A Broken Crew

Chapter 26

As Grey walks back to his room slowly, he feels a familiar presence at his side, and turns his head to look into the laughing turquoise eyes of his best friend. "Grey, what have you gotten yourself into this time? I thought we talked about the fights!" Grey's heart clenched as he feels a hand on his elbow. " Here, let me help you!" Grey shakes his head and pulls away, knocking into the wall. "No..! You'll get sick again..!" "But Grey... I hate to see you like this! Just let me help!""No." Grey tries to get away but feels the touch again. "Grey..! Please!" "LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Grey whimper-yells.

Dakota runs into the hallway. "Hey, Grey, are you okay? What's the matter?" 

Grey bats at something Dakota can't see, eyes full of fear. He continues to try an back away from what he's seeing, shaking his head and whimpering pleading protests. It sounds like he's arguing with someone he cares about. But there's no one there to be seen by Dakota. "Please, Hiro.. Please no.."

Dakota watches him for a second, then carefully positions himself in front of him, hissing, his tail flicking wildly. He couldn't see or sense anything, but he knew the fact that he Grey could hear him meant that he would feel safer if Dakota tried to protect him. Dakota suspected it was PTSD but he tried anyway. Grey hides behind Dakota, his slim body hidden easily, he clamps his hands over his ear to try and block out the voice- Hiro's voice. "Grey? Why are you so afraid of me?" Grey bits back a whimper, trembling. Nothing touches him, and he knows it's because Dakota is protecting him. "What did I do to you? Why are you so... Scared? I just want to help, like I used to." Grey's heart breaks, hearing this. "No, Hiro.. No no no.. You're gone and it's my fault for not taking care of you.." He whispers. " No Grey, I'm right here! I'm here and I'm OK!" Grey shakes his head."No! No you're dead!! So leave me alone!!"

Dakota glanced at Grey. "Whoever you are, leave." he hissed. "You're disturbing the peace, and I won't stand for it. Get out."

Grey peaks around Dakota to see Hiro standing still, looking heartbroken. "I'm.. Disturbing the peace here? I didn't... I didn't..." Grey steps out from behind Dakota. "I'm sorry, Grey..." Hiro fades away and Grey covers his face with his hands, sinking against the wall to a sitting position on the floor.

Dakota relaxed. "What was happening?" he asked. "That was so weird." "H-Hiro..... is..." Grey can barely speak, his voice trembles. "I think h-he's haunting me? That or I can s-see ghosts...."

"Who on earth is Hiro? Also, ghosts aren't real. I think it's PTSD. That will happen to me occasionally."

Hiroshima Kane. Healer. Died three years and one day ago at age 16 on his birthday due to cancer. " Grey sounds like he's reciting an article. "He... He was my best friend... " Grey's voice breaks.

"Wow. That's sad." Dakota wasn't one for meaningless apologies. "Are you gonna be okay-" There was a knock at the door. "Hold on, I'm going to answer the door." He went over and opened it, but immediately slammed it shut again. The door opened, and he pushed it shut. "Go away or I'll call the cops!" he snapped. The door clicked shut. "Honey, please, I just want to talk to you-" "Don't call me honey, Laura!" "Sweetheart, I'm your mother, please, at least just listen to me." "NO!" he shouted back. "How did you find out where I am? Leave or I'm calling the cops! You have no affiliation with me, Laura." His voice was cold. "I don't want to talk to you and you can't make me, so leave." "Please, let me talk to you, you're my son, I need to tell you-" "I'm not your son." Dakota said flatly. "You made sure of that, didn't you? There's paper's proving it, Laura. I don't know how you found me but you need to leave or I'll have you arrested for trespassing and harassment." "Kota, please..." "Don't call me that!" he practically screamed. "And quit trying to open the door. Go away!"

Roman comes running downstairs, yawning and rubbing his eyes. "OK what is going on down here? First I hear Dakota and Kacey, then something goes down with Grey, now someone's at the door?" He sounds very, very annoyed and has shards of ice floating around him. He marches over to the door and opens it, glaring at Laura. "Do you have any idea what time it is, woman?? People are trying to sleep, or rather were until you woke us up! Now, from what I've heard you are NOT welcome here, so go!" Roman, tired and angry, looks uncharacteristically stern and intimidating with the ice shards floating around him. 

Laura looks sadly at him. "Please, I just need to talk to my son, just for a moment and then I'll leave. Dakota, please..." "I said I don't want to talk to you." Dakota said quietly. "Leave me alone. You weren't in my life before, so what makes you think you can try and jump back into it now?" He turned around and threw the door open wider. "You're not my mother, so leave."

Roman sighs loudly and steps outside, closing the door behind him. "Why do you want to talk to him so badly?" He asks in a gentler tone.

"I need to tell him some things and apologize, really, it would only take a few minutes..." Dakota came outside as well. "Apologize? You think I want your apology? You knew what that old man was like. What he did to you. What he did to me. And you still ran off without a second thought for your 6 year old son who had absolutely no defense against him. Do you know what he did to me after you left? Do you have an idea how much more I suffered after you were gone?" He got right in her face. "Do you want me to tell you the kinds of things he did to me?" Laura's face went white. "Dakota, please, I know I was selfish. I have no excuse for leaving you behind, and it's okay if you never forgive me. All I'm asking is that you hear me out, please. I believe that I'll be leaving this town soon and I wanted to tell you some things about why I left and to... well, say I'm sorry." She reached out a hand to him. "Please, Dakota, listen to me-" "No."Dakota's voice was ice cold. "I don't want to hear about it. You left me to suffer at the hands of that ghetto trash while you got out and tried your best to forget about me. You're not my mother." He tried to go back inside, but she grabbed his hand. "Please, Koty!" Dakota's face went white. "D-don't call me that." he said softly. "Let go of me. You're hurting me." Memories were overtaking his vision. Laura, packing her bags. 'Please Mommy, don't go! I don't want to stay with Daddy!' Let go of me Dakota. You're not coming with me. 'Mommy, why? Why can't I go?' Because, Dakota, you're staying with that man. I don't want you with me. I'm getting married to my own husband and you're staying with him. Dakota wiped his eyes, PTSD over coming him. "Don't leave me with him!" he shouted. "But you did! You left me! You left me with him!" He wiped his eyes furiously. "Let go of me! Let go of me Laura! I don't want to talk to you!"