Martin spent that night in the critical care unit before being transferred in the morning to a normal unit. He'd managed to luck out and get a single room, for which Douglas was endlessly thankful. He didn't think he could stand trying to converse with other ill people when he didn't speak their language.
A man could only have so much patience.
And against all odds, Ben was their nurse.
"We only have so many nurses who speak English," he explained to Douglas, when he was pleasingly surprised at this discovery.
"And I may have pulled some strings," he admitted. "Martin's not my only patient, I have three others, but if you need anything, be sure to let me know, alright?"
Martin nodded.
Ben smiled at him. "It's nice to see you breathing on your own. You're doing remarkably well considering the state you were in only a couple of days ago."
Martin shook his head. "I don't remember most of that," he confessed.
"As it should be," Ben said firmly, patting Martin on the shoulder. "I have to go now, but I'll be back to check on you in a bit."
Douglas nodded. "Thank you," he said.
Ben smiled. "Of course."
Douglas looked back to Martin, who looked exhausted despite having done nothing but sleep for the past three days.
"Are you going to sleep?" he asked.
Martin shrugged, but his eyes were already drifting shut.
Douglas smiled and pulled out the book Carolyn had been reading to Martin. She'd almost finished it, and now Douglas wanted to see what it was all about.
He'd gotten quite into it by the time Ben returned, and almost didn't notice him popping his head in the room quietly.
He only waved for Douglas to return to what he was doing.
When Douglas reached the part Carolyn had stopped at, Martin was beginning to stir.
"Excellent," he told him. "We can find out the ending together."
Martin rolled his eyes, but Douglas could tell he was pleased. Carolyn wasn't going to be back until much later, and Douglas wanted to know what happened now.
An hour later and Douglas set the book down.
Martin's eyes were closer, but Douglas could tell he was still awake.
"So."
Martin hummed in response.
"I have to admit, I expected more from the angel."
Martin only hummed again.
"I suppose it was tolerable though. Considering the circumstances."
Martin snorted. "Sure Douglas."
They sat in silence for a while, pondering the story with only the whistling of oxygen in the background for company.
Ben took that opportunity to return.
"Martin, what would you like for supper?"
He only shrugged. "Not really hungry," he muttered.
He still had the feeding tube in his nose, but was allowed to eat, he just didn't feel like it. Douglas didn't blame him considering it was hospital food, but felt that Martin did need to eat something.
"How about the gelatin?" Douglas offered. "It passes my approval, and that's good enough."
"Sure," Martin mumbled, rolling over slightly into his pillows.
Ben smiled. "And I'll throw some more food in there. Just in case."
Martin only waved a hand.
He went back to sleep shortly after that. Douglas woke him up to coax him to swallow some of the gelatin, which he did reluctantly, only when Douglas threatened to spoon feed him, pretending the spoon was an aeroplane to get him to open his mouth. Martin shut up and swallowed some of it after that.
Douglas was pleased with that, and allowed Martin to fall asleep after he'd eaten about half.