Nick passed out again after about thirty minutes. He was in so much pain, his body just decided to shut down. Jeff relaxed slightly when this happened. He knew they would both be exhausted in the morning and Nick would still be in pain, which would make him grumpy, which would then make Jeff grumpy. He was not going to be very pleasant at school the next day.

He hadn't remembered falling asleep. Dr. Avers woke him up gently. He looked out the window and saw that the sun was just rising. He tried to smile at the doctor and thanked him for waking him up.

"I didn't know exactly when you would need to be awake for school. I hope this isn't too early. One of the nurses said Dalton starts at 9, but she wasn't sure." He stopped when Jeff yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Rough night?"

"He woke up a lot. He definitely won't be up for much today." Jeff looked over to Nick, who was still sleeping, but certainly not peacefully. "I don't want to leave him."

"I'm sure he'll be okay. I'll call if not. We'll be reducing his morphine a couple more today, but it won't be nearly as bad as it was yesterday." The doctor pressed the button to reduce the morphine drip by one. "He'll probably be up before you leave." The doctor left the room, leaving Jeff to get ready.

While Jeff was putting on his uniform, Nick woke up gasping. He turned while buttoning up his shirt.

"You're…really…built." He gasped again, trying to smile. "Wow." Jeff had played hockey for most of his life, not to mention track and trying football once a few years previous. Jeff sat down by Nick and smirked.

"You've seen me without a shirt on before, babe."

"But never…woke up to…it before." Jeff offered him some water and the breakfast menu. He turned them both down. Jeff wiped the sweat already forming on Nick's forehead.

"You should try to rest. I have to go to school. They're decreasing the morphine a little more." Nick sighed and winced.

"I don't want it to hurt this much."

"I know. I love you so much. I'll be back here as soon as school gets out."

"I wish you could stay."

Jeff looked down and felt a tear come to his eyes.

"Hey." Nick sat up as much as possible and pulled Jeff's face towards his. "I don't want you to feel guilty." Nick was finding it a little easier to talk. He was still in tons of pain, but this was important. "School is important. I'll be fine, okay? Don't worry." He leaned in to kiss Jeff as passionately as possible, but Jeff pulled away quickly. "What?"

"You're in pain. You should rest."

"You can't avoid touching me forever." Nick leaned back and frowned. He felt tears in his eyes, so he looked away. He heard Jeff grab his bag and stand up.

"I'll see you later." Jeff walked out the door and Nick let his tears fall. He'd like to say that it was because of the pain, but it was mostly because of the fact that Jeff had acted so unlike his usual self that it hurt. He could almost always depend on Jeff to make him feel better, but this morning was different. He felt guilty for being in this position in the first place and making Jeff feel like he had to stay with him.

Over the next few hours, nurses came into the room to check on Nick, but he was crying every time. They mostly just asked him if he needed anything, and he always replied with a swift "no."

Around noon, Nick was violently ill, most likely from the pain. The doctor had decreased his morphine to a quarter of what it had been, which was where it needed to be before leaving. He threw up more in the next few hours than he remembered ever throwing up in his life. When he finally thought it had stopped, he sat back and tried to breathe. Unfortunately, a nurse had just walked by with someone's food and Nick could smell it. He started to be sick again, just when Jeff walked in. The doctor looked up and Jeff looked scared. Nick closed his eyes and sat back when he was done.

"May I speak with you in the hall, Jeff?"

Jeff looked at the doctor who was speaking quietly to him. "Of course." Jeff put his bag down on the floor and followed the doctor out of the room, closing the door behind him. "Is everything okay?"

"Nick's been sick all day. It's starting to worry me. He really doesn't have anything left to throw up, yet he keeps doing it. He's also been crying nonstop, and I think that might be part of the problem. I don't know what happened, and I don't need to know, but his health is suffering and I don't know how to help. Can you please see if you can help?"

Jeff nodded. "I think I can help."

"Good. He needs you."

The doctor walked away and Jeff took a deep breath. He knew what he had to say and he really didn't want to do this, but he had no option. He opened the door and saw Nick wipe his eyes and try to sit up straight, sniffling and wincing in pain.

"Why are you here so early?"

"School's out."

"Warbler practice?"

"I didn't want to go today." Jeff sat down in the chair next to Nick's bed and held Nick's hand, which was colder than usual.

"Why?"

"I needed to come see you. I've been trying to think of some way to say this all day, but I got nowhere. I guess I'm just gonna have to wing it." Jeff sighed.

"Are you breaking up with me?"

Jeff's mouth dropped open. Nick had started to cry again. He leaned over, looking for a bucket. Jeff reached for one and rubbed Nick's back as he threw up. Jeff realized what the doctor meant about Nick not having anything left in him. He went to clean out the bucket when he was sure Nick was done being sick. When he came back in the room, Nick was crying again, but he was trying to hold it in.

"I am so so sorry about everything, Jeff. You don't know how sorry I am. I will say it as often as it takes for you to understand. I'm an idiot. I know. I don't know how you ever put up with me before all of this, let alone now. I appreciate everything you've done..and…and…I love you…and…" He let out a sob and then gagged, giving Jeff barely enough time to reach for the bucket again before he started to be sick for the umpteenth time that day. Jeff rubbed his back, trying to soothe him.

"Sh. You're alright, baby. I've got you. Calm down." Jeff pulled Nick close to him, hugging him to his chest and running his fingers through his hair. "I'm not breaking up with you. I couldn't possibly leave you. I love you so much." Nick sniffled loudly and Jeff leaned back some to wipe his tears away for him. "I just needed to tell you that I was sorry for how I acted. I'm just so worried about you. I want to stay with you, but I can't and it kills me. I mean, even Blaine can't stand me when I'm like this."

"What happened?"

"Oh, nothing important. I was just in a terrible mood and Blaine tried to cheer me up, which just pissed me off more so I…um…well, I shouted a bit. And I'm pretty sure I've never seen Kurt's bitch face appear so quickly. I apologized, but I still feel bad." He shook his head and reached for his phone in his pocket. "Speaking of that, I should probably call and apologize again. I need you to promise me something, though." Nick looked up at Jeff and nodded for him to continue. "You need to stop being sick. Dr. Avers is really concerned, and I am too. So, just relax and I'll be right back and we can cuddle and do something fun, okay?"

"Okay." Nick smiled for the first time since Jeff had left for school. He leaned back in bed and closed his eyes, trying to breathe normally and not think about anything except happy thoughts.

Jeff walked into the hall, sat down in a chair outside Nick's door, and dialed Blaine's number. He picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Blaine."

"Oh. Hi, Jeff."

"Listen, I am so sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to snap. I know you were just trying to help, I just have so many things on my mind and I know that's not really an excuse because you're like one of my best friends, but I am sorry."

"It's really okay, Jeff. Let's just forget about it, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks."

"How is he doing?"

"He's been sick all day. I think he's in a lot of pain still. He won't really say anything to complain unless the doctor asks."

"Kurt and I were going to come by in the morning before school. Is that okay?"

"Sure. We'll be here."

"See you then."

"Bye."

Jeff walked back into the room after hanging up to see Nick fast asleep. A nurse walked in right behind him and stopped.

"Oh thank God. He's been crying all day. He needed some rest. I'll come back later. Press the button or come to the station if you need something."

She hurried out quietly and I took a seat in my chair by his bed. I decided to do some homework since I was falling way behind and I had no idea how long Nick would be asleep. I got distracted though when Nick started to mumble in his sleep.

"Mmmm…I do…I want you…"

"Nick?" I laughed quietly, covering my mouth when I let out a particularly loud giggle. He readjusted in bed and I smirked. He was pretty cute when he slept, even if his face still had tons of scratches and bruises.

My mind wandered after he settled back down. I thought about what it would be like to have him back at Dalton. We hadn't really shared a lot of time together as a couple before the accident. I wondered what we would do now that we had a couple of months to be together before summer break. Then it hit me. Summer break. There's no way his parents would let him come see me, or me come see him. I felt tears come to my eyes as I thought about how much I would miss him and how long summer break is. Just then, I felt a hand on mine and I looked up to see Nick's worried face looking at me.

"What's wrong honey?"

I blushed at the pet name, but I couldn't stop one tear from falling. "I was just thinking about how much I'm going to miss you over summer break."

"What made you think of that? We've still got three months. And my parents will be so busy, they wouldn't even notice if we visited each other."

He had a point, but I was unable to calm down. He squeezed my hand and tugged on it gently. I got up and joined him in the bed, where he pulled me close to him just as I had done for him earlier.

"Wanna know a secret?"

I nodded.

"I'll be 18 in two months. I have a car that's in my name, completely paid off. I'll have trust fund money that my parents can't touch as soon as the clock strikes midnight on my birthday. Trust me, it's enough to live off of for a while. If my parents don't let me see you this summer, I'll leave."

He said it so simply, as though he wouldn't dream of anything else. I didn't know what to say, so I just sat in silence.

"I mean, unless you don't want me to. I just figured that would solve the missing you problem."

I stared at him for another minute and then kissed him as passionately as I ever had. I could feel him smiling for the first minute, but as soon as I felt him wince, I leaned back, breaking our lips apart quickly. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"Of course I am. It's about time you kissed me like you meant it." He smiled and I couldn't help but smile too. There was a knock on the door and Dr. Avers walked in with a somewhat pleased look on his face.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I have some really great news. I've been looking at your vitals and it appears that everything is pretty much back to normal. Your injuries are nothing that some pain medication and rest can't handle and I'm pretty certain that your cuts and bruises will fade within the week. I'd really like to send you home in the morning, if that's okay with you."

Nick and Jeff smiled at each other.

"Of course that's okay! Are you serious?"

"I wouldn't joke about this." Dr. Avers smiled and shook hands with both Nick and Jeff. "It's been a pleasure meeting you both, but don't ever come back."

"Wait. Won't you be back in the morning?"

"Unfortunately, no. I start my vacation tomorrow. I wanted to wait until I was sure you would be able to go home to leave. Nurse Janice will be assisting you in the morning. I've already filled out the paperwork you'll need. We're still trying to get in touch with your parents though." He sighed. "They have to be here to sign the release forms tomorrow. I've left them eleven messages. Hopefully, they'll get back to me before seven." He smiled again. "I am so glad to see you doing better." He leaned in to whisper in Nick's ear. "This kid loves you so much. Don't let him go."

"I don't plan on it."

Jeff just looked at them questioningly, but didn't ask any questions. They said goodbye to Dr. Avers and turned to look at each other, smiling brightly.

"I get to leave!"

"I know!"

"I'll be back at Dalton soon!"

"But you have to go home first." Jeff frowned and looked down at his lap. He truly hated the idea of Nick having to go home, but rules were rules and there was no way around them.

"I promise I'll text you all day and I'll call you both nights." Nick squeezed Jeff's hand and they smiled.

"For now, how about we watch a movie and I put off my homework for another couple of hours?"

"Sounds perfect."