Blissfully oblivious of the happenings between his parents, the Red Rider, like usual, went for his morning bout of cycling to 'the Sandbox', as he'd come to dub the park where he'd first met so many of his neighborhood friends.

He came across Davin, Cove and Kezia there, just hanging around.

"I think I'm really getting to like it here," Kezia mused, "being able to meet with such great friends as yourselves. Not that I didn't have friends back home, but Mom seemed always sad there."

Saka did not waste words. "Did you ask her why?"

Kez shook her head. "Lizzie tried. Didn't end up so well."

"Why not?"

"Because Kez said so," Dave argued. "Go ask Lizzie if you wanna know more, Saka."

"Well that one's not here, Kez is. So I'm asking her. Why are you the one getting upset, Davin?"

"You're not being nice to her."

"Oh, am I? I asked a question, and not even to you, and that's 'not being nice'? Sheesh. You really need to get your priorities sorted..."

Dave frowned. "Says you."

Saka stared at him, trying not to get too annoyed. Alright, he thought, another question then. "Cove. How did you get that cast?"

The Holden boy blinked, not at all expecting such bluntness to be so suddenly directed at him. "Huh? Oh, um, well... Why do you wanna know?"

"Because."

"Do you always have to ask questions that bother people, Saka?" Dave cut in, again. "My cousin's been hurt, that's how he got it. Does what really happened matter?"

"It does to me, duh. That's why I asked."

"Well Cove might not want to tell you!"

"He doesn't say that. Not yet. And this is the second time you butt in without even being spoken to. Where are your manners, Dave?"

That hit a nerve with Davin. Only his mom had ever chided him that way. "I'm supposed to learn manners from someone who'd ridden on the curb that first day we met, and had come very close to running me over?"

"Hey, I've said sorry for that! Derek was there too, he saw it, you saw it; so why'd you bring that up again when he's not around, huh? Now who's the one 'not being nice', skunk?!"

Cove gasped. "Hold on... Saka, what did you call my cousin just now..?"

Saka had both fists on his hips now, no longer so inclined to remain nice. "I called him 'skunk'! That plain enough for you, you four-eyed crybaby?"

"Wha-?!"

Even just watching from the side, Kez was likewise horrified; she did not at all think that a simple, seemingly-innocent question could have led to this. Worse, neither her mom, nor Lizzie, nor even Derek, was there to somehow defuse the situation.

"Guys, please, don't fight now!"

The boys either did not hear her, or did not want to.

"I'm only telling the truth," Dave said, referring to the Red Rider. "I bet Kez didn't know much about that curb incident; she needs to, now."

"Bummer! Why're you the one deciding that for her, though? That may not be what she truly wants, and by doing so you also insult me!"

"Yeah? What're you gonna do about that, hit me..?"

That was that. Saka made good on Dave's word by actually smacking him with a haymaker; much to Cove and Kezia's horror.

"You asked for it," the Red Rider looked at him with narrowed eyes as Davin reeled while holding his own throbbing cheek.

But the latter was not done. Refusing to be made light of in his turn--and still remembering the insult on his cousin that he was otherwise so close with--Dave grappled Saka with both hands and with some effort managed to send him reeling off on to the streets adjacent to the park, just as a red car was speeding by.

Tamara's son had only seconds to negotiate with the rapidly-oncoming danger; the last thing he saw being the horrified looks of all three of his friends, their screams rendered pointless by the car's honking, with Cove reaching out with his uninjured arm as if to prevent the worst...

"UAGH..!!"

***

The red car's driver either did not notice the damage they'd done or just did not want to care; either way, they did not stop, leaving three absolutely panicked kids in their wake. Kez didn't cease muttering 'oh no' down on her knees, her teeth chattering; while Dave looked as if he was about to faint, his face already going pale from shock.

Cove, already injured as he was, got it in him that Saka's must be way worse--the latter had blood oozing slowly out of his head, and quite a few cuts and bruises here and there, from impact--and that he needed help urgently. Looking around, Holden's boy caught sight of the Red Rider's bike and that gave him an idea.

Before he could quite put it into action, though, another car--this time a white one--pulled over. Its driver, a man with tanned skin tone, grey eyes and reddish hair, quickly got out of his vehicle and after a glance at the unmoving young body, regarded the other three kids with a sharp stare.

"This kid needs help, and quickly!" the man asserted. "Are you three his friends?"

"We are," Cove said clearly despite himself. "What should we do?"

The man paused as he caught sight of Cove's own injured arm, but decided to not press it. Worse was at stake. "And that red bike. It's yours?"

"Uh-uh. His."

"Alright, listen well. If any one of you knows this kid's home address, quickly ride there and tell his parents or any adult you happen to know about his situation, and that he's already being taken to the nearest hospital. Got that? If they ask who's carried him to the hospital, tell them that Mr. Baxter did it. Right?"

"Right!" Kez replied, just as eager to help; for this she was afforded a slight smile.

"Now then, one of you must also go with me there, just in case they start asking for details. Leave nothing out, you hear? That, and to better help your friend here. Who's up for it?"

Davin stepped forward. "Me. I... I caused this..."

"Alright now, stay calm. I'm gonna carry him into the back of the car, you stay with him. Use my folded coat there for his headrest... yes, I'm totally fine with it. And you two! Don't just stand there, go home or let his parents know! Hurry!"

"Ah... Yes!" Cove and Kez answered as one. Soon this white car drove off, leaving them in its dust.

"I'll go let his parents know," Cove said, turning to Kezia, his gaze remarkably firm. "You just see yourself home, and stay there safe, get it?"

Kez blinked. "What of Saka's bike here?"

"I'll ride it. Don't worry; unlike you, I know how, and I know the way there now."

"What... But you're also hurt!"

Cove considered that. "Saka's had the courage earlier to call me a... a crybaby. I'll prove to him that's not true!"

"But what if you fall on the way, or something like that? One accident is more than enough!"

"Look, I don't plan to fall, okay?! You heard the man, Saka needs help quickly! If that means I have to endure my own pains to save him, I will! My mom once did just that for me-"

The girl pouted. "No fair! I wanna help too!"

Oh, if only Derek were here! Cove thought. "Then get. Yourself. Home! We will go look on Saka soon, I promise, and then you can come along; but for that to happen, our parents must find out first so they can allow you to!"

Without waiting for Kezia's further input on this matter, Cove rode off. Quite a few times, his casted left arm throbbed with exertion as he rode; but Holden's son gritted his teeth and pressed on as best he could. Much, much worse was at stake!

***

Cove's alert threw the neighborhoods into a frenzy like few others. By then Randy had left for work with their motorbike, and his wife, understandably distraught, seemed on the verge of breakdown--thinking of few else aside her son's survival in what could be a race against time, mumbling prayers all the while--as she hailed a cruising taxi which then lost little time making its way to the nearest hospital, California General.

Derek, upon hearing the news, also lost no time in pestering his mom to be allowed to go see Saka at the hospital alongside Cove, Kezia, and Clifford, going in the latter's car. Irene gave in after some prodding, but warned her eldest son that, "just to be on the safe side", she would still have Gregorio come over in their minivan to take Derek back home come evening.

By the time this second group of visitors arrived, their friend had been put into Room 307, somewhere on the third floor, and was being examined. Mrs. Greenfields was still beside herself with anguish, prayers and well-wishes flowing intermittently out her quivering lips; Davin seated not too far beside her, trembling with shock, fear and grief.

Seeing Tamara in such a state, Cove found himself gulping several times. She must not have known how it happened in full, he thought, while I do know... But what am I supposed to tell her?

He looked up at his dad for encouragement; Clifford nodded. Even then it took the younger Holden some time to work up enough courage to sit on her other side.

"I'm very sorry, Saka's mom," Cove mumbled. "It happened all too quickly..."

"How... how did this happen?" Tamara croaked, more to herself than to him. It was not like she was blaming him, but Cove nevertheless caught that drift. "You were there, Covey boy, weren't you..?"

"I was," he nodded sadly. "Kezia and Dave too. I'm really sorry... I should have done something to keep them from quarreling..."

Tamara tried to smile as she took the boy's left hand in her own. "Just by alerting us all and then joining us here, you've done plenty. I mean it."

"My friend's still hurt..."

"They are working in that room to make sure that's no longer the case."

"I still am sorry!"

Derek, meanwhile--having been updated on what had happened by Kezia while on their way there--did not share Cove's present gloomy mood. Immediately making a beeline for Davin, the Suarez boy gritted his own teeth as he took hold of him on the neck-part of the latter's shirt with both hands. Derek's whisper was low, but fierce.

"Did you have to do that?"

Dave looked up in his turn, staring blankly. "Do what..?"

"Don't play dumb!" Derek's eyes were now glistening with tears, in an all-too-rare display of dismay. "Kezia told me-"

"It doesn't really matter what Kez did or did not tell you, now, does it, boys?" Tamara joined from the side with the hints of motherly authority that she would normally have reserved for her own son. "In that room your friend is struggling to hang on to his dear life as we speak, so would you please not shame yourselves further by bickering? Why don't you both just sit down, like the friends you are, and we all use this time to pray for his recovery? Hmm?"

The kids were quick to take the point; Derek let go of Dave's clothes and, suitably chastened, momentarily squeezed his own eyes shut. "You're right, Mrs. Greenfields... Sorry."

"I can't say that enough," Dave put in, as Cove and his father watched the exchange with more concern than sadness now. For Clifford, especially; that all-too-often overlooked parental wisdom of having your child pray instead of whine or throw tantrums in times of emotional distress or sadness was something he had not even thought was an option before this.

Oh, had I realized this earlier, he thought then, how many disappointments might have been averted in my family..?

Shortly after, one of the doctors went out. "Mrs. Greenfields?"

Just like that, Tamara's look of anxiety returned. "Yes."

"Might we have a word in private, please?"

She got up, with a side glance at the boys, before following the doctor to a corner.

"We just wish to cross-check, ma'am," he began, referring to his notes, "for it appears that a full third of the required examination fees for patient Saka Greenfields has been accounted for, also covering three nights' worth of inline care. Is this done by your consent?"

Tamara blinked. "Well that is peculiar... I don't recall having been asked for nor made any payments yet."

"The name we have is a Mr. Baxter, ma'am, and the payment was done via check, signed and valid. An overgenerous acquaintance, perhaps?"

"I repeat, Doctor, that I haven't even met this Mr. Baxter; much less know him."

"Then I suggest you check with the receptionist, for it was with them that Mr. Baxter had left both the check and his name card for further contacts. Kindly consult me again when you have. Ask for Dr. Nashton."

"Much obliged, Dr. Nashton, sir. In the meantime...?"

"You may now see the patient; he's fully awake and has been asking for you, his mother. The other visitors too, should you see fit. I would further suggest to keep things calm; he's been through much." The doctor nodded once, and went off.

Very soon Tamara broke this news to the rest of the visitors, with the added caveat that she wished to be the first to see her son. They readily obliged.

***

As Mrs. Greenfields entered, she saw that both of the Red Rider's knees had been wrapped in white linen through which blood still seeped; otherwise, he looked fine enough, apart from a slightly-paler face and a bruised left elbow, sending occasional throbs of pain.

Just as the doctor had said, though, the patient was awake.

"Saka," she called, her voice still tinged with concern as she made a beeline for his bedside.

"Mom." The boy smiled weakly at her. "Thanks for making it here, so much. And... sorry for worrying you so."

"Am I just so glad to see you hanging on, darling! For a very scary moment, I thought you'd had it..."

"Is Dad here too?"

"He will come later today. He must! I've called him. But more than that... how are you feeling right now?"

The Red Rider groaned. "Nothing broken... I hope. Still hurts a lot, though." A few seconds of quiet passed. "What about my friends? Aren't they worried about me?"

His mother nodded. "Course they are. They've even come for you. It's okay if you don't wanna see them just yet, though."

Saka thought it over. "But I do! If they're already here, you can't turn them away."

"You sure?"

He nodded again. "Who came?"

"Cove and Kezia, to be sure. And Derek. Dave and Cove's father as well."

"Dave was with me all the way here, I noticed," the Red Rider corrected, before sighing. "Must be saying sorry a ton of times, that one. As well he should..."

"What do you mean by that?"

"We quarreled, Dave and I. He ended up pushing me towards that red car's path-"

The mother flushed as the realization kicked in. "...Is that true?!"

"That's what happened. But I hit him first, and here I am now," the boy added quickly. "Please, Mom, don't be so mad at him; he's shown that he's willing to own it."

"Karima should still know!"

"Yeah... maybe she should. Mrs. Ashford may not even know that he's here in the hospital to help me..."

Tamara paused. "About that, son. Did you see who it was that helped bring you here?"

"Think it was a guy..." Saka winced again. "I... sensed being laid down on the back seat of a white car, on something soft. Didn't really catch that guy's name."

"Baxter?" his mother tried.

"Can't remember. For now... are you gonna let my friends in or not, Mom?"

"One by one, or all together?"

"Whoa... I have that kinda option?"

"They're coming to see you. You get to decide whom you wanna see first, or not at all, or all together. Either way, they'll understand."

"Hmm... Two by two, then. Derek and Kez first."