A Broken Crew

Chapter 33

"Dakota, where's Grey?"

Grey comes down the stairs just then, still holding the pillow. "I'm right here." He answers for Dakota, coming into the living room.

Atlas hugged Grey. "I didn't get a chance to say that I'm glad that you're okay." he said softly. "And I'm glad that we're gonna be brothers."

Grey hugs back. "Thanks. I'm pretty glad too."

Dakota grabbed Grey's hand. "I want to be in the hug too!" Grey laughs and moves so Dakota can get in the hug too. "C'mere then!" Dakota hugged him for a second. "Grey, can we have something to eat?"

"Of course we can." Grey smiles.

Dakota rushed into the kitchen, seemingly cheerful. Atlas also plopped down at the table. "I hate it when he's like this." Atlas said. "One little thing goes wrong and suddenly he's in stage 2." He laid his head down. "Mom always paid more attention to Dakota then me."

Grey walks behind Atlas and gently puts his hands on the other's shoulders, massaging lightly. "I'm not going to. I promise." He says quietly.

Atlas gave him a small smile. Dakota looked out the window, then abruptly lost his smile, his face going pale. He stood frozen, tightly gripping the window sill.

Grey gently hugs Atlas from behind for a moment, not even noticing Dakota.

There was a huge smash as Dakota threw a stack of plates onto the floor, looking from them to the window in complete fear and shock.

Grey jumps and looks at Dakota in almost fear. "Kota??"

Dakota doesn't even register Grey talking to him, just stares at the window. Atlas stood up. "Don't go near him." he warned. Then he walked closer, muttering. "Well, great." Then he spoke to Dakota. "Dakota, what's the matter?" Dakota still didn't respond. Atlas walked a step closer. "Dakota. Answer me." Dakota abruptly turned and slammed his face into the counter in an attempt to run past Atlas. Atlas grabbed him. "Hey, what's the matter?" he asked, trying not to get impatient. Dakota fought him. "He's coming! He's coming!" he cried, eyes wide. "I saw him! Through the window!" Atlas didn't let go. "Grey, check the window." he said. "See if someone's there."

Grey nods and goes quickly to the window. "There's no one there, Dakota." He turns back and gently wraps his arms around Dakota, then grabs his own wrists. "I've got him, Atlas." He mouths to the other, holding Dakota against his own body.

Dakota squirmed in his grip. "Let go of me!" he said frantically. "Let go, he's coming!"

Grey shakes his head, refusing to let go. He plants his feet firmly despite the pain doing so causes so that he can hold onto Dakota better. "Atlas. Call Mom. She said that's what we're supposed to do if this happens." He grunts as Dakota, who's squirming, elbows him in the stomach. "Kota, it's OK, you're OK, you're safe." He murmurs, trying to keep his voice calm and soothing. "You're at August's house, you're safe."

Dakota struggled a bit more and then turned in Grey's grasp and started trying to scratch at his face. He hissed violently and started to grab at his wings. "Don't touch me!" he shouted. "Let go! Let go of me!"

Grey refuses. "No, Dakota." He's pleading now."I don't want you to get hurt. " He doesn't care that Dakota is attacking him. He just blocks out the pain.

"You can't stop me from being friends with August!" he suddenly shouts. "Leave August alone! I can do what I want! You're wrong, this isn't what I deserve! August said so!" He flinched abruptly and his anger crumpled. "Don't!" he pleaded, relying on Grey's grip on his wrist to keep him standing."Don't hurt me, I'm sorry for shouting, Dad, I'm sorry. Please..." he trailed off, slacking in Grey's grip, crying. "Please, Dad... please let me go."

"K-Kota..." Grey looks at Atlas, helpless. He's unsure what to do. "It's me, Grey...." He nearly whimpers.

Dakota ignored him. "Dad... let me go..." Abruptly he jerked in his grasp and escaped up the stairs, making a ton of noise and wreckage on the way up. Atlas had the phone and was waiting for his mom to pick up. "go after him!" he said urgently. "I know you're hurt but he'll start to hurt himself if someone doesn't stop him or at least try to calm him down." he said. "Not to mention tear up the house."

Grey nods and races up the stairs, adrenaline allowing him to be faster than normal. He catches Dakota and grabs a blanket, throwing it around Dakota quickly, wrapping Dakota up so he can't move much. He continues speaking softly to Dakota.

Dakota wailed and squirmed. "Don't touch me!" he shouted. "Let go of me Dad! I don't need the belt, I don't the belt!" He started to cry harder. "Please, I'll stay outside all night, I promise, I don't need the belt!" He got one arm out of the blanket and started to claw at his own face, cutting open a long scratch across his face. "Let me go! I'll stay in the closet, or outside, just let me go!"

Grey grabs Dakota's hand. "ENOUGH." He catches himself after snapping at him. He gently leads Dakota to bed and sits him down, then sits down as well. "Kota... I'm not your father."

Dakota just stared blankly at the floor, blood dripping from his face, his hand twitching in Grey's grasp. Suddenly he gasped and his other hand went to his throat. "I can't breathe!" he said. "I can't breathe!" He was having a panic attack and suddenly he could only breathe in, not out.

Grey immediately switches tactics. He loosens the blanket and releases Dakota's hand to start rubbing his back. "Kota... Kota.... Easy, buddy.... Easy..." His voice has changed to soft and gentle.

Dakota tried to breath out, but he couldn't. He pulled away from Grey and weakly dragged himself underneath the bed, a favorite pastime hiding place from his father, and was struggling not to pass out.