Chapter Eight: Bring Me to Life

Hours passed with no word from the doctor. Kaori fell asleep leaning against Brodi, but Brodi was wide-awake, glancing at the doors from which the doctor came every few seconds to see if he was there. At about 8 o'clock, the doors opened and out came none other than Dr. Williams.

"Mackenzie has indeed been moved to a regular room. I can take you to his room if you'd like to see him now."

Kaori awoke when the doctor had entered the lobby, and she smiled brightly and jumped up. Brodi sighed in relief and stood up as well. They followed Dr. Williams up to the third floor and down a long, drab white hallway to room number 1016. He opened the door for Brodi and Kaori, smiling slightly as he closed it behind them and walked away.

Brodi rushed to Mac's bedside, looking down at him sadly. "Mackenzie…" he whispered, reaching down to stroke his pale cheek gently. Mac was fast asleep, his left leg and arm in casts, and his right arm in a sling. There was a bandage around his head from where he had been cut. Kaori started bawling at the sight of Mac like this, running to the opposite side of the room and collapsing into a chair. Brodi stood by Mac's bed for an hour, stroking his cheek and staring down at him sadly, hoping that he would awaken.

Finally Mac stirred, shifting around beneath the sheets and moaning softly. His brow furrowed before he opened his eyes halfway, looking up dazed at Brodi.

"B-Brodi…" He whispered in a hoarse voice, staring up at him and smiling slightly. "Can you tell me where I am…?"

Brodi laughed sadly at this, leaning down to kiss Mac's cheek. "You are in the hospital, Mackenzie. Do you remember what happened to you?"

Mac looked around, trying to remember. "Umm… the last thing I remember before waking up right now was in the finals at Garibaldi and… oh…" It seemed as though Mac had remembered what happened now. He remembered that he had attempted suicide, and apparently he had failed. "I… tried to kill myself, didn't I…" He whispered, looking sadly up into Brodi's eyes. "Please forgive me… I'm sorry, Brodi, I don't know--"

Brodi pressed a finger to Mac's lips, silencing him. "Shhh, Mackenzie… it's alright, you needn't worry about it. Kaori and I are just happy that you're alive…"

Mac smiled slightly and kissed Brodi's finger, closing his eyes and falling into another deep sleep.

Brodi turned to Kaori, who was still sobbing in the chair. "He's going to be okay, Kaori…"

"But… but look at him! He's all bandaged up and I bet he's in so much pain!" Tears stained Kaori's cheeks as she looked painfully over at Mac's sleeping form.

"Kaori, I think you've had enough emotional stress for one day now. Let's go back to Garibaldi and we can come back to see Mac in the morning, alright?"

Kaori nodded weakly and stood up, walking out of the hospital with Brodi. They exchanged no words; the only sounds coming from either of them were those of Kaori's soft sobs.