakota did when I first started seeing through his facade. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to, but I'm here to listen. I understand it can be very hard to talk about. I have experience with Dakota. But I'm always here to listen."

"Well.." Grey's voice is small."It's the first time HE has beaten me." He feels bad for lying, but he doesn't think he can tell anyone what he's gone through, though he bets Dakota has an idea from what he said he had to do.

"Okay." August is calm, and he smiles warmly at him. "Do you want me to tell you something instead? I'd like to share with you a little about Dakota. You seemed nervous of him the first time you met."

Grey looks back at August a bit sheepishly. "I thought he was going to attack me or something at first. Then Kacey.." Grey's tone changes when he says that name. "He trusted Dakota almost right away, which is rare. "

August smiled. "Despite seeming scary at first, he's actually very sweet." He settled down next to him. "Let me tell you a little bit about Dakota, okay? I'm sure he won't mind, as long as you don't tell anyone."

Grey nods and relaxes, ready to listen to August. "My lips are sealed." Just at that moment, Grey's phone rings and he checks it, smiling when he sees who's calling. Kacey. "Hey Kacey-" "GREY ARE YOU OK WHAT HAPPENED WHAT WAS WITH THAT TEXT YOU SCARED ME GRey please I'm scared..""Kacey! Kace, it's OK. I'm OK. " Grey soothes."I'm at August's house now.""B-but y-you... I hears...""Shh. I'm safe, bud. Why don't you ask Ro or Cass to drive you over so you can see, hmm?"".. Okie, Grey.. Can Mikko come too? He's worried too." Grey's expression completely melts. "Sure, Kace. Just remember the rules for Mikko leaving, OK? And if you bring Meeks, have Ro drive you, K?""Okie. See you soon, G?""See ya, bud." Grey hangs up and puts his phone down. "Hey, you don't mind if two of my friends come over? They apparently got my text earlier and are really worried."

August looked worried. "Let's cover you with a blanket then." he said. "Not trying to scare you, but some of the wounds even freaked me out." He paused. "Are you going to tell them anything? I assume they don't know." He glanced at the clock. "Oh, November is supposed to be coming over in about 10 minutes. Right." August coughed again. "Okay." He took a deep breath. "I'm going to check on Dakota." he said. "If November or your friends come, just tell them the door's unlocked if I'm not back, okay? I'll tell you about Dakota later." He headed up the stairs.

"August." Grey calls to get the other's attention. "If that cough continues, try a ginger- lemon tea. It really helps without putting drugs into your body." He says this without thinking as he sends Kacey a text, his habit of taking care of his smaller friends showing through with August.