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Blue sat in his car, staring out the windshield playing back the events of the last few days. His mama had lied to him about not knowing who his dad was and his dad knew he existed this whole time, but never once came to see him. Tears pricked his eyes as he thought of his dad. How it felt to finally get to know and see the man he’d never known, only for all of it to be ripped away by the truth. He thought about his brother, Ryan, and how he was excited to finally have a sibling like he had always wanted.
And now that was being taken from him too. He never even got to properly hang out with him before he found out what his mama and dad had been hiding and now Ryan probably hated him for walking out the test and embarrassing their dad like that. Then he thought about his mom and how this wasn’t the first time she had lied to him about something. How when he was younger she would drink and get so drunk the she would hit him. How he always covered for her because he still loved his mama, even when she would yell at him and call him a mistake. A burden. She would say that if it wasn’t for him she would be a lot more successful and would be in a good relationship because no one wants to date someone who already has a kid.
Blue would hear that so much that he started to believe it. He started to close off and wouldn’t tell his mom anything anymore in fear that if he did he would get punished. Eventually, Blue started to do things his mama would ask of him. Buy her beer and cigarettes. Started to believe that he deserved to be hit and slapped anytime he messed up or talked back. When he meet his dad for the first time he thought that he had finally found an out to all this abuse, but a part of him that still wanted to hold onto hope that his mama loved him would allow himself to tell Don or anyone else about what happens when it’s just him and his mom.
So, he made a plan to slowly distance himself from his mother while getting to know his dad, half-brother, and his dad’s wife better. But Dixie had already sunk her claws too deep into him for Blue to pull away so easily. Dixie wanted to make Don pay and wanted to use Blue to do it. He remembered the way she looked at he when he had stormed out. How she looked like a worried caring mother, when in reality she was anything but. When she was around people a mask would be placed to hide who she really was. As soon as she was behind closed doors the mask would fall and she would show her true colors.
Blue closed his eyes as he leaned his head back till it rested on the seat. He wanted nothing more then to wake up and for all of this to be a nightmare, but he knew that that wasn’t going to happen. The sound of his phone buzzing pulled him from his thoughts. he picked it up half expecting to see a text from his dad or mama, but was instead shocked to see a text from Ryan. He unlocked his phone and looked at he message.
‘Hey, your mama is here looking for you. Want’s to make sure your not dead.’
Blue scoffed as he read what his brother had sent. He knew for a fact that it was all an act. She didn’t give a single damn about him, never has. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to reply.
‘I’m fine.’
He let it at that and put his phone down closing his eyes again as the silence continued. However, it didn’t last for long as his phone buzzed again.
‘You up to meet? I know a good diner downtown.’
Blue thought for a moment before typing out a ‘fine’ and closing his phone. He grabbed his keys from his pocket and put them into the ignition and started the car. He made his way to the diner Ryan had sent him. When he parked he took a deep breath before stepping out and walking to the restaurant. As soon as he stepped inside he spotted Ryan as a table and sat down across from him.
“So,” Ryan started looking like he didn’t know what to say. “Where have you been sleepin’? Blue looked at his brother before crossing his arms over his chest. “In my car. I can’t go back.” Blue knew that Ryan thought it was because he was mad at his mom, which was true, but that sentence held another meaning. He couldn’t go back. Not to the yelling. Not to the abuse. He had to get out and if this was the way? Then so be it.
Sighing Ryan rubbed and hand down his face. “You do realize that the stunt to pulled could get dad fired? He could lose his job, but he would still welcome you back with opened arms.” Blue stared at him before leaning forward, so his arms were on the table. “Welcome me back? He knew I was there the whole time and never once came to see me!” Ryan’s eyes widened a bit at the tone of his younger brothers voice. “He doesn’t give a damn about me.” Taking a breath Blue tried to calm down. “When I first reached out to him he didn’t even say anything back. It wasn’t till I happen to be at that call that we ran into each other.”
“If I hadn’t been there or the 113 wasn’t the station that responded to the call he probably wouldn’t have said anything to me. And then you and me wouldn’t have met and I wouldn’t have dropped into your life. Am I right?” Ryan stared at his brother as he saw tears begin to fill his eyes. “He didn’t need me since he had you. Hell I doubt he even wanted me in the first place! No, he had the perfect son and wife and the big house and everything he needed all right here,” Anger began to fill Ryan as Blue basically through his privilege in his face, “while I got lucky if I ate dinner most nights.” Ryan blinked as the anger soon turned into confusion.
He knew that Blue’s mom wasn’t as well off as his parents were, but she was a famous singer, surly he heard him wrong. Licking his lips Ryan asked, “What did you mean by that?”
Blue frowned his brows in an irritated way. “The hell are you talking about?” Ryan’s blue eyes looked up to meet Blue’s. “When you said ‘While I got lucky if I ate dinner most nights’ what did you mean by that?” Blue’s breath caught in his throat as he realized he accidentally said something he shouldn’t have. And his said it in front of his Firefighter brother. Gulping Blue started to get out of his seat. “Th-this was a mistake. I need to go.” Blue left with his brother calling out his name. His hands shook as he started his car a drove away.
Blue didn’t know were to go. So, he went to the only place he could think of to get a job. His car rolled to a stop and he quickly got out and started to walk up the way too the club he used to work at. Maybe if he begged he could get the owner to let him work there again. The owner was standing out front, his arms crossed as he watched Blue come closer. “Well, if it isn’t mister hero himself. What happened? I thought that you were going to become a real hero?’ He asked in a mocking voice. Blue sighed as he lowered his gaze to the ground.
“Yeah, well, turns out I’m better playing one on stage.” As Blue was about to ask if he could work there again a woman came stumbling out of the club, muttering something about getting her keys. Blue watched as she continued to walk to her car, ignoring whatever the owner was saying. “She’s drunk.” He pointed out.
The owner laughed. “They always are. Now do you want a job or not? Because I know that’s way your here.” Blue looked from the owner to the girl before turning and jogging to catch up with her. “Ma’am I really don’t think that you should be driving. Please let me call you an Uber.” The woman scoffed as she got in her car. “No, I’m fine.” Blue tried again to persuade her into not driving, but she ignored him and got in her car anyway.
Blue watched as she drove off already swerving and quickly got in his car, calling 9-1-1 as he followed her. “9-1-1 What’s you’re emergency?” A woman’s voice asked over the phone. “I need to report a drunk driver!” He said as he continued to follow the car. He gave the dispatcher the license plate of the drunk driver’s car as it swerved onto the sidewalk. “She’s on the sidewalk!” The dispatcher said something before asking for his name. “My name’s Blue.”
“Bennings?” Blue blinked. “Cammie?” A small bit of relief passed over him before the car in front swerved into his lane. “I’m going to pull up and see if I can get her to pull over.” He sped his car up and pulled up next to the other on the passenger side only to notice that the driver had passed out. “She’s passed out at the wheel!” He looked ahead and his stomach dropped when he saw kids crossing the street.
“And she’s about to hit some kids!” He heard Cammie say something over the phone before an idea popped into his head. He took a deep breath as his grip on the wheel tightened. “Listen Cammie.” He took a deep breath. “Need you to tell my dad and Ryan that I’m sorry and that the little time I spent with them has been the best of my life.”
“What? Blue what are you doing?” Blue ignored her as he sped up and quickly turned his car so it was in-between the kids and the drunk. He braced for impact, but nothing could have prepared him for the feeling of the other car ramming into the driver side, the sound of screaming children and shattering glass, and the pain that happened. By the time his car flipped and caught fire Blue had lost consciousness.
The 113 showed up not long after. Ryan was the first one out of the truck. He scanned the scene in front of him before his eyes stopped on the upside down car and his heart sank. He knew that car. Had seen it only a few hours ago. “No. No, no, no.” He muttered as he started to walk towards the car before taking out in a sprint. He could hear his dad yelling for him, but the only thing on his mind was the fact the Blue, his little brother, was in that car. “Blue!”
Ryan’s yell had everyone of the 113 freezing as they turned their gaze to where Ryan was running. Don’s breath caught as he now recognized his youngest son’s car and quickly followed his other son. By the time he got to the car Ryan was already on his knees calling out Blue’s name as he looked at his still, bloody, and unconscious body. Don quickly called for more help and with his team they pulled Blue out and quickly put him on a back board.
The whole way to the hospital Blue didn’t stir once. Upon arriving Blue was immediately wheeled into surgery. Ryan, Don, Blythe (Ryan’s mom), and the 113 team sat in the waiting room. Each holding their breaths as they waited for news on Blue. Don had tried, but he couldn’t reach Dixie it just kept going to voice mail and she wasn’t returning any of his texts. After 3 hours a doctor came out. “Family of Blue Bennings?” Don and Blythe stood. “Good news is he made it out of surgery. He had a couple of broken ribs, one of which had punctured a lung. He also had multiple cuts along his arms, face and neck. And a concussion.” Everyone let out a breath of relief. Blue was alive and that was all that mattered.
Ryan stood up and approached the doctor. “Can we see him?” The doctor nodded and took them to the room that Blue was resting in. When they got to the room Ryan had to bite his cheek to stop the sob that threatened to escape at the sight of his baby brother looking small and pale on the bed. Tubes attracted to different machines and Blue just looked wrong. The whole scene looked wrong. From the moment that he met Blue was always moving and smiling. Laughing and asking questions about the job like a curious little kid. But now? Now he looked small and vulnerable.
Ryan moved forward and to the side of the bed. He looked down at Blue’s hand before hesitantly taking it into his own. “H-hey, Blue. It’s a… it’s your brother.” He licked his lips as tears pricked his eyes. “Listen I need you to wake up okay? I know I was a dick to you, but,” he let out a wet laugh. “you’ve grown on me, little brother. And so you need to wake up so I can tell you how much we need you…how much I need you.”
Don’s eyes were full of tears as he listened to his oldest son speak. His wife was no better as tear rolled down her cheeks. She stepped forward and placed a hand on her son’s shoulder. “Ryan.” He turned around and looked at his mother. “If Blue is anything like your daddy then he is going to get through this, okay?” Ryan looked back to Blue before nodding his head. “Yeah.”
Blue woke up a few hours later cold and confused as his eyes adjusted to the light in the room. He looked around until his eyes landed on his mama sitting in a chair by his bed with a frown on her face. “Mama?” He choked, his voice raspy as his throat was dry. Dixie looked at him with anger in her eyes. “You know what upsets me the most? The fact that I get a call from your daddy, telling me that I had to come down here to coddle you, just because you wanted to play hero.”
Blue swallowed as fear started to settle in him. “I-I didn’t mean to cause you trouble, mama. I swear.” Dixie just stared at him. “But those kids would have died if I didn’t do something-”
“I don’t give a damn!” She yelled at she stood from her chair glaring at the man in the hospital bed. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a syringe with a clear liquid. Blue’s face paled even more as he knew what that was. “M-mama… w-what are you doin’…?” Dixie turned to her son and smiled. “It’s time for your insulin.” Blue’s heart started to beat faster as Dixie took a step closer. He tried to back away, but was still weak and soon she was next to him.
She grabbed his arm and pulled his hospital sleeve up, exposing his shoulder. Tears weld in his eyes as he watched his mom push the syringe into his arm. “Ssh it’ll all be over soon.” She said in a tone that made Blue’s skin crawl. He could only watch as he slow pushed the insulin into his system. A few tears rolled down his cheeks.
Just as she finished the door opened and a gasp was heard before yelling. “What the hell do you think you are doing to my brother!” Dixie jumped back pulling the empty syringe out and stepping away from Blue. Don and Ryan stood in the doorway staring at Dixie before Blue started at jerk. Ryan and Don’s heads turned to Blue as his body started to jerk and twitch. Not wasting another second Ryan rushed to Blue, pushing Dixie out of the way, as he checked to see what was wrong.
Blue eyes turned to Don. “He’s having a seizure!” Don’s gaze turned to Dixie, a hard glare crossing his face. “What did you do?” Dixie looked between Ryan, who was trying to keep Blue from hurting himself, and Don before rolling her eyes an annoyed expression on her face. “Why do you care? You and I both know the Blue was a mistake so all I’m doin’ is getting rid of the mistake.” She turned her gaze to the seizing man on the bed. “Like I should have done years ago.”
Don glared at her before running out of the room, quickly calling for help and security, before returning and grabbing Dixie. “You tried to kill our son!” He yelled at her, as the security guards grabbed her. “That brat ain’t my son.” The guards carried her out, also pushing Don and Ryan out, while the doctor’s and nurses worked on Blue.
It was 2 hours later when they were allowed to see Blue again, this time he was awake. As soon as he saw them he smiled, tears in his eyes. “Hey, guys.” Ryan said nothing as he walked over and hugged his little brother. “I’m so glad your okay.” Blue blinked before letting himself cry. Finally feeling loved for the first time in years. Don watched his son’s as they embraced each other and made a decision right then and there that he wasn’t going to leave Blue alone again.
Blue was family and family stuck together.