Mr Murtaugh looked up, the kids going their test but he got up and walked around to ensure no one tried to cheat.
He then paused.

Ike finished the test, but stared at the paper as thoughts flooded his mind and swam in front of him.
Unable to stop it, tears ran down his face and the page now had soaked spots, Ike tried to wipe his eyes with his sleeve but the tears kept coming.
"Ike. . ."
Mr Murtaugh knelt down, Ike looked at him, trying to seem okay but Mr Murtaugh knew better.
"Let's step outside."
Ike nods, he got up and left with Mr Murtaugh, the class holding their breaths as the door closed.
As the door closed, Ike choked out a sob and Mr Murtaugh knelt down,"What's wrong. . .", Ike still tired to not cry, though hard as he wiped tears that kept spilling unable to hold them back,"Norman. . . H-He's in hospital a-and they keep saying he's in bad. . . Condition, and some k-kids keep saying he's gonna die!. . .", Mr Murtaugh was shocked, Ike lowered his head as Mr Murtaugh pulled him close,"I don't want him to die!", Mr Murtaugh rubbed Ike's back, he thought he'd find out who was saying such things as it was a hard time for Norman, Norman's father and Ike.
"He won't."
Ike looked up,"Norman's a lot stronger than they give him credit for, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.", Ike nods, sniffling and wiping his eyes, his sleeves now damp.
"Here. Let's stay out here for a bit."
Mr Murtaugh sat Ike down in the hall, sitting next to him and handing a tissue.
"T-. . . Thank you."
"No problem."

=

Ike adapted to a new routine: Wake up, go to school, visit Norman and go home.
Weekends: Wake up, Visit Norman, Home.

He would always bring him his homework so he wouldn't fall behind, cards from classmates, anything he needs or just to talk and sit by him.
Quentin had noticed this, as did his dad and mom; They didn't have a problem with Ike going to be there for Norman, but they were worried.
He mainly spoke to mom and dad, but Quentin he had become very strain from, but Quentin had Beatrix to play with a mind. . . And spying on Otto who had to be a killer!

~

"Quentin? A word."
Quentin sat at the table,"Yeah. . . Where's Ike?", his mom was starting to make dinner,"He's staying the night at the hospital with Norman.", Cornelius cleared his throat,"We need to talk.", Quentin tensed,"Yeah. . .", his dad rested his hands on the table,"I understand Ike's condition, and you want to protect him, help where you can. . . But you know he doesn't like to be babied.", Quentin sighed,"I know it's just-. . . What else can I do? I don't know how to help, and. . . He's grown more distant since Norman was hospitalised.", his mom nods, turning to Quentin,"Your brother is just worried about Norman, we all are and wants to be there for him, but we do need to bridge the gap that is only growing as the days go on.", Cornelius nods,"Yes, but we're not going to point fingers. . . We're going to approach Ike, sit him down and talk as a family about the distant and try and find common ground for you, him and your sister to get along.", Quentin nods, Cornelius stood up as the phone rang,"That better not be a call from Otto.", Quentin but his lip as his dad picked it up.

=

"You okay. . ."
Norman wasn't. . . He had a headache, he felt like he was gonna be sick and was scared of the hospital room that was in darkness.
But. . . It didn't matter; Ike was with him.
"Yeah. . . Thanks for staying with me."
"No worries. . . Since the lamp is pretty bright, maybe your dad will bring a night light cause man is this place scary at night."
Mhm. . .

A doctor came to check on them, found them both asleep and Norman's vitals to be normal and stable.
"Get some rest kid. . ."