Where's Joey?, chapter 3

The doctor left the room which left me alone with Billie and my dying son. I walked next to the bed and grabbed his hand. Suprisingly, he squeezed back. I jumped. "What?" Billie asked, walking over.
"He just squeezed my hand!"
"Are you serious?!"
"Would I lie about something like that?!"
"Do you think he'll wake up?"
"Maybe."

I stood there for another hour, holding his hand. Billie went to get some coffee. I started to sing to Joey, even though he probablly couldn't hear me. I used to always sing to him when he was a baby. It was the only thing that would get him to sleep.

Billie walked back in, eyes still bloodshot. He had a little limp in his step. I looked at him. "Oh, Bill," I said, dissapointed, "You didn't! Not again..." He stole novocaine again. The last time he did it was when he started having nightmares of the day his dad died. He promised me he'd never do it again!

I let out a sigh. "Sit," I ordered. He sat. I turned back to Joey and started singing again.
The doctor walked in. I let go of his hand. Billie stood up. Well, he tried to. I ran to stop him from falling over. "Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong," he said, "It's time for you to go home."
I stared at him. "Can't we stay here?" I asked.
"No, I'm sorry. There's really no need to. We still have some tests to do."
"Oh. Well, we can come back tomorrow, right?"
"Of course."

I stopped Billie from barking back and we walked out the door. Well, I did. I sort of had to drag Billie.

"Okay," he said when we walked to the parking lot, "I'm never doing this again."
"You said that last time."
"Well, I mean it this time."
"How can I be sure?"
"Hey, don't you trust me?"

We got into my car. Billie was in no state to drive. His legs were numb. "We can't lose him," he said, grabbing my free hand as I backed out.
"I know,"I said, looking at him," I won't let him go."

We held hands the whole way home. We pulled into the driveway and Jakob ran out. "You left him here? Alone?!"
I looked at Billie. "Don't sweat," he said, "Tre's here."
"That makes me feel much better," I said saracstically.

I opened Billie's door to help him out. "What's wring with Daddy?" Jakob asked.
"Nothing," I said, trying as hard as I could to get him up, "Go get Tre." He nodded and ran inside.

Tre came out moments later, eyebrow raised. "Again?" he asked. Billie rolled his eyes while I nodded. Tre grabbed his hand and lifted him up. Billie grunted and winced as his stomach landed on Tre's shoulder. He carried him inside and threw him down on the couch. "Why do you people hurt me everytime I do this?" he asked.
"How can you feel it?" I retorted.

"What's wrong with Daddy?!" Jakob asked again.
"Nothing, baby," I said, "His leg's just a little... sore, I guess." I hate lying to him. He looks up at you with those big, green eyes and it tears you inside. I picked him up, brought him to his room, and tucked him in for bed. I kissed him on the forehead.
"When is Joey coming home?" he asked. I didn't know what to say. Well, they are brothers. I might as well tell the truth.
"Baby," I began, "Joey... might not be coming home."
"Y-you mean he might... d-die?"
"He could."
"But I don't want him to die!"
"I don't either. He may wake up, though."
"When?!"
"I don't know. He might not."
"He can't die! I need him! He's my big brother!"

He started to cry. I crawled into bed next to him and wrapped him in my arms. I rocked him to try and calm him down. It worked. He still didn't fall asleep, though. I lay there with him until he did. I didn't want to get up, though, so I fell asleep right next to him, hoping that I would wake up tomorrow and find out that this was all just a horrible dream...