A Broken Crew

Chapter 22

Mikko wakes up soon and realizes Grey isn't there on the couch. He freaks out and starts looking for him. Soon enough, he finds his friend in the kitchen and stops in the doorway for a moment before going to his side and gently hugging him.

August woke up again the next day, still feeling groggy and generally unwell. He called Roman again.

Roman picks up after a few minutes, sounding as if he had just woken up. "G'morning.."

"Hey, Roman, how is everything?" August said, trying to be polite before asking his burning question. "How's Grey?"

Roman laughs, but it's not amused. "Physically? He's doing fine." There is a pause, and a sigh. "Mentally? I'm not sure. Oh November has stopped by, and Cassidy drew up the legal forms for Grey's custody, and we've gotten his father to sign them. We just need someone to take custody of him."

"Hmmm... my brain is too tired to think. I'll ask my mother about that too." He laid back in the bed. Quietly he asks, "Is Dakota back yet?"

"No. I'm sorry." Roman does sound sad. There's the sudden sound of a scuffle, then Kacey is on the phone. "Hi August, Roman isn't telling you that we think Grey is having a mmmpphrrmmph" The words are muffled as clearly someone covered Kacey's mouth.

August sat up a little. "What? Is something wrong with Grey?"

Roman sighs, clearly annoyed at Kacey. "We think he's having a mental breakdown. Remember that name, Hiro? He keeps repeating it, begging whoever it is "Not to leave", or just sitting there blankly, or sobbing. I've had Mikko or Kacey with him at all times... I don't want a repeat of what happened when he was... Sixteen....."

"I... see. Well, my mother's been a little busy, so I haven't really seen her yet today, but as soon as I see her, I'll ask her about this Hiro person. What happened when he was 16? Oh, hold on, the doctor's here, and my Mom, I'll call you back okay?"

"Yeah, yeah sure." Roman suddenly sounds distracted."Talk to you later." He hangs up then slips his phone in his pocket and runs to the room Grey has been in ever since Mikko found him in the kitchen yesterday. Roman walks up to Grey, who doesn't seem to notice him. "I know you're in there, buddy.. Stay with us, OK? We need you here, ALIVE."

August watched the doctor change his IV. Needles never bothered him, though they seemed to terrify Dakota and November. "Hey, Mom, do you know anybody named Hiro?" His mom looked at him a bit confused. "Hiro? What brought this on?" August shrugged. "Just something I heard recently. So, do you?" She nodded. "I did know a Hiro." she said. "Not well, but I knew him. He passed away a few years ago." August suddenly was very shocked and interested. "Who was he? Can you tell me about him?" Maggie sat down not the bed. "He would have been about your age now." she said. "He was here in this hospital when I was doing internship hours." She thought for a moment. "Such a sweet boy. I talked to him a little bit. He was in the hospital with cancer. That's why he passed away." She grew very somber. "I remember that. It was a hard time for a lot of people. He was always so cheerful. I worked with him a few times." She shook her head. "I can't imagine why you're asking about him." August shrugged again. "It's nothing." he said. "I was just wondering." He lay back in his bed. "Rest for now, sweetheart." she said. "I'm going back home to check on the house. Do you know if Dakota is back yet." "No." August didn't even want to think about it. His mother sighed and rubbed his head. "I know you're worried, I am too. But focus on getting better. I'll be on the lookout for him." She left. August pulled out his phone and called Roman again.

Roman pulls out his phone and steps out of the bedroom. "Hey August."

"Roman, I figured out who Hiro is... I think. You're not gonna believe it."

"After what I've heard come out of people's mouths today, I'll believe anything. Go ahead." Roman leans against the wall, his phone wedged between his ear and his shoulder as he uses Mikko's phone for web browsing.

"Hiro was in this hospital. My mom ended up knowing him. He had cancer and he died three years ago. My mom said he was the same age as us at the time, 16. Do you think that's the Hiro Grey is talking about?"

Roman is silent for a moment. "Yeah, I bet. I found something about the web, posted exactly three years ago. Listen: "I first met Hiroshima Kane three months ago. I had fallen down a ravine, and probably would have died if not for him. I noticed a figure trailing him, but thought nothing of it at first. But after Hiro saved my life by healing me, he collapsed as if in a faint, and it took but an instant for the figure to rush down and carefully pick him up. I never saw the person's face due to the sun that was, at that moment just behind his head, but I clearly saw his wings and heard his voice." And get this, this was posted today- "Happy birthday to the healer that left to soon, that left on the same date as that of his birth."."

"Wow." August was quiet. "You mean Grey's friend died? What does all this mean? Do we even know that this is the right Hiro?"

"If I'm correct and Grey IS the angel from the post, that would explain the way he's acting today. Not only is today Hiro's birthday, but the day he died, three years ago. "

"Really?" August said. "That's crazy. What are we going to do?"

Roman is silent for a few minutes. "I don't know." He finally answers quietly."I just don't know."

August blinked. His eyes were getting heavy. "I have to go." he said. "The medicine is making me sleepy. I'll call you back okay? I'll try to think of something. Call me right away if Dakota shows up.""I promise I will. Good night, August." Roman smiles slightly, hearing the sleep filling his friend's voice.