Chapter 8
Pain.
It attacked him, and he struggled to get away from it but he failed. It stabbed him in the chest, plunging into his heart. It stomped on his left arm, kicked him in the back.
Sometimes he heard Tina talking to him, other times Theseus and once Bunty. They sounded so far away. He tried to listen to their words, but they seemed to get caught in a wind and drift away.
This purgatory had no time. He could have been suffering for an hour or a week. At some point, the pain began to lessen. Tina's voice drifted around him and he realized he understood her words. He felt her fingers caressing his hand.
"Jacob was so upset when they wouldn't let him into the hospital to see you. You know, him being a No-Maj and all. He's been baking up a storm. Cookies and cakes and pastries, all for you when you come home. Of course, Theseus keep nicking them and giving them to the rest of us. They taste so good."
Newt's eyes fluttered open, the light from the window bothering him. His cracked, dry lips smiled seeing her starring down at his hand, her fingers tracing circles on his palm.
"Tina," he croaked.
Her head flew up. "Newt! You're awake!"
He frowned. "Your eyes?"
Tears appeared in her black eyes, smiling uncontrollably. She fingered her nose. "One of Grindelwald's witches broke my nose. They fixed it, but I just have to wait for the bruises to fade."
"How long have I been here?"
"4 days."
"My animals…" His eyes widened. "Pickett!"
Tina squeezed his hand. "All is well. We found Pickett in your pocket, burned but alive. Bunty made a wonderful salve for his branches. He went into hibernation early, probably to heal. Of course, they all miss you, but Bunty and Jacob have been taking such good care of them." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I might be able to sneak a visitor in."
He licked his lips and smiled. Then his smile faded and he looked off towards the window. "What happened? All I remember is falling."
Tina kissed his hand, wiping tears off her cheek. "We almost lost you. If that wand hex had penetrated even a couple centimeters deeper, it would've hit your heart. The fall broke your back, your arm in two places and ruptured your kidney. The doctors worked on you for eight hours, meticulously repairing everything, but it's going to be a few weeks of healing before you get back to normal."
St. Mungo's Hospital kept Newt for another week before deciding he could return home. During that long week filled with aching pain and bad food, Tina kept him busy, sneaking some of his creatures in. She carried an invisible Dougal the Demiguise on her back, and Newt almost cried when he appeared and snuggled into his arms. She even brought Niffler, along with several gold-colored beads that she hid around the room for the furry beast to find. Newt delighted in watching, and it made him want to kiss Tina again because she knew him so well.