"Mister Wonka?"
The nurse prodded him. Willy looked up at her blankly, unfeeling. He had not moved when his father had come, nor Charlie's parents.
The nurse handed him a glass of water. "You haven't drank anything in eight hours. You need this."
Willy took it from her, his hand shaking so that water spilled over the sides. Trembling, he took a gulp of the water.
"He's going to be fine," the nurse said.
Willy spat water everywhere. "Oh, Charlie. Thank God." He stood up, knocking his chair backward. "Thank you. Thank you." He pulled his chair towards him, sat down, and buried his face in his hands.
"He broke his ankle, both his wrists, and he got a nasty bump on his head," the nurse continued. "He'll be pretty fragile for a while. But he'll live."
"Are his parents furious?"
The nurse smiled gently. "They are very worried about both of you. They aren't pressing any sort of charges."
"May I have some time with him?" Willy asked weakly.
The nurse understood. Taking her clipboard, she walked out of the room, closing the door with a soft click.
Willy took hold of Charlie's wrist, feeling his pulse and checking the wall clock.
Charlie's eyes blinked open.
"Charlie!" Willy nearly shouted. Charlie winced, and Willy dropped his voice. "Sorry. Oh Charlie, I can't believe you're okay."
Charlie looked at him coolly.
"Charlie. Please. I wish..." Willy closed his eyes. "I wish I were smarter. I'm so sorry, Charlie. I really do love you. But I was so afraid that you'd turn out like me...that I couldn't tell you so. I would've given anything to bring you back. I would have."
There was a silence.
"It did hurt," Charlie said softly. "But...I forgive you. I love you too, Mister Wonka."
"I'll give you a hug, if it won't hurt too much..."
Charlie shrugged; Willy very carefully lifted him out of the hospital bed and cradled him as one would a very small child. Charlie curled up in his arms and slowly his breathing quieted, until he was asleep.
When the nurse came back in she found them dozing together. Willy's hat had fallen over his forehead, and Charlie's hair was a frizzled mess atop his bandages. Smiling, the nurse left the room.