Hi everyone. Sorry for the delay but I've been sitting on this one-shot for a few months now and I think it's finally ready to be published. This is set between S04E02 to S04E04, and brought to you by my ponderings on how and why Hayley would be let out of the hospital so soon even though she was cured from the virus, because wouldn't she have to be kept for observations and stuff? (Disclaimer: NOT a doctor)
Anyway, this was requested by Gummybear1178. I know it isn't exactly what you asked and I didn't really realise that until I had finished writing this but I hope you enjoy it anyway. I did have some fun writing this as this is a sort of blend between Hayleo and Dayley, because it focuses on Hayleo while Dayley is still a couple. So, I hope this appeals to both Dayley and Hayleo shippers.
One of the challenges I faced was trying to find the right song for them to play because I've never listened to Pink Floyd or Prince before (SUE ME!), but I eventually found this song and I thought it was a nice fit and Google says it's one of the easier songs to play...
I hope you guys enjoy this and don't forget to send in your prompts.
Third Person POV
"What is taking that girl so long?" Daniel asks himself as he looks towards the hospital door, worried and confused. "She just went to throw a pizza box in a rubbish bin a few steps down from the door." He continues to stare at it longingly, awaiting his beloved raven-haired beauty.
He doesn't have to wait long however as a nurse arrives with her in his arms. Jumping up in shock, he starts asking him questions at a mile a minute, only to be ushered out the door and receive answers to none.
This time, he's left waiting outside her room, watching as a doctor enters to check up on her before the door slams shut once again. As he waits, he contemplates texting Alex, letting him know of his sister's condition so he could tell their parents, but he decides against it, not wanting to miss the doctor coming out of the room.
It takes a while but finally, Dr Broderick exits the room. He smiles at him, saying that she's ok but overexerted herself. He's not quite sure how, which is a little worrying, but she seems to be ok now. He has her hooked back to the IV to administer more fluids as well as a blood pressure monitor to make sure it doesn't suddenly drop again.
Just before leaving and allowing him to re-enter, the doctor reminds him to alert him if anything else happens, to which he nods.
He enters the room just as the nurse is about to leave. With cautious footsteps, he makes his way to her bedside, taking her free hand in his as his other strokes her pale face.
"Hayley." He breathes out. "You've got to stop scaring me like this. It freaks me out and I'm so afraid I'll lose you." The words rush out of his mouth before he can stop them but he knows that's the truth.
He's always been afraid of losing her, even before they started going out. She was so different from all the other girls. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind and she never felt the need to conform to social norms. She was her own person and she never pressured him to be anyone other than himself. She was perfect in every way, and he doesn't know if he could survive without her in his life.
"Daniel." The sound of his name brings him out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry." Her voice is raspy and weak, totally different from the girl he's so used to, but he knows it's ok. She needs time to heal after all she's been through. "I'm sorry for scaring you."
He just shushes her, telling her that it's fine and she should go to sleep because she needs her rest. Seeing her eyelids starting to close, he gently rubs the back of her palm and the motion soothes her to sleep.
Once she's fast asleep, he decides to find out exactly what had happened, why his girlfriend had suddenly collapsed. Planting a soft kiss on her bandaged forehead, he turns to leave.
"Hey, um, nurse?" He calls out to the one who had brought Hayley back to the room, and knowing that he caught his attention, he continues speaking. "Um, do you know why she suddenly collapsed? I know the doctor said it was from overexertion but is there any other reason? Or did something happen?"
The nurse just shakes his head. "Sorry kid. I don't know what happened to your friend there.
All I heard were shouts coming from this guy's room and I found them both on the floor. She was unconscious but I think he was completely coherent, so maybe you could ask him what happened."
Thanking the nurse, Daniel nods before heading towards Leo's room. There they were in a hospital, both of them weak from the prior days' events, and he was still hurting his girl.
He couldn't believe him. Seriously, how old is this guy? A third grader?
Entering the room, he sees the boy in question lying asleep in his own bed. And while he'd like to interrogate him the minute he saw him, he knew it'd be pointless as in his condition, he'd get nothing out of him.
With a sigh, he leaves the room and quietly closes the door behind him with the resolve to talk to him later when he wakes up.
It's a couple hours, and a light conversation with Hayley as she had her dinner, later that he goes to find him. It takes a few twists and turns and a few nurses before he sees the boy in the wheelchair staring out the large hospital window.
Walking up to him, he takes a few deep breaths, unsure of how to broach the subject. "How you doing, man?"
"Phenomenal. Can't you tell?" Leo snaps back and he knows he should probably leave him be, talk about it some other time, but he really needs to know.
"Hey, listen uhh..." He tries to find the right words to say but his vocabulary seems to have left him so he goes straight to the point. "What happened this afternoon? The nurse said he found Hayley unconscious in your room and..."
"Is she ok?" Leo interrupts him as the former's fear and anxiety that had been buried deep within a few hours ago starts rising to the surface. "Did she get hurt or something?"
Daniel just shakes his head. "She's fine, thankfully. Doctor said she just overexerted herself."
At his words, Leo sighs in relief. Seeing her collapse right beside him had definitely scared him more than anything ever had, sans the whole trapped in a cave with explosives thing. He had been so afraid that his anger and jealousy had taken form and actually caused Hayley to become something akin to the vegetative state he was in.
"But what I want to know is what happened? She just went to throw out the pizza box and next thing I know, she's being carried back in by one of the nurses." Leo hangs his head in shame at that. It's his fault that had happened and Daniel deserves an explanation.
"Well..."
~~Flashback (Leo's POV)~~
Catching sight of the slice of pizza just out of my reach, I try to turn to my side. But I don't realise that I'm already at the edge of the bed and next thing I know, I'm lying helpless on the ground. I try to get up, get my limbs to function like they should, but they don't and I'm left stranded.
Just then, a thought fills my mind.
Hayley
Hayley's ok and so I will be too. I can do this. She's strong. She's walking around right now and I know I can too.
"Nurse!" I call out because the button is too far out of reach. I wait for a few seconds, but no one comes.
I try pushing myself, edging me closer. At least if I manage to press the button for the nurse, I can prove to myself that I'm not weak, that I can do it. Catching sight of the chord attached to the button, I pull on it, hoping it'll fall within my reach.
Objects clatter onto the floor. I feel droplets of water splashing on my face before I hear her slippered footsteps pounding against the tiles.
"Cruz," No, anyone but Hayley. I don't want her to see me like this. "What happened?" I can hear the worry in her voice and while it pains me to do this, I push her away.
"I'm fine." I tell her sternly, in a sharper tone than I would ever want to use with her but I have to.
"No, you're not." And just like the caring girl I know, she ignores me completely in lieu of helping me.
"I'm fine." I reiterate my earlier statement, harsher than before and yet, she's still there. I love her for it, but she seriously needs to learn to listen. She also needs to know when to think about herself if her next actions prove anything.
"No, you're not." I can feel her getting closer to me, her warmth overtaking the chill that currently surrounds me. "Here, let me help you. Come on."
"No! Get the nurse." I feel her hands nearing, they're almost touching me and I want to revel in their warmth. But I know I can't. She can't help me. She just can't.
"Cruz, I can help you." Her voice is sharp as her hands go around me. I feel the muscles pulling taut as they prepare for the movement.
"Just get the nurse." I increase my tone, hoping she'll give up and get the message. She doesn't.
"Cruz, come on." She's lifting me, my torso hovering slightly above the ground. I can feel her hands start to shake. She's straining herself. She can't do this.
"Get the freaking nurse!" I yell and I feel myself hitting the ground before another body drops beside mine.
Somehow, I find the strength to turn my head and the sight before me sends shivers down my spine.
Her face is pale and ashen, her eyes are half-lidded, and it's like I'm staring at a body.
"Hayley!" One heartbeat. Two. Three. She's unresponsive. "Hayley!"
No. She can't be dead. She can't be.
My heart is in a frenzy and I shout louder than I ever have in my entire life.
"Nurse!" I scream. I scream louder and louder. My lungs begin to burn but I ignore them. She has to be ok. She has to. "Nurse!" I try to push myself towards her. If only I could hold her, feel the pulse beneath her skin, everything will be fine. She will be fine.
"Nurse!" I yell once more and I hear the footsteps echoing through the floor. I feel myself being hoisted onto the bed and I want to ask them to tend to her first, make sure she's ok, but I find myself exhausted and being slowly lulled into the land of slumber.
The last thing I see is her limp form in the nurse's arms.
~~Flashback ends~~
"I tried to get her to stop and call for a nurse instead, but you know Hayley. She wants to do things on her own." Leo says with a sigh and Daniel can only nod.
"And reasoning with her, telling her she wasn't strong enough at the moment would have only made her push herself harder." The former admits with a sigh.
"That girl is as stubborn as a horse." Daniel agrees. "If she wants to do something, she will, and there's no convincing her."
"Yeah." His thoughts gravitate to the sleeping girl a few doors down. "And one thing she needs to learn, is to listen to her body and think of herself for a change. She's always bent on helping someone she forgets about herself, and look where that gets her."
A silence passes over the two boys. It's not exactly comfortable, but it's ok. It's filled with mutual understanding and a camaraderie of sorts.
"Want me to take you back to your room?" Daniel breaks the silence of the night and Leo turns towards him, shaking his head.
"No. I'll stay here." He says firmly, but in a gentler tone than he has ever used with the former Eagles' captain. "I want to be alone for a while more."
Daniel just nods, acknowledging his need for space before taking his leave. He manoeuvers through the hallways that are now all too familiar and peaks through the doorway.
From there, he sees his sleeping beauty. He watches the rise and fall of her chest. He hears the steady beeps of the heart monitor as it records each and every one of her precious heartbeats.
Stepping forward, he returns to her bedside and presses a gentle kiss to her temple, careful to avoid the Band-Aid hovering a mere inch above. He doesn't want to leave her, especially when she's all alone in the hospital, but her parents only allowed him to stay until curfew. So, with a final squeeze and a kiss, he leaves her to the mercy of the hospital.
The next day...
She's awake, slightly groggy, but otherwise fine.
She sits in the room with her parents and Daniel by her side as the doctor explains that she needs to stay for a few more days before being released.
Her fainting episode yesterday had made them realise how premature it was of them to think that she could be released so quickly as had she collapsed somewhere else, there might have been a greater consequence.
Her parents turn towards her and Daniel as they look on worryingly, not knowing that their baby girl had collapsed yesterday and panic seized their entire being. Was there something wrong with their baby that they never noticed? Was there some sort of side effect from the virus that they didn't know off?
Seeing the worried looks the older couple were giving each other, the doctor is quick to reassure them that she's fine but they want to monitor for a while more just to be on the safe side.
Everyone in the room heaves a sigh of relief and thanks the doctor as he leaves. When he's finally gone, Ryan and Carter turn towards the two kids in front of them who explain everything.
They want to reprimand her, tell her off, because what she had done was just plain ridiculous, but they knew they couldn't. It was just how she was and they couldn't change that. They didn't want to change that.
She's so strong. She's their beautiful baby girl. She's perfect just the way she is.
Looking at the time, they realise they should probably be off as there's still work to be done. So with a quick kiss and a hug of reassurance, they're off to the Greenhouse.
When they're finally alone, she turns to him, ushering him to go back to.
"No, I want to stay with you." He assures her, ignoring her pleas.
"Daniel, you have classes to go to." She reminds him and she can't help but hold back a smile as she hears the groan that passes through her lips. "We can't have the both of us falling behind now, can we?"
He chuckles at that. "You could spend a whole year out of school and be the farthest thing from behind, Ms Hayley." He teases her as he moves to sit beside her, allowing her to place her head on his shoulder.
"That's so not true." She shoots back. "And I don't need a babysitter, Daniel. I promise, I'll be fine."
The stern look she gives him tells him that she speaks the truth and despite his overflowing need to protect her, he complies with her wishes. "I'll hold you onto that." He says as he gets up from the bed before sharing a kiss.
"I love you." He mumbles into her lips and she echoes it back. She then watches him leave, sees his silhouette slowly disappearing into the distance.
When she's finally alone, she ponders on what to do. Watching TV is definitely out of the question because as expected with the recent events, the Greenhouse would have made the headlines and the last thing she wants to see is her face plastered on the screen.
She contemplates scrolling through her Louie, flipping through Sophie's blog for the latest goings-on at the Greenhouse, but she knows that will only make her feel left out and more claustrophobic than she already feels being trapped within these four walls.
A thought then suddenly comes to mind. Leo's still here, probably just as bored as she is, and she did tell him she would go visit him again. And so, she made up her mind.
Carefully so as to not rip out the IV currently attached to her hand, she manoeuvres off the side of the bed. The sudden drop in blood pressure causes dark spots to appear but she quickly shakes them away.
Leaning onto the pole for a little support, she makes her way to his room where she finds him fiddling with a stress ball.
"Hey Cruz." Her voice penetrates through the silence of the room and he can't deny the joy he felt the moment she called his name.
It was as if all the fear of the previous day had gone up in flames. Despite Daniel's reassurance last night, he couldn't help but worry for the brunette. But now, seeing her with his own two eyes made him feel more relieved than ever before.
She was still slightly off-colour, and if the way she was holding onto her IV pole was any indication, she was tired. Her posture was slacked and almost ready to give in.
He wouldn't tell her that though. She wouldn't accept it and just try to cover it up. So instead, he invites her to sit at the foot of his bed.
"Hey Woods." A brief silence encompasses them before he decides to break the ice. "How are you feeling?"
"Um, I'm good. Mostly good." A teasing smile, one he's come to know and love, appears on her face as she repeats her answer from the cave. "Can anyone ever be all good?"
He can only chuckle in response. "Is this what you're going to say each time I ask you 'How are you?'?" He teases back and the pair erupts into laughter as their slightly hazy memories of the past few days come to mind.
"Was it really only four days ago?" She asks once she finally catches her breath. "It feels like it's been forever."
Leo nods in agreement. "And being stuck in this hospital is only making things worse. Can anyone save us from this eternal boredom?"
Save... Save us... Save you...
The words repeat themselves in her head as she remembers the dream she had in the cave. Her dad carrying her out; him and her mom then leaving her; her walking around the Greenhouse only to find that everything was just off; and finally the pair of them in the Old Biology Lab...
Seeing her staring off into the distance causes him to worry. Had he said something wrong? What was happening to her? Is she in a trance or something? Should he call for a nurse? A doctor?
"Woods?" He calls out to her. "Hayley?" Thankfully, she snaps out of whatever she was in and she turns back to him, a questioning look on her face.
"You ok, Woods?" He says softly, not wanting whatever had just happened to repeat itself.
"You were lost for a moment there."
"Yeah." Her answer is short, her mind not focused on the question as she seems to contemplate something else.
"Hey." She began to speak as she made her decision. "Do you remember when I asked you if you dreamt anything while under the virus?"
He nods, unsure of what she was trying to say but wanting her to continue nonetheless.
"Well, I had the strangest dream. First, I was in the cave and then..."
Leo listens with rapt attention as she relayed to him everything that she had dreamt over the course of that night. When she's done, he can only look at her in shock, not knowing what could be said at this point.
"So, the mouse showed you to the antidote and the way out?" He questions as he tries to regain his bearings and decipher what was reality and what wasn't.
"I know it sounds weird, but I'm telling you the truth-" Hayley starts but is soon cut off.
"Hayley." He tries to move his hand to grip onto hers, but his attempts are futile, making him drop his head back onto the pillow. "I believe you."
She smiles at that and to his joy, her hand finds his. He can't really feel it but he knows they fit like two pieces of a puzzle. Like they were meant to be. But deep down he knows, her hands fit better in another's. She doesn't belong to him. Her heart isn't with him.
Pushing his feelings aside, he allows himself to enjoy the moment. Because who knows when he'll be able to be with her once again. When he'll actually be able to hold her in his arms.
They stay that way for a while until a nurse brings in his lunch, and seeing Hayley in the room as well, leaves her lunch beside his.
"Hey. If you want," The cheeky grin that appears on her face makes him both amused and worried at the same time. "I could feed you."
"Ha-ha." He mocks her. "I'm perfectly fine with feeding myself." At that, she raises a challenging eyebrow and he tries to push himself up on the bed.
After a few failed attempts, he gives in and abandons his pride, allowing her to help him. Slowly and carefully, they get him to sit up and when he's finally upright, she starts feeding him whatever the brown liquid is supposed to be.
It is when he's finally half way through his food when he realises something. "Hey Woods. Don't forget to feed yourself too."
At his chastising, her face turns sheepish as she blushes. In all honesty, the thought of eating whatever it is makes her gag. Seriously? Who makes this food? Is it even remotely edible?
The frown on her face makes him understand her plight. "I know our lunch consisting of hospital gourmet isn't exactly appetizing," He earns himself a scoff at that, which makes him smile. "We do have to eat if we want to have a chance at breaking out of this joint."
She just groans before throwing in a "Fine" as she starts to gobble down her own food. At the moment, she wishes Daniel were here, if only just to get her actual food.
When she first refused to eat the hospital sanctioned food, he had tried to feed her. But then, she reminded him of his own hospital stay and asked him if he remembered how horrid it tasted. Her question had made his taste buds shrivel in disgust and he relented, ordering a box of pizza for them to share.
The last bite, if it could even be called that, sends her into immense relief and she leans against the footboard of the bed. All he can do is chuckle at her actions and while she wants to throw a pillow at him, she can't because there are none within her reach and the only one in the room is the one he was currently using.
"So. What do we do now?" He asks her, looking takes the clock on the wall. "It's not even 1 in the afternoon and I don't know about you but I'm already bored."
"Yeah..." Hayley replies before being cut off by a yawn. "I'm bored and there's absolutely nothing to do."
Hearing her yawn, he can detect the sleepiness in her voice. Suddenly, he realises that her eyes are starting to get droopy, and she seems to be leaning more and more onto the footboard of the bed.
"How about we take a nap then?" He asks her, the question perking her up immediately as she looks on at him, confused.
"Nap? No. Why?" She stutters, unsure of what to say in reply. Had she been not discreet enough? Did she unknowingly display her weakness? No, she couldn't have. Either way, she had to get out of this. "C'mon, seriously. Naps are for babies and I don't need a nap."
All Leo can do is give her a stern glare before letting his defences fall and giving in to the truth.
"Hayley." His voice holds the "captain" edge to it, and it takes her completely by surprise. "Hayley, it's obvious you're tired. You should go back to your room and rest. We can always hang out later, ok?"
She wants to argue, tell him that she's fine and she doesn't need him to take care of her, but she knows his words are the truth, so she resigns.
Gingerly getting off the bed, she manoeuvres around until the pole is firmly in her grasp, before padding to the door and waving him goodbye.
The next day...
"Hey Cruz." Her voice snaps him out of the reverie he was having for the day and his eyes are on her.
"Woods." He greets with a hint of a smile gracing his lips. He's known her for a few months now but each time he sees her, his heart skips a beat, flutters. Just the sight of her makes him want to melt on the spot and make her his.
Not only is she insanely beautiful with her sparkling fiery brown orbs, curly hair that all but cascades down her back, and gentle hands that could warm any soul, but she's so kind, undeniably caring that it physically hurts him to not be able to hold her in his arms and return the favour.
"So." Her voice cuts through the overwhelming yet peaceful silence. "What's on the agenda today Cruz?"
The teasing tone of her voice makes his heart do flips and he ponders the question for a moment before catching sight of his guitar propped up in the corner of the room.
"Well, with all that's happened over the past few months, we never really got to continue our guitar lessons..." At his suggestion, she just plainly shakes her head.
"No." She takes a glance at the guitar before reaffirming her decision. "No way. You can't be serious."
He raises a challenging eyebrow at that and she rolls her eyes.
"C'mon." He tries to nudge her arm with his, and to his surprise, for once he's successful. "It will be fun. Besides, when was the last time you picked up a guitar and practiced? If you don't practice, you'll forget every single thing and I just might have to reintroduce you to A Chord."
The enthusiasm in his voice and the mild shock she received from the hand beside her causes her to resign and she makes her way to the guitar.
Gingerly, she picks it up, removes it from its case, and takes it to the bed. She wants to ask him why he even has it, especially when he can't exactly play at the moment, but she now knows his true intentions, that is: for her to play.
"Do you still remember A Chord?" His voice carries a lilt that's curious yet challenging at the same time, and she hurriedly places her fingers on the right strings, haphazardly strumming an A.
"What about the G chord?" Once again, her fingers dance across the strings to find the right ones and she strums her interpretation of the chord.
Hearing the slightly off-tuned note, he just chuckles. With the limited strength he has, he takes her hand in his, clumsily positioning it over the right strings, and nodding for her to strum as soon as he lets go. The note is a little rough around the edges but the G is definitely prominent.
"C?" He asks and she plays.
"D?" He asks and she returns her gaze to the frets, trying to remember which strings to press before realisation dawns on her.
"Hey. You never taught me 'D'." Her face contorts into one of mock anger but the smile on his face causes her to break and they're both sent into fits of laughter.
"Ok. D chord is when your index finger is on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string, the middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string." He tries to explain and she just looks at him incredulously.
He chuckles, beckoning her to him, asking her to lean against him as she holds the guitar in front of her torso.
"It's here." He lifts her hand, placing the pointer finger on the right string. "Here." He shifts her middle finger till it's angled just right over the fret. "And here." He lets go as soon as he's certain her grip on the strings won't drop and he nods, prompting her to play.
She does. And the former continued teaching the latter new chords until it was time for her to return to her room.
The next day...
"So. Do you still remember all the chords I taught you yesterday?" He asks as she sits on his bed, his usual tone and nature finally returned to him.
"I remember how much my fingers hurt from holding down all those strings." She teases him and he just shakes his head. "Yes, I remember." She relents.
He nods in approval before urging her towards the guitar standing in the corner of the room.
"Ok, play B minor, A, then G." He instructs and she does. The melody is slightly broken as she pauses in between each note to ensure she has the right strings but the echo of the note easily fills in the silence.
"Next, F sharp, E minor and B minor again." Once again, she plays the notes, gaining speed as she repeats it over and over.
"Now, play them all together." She obeys and as she allows herself to focus on the melody, her eyes grow wide.
"No way." She finds it hard to believe but the smile on his face tells her everything she needs to know. "You're kidding me."
"Nope," By now, the grin is permanently etched onto his face. "You just played the first verse of Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd."
"That's crazy." She laughs breathlessly. "I can't believe I played that. It feels so surreal."
He smiles at her, happy to see her being more and more like herself every day. She no longer looked as weak or pale. Her movements were quicker and the smile was genuine. It wasn't the one she put up just to tell everyone she was ok. She really is fine now.
"Want to play more?" She nods enthusiastically.
"B minor, A, G." He pauses as she plays. "F sharp, E minor, B minor, B minor."
She repeats the chords, this time combining it with the first part and if it was possible, she seems to start glowing.
"Great job, Woods." With whatever strength he has in his hand, he makes a fist. She bumps it back.
"Thanks. I have an excellent coach."
The pair continue the song until she can play it almost effortlessly. By then, they're both exhausted and decide to relax for the rest of the day.
And the next day, they play the song again...
They play till muscle memory shifts her fingers across the strings and she finds herself absent-mindedly singing along.
He hears her but doesn't say a word till the end, knowing the minute he does, she might refuse to sing again. So he waits, and his patience is rewarded.
Eventually, her voice becomes stronger and singing along to the strum of the guitar becomes second nature, but of course, not that she is aware.
He does tell her though as they lay on his bed, during the last day of her stay at the hospital.
Taking a break from their usual guitar playing and choosing to relax before she has to return to the fast-paced life of the Greenhouse, they settle on his bed to watch a movie.
And as the opening chords of Comfortably Numb start to flow from the screen, he hears her singing along, her voice perfectly in tune and sync with the music.
"You have a beautiful voice, you know." He smiles as he catches her off guard, watching her as she pulls her attention away from "The Wall" playing out on the television. "You should sing more often."
"Leo." She cuts herself off, not knowing what to say. "Leo. I can't... I"
Shaking his head, he gives her a fond smile. "Can't what?" A pause as he searches her face. "You can do anything you put your mind to Woods, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
He holds back a chuckle. "You are the last person on this planet who would let someone hold her back. You've never let anything or anyone stop you before. Don't start now."
He looks deep into her eyes, catching her dark brown orbs in his. "You don't have to be afraid."
With renewed confidence, she finds herself singing along to the rest of the song, him chiming in occasionally when he felt it was right.
Eventually, they both fall asleep, her head against his shoulder and his arms protectively around her.
He is awoken when he feels empty, the comforting weight on his shoulder suddenly disappearing into thin air and his arms having returned to his sides.
He finds Daniel there, a sad but knowing look in his eyes as he cradles his sleeping girlfriend close to his chest.
"Hey." The ex-captain whispers so as to not wake his girl up, and the other nods in return. "Thanks for keeping her company the past few days." He smiles, watery but sincere. "I'm pretty sure she'd have been bored out of her mind if she was left alone."
"No problem." The Raven simply says and he watches as they move to leave the room. They're almost to the door when he suddenly turns around. The sharp move causes her to stir slightly, but she is soon burrowing her head into the crook of his neck, making both boys eye her fondly.
"Hayley told me about what you did when I was in the hospital." He says with a slight shrug as he warily approaches the subject. "I never got the chance to thank you for that. And tell you, you're not so bad a captain. It was great going head to head with you, a worthy opponent."
"You're not too bad yourself." Leo admits and the silence in the room is for once not filled with tension or rivalry, but mutual understanding.
"You know," Daniel finally breaks the silence. "The Greenhouse will definitely be boring without the Raven's captain, and I'm pretty sure we can work something out in regards to your, um... condition."
Daniel smiles before making sure he has a sturdy grip on the girl in his arms and exiting the room, leaving his co-captain to his thoughts.
At the camping trip...
"And now," Leo starts with a smile. "Performing live for the first time, Ms Hayley Woods."
It takes her a few seconds to register his words, and a few more to notice the guitar being placed gingerly in her lap.
She shakes her head, telling, pleading him not to make her do it. She's never done it in public before, not even for her parents. Only Leo has heard her singing, that day at the hospital and their private moments in the music room, and she hopes to keep it that way.
"I can't." She tells him softly, picking up the guitar to hand it back to him but he places his arms over hers. He looks at her with more sincerity and seriousness than ever before. His brown orbs pierce her own and they're locked together.
"You can do this Hayley. I believe in you. We believe in you." He takes a breath, trying to get her to see his side of things. "We're all friends here and even if you make a mistake, nothing's going to happen. With the love and support of your friends, who are literally by your side, what do you have to fear?"
She wants to tell him. She really does. But she can't. She's always had reservations buried deep inside her. She may be able to pretend to be strong, especially when it comes to protecting the people she loves, but she just can't do this. She just can't-
A hand on her shoulders halts her train of thought and she turns to meet the familiar face of her brother.
"You got this, Hayley." He holds her hand in a firm grip. "You can do it."
She tries to tell them no, prevent herself from going through what is sure to be utter failure and embarrassment. But the hopeful looks on Alex and Leo's faces weaken her defences and they crumble.
She picks up the guitar and strums the first note.
"Leo, you better sing along." She threatens him as the opening melody fills the silence of the night.
[Hayley,Leo,Both]
Hello? Hello? Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone at home?
Her voice was soft, perfectly soft. There was a certain rawness to it, a hint of fear, and to him, it just made her look all the more perfect. As soon as the verse ended though, she stops, once again trying to return the guitar.
Leo though, in one swift motion, pulls her onto his lap, places the guitar gently across her body, and laces his fingers with hers. He positions their intertwined hands on the strings and music fills the night sky.
Come on now
I hear you're feeling down
Well, I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again
He sings softly in her ear, but loud enough that everyone can hear him. He can see the ghost of a smile on her face and if he weren't holding her in his arms at the moment, he'd be a puddle of goo.
Relax
I'll need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?
Their voices blend into a smooth melody. And while they sing, they're oblivious to the world around them, including the adoring looks in everyone's eyes.
Sophie and Parker have their arms over each other's shoulders as they gently sway to the music. They don't let go even for the occasional butterfly kisses or the whispers of sweet nothings between them.
Brooke and Alex on the other hand, are a slightly different story. While she enjoys the music, lightly swaying like the rest, Alex's eyes are firmly set on Leo. He watches the guy's every single movement like an Eagle. He's not going to let his guard down for him, especially not after how badly he had treated his sister.
He doesn't know why she went back to him, but he can tell she's happy, and that's enough for the moment-
Brooke breaks him out of his thoughts with a kiss, one he willingly returns.
There is no pain, you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain, you would not understand
This is not how I am
I have become comfortably numb
Max and Emma sit side by side, partially listening to the music while staring up at the glittering night sky. It's as if at last they see the light. And the light is beautiful.
I have become comfortably numb
O.K.
Just a little pin prick
There'll be no more aaaaaaaah!
But you may feel a little sick
As he sings, the memories of the previous month come back to him, and he can't help but wonder how they even got through it.
All the pain, the fear, the uncertainty of it all. The fact that the girl in his arms almost died so many times, and that he wouldn't be alive if not for her, is one that makes him hold on tighter.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working, good
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on, it's time to go
She can feel his arms around her tightening and she plants a chaste kiss on his cheek before holding his interlaced fingers even more closely than before.
She feels him pressing his lips against the crown of her head and she can't help but smile. She definitely got lucky when it comes to love.
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I have become comfortably numb
They allow their voices to blend once again and the sweet harmony of it all encourages everyone to hum along. It's really a sight to behold as there is a wonderful sense of camaraderie between the Eagles and the Ravens, one that has never been seen before and may never be seen again.
As the song dies out, everyone has smiles on their faces as they look around. The people surrounding them are more than friends, they're family. They definitely have to be after all they've been through.
It's a wonderful feeling though, and they hope it will always be like this. Forget competition and houses, what makes a true leader are their friends, their chosen family, because if there is one thing that will motivate them to success, it is them.
And this has been an AngelFanfics productions.