Out With a Bang

Burn

There was a loud pop and bright flash from the back of the room where Ian and Roland had been standing. The noise and light were intense enough that time seemed to stop for a beat before Ian let out a strangled cry. He was laying on the floor, holding his left arm and rolling side to side in obvious pain. Manny was quickly running toward him, shouting questions and asking him if he was ok.

Curt ran to Roland who was laying a little way away. The explosion had been enough to shove him back into the nearby wall hard before he fell to the ground. "Ro! Roland!!" Curt shook his friend, trying to get him to open his eyes, but there was no response. By this time, Manny had pulled Ian up and they were at his side.

"Holy shit!", Manny shouted. "We need to call medical." He jumped up and ran to get them some help. Ian, who had a nasty burn on his left arm, was trying his best to stay calm and not focus on the pain.

"Curt, I think he hit his head. Do you have anything to stop the bleeding?"

Curt looked at him a second in shock before looking back at his best friend. Without thinking, he pulled his shirt off and lifted Roland's head, pressing it into the wound on the back of his head. His hands were shaking as he tried to hold it still. Ian saw this and put his right hand on Curt's to help as much as his strength would allow.

--

A few hours later, Curt and Manny found themselves sitting nervously in a waiting room. Paul rushed in a little while later with nothing but questions for the two. They tried to give him as much information as possible, but they were both honestly at a loss. Curt was still in a shock and Manny just talked in circles until Paul stomped away, frustrated.

Ian was cleared a few hours into their vigil. He had suffered some bad burns but overall was ok. He was obviously upset as he paced in the waiting room with the two of them. He kept going over and over the accident and set up. He was sure that there had to be a reason behind what had happened but couldn't quite figure it out.

"Everything was new! I put it all in myself. There is no reason for that kind of explosion." He was ranting for the 50th time as Roland's brother finally made his way into the room.

"What's this I hear about you lot blowing up my brother?", he joked as an olive branch. He could see how tense the room was and, having the same biting humor as Roland, thought the barb would be a better way into the conversation than direct questions.

Curt gave him a quick hug before offering, "We don't know. Honestly, everything was set up properly, so we are not sure what exactly happened. He's still getting checked out, but he had a pretty nasty cut to his head." Curt shuttered a bit at the memory.

"Maybe it will relieve some of the pressure." Carlos laughed. "Always said he had a big head."

His sarcasm and wit cut the negativity in the room, and they all found themselves relaxing a bit more. They talked and caught up for a while until the doctor working with Roland finally made an appearance. He was a fresh-faced guy who seemed like he was newly out of medical school and he looked apprehensive as he stepped into the room.

"Is there someone here that's related to Roland Orzabal?", he asked in a forced professional tone.

Carlos stood up. "That'd be me, I guess. Mum hasn't made it yet. I'm his older brother."

"Great! I'm Dr. Finch. Um... I wanted to let you know his condition. He's... um..." The doctor stopped and looked around the room, gathering that he should probably lead Carl away to finish his update.

Catching his thought process, Carlos supplied a quick, "These guys are his band mates and like his extra family. Whatever you want to tell me, you can say in front of them."