Chapter Two-Hundred and Fifty-Four

Amelia bounded into John's hospital room, flying onto his bed and sitting on his shins. "Guess what!" She smiled, bouncing lightly on his legs.

He chuckled, pushing his dinner tray over to the side so that he could pay better attention to her. "There's a monkey in the toilet." He smirked, holding his hand out for his meds that Patty the nurse handed him.

She shook her head, sticking her tongue out and wrinkling her nose at him. "No! Chance is gonna have puppies!" She announced, turning as John's eyes shifted to the TV on the wall above them. "What're you watching?" She asked, leaning back on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm watching the News… I'm trying to figure out what happened when I was gone." He tucked his nose into her hair, wincing as his beard hair got caught on her barrette.

She looked over at Phoebe, watching as the older girl rubbed her arms and shifted from foot to foot. "Are you scared?" She asked, holding her hand out to encourage her to come closer.

Phoebe nodded, still refusing to speak in fear of breaking down and losing her mind. She stepped closer to her brother, crawling into the bed with him and curling into his ribs.

He rubbed her back, wishing that he could remember what had happened. "I know, Mouse… I know."

Asher and Sara stepped into John's room, patting John's shoulders as they settled into their usual seating spots. "Ryan and Baxter said you can come home in a few days." Asher smiled, grabbing a bite of yogurt from John's dinner.

John smiled, rubbing his jaw as Sara pulled on his unbelievably long hair. "Good. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed again."

Sara chuckled, shaking her head at how scraggly he looked. "You need a little grooming done on you, Wolfman."

He smirked, scratching his jaw as Phoebe clutched at his loose t-shirt that Claire had brought for him so that he could ditch the gown so that his ass wasn't always on display when he walked around the hallways. "I could use a shave and a trim."

Mary gave John a gentle hug, shaking her head as she looked at his homeless appearance. "Oh my God… you are a mess."

He nodded, taking a seat on the chair they used for haircuts. "I know."

Mary laughed, picking up her scissors and cutting the brown and caramel locks to their old length, she even cut his beard short, making it easier to shave when he was ready. "Do you want to shave, or should I do it for you?"

He smiled, picking up his razor and holding it to his cheek after he'd lathered soap over his five-o'clock shadow area. "I think I can get it." He tilted his head, pulling his skin taught with his free hand while cutting the hair away. "Feels good to be home." He sighed, rinsing his face off to show that he was once again, clean-shaven.

Brian smiled, stepping aside from the bathroom door as an old friend spoke behind him.

"We'll, Johnny B." Grinned Carl, leaning on the counter as John rinsed his razor and put some aftershave on. "Been a while, kid."

John smirked, pulling the janitor into a bro hug and making sure he stayed clear of his side. "Candy bar Carl!" He laughed, patting his shoulder. "What're you doing here?"

Carl ruffled John's hair up, throwing his arm over the kid's shoulders. "Tommy and Clarissa asked for some backup keeping you contained until you're healed up."

"They're gonna need a lot of backup." Chad smiled, biting his lip at the sight of the bandage on John's side when Amelia pulled his shirt up and starting playing with the hem and sticking her head under the fabric and against his stomach. "You probably can't wait to go a little crazy, huh?"

John nodded, cracking his neck as they all headed down to the living room. "Damn right."