The sun had set an hour ago and Kenny didn't have a phone. His parents hardly kept theirs on, how could he expect to have one? He was leaving the school, cutting through the forest still searching for Kyle when finally, he saw a green hat poking out next door to the South Park church. Kyle was in the cemetery? Kenny carefully approached, didn't want Kyle to get mad and run off again. "Kyle?" He said softly.

Kyle didn't turn around from his spot. He sat at an empty plot, cross-legged. Face drained of all the tears he could muster for that day.

Kenny looks over to the east, where his own grave normally appeared. Not that his buddies remembered. He got down on his knees next to Kyle. "Hey, you had me worried."

Kyle glances at Kenny before looking back at the empty plot. His voice is soft as he speaks. "I figured I'd just stay here for a while. Save myself the trip. Stan's going to wind up here soon anyway."

"What do you mean? It's not like you lost a friend before." Kenny knew those weren't the right words, but they tumbled out before he could think.

Kyle sighed, moving one leg out into a more comfortable position. "But the way things are going it's bound to happen. It hasn't even been a week and I feel like I'm losing it. I don't know how much more of this I can take Kenny. I don't…." Kyle wipes his stinging eyes once again.

"Well maybe you could use some help, I could stay with Stan some nights. My parents don't care. Butters would do it too. I know Stan prefers you but if you're tired, he'll understand." Kenny offers.

Kyle remains silent as his eyes continue to burn and blur. They've been doing that a lot lately. He'd ask to get his eyes checked but was sure it was nothing but his emotions.

Kenny reached over and puts an arm around Kyle. "Have you been sleeping?"

Kyle looks over at him. "If I'm being honest. Not good. I'm trying so hard to be there for him but it's so fucking hard. It's so hard being the strong one."

Kenny bumps Kyle gently with his shoulder. "Kyle please, we don't want to take you away in an ambulance too. I don't have a phone and have been running for two hours looking for you. Just lean on me. I'll be the strong one for you if you think that's what you need for Stan."

Kyle presses his gloved hands to his eyes, voice a bit muffled. "I don't know what to do. If I can't be there for Stan. I mean look at me! I hit him in the chest and ran off! What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Yeah, about that..." Kenny hugged him again. "You did it by accident because it was the one thing you were told not to do. He died in front of you so many times you wanted to see if you could take that control back." Kenny laughs bitterly. "You can't control death. I can't. No one can."

Kyle snapped his head up. "He- wait- he's not dead, is he?"

"I hope not. Like twenty minutes later he collapsed. We called 911 and I guess he's at the hospital now. Hopefully okay. Again, no phone." Kenny shrugged.

"Oh dammit." Kyle puts hands to face again. "See what I mean? What's the point? He's a danger to himself." Kyle feels himself growing angry now even though his eyes are full of tears. "What was he thinking? Why couldn't he just sit and watch the damn game? Why did he take hold of the stick like he was going to play? The stupid idiot!"

"He wasn't going to play. I think he just wanted to be included, not humiliated. I was trying to gently include him too…it might be my fault if he doesn't make it." Kenny moved a bit away from Kyle now. Both Stan and Kyle were both so goddamn stubborn. "He was having trouble breathing after he got hit...by you. The puck went over to him, he got up to hit it back to us and he just collapsed. It's both our faults. I mean it was probably just his asthma again. He'll be fine. You're the wannabe doctor... he'll be fine." Kenny's voice started to shake.

"Oh god. Stan... I'm sorry." Kyle starts to cry fresh tears. He didn't know he'd be able to produce any more. Yet here they were.

"You have a phone... go text Butters because Butters and Token of all people took care of Stan until the ambulance got there. Butters rode with him. He would know if he's okay." Kenny suggested.

Kyle wipes his eyes. "Well at least someone cared when I fucked up so badly." Kyle took his phone out and looked at it. There were many texts and a few missed calls. "Dammit, Stan must think I'm a horrible person after all this."

Kenny looks over Kyle's shoulder, curious for news. "Check your texts? Want me to do it? I'm worried too."

Kyle opens the text from Cartman. "Ohh fuck!" He buries face in his knees again.

"What?" Kenny turns chilled. "Did Stan die?" He tries to look at Kyle's phone.

Kyle says nothing, just shows him his phone. A photo of Stan passed out and being loaded into the ambulance along with Cartman's taunts and laughing emojis.

Kenny sucked his breath between his teeth. "What the fuck? Yep, that's how it was. We were trying to sit him up until the ambulance got there. Those scars he had are gnarly. The paramedic was able to give him oxygen. I mean if anything I'll try to get back to the violet place to guide him back again if it's not too late." Kenny jumps up, in a panic. Looking for a quick suicide method.

"No! No don't do- don't- ever ever mention that place again!" Kyle shrieks.

"Well Kyle, what do you want me to do?" Kenny asks.

Kenny watched Kyle slowly get to his feet, feeling the anger seethe off him.

"Kyle what are you gonna do?" Kenny asks again. "Give me your phone, let's call Butters. He would know what's going on."

"I don't fucking know! All I know is my best friend is not going to die!" Kyle finally screams and begins to pace up and down the row of graves. He kicks a rock, rubs his eyes, unable to think straight.

Kenny goes to grab for Kyle's phone. "Please, you're making this worse. Let's just see if he's alive, or in another coma or surgery or whatever. Please?"

Kyle shrugs him off, and continues to walk back and forth, muttering to himself.

In this mood, Kyle's hands could be deadly weapons and Kenny didn't want a chest hit from him. He watched Kyle pace back and forth, before he jumped him, knocking him off his feet and making Kyle's face skid in the dirt as he grabbed the phone out of his pocket.

"Argh! What the fuck?" Kyle screamed as he spit out dirt and rock.

Kenny took off running with Kyle's phone. He looked through Kyle's messages and saw a missed call from Sharon Marsh. He dialed that number as he ran with Kyle chasing him.

Sharon felt her phone buzz. She looked down to see it's Kyle's number. Relieved, she stands to answer. "Kyle? Honey, where are you?"

"Mrs. Marsh? It's Kenny. I had to find Kyle and he's pretty pissed at me. Is Stan okay? Kyle's here but he can't talk right now. He's trying to kick my ass."

Kyle runs after him shouting. "Give me my phone back, you ass!"

Sharon sighs. "Stan is okay. We're waiting on a couple tests right now."

Kenny takes a full Mysterion leap up onto a windowsill and starts to climb the side of the church, out of Kyle's grasp.

"Kyle! Stan's alive. They're waiting on tests." He calls down to him.

Kyle stops and looks up at him wide eyed. "Is he awake, can I apologize? Can we see him? They think they know what's wrong with him?"

Kenny climbs another level, trying to frantically get information from Stan's mom.

Sharon sighs, this commotion was not helping her anxiety. "I can barely understand you, Kenny. Why don't you and Kyle come to the hospital so you can see Stan in person. I know he wants that."

"Kyle!" Kenny screams. "We can go visit Stan! Kyle, calm down!"

Kyle yells and points. "Fuck you, Kenny!"

"After all this? ugh. Mrs. Marsh can you put Stan on speaker phone? Can he talk?" Kenny asks.

Sharon glances at her son. "He's asleep and on a breathing treatment right now. It might not be the best time."

"Kyle, Stan can't talk, he's getting one of those breathing things. But he wants to see you. Dude calm down." Kenny yells down from his perch.

Kyle glares and breathes hard as he watches Kenny.

"Well, you want to go visit him? I am but he's asking for you." Kenny asks.

Stan opens his tired eyes again. "Mom?" He says quietly. "Mom, who are you talking to?"

Sharon shakes her head. "Kenny, sweetie. Shhh, try to go back to sleep."

Stan sat up now and put a hand to his chest. "Does he know where Kyle is? Kenny doesn't have a phone." He lets out another painful cough.

Sharon tries to get Stan to calm back down. "he's using Kyle's phone now. They're coming to visit you soon. Try not to talk, please."

"Mom! Let me talk to Kyle please!" Stan's machine starts to go off again. "Mom!"

Sharon gets up and walks out the room. She can't deal with this again.

"Mom!" Stan tried to get out of bed to follow but his tiredness overtook him. He just stares at the ceiling, blinking back tears.

Kenny stares down Kyle. "I'm gonna give you your phone back and start walking to the hospital. You better follow me. I can hear Stan crying for you and medical machines going off in the background."

"I caused that as well. Ahh man." Kyle looks more worried than angry now.

Kenny turns back to the phone. "Mrs. Marsh? Kyle feels really bad, I think he owes Stan an apology."

Sharon nods, trying to push down her worry and let Stan relax. "I'm sure he didn't mean it. But he can talk to Stan when you two get here. But you better hurry, Stan is getting agitated again." She hangs up the phone to let some tears out before she goes to check on Stan again.

Kyle puts his face in his hands. "He hates me, doesn't he?"

"He was crying out your name and I could hear the hospital machine going crazy. It's probably worse if you're not there." Kenny climbs down and hands Kyle back his phone. "You can be strong for Stan and break in front of me. I'll be strong for you, okay?"

Stan looked up at his heart monitor going crazy. Wasn't it like this last time? He was going to die and his last interaction with Kyle was a fight. If I die, I'm haunting the shit out of Kyle. I'll miss him too much otherwise.

Angelica the nurse enters again. "Do you feel better after albuterol?" She takes his mask off and puts the stethoscope to his chest again.

"No?" Stan glares. "What's wrong with my heart monitor?"

She observes it for a minute. "We'll see in a moment. I'm taking you to cardiology for the echocardiogram. You'll be back here in half an hour."

"But my mom. Please just call my mom..." Stan started to ask.

Angelica ignored him since he had been a pain in her ass all day as she wheeled his bed to the elevator.

Kyle walked up Main Street with Kenny by his side. "I promise I'll be calm…I think. Sorry dude. My emotions are all over the place right now."

Kenny put an arm around him. "Come on, tell me everything while we walk. It'll help you keep it together since I know as soon as we get there Stan will want to hold your hand."

Kyle looks at his shoes as he walks. "It's just hard. Stan keeps asking me how I feel about everything. I want to be there any chance I can but it's hard to see him like this. In pain. Not able to do much. eat much. Again, everyone expects me to be strong since he's my best friend and I want to be a doctor someday. I don't like reliving it all, Kenny. I'm always on my toes around Stan. I don't know how each day is going to go. I tell him he has to be strong, but I can't even believe my own words now."

Kenny sighs as he walks with Kyle. "Why do you think everyone expects that from you? Of course, you're going to be upset over Stan. I think he's upset you're keeping a fake smile on your face. If I were dying, I have before. I want people to face the truth with me, tell me how much I mean to them. Stan's even worse than me, he doesn't sugarcoat shit. Why do you need to sugar coat it for him? He didn't want that. He's scared enough and he knows he scared everyone. He just wants someone honest. Not someone. He wants you to be honest with him. Maybe you need to be honest with yourself before you can be with him."

Kyle looks up at him, mouth open as he realizes this. He swallows painfully and nods. "I've been an idiot. Of course, Stan just wants the truth from me."

"Do you want the truth from yourself?" Kenny asks.

Kyle raises a brow. "What do you mean? Of course, I do. I think. Damn. I don't know. The truth is so hard to think about. That's why I went to the cemetery. To try and face that truth. Stan could be there. Stan could have just been freshly…" Kyle stops and puts a hand to his mouth again.

"But he's not. Just face it. He could be. Feel that sorrow. Let your soul claw at your own personal worst scenario. Cry and scream at the premature death of your best friend. Once that is out remember he's alive and needs your support very much." Kenny says, walking a few steps ahead of Kyle now.

Kyle stands frozen in his tracks. "But how long do I dwell at that? I can't just ignore the real Stan and mourn a death that didn't happen!"

Kenny couldn't help but start laughing. He laughed so hard tears started to fall from his eyes. "Oh god. I mourn myself all the time. I sometimes get nice calm deaths, sometimes someone holds me, sometimes I go peacefully but that is all very rare. I have to mourn myself all the time because everyone else just keeps going like nothing changed. I think out of everyone I can mourn the what ifs with you over Stan. Keep it from him or speak it out. Guarantee it's in his mind too." Kenny wipes his eyes, growing more solemn. "If Stan had died back at the park, at least Token and Butters held him. I was too cowardly for that. I'm such a hypocrite."

Kyle feels himself growing angry at Kenny laughing. "Yes, well that might be something you do on the regular but not me. Stan's never been this close to dying before."

"Yeah, he has. When we were three." Kenny wiped his eyes and kicked at the sidewalk. "Why was your baby side more brave than now we're teenagers?"

Kyle shoves at him. "I wasn't aware of anything at the age of three, dumbass. Now I'm more aware of the dangers involved and know how close he was to death. I'll remember everything from his time in the hospital until the day I die."

"Okay..." Kenny braces himself. "What about when you got electrocuted when you were nine? You almost died then; you were dead for a few minutes. Have you ever come to terms with that? That's something you and Stan have in common." Kenny braces himself, expecting Kyle to hit him again.

Kyle sinks down into a crouch now, fuzzy locked away memories coming to the surface. "Wow, I almost forgot about that. Stan and I never really did talk about that. I'm not sure all he saw before he was whisked away into that doorway…"

"If you hadn't made it...and you almost didn't. I think I'd be having this talk with Stan as well. You'd lost out on the last four years of your life and the rest of the future." Kenny sits next to Kyle and puts a hand on his shoulder.

Kyle nods and gets up to continue walking in silence. They were only a few blocks from the hospital now. "What should I say? What if Stan can't talk right now?"

"You'll find the right words. Think of the gift of the last three years you gained, plus the rest of the future. Think of Stan healthy and hanging out with us four years from now, we'll be graduating high school, dude. It'll be fun with you fuckers. Or just sit there and hold his hand. Just be honest with him." Kenny says as they approach the Hell's Pass Hospital.

Kyle nods, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Okay, I can do that. Thanks, dude. You're a good friend, you know?"

"I know. Stan's a good guy for rescuing me. I feel shitty for his pain, but he saved my ass." Kenny looked over the vast parking lot of the hospital as he crossed carefully.

"Yeah. Stan does things like that huh? That's why we're all in Gryffindor House. Just three selfless and brave idiots." Kyle gave a small smile.

Kenny looks at him weirdly as they enter the hospital. "Uhhh Stan said I was an Aries. I can't keep up with this shit anymore."

Kyle laughs. "I meant Harry Potter. Let Stan tell you shit about horoscopes and whatnot. I'll tell you about Harry Potter."

"Ok I'll talk to you about death. We all have our dumb quirk." Kenny reaches the front desk. "We're here to visit Stan Marsh?"

The front desk lady looks up Stan's info on her computer. "Emergency Pediatrics, ground floor. Room 1202."

Kenny raises an eyebrow but starts down the hall. Counting the various rooms, he's died in over the years. Kyle follows, trying not to show his anxiety too much. "This is room 1202?" Kenny asks.

"Looks like it." Kyle puts on a strong face, and they enter.

Stan has his eyes closed, an oxygen mask over his face. Clutching himself doubled over at the unpleasant echocardiogram he just came from. At least he was on better pain meds, so it didn't hurt when they pushed the wand into his chest.

Sharon looks up from her phone and smiles as Kenny and Kyle enter. "Hello boys."

Kenny grins "hi Mrs. Marsh. Nice talking to you earlier."

Kyle waves shyly. "Hi Mrs. Marsh. How's Stan doing?"

Sharon gets up, stretching. "I think he finally fell asleep. But you can still sit and talk to him. I'm going to go to the cafeteria and get something to eat. You boys want anything?"

Kenny puts his hand to his stomach. "Can I join you? I think Kyle and Stan need some time."

Sharon nods. "Sure thing, sweetie. You'll be okay Kyle?"

Kyle doesn't take his eyes off Stan. "I'm okay, you two go ahead. Thanks."

Kenny goes to hug Sharon before they leave the room. Kyle gives Kenny a knowing look. If Stan were awake, he'd kill him.

Stan stirs a bit before going into another coughing fit in his sleep.

Kyle feels awful for him as he walks to his left side as he looks at his best friend, lying there yet again. "Stan? Hey, it's me. I'm sure if you were awake right now, you'd probably try to hit me. And I guess I deserve it. I am so sorry for being the reason why you're in here again. you know I would never intentionally hurt you, don't you? You're my best friend. I was just caught up in the moment. You know me, anger issues." Kyle laughs for a second before sighing. "Stan... damn. I don't even know how to start this. There's all kinds of things I want to say to you."

"Then say them..." Stan says quietly. He coughs again, moving his arms over his chest.

"Stan?! Stan! Oh, thank god." Kyle nearly falls back, grabbing Stan's hand gently.

"Say them, in case I die again." Stan doesn't open his eyes; he curls more into a ball.

Kyle squeezes his hand. "Stan. Dude. First off, I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for landing you back in here. This is the last thing either of us wanted to happen."

"We'll see what the doctors say. If I got heart damage again. At least I'm on better meds so every movement isn't excruciating." Stan opens his eyes and squeezes Kyle's hand back.

"That's good I guess." Kyle feels his own heart hurt at how bad he feels for his best friend. "Stan, I have to be upfront with you. I haven't been very honest with you lately."

"Oh?" Stan lifts his head a bit.

"I know you hate being lied to. To have people say things behind your back or lie to you. I'm sorry that I've been exactly that. A coward afraid to tell you how I really feel about this heart shit." Kyle leans over closer now.

"It is shitty huh? You had to punch me in the chest?" Stan cracks a little smile but coughs and winces in pain.

"Maybe. But you're right, it is shitty. Real shitty. I've been trying to pretend I'm some strong, high and mighty smart ass but turns out I've been a scared weak idiot. I'm sorry." Kyle looks down sadly.

"Ok I know that. Are you gonna be honest with me now? I could use the Kyle I trust back. I'm pretty scared. He makes it better, explains shit to me" Stan says.

"Yeah, I'll do my best. And if I really don't know, if I am scared, I'll let you know. Okay? No more bullshit. Because I was scared. I've been a scared wreck the past month." A tear rolls down Kyle's cheek. "I could have lost you Stan. We all could have."

"I know. I feel bad about that. I still feel like shit and something else can be wrong with me. Maybe my lungs now? I dunno. I know you saw me die a bunch of times. That's not pleasant to see." Stan frowns.

"It was horrible to see. I was afraid for you each time. I tried to be strong for you and your mom, but it was tearing me up inside." Kyle rubs his eyes, feeling them stinging again.

Stan starts to respond back but the doctor comes in now. He freezes, his hand reaching out for Kyle's. The doctor looks around the crowded room. "Hello, Stanley. I'm Dr Michaels. We're going to go over your test results."

"Okay…" Stan's voice wavers, his hand shakes ever so slightly.

Kyle hugs him closer. "You got this dude. Don't worry."

"The results from your echocardiogram show up as no damage to the heart itself other than healing from the surgery." Dr. Michaels starts, looking over his files.

Stan digs his nails into Kyle's hand. "But?"

"The MRI showed why you're having trouble breathing on your right side." Dr. Michaels continues, holding up an X-ray to show. "Seems you have a contusion along your left lung. Did you fall?"

"What's that?" Stan asks, fear creeping into his voice.

Kyle pats Stan's hand, feeling terrible for him. "That's like a bruise, right?"

"A medium sized internal bruise along the right side." Dr Michaels puts the paper up to the lighted board. "When your lungs expand to take in air it's aggravating the bruise. All we can do is give you steroids and send you home on oxygen."

"Oxygen? The fuck!" Stan says, even more pissed before he coughs a few more times.

"Did you fall hard on your right side?" Dr. Michaels asks.

"I guess. Don't remember." Stan says as he glares at Kyle. His right side was killing him.

The doctor starts to read off Stan's chart. "You'll have some pain for a bit, but you're going to get better if you take your medicine."

"What sort of medicine?" Stan asks.

"Prescription inhalator three times a day to keep your lungs clear and open while you heal. Oxygen to keep your lungs inflated while they heal, especially during sleep. Good news is after a consult with respiratory you can go home." Dr Michaels hands over some prescription paperwork to Stan now. Kyle takes it quickly.

Stan just looks away. Back to the hell of stairs in his house. But it was better than long lonely nights in the hospital.

"We're going to start you on daily blood thinner and antiarrhythmic medicine to make sure your blood pressure isn't too low. Also have you ever been referred to mental health before?" The doctor asks.

Stan looks at Kyle. "Kinda? Does Mr. Mackey count, Kyle?"

Kyle shrugs. "Well, I wouldn't really consider him. He wasn't the best at his job."

"You're going to have a referral to a psychiatrist to get you on some anti-anxiety medicine. That will also help you out." Says Dr Michaels. We're waiting for you to be looked over by a pulmonary specialist as well."

"Kay..." Stan sighs, already tired.

"Any questions?" Dr. Michaels asks.

Stan looks to Kyle before burying his face under the covers.

"What about his appetite? Or lack thereof?" Kyle asks, pulling Stan's blanket up.

"We're going to give him a prescription for a meal replacement shake to drink three times a day. It has enough vitamins and calories to get Stanley stronger so he can heal and get his appetite back." The doctor continues.

Stan makes a face at this. "Like baby formula?"

"More like Ensure or Slim Fast but prescription. It comes in vanilla, strawberry, banana, and chocolate." Dr Michaels writes another prescription and hands it over to Sharon again as she looks over the papers she is given.

"It'll taste like ass." Stan says from beneath the covers.

Kyle pokes Stan gently in the shoulder. "C'mon, you gotta do it dude. It's that or a feeding tube, right?"

"I'm afraid so, son. We want to see you better. You've lost almost fifteen pounds in a month." Says Dr. Michaels.

"Fine." Stan says from under the blankets. The doctor leaves now. Kyle looks over Stan's paperwork as Stan is quiet for several moments, tension thick in the air.

"Well, a few more checkups and you're on your way home. That's a good thing. Right?" Kyle says.

"Fucking oxygen? That's what my grandpa wears. Fuck." Stan coughs but doesn't look at Kyle.

"God, I feel really bad for that. I don't know what came over me. The past month and stress and I hit you where I could really hurt you. I feel like an asshole. Don't know how to make it up to you." Kyle can't help it but starts to tear up again.

Stan lays back, staring at the ceiling of the hospital and looking over his machines, giving Kyle time to let it out. "Not like I could hit you back." Stan says.

Kyle looks up. Wiping his eyes. "You can if you want."

"I don't think I have it in me right now." Stan clutches his chest.

"I still think I deserve you to hit me back for being such a piece of shit." Kyle says. "Hit me, kick my ass when you're feeling it."

"But you haven't been bad, yeah you're acting more overprotective than my mom. I appreciate it but it makes me feel worse and obviously it's not good for you either." Stan sighs wearily. "Hitting you isn't going to make me better."

"It'll make you and me feel better. I just think I deserve it. For everything." Kyle says again.

"Fine I'll hit you. Then will you shut up?" Stan grumbles.

Before Kyle can react, Stan reaches out and punches him right in the solar plexus. Kyle doubles over and clutches his stomach, reminded of when Shelly hit him, both Marsh siblings knocking some sense into him. "That was good." Kyle gasped. "You're still able to get me good from laying in a hospital bed."

Stan chuckles at this, before coughing again. "I hear you get hit hard enough in the chest your heart stops. Motherfucker. At least your ribs aren't broken." Stan looks down at him as a look of horror crosses Kyle's face. "Kyle? I'm kidding. We're even now? No more bullshit?"

"Yeah." Kyle's quiet for a moment, trying not to let Stan's joke bother him. "If you want honesty from me, I need a break from helping take care of you. I need to sleep in my own bed, take a shower and catch up on my own homework. Sorry if that's letting you down."

"No, it's not. Truthfully, I've been worried about you too. It's okay, you don't have to spend the night anymore if you're more comfortable at home. I don't want you to get sick from stress." Stan laid back letting out another cough.

"I'm so sorry. Maybe Kenny can stay with you, or Butters, or Cartman. Anyone really." Kyle sighed again, taking Stan's hand.

"I don't want Kenny to hit on my mom all night. Butters will be just as worried as you but not help me as much. Cartman…. he's my friend but I don't need him to make things worse for me." Stan thinks for a second. "Hand me my phone, I need to call someone who can help."

Kenny walked down the hall with Mrs. Marsh, slightly and selfishly happy he got one on one time with Stan's mom, who he did have a big crush on. Now was not the time, they had a quiet dinner and Sharon hardly touched her food while Kenny happily gobbled down a cheeseburger and French fries. She even got him an ice cream sandwich but told him to finish it before they got back to Stan's room.

An unfamiliar woman with wavy dark hair sat outside of Stan's room. Kenny stopped as he ate his ice cream, but Sharon burst into tears again as she sped up to hug the woman. "Veronica, you didn't have to come. Does that mean?"

"Yes Sharon. Stan texted David to have him come visit and spend the night. Poor Stan." Veronica hugged Sharon back. "I'm getting flashbacks to when David went through this, but Stanley is in good hands."

Sharon hugs Veronica once more before she enters Stan's hospital room. Stan is sitting up in bed, looking a lot better even with the oxygen mask on, talking to Kyle and David at his side. All three boys stop talking and look at Sharon.

Sharon goes over to hug her son. "How are you feeling, Stanley?"

"Okay. They're getting ready to send me home in a bit. Just a bunch of instructions and stuff. I have to wear oxygen. Gross." Stan makes a face.

Sharon rubs her eyes and takes her son into a gentle hug. "I'm so happy it's not more serious. Oh, Stanley, you always worry me so much."

"It's okay mom." Stan hugs his mom back. "Is it okay if David comes and spends the night? Kyle needs some time at home to sleep and catch up on homework."

Sharon sniffs and looks up at David and Veronica. "Yes of course. You're welcome any time sweetie. Thank you for helping Stanley out so much. Both of you."

"You saved my life dude, you and your mom." Stan says to David.

"Again sorry. But making it up to you means spending the night at your house and helping out it's not a bad deal." David smiles at him.

"Yeah, you can try my mom's Mac and cheese now." Stan smiles but grows serious. "Hey mom, Mrs. Rodriguez? Is it okay if I talk to my friends for a little bit alone?"

Sharon hugs Stan once more and kisses him on the forehead. "If you need to Stanley."

"Come on, Sharon. Let's get some coffee." Veronica says as the two leave the room.

Kenny throws the ice cream wrapper in the trash and goes to join Kyle and David at Stan's bedside. "What did you want to say?"

"Damn you guys." Stan starts, pointing to David. "This one causes an allergic reaction." He points to Kyle. "This one punches me in the chest after heart surgery. And you Kenny…." Stan looks at him.

Kenny reaches out to touch his hand. "Stan, dude. I can never thank you enough. We'd all be fucked without you."

Stan shakes his head. "I'm fucked with you guys but thank you too. You guys also sacrificed a bit of something, David your reputation, Kyle your mental health, Kenny your um…powers." Stan shifts in bed slightly to get more comfortable.

Kenny takes Stan's hand. "You gave up way more. I'm sorry for everything. Thank you for saving me. You and Wendy." He gives Stan a light hug.

"If it was bound to happen, it might as well happen now. My heart was a ticking time bomb, might as well use it to save my friend's ass. You guys saved my ass." Stan looks away, wiping his eyes again. "Damn meds."

David puts a hand to his chest. "It's okay. In a way, it's something I never really thought about until I saw a friend go through it. I always thought it was something to not talk about to upset my mom. Seeing her help you and your mom, it opened an old wound but I'm proud of how much she helped you…and me back then." "I'm here if you need someone to talk to." He squeezes Stan's hand briefly.

"Yeah, thank you. It was just an underlying condition I always had. Something to come to terms with and live with. Me and everyone." Stan looks at Kyle now.

"Yeah, it's hard to see. I get that now, David. I'm sorry I was such a dick, me taking my feelings out on others. Thank you for being there for Stan. I can't do everything myself, something I needed to learn. I'll take care of myself so I can be a good friend and helper for you Stan." Kyle rubs a tired eye.

"Can't control everything. Made me realize how much I need you and Kenny. Made a new friend. Got my girlfriend back. Surgery and new medication sucks but reminds me how grateful I am to be alive and how much I needed you guys." Stan smiled as he coughed again.

Nurse Angelica enters again. "Okay, Stanley. I have your discharge paperwork right here.

Stan gives an even wider smile. "Really? You're gonna let me go?" He starts to sit up, Kyle and David both reach to help him up, but Kyle let's David do it first, the boys sharing a smile of mutual concern for Stan.

"Yes. I'll have some more paperwork for your mother, but you can leave now. Be careful next time." Angelica cracks a rare smile and starts to unhook Stan from his machines.

Stan sits up in bed now, still pain in his right side. He smiles as his mother enters with Mrs. Rodriguez, a duffel bag for David over her shoulder. "Ready to go, Stanley? David?"

"Yes. Please, get me the fuck out of here before they change their minds." Stan got up carefully to get ready and leave. He looked around the faces around the room, no matter what the future held for him, he knew they'd always be his reason to come back.