A/N. Hello, faithful readers! You're all amazing did you know that? I'm sorry for not getting this chapter up earlier but I've been extremely busy lately. It's only going to get worse. Lol. Anyway, I won't leave you hanging any longer. Thanks for your patience! I don't own anything.
"Well, his fever has broken. That's a very good sign." The doctor studied James' charts carefully and looked up to see the boy's parents watching him anxiously. "I wouldn't say that we're out of the woods just yet." He cautioned. "But things are finally looking up."
"Thank you." Mrs. Diamond breathed gratefully. She rested her head and her husband's shoulder and held tightly to James' hand with her own. It had been three very long days since James had first slipped into a coma and he had showed little change at all. They had all been worried sick about him, so hearing words that were remotely optimistic was like a breath of fresh air. She felt her husband's shoulders slump in relief and knew that they were thinking the same thing. James was going to be okay.
"Has he responded at all?" Doctor Rodgers tucked his clipboard under his arm and looked from his patient to the parents questioningly.
Michelle nodded eagerly, a smile gracing her pale features. "He's squeezed my hand several times and once he even nodded."
"Good!" The doctor smiled broadly. "That means he's more or less aware of what's going on at times. He can hear you too obviously. That's a very good sign."
Cheered by the doctor's optimism, Michelle turned to her son and spoke softly to him. "James? Sweetie, can you hear me?" She was silent and then she looked back at Doctor Rodgers. "He squeezed my hand again."
Doctor Rodgers leaned in closely. "James, it's Doctor Rodgers. Can you open your eyes for me?"
Both of James' parents held their breath. The doctor's request was one they had been longing to ask themselves but had been too afraid of denial. Robert felt his wife grab his hand and hold on tightly.
Almost instantly after Doctor Rodgers had spoken to him, James' brow furrowed in concentration and his eyelids fluttered open before shutting again. But he tried again, this time with more success. His brown eyes looked dazed and confused as they moved around the room before they finally came to rest on his parents.
"Thank you." Rob Diamond let out the breath he had been holding and tightened his grip on Michelle who had started to cry.
James' throat felt like there was a wedge of sandpaper shoved down it. His lips were dry and cracked too and it felt like such a relief when he ran his tongue over them before he swallowed painfully and tried to speak. "What-"
"Shhh." Michelle stroked his arm soothingly. "Don't try to talk right now, James. Take it easy." She blinked back more tears and smiled. "You had us all so worried." She knew that her stubborn son would keep trying to ask them what had happened so she saved him the effort of speaking and told him straight up. "You were in a coma, baby. For three days."
James' initial reaction was to protest being called a baby. He was almost nineteen years old after all. But then his mother's tears and words sunk in and he blinked in surprise. Three days?
His thoughts must have registered plainly on his face because then his father spoke up. "Yeah, three days. Your injury got an infection and you contracted a very high fever."
James frowned. The words sounded dimly familiar in an awful sort of way but he couldn't make sense of them. His mind was still fuzzy and he could barely concentrate on what everyone was saying. He simply nodded his head to his father's words and put all of his focus on Doctor Rodgers who apparently thought it was necessary to shine a bright pen light into his sore eyes.
"Sorry, James." The doctor apologized when James winced slightly. He smiled and dropped the small light into his pocket. "Well," He said turning back to Mr. and Mrs. Diamond. "Things are definitely looking up. I don't think he'll be awake for too much longer but as long as we keep a close eye on him he should be fine. I'm going to inform my staff on his changes. Someone will be by to check in on him in a little while."
"Thank you." Michelle whispered. Her eyes never strayed from her son though as she tossed the words of gratitude over her shoulder to the departing doctor. When she heard the door close, she spoke again to James. "How are you feeling, dear? Do you need anything?"
There was something he wanted to ask but James couldn't arrange his thoughts into words right away. Then he remembered and he turned to look at the other side of the room. His eyes widened in alarm. Logan's bed was empty.
"James!" Rob placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder and pressed him back down to the bed. "Don't sit up just yet. You need to take it easy." He followed James' panicked gaze and his voice softened. "Logan is fine, James."
"Where is he?" Finally, James had found his voice even though it sounded too scared and too weak to be him.
Mr. Diamond hesitated very slightly but despite James' hazy mind, he caught it right away and spoke again before his father could say anything.
"What's wrong? Where is he?" What if Logan had gotten an infection too? What if there was something they weren't telling him? Something terrible?
Michelle sighed. Once again, there seemed to be no point in trying to hide anything from James. She squeezed his hand, claiming his attention. "James, Logan had a skin graft surgery scheduled today. He's there now."
James relaxed slightly at her words but a wave of guilt washed over him as well. He should have been awake for Logan. Maybe he couldn't have gone with him but at least he could have given him some support. He thought of what Logan had told him about the surgery and shivered.
"Are you okay, James?" His mother looked worried again. But she soon read the expression on his face and relaxed a little bit. "He'll be fine, James. Especially when they come back and see that you're awake. They've been worried too."
James could only imagine how worried his friends were. He knew what it was like to be in the position they had been in the past few days. Kendall and Carlos had to deal with it all over again and for Logan it was an entirely new experience. For some reason, James felt mostly worried for Logan. His friend's emotional state had been edgy and fragile to begin with. He was proud of Kendall and Carlos for holding it together so well but Logan had already been blaming himself for everything that had happened. The recent events couldn't have helped at all. He wanted to see them all and let them know that he was okay.
"When will they be back?" Please let it be soon.
His mother shrugged and his father shook his head. "We don't know." Mr. Diamond said gently. "They left almost an hour ago so it shouldn't be too long now."
"Do you think something's wrong?" James couldn't help but ask.
"James, no." Mrs. Diamond reached out and ran her hand through his hair in a calming motion. "I'm sure everything is going smoothly. Kendall and Carlos went with him and when they all come back you can see each other. But for now, why don't you try and get some rest?"
James really did not want to rest. He wanted his friends. He wanted them all to be together again and not just split up. But he was tired and the sooner he went to sleep, the quicker time would pass so that he could see them again. So he nodded reluctantly and closed his eyes, drifting quickly off into sleep.
When James woke up again he heard three familiar voices that eased the fears that had resurfaced before he had dozed off. He couldn't make out what Kendall, Carlos, and Logan were saying but it was enough to hear them all together again. He sighed in relief and the voices instantly cut off.
"James!" Carlos' face appeared in his line of vision, a wide grin splitting his entire face. But then he looked torn between laughing and crying when tears sprung to his eyes and he eased himself down in the chair by James' bed. "We miss you, buddy." He whispered softly. "You sure had us worried."
Kendall had joined them, wearing a shaky smile. "I second what Carlos said." He tried to joke but his voice shook and ruined the effect. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Man, James, you don't know what a relief it was when we found out that you woke up."
James shook his head slightly in disagreement. "I do actually." He said quietly. It was all he needed to say and he regretted even saying that because Kendall's and Carlos' expressions became even more pained. He tried to smile to chase away their fears. "I'm okay now though, guys."
Carlos sniffed and nodded slowly. "We know." And then he wrapped James in a tight hug. Kendall joined in and only then did James remember that something, or rather someone, was missing.
Gently, he pulled away to look at his friends. "How's Logan?" This time is was his voice that was shaking. "Did everything go okay?"
Kendall and Carlos exchanged a look that made James' heart beat a little faster and then Kendall spoke up. "The surgery went well. . ." He began. His eyes had dropped to the bed sheets and he picked at them nervously. Only then did James realize that both he and Carlos were white faced and had red eyes like they had been crying. "Just so you know," He started again but James interrupted him.
"Logan?" His voice cracked with fear and he sat up to see to the other side of the room. To his relief he saw Logan back in bed where he belonged, at least until they were discharged, staring up at the ceiling. But the relief was short lived and came crashing down when Logan heard him and turned to see him.
"James!" Logan proclaimed in a voice that sounded only slightly like him. "Good to see you, man." He continued talking to the wall past James. His normally bright eyes dazed and unfocused. "Dude, you've been asleep forever. Like, three days. That's not cool. Pretty lazy if you ask me."
James' smile froze and faded all together. He tore his gaze away from Logan and nailed Kendall and Carlos with a wide eyed stare. "What is wrong with him?" He hissed in a whisper.
"Hey!" Logan called across the room. "No secrets over there." He raised his hands and James could see that though they were still both bandaged, his left hand was bandaged slightly differently, with more stuff wrapped around it. Logan laughed and waved his hands at his friends. "Look! I'm like Mickey Mouse 'cause of the way my hands are wrapped." He glanced over at them in confusion. "Hey, why do Mickey and all his friends wear those white gloves anyway? What's the deal with them?"
"Kendall? Carlos?" James' voice rose in agitation. Was it possible that Logan had been brain damaged somehow? Before he knew it, tears had filled his eyes and he looked back at his friends, begging for an answer.
"James-" Kendall started. Then he stopped and leaped across the room, grabbing Logan's arms and forcing them down to the sheets. "Logan, we told you that you can't let your hands touch anything." He said firmly. "You'll hurt yourself even more."
"Kendall, Kendall, Kendall." Logan scolded, his words slurring together. "Such a worry wart. Johnny Raincloud. Debby Downer. Stick in the mud. No fun. Party pooper." He nodded his head at James. "You should be yelling at Sleeping Beauty over there for sleeping for such a long time. Did you have nice dreams?"
The question had been meant for James but he was too much in shock to answer properly. Finally, Carlos leaned over and whispered to him.
"He's okay, James. He's just on a lot of pain meds right now."
"You mean he's high?" James asked in disbelief. He stared at Logan with wide eyes.
Logan had overheard his comment and nodded wisely like he knew exactly what they were talking about. "High as a kite, man." He said before launching into song. "Let's go fly a kite, up to the highest height! Let's go fly a kite, and send it soaring!"
Kendall looked like Logan's singing had finally unnerved him. He took a step backwards and let his hands fall to his sides as he watched Logan helplessly. Carlos gave a still shocked James a pat on the shoulder before he walked over to Logan and joined him in singing.
James could only stare. Logan. Logan Mitchell. The same kid who used to pass up Tylenol when they were in third grade because he was afraid of becoming addicted, was high. Not just a little high either. He was completely and totally out of it. It might have been hysterical is the situation weren't so horrible.
"Don't cry, James!" Logan had stopped in mid-verse and was watching James sorrowfully. "No use crying over spilled milk. Besides, you've had plenty of rest so you really should be in a better mood."
James didn't even realize that he had started crying again until he heard Logan talk to him in the sing-song voice of someone who was as high as he was. He brushed the tears away hurriedly, angry at himself for his show of weakness. But it was so hard to see Logan so vulnerable and childlike. He heard Kendall say something to Carlos and then he felt Kendall hug him.
"It's okay, James. He's fine." Kendall bit his lip, grateful that James had been spared the ordeal he and Carlos had gone through with Logan. Seeing Logan high was hard for sure, but it was a piece of cake compared to the horror they had witnessed just a short time ago. James didn't need to hear that though.
"How can you say that?" James demanded through his tears. "Look at him! Listen to him!"
Kendall glanced back at Logan and Carlos and sighed.
Logan was trying to put his wrapped fingers in his mouth while Carlos continually gripped him by the lower arm and pulled them away.
"Logan, don't do that, buddy." Carlos said wearily. In all honesty, he had been trying to humor Logan in his drug induced state. Some of it had been fun, like singing with him. Singing was always fun. But most of the time he had a horrible feeling that Logan brain damaged and forever helpless because he was constantly trying to do things like stick his fingers in his mouth or clap his hands together. He shook his head and echoed Kendall's sigh.
"How can you say he's fine?" James asked Kendall again. "He's a mess."
"Okay then, he will be fine." Kendall said, the slightest note of irritation in his voice. The stress of the past week had been taking it's toll on him and he felt edgy and ready to snap. He took a deep breath and calmed himself for James' sake. "Listen," He finally said. "The procedure is really painful. Even with the anesthesia, Logan was. . . uncomfortable. Once we got back they gave him a pretty high dose of morphine. But it'll wear off and we'll have our Logan back."
Logan suddenly moaned and out of habit, both boys turned to look at him. Carlos simply shook his head and shrugged. "Everything's spinning around me." Logan muttered. "It's like we're on a carousel. Only a fast one. They should make fast carousels. I'm sure they would be a hit. And the music would get all fast and crazy. Do you think people would get sick on that? I think I'm getting sick."
Carlos quickly whipped out a plastic bucket and held it up to Logan who promptly vomited into it. The younger boy cringed slightly but it was more to do with the fact that Logan throwing up reminded him of last year, than anything else.
"Is that normal?" James hated being trapped in his bed where he could barely see Logan properly. He wanted to help.
Kendall nodded. "Yeah, apparently the combination of the anesthesia wearing off and the morphine is supposed to cause nauseous feelings." He was unspeakably grateful that Logan would have no memory of what he said or did while he was medicated. He already had enough issues with himself without adding to any unnecessary humiliation.
James groaned and let his head fall back into the pillows. Tears burned the backs of his eyes. "Why does all of this stuff happen to him? To us?"
"Maybe because we can handle it." Kendall suggested quietly. He glanced at Carlos who had already exchanged the plastic bucket for a clean one and had given Logan a cup of ice chips to suck on. He smiled. "See, Carlos? Look at how good he's doing right now." He could help but be proud of Carlos, who was supposed to be the baby of their group, stay so calm under pressure.
"I know. . . it's just." James sighed. "When are we going to get a break? I'm so tired of all of this crap. It's not fair."
"Life isn't fair." Logan called from his bed. He looked at Carlos for approval. "Right, dude?"
Carlos grinned in spite of himself. "Right, Logan."
Logan grinned triumphantly at James and Kendall. "See? Carlitos knows what he's talking about. So just, everyone take a chill pill and relax."
"Great. Let's all take chill pills like Logan's and get high." James said bitterly. He ignored the warning look he got from both Kendall and Carlos. "We can start the sixties all over again and write more songs about some chick named Lucy in the sky with diamonds."
"Did you know?" Logan raised a gloved hand in the air. He yawned before continuing. "That the Beatles-"
"Yes." James, Kendall and Carlos said simultaneously. "LSD."
"So." Logan continued like he hadn't been interrupted in the first place. "As awesome as the Beatles were, we shouldn't take too many lessons from them." He shook his head. "Those were bad times, man. Bad times."
James stopped arguing mainly because he felt terrible for fighting with Logan when he was so out of it. But he also stopped because all he could think of was how they were living in some bad times themselves and all he wanted was a sense of normalcy. He had no idea if that would ever come to grace their lives again.
"Hakuna matata." Logan said out of the blue. "Stop worrying so much, James. I bet that's why they call people who worry a lot, worry warts. Because warts are contagious and so is worrying. But man, James, you gotta relax a little bit. Put your past behind you. We'll get by with a little help from our friends."
Logan would say something that made sense while he was high. Because everything they had faced was now in their past. And while they couldn't forget about all they had been through, they also needed to move on. Whatever was ahead of them, it was all they had. And they would face the future like they had faced everything in the past. Together.
A/N. So yeah. I made Logan high. I'm not going to lie, it was fun. But now I'm sad because James is out of a coma and Logan really has no idea what's going on. There's always the next chapter! Please review!
