"She's stable."
Those two words never sounded so sweet as when the doctor walked in an announced them. Aster finally collapsed in the nearest seat, his head going to his hands while Tobias strode forward to talk about the details with the doctor. Tooth cried with joy into Nick's jacket and Sandy did a little happy dance.
"I'm sorry, I can only let immediate family see her right now," said the doctor. "And, of course, her legal guardian, which is you, correct Mr. Moon?"
"Yes," said Tobias.
"Well, would you like to see her?"
"Yes. And Aster, would you and Sandy like to see her as well?"
"Only family, I'm sorry," said the doctor.
"Aster is her older brother," assured Tobias. "Sandy is her cousin."
The doctor did not look convinced but sighed, rubbed his head in exhaustion, and let it slide. In all honesty he did not care, he'd just worked a 12 hour shift and all he wanted was a nap. Tobias could have said the boys were her pet monkeys and he would have let them visit. If he was being honest, the doctor hated the family rule specifically for cases like Jack's where her biological family was not available and the people she lived with could not see her.
"Down the hall, second left, third door on the right," said the doctor before walking away.
"Thank you, Tobias," said Aster.
"Come on Nick, Tooth," called Tobias.
"But they said only family," said Tooth, following regardless.
"Yes, and if they ask we will explain, but I doubt they will ask. I only told that doctor so he would go away. Now come on, I'm not leaving you two in the waiting room."
Aster had already disappeared ahead of them in his rush to see Jack. By the time the others arrived at the room, Aster had already claimed a spot on the bed. Tobias raised an eyebrow at him.
"She was having a nightmare," explained Aster. "She doesn't like hospitals and she's had one helluva time so it's no wonder. She's better with physical contact, see."
To demonstrate, Aster scooted away. Instantly, Jack made a small noise and began to visibly tremble. Aster moved back, smoothing her hair back, kissing the top of her head, and whispering to her and she quieted. He smirked at the others proudly.
"I think I'm going to get something from the cafeteria," announced Tobias with a knowing grin. "Anyone care to join?"
"I will!" said Tooth. "I hate hospital rooms, they smell strange and sound weird."
Nick and Sandy shrugged and followed.
"Coming, Aster?" asked Nick, pausing at the door for his friend.
"No, I think I'll stay with Jacky. Grab me a cup of coffee and sandwich or something."
"Roger that."
As the others went on a modern day hunt for food, Aster settled down, his head resting against the flat sterile pillow and closed his eyes.
"You have got to stop ending up at the hospital, Jacky," said Aster quietly. "Since I met you I'm not sure I have ever been so stressed out before in my life. Being friends with you is like reading a book. It's new and exciting, you're always left questioning and wanting to know more, and then, when it's the middle of the night and you really have to go to sleep and you swear you will at the end of one chapter, you are hit with a cliffhanger and you just want to scream. That's what it's like with you every day. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but really? Can't you just try to stay out of trouble for a month?"
"What fun would that be?" yawned Jack, blinking blearily up at him.
"Welcome back to the world of the living," said Aster. "How are you feeling?"
"Really numb and relaxed."
"Yes well, pain medicine will do that to you."
"You know, if this were a movie you would be professing your undying love for me," giggled Jack.
"I do love you, Jacky," said Aster. "You're like a sister to me."
"Friend zoned!"
"I wasn't done, you snarky little prankster. What I was going to say was that the last thing you need right now is a boy wooing you."
"Wooing?" laughed Jack. "What, is this the Victorian Era or something?"
"You know what I mean, Jacky. But I do want you to know that I am here for you in whatever way you need me to be."
"So if I needed a boyfriend, you'd be that?"
"Yes, because I do like you."
"But you don't love me romantically?"
"We haven't dated, how could I? You're my best friend and you mean the world to me and I can see myself with you but I don't want to pressure you into something you're not ready for."
"Why me?"
She looked so curious, as if she really couldn't comprehend why someone would be interested in her in any way let alone to be with.
"Because you're infuriating," said Aster shrugging. "You get under my skin, you drive me absolutely crazy, but you're the most real person I have ever met. You make the best of everything, you don't need protecting but I feel like I need to protect you. You're everything I never knew I needed in my life. I guess you just balance me out and I like that. I need that."
"Oh."
"So, how about it?" asked Aster, suddenly incredibly nervous. "If you don't want to, I'll understand completely and we can go back to being just friends. I won't mention it until you're ready or never again if that's what you want. But if you're willing and if it would make you happy, may I be your boyfriend?"
Jack blinked up at him with her baby doe eyes, shocked.
*Oh my, the moment you have all been waiting for (even though this is not under romance) and I ruined it. Why, you ask? Well, the answer is simple. Because my baby sister is about to go to prom and I need to take pictures. That's why.
LiliFayre-Thank you so very much! I really appreciate that fact that you reviewed. You just made my day. I write only to make other people happy, so I am glad that I am doing that for you.
Guest- We shall see...
MintLeafeon-Oh Frost...he is still a mystery.
Meota Tsukiko- I am good at creating questions. :)
Galimatias-He made it to her room!
aed713-I am a cruel person. It's why I write.
VectorPrime155-Indeed, it shall.
jesusfreak200-You're welcome!
sakuradancer3-No dramatic cliff this time either!
Darlene10104-I went to the doctor but they were not terribly helpful. Oh well, it happens. I think this chapter made you happy.
Well folks, I'm off to take pictures! Until the next time. Always-Ari