Chapter four:
Stretch, Underswap Papyrus, is relieved that his brother answered his call. "Hey bro. Is everything okay? We are waiting for you and Error. I was asked to call to make sure you were coming."
"I'm sorry Pappy. I forgot about this. Plans have changed." Blue apologizes not hiding his upset tone.
"Blue? What's going?" Stretch questions starting to get worried.
"Pappy... It's Ink..." Blue sighs closing his eyes softly. "Me and Error yesterday went to surprise visit him. And we found him laying on the floor. He tried to commit suicide." He finds the words hard to get out however he knows his brother deserves to know.
"What!?" Stretchs outburst gains the attention of the others who happen to be there.
"I couldn't heal him. I tried. We had to take him to the hospital." Blue further explains to his Papyrus.
"Which one?" Stretch inquires and Blue tells him. He can feel the curious eyes on him but they let him finish his call. "Okay. I'm going to come." He hangs up then turns to the others.
"What's going on?" Dream inquires worriedly hoping that everything is alright.
"There's an issue. A big one." Stretch informs them as they all listen closely wanting to hear this. "Ink tried to commit suicide."
"WHAT!?" Everyone shouts at the same time in shock.
"I'm gonna go to the hospital not far from Inks place. Error and Blue found him and had to take him there. Blue couldn't heal him things were so bad." Stretch barely finishes that before Dream runs right past him heading that way.
Cross chases after his mate though he doesn't try to stop him. He knows that Ink is a good friend and Dream is probably worried sick now.
The rest hurry along to get there as well.
Dream and Cross are the first to dash through the hospital doors.
"Where is Inks room?" Dream pleads to the receptionist as the others manage to catch up.
None of them concerned by how out of breath they are.
"Please. We're his friends." Dream pleads and the receptionist tells them the room number.
They all get there and head inside.
Blue and Error turn as they arrive.
Dream gets to Inks side first looking at his friend. He ignores the others right now as they surround the bed. "Ink?" He stares at the others face hoping that he'll open his eyes. "Ink. Please wake up." He clenches his teeth when his good friend doesn't respond at all. He feels the arms of his mate Cross wrap around him.
"He hasn't woken up yet." Blue tells Dream and the others. He lowers his head a little at this.
"So you don't know why he did this?" Stretch inquires in which Blue shakes his head.
"He was unconscious when we found him." Blue explains shifting worriedly in his seat. "He hasn't woken up at all." He turns to meet his brothers eyes. "Pappy. What if we never get to learn why he did this?" He doesn't like the implications however he has this sinking feeling.
Stretch places a hand on Blues shoulder. "Don't think like that. I'm sure he probably just needs rest. Then he'll wake up and we can talk to him." He tries to soothe him in which the other softly nods his head. He turns to look to Inks face that shows no sign he even knows they're there. He silently pleads that his words will come true. He turns seeing someone turn to him from the corner of his eye. He turns to see his boyfriend Edge, Underfell Papyrus. He was going to announce it to the others only this has interrupted that plan. He can see assurance in the others eyes, a promise to still stay by him no matter what happens. He can't help it and leans against him in which the other puts an arm around him. He closes his eyes knowing that neither of them are concerned if they are spotted. He takes in his mates scent through his nose which helps calm him a little.
"I wish I had noticed." Dream mentions to Cross who gives him a loving kiss on the cheek.
"He hid it well." Cross tells Dream glancing to Ink. "All we can do now is be there for him." He feels his mate nod as he nuzzled into his chest.
The group stay for awhile then a few head home leaving Blue, Error, Dream, Cross, Stretch and Edge staying beside Ink. The others promised to visit whenever they could before they left.
Red, Underfell Sans, is the last one to be going since his partner he married Black, Swapfell Sans, went on ahead. He looks to his brother who is staying with Stretch.
Edge turns to look to his brother. "Go ahead." He tells him. "I'm going to stay here with Stretch."
Red nods softly then heads off to go meet up with his husband.
Stretch is glad that Edge is staying with him. He looks to his brother who is trying to keep Error comforted as much as he can. He knows that Blue will neglect himself so he will need to be there to comfort him.
Two days have passed and still no sign of Ink waking up.
Seeing their dedication to be with their friend, on the first night the doctors brought in three extra beds for the three couples. They managed to move a few things so it all fits with space left over. They are secretly glad that Ink won't be alone if he ends up waking up.
Stretch and Edge are sharing a meal on the bed that they've chosen.
Dream and Cross are asleep on the bed they picked. They had stayed up late the night before as the others slept.
So that way at least someone will be awake when Ink wakes up.
Blue and Error are once again sitting in chairs next to Inks bed having left their bed where it is.
The steady beeping of the monitor at least assuring them that things are okay right now... Until suddenly the beeps get longer and longer gaps.
Error looks to the monitor hearing this and sees that there is gaps between each line. He turns to Ink worriedly. "Ink?" His word causes the others to turn to him, while Dream and Cross are still asleep. He looks over the other as the gaps get longer.
Edge and Stretch abandon the food and head over worried hearing this.
Blue dashes to the doorway to the room. He starts calling for a doctor, worried that something bad was going to happen.
Suddenly the beeps becoming a single long beep and alarms seem to go off, causing Blue to turn to look back at them.
"I-nk!" Error calls out, waking Dream and Cross up who hurry from their bed to Inks side, however before any of them can do anything Inks body turns to dust.
Leaving everyone there staring at the scarf left behind on the bed with dust.
"INK!" Error screams out as loud as he can as tears begin rolling down his face like a waterfall.
Cross holds Dream close getting the other to bury his face into his chest. He can feel his own tears falling down his face, along with the wetness of Dreams own tears.
Stretch hugs Edge tightly crying into his shoulder as his mate hugs him back tightly too.
Blue jumps as two doctors race past him. He can make out that it's doctors through his tears by their white doctor coats. He hurries to Errors side pulling him back to let the doctors in. He manages to restrain the other who eventually gives up slouching into a mess of sobs.
The doctors quickly realize that there is nothing that they can do. So they back off letting those there have their goodbyes, as well as time to grieve that they just lost a friend.
Blue falls to his knees along with Error when the others legs seem to collapse from under him. He closes his eyes tightly wishing that there had been any other outcome than Ink dying. He lowers his head to kiss his mates skull. He can clearly hear the others who aren't the doctors crying as well.
They'll have to tell the others... Theyll probably take the news as hard as those who stayed here.