Running

We got Brian into the McCaliter's truck and headed towards the hospital with me riding with Wil, Chad and Scott in Wil's car.

When we got to the hospital there was an emergency team waiting for us. Apparently Mr. and Mrs. McCalister called ahead to let them know we were on our way. I prayed the entire time there for him to be all right

We waited in the waiting room while the doctors worked on him; it must have been four or five hours before Dr. McGriff, the head doctor, came out to let us know Brian's condition. He walked over to the McCalisters and stared at them for a minute, Chad, Wil, Scott and myself all huddled around them.

"Mr. and Mrs. McCalister, I have some good news and some bad news." The doctor started off. "The good news is that he is alive and stable at the moment."

We all breathed a sigh of relief.

"The bad news is that because he was out in the cold for so long he not only got hypothermia and slipped into a coma. Now before you start worrying too much I must tell you that sometimes the body will do that to protect itself.

"You see he was so cold that when he fell asleep his body acted voluntarily and shut down any function that he didn't need right away. In the process his body put him in a coma so and with the hypothermia he hasn't felt anything. He will come out of it, we just don't know when."

Mr. and Mrs. McCalister were crying along with the rest of us.

"When can we see him?" asked his dad. The doctor just smiled.

"In a few more minutes. We are getting him warm and need to get him up to a room. For right now we are going to be putting him in ICU until he wakes up." The doctor said.

"We understand and thank you doctor, for everything." Mrs. McCalister said getting up and giving him a hug. The doctor returned the hug shook Mr. McCalsiters hand then walked out.

"Ok boys go on home and get warmed up and changed into some dryer clothes. You can come back later to see him ok?" Mr. McCalsiter said. We all nodded and left.

"I want to stay," Wil said.

"No son, you need to take these brave boys home and all of you need some rest," Mr. McCalsiter said.

It was a quiet home ride for us, but Scott did ask the one question that was on all our minds.

"Why did he do it Wil? What made him want to run away?" he asked. Wil just sat quietly for a few minutes.

"Scott you will have to ask him that when he wakes up." Was all Wil said. Scott nodded his head and continued to look out the window. He dropped Chad and me off first then continued on to Scott's, then home. He said he would be by about 4 to pick us up to take us back to the hospital.

When we got inside I took a long hot shower, by the time I was finished Chad was ready for his.

I went into my room put on fresh clothes then headed to Michelle's room. I knocked then walked in seeing her sitting on her bed, she looked up then got up and gave me a hug I started crying then. We sat on her bed and she just held me comforting me and letting me cry myself out. When I finished she handed me a tissue and I wiped my eyes and blew my nose.

"Thanks" was all I could say. She just smiled at me.

"It's ok bro. How is he?" she asked. I teared up again thinking about finding him.

"He's ok I guess, the doc says he has hypothermia and is in a coma. Because of the cold his body shut down for a while. The doc said that he will be ok but we don't know when he'll be waking up, I found him Michelle, me, I did, not Chad, Scott, Wil or Mr. McCalister, I did. He was so blue, and cold to the touch. I thought I was going to lose him and he doesn't even know how I feel about him." I said starting to cry again. Michelle held me until I quieted again.

"Are you going to tell him?" she asked me, I just nodded my head yes. "Good you need to. When?"

"Today when we go back." I said smiling at her.

"Cool" was all she said.

I left her and headed down started to eat.

I fixed a sandwich with some chips and a soda and downed them fast. I was feeling really tired now from all the walking and searching I headed upstairs to my room to lie down.

As I lay there thinking about Brian all I could see myself doing was holding him and loving him, making him warm and never letting him go.

Slowly I drifted off to sleep and while I dreamed I dreamed of no one else but Brian McCalister.

I think I'm in heaven it's warm and I'm no longer cold. I see my grandma and grandpa there waving at me and I wave back I miss them so much. I start going towards them.

When I reach them I hug them for all I'm worth and they return the hug.

"Son remember we love you no matter what and as far as you being gay that doesn't matter to us or to this place, as long as you do good and right, and most of all try and be happy. You will find love when it is the right time and I believe it will be soon." Said my Grandpa. I smiled at him.

"Cool, I know, I love it here and I miss and love you two so much. It is so nice and warm here I'm no longer cold." I told them.

"We love and miss you as well my child, we will always be here for you, but it is not your time. Not yet, you have a long way to live before you will be here." My Grandma said smiling at me.

"I don't want to go." I protested. They smiled in return and hugged me and each gave me a kiss on my forehead.

"We know son but it is not time, not yet go back to your family and tell them we love them all and are watching over them, besides there's a young man waiting for you. He misses and loves you very much." Grandpa said smiling at me.

"Really who?"

"Go home and find out." I felt myself slipping away from them.

"Wait I want to be here with you. Please let me stay." I begged. I saw them smiling at me and waving, I suddenly felt tired again and then there was nothing, I was just floating and relaxed.

"Please let me stay."

"Shhh, Brian everything will be all right now." Mrs. McCalister said stroking her son's forehead.

"It appears that he's coming out of his coma. He will be groggy and tired; a coma really isn't asleep. Just let him rest and he'll be ok." Said the Dr. He grabbed Brian's hand. "Welcome back." And with that, he walked out into the hall smiling.

We arrived back at the hospital at about 4:45 pm. We followed the nurse's directions and found our self's outside of the second floor ICU area with the doors shut. We had to push the intercom to get someone's attention.

"Yes, may I help you." Said a female voice.

"Yes I'm Wil McCalister, my brother Brian is here, we were told we could come and visit him," Wil said to the lady.

"One moment please." She said. About a minute later the doors opened and standing there was Dr. McGriff. Wil was startled and started getting upset.

"What? Is something wrong?" he asked.

The doctor just smiled. "Nope, everything is fine. Matter of fact we heard him talk a while ago, he's coming out of the coma." He said smiling at us. We all cheered then quieted down because of where we are. "Now as I told your parents he will be tired and groggy when he first wakes up. So don't try and rush him into anything, just let him go at his own pace. It will be a few days before he'll be able to do too much including staying awake for long periods. We will be moving him to the 3rd floor, to the teen unit." He said.

"Cool, I can't wait to see him. Can we go on in?" Wil asked.

"Sure just be quiet." The doctor said. We all agreed we would and went to room 236. There lying under blankets with wires running under the blankets to his body was Brain. I about teared up right then and there, but I held it in.

"Hey, boys come on in." Mr. McCalister said. We all came on in and stood around Brian's hospital bed.

"We saw the doc and he told us about Brian saying something. I'm glad that he's going to be ok. I don't think I could have handled him being dead." Wil said with tears running down his cheeks. We all agreed and remained quiet for a few minutes.

"I'm glad that you're all here. I want to thank you for helping to find Brian, we didn't nor do we want anything to happen to him. We love him and that is all that matters." Said Mrs. McCalister.

"Thank you." We all said, then Scott asked again.

"Ma'am why did Brian run out?" he asked looking at Mrs. McCalister. Before anyone could respond Wil got in his face.

"Look I told you to ask him when he wakes up. It's family business and it is his decision to tell you why he did what he did. Now stop asking or I'm going to make you leave. Got it." Wil said looking deep into Scott's eyes.

"Yeah I got it, but damn man he's my best friend. I just want to know what was going on that's all, but I'll wait till he wakes up if that is what you want, but I want you to know that as my best friend I don't care what caused him to run like he did. I just want him to know that I love and care for him like the brother I don't have and I don't want anything to happen to him that's all." Scott said breaking down into tears.

Mrs. McCalister walked up and gave him a hug and held him as he cried.

"Shhh it's alright and we understand why you want to know. Wil apologize to him now." She said looking at Wil. Wil lowered his head.

"Hey sorry man, I know your concerned and all, please forgive me." He said holding out his hand. Scott looked at it then shook it and Wil pulled him into a hug. I just smiled at them.

"Well, what are you boys going to be doing tonight?" Mr. McCalister asked.

"Well, we were hoping to go and get something to eat about 6 then come back by 8 and see how Brian is doing." Said Chad looking at the McCalisters.

"Hmmm seems like a good idea. Look here's $60 bucks go and eat something and keep the change for your selves. Come back at about 8 ok?" Mr. McCalsiter said.

"Ok thanks, dad, we'll be back in a while come on guys," Wil said. We all said our goodbyes then headed out to eat. We went to the Golden Corral and had a great dinner. We talked and even joked some but no matter how much we talked or joked we always came back to Brian and his condition.

After eating we went to the mall and hung out for a while just killing time. Finally, 8:15 arrived and we headed back over to the hospital.

We had to stop at the service desk and find out what room he was in.

We got off of the elevator and headed towards the teen wing. We found room 387 and knocked on the door. Mrs. McCalister opened it.

"Hey come on in. They just got him up here about 15 minutes ago. How was dinner?" he asked.

"Cool, I'm glad he's ok. We went to the Golden Corral, it was really good then we hung out at the mall for a little while to kill some time. How's he doing?" Wil asked.

"Good glad ya'll had a good time. He's doing fine no real changes so far. He seems to be dreaming about your grandparents though. Don't know what that's all about." Mr. McCalister said. We all nodded.

"I have been praying that he'll be alright and that everything will be ok for him. I know it's not much." I said with my head down. Mr. McCalister took my chin in his hand and made me look at him.

"Son that is one of the best things that anyone could do for him right now and it seems that God has once again answered our prayers. So thank you." He said hugging me. I started crying there on his shoulder. I wanted so much to tell them what I was feeling, but I was too scared that they may not like me being gay.

"Umm, can I say something to him?" I asked.

"Yeah sure go on." Said Mrs. McCalsiter getting up and letting me have some privacy. Everyone else went to the other end of the room and talked quietly. I took a hold of his hand and when no one was watching I gave it a quick kiss and whispered in his ear.

"Brian I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I want you to know something. I have liked you for a long time. Matter a fact I've fallen in love with you, I don't know if you are gay or not if you aren't I hope you won't say anything to anyone. I have noticed you watching me every now and then and I have been watching you too.

I love you Brian if you are gay I want you to be my boyfriend. I love you with all my heart please come back to me." I said.

I bent down and kissed him on the forehead. When I leaned back up his eyes were open and he was looking at me. It looked like he was going to cry or something.

"Yes" was all he said before his parents noticed he was awake and came and gathered around him. We stared at each other before he turned his head and smiled at his mom and dad.

He fell asleep a few minutes later.