Chapter Text
Ellie should have been in her own room recovering. She had a hospital gown on and a bed waiting, but she refused to leave Sid’s room. So she sat in a wheelchair, with her baby snuggled in her arms against her chest, and waited with the rest of the gang.
Sitting close to the end of the bed, Crash and Eddie were by their sister’s side. They were seeking her presence as a comfort, but also trying to comfort her. Ellie assured them that Sid would be okay; he just needed rest. But he had not woken up yet, so she really didn’t know. She just had to make sure her brothers were calm. In return, her brothers tried to stay positive and reassure her too.
Buck sat in the corner of the room, watching over Rex’s children, who played on the floor. The children had wanted to be with Sid, but due to his condition it was best they didn’t try to crawl all over hi,. Buck did his best to distract the children, as he was the least affected by the situation. Although he did feel deeply sorry for Sid.
Manny paced back and forth between the bed and the door. He was on edge over his friend’s condition, and his only comfort was trying to protect him from here on out. But Manny knew he already failed. The worst had happened to Sid. The only thing Manny could think was to protect him in case Rudy came back to finish the job.
Diego sat by Sid’s bed, just staring at him. He wanted to hold his hand, but he couldn’t without the worry that he might hurt him. The fingers on one hand had been reset and put in splints to keep them in place to heal. While one arm was in a cast, fractured from being beaten. His other hand was in a cast to protect it, it would require surgery to fix. Sid’s dislocated knee was reset and his leg was in a splint to keep it from moving. He had a neck brace on from where he had been strangled so roughly. And the rest of his body was covered in bandages.
The worst part about this was that they did not know the extent of the damage. Until the doctor finally walked in. Everyone paused, ready to listen. The doctor looked between the large group and spoke as gently as possible, as they all appeared to be worried.
“The information on Sidney’s condition is sensitive,” the doctor informed. “I’d like to just speak with his family.”
“We’re the closest he has to that,” Ellie said.
“His emergency contact then,” the doctor settled on. “Diego Tiger?”
“That’s me,” Diego sighed, standing up. He was reluctant to leave Sid’s side, but he needed to know what the doctor had to say.
Diego followed the doctor out, but not before gesturing for Manny to follow. The doctor had no issue with this. He simply did not want any of the children in the group to hear what he had to say.
The doctor took them to his office, to keep this as private as possible. He sat at his desk, while Manny and Diego settled in chairs on the opposite side. The doctor first explained all of Sid’s injuries. Fractures, broken ribs and fingers, stitches for his stab wound, and so on. Then he got to the most sensitive part.
“I’m afraid that Sidney is going to need stitches for severe anal fissures. And I want to recommend a rape kit,” the doctor said. He didn’t know if Manny and Diego were aware of the rape. So he tried to stick to a medical perspective and hoped for the best.
“What?” Diego snapped angrily. He had not been aware of this. And he couldn’t quite believe it.
“Are you saying Sid was raped?” Manny asked in shock.
“I’m sorry to tell you gentlemen, but yes, it appears he was,” the doctor said regretfully. Diego abruptly stood up and grabbed his chair, lifting it up and smashing it against the wall. The doctor flinched at the violence, but understood the action.
“I’m going to kill him!” Diego shouted. “I’m going to find him and make him beg for mercy!” Sid had suffered more than he could have possibly imagined. And Diego was angry. Not just at Rudy, but at himself. He should have been there to protect Sid, not off trying to join another gang out of boredom! He could only blame himself.
Manny was feeling similarly. If only he had kept a better eye on Sid. If only he had just called the police to get those kids the moment Sid brought them home. Sid would never have been kidnapped. This would have never happened.
“Surgery is in an hour, and he’ll be able to go home tonight,” the doctor continued, ignoring the way Diego was pacing and mumbling to himself. Manny nodded in acknowledgement, so the doctor went on. “As for the rape kit, I need you to sign off on it.”
Diego paused and looked at the doctor, who placed a paper down, waiting for his signature. “He won’t need one,” Diego decided. “I know who did this and he’s a dead man.” The doctor sighed.
“I know this is difficult, but I highly recommend taking a more legal route,” he offered. Diego only glared at him, before leaving the room angrily. He wasn’t signing shit. He was getting revenge. Manny scrambled to follow, knowing Diego was probably going to do something stupid.
Diego entered Sid’s room and immediately confronted Buck. “Where’s Rudy?! Where do I find him?!” Ellie and the twins were confused by the sudden aggression.
“What’s going on?” Ellie asked, as soon as Manny walked in.
“If Rudy were easy to find he’d be in prison by now,” Buck said calmly, despite Diego’s angry glare. “He’s after these kids though, so I’m sure he’ll come here.”
“When he does, I’ll be the one to kill him,” Diego growled.
“Suit yourself,” Buck said. “Although the authorities might not think your motive is good enough to justify murder.”
“It’s justified,” Diego replied.
“I was only having some fun,” Rudy said. Everyone’s head snapped toward the door, to see the large menacing man standing there, pointing a gun. Diego was ready to destroy him, but could do nothing in case Rudy started shooting. There were children in the room he could not risk, including Peaches.
Rudy smiled and pointed his gun at the group, before moving toward Sid’s bed. Diego was ready to pounce, but Manny gripped his arm to keep him still, trying to ensure everyone’s safety. Rudy placed a hand on Sid’s head and petted him.
“He was a good fuck,” Rudy said. “But I’ll kill him if you don’t hand over the kids.” He placed the gun against Sid’s head, ready to shoot. “I’ll take the baby too.” Ellie held Peaches tighter upon those words.
“What’s your obsession with kids?!” She asked, unable to comprehend why he would want her baby.
“I want a family,” Rudy admitted. “A house full of children with an obedient spouse. We’re all fighting for something. I’m fighting for that. Hand over the baby, and let the kids come to me.”
“You aren’t touching her,” Manny growled.
Rudy glared at him and quickly advanced, pressing the gun to Manny’s forehead. “I take what I want, big boy. And I’ll kill anyone who gets in my wa-” he abruptly went silent, blood splattering from his stomach onto Manny’s clothes.
Behind him stood Rex, who ran a machete clean through his back and out his abdomen. Rudy let out a growl, and blood poured from his mouth, then he fell to the floor. Blood pooled around him and he moved once more before going limp and dying.
“I’m sorry about Sid,” Rex said, feeling like the whole situation was her fault. She looked at Sid and reached out to touch him.
“Don’t,” Diego growled. She looked at him and nodded, knowing she was overstepping if she did not listen.
“Buck, bring the kids to rendezvous 4, I’ll meet you there tomorrow noon,” She then quickly ran out of the room before police could be called. She wouldn’t go down for Rudy’s murder. She would take her kids into hiding.
Diego was beyond pissed. Rudy was dead, and now there was nothing he could do to avenge Sid. He didn’t know how he was supposed to cope. All he could do was glare down at the bleeding corpse.
“I best be going,” Buck said, rounding up the kids. “Before the cops get involved.” He leant his hand to Manny, who took it and shook it appreciatively.
“We couldn’t have done it without you,” Manny said. “Thank you for saving Sid.”
“My pleasure,” Buck replied with a smile. The children lined up against Sid’s bed and each took the chance to stare at him sadly.
“Bye, Daddy,” they each said quietly. Sid did not respond. Buck managed to pick each child up, all together, and swiftly took them out of the room. Sid opened his eyes to see them go before they left. He had heard their goodbye, but could not bear to let them see him like this much longer.
“Sid?” Diego said, seeing him blink. Sid could not move his neck with the brace on, but moved his eyes to see Diego. He frowned at the sight of him.
“Leave me alone,” he croaked. His voice was raspy from screaming so much.
“Sid, it’s me, Deigo.”
“You’re in the hospital,” Manny added. They worried he was confused. He never wanted to be left alone. He always hung around them so much.
“Go away,” Sid rasped, looking between them angrily. Diego had left him, and Manny was leaving him out of the new family. They didn’t care about him! They didn’t want him! Why were they even here?
“Crash, Eddie, take Ellie back to her room,” Manny told them.
“I’m not leaving,” Ellie argued.
“You and the baby don’t need the stress,” Manny explained. “Let me handle this.” Ellie sighed, but agreed. Although she hated to leave Sid in his condition. It was likely best to leave anyway considering the dead man in the room.
Eddie took hold of her wheelchair and they headed for her room. Sid glanced at the baby with interest, but quickly pulled his eyes away, before seeing blood on the floor. He didn’t notice Rudy’s body at first, but when he did, he felt nothing about it. Everything felt unreal.
Manny and Diego then both sat in chairs on opposite sides of Sid’s bed, with no intention of leaving. Though that was probably for the best when the cops came. Diego tried to reach out to touch Sid’s hand but Sid pulled away, groaning in pain from the movement.
“Sid, I’m sorry I left,” Diego said, knowing that must be what this was about. “I was going to come back for you, I just needed to set us up with the new gang first.”
“I didn’t even want to leave,” Sid pouted. He was in a great deal of pain, and began sweating from it. But he was too upset to tell them that.
“I know,” Diego admitted. “We should have talked about it better. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too,” Manny admitted, although he hated apologizing. “I didn’t mean to push you away. I want you to be part of my baby’s life. You can even babysit… supervised.”
“Really?” Sid asked.
“Sure,” Manny decided reluctantly.
“And Sid, we’re not leaving,” Diego advised. “I realized that it wouldn’t be good for either of us.”
“Really?” Sid asked again, this time to his boyfriend.
“Yeah,” Diego assured. “Nothing has to change, we can all be a big happy family.” Tears filled Sid’s eyes. He wanted that badly.
Sid suddenly groaned, the pain all over his body increasing. “It hurts,” he finally admitted.
“The doctor said they can’t give you anything strong,” Manny told him. “Because of your history with drugs.”
“Oh,” Sid sighed.
“But you’ll be able to go home today, after surgery,” Diego assured.
“Surgery?” Sid questioned nervously.
“For your hand,” Diego pointed out. “And you’ll need stitches.” This brought on a serious issue: talking about Rudy. “You’ll be bed ridden for a week.”
“But it’s just my hand,” Sid reasoned.
“Well, you’ve got broken ribs, a fractured arm, and a messed up knee,” Manny pointed out. “But the stitches…”
“They're for anal fissures,” Diego finished for him.
“What’s that?” Sid asked, not understanding.
“Sid,” Diego said, setting his hand on Sid’s lightly. “It’s from where Rudy tore you when he-”
“No!” Sid shouted, flinching, the pain in his body overwhelming and he whimpered. “Shut up! It didn’t happen!”
“Okay,” Diego agreed. “It’s okay. Just focus on getting better.” Sid seemed to calm down at this.
“Surgery will be soon,” Manny said sadly, worried about Sid’s reaction. “Try to get some rest until then.”
O.o
During the surgery, Diego paced the waiting room the entire time, while Manny went to Ellie’s room to check on her. She was holding the baby and talking to her brothers to reassure them that everything was going to be okay with Sid. Crash and Eddie seemed to be taking it well enough. Those two could not hold on to the negative for long.
“Hey! Manny!” Crash called, when Manny entered the room. “Can we get some money for the vending machines?”
“Fine,” Manny agreed. “But only two things. Don’t spoil your dinner.” The twins cheered and ran out of the room, grabbing the money from Manny as they went.
“You spoil them,” Ellie laughed.
“They’re good kids,” Manny shrugged, taking a seat in the chair next to her bed.
“How’s Sid?” Ellie asked sincerely.
“In denial,” Manny explained. “He’s not acknowledging what happened.” Ellie nodded in understanding.
“Manny, with the new baby and what happened to Sid, I think we should consider moving,” Ellie said.
“I think so too,” Manny agreed. “Somewhere different from here. Somewhere safer too.”
“What about the seaside?” Ellie asked. “We can get a big beach house for everyone. Maybe find a good college for the boys.”
“So you want to keep living with Diego and Sid?” Manny asked.
“Of course, they’re family,” Ellie replied.
Manny smiled. “Yeah, they are.”