"D!" The sharp exclamation jolted Howie back from the edge of sleep. He blinked, and found Kevin looking down at him. "Don't scare me like that, man," he lectured, black brows drawn in disapproval. "I thought it was you keeping *me* awake."
"It's a tiring job, Kev." Howie joked. "How many hours has it been?"
"Not twelve yet, forget about twenty-four. Wonder if they'll let us have coffee?"
"Dunno. Why don't you try out those crutches of yours and ask?"
"Promise no napping?"
"Kevin, you'll be gone two seconds." The only response Howie got was a stern glare. "Fine, Dad. I promise."
Kevin swung his way out to the nurses' station. The one woman on duty turned to him inquiringly. "Yes?"
"I'm one of the concussion patients in 340. Could we maybe get some coffee to help keep us awake?"
She shook her head briskly. "Absolutely not. You're from the accident this morning, correct?" He nodded, wincing a little at the result. "Juice and water are all you're allowed. No stimulants."
Kevin sighed, but made no protest. "Something to eat instead? Or something to do? We're getting tired of sitting around."
"I could have one of our volunteers bring you around a few games," she conceded.
"If you check Mr Richardson's chart, you'll see his room is off-limits to candy-stripers, ma'am." Kev turned towards the new voice. A man in a nurse uniform stood behind Brian's wheelchair. He waved. "Hi, I'm Roger."
"Bored, cuz?" Brian asked, sounding almost cheerful. "Want me to entertain you?"
"No jokes, Brian." Roger warned. "Howie's ribs can't take that kind of punishment."
"Yes, sir." Brian gave a mock salute. "C'mon Kev."
"I'll see if I can get some kind of snack for you." Roger suggested to their retreating backs. At his supervisor's disapproving look he shrugged. "They had lunch, but they skipped breakfast."
"So where were you?" Kevin asked his cousin as they re-entered his room.
"Visiting Nick."
"Is he awake?" Howie demanded eagerly.
"Not yet. Mindi said maybe a day."
"Mindi's not a doctor." Kevin objected.
"I know cuz." Brian decided to ignore Kevin's attitude for a while. "Any room on your bed there, D? I'm gettin' mighty tired of sitting in this chair."
"Maybe we could switch? Playing around in that thing should keep me awake for a little longer."
"Sounds like an idea. Why don't you ring for Roger - it's harder climbin' in and out of this than it looks and we don't want you undoing all of Nick's friends' good work."
"Bri..." Kevin began in a warning tone.
"Shut up Train," was the mild reply.
Howie rolled his eyes and rang for a nurse.
Once they had switched places and the two cousins had watched Howie play around with his new toy for a while, Brian brought everyone back to a more serious level. "Guys, I know you don't want to talk about this, but I think we owe it to Nick to deal with things before he wakes up."
"We owe Nick?" Kevin demanded. "Don't you mean he owes us? Doesn't he owe us an apology for lying to us for the past nine years?"
"Kevin..." Howie started.
"No. We were in a really bad accident. I'm going to be in this cast for three weeks. You're not going to be able to move without pain for even longer. Instead of being able to deal with that, we woke up to find ourselves in the middle of some secret rescue mission, where we were forced to lie about everything that went on. I have to sit here trying to wrap my head around things man was not meant to ever deal with, because Nick never told us the truth."
"Kevin, you're yelling." Howie pointed out.
"Damn right, I'm yelling. Fuck their stupid secrecy."
"If the nursing staff comes in right now they're gonna put you in restraints and cart you off to the funny farm," he continued calmly. "Haven't thought about that yet? You should. That's what this all sounds like. The only reason I'm not calling to get them to cart you away myself, is because A.J. seems to believe the both of you."
"Thanks, man." Brian murmured with approval as Kevin attempted to calm down.
"Don't thank me yet, B-rok. I'm not on your side either. This is all bizarre. Absolutely crazy. I don't really want to sit here and have this kind of talk until Nick's awake to prove things one way or the other. If you two want to hash things out, fine. It will keep Kevin awake. I'll go down to see Nick, and leave you two alone."