=Normal POV=
[Sunday, 6/16/2019; 8:00 am]
[Archian City; Archia Hearts Hospital]
Despite knowing Hayden was alive and made it through surgery after getting shot in the chest; there was worry all night long among the friends. A lot of them didn't get much sleep, and then there were people like Tray, Syrus, and Alicia who didn't get any sleep in fear of getting a phone call from Gabriel saying that something happened. As planned; the friends and at least the Raseri family made themselves available to go to the hospital first thing when visiting hours started. Most of them carpooled and left at 7 am to arrive promptly at 8 am. Gabriel was first to arrive with Spencer and a full diaper bag of supplies as he planned to stay most of the day. As he was heading inside the main entrance; he heard the others rushing to catch up.
"Can I help you?" the woman at the desk inquired.
"Hayden Haddock was brought in last night with a gunshot wound to the chest. Doctor Kristopher Moller said he would be in a regular room by this morning…Can you tell us which one?" Gabriel hoped.
"All of you are here for him?" the woman blinked.
"Family and friends, yes," Gabriel nodded.
"I have Hayden on the third floor in room 617," the woman stated.
"Thank you," Gabriel nodded as he turned and headed for the elevator. The group split up between the elevators, heading for the third floor. Exiting and regrouping at their destination, a nurse in gray scrubs approached. "Can I help you find someone?"
"Hayden Haddock, room 617?" Felicia said now.
"Oh, I'm just about to check on him. Follow me," the woman smiles.
"How's he doing?" Silas questioned.
The woman smiled softly now. "I haven't seen him yet. There was a shift change at 8:00 am; I just arrived, and Mr. Haddock is first on my list of patients. I heard it was a quiet night,"
"Is he awake?" Alicia inquired gently.
"I know he was awake around 5:30 am, but went back to sleep shortly after and has remained so since. That's to be expected, though," the nurse informed while reaching the room. "Wait here a moment," she knocked on the door and opened it. "Mr. Haddock, are you awake?" No answer. She opened the door fully and allowed the visitors inside, but put a finger to her lips for them to be quiet. The nurse turned on the bedside lamp and started checking over things.
Hayden laid there on his back sleeping; he had a mask over his mouth for oxygen, and he was hooked up to an IV and monitor to watch heart, pulse, blood pressure, and temperature. Hayden was propped up in bed, his head slightly off to the side.
"Gabriel, let me see Spencer so that you can sit with Hayden," Rachel offered as Gabriel handed over the youngest Haddock to her and took his place next to Hayden in the available chair.
"Does he know what happened to him?" Dustin asked.
"Yes, the doctor ran all those tests this morning according to the charts I'm looking at. Hayden was able to provide all basic information and the story of what happened. He's aware of the surgery, and chest tube," the nurse mentioned.
"How's…How's his mental state?" Gabriel forced himself to ask.
"I'm afraid we haven't gotten that far yet. I tried to do it this morning around 6:30 am, and Hayden said he didn't want to talk about it anymore and was still tired," came a calm voice. Looking over, they saw Hannah Grimborn entering the room. "I asked to work here for the next week or so to keep an eye on Hayden during the day shifts,"
"At least we know he's being treated by someone who knows him," Rachel smiled softly.
"I suspect, with Hayden's history of everything regarding the death of his parents, and now this…There will be some things to work through. You know as a former military man, Gabriel, that with gunshot wounds or traumatic events; there is always the risk PTSD, depression, nightmares, anxiety, trouble sleeping, irritability, unable to stop thinking about the event, low energy and appetite, feeling sad or withdrawn. There's…No way to know right now. Considering he already withdrew from the topic once; I can assume Hayden may not have an easy time recovering mentally," Hannah said lightly.
"I…Feared that. Especially because he was injured by the same person, who caused everything else two years ago…" Gabriel sighed.
"We'll get him through it, Gabriel," Felicia offered. Trayden hadn't moved from his spot against the wall, but still able to see Hayden; it broke his heart. Hayden was hurt saving him.
"You saw the fight before the gunshot, Hannah. How are those injuries?" Gabriel inquired.
"Surprisingly, not too bad. The wrist is still broken for another six weeks. Little bruising, few cuts, concussion, bruised and cracked ribs on both sides, so that will take between four and six weeks. I'd say by mid-August…He should be good as new physically…Mentally, though; I know he was still dealing with things, and this on top of all that could take much longer," Hannah said.
"I wish I could say we'd just do sessions like before, but if he's already withdrawing and it been about twelve hours since the incident…I'm…Not having high hopes for this being smooth sailing back to coping and recovering," Gabriel sighed heavily. "He scared me yesterday, and I don't scare easily…"
"He scared all of us when we learned he'd been shot, Gabriel…" Silas stated.
Gabriel shook his head. "No, not that part. Yes, it scared me…But I think what terrified me more was when he started spouting off all that stuff about wanting to die, actually put a gun to his head…Then turned around and told Dimitri he'd kill him. Hayden has a temper, I know he says shit when he's mad…But holding a weapon on someone, almost forcing them into submission…I've never seen him do that. Never heard him talk so hatefully to anyone…"
"It was a complex moment, Gabriel. Confronted with his parents' murder…Enough shit can make anyone act…Not like themselves. And he didn't kill him," Dustin said.
"I know he didn't, Dustin…But what worries me is that he almost did. He shot him…Even if he didn't kill him; Hayden shot Dimitri in the shoulder after he'd been shot himself. Hayden fought through that to take a shot at Dimitri, and admitted that he missed on purpose," Gabriel sighed heavily. "And getting shot hurts like a bitch; I've been shot in the arm before…I was in so much pain I couldn't move at all. I don't know the hell he did it after being hit in the chest…"
"Adrenaline. Hayden was hyped up and a mix of emotions, so he probably didn't feel anything at first. After Dimitri was tackled and cuffed; Hayden hit the ground in pain…" Silas reminded. "You know that Hayden isn't in any trouble for what he did, right? It was self-defense, and Dimitri was armed when Hayden shot him,"
"I'm thankful for that, but still…What I witnessed yesterday; I hope I never have to again. Because it scared the hell out of me to see Hayden act like that. And him nearly dying didn't help matters any…" Gabriel put his head down.
"He's very lucky to be alive. I heard he stopped breathing during the ambulance transport, and they revived him within a minute," Hannah informed. Suddenly, Hayden began to stir a bit, groaning. "I suggest we don't crowd him," the others nodded. It took a few minutes, but Hayden's eyes began to open slowly as the first face he saw was Gabriel's.
"Un-Uncle G-Gabe?" Hayden asked, though his voice was soft, raspy, and weak. He managed to pull down his mask and turn his head more.
"It's me, kiddo. It's me…" Gabriel said quickly, holding Hayden's right hand now. "How do you feel?"
"Y-You've been shot before…How do you…think I feel?" Hayden retorted.
"Still sarcastic as ever, guess you weren't injured that bad," Gabriel tried to laugh. Hayden looked around, seeing everyone there. "Oh, I'm glad you're alright," Gabriel kissed his forehead carefully. Hayden tried to shift a little but winced.
"Try not to fidget, Hayden…I don't want your chest tube falling out," Hannah said gently as she went to help him sit up more. "You've already had a close call with death, let's not push your luck. That tube falling out is considered an emergency…" she sighed.
"Yeah, well when can it come out because it's uncomfortable…" Hayden grumbled.
"Couple of days; it hasn't even been one yet, so you may as well get used to it," Hannah informed. Hayden groaned, defeated. However, his eyes scanned the room and couldn't find Trayden.
"Where's…Tray?" Hayden inquired.
"Hiding in the back a bit," Syrus said, pointing.
"Babe…Come here," Hayden asked. Trayden stepped forward as Gabriel moved a bit to let Trayden in his spot. Hayden took Trayden's hand slowly, trying not to turn himself a lot. Hayden brought up his left hand, wincing a bit because it was still broken. Hayden cupped Trayden's cheek in his left hand, using his thumb to stroke it a bit. "Are you alright?"
"A-Am I alright? Am I alright?! I didn't stop breathing in the ambulance and have to get revived! I didn't go through an hour and ten-minute surgery to get a bullet removed and chest tube put in to fix my partially collapsed lung! I'm not the one lying in a hospital bed because I shoved my boyfriend out of the way so he wouldn't get shot by a murderer and got myself shot instead! That was you! This is you! You're the one who got hurt, and you're asking if I'm alright?!" Trayden said quickly, frustrated, and worried too.
"I know it was me, silly," Hayden smiled as he brought Trayden down and kissed him gently, then broke the action and looked into his eyes. "But I'm asking if you're alright because you're the one who has been crying and very clearly all worked up,"
Trayden stared at Hayden a few seconds before the tears started to form in his eyes. Trayden dropped his head onto Hayden's shoulder. "No…I'm not alright. I-I hate you…I hate you…I hate you…" he kept repeating as Hayden chuckled a little, hugging him. "And you're the dick who laughs…" he cried. "It's not…Funny! You don't know how scared I was when you hit the ground and went unconscious in my arms…Why…Why did you do that for me?"
"Hey…Hey, look at me, babe," Hayden said softly. "First off, stop crying…It really doesn't suit you," he wiped Trayden's falling tears. "Secondly…I told you yesterday that I couldn't lose you. And lastly…I would have done it for anyone, Tray. You just happened to be the one Dimitri was aiming to shoot. I was never aiming to get myself shot, but that fucker doesn't have good aim. I figured I'd push you and the bullet would hit the fence…His aim went right, and that's where I happened to be standing…"
"Y-You still pushed me out of the way and were shot…Y-You could have died, and then what would I have done! Huh? I've spent these past two years trying to keep you alive and in our lives, but then you go and do that shit to me!" Trayden glared, tears still in his eyes. Hayden laughed a little, hissing at the pain and breathing heavy. "Don't…Fucking laugh, stupid…You stupid, reckless, idiot…I ha-hate you…I hate you…I-I ha-hate y-you…!"
Hayden pulled him in for another hug. "I love you too. And hey, I might be all those things, but at least you can say that I'm your stupid, reckless, idiot,"
"Sh-Shut up! And yes…Yes, you are…" Trayden tried to wipe his eyes, sniffling. "Don't fucking do it again…Don't you ever do it again…I've never been more scared in my entire life, and I'm only 19…"
"Hey, listen to me," Hayden lifted his chin. "I did what was necessary to stop him, and if I had to go back and change it…I'd still do the same thing,"
"You could have died…You almost did in the ambulance," Gabriel sighed.
"There were other ways to handle the situation," Silas stated.
"But we didn't have time for that. Dimitri wasn't waiting for negotiation, and I knew he wanted me as soon as he told me not to go for my gun. So I acted with the only idea I had," Hayden looked at him.
"What idea?! You told him to kill you!" Alicia screeched.
"Seriously…No one picked up on what I was doing? No one saw that something didn't seem right? No one saw that I baited him to drop his guard to get his weapon away from him?" Hayden looked around the room.
"Was a bit hectic, lad…You lost me after the fight…" Gabriel admitted. Hayden facepalmed hard and rubbed the space between his eyes.
"It was an act. Everything you believed I was going to let happen, was an act," Hayden stated as everyone's mouths dropped open.
"Huh?..." they asked together.
"I played him, made him stall things out until I found an opening. I warned him to shoot me, or I'd show him why you don't mess with me. His guy hesitated, so I knocked him out. Dimitri doesn't like easy targets; that's why I showed him I could fight instead. I called him out that he couldn't fight without his guns to hide behind. That's why he put me up against most of his people, but not before they abandoned their weapons and during the battle; I moved them farther and farther away from them," Hayden informed.
"I..Do remember that," Dustin nodded.
"I picked up on it. You asked me what Hayden was doing, Dustin; I never responded because I didn't want those holding guns on us to tell Dimitri what Hayden was up to," Gabriel said.
"And then you kept rooting for Dimitri to say something, and trigger Hayden…" Felicia mentioned.
"I told ya before everything happened. Whenever Hayden was down in a fight; if someone told him he couldn't do it…He came back stronger, harder, and faster than before and he would win. But…Ya lost me after that, laddie…I had no idea what the rest was…" Gabriel admitted.
"That was where the acting came in. I knew Dimitri wouldn't play fair…I knew I needed something to make him drop his guard, so I went with being easy," Hayden explained.
"That's why you said all that about not having anything, so killing you would seem pointless because he wouldn't take anything away…" Alyssa said now, eyes wide.
"Exactly," Hayden replied.
"But…Why the killing yourself thing…That…Was scary Hayden…" Trayden frowned.
"I'm sorry I was so mean to you with what I said, baby…But I needed Dimitri to believe I really wanted to die, and that all my attempts were stopped. I knew he'd get satisfaction out of my ending my own life rather than him shooting me. And as soon as he'd lowered his guard and was away from any other weapons, plus giving me his…I struck and turned it back on him, leaving him defenseless and under the impression I would kill him," Hayden shrugged. "I hope you'll forgive me for how I did things, but like I said…There wasn't time to come up with something else…" he said softly.
"You're forgiven, laddie…But Odin above…Ya nearly gave me a heart attack…" Gabriel hugged him carefully.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Gabe…And everyone else I scared. I wouldn't have done it if I had doubts I couldn't pull it off, or at least stall long enough for police to arrive…But like I said to him…I already lost one family; I couldn't lose another. It really would destroy me…And when I saw him going to shoot Tray; I just reacted. I didn't care about me…It was never about me; I just wanted all of you to be safe. I would have jumped in front of a bullet for anyone of you. This is family…And extended family," Hayden said, looking at all of them.
"Now…All that is behind us. You only need to focus on healing now," Rachel said gently as she came closer and kissed his cheek. "I'm very grateful that you are alright, and thank you…For saving my son," she teared up a little.
"I thank you as well," Dustin said.
"Yeah, thanks for saving our big brother," Eliot nodded with Aria, Cole, and Dex.
"You're welcome," Hayden replied softly, with a nod to the Raseri family. Trayden held Hayden's hand still, he kissed the back of Hayden's hand and stroked it with his thumb.
"I owe you my life…" Trayden mentioned lightly.
"You don't owe me anything, babe. Besides…You can't owe me your life otherwise me saving you would have been pretty pointless," Hayden smiled a bit. "You keep your life; I will keep mine, and we'll agree to share them forever. How's that sound instead?"
Trayden blushed. "I think that's a fair compromise," he responded.
"As soon as you're up for another party; we'll have to redo the graduation celebration," Tyler stated.
"Yeah, since ours was interrupted," Rylee agreed.
"Gimme a week or so," Hayden nodded, panting a bit. His chest hurt, and he had shortness of breath.
"Mask back on, Hayden. It's too soon for you to be off of it," Hannah stepped in and fixed the oxygen mask on Hayden's mouth and nose.
"Yeah…Chest still hurts," Hayden told her.
"It's probably going to for the next couple of days," Hannah reminded. "I'll see what I can do about upping the pain meds," she added. "So you'll be comfortable,"
"Much appreciated," Hayden laid his head back and closed his eyes; then he yawned.
"You're exhausted," Trayden pointed out.
"What gave it away?" Hayden remarked sarcastically. Trayden kissed his cheek.
"Rest, babe," Trayden told him.
"Will you still be here when I wake up?" Hayden wondered.
"We probably all will be," Gabriel nodded.
"Okay," Hayden agreed. It was quiet for a about five minutes, and they were sure Hayden was asleep. However, when Trayden went to pull his hand away; Hayden's grip tightened.
"Babe?" Trayden asked. Hayden still looked fast asleep. Hayden smiled a bit, his head falling to the side.
"Stay…" Hayden murmured while sleeping. Trayden squeezed his hand back.
"Awe, Hayden…You never change, babe," Trayden smiled a little. "I'm not going anywhere; I promise," he kissed his hand gently.
"I have rounds to get back to. You can all stay in here, but don't get in any of the nurses ways and try to keep it down," Hannah reminded before departing from the room. Gabriel and Trayden were the only two closest to Hayden's side, and everyone else were sitting, standing, or leaning. It was a long night, worrying for Hayden, and now he had a long recovery physically and probably mentally. However, they would all be there to see him through it. For now, things seemed okay, but only time would tell if that lasted.
