WARNING: SAD FEELS AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER. BE ADVISED.

Chapter 31

The waiting room at Hell's Pass was a haunting white. The lights above letting off a soft buzzing sound. Tweek tried to focus on all of those small details. How dumb all the people on the health posters looked. How the linoleum floor needed a serious mopping. He still hadn't been able to see Craig. It was nearly a full 24 hours since the accident and he was not allowed to see his boyfriend.

Laura, Thomas, and Ruby all giving him sympathetic looks and trying to keep him updated. Family only the nurses said. The Tuckers taking shifts during visitation hours. Tweek recently changed and showered after his mom brought him a change of clothes.

"Ya know you should really go home and get some sleep, kid." Thomas Tucker said sitting down next to him.

Tweek shook his head, "I can't. His monitors keep going off. I don't want to leave and something bad end up happening. What if he…and I wasn't here!"

Thomas sighed, "Well, you can't stay forever. It's already midnight and you have school tomorrow."

"Mom said I didn't have to go. I'm not leaving until I know Craig's going to be ok." He said while pulling his knees up to his chest.

Mr. Tucker let out a chuckle at that, "Can't say I'm mad. Just means Craig's good at picking 'em. You're someone Craig can depend on. It's why I don't care that you're a guy."

"Oh, thanks for ya know…approving. I really do care about him…I just hope he knows that."

Thomas puts a hand on Tweek's shoulder, "Don't worry about it. He knows and I know. I know more than you think I know, future son-in-law."

Tweek jumps at this, "Wait…how did you know about that?"

"Oh just know my kid. Plus, I overheard him and his mom talking. He didn't say it but it was implied."

Tweek blushes, "Oh…I hope that's ok with you."

"I just want Craig to be happy, so if that's what would make him happy then do whatever. You boys are adults now. You're going to be moving out soon and going to college. I can't dictate his life anymore. Like your parents, Laura and I just want what's best for you. Anyway, they said they would call us if anything happened. I'm going to go home and get some sleep. Laura will be here in the morning."

"Thank you. Really." Tweek nods as Craig's dad leaves.

More time went by at an agonizing pace for Tweek. He was nearly asleep when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Looking up he was met by the face of the woman at the check-in desk when he first arrived.

"Visiting hours are over but…if you really want and you're really quiet, I can get you in to see your boyfriend."

"Wha? Really!" Tweek exclaimed with wide eyes.

The woman shrugged, "Like I said, be quiet and follow me if you want to see him."

Tweek jumped to his feet and stumbled after her. The two made their way down a winding hall before making a turn into the Intensive Care Center. Most of the lights were off and casting eery shadows.

"He's in this one. Do you remember your way back?" The woman stops at the end of the corridor.

"Yes, thank you. Thank you so much."

Tweek took a deep breath before entering the room. He soon realized that it was not enough preparation for what he found. No wonder Craig's dad had told him to say good bye. Everything in his body burned. Craig did not look like Craig. He knew it was Craig and it looked like Craig but the way he was didn't look right. There were so many tubes and beeping machines around him.

With trembling limbs Tweek made his way to Craig's hospital bed and sat in the chair next to it.

"C-craig? Can…can you hear me?" He whispered with a shaking voice.

Silence.

Tweek gently took his hand in his, "Craig…I love you and I really need you to be ok. We're supposed to start our lives together remember? How am I supposed to do that without you? We were going to get married and go to university and live together and…and please. Please don't leave me!" He was now sobbing.

After a few minutes more of crying and an unresponsive Craig, Tweek's eyes began to grow heavy. Before he knew it he was asleep.

Loud, fast beeping. That's what woke Tweek from his sleep. When he opened his eyes he realized that something was very wrong. The heart monitor was going off in a way that it should not have been.

Before he could even process what was happening two nurses rushed into the room.

"What are you doing here!? You can't be here."
"Adjust the drip. I'm getting the pads ready." The other nurse said quickly.

"What's happening!?" Tweek exclaimed.

"Sir, I don't know how you got back here but you need to go back to the waiting room immediately! Stand back. Let us work."

Tweek moved back into the corner of the room. He couldn't believe this was happening in front of his eyes. His boyfriend was dying. He was dying. He was dying and he couldn't do anything but watch.

"Pads are ready!"

"Ok clear." A pulse jolting through the teen's body.

"Still losing him!"

"Clear!" Another pulse sent through.

"Craig!" Tweek screamed. He was panicking. He couldn't breathe.

"He's still dropping."

"One more time."

"Clear!"

By this point everything was too much. Tweek couldn't breathe. His vision was turning dark and fuzzy around the edges. This couldn't be happening to him. He was about to lose his best friend, the love of his life. He couldn't handle it.

Before he could register whether Craig was in the clear or not he collapsed to the ground unconscious.