Mute

Chapter 3 : Rough night

Chapter 3

Later...   

Riker POV

I wasn't able to fall asleep. My head hurt really bad from earlier. It was practically pounding.

I slowly got out of bed and peeked out into the hall. I slowly walked down the hall, over to the stairs. I could see the lights on in the kitchen down there.

I slowly went down the stairs to the kitchen. Both Stormie and Mark were in there. Mark was sitting at the table on his laptop. And Stormie was doing the dishes. I stood there silently, waiting for them to notice me.

"Riker, why don't you take a seat? Let me just finish the dishes," Stormie said.

I walked over to the kitchen table and sat down in a chair next to Mark.

Suddenly I heard screaming from the living room. It made me jump. I covered my ears with my hands and shut my eyes. I hate loud noises. I can't stand it.

When it seemed quiet again, I opened my eyes and took my hands off my ears. Mark was gone.

"Kids, you're being too loud and you're upsetting Riker. It's getting late. I want all of you upstairs in bed."

Mark walked back in and sat down next to me again.

"Rocky! Stop!"

I jumped again.

"I cleaned up yesterday! You do it!"

"Boys!" Mark yelled, standing up.

I covered my ears and closed my eyes again. I hate it. Please let it stop.

"Riker."

I opened my eyes and took my hands off my ears. Mark was sitting beside me again.

"Are you ok? You're shaking," he said.

I realized my hands were trembling. And my head was still pounding.

Mark put his hand on my shoulder.

"Mom! Ryland spilled water all over the floor!"

I jumped again, hearing more yelling. Yelling is always bad. Yelling means pain.

"Riker, it's ok."

He slid his hand from my shoulder to my back. I stood up so I could get closer to him. He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. He pulled me backwards, onto his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding onto him tight.

"Calm down. You're shaking really hard, Riker. You're ok," he said, beginning to rub my back slowly.

"Mark, try to figure out why Riker came downstairs. I need to go clean up the water in the living room," Stormie said, holding a towel.

"Alright. Riker, I want you to try to calm down, ok?"

I kept holding onto him tight. And he kept rubbing my back. After a few minutes, Stormie came back into the kitchen.

"Did you find out what he wants?" Stormie asked.

"No. I'm trying to get him to calm down. He was trembling really bad when the kids were shouting. He's still shaking a little."

"Why don't you take him into the living room?"

Mark picked me up in his arms and carried me into the living room. He sat down on the couch with me still on his lap. But I let go of him so I could try to tell him my head hurt.

"Ok. Stormie said we could play 20 questions to figure out what you want, ok?"

I nodded.

"Alright. Did you come down here because you need something?"

I nodded.

"Did you need something to eat or drink?"

I shook my head no.

"Can you give me a hint?"

I pointed to my head and then to my finger that was splinted against the one next to it.

"Your head and your finger hurts?"

I nodded.

"Ok, do you want some medicine for it?"

I nodded again.

"Ok. Stormie, can you get Riker some Tylenol and some water, please?"

"Yup!"

Stormie came in the living room with some Tylenol and water for me. I took the Tylenol and finished the water.

"What happened to his finger?" He asked.

"I think it's broken. He can't move it. He said it happened tonight."

I laid my head against Mark's shoulder and held onto him again.

"I'm going to sit with him for a little while and see if he starts feeling better," Mark said.

"Ok. I'm going to finish cleaning the kitchen."

Mark put the tv on, keeping one arm around me. I closed my eyes, finally feeling calmer.

Later...

Rocky POV

I came downstairs to ask dad a last minute homework question. And I was surprised to find him on the couch with Riker in his arms, fast asleep.

"What's going on?" I whispered, sitting down next to him.

"He's having a really rough night," dad whispered back.

"Is he ok?"

"I don't know. It's hard to know because he won't talk. But he really didn't seem to like when you guys were being loud and shouting. He got really scared."

"Oh... We'll try not to yell. Sorry."

"It's ok. We didn't know. Did you need something?"

"Yeah, I needed help with a question on my math homework."

"Ok. Let me take Riker up to bed and then I'll be in, ok?"

"Ok. Thanks."

Dad and I both went upstairs. He carried Riker all the way to the guest bedroom.

Riker POV

I woke up to Mark putting me in bed.

"Is your head feeling any better?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Good."

He pulled the covers over me and tucked me in.

"Our room is at the end of the hall. If you need anything in the middle of the night, come wake us up, ok?"

I nodded again. He walked over to the doorway.

"Did you want me to leave this light on?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Ok. Try to get back to sleep. Goodnight, Riker," he said, leaving.

I turned over on my side and shut my eyes. I've never gotten tucked into bed before. Only thrown out of bed, which is basically the opposite.

I hope tomorrow is ok. And I hope my head doesn't hurt anymore. And I hope my finger feels better...