Chapter 6

They arrived at the ICU. Dr. B put his hand on Cameron's shoulder. 'He is still on a ventilator, and has a badly broken leg that is not in a cast yet. It has pins and a metal brace holding the bone in place, until I can repair it—when he is stronger.'

'And I really want you to stay in the wheel chair. No passing out!' he added.

Cam nodded as he caught sight of Dina. As she continued to hold Johnathon's hand, she stretched out her other hand to grab Cameron's as he was pushed toward her.

Immediately he used her hand as leverage and popped up to get a good look at Johnathon's face and Dr. B and Kay each put a hand on his shoulders to keep him sitting.

'Ok Ok, I forgot.'

'One unconscious Black Brother is enough.' Dina said as she looked at Johnathon, not sure which one was more pale at the moment.

Cam seemed to examine every inch of Johnathon's quiet form. Tears immediately formed as he caught sight of the restraints, 'Damm, normally he could bust out of these in his sleep,' he said as he slipped his finger between Johnny's skin and the restraint realizing how lose they actually were.

'Can I just sit here on the bed with him?' He asked.

'Not today, not now, he has so many monitors and devices to help him recover, and to help us watch him,' Dr. B said.

'Ok, well I'm staying here till he wakes up!'

Hours passed with Cam and the team sitting with Johnathon who laid so still—never moving at all.

Cameron's meal trays were finally brought to the ICU for him to push the food around, not really eating, not really resting, just worrying about his brother. Staff came in and out often encouraging him to leave and get some rest, but the answer was always the same. " I'm fine here.'

Mike came to visit and got a giant hug from Cam. ' Thanks for finding him…for bringing him here. '

'Absolutely!' Mike exclaimed. 'Hey, I want to give this to you,' and with that he pulled out the silver half dollar, 'He asked me to hand this to you. He said he was sorry and that he loves and cares for you. He always loved you!' That's what he said just before he passed out, "

Cam sat holding the coin, then rolling the coin in his fingers just like Johnny used to. Smiling, looking at his twin with tears in his eyes, (ya you said that cuz your brain was telling you you have to say that)

'I will keep this for you, until you are ready to have it back,' Cam whispered to Johnny.

'One other thing, we found the video of the night of the supposed murder on MW's computer. It proves that Johnathon is truly innocent! Cameron seemed to lose his breath as his breathing hitched and he started to cough a bit.

'Are you sure'? He finally got out.

'Yes, Deakins is working that angle and is trying to get a court case. She is doing everything within her power. Just as we promised, the FBI is going to help Johnny get out and stay out of prison. We got this!'

Ya, but look at what she put him through? All of us…' Cam said.

'Yes, but you would have never met me,' Kay said as she approached him and squatted down to meet his gaze. She picked up his hand and gently kissed it.

'Very true,' he responded with a weary smile.

'Ok, well I have to get home,' Mike said. 'Do either of you need anything?'

'No, we are good." Kay said, and with that, he left.

A bit later another doctor came in to check on Johnathon. She introduced herself as Dr. Green. She made small talk with the team and even commented on how she had once seen 'The Amazing Cameron Black show and was mesmerized by his illusions.' Cam seem to blush a bit and thanked her for the kind words.

She did take the time to comment on how tired Cameron looked, and that maybe he should go back to his room for a while to rest. His response was the same, 'No, 'm good.'

The conversation continued with her also explaining that she was on call the first night that Cameron was in the hospital. That brought a puzzled look from Kay as she replayed that night in her head.

'Ya, I have to admit, I think I was pretty out of it then. That fever really whipped my butt.'

'Of course, I understand. Are you feeling better now?"

'Well, I was…..,' he said as he directed his attention to Johnathon. 'How is he?'

'He is stable. Let's look at his wound,' she said as she sly smile. She lifted up his gown to reveal his abdomen, covered in white bandages with small blood stains on it. She checked the tape and pulled the blankets back up.

Key interrupted, 'I'm sorry, Dr. What did you day your name was again?'

'Dr. Green,' she replied as she put her stethoscope to Johnny's chest to listen to his heartbeat. She smiled again as she listened for what seemed like a long time, a very long time.

'Is he Ok?' asked Cameron with a very concerned look upon his face.

'Yes, I just wanted to give good listen." reassuring Cameron.

'I'm asking Dr. B to meet us here to discuss Johnathon's recovery,' said Kay to Dr. Green.

As Kay finished speaking, Dr. Green's pager went off. 'Oh, I need to answer this call. I'll catch up with you and Dr. B later. Ok? she turned to leave, but did say, "Oh, by the way, I'll leave my card here on the bedside table, in case you have any questions for me later.'

Kay couldn't help herself. She quickly rounded the bed to the other side, and grabbed the card as Dr. Green hurried out of the room.

She gave Cam a quick look and read it out loud. 'MW- Master of Deception' I just wanted to be sure that Johnathon is Ok and that I got to hear and feel his heartbeat one more time. He chose you over me. Cameron, you win the game.'

Kay ran out of the room with Gunter and Jordan following closely. Cameron nearly strangled himself getting caught on the oxygen tubing before throwing it off, and trying to catch up. Dina remained with Johnathon, thinking her high heels weren't exactly made for running anyway.

The team flew down the hallway and was finally greeted by Dr.B and the security team. The Deception team split up and searched all over. Security reviewed the cameras and found the doctor disguise and wig discarded in a room and another person, a man had emerged. Clearly MW was a master of deception! She had given them the slip again.

Dr. B took Cam firmly by the arm. He was bending over huffing and puffing and clearly very winded from his brief hustle down the hallway. Dr. B stayed within while the others continued to search. 'Im fine…..need to help. I need to find her,' he sputtered out. He finally squatted down to continue to catch his breath, and stop the room from spinning. Dr. B grabbed a nearby wheelchair and helped him into it.

'Come on, you are going back to your room. You need a break!

'I don't want to go back to my room, I don't need a break. Who knows what MW might have done if we were not there. I need to stay with Johnny!'

'Dina is with him, and I'm about to go back and check on him,' he said as they arrived at Cameron's door.

'Besides, it looks like Dr. White is here to talk to you.' Dr. B. nodded to his colleague, paused and quietly and turned to leave the two.

'Oh come on. No no no! I don't have time for this today.' Cam said still sounding very winded and out of breath, even while wearing the oxygen.

'You need to make time.'

'Did you hear? They found Johnny. He is in the ICU'

'Yes, I heard, but we still need to talk.'

''No you're wrong, I don't need to talk anymore, Johnny came back!'

'He was brought back. SHOT!'

'Same thing.'

'Not exactly.'

'Please, I need to get back to Johnny.'

'Ok, I'll take you back, but we still need to continue to talk at some point, Ok? -If your friends sense anything wrong, I'm going to make them promise to call me. If you feel overwhelmed too…..'

Cameron cut her off, 'OK, Ok Sure thing. Can we just go back now?' Dr. White started the trip back to the ICU, but continued the conversation until they arrived.

'Cameron, your really need to take care of yourself. You need to eat, and sleep and take the medicines that you are supposed to take.'

'Ok, Ok. I get it, really I do. I know I made a mistake the yesterday, but I'm good now.'

'and I still want to talk with you on a regular basis, maybe even with Johnathon,' she continued.

'Johnny? No way, he won't.

'Prison can change people. Let's wait till he wakes up to discuss that? Ok?'

As they arrived she cautioned him, 'and remember you are not rid of me yet. Take it easy and I'll see you later.'


'Cameron!' his head jerked up and his eyes snapped open. 'You are falling asleep every time I look at you. Let me take you back to your bed.' Kay said empathetically.

'No No , I'm fine. I'm staying here.'

'What good are you if you overdue it and get sick again?'

'But I'm much better.'

'Yes you are, and we want to keep you that way,'

'I will stay with him,' Dina chimed in.

'and so will I,' Gunter quickly added, both staring and nodding at Cameron to head out the door.

'Come on Cam,' Kay said as she laid her hand on his chest. I don't want to risk your health too. You can be back in two minutes if yo need to be'

'Why can't I just sleep here.'

'You need a bed, you need to heal. You can't keep your eyes open. Dina will call if anything changes.'

'ANYHTING!' Cam strongly repeats.

'Yes, Cameron, Anything!' Dina agrees.

He closed his eyes and nods. Gunter instinctively helped him up and back into the wheelchair and Kay brought him back to his room. Ginger, his nurse, greets him and says, 'nice of you to join us. I was thinking we weren't friends anymore.'

'He gave a soft chuckle, climbed in the bed and quickly fell asleep.

He woke up to his phone ringing. Actually both his and Kay's were ringing. He answered it to hear Dina telling him that Johnathon was waking up.

'Kay, we gotta go,' as he climbed out of the bed and jumped in the wheelchair that was right next to his bed. 'Oh! Damn! wait..these stupid monitors! Do I really still need these?' he said as he called for someone to unhook him and they hurried off.

When they arrived, Johnathon looked so much better. The breathing tube was gone and his bed was sitting up a bit. The blankets had been tucked up under his arms with his hands gently resting on top of each other, on the blankets. He looked like he was completely peaceful, except that his leg still had the contraption on it that looked like it was from the dark ages.

This time Cameron jumped out of the the wheelchair and sat on the edge of the bed with him. Dr. B. started attaching the nasal cannula to Cameron's face, who quickly swatted at it, "I don't need that."

'Yes you do. Again, I'm not gonna have you pass out. This room is only for Johnathon Black and we are not going to have to take care of Cameron Black in it. So just behave and deal with it. OK?'

Kay put her arm around Cameron for support, gently caressing the back of his head where the stitches had been, The stress of the situation must have weighed on Cameron, because his cough came back with a vengeance. Gunter poured him some ice water to help settle that down and Cam quickly sipped on it as he continued to stare at Johnathon as he maneuvered the coin between his fingers.

Dr. B. gently nudged Johnny's shoulder to see if he wold wake up. Nothing. 'I'm sure he will wake up soon,' he said.

'He is just in charge like he always is,' Gunter chimed in.

Dina smiled and gave him peck on the cheek, 'Whenever you are ready darling, you can open your dreamy blue eyes.' She seemed to blush ever so slightly as she locked eyes with Mike,

Mike blew if off with his comment, ' Ya everyone is waiting.'

The imteraction did not escape Cameron, who seemed to cough or choke on the water and ended up spilling a few drops on Johnathon's arm, which he quickly wiped off, but not before it seemed to cause Johnny to stir.

'Oh, no. Shoot, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Johnny,' Cam said.

At first a tiny low moan escaped his lips as they parted, Cameron squeezed his hand, 'Johnny it's me. I'm right here.' Suddenly a terrified look of fright came over Cameron. He let go of Johnathon's had like it was an electrified current.

'Oh Dina, you should be the one to talk to him. I need to go over there, away from him' he said as he abruptly jumped off the edge of the bed. (remember-he hates you). He tripped again on the tubing, actually hitting the floor unceremoniously, causing everyone to react. They swarmed to scoop him up as his grimaced and swore out loud.

Gunter and Mike grabbed him in a very unbecoming way and helped him to his feet while Kay grabbed the wheelchair to sit him in it.

At this point Johnathon opened his eyes and began to focus on the commotion. He reached out to touch Cameron and that's when Dina noticed that he was awake.

She was the first to return his reach and with that he whispered, 'Cam'. It was in such a soft voice, it was almost too quiet to hear.

Cameron's head sprung up and both Gunter and Mike, whose backs were to Johnny, turned around quickly at hearing the voice. They swiftly got Cameron situated in the wheelchair and pushed it right up to Johnathon, so he could see his brother's face.

Dr. B broke the moment. "Johnathon are you in pain?' He quietly nodded 'no'. He coughed a bit and Dr. B gave him a few ice chips to soothe his throat.

'Wh…Where….' mumbled Johnathon as he clearly reached for Cameron.

Cameron quickly spoke, 'Shhh you are fine. You're gonna be fine,' as Cam held his hand. Johnny weakly pulled his own hand back and paused.

(Oh no he hates me.) (he doesn't want me here)( shit my side hurts)

Slowly Johnathon's hand raised up to touch Cam's face , briefly touching the Oxygen tubing. 'Don't worry about this. It's nothing. I'm fine.' He sort of whispered the response, his voice was very thick with emotion.

Dina instinctively started caressing his head, maybe as a distraction. "Shhh, Johnathon, you are Ok. everyone is ok. you are Ok. Shhh.' His eyes closed and he fell back asleep with everyone staring at him.

Cameron sat back grabbing at his side, which he banged into the bed when he fell, pulling up the gown to look at the injury. Dr. B came around and looked at him. 'Show me where it hurts?"

'I'm fine, I just knocked it pretty good. I wanted to see it was bleeding, but it's fine. I'm fine.'

'Let's pull the recliner over here and have you sit in it and put some ice on it. Can you get up?'

'Ya, I think so.'

But Gunter sprung to his side and helped him up and the rest the team pulled the Wheelchair out and slipped the recliner right behind him and slowly helped him into it. No one noticed that Johnathon was again watching the sequence of events. They were too busy helping Cam.

Ice was brought in and positioned on his ribs. Cam jumped a bit and winced, but relaxed as the numbness set in. The oxygen was again adjusted so it wasn't too tight and with that everyone sighed a sign of relief and stepped back allowing Cameron to lock eyes with Johnny. As soon as he realized that Johnny was looking at him, Cam's brain immediately went into overdrive with so many thoughts running through his head.

(Sit back. Be cool Be cool. Don't crowd his space. He probably doesn't want you here! Don't cry Don't cry Don't let him see you bite your lip. DON'T CRY! Stay cool. BREATHE-BREATHE He hates you! remember. God I love my brother. relax relax. He'll be Ok without you. Just sit back.)'