Alvaro-

I was getting restless just sitting in that room. I tried to tie up some loose ends but my head was not in the right place. I looked at my watch. It's only 2am.

"Hey Leo, I'm going to take a walk. I'll be back soon."

"Okay, I'll be here, finishing up this paperwork." He rolls his eyes as he tells me.

We're both to restless to concentrate on anything. knowing Elias was right next door but we couldn't see him was driving me crazy. As I walked out of the room I get a call from my head of security. Marco and Alexander were attempting to leave the property drunk off their asses. They find out that their little brother is coming home and they get drunk. I sigh and shake my head. I'm standing and waiting for the elevator to come. I just need some fresh air.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a boy, he's got a long sleeve compression shirt, and shorts on. No shoes, he's pretty short and his hair is shaggy and ruffled. It's only 2am so why is a kid walking around bear-foot?

I stay on the phone with security, briefing them on the next few days as I watch the kid. He walks to the elevator and pushed the button for down. He's got to be a patient. He's on the kids floor it's with no shoes on.

I stand next to him and wait for the door to open. I look at him when he's not paying attention, I see those striking blue eyes. Is this Elias? I look at his wrists and see a partial hospital band, but I can't read it. His sleeve covers most of it. I end the call with security and text Leo. The doors to the elevator open and we both walk in and I see him press the button for floor one. The pediatric wing is on the 6th floor of the hospital, it has its own cafeteria and vending machines up here. So why is he going down to the first floor?

"Can you not stare at me creep?" The boy asks me. I just look at him, studying him. He looks like our mother. To much like our mother. (The texting chain between Alvaro and Leo)

Alvaro- Go and ask a nurse if Elias is in his room.

Leo-Why is everything okay?

Alvaro-I'm not sure, I standing next to a boy who has our eyes. He's got no shoes on and is going down to the first floor. I'm following him but ask.

Leo- got it.

As I wait for Leo to respond I look over at the boy. He looks so much like our mother. He's got her facial features, and he's got the Ramirez eyes. I see his hands are clenching into fists and he's grumbling to himself. I can't help but ask him his name. Just as I ask the doors to the elevator open.

"What's your name kid?"

He turns around and sneers at me

"None of your fucking business you creepy bastard." He starts walking away, he's eyes scanning the walls like he's looking for something. I silently follow behind him. I see him go for the exit sign and walk out the doors. It's 20 degrees outside and he's got no shoes on. What is this kid doing?

I see Leo to have texted me back. Elias is not in his room. I hear a voice over the loud speaker "Code yellow, code yellow. Pediatric patient is missing." Lights start flashing yellow.

I text Leo and tell him to send the doctor down to the first floor where the patient garden is. I'm just glad he didn't go out the ER.

I walk outside and see Elias looking worried. His eyes see me immediately and he tenses up. I walk over to the bench where he is at and sit down as I Leo has texted me with a thumbs up. I put my phone down and look at Elias. Look at how much he's grown. How is he outside though, the doctor said he shouldn't be walking.

"You're Elias aren't you?" I ask him

He tenses up and gets defensive. I can't blame the kid, a stranger knows his name.

"How the fuck do you know my name?" He asks me as he moves to stand up. He tries and fails, his right arm clutching his stomach, his left arm hangs beside him. That's the one he dislocated. Why did he take his brace off?

"My names Alvaro and I'm your eldest brother and now guardian. Those lights and alarms were for you. You left your room and didn't tell anyone." I tell him.

I look at his face, he just stares at me in what looks to be shock. I see the doctor, some nurses, security and Leo all run over to us.

The doctor goes on a rant about how irresponsible Elias was. That pisses me off. He should be helping not getting upset with him. I see Elias grip something in his pocket, his shorts are too small for him. I make a note to buy him some more clothes when we get home.

"Doctor I believe that's enough. It's cold he has no shoes on, and is wearing shorts. We can talking him inside." I tell the doctor as I stand up. I watch as the doctor nods to the nurses to help Elias up.

He freaks out, he's yelling and throwing elbows to get the nurses off of him.

"NO DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!"

"Elias you need to calm down you are in no position to get up on your own, let alone walk. You might have caused more damage to your shoulder." The doctor attempts to explain to Elias.

"No don't fucking touch me, I don't want to go back to that fucking room." He sneers at them

"Elias it is 20 degrees outside. You have no shoes, nor socks on. You're wearing shorts and a thin long sleeve compression shirt. You need to go inside and warm up." The doctor says.

"Fuck that, I am fine outside. Go get me a blanket if you're so worried." Elias tells the doctor. I see him glaring at the doctor. The doctor gives the nurses a look and I see the needle they plan to use.

I squat in front of Elias " Elias, I understand you don't want to o inside but you need to. The doctor and nurses need to check you over and make sure you're okay. We can come back outside tomorrow after they've checked on you and you got some sleep."

I look at his face, gauging his emotions. He just glares and ignores me. I see the way he's gripping his stomach and the way his arm hangs uncomfortably. I glare right back at him. He's got that Ramirez stubbornness that's for sure.

"You either come inside conscious or unconscious. Either way you are going inside. It's your choice."

Elias continues to glare at me, not moving much.

"Hermanito, you need to go inside. It's too cold and I know your stomach and shoulder hurt. The IV was giving you pain meds. I know they're wearing off now." I tell Elias gently. There's some reason he doesn't want to go inside. He seems scared and apprehensive. But why?...

"I don't want to go inside. I've been inside for over a week, stuck in that fucking bed. I feel fine. So go get me a blanket if your worries about me being cold."

I huff, I need him to understand that's not healthy for him. What are you hiding hermano?

"I told you your options. I understand you don't like them but you need to go inside. I'll stay with you in your room if that will make you more comfortable." I tell him.

He sits there shuffling and wincing just a little bit, he's in pain that he doesn't need to be in. The doctor behind me is holding a needle and raising his eyebrows in question. I shake my head. I want him to make this choice. He's uncomfortable and drugging him will break the trust we don't have yet.

"fine. I'll go inside. I don't want to be fucking drugged."

"I stand up and go to grab his hanging arm. The sooner we get his shoulder back in place the sooner he will be more comfortable. He hisses at the pain of me attempting to move his shoulder back in the proper position.

"I can do it." He tells me angrily.

I give the doctor a look of concern. He just stares at me like he expected it. I see the doctor about to argue with Elias getting up but before he can open his mouth I give him a look. Let him do it. He needs to have some kind of control in this situation.

I see him use his good arm to use himself up. He gasps and I see tears in his eyes. Leo looks at me like he wants to cry. I just shake my head and see Elias is about to fall. I quickly pick him up before he hurts himself even more.

"shhh Hermanito you're okay. I know it hurts that's why we're going up to your room." I tell him softly.

I lower him into the wheelchair and start pushing him inside. I see him looking around in fear, mumbling to himself. The elevator only makes it worse. His eyes dart all over the place and his breathing gets worse. Leo is watching his behavior closely. I see him look up at me and i study his expression. His eyes are rimmed red and swollen. He's tired. But the look in his eyes shows me he's scared, terrified actually. The elevator opens and we start walking to his room. He starts hyperventilating and I see his arms try and reach up to his head to cover his ears.

I put a hand on his shoulder and squat in front of him. His attention is immediately on me and all I see is fear and tears in his waterline.

"Do you want me to stay with you in your room or give you space Hermanito?"

I see him thinking hard. His eyes trained on me.

"...you can stay..." He tells me quietly.

I nod my head and smile. We walk back into his room where the doctor and nurses immediately get to work on hooking him up to the machines and getting him into bed. I watch the nurse take his shirt off gently and see gauze where he tore out the IV. It's soaked I bloody. The nurse just continues on and puts his IV in another vein. I watch as the medicine enters Elias system and he relaxes. The doctor is checking him over, the stitches are fine just irritated but his shoulder is inflamed and looks to be almost out of socket again. The doctor thinks he tore part of his muscle during his adventure. The braces for his ibs and shoulder go back on and I see Elias just staring at me. The doctor asks Elias if he wants any sleeping medicine.

He looks at the doctor concerned. He thinks this decision throughly.

"Yes." He tells the doctor. Immediately the doctor writes it down and the nurses give him the medicine.

Elias looks over at me and his eyes get droopy. The drug hitting him hard. I notice he starts crying, tears slowly falling down his cheeks.

"Hermanito why are you crying? Go to sleep you need it." I tell him gently. I move my chair closer to his bed I notice he's still crying, the drug likely affecting his emotions.

"...you're not gonna leave right? Everything is scary but you make it go 'way when you're here..." He tells me quietly.

"Sleep Hermanito. I won't be going anywhere. I'll be here when you wake up." I tell him softly. His tears becoming slower. I brush the hair off his forehead and start scratching his scalp. It use to make Santiago go to sleep in a heartbeat. Like I expected Elias is asleep within a minute. I gently kiss his forehead. And sit back in my chair. I text Leo to get in Elias room and to get the doctor. Elias was scared, but why?

A few minutes later I see both of them walk in, talking in hushed voices.

"Tell me you both saw his freak out." I tell them

They both look at each other before the doctor starts talking.

"I remember mentioning that Elias was seen mumbling and talking to nobody. He seems extremely paranoid and it gets worse at night. I originally thought this could be something trauma induced but after talking to your brother I'm not so sure. He mentioned your mother wasn't right in the head."

"Yes, she was always all over the place, she never really took care of me or my brothers. Rather neglected us why?" I ask confused. What did our mother have to do with this?

"Well from what your brother mentioned it sounds like your mother had schizophrenia but went undiagnosed. He mentioned she acted bipolar but your father had her tested and the results came back negative."

"Yes, do you think this is related to Elias?"

"Yes I believe so, you need to monitor his behavior at home. People with schizophrenia tend to have trouble sleeping, which can turn into insomnia. The paranoia is also a big factor. Schizophrenia is usually diagnosed in peoples' early twenties. Rarely is it a pediatric case but I can't say I'm surprised. From what the police have said Elias was neglected and abused what seems to be his entire life. This could have jump started his symptoms. Teachers mentioned he wasn't all there in class. Which are early signs of schizophrenia. We've noticed his irregular sleeping pattern. Or lack of. When nurses do their rounds they see him awake staring at the walls, mumbling to himself and his scattered thinking. Not that he's talked much here but the few times he has it hasn't made sense. The police recorded statements of people he talked to often. Liam the man he was living with said he was very aggressive, he would be fine one minute and explode on him the next. His coworkers at the grocery store he worked at said he wouldn't talk to anyone but would mumble and get what they described to be scared, or paranoid."

I look at Leo, he's processing this information. It would make sense for our mother. The aggression, the mood swings, the mumbling and scattered thoughts. I remember walking into the kitchen and seeing her screaming at the staff while waving a knife around, screaming about them trying to poison her.

But Elias? He's so young. He's only 13. Will he need medication? Will he be like our mother?

I hear Leo talking to the doctor about monitoring him, his behavior. The doctor and Leo talk for a few more minutes before the doctor leaves.

Leo comes and sits next to me. Both of us processing this information.

"If he has schizophrenia then we need to be prepared. Getting all sharp objects out if his room, we could invest in a baby monitor to see if he's awake or asleep. It's a manageable disorder. With the proper medicine and support he will be able to live a normal and happy life." Leo says. He stares at Elias, I see the wheels turning in his brain.

"We need to inform the boys about this. We all need to be on the same page not only with his return but with taking care of him. He's been on his own for 3 years possibly even more. He doesn't understand what a family is, or what it means to be a kid." I tell him.

"We can do this, it will take time and patience but we will all get there."

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Longest chapter yet!! It's got like 2,700 words. I never understood how confusing it would be to write someone else's perspective in the same, time, place, and talking to each other. My respect for authors just went up even more.

I edited the prologue to change Elias height. If you scroll all the wya down you will see why.

I also was thinking of adding another brother. Younger than Santiago but still older than Elias opinions? Probably would be like 17ish?

But this is a double update, how exciting and lucky. I should be paying attention in my history class but instead I'm writing and editing for y'all. Hehehe.

Anyways thoughts, opinions? What did we think of this chapter?

I like how Alvaro isn't cold and a hard ass yk? He cares for his brothers and is understanding.