*A week later*

*Ben's POV*

My eyes instantly tightened as the bright light started to enclose them; I grunted slightly and I turned my head painfully away from it. I heard a grunt croak from my throat; and it was like time had frozen for a second as there was no sound in the room; you could literally could hear a pin drop before the prospect of sound touched my ears.

"Ben" I heard a pained voice say. I opened my eyes fully and I blinked a couple of times to help my eyes to focus. It took a couple of blinks to actually get the mix of colours to start to become solid shapes. When my eyes caught the scene in front of me my body went rigid; I was lying in a hospital bed surrounded by my parents.

"Mother" I croaked.

"How are you?" she questioned as she stood up and stroked my hair. "My perfect little boy" she cooed as I noticed due to the swelling on my face that my vision was still impaired.

"Hmmm" I grunted again as I noted that my body felt weak and heavy but not in as much pain as before. However I put this down to the amount of drugs that I was on; as let my tired eyes look down at my body to see plaster casts and bandages enclosed around my body.

"Are you ok?" my mother stressed.

"As I am going to be" I croaked again as I attempted to readjusted my stiff body and I was suddenly met with pain. "Ow!" I whined.

"I'm going to get the Doctor" she insisted.

"No!" I exclaimed. "I need Mal. Where's Mal?" I questioned; she promised me that she would be here when I woke up - so where on Auradon was she?

"Over there" my father answered as he nodded to the right hand side of my bed. I let my eyes follow in the direction that he nodded and when I moved my head slightly it made both my head and neck ache. But when my eyes landed on the recliner that was next to my bed my eyes stung as they widened at what I saw.

Mal was currently lying curled tightly into a ball on the dark blue leather recliner; she had a purple fleece blanket over her and he head was propped up. I smiled meekly at the fact that she was soundly asleep with her mouth open slightly; I couldn't help but purse my lips together as I noted her bust lip, bruising, swelling and obvious broken nose and a groan escaped from my throat.

"She's never left your side" I heard my father say as I noted that Mal's clothes had changed since I last saw her; however I put this down to the fact that Evie was also asleep in a seat in the corner of the room. Evie obviously was here to support Mal; something that I was very much grateful for.

"She's been amazing" my mother added.

"Yes" I confirmed. "I saw her fighting" I muttered as I remembered her fighting the man that had be guarding over me.

"Yes" I heard my father reply. "She fought quite a few to get to you, single handily might I add" he stated.

"Really?" I asked in shock as I tore my eyes away for Mal and I looked over to my parents.

"Yes" my mother stated. "She came to you as the police were on their way to you; she was very impatient" she added as she smiled fondly to Mal.

"I could tell when she got to me" I said as I also looked over to Mal. "How is she?" I muttered.

"She'll be a lot better once she knows you are ok" Adam stated. "She's been frantic with worry, I think she blames herself for this" she sighed.

"Why?" I questioned as I pulled one brow up in confusion. Mal was not to blame for this! And I needed her to know this; it would appear when she woke up me and her had a lot to talk about.

"Well she thinks she is the reason why Bobby did this; so I think she feels to blame" my father interjected.

"What?" I exclaimed. "No!" I pressed. "That's not true!" I stressed. "I'm going to have to speak to her about that" I decided.

"Probably" I heard my parents say together. I smiled meekly at Mal once more and I decided that it was time to put her out of her misery; so with this thought in mind I slowly and painfully moved my right hand and I used my cast to stroke her left hand that was outstretched slightly. I continued to smile as I did this an I watched as Mal readjusted herself in the recliner before her eyes lazily opened.

"Ben" she muttered and when her eyes lazily landed on me I watched as they quickly snapped open. "You're awake!" she exclaimed and I saw a blue blur move in the corner of the room which told me that Evie was now also waking up. "How long?" she questioned.

"Just" I advised as she sat up properly and she slid both of her hands into my right.

"How are you?" she enquired as she began to run her thumbs against the back of my hand.

"A bit dopey" I admitted. "Not in as much pain now" I added.

"But you're still in pain?" I questioned as she pulled one brow up in concern.

"Yes" I confirmed.

"Oh" she muttered as she dropped my hand. "I better get Doctor Cameron" she advised as she quickly stood up.

"No!" I exclaimed; which caused her to turn and look down at me with one brow up in confusion. "I want to talk to you first" I explained.

"Ben you can't be lying in pain" she advised.

"Please?" I begged.

"How about a compromise?" She offered.

"Right?" I prompted her.

"You get some pain relief first" she teased.

"Darn!" I chuckled back. "Ok" I slowly nodded; I then watched as a large grin spread across her face. She then quickly left the room to go and get Doctor Cameron - looking very happy and content at the fact that I was finally awake.