| Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
It was total chaos.
The smoke was strong and suffocating. As Matt ran closer, he began to have a hard time breathing and seeing clearly.
“…no…step back! Stop! You can’t go in!” The cops blocked the area by yellow “Dangerous” strip and stopped Matt immediately as he wanted to run over.
“My brother’s in there!!! He’s in the clinic on 10th floor!!!” Matt frantically screamed and pushed the cop aside. He was desperate to check on Danny.
“This is dangerous and you can’t go it! Firefighters are busy doing the work already! And a lot of people have evacuated the safe zone already! You should check around and see if you can find your brother!” The cop suggested.
Matt had no choice but to walk away. He wandered around and around, searching for Danny. There were people after people standing and sitting on the street. Some with minor injuries and were treated first-aid by paramedics. Some in more severe conditions were taken onto the ambulances.
Firefighters busily ran back and forth. The tower ladders brought down more injured and immediately sent them to the nearby hospitals.
“…Danny! Where are you Danny?!” Matt kept calling and looking, but there was no trace of his brother.
“…fire started on the 8th floor….and the smoke went up the building very quickly…” The crowd was discussing.
The more Matt heard, the more panic and worried he was.
Suddenly he spotted Dr. Wong! He was anxiously talking to a cop!
“Dr. Wong!!!” Matt jumped over and grabbed him, “Where’s Danny? Is he ok?!”
“Oh gosh Matt!” Dr. Wong was sweating badly, “Danny’s not with us! When the fire alarm went on, everyone in our clinic evacuated together. We were running down the stairway…then suddenly Danny refused to go and actually ran back up! He said he has to look for you!!! We tried to grab him but he struggled! There were too many people running down the stairs at the time and soon we lost him!”
“WHAT?!” Matt screamed dreadfully.
“That’s what I’m telling the cops now! To send firefighters up to rescue Danny! He’s probably still on the 10th floor looking for you!!!” Dr. Wong felt very bad. His eyes became teary.
"No sir you can't go in! It's very dangerous!" A cop ran over and grabbed Matt.
"I gotta go find my brother!!!" Matt screamed dreadfully and struggled, "Let go of me!!! I gotta find Danny!!!"
"I gotta go find my brother!!! I gotta find Matty!!! Woo...woo..."
They turned around.
A firefighter was pacing down the emergency stairway, carrying a young guy on his back. He was struggling and whining and crying weakly.
"Danny!!!" Matt dashed over.
Danny heard the call and spun around. He finally saw his brother, "Matty!!!"
The firefighter put Danny down and settled him on one side.
"Oh Danny!!! You're ok!!!" Matt hugged him tightly. He was relieved an as tears flooded out, "Thank God you're ok. Oh Thank God..."
"Whoa..." Seeing Matty was fine, Danny bursted out a big cry, "...Matty..."
"Scared me to death. Scared me to death, Danny." There was traces of ash and dust of Danny's face. Matty cupped his face and checked him here and there, "Did you get hurt?"
"...woo...woo..." Danny was too frightened and could not calm down his emotions.
"Sir, we have to bring you to the hospital for a check-up now." Paramedics patted Danny's shoulder.
Danny kept crying and held onto Matt.
"Be good huh? Come on. Matty will stay with you." Matt said softly. Then he took out a medical record card and turned to the paramedics, "I must go with my brother. He is handicapped and has language problems expressing himself."
The ambulance brought them to the hospital. The doctor and nurse at the emergency unit did a few check-ups on Danny.
"...take a deep breath...in..." The doctor said.
Matt demonstrated, so Danny repeated after him.
"How are you feeling? Do you have any problems breathing?" The doctor asked slowly, knowing Danny's conditions.
Danny coughed and pointed at his own throat.
Matt gently patted his back to soothe his coughs.
"Now let's see if you got hurt anywhere. Tell me if you feel any pain." The doctor softly touched and checked his shoulder, chest, abdomen, arms, then legs.
"Danny, say ouch if it hurts." Matt said.
"...ouch." When the doctor squeezed his right knee, Danny felt some tingling pain.
"Doctor, is he doing ok?" Matt was worried.
The doctor wrote down his notes, "Don't worry. He just sprained his right knee. Every else seems ok. When you two go home tonight, rub some soothing lotion. If it still hurts, a heat pad would help. It should recover in a few days on its own."
"He keeps coughing though." Matt said.
"He inhaled some smoke. Not a big problem. Take some rest and his coughs will go away in a few days." The doctor nodded and walked away.
Matt was still concerned. He turned to the nurse who was cleaning up, "The smoke is bad for his lungs. Is there any soup or something that can take care of that? Can I make anything for him to help calm down his coughs?"
"As a professional nurse, my only advice is to rest and drink more water." The nurse smiled and wrote down a note, "But as a housewife and mother, I can tell you some herbs would help. Make them into a soup and drink lots in the next couple days. His coughs will go away soon."
Matt took the note from her and said sincerely, "Appreciate this. Thanks a lot."
*****************************
That night, Matt settled Danny to sleep. Danny was very quiet, as in the past few days, and did not say a word to Matt. No matter what, Matt still stayed by his side. After today’s fire incident, he was worried that Danny was still too scared and could not go to sleep well.
Matt gently stroked Danny’s forehead to put him to sleep.
Danny closed his eyes for while, then suddenly turned around and peeked at Matt.
“Hm?” Matt asked softly, “Be good and go to sleep, huh?”
Danny bit his lips.
Matt mumbled, “Today you should have run away with Dr. Wong. Why did you go back up? Luckily the fire fighters found you on your way and rescued you. Scared me death, Danny. Totally scared me to death.”
“Didn’t see Matty. Thought Matty’s still up on 10th floor. Thought Matty got caught in the fire.” Danny patted his own chest, “Danny’s scared. Scared to death.”
“You thought I was still up there. You tried to look for me and save me.” Matt’s heart was warm and touched, “What a silly boy, Danny. That’s too dangerous though. So silly boy.”
“Matty.” Danny grasped his arm.
Matt softly sighed, “Still mad at Matty about Olive’s stuff?”
Danny shook his head, “Danny’s a big boy. Danny understands.”
Matt raised his brows.
“Olive only wants Danny as a friend. Olive and Matty like each other and want to stay cozy cozy together.” Danny said.
Matt heaved, “But we don’t want you to feel bad about it. We’ll feel bad too.”
“Olive is Danny’s friend. Danny can have many friends.” Danny looked at him, “Matty is Danny’s brother. Danny only has one brother. If Matty’s happy, then Danny’s also happy.”
It was the most heart-rendering words. Matt’s eyes turned teary.
“Matty loves Danny. Danny loves Matty too.” Danny uttered.
“Danny. Oh Danny.” Matt wrapped Danny in his hug, “Yes Matty loves you always. Olive is Matty’s girlfriend, but Danny will always be the no. 1 of Matty. That will never change. Promise.”
“Matty, will Danny find a girl in the future who’s as good as Olive? Will there be a girl who likes Danny and cares a lot about Danny?” Danny asked innocently.
“You will. I’m sure you will.” Matt softly stroked his back.
***************************
“This is my first time visiting your family. Wonder if this fruit basket looks good enough.” Matt restlessly looked at the gift he was holding.
“You look so nervous.” Olivia chuckled, “This is my first time bringing a guy home to see my family. Shouldn’t I be more nervous than you do?”
Matt smiled and grasped her hand tighter.
“Hey.” She softly slapped his chest, “In the past, did you ever visit the family of your ex Ivy?”
“Yeah.”
“That means I’m not privileged.” Olivia curled her lips, “You’re too honest sometimes.”
“I don’t want to lie to you. We shouldn’t do that to each other, if we want to build a relationship.” Matt said sincerely.
“That’s why you’re bringing Danny along to the dinner tonight.” Olivia nodded.
Danny clinched onto Matt’s t-shirt and tailgated at his back, as usual.
“I don’t want to hide anything from your parents on my family condition. They have the right to know what kind of a person their daughter is going out with.” Matt said, “Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.” Olivia was so considerate, “Danny’s my buddy too. I’m sure my parents will like him.”
“I could never hear that from Ivy before.” Matt was touched by her generosity, “Thanks Olivia. You’re the best.”
“Of course I’m the best. Stop comparing me with your ex. You silly guy sure doesn’t know how to say the right thing to your girl.” Olivia rolled her eyes, though feeling utmost sweet in her heart.
Matt scratched his head.
They arrived at a high-end apartment. The residential area was calm and tidy. A few people were jogging or walking their dogs leisurely along the clean pathways in this warm evening.
Up the elevator to the 20th floor, they walked out to the spacious hallway with only two suites on the floor, one on each side.
Olivia took out her keys and opened the door. She called on her way in, “We’re back!”
Matt and Danny followed her in.
In the big living room, a middle-age man put down his finance magazine and stood up. Then, a woman in apron, also as tidy and well-groomed as the man, paced out from the kitchen.
“Mom and dad, this is Matt and his brother Danny.” Olivia introduced.
“Uncle, Auntie.” Matt greeted politely. He turned to Danny, “Danny, call Uncle and Auntie.”
Danny shyly hid behind Matt and whispered, “Uncle, Auntie.”
“Hi Matt. Hi Danny.” Olivia’s mother smiled, “Come on in.”
The two guys were about to step in, then Olivia stopped them as she dug out two pairs of sandals from the shoe rack, “Here you go.”
Matt realized the house was covered with carpet, looking soft and clean. He carefully walked in.
Olivia’s father did not have much expression on his face. He just mumbled, “Oh have a seat. Just make yourself as home.”
“Grandma not back yet?” Olivia spun around.
Olivia’s father said, “She just called and said she has to stay behind at the senior’s home to finish off some cleanups. Mrs. Wong is giving her ride and she’ll be back soon.”
“Grandma’s volunteering.” Olivia told Matt, “She’s very active. She always says life after retirement should be fun.”
At this time, a puppy ran out and wiggled its tail at them.
“Waffle!” Danny happily waved. He sat down and hugged the puppy, ignoring everything else.
The others were just standing there. Olivia’s parents looked at Danny.
Matt thought they were not happy about Danny’s childish act. He instantly patted Danny’s head, “Danny, it’s not polite to just sit on the floor while everyone else isn’t.”
Danny lifted up his head and had a glance. He meekly crawled up.
“…no. That’s fine. No worry.” Olivia’s mother gave a friendly smile.
“Danny, do you want to play with Waffle?” Olivia asked Danny, “Why don’t you come with me to the balcony? Waffle has his own toy house there!”
Danny’s eyes glowed, but the good boy had to get permission first, “Matty, can I go?”
“Sure. Go with Olive to play with Waffle.” Matt said.
“…dad. Have some chats with Matt but can’t freak him out, huh?” The loving girl hugged her father’s neck.
Her father smiled and pinched her face. She bounced away with Danny and puppy Waffle.
“I’d better go in the kitchen and check how the maid is doing on the dinner.” Olivia’s mother politely excused herself.
Matt was left in the living room with Olivia’s father.