Okay, so I've decided to do one more chapter after this…an epilogue of sorts…I just think that this chapter doesn't have the closure that I'd be looking for in a story. So yeah, make sure you keep your eyes open for it!
Selfless
3
Sue smiled a little and whispered a soft thank-you as the officer left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Turning to Reed, Sue said, "I'm sorry for snapping at you, it's just…Johnny is practically the only family I have left, and I don't know what I'll do if I lose him."
Ben spoke up gruffly before Reed could answer, "That isn't true, Suzie. We're all a family, by blood or not. The kid may drive me insane, but he's like a son to me."
Sue laughed a little and said, "I wonder what Johnny would think of that?"
Ben grumbled something that sounded like, "Don't you tell him…I'd never hear the end of it…" before the three fell into silence again.
It wasn't long before another hour had passed. It was now nearly three in the morning, and Sue felt herself drifting off to sleep on her fiancés shoulder. She tried in vain to stay awake, but the emotional events of the day were finally taking a toll on her exhausted body.
All three of them were drifting off to sleep when the door opened yet again.
Sue snapped awake and found herself looking at another doctor, Johnny's surgeon, no doubt.
Before they could bombard the doctor with questions, the woman held up her hand and announced, "He made it through the surgery, and I am very confident that he is going to be okay."
Sue let out a cry of joy and flung her arms around Reed. "Thank god!" She mumbled into his shoulder. I knew he wouldn't give up one me!
"Can we see him?" Ben asked, "Doctor…?"
"My name is Dr. Corissa Aster, Dr. Shinx is with a patient at the moment, so I told him I would come and talk to you." She answered.
"Right…Dr. Aster, can we see him?" Ben repeated.
"Yes, we've just got him settled into a room. The surgery went very well; the only reason why it took so long was because it was a very delicate procedure. Mr. Storm is currently sleeping, and he probably won't wake up for a few hours," Dr. Aster spoke as she led the three into the hallway.
"Don't be alarmed by his appearance. We've inserted a breathing tube down his throat to help him out, his lungs are very weak and I don't want to put anymore stress on them than necessary. When he wakes up I'll have it taken out."
The four soon found themselves standing outside a door, a white dry/erase board by it read Johnny's name.
"How long will he be here for?" Reed asked.
"If there are no complications, he'll be out within the next few days. He's going to be sore for a while though." She replied.
Reed nodded and turned to Sue, "When he's back at the Baxter Building I'll need to conduct a few tests…to see if his powers will be affected by this, I doubt they will be, but I just want to be sure…"
Sue nodded absently, not thinking at all about her brothers abilities. She just wanted to see him and be sure that he was going to live.
"I'll give you some privacy then, just ring the nurse station if you need anything. I'm sure Dr. Shinx will be back at some point to check over him." Dr. Aster said, opening the door for the trio.
The three muttered their thanks and filed into the room.
Sue, who had gone in first, froze at the sight of her brother.
Johnny was paler than she had ever seen him before, and she couldn't help but wince at the sight of the breathing tube taped to his mouth. Various monitors were beeping around him limp form, and two IV's had been inserted into his hands.
"Oh, Johnny…" She whispered as she rushed to his side. Brushing his hand with her own, she shivered at the coldness of his skin. "Reed, he feels cold…" Sue said worriedly.
Reed looked over the monitors before turning to the bed, "His temperature is rising, it's not normal for him yet, but I don't think it'll be long before its back up." Looking over at Ben, he said, "Ben? You alright?"
Ben, who had been staring at Johnny's prone form, jumped when he realized Reed was speaking to him. "Huh? Oh, uhm, yeah I'm fine." He answered quickly, "Was just surprised to see him so…so…"
"Helpless?" Reed supplied, to which Ben nodded.
Sue ran a hand through her brother's short hair, "You're okay Johnny...I knew you wouldn't give up…" Bending down, she gave him a small kiss on the forehead.
"So, he really is going to be okay then?" Ben asked doubtfully. Kid looks like he's half in the grave, not recovering…
"You heard what the doctor said." Reed answered simply as he took a seat beside Susan. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and spoke to Johnny's unconscious form, "I know you can't hear me right now, but I just wanted to say thank-you…you saved Sue's life…"
Sue smiled slightly when Reed tightened his grip around her shoulders. I'm so lucky to have Johnny as my brother, and Reed as my soon to be husband…and Ben, too. I don't know what I'd so without them.
Ben, who had been watching Sue and Reed embrace, suddenly remembered Alicia. Smacking his forehead with his massive, rocky hand, he let out a low curse.
"What's wrong Ben?" Sue immediately asked.
"Alicia!" He groaned, "I wonder if she's still up? This'll have been all over the radio and TV…damnit she might be outside the hospital trying to get in here!" Ben quickly excused himself and lumbered down the hallway, cursing the entire way. She's going to kill me!
Sue and Reed glanced at each other, smiling a little as they heard Ben stomp down the hall, his heavy steps rattling the walls as he went.
Turning back to her brother, Sue's smile disappeared. This is my entire fault… it should be me lying there. "You better wake up soon, little brother." I need to see those blue eyes of yours and hear you say that you're okay.
"Sue…I'm going to get some coffee and try to find Ben…" Reed suddenly stood. She needs some time alone with him.
Sue knew exactly what her fiancé was doing, and she nodded gratefully. "I'll be here when you get back." She said softly as he walked out of the room. She waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps before scooting closer to her brother.
Leaning over the bed, Sue laid her head beside Johnny's, a silent tear slipping down her cheek. She couldn't remember a time where she had seen him so fragile, not even when their mother had died. "I know you said not to blame myself for this…Reed said the same thing…but I just can't help it…I'm so sorry Johnny…" She whispered, closing her eyes as she attempted to keep her emotions at bay.
Without realizing it, Sue found herself drifting off into another fitful doze. When Reed re-entered the room half an hour later, with both Ben and Alicia in tow, they found her slumped over the bed, sleeping by her brothers limp form.
Five Hours Later
Johnny didn't really know where he was, the last thing he remembered was getting shot and saying his goodbyes to his family. When he had woken, he had been here. Is this some sort of dream? He questioned out loud, "Am I dead?" as he walked through the thick fog.
Impatience took over as he walked aimlessly through the grey fog. His side was hurting slightly, which wasn't exactly helping his mood improve. I'm walking around in circles! Johnny was about ready to scream in frustration when he heard it.
Voices, and not just any voices. Ben, Sue, Reed! I can hear them! Hope soared through Johnny as he started to walk towards the mumbled sounds of his family. Maybe I'm not dead after all…He mused as he broke out into a run, desperate to find his sister and friends.
Unfortunately, the closer he got to the voices, the more the pain in his side and chest intensified. I must be getting close…he thought as he clenched his teeth, plowing forward determinedly.
He panicked when he no longer heard the voices echoing towards him, but his fluttering heart calmed when he heard the sound of light breathing. They stopped talking…did they fall asleep? Johnny wondered as he continued to run.
Quite suddenly, Johnny found himself on his knees when his throbbing side exploded in unbearable pain. Black dots blotted his vision, and the fog swirled around him at a sickeningly fast pace. The ground he had been standing on suddenly disappeared, and he let out a surprised yell as he fell downwards.
The fog darkened around Johnny, and he felt himself lose consciousness yet again, completely oblivious to the fact that his sisters breathing had become distinctly louder…
Meanwhile…
Sue awoke with a start. Jerking upwards, she looked around to see what had woken her. Both Ben and Alicia were sleeping across the room, and Reed was dozing restlessly at the foot of Johnny's bed.
Glancing at the clock, Sue was surprised to see that it was nearly 8:30 in the morning. Sighing, she turned back to the bed, and nearly screamed out in surprise.
Johnny was shifting slightly beneath his blankets, his eye's twitching as he attempted to wake up. That's what woke me! Sue thought before calling out her brother's name, "Johnny! Johnny can you hear me? Open your eyes!"
"Whas goin' on? Susan?" Reed slurred as he was startled out of his sleep. Both Ben and Alicia had also woken, and were stretching out their stiff limbs.
"He's waking up!" Sue answered excitedly as she hovered over her brother's bed.
This of course, got the threes attention and they were out of their seats in a flash. Reed stood behind Susan, while Ben and Alicia went to the other side of the bed. All four of them stared down at Johnny.
Finally, after five agonizing minutes, Johnny let out a muffled groan and opened his tired eyes. Sue immediately hit the nurse call button as she whispered soothing words to her brother, who looked both dazed and panicked as he stared up at them.
The nurse walked in, saw that Johnny was awake, and hurried out again as she searched for the doctor.
What the hell did they put down my throat?! Johnny thought as he tried to rip the tubing out. However, Ben had shot out his rocky hand, and was holding his arms down. "Easy there matchstick, the doctor is coming to take it out right now."
Knowing that getting out of Ben's hold was impossible even at his best, Johnny let himself relax against the mattress.
Dr. Shinx was suddenly in the room, followed by a nurse. Ben shuffled to the side so that the doctor could closer to Johnny, gently steering Alicia out of the way as well.
Johnny looked at the doctor tiredly and gave him a look that said, "If you don't get this thing outta my throat quick like, I'm going to broil you."
Dr. Shinx ignored the evil look he was receiving from his patient, which really wasn't very evil looking at all. Johnny didn't exactly look particularly threatening laying, pale faced, in a hospital bed.
"Mr. Storm, I'm doctor Shinx, I'll be taking the respirator out for you right now. I need you to relax, and on the count of three, I want you to start coughing, alright?"
Johnny nodded to show that he understood, and he felt his sisters hold on his hand tighten.
"Alright…one…two…three!"
Johnny immediately started to cough, gagging as the long tube slid out of his throat. As soon as the thing was out, his head fell back against the pillows and he closed his eyes as he continued to cough.
Sue could feel tears brimming to the surface as she watched her brother suffer, but she help them back, not wanting Johnny to see her upset.
Dr. Shinx set the tubing on a metal tray, and handed it to a nurse, who immediately left the room. Turning back to his patient, he spoke quietly, "You are a very lucky man, Mr. Storm. It's a very good thing that our surgeon, Dr. Aster, is extremely good at what she does."
Johnny opened his eyes and gave the doctor a weak grin, he opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a croak.
"Your throat is a little bruised and scratched from the breathing tube, your voice should be fine in a few minutes," Dr. Shinx explained patiently, "I want you to get a lot of rest, we'll talk about your recovery rate later today, when you can talk without any pain to your throat."
Johnny nodded slowly before focusing his gaze on his sister, only half listening to the doctor, who was saying something about giving them some privacy as he left the room.
Sue immediately wrapped her arms around her baby brother's neck, hugging him gently. "I thought I'd lost you!" She mumbled into his shoulder.
Johnny cleared his throat painfully, determined to speak. "You…c-can't get…rid o-of me…that e-easily." He spoke hoarsely, frowning at how weak his voice sounded.
Sue sniffled as she laughed, before her face grew more serious. "Johnny…if you ever, ever do that to me again…I swear I'll kill you myself!"
"She's not kiddin' kid; you should have seen what she did to the guy that shot you…" Ben added seriously, "Thought for a couple of seconds that she was going to blast him through the wall."
Johnny blinked, apparently confused. "W-what happened…t-to me…exactly?"
"You don't remember? Johnny…you were shot protecting me! You've been unconscious for hours!" Sue cried, "Reed, go and get the doctor!"
Reed made no move to get a doctor; he was looking down at Johnny, a disapproving look on his face. "That isn't funny, Johnny." He scolded, seeing right through the younger mans joke.
"What's not funny?" Sue asked, looking from her fiancé to her brother, who was currently holding in his laughter. "JOHNNY!" She shrieked, realizing that he had been playing a prank on her.
Johnny shrunk away from his furious sister, trying to hide in his blankets and pillows. Pain lanced up his side as he shifted, causing him to wince. He stared at his sister, trying to look as innocent as possible by widening his blue eyes.
"THAT WASN'T FUNNY!" Sue practically yelled, "YOU SCARED ALL OF US HALF TO DEATH!"
Squirming guiltily, Johnny replied, "S-sorry! You g-guys just….l-looked so…morbid…I was…trying t-to l-lighten…the mood!"
"Well that wasn't the best way to do it." Sue continued to lecture, but upon seeing her brother's face, she couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips. It was just impossible to stay mad at him when he was injured.
Ben rolled his eyes and mumbled loudly, "So I guess you're still the same old annoying hotshot that you were before? Damn…and here I thought that you'd mature, having a near death experience and all…"
Johnny sent his rocky friend a small smirk. "You…know y-you…love m-me p-pebbles!"
Grumbling, Ben replied, "Stupid little punk…I'll show you exactly what I think…" He wasn't able to finish this thought however, for Alicia had smacked him in the arm and hissed quietly, "Ben Grimm! Not another word!"
Reed smiled at the playful banter, grateful that nearly dying hadn't changed Johnny's joking ways. "Irregardless of what Ben may be saying now…he was just as worried as the rest of us," He said loudly, "Right, Ben?"
If Ben was able to blush, he would have right then. Glancing down at Johnny, he mumbled something unintelligible and nodded his head.
Johnny smiled in triumph before turning back to his sister. "S-so…you're…o-okay? You…w-weren't hurt?" He asked.
"I'm perfectly fine, thanks to you," Sue reassured him, "The man that shot you…his name is Greg Stepler, he's in police custody. We talked to one of the cops working the case…apparently Stepler suffers from both bi-polar and obsessive compulsive disorder."
"He…g-going to…jail?" Johnny asked quietly.
"We're not sure, Johnny. The police have to do a full investigation before anything is decided…we do know that he won't be able to harm anyone else again." Reed answered.
"T-that's good…" Johnny said softly, "So…how…l-long am I…stuck h-here for?"
"You should be out of here in less than a week, as long as there are no problems." Sue answered.
"Once we get back to the Baxter building…after you've healed up some more, we're going to need to perform some tests, just to make sure that your powers won't be affected by the injury." Reed added.
Johnny's smile disappeared. "My powers?!" He spoke a little too loudly, causing his throat to burn as he began to cough.
"Johnny!" Sue admonished, "Don't overexert your throat!"
Reed gave the younger man a reassuring smile, "Don't worry Johnny; I don't think your abilities have been affected, I just want to play it safe."
His cough attack finished, Johnny whispered, "Okay…w-whatever you say R-Reed…"
Sue noticed that her brother's eyes were drooping, he was definitely exhausted. "You should get some rest." She suggested gently. There are probably sedatives in his IV drip.
"You w-worry too much..." Johnny grumbled, but already his eyes were closed.
"Only because you give me reason to." Sue defended herself.
Sinking deeper into his pillows, Johnny said hoarsely, "You g-guys better…not w-watch me…sleep…I k-know I'm e-easy….on t-the eyes….but t-that'd just be…creepy…"
Slapping his arm slightly, Sue laughed, "You're just too much sometimes! Now quit talking and go to sleep!"
"Yes ma'am…" Johnny gave a mocking salute before sleep claimed him.
A little while later Reed let out a relieved breath, "I can't believe he almost died."
Sue shuddered, still holding her sleeping brothers hand. "I couldn't even imagine living without him." What would I do without my cocky, overprotective, hotshot little brother?
"Let's just thank our lucky stars that he made it through this." Alicia spoke up, her unseeing eyes looking down at Johnny, while she didn't know the Human Torch as well as the others did, she couldn't help but love his quirky personality.
Ben nodded in agreement. "Everything is going to go back to normal…and soon enough I'll want to kill Johnny myself." He grumbled, looking at Johnny fondly.
Sue and Reed laughed before the four of them fell into a relaxing silence. The only noises that filled the room were the steady beating of the heart monitor, and Johnny's soft breathing.
I don't like how I ended this chapter, but I was sick of picking over it ha-ha. Don't forget that there will be an epilogue. Hope you liked it!
Ashley
