*I know I'm spoiling you guys with the daily updates but I'm trying to get this story finished up so that I can start my next one before the new season starts.

**In this chapter we have some Team!Family adorableness. We also have Ethan crying over pizza! I hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 15 - Is That Pizza?

Several more days had gone by before Ethan had returned to his slightly normal self. He had spiked another fever in the middle of Leanne's shift, and she had spent all night running back and forth to his room to check on him. He had been fine of course, but after their talk she hadn't been able to get over the thought of something happening to him, and she wanted to be extra sure he was okay. The next day he had been fine, and the five days following that were spent in roughly the same routine.

Leanne had taken to sleeping in the chair in Ethan's room again and Campbell had had to threaten to kick her out completely if she didn't go home and sleep in a real bed. Which Ethan and Jesse had backed up, much to Leanne's dismay. Sleeping away from Ethan had been hard again, but luckily, she was so exhausted by the time she got to bed that the nightmares had been minimal at best.

Ethan on the other hand, had become every nurse's worst nightmare. First of all, he hated being a patient. Second of all, he was a horrible patient. Third of all, he was cranky and moody and whiny. Campbell had even told him that he would sedate him again if he kept his shenanigans up. To which Ethan had just rolled his eyes and pouted even more.

He hated being in this damn bed. He hated this damn hospital gown. He hated the crappy hospital food. He hated the shitty channels on the TV. He hated the IV and the cast and he had long ago ripped out his oxygen. He hated the beeping of the monitors and the poking and the prodding. But more than anything. He hated being locked in the damn room by himself all day.

Sure, his friends would stop by and see him occasionally. Leanne would visit for an hour or two after shift, before going home to shower and sleep, only to wake and repeat. And Jesse would stop by and yell at Ethan for being mean to the nurses. Noa had even come by a few times, bringing him comic books and contraband sodas. But none of them stayed more than two hours. And dammit, Ethan Willis was lonely.

And as if his friends had heard his wayward thoughts, he heard the door open and there they were. All of them. Ethan offered them all a suspicious look, knowing that the shit-eating grins on their faces meant they were up to something. And it probably wasn't something good.

"Yeeesss…?" He dragged out, raising an eyebrow when Noa pushed a cart through the door, the others scurrying inside behind her. They all situated themselves in various places around the room and he moved his eyes from each face to the next, waiting for someone to speak. Leanne tucked herself in her normal spot next to him the bed. Rollie and Will leaned against the wall to his left, closing the blinds in the small window with a smile. Angus and Jesse plopped themselves down in the chairs to his right, and Mario leaned back against the counter by the door. Noa however, stood still in the middle of the room, her hands still on the handles of the cart she had pushed in.

"There had better be something good under that blanket or I'm calling psych on all of you." He said, pointing his finger at Rollie and moving his arm, making sure to catch them all in his stare.

"Oh it's totally worth it." Noa said, the smile on her face more than Ethan could stand and he just shook his head, letting his arm fall around Leanne's waist, pulling her against him. Noa reached down and pulled the blue blanket off of the cart, revealing the most beautiful thing Ethan had ever seen. Pizza. "We brought pizza!"

Ethan felt tears prick his eyes and he swatted at Angus when he let out a chuckle, his eyes taking in the older man's appearance. He felt like a fool. A hungry fool. But a fool. "I haven't had real food in days." He said softly, eyeing the boxes curiously.

"We know." Mario spoke up this time, moving forward to stand next to Noa. "That's why we figured you'd enjoy this."

Ethan shook his head again, willing away the godforsaken tears. He felt Will reach out and pat his shoulder gently. "We know how much you love a good pizza." The humor in his tone caused Ethan to turn towards him, shooting him daggers as he blinked.

Everyone in the room let out a chuckle and Noa and Mario started handing out the pizza, a stack of leftover Christmas plates appearing from inside Rollie's jacket. Angus pulled the box from off of the bottom and opened it to reveal a pile of soda. He passed them around the room as the pair finished up the pizza and then they all settled down to eat.

They ate in comfortable silence, all of them relishing in the fact that they could finally relax, all together, for a few minutes. Ethan cleared his throat and set his plate down on his lap, reaching behind Leanne to grab his can, lifting it up in front of him. "I would like to propose a toast." All eyes were now on him, and he swallowed once more before speaking. "To good pizza." He raised his can and chuckled slightly when the others eyed him suspiciously. "And to even better friends."

A chorus of chuckles echoed throughout the room as everyone realized what Ethan had said. They could all agree that good friends was something worth toasting too. They all raised their cans and echoed Ethan's cheer "to good friends" before all taking a sip.

"This would taste so much better with some rum in it." Jesse said quietly, and everyone laughed before raising their cans again, echoing out "to rum" with soft chuckles.

After they were all done Noa collected plates and empty cans, placing them back on the cart and throwing the blanket back over the top. She pushed the cart into the corner and moved to stand with Mario, their hips brushing as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.

"I really do want to thank you guys though." Ethan's voice was soft, and they all froze, turning their eyes toward him. "You've been great through all of this." He wrapped his arm around Leanne again, and he smiled softly as she tucked herself into his side, a small smile on her face as well. "Neither one of us could've gotten through this without you." He whispered, his eyes catching Leanne's, his smile growing as she returned it with one of her own.

Jesse eyed the two curiously, his brain confused as to how they could both still look so damn adorable given the circumstances. "You two make me sick." He spat, the smile on his face betraying the words he'd just said.

Leanne let out a chuckle and raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

It was Noa who piped up this time, her voice quiet but cheerful. "You're like a walking advertisement for Happily Ever After."

Ethan smiled and pressed a kiss to Leanne's head before speaking. "And what exactly is wrong with that?"

"Nothing." Mario added, eyeing the two from across the room. "It's just weird."

"Well you know what they say, in sickness and in health..." Jesse added lightly, stopping when he saw Leanne blush, burying her face against Ethan's chest.

Mario choked back a gasp and the giggle that left Noa was astounding. Even Will let out a howl from his place in front of the window, causing Rollie, Angus, and Jesse to join in on the laughter resonating throughout the room.

"Can I least get out of this horrid hospital gown before we go making any trips down the aisle?" Ethan's voice was soft, the smile on Leanne's face growing ten fold, and he pulled her close yet again. "Please?" He eyed his co-workers wearily. His friends. And every single one of them knew exactly what he was saying. That it was almost time. Almost.

"Sure can." Rollie said softly, offering the couple in question a smile.

"Besides," Angus added, reaching out to pat Ethan's leg, "no one wants to see your bare, white ass walking anywhere."

Jesse snorted and Leanne felt tears prick at her eyes from laughing so hard. Will doubled over, his arm reaching out to brace himself against the cabinet. Mario turned around, his laughter bringing tears to his eyes as well.

Noa just shook her head, her body shivering at the mental image Angus had just put there. "Jesus Angus! I didn't need that image burned into my retinas!"

Ethan laughed even harder at the horrified look on the young girl's face and he let his head fall down to rest on top of Leanne's pulling her closer.

Yep, his life was so much better off when he wasn't alone.

***Don't forget to comment :)