Ever since I got out of Gerald's grasp, I thought that I would be alright. Things have been going great with me and Tayla, Northern has been great, and even though the tension in the house is a little thick, things have definitely improved. Uncle Tarot is starting to put everything back together and doesn't freak out as much when his memory slips anymore. The only thing bad is that Bay has had to go in and out of the hospital for some problems but Prudence is going good and doing strong. But my release just wasn't meant to be.

*********************************

"Sim... Sim, wake up... Sim?"
I opened my eyes slowly and looked up at Dad.
"What?"
"North is crying up a storm here and you aren't even paying attention to her. If you're going to live here for a while-"
"Shut up, Dad. I know how to take care of my child." I snapped.
"Don't snap at me." He growled.
"Well I'm not feeling well."
"That's not excuse to let your baby cry forever."
I got up and stumbled to Northern's crib as she wailed and reached in to pick her up. My stomach lurched and I felt my throat start to gag. I set her back down and ran to the bathroom to throw up in the toilet. It felt like I pregnant all over again but things were so much different than before. I know that my head has been hurting me as well as my neck for the past couple of weeks.
I finished my business and put the lid down, flushing the toilet as Dad leaned against the doorjamb with Northern sniffling on his hip.
"Sim-Sim, are you alright?"
"I think so... My neck hurts even worse today..." I grumbled, rubbing it to try and get the stiffness out of it.
It didn't really help or anything but it was worth a shot. I held out my hands for Northern and Dad passed her over as I walked to the kitchen to go and warm up her bottle. I sat on the barstool and waited for it to warm up, Northern sitting on the bar sniveling and then suddenly starting to wail again. It was all become pretty distant, like an echo.
"Sim!" Dad yelled.
"Huh?"
"You almost dropped the baby. What is with you? Sim... your ears..."
My vision turned hazy and I felt myself beginning to shake a little and my body become heavy. I saw Dad grab Northern off the bar as he also grabbed hold of my arm before I fell out of the chair. Things blurred even more and whirled and sounds began to merge together. I heard my name distantly but that was the last thing I remembered before darkness engulfed me.

***************************

DEXTER
As Sim waited for Northern's bottle to heat up, his eyes began to droop and his grip started to get lax. Northern suddenly swayed and dangerously teetered forward. I caught her but yelled at Sim.
"Sim!"
"Huh?"
"You almost dropped the baby. What is with you?"
I stopped being angry when I saw a small trickle of blood start to run from his ears.
"Sim, your ears..."
Sim's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he started to convulse. I gripped Northern tighter and grabbed Sim before he could fall off the stool. I yelled for someone to come and help me as Sim's convulsions got worse and I moved him to the floor. Ichor walked in.
"Take in the baby!" I screamed.
Ichor grabbed Northern as she cried in fear, not understanding. I cradled Sim and told Ichor to grab a rag to keep him from bouncing around and hurting himself.
"Call the hospital!" I yelled at Ichor as I brushed Sim's hair from his face. "Hold on, buddy... Just hold on..."

*****************************

We all waited for the prognosis of what happened with Sim in the hospital waiting room. Tamari was holding Northern, who we finally got to calm down and I bounced my leg anxiously.
"What are you guys doing here?" We looked up as Bay walked in pulling an IV stand with him. "Ichor said something about you guys being here but it wasn't to visit me. Is everything alright?"
"Something happened to Sim; he started to convulse and went unconscious. Blood was coming out of his ears..."
"Oh... Have you found out anything?"
"Not yet... How are you feeling?"
"Weak and tired of coming here but I'm good. Dad says that Prudence is doing well."
"That's good. I know your mother was worried since she was premature and everything but she seems to be strong."
"But she's not really my mother, is she?"
I smiled awkwardly. "She may not be the one who birthed you or helped create you but she raised you, loved you, and cared for you. A mother isn't blood, but heart. Just like a father."
Bay looked down, pulling the IV pole closer to him.
"I have hated you a lot ever since you told us about all that stuff."
"I know."
"But now I can understand a little of what you must feel. Having Prudence the way I did put it into a little more perspective for me. I got pregnant without my consent and even though I love her... it's not hard to see why you didn't want us."
"I know it's a touchy subject... Even though you may understand, that abandonment, betrayal, and hurt are all still there. No amount of empathy will change your own feelings."
"True... At least Jai was okay with it."
"He's always been resilient. Ichor on the other hand..."
We both looked over at him when the doctor came out.
"Mr. Leoda?"
"Yes?"
The doctor motioned to me and I got up. He pulled me to the side and sighed.
"What's going on?"
"Has your son suffered any head trauma or did he when you all were captured?"
"Head trauma? Not that I'm really aware of. I know that he had been complaining about his head hurting him for a while and he said he'd had a massive migraine when he was captured."
"I see. Well it seems the head trauma was more than a concussion and has escalated into something else... Mr. Leoda, your son has slipped into a coma."
I swallowed and breathed in.
"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"
"Sim has slipped into a coma. I'm very sorry, Mr. Leoda."
"Can... Can I..."
"We're hooking him up to a breathing machine but you can see him a little later. We'll come and get you when it's time." The doctor put his hand on my shoulder. "I know how this must feel... I remember when he was younger... Be strong."
What else could I do? That was my job as a father to be strong for my family. I walked back to them and Tamari looked up at me.
"Dexter?"
"Sim... Sim has... He's..."
"Sahada?"
"Sim has slipped into a coma."
Tamari gasped and Bay gripped his IV pole.
"That bastard!" he snarled, tears in his eyes.
Tamari held Northern closer as she began to cry and Ichor walked away. Kalij looked down at his hands and I breathed in as best as I could, trying to keep myself from cracking.
"They um... They said that they're setting him up and um... They'll call when uh... yeah..."
If I didn't stop talking then I would just fall to pieces. I was losing my cool and I had to stay strong for my family and keep everyone together. Tarot usually was good at this sort of thing but I didn't think things would get this bad so he wasn't here. For now it had to be me.
"I just called Uncle Miller and Uncle Tarot; they'll be up here shortly. I'm sorry, Dad."
"He was your brother too, Ichor."
Bay gave Ichor a horrible glare.
"You're an ass, Ichor! He just slipped into a coma and you can't even hold in your jealousy or spite."
"What are you talking about?"
"Just because Dad happened to want him and he didn't really want to keep you doesn't mean you can feel sorry for yourself."
"Boys!" I growled, very angry. "This is neither the time nor the place! We've discussed all of this before."
"He hasn't ended it." Bay said, pointing.
"What's going on?"
"It's nothing, Dad. Bay just overdramatizes everything." He glared at him. "See if I ever trust you again."
"Ditto!"
"BOYS!"
"I hate you! I wish I'd never been born! To you or a woman or whatever! I wish I wasn't alive anymore... You'll never be satisfied with me now, now that your precious miracle is gone! I wished so many times that Sim was my dad instead of you and now that he's gone, all I have left is you. Well I don't want you as a father!"
He walked out of the hospital and all I could do was stare at the door. What had I done to deserve this? Why did my children have to suffer so much?
Damn the seahorses...
Damn science!
Damn me.