Aaron's Blood

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I don't think I can do this.

Yes you can.

I'm Aaron by the way, and you

have nothing to worry about.

I'm the best.

You are?

Yeah, won't hurt a bit.

Promise?

I promise.

Here, squeeze on this.

Oh god.

How long you been doing this?

10 years.

See? He knows what he's doing.

It's just

gonna be a little stick.

Nothing to worry about.

Okay, wait, wait.

You're supposed to hold my hand.

Ow.

Here we go.

It'll just come and go,

you won't even know.

Hello?

Yeah.

Well, what'd he do?

Hello.

I'm here for Tate.

Oh yes, you can sign

him out right there.

Oh, and Dr. Donnelly

wants to speak

with you if you have a minute.

Sure.

He'll have to serve

an in-school suspension,

just one day.

Well he's never done

anything like this before.

I know, but it's

zero-tolerance.

We have to follow the rules.

I understand, I understand.

Are you sure he

tripped them, though?

He admitted it.

Okay.

How's he doing at home?

Uh, fine, I guess.

What do you mean,

since the accident?

Well it's only

been a year, right?

It hasn't been a year yet.

You know, it's been tough.

Of course.

But, I don't mean that

as an excuse or anything.

Well I certainly think it

helps to explain his behavior.

He's such a good kid.

Yeah.

So what's going on with you?

Nothing.

They don't send

you home for nothing.

We should go home.

All right.

Here at JPL, we

have to solve problems

that nobody's ever

solved before.

And something the solutions

can seem a little crazy.

Today we're gonna talk

about this bad boy.

So when are you gonna

tell me what happened?

Tate!

What?

What happened with Justin?

He won't leave me

alone, that's what.

I hate him.

Why, what does he do?

He pushes me and

slaps me on the head.

In class?

In class, in the bathroom,

during PE, all the time.

And he calls me a p*ssy.

I got sick of it,

so I tripped him.

And you think that's

a smart thing to do.

Why didn't you say something?

What am I supposed to say?

What are you supposed to say?

You need to tell a

teacher, that's what.

No, they would call me snitch.

What, who cares if some

punk calls you a snitch?

Why didn't you at least tell me?

I'm telling you now.

Tate, if he touches you again,

I'm talking to the principal.

No, I can take care of it!

What, do you think

he's just gonna let you

get away with tripping him?

It's too dangerous,

you need to be careful

in your condition!

I know, dad.

Time to wrap it up!

Oops.

Sorry, didn't mean to.

Payback's a b*tch, huh?

Coach!

Hello?

Uh, Mr. Diaz?

Yes?

There's been

an emergency with Tate.

Which hospital?

Well, did you tell them

he's a hemophiliac?

Hi, my son was just brought in.

What's his name?

Tate Diaz.

He's in ICU.

ICU?

God.

What happened?

I don't know, I haven't

heard anything yet.

This isn't good.

I'm not worried about

the hairline fracture

to the outer nasal bone.

The damage to the

internal cartilage,

while normally

not a big concern,

is a pretty big deal to

a kid with hemophilia.

Blood was collecting

deep inside the tissue

and behind his eyes,

but we were able to relieve

some of the pressure

and stop the bleeding.

It's a highly

uncomfortable procedure,

so we had to sedate him.

And now?

He's doing okay

for the time being,

but we'll need to

keep an eye on him.

There's a chance he could

start hemorrhaging again.

There's no doubt, he's

still in critical condition.

How much blood did you give him?

We transfused one unit,

we have two more on standby.

Jesus.

You're sure you

don't want me to stay.

I'm sure, go home.

I can get you something to eat.

I'm fine, I'll

grab something here.

Well, if you need

anything, you call me, okay?

All right.

And call me when he wakes up.

I don't even care what

time it is, I mean it.

And tell him I love him.

And I love you too,

little brother.

Call me.

All right.

I'm sorry, didn't

mean to disturb.

Oh you didn't, please come in.

May I be of service to you?

Service?

I'm father Kane,

the hospital chaplain.

Oh, okay.

Well, I'm not really

sure what I'm doing here.

I haven't been to church

since I was a kid.

Do you have someone, a

relative in the hospital?

Yeah, my son.

How is he?

Not good.

I mean, he's fine,

just worried about him.

What's your son's name?

Tate.

How old is Tate?

He's 12.

Ah.

Tell me more about him.

Okay.

He's a great kid.

Smart, talented, you know.

He used to be so happy.

Used to be?

Yeah, uh, my wife, his mother,

was in an accident

about a year ago.

I'm sorry.

How's he coping?

He blames me.

Why is that?

Because it should

have been me instead.

You sound as though

you agree with him.

Well I wish it was me.

I would've traded places

with her in a second.

Guilt is a hard

thing to live with.

Irrational or not.

Are you sure he blames you?

Or is the blame

more self-imposed?

Uh, I gotta go.

Would you like for me

to go up and see him?

Why?

Dear Jesus, our lord and savior,

divine physician, and

healer of the sick,

we turn to you in

this time of illness.

Oh dearest comforter

of the trouble,

alleviate our worry and

sorrow with your gentle love.

And Grant us the

grace and strength

to accept this burden.

We place our sick

under your care

and humbly ask that you

restore your servant

back to health again.

In Jesus Christ's name we pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Tate?

Tate?

Where's my son?

Is he a patient?

Yes, he's been moved.

Name?

Tate Diaz.

I don't see him registered.

Could it be under another name?

What are you talking about?

He was in room 319.

No, nobody's been in

room 319 since Sunday.

You gotta be f***ing kidding me.

Sir, please lower your tone

or I'll have to call security.

What kind of a hospital is this?

Where the f*** is my son?

Jesus Christ!

I need security on

floor three please.

Tate!

Tate!

Sh*t.

Come on.

Sh*t!

What?

Tate?

Dad.

Tate, where are you?

Dad.

Tate, where are

you, I don't see you.

Dad.

What is this?

Dad!

Dad!

Tate!

Dad.

Dad, what happened?

Tate.

Oh my god, hey.

What happened?

What, don't you remember?

I was in an ambulance.

Yeah.

Yeah, you lost a lot of blood.

Where's your bandage?

Oh, it was annoying.

What?

So I took it off.

Tate, what are you doing?

You can't do that!

Why, it doesn't hurt.

Stop, stop, be careful.

Can we go home now?

What?

Can we go home now?

Tate, it's five in the

morning, you need to rest.

But I'm not tired.

Just lay down, please?

I don't see why

he can't go home.

Just keep an eye on him,

I'll need to see him in 10 days.

Wow, okay.

Thank you doctor.

Stay put, I'll get someone

up here to get you discharged.

Dad, aren't I gonna

be late for school?

What?

You're not going to school.

I have a huge math

test today, I have to!

Tate, it's about to start.

You're never gonna

make it in time anyway.

Dad, math doesn't

start until third block.

It's okay if I'm late.

You sure?

I'm ready.

Hey, not until you

have some breakfast.

No, I'm not hungry,

can we just go?

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