And Then There Were Two

by TWbasketcase

Monday doesn't turn out as planned and two members of the club stick together. Through hell and high water they go until they come to a realization.

14. I'll Be By Your Side Part 2

Title: And Then There Were Two
Author: TWBasketcase
Chapter Summary: Finally we find out what happens to our poor, sweet Johnny. Major angst here guys!
A/N: I tried my best with the medical stuff; I'm no doctor so it isn't going to be perfect. But I have watched a lot of Third Watch so I just tried to copy it off of that show. TW is the best show ever. :D BTW I am a Canadian and our health care system is a hell of a lot different than in the States so I'm gonna try as best as I can to write it right.

Chapter 14 – I'll be By Your Side Part 2

"Hey Bender," I heard a voice low from my left. I stopped in my tracks to face the owner of the voice and I did not like what I saw.

"How ya doin buddy!" Dez asked sarcastically, he was surrounded by his older brother and about three of his friends. Dez himself looked like shit after the beating I fed to him last night. His nose was clearly broken and he had cuts and bruises just about everywhere. His brother and his friends on the other hand looked totally healthy and very pissed off.

"Fuck off, Dez," I replied and picked up my pace as I spun around on my heel. When I heard their footsteps coming closer behind me I broke into a run; I was about to get my ass kicked and I knew it.

After a few seconds two of them had caught up to me and tackled me to the ground. Joey, Dez's older brother got down in my face, "What the hell do you think your doing fuckin' around with my brother ya little punk?" The beat down was inevitable so I might as well take it standing; I spit a big loogie in his face and gave him a right shot to the eye. With that one move I had the four of them on me like wolves with Dez standing back and cheering them on. I was getting quite a few kicks to the ribs as they stood around me cursing. I got one final kick to the back of the head when my world turned to darkness…

I took a deep breathe; instantly I regretted it when I felt the shooting pains in my ribs and when I smelled the scent of coppery blood. I pried my eyes open and was met with a light so bright that it made my head throb just looking at it. Where the hell am I and what the fuck happened? My world began to spin as I sat up and instantly I vomited on the concrete next to me. Of all the beatings I have gotten this by far beats any pain I have ever felt. I felt the concrete around me through blurry eyes looking desperately for something to help hoist myself up with; my ribs were obviously cracked, if not broken, and I wasn't about to get up by myself…as much as I would hate to admit that to anyone.

I felt the cold feel of metal to my left; it was more than likely a street light or something but it was enough. I sat up as best as I could without groaning in pain; the sidewalk was full of cracks and stains while the light post itself was full of flyers and such. What a crappy neighborhood, I'm damn sick of lookin' at it.

I leaned back against the cold pole and rested; I was in some real bad shape. My eyes were blurring, it hurt to breathe, my vision was spinning, and I was aching real bad in the head and the ribs. I was really surprised that I am actually thinking this straight, but I have a feeling since I am so familiar with fights that it started to all feel the same. Pain is pain to me and time heals wounds. I noticed an older couple coming down the sidewalk walking their dog holding hands, I smirked; everything just always has to be so peachy for some people. They were probably about twenty feet away and I was starting to see doubles of them; I took that as my cue to try and get up and leave before they stick their nose in my business and try to help me.

I reached behind my back and started pushing myself up with help from the street pole, and no sooner as I was half way up I doubled over in pain and began to throw up again. Everything started spinning and for a second I think actually momentarily passed out. I was at a lost and confused state and I still have no idea what the hell is going on. Was it my old man again? Beats the hell outta me.

Seconds passed after my collapse until the older couple was at my side; jumbled voices frantically asking me if I was okay and demands to call 911 rang my ears. Their voices seemed much louder than they should have been…it made my head throb mercilessly and sounded like those loud beeping sounds when you get your hearing checked. It hurt like hell and yet I was more worried about where the hell I was and how exactly I got here. I remember leaving Ally's house and then black.

"Son, are you okay?"

"Do you need an ambulance?"

"His eyes are rolling around in his head; I don't think he is okay!"

"Go call 911!"

"It's okay, son, help is on the way."

So many voices filling my ears and not a clue to who they belonged to. Everything seemed so loud and scary and I was utterly helpless. I have never ever in my life felt this helpless and it made me feel like a huge pussy. The street around me was spinning harder and faster than it was earlier and it made my stomach turn so bad that I actually got sick again. I could feel sweat and blood dripping down my forehead and my fingers trembling non stop. Something is telling me I really got fucked up bad.

Just moments later the annoyingly loud and much too bright sirens of the ambulance, or cops or whoever it was heard followed by the voices of two or three people.

"Hey kid, my name is Sean and I'm a paramedic; I'm here to help you okay?"

I looked up and was met with what I think were brown eyes. I was obviously seeing double of the guy and it was so irritating that it made my head hurt more. I gave him what I thought was a conscious effort of a nod and he began checking my pulse.

"What's your name?" He asked a little too loudly for my liking…but that just may be a concussion talking. I tried to reply but all that came out was a scratchy sounding groan.

"Okay…that's okay don't talk." He said.

Another medic came up beside me and began to lay me down on a stretcher.

"He's got some pretty bad lacerations on the back of the head, Sean."

"Yeah and his pulse seems awful thready…he's lost quite a bit of blood."

The other medic carefully lifted my head – even though it still hurt like a bitch – and began to wrap something around it.

"Okay buddy, listen to me," Sean said looking straight into my eyes, "I'm gonna feel around you a bit to see where it hurts, okay?"

He started poking around my legs and arms first while the other medic flashed some sort of light into my eyes, "His pupils are responsive...one is slightly bigger than the other so he may have a concussion." Suddenly I felt a poke in the ribs and I let out a loud groan – to loud even for my own head – and Sean shot his hand back, "Sorry, bud. Alright Mike let's get him outta here."

Soon after I was loaded into the ambulance and the drive seems like a huge blur. I could hear the sirens wailing and every so often I could hear one of the medics telling me to stay awake; although sleep sounds so sweet right now.

We came to a halt and my guess is we were at the hospital finally. They rushed the stretcher out of the bus and into the doors where two people were waiting.

"Patient is male in late teens or early twenties, pulse is slow and thready; he has multiple lacerations on head and back, possible concussion, and broken ribs. His pupils were responsive but he was unable to verbally respond."

"Thanks guys," I heard the voice of what sounded like an older female; probably a doctor. I was wheeled into a room with a very white ceiling and very bright lights; I closed my eyes and was told again to stay awake. The smell of cleaners and other chemicals burned at my nose and once again I was being poked and prodded at. They were sticking bandages here and there and I felt them slip a needle into my arm. When they got to my ribs I just felt like screaming; I might have actually screamed but I'll never know. I was in so much pain but as the minutes passed I was feeling less and less of it; if that needle wasn't an IV than it was most definitely some drugs.

"Okay sweetheart," The older woman started; I hate when people call me that, "We are going to wheel you down to x-rays and then we are going to wrap you up, okay?" I gave her a nod and she smiled, "Good, now just remember you need to stay awake." I rolled my eyes as they took me out of the room and left the doctor behind.

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"Okay, we seem to have three broken ribs but that's about it besides some cuts and scratches. Now you do have a pretty serious concussion so you will have to stay for the next 48 hours for observation."

I nodded my head, "I have no insurance."

She frowned, "Okay but I think it is best if you do stay…if you fell asleep you could possibly fall into a coma or worse. Do you have anyone responsible at home that would keep you awake?"

I sighed, but then coughed when it hurt too much, "No…"

"Then I think its best you stay. Do you have anyone you would like me to contact, Mr. Bender?"

I hesitated; there is no doubt in my mind I'm already going to get in an awful amount of shit for even being here so it's probably best that they don't call my parents, "No…"

She gave me a sympathetic look, "Okay then; I will have a nurse in here every fifteen minutes to come check on you. I would advise you keep your movement minimal so that you don't cause any more internal damage."

I smirked lightly despite my swollen face, "Don't worry doc, I don't think that I'm goin' anywhere."

She chuckled, "Okay John; do not play with the I.V. needle and you will be getting another dosage of pain medication in about an hour from now. Do you have any questions?"

I shook my head and turned it away from her; I hated when people see me helpless. I heard her exit the room and I sighed lightly; this is definitely going to be a long 48 hours.

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"No! Don't go that way you idiot! God dammit! Don't you stupid assholes ever learn?" I was grumbling to my TV in my room; I was watching the Discovery channel and it was animal week I guess. I don't usually watch TV but when you are stuck in a tiny room with a snoring room mate and you aren't aloud to sleep for more than 10 minutes at a time there ain't much else to do, right? On this show the stupid zebras and antelope keep getting chased down by cheetahs and leopards. At first it was fun watching them get ripped up but now I'm just starting to feel bad 'cause they always lose.

The door creaked open quietly and my nurse stepped in, "Hello John," she said.

I gave her a nod and returned my gaze to the TV; I noticed out of the corner of my eye that she was waiting by the side of the bed with her arms crossed over her chest. She was an older woman, probably in her forties, kinda big, with a mop of frizzy blonde hair pulled into a pony tail. I slowly turned my head to face her with a smirk.

"Do I get to leave soon?"

She rolled her eyes, "Just like I told you an hour ago Mr. Bender, you can leave in the morning."

I sighed, "You said 48 hours…I came here Saturday night and it's Monday, isn't that two days or am I goin' stupid?"

She tapped her foot impatiently and shifted her weight to her other foot, "Actually Mr. Bender you came in here Sunday morning at about 1am and you have a very serious concussion,"

I rolled my eyes interrupting, "Yeah I'm aware of that,"

She continued, "We have to keep you under observation before we release you to make sure your injuries do not worsen…so stop your complaining and stick it out."

I smirked and carefully sat up more in my bed so I didn't hurt myself, "Yeah whatever…"

She let out a snort, "Now onto the questions so I don't have to spend anymore time in here than I have too. Are you feeling dizzy at all?"

"No."

"Are you having any unusual pains in your chest or is your breathing labored at all?"

"Well I guess I'm feelin' pretty hot considering I have broken ribs, but no my breathing is not labored."

"Are you feeling any intense pain?"

I rolled my eyes and smirked, "Just a little bit…"

"Would you like another Tylenol?"

I nodded, "Yes."

She gave me the pill and then quietly slipped out of my room. I turned the TV off needing a bit of peace for a while. Even though the idiot next to me won't stop snoring, the pills are kind of helping my headaches so it doesn't seem as loud as it does once they wear off. I settled back onto my pillow and let out a sigh; I still don't remember anything that happened to put me here, and on top of that I don't even remember coming here. The doctor said that memory loss is a pretty common symptom of serious concussions and said that I may remember it in time but also I may never know at all since I was apparently alone when someone found me. All I remember is leaving Allison's house and being in here; it's kinda irritating trying to fill the void and it often leaves me with another headache when I try to think about it. The nurse said I should stop thinking about it because stress can make it worse. I looked over at the clock on the wall; it read 8:30 pm.

I sighed again and closed my eyes. I was just starting to doze off when another nurse poked her head in the door.

"John?"

I opened an eye and looked at her with a scowl, "Yeah?"

"Do you feel like speaking with someone right now?"

I furrowed my brow, "Who?"

"She says she is a friend,"

I shrugged and the instantly winced from shooting pains in my ribs, "Sure for a bit I guess."

She pulled her head out and I heard her muffled words, "You can see him but only for a half an hour. He is still in pretty rough shape and real cranky."

I smirked and shook my head; stupid lady doesn't realize I just don't wanna talk to anymore nurses, they bug the hell outta me. The door creaked open again and I was surprised at seeing my visitor.

Allison walked into the room hesitantly and wore a scared look on her face, "Hey John."

TBC

A/N: Thanks a bunch to Dragon Blade5, Katydid7186, DarkoBender (don't worry about the long review I liked it! Lol you're the greatest!), KushelKitten, JBFan, Tracebo, BraveWolf, Ailcia, Billy Crazy, and everyone else who has reviewed this story. You guys rock and keep me motivated so rock on and feel free to let me know what you think. Chapter 15 should be up very soon, so for now I hope you enjoyed!

TWBasketcase