Ayeee I'm back. I know that was an odd gap after updating like three times in two days, but end of term happened and yeah. It's over now though so yay fresh start. I sort of just wrote this throughout the week, instead of sitting down and whacking it out like i normally do, so that was different. I started incorporating little Deaf culture things that seem obvious to me as an ASL student, but if you have any questions shoot me a PM or a review and I'll answer to the best of my ability. Anywhooo, I love you all and you're wonderful and please review and follow and if you have any little requests please let me know! On with the story!

It was just before seven the morning after Nick's surgeries. He'd gotten out of the last one at about four thirty and they'd taken the chest tube out at five, and he was just starting to wake up. Jeff had his hand, as always, and Remi had left about ten minutes ago to stretch his legs.

Jeff thought about texting Remi, but he didn't want to let go of Nick's hand, and maybe it was selfish, but he wanted Nick's first really conscious moments to himself. He squeezed Nick's hand and resumed scrolling through Instagram.

When he finally did wake up, it wasn't like on TV, with a weak cough and a smile, or a sudden jolt and ripping IVs out. His eye just slipped open, unfocused and clouded over with medication and spilling tears. He was confused and scared. Jeff felt him move and looked up, putting his phone away.

"Jeff," he made a hum low in his throat, tears still racing down his cheeks. His voice got louder, trying to hear himself. "Jeff? Where are we?"

Jeff squeezed his hand before setting it on his knee to sign. "Relax, breathe. We're in the hospital, you were in a car accident."

Nick froze, his face scrunching up in awful fear, still speaking aloud. "You're signing - Jeff I can't hear." his voice rose in panic. "I can't hear. I - I - Jeff, I can't -" the tears turned to sobs.

"Nick," he signed, using his sign name - the letter N used in place of flat hands in the sign for happy - rather than just tapping his hand or waving. "The accident damaged your auditory nerve, but you're okay, we're okay, this is what ASL is for. It's all going to work out."

He frowned hard, tears still rolling down his face but no fresh ones forming, and signed instead of speaking. "Can they fix it?"

Jeff squeezed his hand and let go to sign. "They tried, they really did. But they couldn't."

Nick's mouth twisted down again. He pulled in a heavy, trembling breath, making him wince and press a hand to his side. He took another deep breath, then let go and adjusted his gaze back to Jeff's upper chest and neck. "I want to go home."

Jeff nodded. "I know, honey. I know you don't like doctors or anything like this, but I've met a bunch here, they're all really nice. And I'll stay here the whole time until you're better."

The door opened and closed, Jeff looked up to see a nurse in the doorway. Nick followed his gaze when he diverted his attention and the sight of the nurse was enough to make him cry again.

Jeff took both of his hands while the nurse glanced over the whiteboard with his name - which Jeff had made sure said Nick, because he was tired of correcting people but Nick hated being called Nicholas - his medications, pain chart, phone numbers, and a note of his deafness - with a little d, which he was sure Nick would be miffed about when he noticed - among other things.

Nick was shifting, pulling into himself, making that little rumble in his throat that Jeff wasn't quite sure he knew he was doing. The nurse turned back with a smile, and Jeff pulled every bit of deaf courtesy out of the archives of his brain in preparation.

The nurse flipped to a blank page in a notebook, scribbling, then passed it to Nick. Jeff leaned in to read.

Hi, Nick, my name is Tucker. I'm the day nurse, can you tell me about your condition?

Jeff cleared his throat. "I can interpret for you if that would be easier."

Tucker looked surprised. "Could you? That would be so helpful."

Jeff nodded. "Look at him, he'll be looking at me. Talk normally, in first person, like you would any other time." he signed as he spoke. He positioned himself to interpret easier, then glanced down to make sure his clothes weren't loud. Plain black T-shirt and dark jeans, perfect.

Tucker nodded and turned to Nick. "What's your pain level on a scale of one to ten?"

Nick frowned, his face pinching. "About a six. I'm just kind of numb and achy."

Tucker made a quick note on the whiteboard, circling the six. "That's something I can help with. How's your positioning? Can you move yourself or do you need some help?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"What about personal hygiene? Do you need to shower, brush your teeth, change your clothes, anything?"

"Maybe a change of clothes later, but I can do that."

Tucker nodded. "I'm just going to get vitals now."

As soon as Jeff was done signing, Nick grabbed his hand.

"Right across your forehead," Tucker said, pausing momentarily for Jeff to interpret before moving in.

Jeff fingerspelled "thermometer" quickly and ran a finger across his forehead before Tucker touched him. Nick blinked, the speed of the letters having gone right over his head, and yelped a little when the thermometer swiped over his forehead.

Nick cringed and brought his other arm closer to his body. Jeff glanced over and saw Tucker pulling a blood pressure machine closer. He tapped Nick's hand and cupped his own arm as if it were the cuff, letting him know what was next.

He had time to understand this time before Tucker was ready and held his arm away, letting Tucker wrap the cuff around his bicep. Nick leaned into Jeff's shoulder, holding his ribs, while it tightened.

When that was done, Tucker pulled off the cuff and noted the numbers on the monitor over Jeff's head. "Okay, that wraps it up, not too bad, right? Can I get you anything, Nick?"

Nick shook his head. "I'm fine, thank you."

Tucker nodded and dismissed himself, passing Remi in the doorway. Jeff looked up again. "He's awake,"

A smile lit up Remi's face. "He's awake." he sat down in his usual spot.

"I was going to take a walk, do you need me to interpret?"

Remi blinked, remembering that would be needed now. "Ah. No, I'm sure it's fine."

Jeff nodded and smiled at Nick. "Text me if you need me to come back."

Nick nodded, and Jeff headed to the elevator. He poked around the cafeteria, decided it wasn't worth it, and found a map to track down the gift shop.

He wandered up and down the aisles, taking his time scanning through the shelves. He saw some chocolates Nick would love, but he didn't know if he was allowed to eat, so he decided he'd come back for them if he could. Then he saw a stuffed raccoon and a giggle slipped out in the silent shop. It was perched on its back legs, head tucked down, tail fluffed up and flopping behind it.

He slid the raccoon off the shelf and grabbed a bouquet of bright flowers on the way out, fake, so they wouldn't have to watch them die in case he was here for a while.

The raccoon and flowers under his arm, he slid his card back in his wallet and tried to find his way back to the elevator.

Jeff hesitated at the door to Nick's room, realizing this was the first time he'd left Nick since he'd been awake, and unsure if he should bother knocking or not. This new life was full of firsts.

He decided against knocking and relied on the door opening and closing to alert Remi to his presence.

"Nurse just gave some meds," Remi warned quietly, smiling.

Nick's whole face brightened when he saw him, Jeff couldn't help but return the smile. He set the gifts down at Nick's feet to sign. "Brought you some stuff."

Nick clapped his hands, looking delighted.

He held up the flowers. "First we have some lovely fake flowers, I have no idea what kind," he turned to put them in a cup, but Nick waved - which didn't work because Jeff's back was turned - then tapped the bed rail a few times. That got him to turn around. Nick held out his hands and took the flowers, preening them lightly.

Jeff grinned and held up the raccoon, his mind going to Nick's obsession with stuffed animals. "And this is a neat little friend I found."

Nick took the raccoon, smiling so wide Jeff thought his face was going to split open. "I shall call him Claudius Denmark Trash Panda Sunshine Patches VII. Patch for short." he fingerspelled the entire name lightning-fast, so fast Jeff wasn't sure he caught all of it, but he snorted a laugh at what he did catch.

"Patch, huh?" he used the sign name Nick had given him, a combination of the signs for panda and patch, like on a jacket, placed over the eye.

Nick smiled smugly. "You don't have a Patch. And I do." he stuck his tongue out and squeezed Patch defensively.

Jeff almost cried laughing so hard. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.