Chapter 3

Russell changed his schedule. Leaving for school early. Hurry to come back. Stopped going to cafeteria in breaks. His behavior was strange. He was cutting all contacts with Daniel and Carson. No phone calls, no texts. Even if they visited him, the house keepers informed them about his absence. Both of them were upset on his indifferent behavior. It wasn’t him. He never distant himself. He always used to run to them if he had any issue. So what was  bothering him??

Both of them were clueless and disturbed, untill one day they received a call from Russell's mother stating that he is in hospital. ER. Burning from high fever and not responding. It was a hell of shock for them.

Russell in ER? He was suffering with fever.... why was he suffering? Why didn’t he tell them anything? Why was he is upset? Didn’t he trust them anymore? Is he cutting all strings with them? But why? These were the questions no one had answers to. Only he could tell everyone. And he was unconcious. Good thing that it was semester break.

He was admitted in Carson's family hospital. Special VVIP room. When Daniel and Carson reached everyone was looking at them but no body asked them anything because their tear filled eyes were the answer itself that even they were unaware of it. It was a hell of one day and one night. 

Everyone was in the waiting area of the floor where Russell was admitted. No one was allowed to enter his room. Tests were done, medicines were constantly being changed, no doctor was able to state clearly about the cause of his condition. Everyone was silent. Affraid to talk about it. Scared to core. They were forced to eat even a single bite. Both of the families had put their business at rest to take care of Russell's parents. They forced his mother and father to take rest, to eat something so that they remain strong to take care of their son. 

Daniel was in the worst condition. Looking at Russell through the glass of ICU, connected to machines and drips to his hands. The faint beep of the machine was indicating his heart beat. He was lying motionless. There were tubes attached to his nose to breathe. In his mouth to feed him. It was heart breaking for Daniel. His lips were chapped. His cheeks were dull. And his eyes... 

How he wished to do anything for Russell to open his beautiful crescent shaped honey colored eyes. How he wanted to hold those hands. How he wished to hug him tight. But he was helpless. He couldn’t do anything except staring him. He didn’t know he was crying watching him, until he felt Carson hug him from side and sobbing silently at his shoulder. He gathered Carson in his arms. And cried silently with him.

"Daniel.. I am scared". Carson was wailing silently. Daniel was scared too. But this wasn’t the time for him to loose control. He had to stay strong.

"Don’t be scared, Carson. Russell is okay". He said it to Carson watching mew through the glass. Even he wasnt sure of his words. But he had to make sure that thanit remains in control. He couldnt afford another misery. 

"Daniel why is he like this? Why didn’t he talk to us? Why didn’t he tell us. What was bothering him so much". Carson was asking him crying heavily in his broad chest. And Daniel was clueless. He didn’t know how to console him. 

He took Carson with him to the far end of waiting room. It had been two days neither of the boys have slept even for a moment. They had not eaten or drink anything properly. Carson was loosing himself. His eyes were puffy and red. Daniel made him lie down on the couch placing his head on his thighs. He was caressing his hairs with his fingers. Carson was drifting away. Daniel's comfort touches and his tired eyes were keeping him from staying awake, and he fall asleep in Daniel's arms. 

Daniel closed his eyes too. There was a chaos in his mind. He was still trying to figure out the reason. He suddenly opened his eyes when he heard the doctor talking to Russell's parents. He carefully adjusted thanitt on the couch and rushed to the doctor. All he could hear was that Russell had an emotional breakdown that led him to high fever and unconciousness.. But he was stable now as the doctors were successfull in lowering his body temperature. And he was out of danger. Now they had sedated him so that his body stabilises itself.

It was a moment of breakdown for tae. He fell on his knees crying hard. It was Luke Wilson, Russell’s dad who crouched down to him and pulled him in a hug. Russell's mom joined them and cried the tears of relief. 

"Daniel".. Daniel snapped his head and found Carson sitting on the floor watching them in horror. He opened his eyes and found Daniel crying in Russell's parents embrace scared him. And he rushed to Daniel. Daniel moved to him and hug him tight. 

"Sshhhh... Don’t cry, Carson. Russell is fine now. He is out of danger baby. Our Russell is alright." His words relaxed Carson in his arms. 

"I want him, Daniel. I want to see him." He whispered in between his sobs.

"Don’t worry, Carson. Stop crying. We will visit him soon." Daniel was comforting himself more than Carson. It was a sigh of relief for them. 

The doctors had to put Russell under observation for another few hours before shifting to the private room. The families were bit relaxed now. It was Russell's mother Eleanor, who forced Daniel to take Carson home and put him sleep.

And no matter how much Daniel wanted to stay in the hospital with Russell, he didnt argue. He knew Carson was in worst condition. He was attached to Daniel more than his parents. And his only comfort was to be with Daniel at this moment. 

"Aunty can we stay in Russell's bedroom?" Daniel asked her hesitatingly, and she just pulled him in her hug. 

"I understand, Daniel. You dont even need to ask. Go to his room. Take something to eat from take away. I want you to have a proper sleep, so that when you come here in the morning, you are fresh and stable. I want you to ask the maid to prepare breakfast for all, bring fresh clothes for Russell so that we can leave in the morning and you can look after him. Can you do it for me son?". She cupped his face in her hands and he could only nod with tear filled eyes.

"That’s my boy. I know I can trust you." She kissed both of boy's foreheads before they took their leave. Though Carson was reluctant to leave, he knew he would break down at this condition. And he didn’t want to burden Daniel. They both peeked in the ICU for last time of the night and left the premises. 

Daniel had an almost sleeping Carson in his arms while driving on the way back to Russell's place. He asked Carson if he wanted to have something in particular. But he was half asleep. He muttered something that Daniel couldnt catch. So he pick his choice and left for home.

The house staff was awake and waiting for them to tell about Russell's condition. Daniel tried to answer them as much as possible, and requested their chef to dish up the food so that he could feed Carson and put him to sleep. He was exhausted himself. So he quickly ate his food and fed Carson before holding him in his arms and took him upstairs to the bedroom.

He put Carson in the bed, removed his shirt and pants leaving him in his boxers as the way he used to sleep comfortably and covered him in duvet before going in the washroom to freshen up a bit. And joined Carson in the bed.

Carson was laying down on his stomach, face burried in Russell's pillow. Inhaling his scent. There were some fresh tear marks on his cheeks.

"Carson!!!" Daniel called him helplessly. There wasn’t anything he could do to comfort him. And he just realized he made a mistake coming here. He was missing his boy even more.

"Daniel,I am missing him". Carson was crying again. So Daniel just pulled him to his chest and held him tight. 

"I am missing him too, Carson. I miss him too. But if you won’t sleep you will fall sick too. And I can’t bear both of you falling sick at the same time. Please for my sake, for Russell's sake, sleep now. Don’t cry now. We will go to hospital in the morning and you can talk to him as much as you want. But baby please sleep. Or do you want me to give you any medicine to sleep? I think that would be better". Daniel liked his idea, so he was about to leave the bed when Carson gripped him tight. 

"No Daniel, I don’t want any medicine. Stay with me please. Don’t leave me like Russell did. Please Daniel I am scared". He was snuggling in Daniel's chest and Daniel could relate to his fear. 

So he just held him tight closed to him. He was moving his fingers in Carson's hair and much to his relief after a while Carson fell asleep peacefully.

Daniel was tired, exhausted, he wanted to sleep too. But his mind was occupied. He was feeling helpless as he wasnt able to access the situation. He was still thinking about Russell. He was upset, confused. He couldnt sort out the problem. His mind was echoing with doctor's words that mew had emotional break down. And these words were a stab to his heart. 

Russell was never attached to anyone beside him and Carson. And why the hell he felt emotionally broke down. He recalled every moment to sort but ended up with a headache. So he left his thoughts aside and closed his eyes. He had to wait till Russell wakes up, and is emotionally stable enough to tell him everything. He pulled his phone from his back pocket to send a text to his mom dad to inform them that he has eaten his dinner and fed Carson too. And that they are going to sleep now. 

He put his phone on the side table and was stuck at the frame placed there. It was a picture of them. Laughing at some fun moment at a party last year. Daniel was holding Russell and Carson in his arms. Russell had his eyes shut laughing hard. And Carson had his face hidden in the crook of Daniel's neck. The picture started to blurr making Daniel realise that he was missing Russell badly.

"Come back Russell. Come back to us baby." He was sobbing but he was trying hard not to wake Carson again. So he put the frame back and hugged Carson tightly burrying his face in his hair for comfort. And soon he fell asleep... 

He was still in deep sleep when he felt someone tracing his face with fingers and set his hair aside from his forehead and placed a soft kiss. He groaned and turned to his side. 

"Russell.. Don’t.. Let me sleep please". He mumbled and he felt the hand on his face stopped. And in an instant he snapped open his eyes. 

******

Tabby