Sorry it's taken so long to get a new post up! I've been busy with high school! I'm a freshman so I have to focus on my studies. Here's an extra long post!
The next morning, Fin dragged Olivia down to the hospital, almost resulting in three accidents. They ran up to John's room and saw Elliot talking to him. Olivia collapsed on Elliot's lap, panting and red in the face.
"Wow," Elliot said and gave her his full bottle of water, which she chugged. "See ya later, John."
Olivia tried to say something, but she couldn't catch her breath. After several tries, she just gave up and blew him a kiss, which he "caught". Munch laughed and Elliot carried Olivia out. Fin was staring at John with a frown, his eyes traveling up and down his sheet-covered body.
"Have a seat. It won't bite your ass off," John joked and Fin took up Elliot's chair. He didn't say anything, though. John sighed. "You okay?"
Fin shrugged and twiddled his thumbs. His hands were shaking. John finally got annoyed with this and laid a hand over Fin's.
"Fin, what's wrong? Why are you so jittery?" The younger man looked at him with sad, empty eyes and just stared before they filled with tears.
"There was so much blood, John. I mean, when I saw you lying there, I thought. . .I thought you were going to die. You just. . .I. . .I was scared I was gonna lose my best friend. . .my brother." John was touched by these words. So much that tears spilled over his eyes, as did Fin's. Munch sat up, with difficulty, and held and arm out.
"Come 'ere, Fin," he said and Fin sat on the edge of the bed so he could wrap his arms around him. He buried his face in John's shoulder as quiet sobs wracked his body. Munch ran a gently hand up and down his back and silently waited the tears out. His had stopped, but they threatened to come forth. Once Fin had calmed down, he pulled away, embarrassed.
"Sorry," Fin mumbled and swiped at the tears on his face. John shook his head.
"You know, it's okay to cry. It won't kill you." John smiled and Fin returned it with a light laugh.
"You bastard," he said playfully.
"Ah, that's Mr. Bastard," John shot back. Then there was a knock at the door and they turned to Olivia pop her head in.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"I dunno. Can you?" Munch joked.
"Ha ha. Very funny," Olivia said and walked to the side of the bed Fin wasn't occupying. She sat down, leaned over to peck John on the lips, and hugged him. "I'm so glad you're all right."
"Thanks. Hmm, watermelon lip gloss. Yum-my," John replied and they all laughed as she pulled back.
"Hey, what about me?" Fin said playfully. Olivia chuckled and kissed him.
"Thief," Munch mumbled, making them laugh again. He felt Olivia grab his hand and smiled. She was like the little sister/daughter he never had and would willingly beat any guy that hurt her into the ground.
"Well, I just wanted to stop in and see how you were doing before I went back to work. See ya later," Olivia said and left. As soon as she was out of the room, Munch yawned and closed his eyes.
"Tired?" Fin asked and Munch nodded, too out of it to make a joke. "Okay. I'll let you get some sleep. Call me if you need anything."
Munch was already asleep, though. Fin smiled and removed the man's glasses, staring at how young he looked in sleep. He set the glasses on the table and left, closing the door quietly behind him. He leaned back against the door and sighed, running his hand over his eyes.
"Hey," Elliot said, causing him to start. "How's he doin'?"
"Exhausted."
"How 'bout you?" Fin shrugged and looked at his feet. Elliot laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "Look, Fin, I know this is hard for you. It is for the rest of us, too, but you gotta talk about it with someone. If you want, you and I can go back to the house and talk. It doesn't matter who you talk with. Just get this out. I know it's gettin' to you."
"I'm fine, dammit!" Fin exclaimed and stormed off to his car. He went to the precinct, put on some gloves, and took his anger out on the punching bag. In his mind, it was the person who shot John, even though he didn't know who it was. He continued this until his shirt was soaked with sweat, his arm muscles burned like fire, and could barely breathe. Elliot walked in and saw him and sighed.
"Are you going to tell him? Or are you gonna wait so he can hear it from some nurse that he doesn't even know? This could affect his life, Fin. Physically and mentally."
"I know! I just. . .I don't know how to tell him. 'Oh, hey, John. I just came by for a little visit. Oh, by the way, you won't be able to walk for a while!' No way in hell!" Fin hit the bag as hard as he could and it went swinging Elliot's way. The tall man was prepared, though, and caught it, grunting at the weight. He pushed it back to Fin and the man continued.
"It doesn't have to be like that. Just tell him what the doctor told us." Fin kicked the bag and then went back to punching it. Elliot wasn't sure, but he thought he saw tears running down Fin's face, mixing with sweat. Suddenly, the dark-skinned man swayed and collapsed on the ground right before the punching bag swiped over the spot where he was just standing. "Shit! Fin!"
Elliot grabbed the bag and stopped its motion. He knelt beside the unconscious man and shook him. Then he smacked him in the face a few times. When that didn't work, he hauled him up in his arms, carried him to the Crib, laid him on a bed, and laid a washcloth on his forehead. Fin moaned and his eyes flickered open.
"W-What happened?" he croaked.
"Stupid idiot. You passed out. Probably from exhaustion or dehydration with the way you were sweating." Elliot mopped his face with the rag until he stopped sweating and then Fin sat up. He tried to stand, but he stumbled and Elliot had to catch him. He moaned at the pain in his head.
"Oh, my head."
"Yeah, you hit it pretty hard. Those mats don't do much." Fin sat back down on the bead and clutched his head in his hands. "Now, does this teach you not to do something that stupid again?"
"I'm not one of your kids, Elliot."
"Well, you sure are acting a lot like Dickie right now."
"Shut up." He felt Elliot get up off the bed and heard him shuffle through his locker. Then he looked up and saw him standing right in front of him with two aspirin in his hand and a bottle of water.
"Take it."
"Thanks." He threw the pills back and swallowed them quickly. Too quickly. He choked on them and started to cough harshly. Elliot whacked him on the back a few times until he breathed normally again.
"You okay?"
"Yeah." He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "I don't know how I'm gonna do this, El. I. . .I need help."
"All you gotta do is ask." Elliot laid a hand on his back and smiled. "Do you want me to go with you?"
Fin shook his head and rubbed his forehead where he felt it throbbing. He sighed and closed his eyes, leaning forward a bit.
"I'm gonna get a quick shower and then I'll drive back up to the hospital and tell him." Fin stood, but the dizziness came forth again and he stumbled. Elliot jumped up and grabbed him, though.
"Maybe you should just rest for a while. You can't even stand up straight, let alone drive. No way. I'll be downstairs if you need anything."
Fin laid back on the bed after stripping off his shirt and released a deep sigh. He couldn't get that picture of John out of his mind. However, his body needed the rest too much and he let his eyes drift shut.
There ya go! TBC