Title: Sooner or Later
Category: Television Shows » Girl Meets World
Author: And The Moment's Gone
Language: English, Rating: Rated: T
Words: 8,113
Warnings/Spoilers: The kids are freshmen in college, Josh is a senior, Cory still lives in denial.
Official Disclaimer: All Girl Meets World characters and plots belong to Disney Channel, Marc Jacobs, and April Kelly, I do not hold stock either the company or the people. Maya Hart, Joshua Matthews and any other character featured are NOT mine. The title comes from the Mat Kearney song Sooner or Later and I don't own that either.
Three days into a week-long run of her most recent show in Atlanta, Katy Hart is injured in a set accident.
One of the safeguards failed when a cable holding up one of the larger pieces of scenery snapped without warning during rehearsal and Katy and one of her fellow actors were hit when it dropped and a partition collapsed.
She had yet to regain consciousness when the hospital called Maya –who had been listed as next of kin and medical proxy since she turned eighteen- and the man on the other end of the phone failed to be as reassuring as possible while trying to go over the injury, treatment, and possible side effects.
It's only by chance that Maya was standing in the middle of the Matthews' living room when she got the call. Josh shuddered to think of what would have happened if she hadn't left her tablet there the night before and needed to retrieve it before a class. He also thanked every available higher power that she was physically close enough to Topanga for his sister-in-law to intercept the phone when Maya's brain shuts down, muttering only that the call was about her mom before collapsing onto the couch.
Cory had his own cell out before Topanga can get more than 'is Katy okay' out, and he steps up to his wife while she scribbles random pieces of information onto a message pad so she doesn't have to keep interrupting the poor man on the phone.
Josh assumed that he's calling Shawn, who is in California for the week. All conversations on the other side of the room are hushed, with both Matthews casting glances to the blonde every so often. She had made it as far as his lap, and Josh tuned them out as he ghosted his lips across her temple and murmured nonsense into her ear.
He didn't want to think about the fact that this was the first time, in the entire time he's known her, that Maya Hart has ever ceased to function.
And then Topanga is standing in front of them, holding out Maya's phone. "He says she's stable." She manages to get out as she immediately begins rifling through her wallet for cash when Josh takes the phone from her.
He nods and pockets the blonde's phone. "That's good." He manages.
Topanga didn't even bother to count the bills that she handed over. "We'll have tickets for you two before you get to the airport." Josh doesn't ask her how or why they came to the conclusion that he was going too. Not that he was opposed to the idea. But between the three of them in the room, he wasn't the most experienced in this arena. There was a whimper from his lap, and suddenly Josh didn't have anywhere else he wanted to be. "I'll call Riley and see if she can clear her schedule and get on a plane."
Josh has Maya to her feet before he actually thinks about it. Her school satchel is by the chair, purse on top of it, and his own bag is only a few feet away from that. With one arm around Maya, Josh managed to scoop all three up and propel her to the door.
Cory's off the phone before he hits the door, and there's a second delay as Josh wondered what would cause the sharpness of his brother calling his name before a metal card holder is being tossed across the expanse between them. "It's the emergency card," Cory informed him. Josh doesn't ask whether it's the one that their parents made sure each kid had, or one of Cory's own. He didn't even wonder why it was that Cory would be giving him the former seeing as though he had one with his own name on it in his wallet. "Maya can use Shawn's card for anything she needs between here and there." Maya's eyes flickered in recognition to her name, but not much else. "And once you get settled, go ahead and grab yourselves a few changes of clothes."
Josh dropped the holder into one of the bags –he'd find it later- smiled at his family, and moved Maya out of the building to hail a cab.
Never once does Josh ask Maya if she's okay. Right now her main focus is on breathing, and Josh isn't about to force her to question that. Instead, he instructed the cabbie to LaGuardia, and then focused on the list of things that would need to be settled in order for him and Maya to make impromptu trips out of town.
He texted Austin first. Katy was in an accident and he was taking Maya to Atlanta. Even though his best friend was in a lecture, the response was pretty quick. Austin told him to handle what he needed to, and to email him anything that needed to be printed out –or to tell him where to find the physical drafts- and he'd take care of the rest. Next was the intern administrator at S.O.D. Robert Miller was extremely concerned when Josh told him that there was a family emergency, but once Josh assured him that it wasn't him and that he had his laptop and the draft notes and could work from the hospital- the conversation ended with a very quick 'please note your hours so we can still give you credit'. His last call was to Professor Ritter's voicemail, informing him that he wouldn't be able to make their meeting the next day, and asking for assistance getting in touch with the T.A.'s that he would need to ensure that his work wasn't compromised.
Josh received the emails with their flight information just as the cab was pulling into the Terminal A drop off station. Maya had managed enough frame of mind to grab a hold of her purse and school bag while Josh offered way too much money to the cab driver. "You're gonna need your ID, Gorgeous." He prodded her gently. Maya dutifully dug through her purse for her wallet as Josh took a screenshot of her boarding pass and texted it to her.
She followed him through the airport without so much as a sound, managing a smile and a soft nod when the TSA agent checking her credentials asked if she was all right. Maya even managed to make it through the scanners, kicking her ballet flats off of her feet and setting her laptop and charger in a bin on its own. She missed the first time he called her name, though when they had made it down the escalator and was in the process of moving past the various vendors on the way to the gate, Josh tapped two fingers against her wrist the second time, watching her blink before glancing up at him.
"Do you remember what the last thing you ate today was?" He asked gently.
Maya's eyes closed as she tried to think. "I stole some of Cory's apple." Her head shook as if she wasn't entirely sure of when that was and then frowned. "And A shared his smoothie with me."
"That was yesterday." Maya had actually stayed in the dorms the night before. Josh supposed there was something to be said about how Maya just instinctively thought of staying with him when she couldn't remember. "If you could have anything to eat right now, what would it be?"
Her eyes closed again, and Josh prayed that whatever she mentioned could be found in their terminal. "Teriyaki." She spoke slowly as if she was questioning whether or not it was obtainable.
Over the top of her head, Josh smiled at the older woman manning the counter at Au Bon Pain. "Do you want that in a bowl, or on a sandwich?"
"Bowl."
"Yes ma'am." He placed a hand on the small of her back to steer her over to the counter, his smile widening as he placed their orders.
It only took a few minutes for them to get their food. Another handful of moments for Josh to steer them to the gate and make sure that they had the proper documentation.
He didn't hear her the first time she spoke up. Josh was too busy texting Lia about what had happened and asking for her help making sure that Maya didn't fall behind. The T.A. was all kinds of supportive, though, promising that if Josh could get her Maya's class schedule –and something from the hospital when they got there- that she would take care of everything and make sure lecture audio and notes were uploaded to the communal Dropbox for her. He only noticed that she was mumbling when he switched over to text Cory about when they should be expecting Riley and whether or not anyone had thought about a hotel.
"I didn't ask him how she was," Maya said a third time, dropping her plastic fork into her bowl and gazing out the oversized window. "What kind of daughter am I? I didn't even ask him how she was."
As much as he wished he did, Josh had no platitudes for Maya. Then again, he thought as he lifted her leg off of the arm of the chair and swung it in his direction, pulling both of them into his lap now, he didn't need one. "You're a daughter who loves her mother." He kissed her forehead, the scent of teriyaki masking her usual spice. "You're a daughter that is terrified of losing her mother." She didn't look nearly as sheepish at that comment, and Josh couldn't resist dropping another kiss to her temple. "And I'm pretty sure that there was some part of your brain that knew that if there was ever a good place for you to break down, it was in my brother's living room."
Dropping her bowl on top of her bag, Maya shifted on her own, wrapping both arms around Josh's shoulders. "You were there too." She admitted carefully.
Josh tried to take the sentence at face value. Maya knew that she would be okay because she was surrounded by people that would help and take care of her. But there was that little part of him that rejoiced at her admitting that she felt safe enough with him that she could check out for a while and know that he would still be there.
The gate attendant interrupted his train of thought with the announcement that they were to start boarding soon.
"I would be right here even if I wasn't." He assured her, reaching over her shoulder to drop his trash in the can behind her before he started to collect their things.
Landing at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport brought on its own set of entertaining issues. The first had been the fact that Josh hadn't thought about renting a car when they were in the air, or any other form of ground transportation if he was being honest with himself. He'd also forgotten all about his question to Cory on whether they had a hotel room or not.
Instead of focusing on what information they didn't have –while he waited for his phone to power back on and connect to the network- Josh concentrated on the immediate. He stopped Maya in front of the Starbucks on their way out of the terminal, ordering himself a double shot macchiato, and not even paying attention to whatever it was she decided to get. He also grabbed them each a panini and a few pieces of pound cake to nibble on.
It suddenly seemed to click in Maya's mind that she was now twelve hundred miles from home around the time that they made it onto the people mover bound for ground transportation. "I had a meeting with Lia today to go over the course schedule I need to have for the next semester." She announced after swearing, immediately patting her pockets to see if she could find her phone.
"No, you don't." Josh watched her freeze. When her eyes turned weary, Josh smiled down at her. "I messaged her back at LaGuardia," her entire body shrunk again. "The only thing she needs is your schedule so we can make sure that you don't get too far behind."
"It's kinda creepy that you're friends with my faculty advisor's T.A." Maya seemed to decide, finally locating her phone in her purse and powering it on so she could open her school app for the information Lia needed.
Josh shrugged. "Would it help at all that she and I were friends before she became your faculty advisor's T.A.?" Lia had actually dated Austin for about a month during their second year.
But he wasn't sure Maya was aware of that fact.
"Not at all." The mover had come to a stop, and he let Maya lead the way out of the train and to the escalator. "You didn't happen to pack and check a bag for me while I wasn't paying attention, did you?"
"That would be a no," He wrapped an arm around her from behind, dropping his chin to her shoulder as the man behind him stepped closer to them. "We were told to pick up a few things when we got settled and checked in on your mom." His phone finally dinged as they stepped off of the escalator. Groping his pocket, Josh allowed Maya to lead them down the arrivals line while he tried to pull up his texts. "We're at the W though." Reading off Topanga's latest message. "But you, Riles, and I will have to share."
"The fu-" Maya came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the line of people.
Josh looked up just in time to slam into her back. "What's wrong?"
Just as it had been a few weeks ago, when they had arrived home from their trip, a very well dressed gentleman was standing just inside the ropes, the word 'MINKUS' printed neatly on a large card.
"Which Minkus is flying to Atlanta?" She asked both Josh and the driver in front of her sardonically.
The uniformed man just smiled. "Miss Hart I presume?" He turned to regard Josh just as Josh's phone vibrated again.
Topanga called Stuart for ground transportation while you're there.
"Totally wasn't expecting this one," Josh admitted aloud to Maya; he laughed, "This is what happens when one of your best friends is Farkle."
"Mr. Minkus said you didn't have any bags." He was asking for clarification, and Josh nodded in affirmation. The man held his arm out for Josh's satchel, his smile becoming less robotic by the second. "And you're checking into the Four Seasons before I'm taking you to Emory-Midtown."
Glancing back down at his phone, Josh shook his head. "My brother said we're at the W."
"Mr. Minkus was very specific." The man –who still hadn't given them his name- slid Maya's school bag onto his forearm and gestured to the exit. "I'm to make sure you have no problems checking into the family suite at the Four Seasons, wait while you settle in, and then take you to the hospital." He paused as if to give them time to catch up. "And while you're at the hospital, I'm to collect any toiletries and amenities that you will be needing before I come back here and collect Miss Matthews."
"This is what happens when one of your best friends is Farkle." Maya corrected him with a roll of her eyes. "And if you're going to be stuck with us for the foreseeable future, what are we supposed to call you?"
The driver seemed to relax a bit, finally satisfied that his passengers wouldn't be giving him any more trouble. "Collins, Miss." He informed her as they exited the sliding door into the night air. "Sutton Collins."
"You ever talk to Lou, Sutton Collins?" Maya shook her head when he moved to put their bags in the trunk of the SUV that he was loading them into.
There was a lapse, which gave Josh enough time to text Topanga about their latest development –not that there was anything his sister-in-law could do about Stuart Minkus' generosity- before the driver's door popped open and Collins slid into the seat. "I know him, Miss." He said pointedly, starting the engine. "But I've never really spoken to him."
"I'll have him call you," she threw out. Her shoulders were taut, and Josh could see that the weariness that she had managed to overcome on the plane was smacking her in the face the closer they got to facing whatever condition they were going to find Katy in. "There are a few things you're gonna need to know if you're driving Riley and me around."
Collins smiled and gave Maya a careful nod. "Yes, Miss Hart."
The Minkus 'family suite' turned out to be the Presidential Suite of the Four Seasons. Collins had called the hotel on approach, and the Head Concierge met them at the rotunda with their room keys and an unneeded luggage cart. Maya couldn't hold back questioning aloud just how often the Minkus family got to Atlanta when the only thing needed for them to check in was Josh's ID and a signature. The older gentleman escorted them to the nineteenth floor to make sure their keys worked, and to give them one for Riley and left them with a card with his personal number and a promise that he was there to see to whatever they needed personally.
Getting settled, as Collins had called it, consisted of Maya transferring her wallet and phone from her purse to her school satchel, cursing when she realized that she didn't have a phone charger and tossing the unneeded bag into one of the dresser drawers
Josh spent that time compiling a list of toiletries that they would need. He wasn't sure exactly what Riley would be able to pack so he made sure to add three toothbrushes, and three loofahs. He had to consult his phone when listing body wash and shampoos. He'd be perfectly fine with whatever the hotel provided, but he had been privy to a fifteen-minute group rant just a few weeks ago about how it didn't work that way for women.
He had no idea what to do about clothing. It may be something that Josh would have to enlist Riley's help with. There was no way in hell that Josh would be allowed to make wardrobe decisions for Maya, he wouldn't know her sizes even if he could.
When Maya announced that she was ready to go, Josh pocketed his list and cell phone, making sure his wallet was tucked in his laptop bag and followed the blonde back to the elevator bank. She didn't even greet Collins as they loaded back into the SUV to head to the hospital. Maya's hand reached for his, and she just concentrated on breathing.
"What time is Riley expected?" Josh asked as Maya straightened her bag when they were delivered to the hospital.
"Her flight lands at seven forty-five." Collins offered Maya a small smile before handing Josh his card. "If you need anything before then, here's my cell number." He seemed to relax when Maya tucked herself into Josh, hands still clutched together. "I am at your beck and call for as long as you're here."
Josh nodded, tucking the card into his jacket pocket and wrapping the arm Maya was holding around the blonde. "Thanks, Collins." He double checked that he had given the man the shopping list and then bumped Maya in the direction of the double doors.
Signing in took no more time then saying their names, and the volunteer at the check-in desk reminded Maya with a careful smile that only family was allowed in the ICU. After that, it was another elevator ride, this time only up ten floors, and Josh kissed the knuckles on the hand that he still held while Maya steeled herself waiting for the ICU doors to be opened.
They had to have looked lost as they entered the ward. It was the only reason Josh could think of for why a portly nurse poked her head around the corner and smiled at Maya. "Who are you looking for honey?"
"My mom," it killed Josh at how small her voice sounded all of a sudden. Any reassurance she gained seemed to be gone. "Katy Hart."
The nurse smiled again, reaching behind her for a list and then pulling herself to her feet. "She's at the end of the hall, sweetie." Maya didn't move. Nodding gently, the nurse grabbed a chart. "I need to check her vitals anyway."
Josh mouthed a thank you at the woman, moving only when Maya did.
Nails tightened on his wrist as they turned the corner into the room that the woman had disappeared into. He knew that Maya was trying to prepare herself for the worst. Josh simply held her.
It wasn't as bad as Josh had originally thought it was going to be. One of Katy's arms was in a cast, her shoulder seemed to be braced, and she had a large bandage over one side of her head. There was bruising on almost every single uncovered piece of skin aside from her face, but she still looked like Katy.
Beside him, Maya unclenched a fraction of an inch. "Did," she started to say, gesturing to the bed. Whatever she was thinking couldn't seem to make it past her lips.
The nurse raised an eyebrow. "All of her personal effects are in that bag over there," she used the pen she was marking the chart with to point to a bag on the windowsill. Maya forced a smile and released Josh in order to slide over to it.
He watched her rummage through the bag with fervor, pushing aside whatever costume Katy had been wearing at the time of the accident, her shoes, and incidentals. He didn't want to ask her what it was she was looking for. The frantic look on her face told him that any help he would possibly offer her would be rebuked as well. She came up triumphant a moment later, a gold rope chain wrapped around her tiny hand.
Maya forced a deep breath, undoing the clasp and letting one of the three rings that the necklace contained drop into her palm. She slid the ring onto her finger even as she moved toward the bed. "They're safe." She told her mother as she dropped a kiss to Katy's uninjured hand.
Josh didn't even notice the nurse scooting out of the room. He was too busy moving up behind the blonde, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "What are those?"
"Grammy's rings." Maya kissed the two wedding bands that were still on the chain before sliding the chain over her head. "Mom never takes them off. She'd be devastated if something happened to them."
"And what's she gonna say about you stealing them?" He dropped a kiss to the back of her head and smiled down at her hand.
Maya's eyes were focused on Katy's closed ones. "I'll give them back." She insisted quickly. "Grammy always said a Hart should wear them."
"Miss Hart?" There was a cough behind them, and Maya turned so quickly that she forgot that she and Josh were intertwined. He took a step back after she slammed directly into his chest. The man standing in the doorway didn't seem to notice, though. He double checked the chart in his hand and then slipped it back into the holder by the door. "Nurse Johansson said you'd arrived." He took a step forward then, his hand coming up. "I'm Doctor Patrick Gloin, we spoke on the phone." When there was no recognition in Maya's eyes he frowned. "I've been the one monitoring your mother's condition."
When Maya made no move to accept the doctor's handshake, Josh did it for her. "Thank you, Doctor Gloin."
Doctor Gloin studied Josh carefully. "And you are?"
Briefly, the words 'family only' that had been printed in bold white letters on the door of the ICU jumped into Josh's mind. "My fiancé," Maya snapped back to herself just in time to hold her hand out for her own handshake. Josh bit his lip to hide his smile when he realized that the hand she offered him contained her grandmother's engagement ring. "How's my mother?"
The doctor seemed relieved that Maya was a 'down to business' kind of person. "Stable," he began quickly. "We were able to set her wrist, and her shoulder isn't fractured, just incredibly bruised. Both of those should heal cleanly."
There was a lot left unsaid in those three sentences. "And her head injury?" Josh nodded to the bed in what he hoped was an encouraging manner.
"From what I know about the points of impact and what I could see of the bruising on her head and neck," Doctor Gloin moved over to the bed, gesticulating to the bruising without actually touching Katy. "We're looking at possible frontal and temporal lobe trauma."
Maya was back to clutching Josh's arm. He watched as she deflated just a little, her mind immediately going to the worst case scenario. Josh had been forced to take more than his fair share of biology courses. He wasn't as proficient as Will probably was, but his mind was still able to remember that the frontal lobe was responsible for reasoning and temporal for long-term memories. Josh forced a breath through his nose, willing himself to regroup because Maya couldn't afford for him not to. "How bad?" He asked when he realized that Maya wasn't going to.
"Honestly?" A tiny giggle escaped from Maya's lips and Josh tucked her further into his chest. "I can stand here all day theorizing, but until Katy wakes up, we can't know for certain." It was the typical answer; Josh wasn't sure why he had expected anything else. "I can say that her EEG's showed no irregularities, and the MRI's don't have any signs of swelling or hematoma." Another mental list started, and Josh nodded along as he adding things to it so he could text Will for a deconstruction of the medical jargon. "Traumatic brain injuries are tricky, Miss Hart." The doctor was back to addressing Maya, most likely because he hadn't been given Josh's name. "I'd like to say that all signs point to her waking up perfectly fine."
Maya muttered 'you'd like to say' under her breath even as Josh held his hand out again. "Thank you for your time Doctor."
"I'll let you know when we have more."
The doctor cleared the door just as Josh's phone buzzed in his pocket. He didn't let go of Maya, stretching his left arm behind himself to fish his phone out of his right pocket. He stifled his own laugh when he read the message on the lock screen.
Bixby [1 minute ago]: Just got Riley's message that she's flying to you. How's Maya?
He thumbed the phone open, resting his chin on Maya's head. Your timing is impeccable. What do you know about frontal and temporal lobe injuries?
"Do you think she's going to be okay?"
Will forgotten, Josh dropped his phone back into his pocket to free up his other arm so it could be wrapped around Maya's shoulder. "I think your mother is a fighter." He whispered into her hair. "And she has a very compelling reason to be okay." Another kiss to her crown and Josh tightened his grip on her. Her body spasmed, somewhere between a hiccup and a sob, and his heart broke for her all over again.
When Riley announced that she had touched down, and would be there as soon as she drooped her suitcase off at the hotel and changed her shirt –because apparently, only his niece would be able to spill an unopened miniature bottle of soda all over herself on an airplane- Josh convinced Maya to take a walk and wait downstairs for her best friend.
Maya hadn't moved out of the oversized chair that she had curled up in since he'd put her there. For the first hour, he'd been in the chair too, arms wrapped around her when she passed out. He had been questioning Will, updating Lucas and Shawn, and answering emails. Then she'd announced that at least one of them should be productive, and sweet talked a second chair, this one less comfortable, and a small table so Josh could work on what he was missing by this impromptu trip.
And Maya stared at her mother.
"You need some air," he prodded her gently. "You're not leaving the hospital," he tried again after she started to protest. "I will be right here." Another kiss. "I'll text you if anything happens."
Maya was skeptical, but she nodded along with him.
Josh couldn't stop himself from kissing her. "Besides, you need to think up a lie to get Riley in the room." He eyed her hand with a soft smile.
"Just be glad I didn't make you my brother." There was a touch of Maya's normal laughter in her eyes now, and she stole another kiss before moving up to the head of the bed. "I'll be right back, Mom." She whispered.
Josh just hoped that Collins took his time moving from the hotel to the hospital.
Not even ten minutes later, he found himself recanting that wish.
There were half a dozen ways that Katy should have woken up. Josh had seen the movies, and Katy was supposed to be the dramatic type anyway. Which led Josh to realize that this would be the first time he was alone in a room with Maya's mother since they started seeing each other. Not that that was important at this very moment, his mind chastised him. None of the ways involved her hand twitching as she reached for him, a light cough escaping from her lips and Shawn's name in the air.
It took everything Josh had to set his laptop carefully to the side, sliding out of the chair to be closer to her.
"Shawn?"
Her eyes still weren't open all of the way, which was the only reason Josh had for the fact that she seemed to think that he was his brother's best friend. "Josh." He corrected lightly, reaching for the nurse call button. "It's Josh Matthews, Ms. Hart."
There was a pause as Katy forced her eyes open and then gave him a solid once over. "Pretty sure you've been told to call me Katy." She grumbled as close to good-naturedly as she could muster. "Is Maya here?"
He nodded, sliding a hand down her uninjured arm. "Riley just got here, so I forced her to take a walk." There was a moment when he just stood there smiling like an idiot. "She's going to be very happy to see you." He said nothing about the fact that none of her memory appeared to be missing at that juncture.
"You take such good care of my baby." Josh wondered if Katy even realized that she'd said it, her smile brightening a fraction of a second before her eyes shot to the door. "She's very lucky to have you." She added with a cough, bracing herself against one of the bed railings. Her face brightened again, smile wide and she focused on the door. "There's my girl."
Maya was across the room in seconds, caught between flinging herself onto the bed with her mother and standing a safe distance away as to not hurt her further. "You're awake!" She paused, not even glancing up at Josh before smacking his stomach. "You were supposed to text me." She snapped without taking her eyes off of her mother.
"Literally just happened." He defended himself, shaking his head and taking a step back in the direction of his niece. "How was your flight?"
"Sticky." Riley gestured to her fresh outfit with a sardonic grin.
Josh dropped a kiss to Riley's crown, pulling her into a hug. "How you made it through eight days in Italy without making a mess, I'll never know."
She nodded, because what was she supposed to say to that, and he followed her gaze to where Maya was perched on the edge of Katy's bed. "Thank you for coming with her." Katy pulled Maya down into a light hug and Riley attempted to discretely wipe her eye.
"I'm pretty sure one of us is obsolete now, though." He attempted to joke.
Riley's arms pulled him in tighter, tucking her head under his chin. "You got her here." She whispered quickly. "And you don't get to tag out quite yet." When his eye caught hers, Riley grinned. "Who's going to take care of me while I'm taking care of her?"
"Speaking of," Josh nodded to the purse nestled under her arm. "Did you tell your parents you're here?" The guilty look that crossed her face was all he needed to see. "I'll call Cory after I tell the nurse she's awake." He chided her, bopping her on the nose with his phone. "And start thinking about what you want for dinner." He announced to the room, Katy's grin getting wider at his tone. "Will said they're going to want to take Katy for tests when she woke up, so I'm going put Collins on standby and we're all going to eat actual food."
He stepped into the hallway, pretending not to catch Maya's laugh as Katy stage whispered 'cute and in charge' to the room.
Dinner was a Cuban/Caribbean grill that Collins recommended the second Riley announced that they needed fresh air and good food. Josh watched as Maya slowly blossomed again with the reassurance that her mother was conscious and on her way to a clean bill of health. They ate with their fingers, laughed way too hard at Will Facetiming his girlfriend while they sat in the booth, and Josh even allowed Maya to appropriate most of his beer without complaint.
Returning to the hospital made Josh even happier that he had insisted on them taking a break during Katy's tests. No one was surprised that the doctor diagnosed Katy with a concussion. There was no fluid build-up, blood vessel or nerve damage, which kept with the original diagnosis. Doctor Gloin mentioned that he was a bit concerned about Katy's speed of mental processing and concentration –something that Will had mentioned could both be related to the injury itself and the period of time that she had been unconscious- but he was authorized for her to be moved to the floor rather than keep her in ICU.
Her EEG also came back abnormal the second time around, which prompted the doctor to begin a regimen that would help prevent seizures. While the Doctor didn't take too much time to explain it, Nurse Johansson made sure to repeat the word 'precautionary' six or seven times when she came in to hook the medication to Katy's IV. She also went as far as to wait with Maya when they wheeled Katy out of the ward and escorted them to the new floor. Maya was introduced to her mother's new nursing team –and her new on-call doctor- before the nurse slipped away.
Maya fussed over her mother for exactly one hour after that. It was all Katy allowed before she –very slowly- told Maya that visiting hours were over and she needed to return to the hotel.
"I'm gonna be in here for a few days, baby girl," Katy announced sternly as Riley packed Maya back up. "You're not going to spend every single minute of that checking to see if I'm still breathing." When Maya's mouth opened, Katy's eyes narrowed. "Either you go quietly, or I'm gonna ask that lovely gentleman behind you to manhandle you out of here."
No one bothered to point out that Josh would most likely lose a fight between him and Maya. On purpose.
It didn't surprise anyone when Maya crashed five minutes after sitting down on one of the overly plush couches of their suite. She'd been not so pleasantly surprised that Mrs. Bassett-Minkus had ordered a personal shopper to pick outfits up for them –pajamas and underthings included- and insisted on texting Farkle her displeasure –after pulling on the flannel bottoms and tank that had been purchased for her, Riley hastened to add- before she grabbed a bottle of water and joined Riley and her uncle.
Riley waited fifteen extra minutes before asking if Josh would be nice enough to carry Maya into the bedroom. They sat in silence for the next while, Josh finishing his beer on the terrace while answering more work emails while Riley peer edited one of her sorority sister's essay.
"Hey, Josh? Can I ask you a question?"
He hadn't heard Riley open the door, he certainly hadn't noticed her drop herself onto the plush bench beside him.
"You just did." Josh set his laptop aside anyway, closing out the email app on his phone to give Riley his full attention. His niece smiled good-naturedly. Josh had the vague suspicion that that was the same look she gave her father when Cory pulled out the Dad Jokes. "But I suppose you can ask me another one."
His niece waited until she was completely seated, with her feet pulled underneath herself, before breaking the silence again. "Why is Dad mad at Maya?"
Josh had to swallow twice to not spit his sip of beer back out at her. Riley had to be the most perceptive inattentive person that Josh had to have ever met. The logical and one hundred percent truthful answer to her question was on the tip of his tongue. But no matter how many times he thought about it 'Cory's upset that Maya and I are sleeping together' would never be a good sentence to throw out after they day that they had had. "Why do you say your dad's mad at Maya?" He asked instead.
She could have pointed out that Cory had purposefully rearranged his schedule so he could spend time with his daughter without her best friend when Riley came into town to celebrate Will's birthday. She could have said that when they had Sunday brunch before she left, Cory refused to pass her anything she asked for, even though he was seated directly to her left. Riley could have even gone as far as to mention Cory's agitation when Maya stole Josh's jacket before they left for whatever concert in the park that Riley had bought tickets for.
Instead, she just eyed him over the rim of her glass. "Are you about to tell me he's not?" She countered.
"You sure you're not interested in law school?"
"Mom's hopeful," Riley countered gracefully. "But with Will planning on Columbia Med, I can't see myself signing up for four more years away from him." If Maya were still awake there would have been a tirade about putting boyfriends before ambition. Which kind of made both of them glad that she wasn't. Riley squared her shoulders, readjusted her legs and took a long sip of her juice. "Now spill."
"There are," he started with a shake of his head. Josh was never good with generalizations. It was one of the many things that he blamed on his parents. Alan was always big on saying what you mean, and Amy made it a point to force him to reiterate any question that began, or ended, with 'I'm asking for a friend'. "There are some life decisions that Maya has made recently that your dad doesn't agree with." As far as opening statements went, it was one that he thought even Maya wouldn't find fault with.
"Life decisions?" Riley repeated those two words with the air of someone familiar with the art of talking in circles. "Has she been talking about dropping out of school again?"
"No." The word came quick, and Josh bit his tongue. He actually barely remembered the afternoon so many months ago where Maya had declared that dorm assignments, roommates, the coursework and professors, and her lack of concentration for anything not art related made her unfit for school. She had gotten over it fairly quickly, with a tutor recommendation and Lia's help getting Maya into a few of the student-led study sessions. Cory had taken a bit more time to agree that it had just been her frustration showing. "I think Maya's not gonna be satisfied if she walks away from NYU with anything less than a BA if it kills her."
It was Riley's turn to nod along, brain still working on his original statement. "Is she dating someone Dad doesn't like?"
Another long, calming breath. "You know better than anyone that Maya doesn't 'do' dating." It was the closest Josh could get to skirting the question. Although it cemented his resolve that if he managed nothing else that summer, he was going to convince Maya to sit down with her best friend and tell Riley the truth.
"She 'did' Lucas."
It was the sentence that bothered Josh, not the intent behind it. Yes, what Maya and Lucas had in high school could possibly –if you squinted hard enough- be thought of as dating. When the rest of their friends coupled up, so did they. And there had been no shortage of nights where everyone else was occupied that Lucas and Maya did something on their own.
But –and this was where the Matthews Fairytale reared its ugly head- Josh honestly thought that his non-relationship with Maya trumped theirs in a way. There hadn't been the uncertainty with Lucas that she felt with him. She hadn't been as adamant about them not being together. There had been no need for Maya to keep pointing it out. And while some might argue that that was a check in the 'you two aren't together' column, Josh wanted to argue that that meant that Maya wasn't as afraid to lose Lucas as she was him. He also wanted to point out that she had stashed at least three changes of clothes strategically around his room, and her spare phone charger was plugged in on the other side of his bed. Up until college, when Lucas would come home early, Maya had never let the poor boy fully spend the night.
And yes it aggravated the hell out of him that none of these statements were things he could actually say to his niece.
Riley seemed to notice his reluctance, and she nodded as sagely as she could manage at eleven o'clock at night with a topknot and her yummy sushi pajamas. "So this is about sex?"
"Have I ever mentioned how weird this 'tell each other everything' thing that you and Maya have going really is?" He wasn't dodging her question. At least, not on purpose. It was simply the first thing to come out of his mouth when he opened it.
"We don't tell each other everything." Riley countered, leaning over to drop her glass onto the table beside her. "Believe it or not, I'm not completely comfortable with conversations about her sex life either." Josh had to admit that it was something he could believe. And now that it was his bed that Maya spent time in, he was kind of grateful that it had been said. "You haven't said I'm wrong."
Josh rubbed his hand over his chin, scratching the scruff near his Adam's apple. "I think your dad finally realized that Maya's anti-relationship stance wasn't just something she thought sounded cool."
The night was silent again, with Riley neither confirming nor denying that she felt the same way about it. "I can't say that I don't agree with him." Another contemplative breath as Riley looked out at the Atlanta skyline. "Is that why you two haven't gotten together yet?"
And there it was again. Why, oh why, couldn't Riley have just remained oblivious? Josh laughed to himself. He knew why, and he loved her for it. But it didn't mean that it didn't frustrate him. "I'm a fantasy." He quoted in the highest pitched giggle he could manage. "You don't go out with a fantasy!"
Riley almost dumped herself onto the patio when the memory hit her. The weekend may have ended with 'the Triangle' realizing that they were all so much better off as friends, but none of them could admit that Maya announcing that in the middle of dinner hadn't been absurd. "God we were dumb kids."
Josh took a swig of his beer, following her line of sight. "What do you mean 'were'?" He countered, scooting away from her wild arm when she swung at him. "And I could have sworn that you have been very vocal about Maya never becoming your aunt."
"Dad would die!" Riley announced quickly, her giggles preventing her from grabbing her glass. "And I'm not opposed to the idea." She decided after a calming moment. "Or at least, not anymore."
"You've studied qualifying statements in Psych 101, right?" Josh threw her a quick glance, just to watch her roll her eyes.
Riley huffed, flicking a fingertip of juice in his direction. "I see how you are with her." She pointed out physically. "And how she is with you." Riley seemed to steady herself, pulling her lip between her teeth with a breath. "You're probably the only reason she's made it through her first year of school."
"The year's not over yet," Josh argued with a smile. "And you're a phone call away; Lucas only went as far as Cornell." There was a small part of Josh's heart that tugged at that statement. Even Lucas had mentioned that Maya hadn't been in as much of a need for him since Christmas Break. "Hell, Will's on the other side of town." Okay, so he was stretching it a bit on that last part. With the exception of Riley coming to town the weekend before, Josh hadn't heard a peep from his niece's boyfriend since they departed JFK.
"I know what I know." Riley's face scrunched in the way that her fathers did sometimes. "You two have become actual friends." That little smile in the corner of Riley's lip was back, and Josh would be damned if it didn't make him smile a bit too. "And I'm happy about it."
"Do you two have any idea what time it is?"
The terrace door smacked closed behind the blonde. Riley smirked up at her best friend even before Maya had finished rubbing her eyes.
A quick glance at his watch gave Josh the ability to smirk as well. "Twelve-sixteen." He informed her as blandly as he could. He turned to Riley. "I thought you plugged her phone in when we put her to bed."
"It is attached to her new charger." And yes, Riley was well aware that that was another thing that had irked Maya about Farkle's parents commandeering the impromptu trip. In addition to the hotel, clothes, and toiletries, they had each been provided with a spare charger and Stuart had had Collins give Josh a portable hotspot for working on school work in the hospital. "Is it not working right?"
Maya kneed Josh's foot out of the way so she could curl up in the space on the couch between the two. "I've had about enough of you Matthews' tonight." She decided with a huff, leaning over to steal Josh's beer."
"Awe," Riley leaned all the way over the arm of her chair to wrap herself around Maya. "Did we wake you?"
The look Maya shot Josh over the top of Riley's head spoke volumes. "It just felt too empty." She admitted without flinching.
Riley read the look that Maya passed to her with ease. "I can fix that." She drained her glass and hopped to her feet, taking the three steps needed to allow her to drop a kiss on the top of Josh's head and wrap her arms around his shoulders. "Good night, Uncle Josh."
Josh stood when she rose, kissing Riley's temple first before leaning over to drop on to Maya's as well. "Good night ladies." He took Riley's glass from her and helped Maya stand. "Don't forget, Katy ordered us to have a full breakfast before we got to the hospital." His tone was stern, his eyes less so.
Maya turned just enough to blow him a kiss as Riley focused on moving back into the suite.
"Sweet dreams," he muttered quietly, nodding back to her.