Chapter four:
It's been almost half a month since Ink was found.
Ink is still alive though hasn't woken up yet.
As planned the three couples know when they need to be awake, and when they can rest.
The others visit from time to time to keep whoever is awake company. Along with checking on Inks condition.
The doctors that have checked Ink, Ink is hooked up to a feeding tube to make sure his body gets magical nutrients to help heal, only said that he's doing okay. They have no idea when or if the skeleton will wake up.
Error is the only one awake as Blue accidentally fell asleep. He does know that Blue can have trouble sleeping sometimes.
Blues energy can cause him to be too hyper to sleep.
Sometimes Stretch is able to get him to sleep, though last night when it was Error and Blues turn to watch like this night he didn't sleep when day came. With Stretch also sleeping since tonight he gets some rest with the others, it's all quiet.
The room is dimly lit by the light from the hallway. It is enough for Error to see Ink though.
Error is letting Blue rest in the chair he's sitting in, as Error himself stares at Ink wishing and hoping that he wakes up. He glances to Inks arms that are still bandaged as they heal.
The bandages have been changed when the doctors feel they need to do so.
Error hears movement to which he looks up more. He sees that on the other wall across from the side he is sitting on by Inks bed, is Dream and Cross's bed.
Dream is getting up as Cross is still asleep. He looks up meeting with Errors eyes as he gets off the bed. He approaches the opposite side of the bed that Errors on. He glances to Ink then turns back to Error. "Do you need to rest?"
Error shakes his head. "I'm n-not tired."
"That's okay." Dream accepts it and he looks back to Ink. "I wish I had seen how much despair he was in." He lowers his head. "I couldn't pick up on it. He was in so much pain that he hid from all of us. When we thought something was wrong he just pushed it aside. Some how he got us to accept that he was okay. Even though he wasn't." He blinks as a tear falls down his face then onto the bedsheets of Inks bed. He sniffles and wipes his eyes. "Sorry."
"N-No need." Error tells Dream who looks up to him with some tears ready to fall. "I-I understand w-what you mean. I know I-Ink better than a-anyone. Yet somehow I-I let things g-get this far."
Dream blinks away his tears in understanding. "Well. I suppose we will just need to keep doing our best for him. At least now we know that something is terribly wrong."
Error nods to him in agreement to that.
"I know none of us will let something like this happen again." Dream adds getting Error to nod again.
"I h-haven't brought it u-up with Blue y-yet but I-I'm thinking I'd h-have Ink s-stay with me. If h-he wakes up. So when Blue c-comes over then h-he should know Inks there." Error admits to Dream who smiles to this. "S-So I can h-help him and k-keep an eye on h-him."
"I think that's a wonderful idea." Dream admits happy to hear that. "I bet Ink will like it too." He pauses as his smile slightly falters. "I doubt he'll want to go back to where he had tried to kill himself."
"Y-Yeah." Error agrees as the two just watch Ink. "I t-think so t-too."
Two days after the conversation, it's a time in the day when all of those staying with Ink are awake. They are all chatting trying to pass the time as the hours shift to the afternoon.
Error glances to Ink. He prays to whoever might be listening that Ink wakes up. He swears that with all of them awake it is the perfect time. He perks up when he thinks he sees movement.
Ink shifts his head to the side slightly.
Error leaps to his feet knocking his chair over. His actions surprise everyone making most jump at the suddenness.
No one gets a word in when they hear Ink groan and turn to him.
All watching in anticipation as Ink shifts his head a little side to side.
Inks eyes slowly open to become half open. His eyes are showing a question mark and a triangle as he seems dazed and confused.
"Ink!" Dream and Error cry out before the two hug Ink with tears in their eyes.
Ink blinks adjusting his vision as his look changes to surprise. He glances around only seeing relieved and happy faces from those there. He doesn't see any anger or hatred towards him for what he did.
No one notices Dust standing by the doorway.
Dust narrows his eyes that Ink woke up. He turns and leaves feeling angry at this. He can't believe that Ink pulled through. He wonders if he didn't kick down him enough, to the point that Ink wouldn't want to wake up at all. His hands clenched into fists. He will have to correct this.
Error as well as Dream pull away and wipe at the tears in their eyes.
Ink opens his mouth to try to speak however he can hardly get anything out.
Error shushes him. "I-It's okay. We're j-just happy you w-woke up." He informs the other. "You don't n-need to push y-yourself. Everything w-will be okay."
Inks eyes start to close though he fights it.
"Rest." Dream encourages with a sniffle. "If you need more rest then you can rest." He watches as Ink goes back to sleep.
A grey cat doctor approaches causing them to turn. "It's good he woke up. This increases his chances of surviving this. Making it very likely he will live now." He explains to them then looks to Inks arms. He already saw the relief cross across their faces that Ink is most likely to live. "But those wounds will leave scars. Reminders of what happened."
"We'll be there for him." Dream tells the doctor. "No matter what."
The doctor smiles to him and nods. "I can tell." He checks on Inks wounds then leaves the room.
The next day Stretch and Edge are getting ready to go.
The mood has gone up since Ink woke up briefly. Plus the fact the doctor believes Ink will indeed survive this for sure now.
"If you need anything text me." Stretch tells Blue who nods his head.
"I promise Pappy. I'll let you know if I need anything. Go ahead and relax with Edge." Blue smiles at Stretch who nods with a smile too.
With that Edge and Stretch leave to go home.
Though none of them still have any idea why Ink did this at least he's getting better.
Over the next week Ink has been waking up more and for longer periods of time. He doesn't really respond yet but everyone is just happy every time he's awake. He usually just listens to them talk about fun conversations, or even mundane ones. He does see that they do try to include him in such talks, while not trying to make him talk yet. By the start of the next week Ink wakes up again.
Dream and Cross were about to get some rest, they change times for resting with the other two still, as then they'll always have someone awake for when Ink wakes up. They change their minds and stand by Ink seeing him awake.
"S-S-Sorry." Inks rough voice manages to get out to those there.
"It's okay Ink." Dream places a gentle hand on Inks chest by Inks paint sash. "We don't hate you for what happened."
"Y-Yeah." Error speaks up in agreement. "A-And we aren't m-mad at you." He sees Ink glance to him. He offers the other a smile. "W-We're just happy that y-you're going to s-survive this."
"We'll be ready to support you in anyway that you need." Blue adds as everyone else there nods in agreement.
Ink smiles softly in appreciation. He tries to not think about Dust. He has a feeling that Dust won't be happy that he woke up and will survive. He also feels guilty for making the others worry even if he couldn't help it.
Blue messages that Ink is getting better in recovery. He wants to keep the others updated on how it's going.
When Dust gets the message he clenches his hand almost crushing his phone. He sighs relaxing his grip so his phone will be okay. "This is just a minor set back." He mumbles to himself and turns off his phone; just before Blood responds to Blues text happy to hear it.
"Brother..." Dust Papyrus begins as he watches his brother while hovering by him.
"I'll make sure to be alone with him at one point at least. They still trust me. I can send them to get food to be alone with Ink." Dust promises to his brother and chuckles. "I'll make him know that he should have never woken up."