"You called Benny?" Mark asked as they followed the doctor.
"Yes. You wanna talk about it, we'll talk later."
The doctor stopped halfway down a hallway and turned to them. "As I said before, only a few minutes. Five, at most. We want him resting as much as possible."
"Of course. Thank you," Collins said. He moved past the doctor and into the stark hospital room.
Roger lay, pale and sleeping. Collins looked to the doctor, concern washing over his face.
"He's resting. It's all right."
The doctor nodded to the group and left. Mark hung back uncertainly as Maureen approached Roger's bedside. She felt tears sting her eyes. Roger's hand twitched and his lids fluttered open.
"Mo?"
Maureen smiled and reached out a hand to brush his hair from his forehead. "Hi, sweetie. How you feeling?"
Roger didn't answer her. His eyes shifted to Mark, then Collins.
"You okay, Rog?" Mark asked.
He managed a small nod. "Don't know what happened…I just wanted it to stop. I just….I just wanted everything to stop."
Tears formed in his eyes and Maureen sat on the bed, wrapping her arms around him. "Shh…don't worry about it, baby. We'll talk about all that later. It's okay. We'll figure it out. You'll be okay."
After a minute she stood again and went to Mark's side. Collins stepped up to where Maureen had been and patted Roger's hand.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"You're gonna be all right, man," Collins said.
Roger nodded, but stared at the blanket.
"Rog, look at me."
The younger man's eyes shifted up.
"You're gonna be fine. I ain't lettin' you give up."
"Thanks, Thomas."
Collins patted his shoulder and leaned down to give him a quick hug. "I'll come back later, okay?"
"Okay."
Mark stood at the end of the bed, not moving.
"Hey," Roger said softly.
"Hi. You okay?"
"Still here."
"I…you….we'll come back soon, okay?"
"Sure. Thanks."
Maureen stepped up again and kissed his cheek. "I'll be back soon. Try and rest."
Roger nodded and closed his eyes as they slipped out of the room.
