Chapter 7: Revelations

Kanan sat in the waiting room for what seemed like forever, but the clock said only an hour and a half had passed. Hera had returned with three bags forty-five minutes into the waiting: one was Ezra's back pack, one was a plastic bag of clothes for him, and the third was, as promised, fast food.

Hera sat next to him with a sad smile and handed him a cup of soda, a burger and fries, but Kanan couldn't bring himself to eat anything, he was so consumed with worry for Ezra.

"Love, he'll be fine. He's a strong boy." Hera comforted.

"I don't know what I will do if I lose him." Kanan said. He took a sip of his drink. "I love him Hera. I love him like a son, even though it's only been a week."

Finally a doctor approached him, "Mr. Jarrus?"

"Yes," Kanan responded.

"You're foster son is going to be just fine." the doctor said.

"Oh thank God." Kanan muttered.

"We want to keep him over-night for observation, but you can bring him home tomorrow afternoon." the doctor explained.

"Can I see him?" Kanan asked.

"He's asleep from the medicine, but go ahead." the doctor permitted. "We put him in room 212 to recover."

Kanan headed that way, followed closely by Hera.

Kanan couldn't believe how peaceful Ezra looked, lying asleep on the bed. He had blankets pulled up to his armpits with an IV delivering medicine stuck into his right arm. The swelling on his neck had gone almost all the way down, but he had a red rash around his slightly puffy lips and his neck.

Kanan walked over next to the bed and ran his fingers through the sleeping teen's hair.

Hera set the bag of clothes and back pack next to the bed. Kanan looked down and opened the bag and smiled when he saw that Ezra had put his stuffed cat in there that very morning, that seemed so long ago. He gently placed the cat under Ezra's left arm.

"I don't want to leave him." Kanan whispered, sitting in the chair next to the bed. "But I suppose it's too short notice to tell Ahsoka that I can't come in tomorrow."

"I'm sure he'll wake up soon and you can explain it, before you have to go home and get some sleep." Hera soothed. She pulled up another chair and sat next to her boyfriend. "I'm so sorry this happened."

"Don't blame yourself, you didn't know. I should have told you." Kanan said.

The young couple both let out a sigh.

About an hour passed and Kanan had fallen asleep in his chair, Hera didn't blame him, he was under a lot of emotional stress. She had just checked the time on her phone, and returned her gaze to the young teen, when she saw that his eyes were half open.

"Hera?" Ezra asked.

"Ezra," Hera said, she stood up and went up next to the bed-side. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," Ezra replied. "But I've also been worse."

"I'm sorry." Hera apologized.

"It's alright, you didn't know." Ezra unknowingly mimicked Kanan. "Where's Kanan?"

"He fell asleep, I was about to wake him up." Hera said.

"Before you do, I wanted to ask you something about him." Ezra said.

"What is it?" Hera asked.

"What does it mean when," Ezra stared, his eyes locking onto Kanan's sleeping form, "you trust him, you have faith in him. You need him, you care about him. You can't lose him and you want to protect him?" (note: I got that a few months back. I think I got it off Tumblr but I don't remember it was so long ago)

Hera smiled and answered, "You love him."

Ezra smiled back, "Yeah, I guess I do."

"Should I wake him up now?" Hera asked.

"Yeah," Ezra answered.

Hera smirked slightly as she gently shook Kanan's shoulder, "Kanan wake up dear." His eyes shot open.

"Well, look who's awake." Ezra said.

"I was just resting my eyes." Kanan protested, before he realized who said the accusing words. His gaze quickly shifted to meet Ezra's. "Ezra!"

"Geez Kanan, it almost seemed like you were worried." Ezra teased.

"Only a little," Kanan teased back. "Doing alright?"

"I've been better, and worse." Ezra responded. "I'm really tired though."

"That's just the medicine to help the swelling." Kanan informed. "They want to keep you here overnight. I'll pick you up near the end of my patrol tomorrow. You think you'll be okay?"

"Yeah," Ezra smiled. He moved his left arm to rub his eyes some and when he replaced it he noticed Tobi. "You brought Tobi."

"Hera did actually. She went back and got it. And some clothes for you to change into if you can tomorrow." Kanan explained.

"Thank you." Ezra said, his eyelids starting to feel heavy. "You, you were going to tell me something before supper."

"Oh yeah." Kanan remember. "Have I ever told you, that I love you."

Ezra paused, and had a bit of a shocked look on his face. "No, I don't think so."

"Well," Kanan gave a small laugh. "I'll tell you now. I love you, bud."

Ezra smiled. "I love you too." He gave a big yawn.

"Go back to sleep bud." Kanan said, running his hand through Ezra's hair. "I'll be back tomorrow to bring you back."

"You promise?" Ezra asked.

"Of course." Kanan promised. As Ezra drifted off to sleep again, he made one more promise, "I'll always come back."

Kanan and Hera quietly left the room and headed back out of the hospital.

"I'll give you a lift back to your place." Hera said.

"Thanks." Kanan said.

The two of them got into Hera's car and headed back to the apartment.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Hera bid farewell.

"Yeah," Kanan said. "I just hope Ezra will be alright in the hospital by himself."

"I'm sure he'll be fine. He's a strong kid." Hera replied.

"I guess you're right. Good night Hera." Kanan said.

"Good night love." Hera said and drove off.

Kanan sighed and entered the apartment building and headed straight for bed. All the while thinking about the boy he loved like a son.

There i updated so you wouldn't be left off sort of cliffy.

BTW i couldn't believe that so many of you questioned what Kanan was going to say, i thought it was kind of obvious. Well then again im the one writing it so...

anways, i don't know which story I'll updated next.