Taking the Pain Away

Chapter 6

Words: 1,900+

Rated: M

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"I need a cigarette." Pewdie murmured, the blood stained comforter they had carried Cry into the hospital in wrapped comfortingly around him, like a man in some kind of gory, grotesque cacoon. He was staring down at his fingers threaded with Scott's, his head resting on the other man's chest. It felt oddly comforting...to be huddled close to this man. Scott had dozed off with his cheek resting on the top of Felix's head. He blinked awake and looked around.

Battlestar and Snake had finally managed to convimce themselves to eat, but only plain rice. They didn't even put soy sauce on it. Snake carried a box over to Red and Russ, kneeling down in front of the traumatized girl. "Eat this, Red. You have to eat. You have to eat for Cry." He persueded, smiling weakly.

"I can't..." she whimpered, barely awake. The nurse had managed to get permission to give Scott, Red and Pewds some xanax for their nerves, a powerful anxiety medicine. Red, who wasn't used to taking medicine in the first place, fell alseep after only fifteen minutes The lack off food had worked to make the medication stronger to her and she was now dozing back into a deep, restful sleep. Russ pulled her into his lap and wrapped the blanket the nurse had offered around her shoulders, and they cuddled up on one of the chairs together.

Russ hadn't really said anything since they had arrived. Actually, since they had found Cry, rather.

Russ took the box of rice and set it on the table beside them, nodding his thanks and murmuring softly in reply. Snake returned to his seat and quietly whispered to Battlestar for sometime. Of what, Pewds couldn't hear. It didn't sound too awfully interesting, something to distract them from the current, grim situation. He looked back up at Scott.

The room was full of six grim lines for mouths and twelve downcast eyes.

"Let's go out to the courtyard. The door is down the hall." he whispered to Pewds, gently stroking his hair back with his hand. The blood had already dried to his hands and clothes. It flaked off against Pewds, but it didn't make a difference. Pewds was covered as well. Proof of their effort to save their friend.

"Here, I brought some clothes for Cry." Battlestar said, looking up. "You guys wear pretty much the same size from the looks of it. Go grab a cigarette and change. We'll call you if we get any news, before the nurse says anything." He used his foot to nudge the duffle bag towards them. Pewdie bent down to pick it up, leaving the blanket wrapped around him. "I bet Cry is freezing back there." He whispered, sniffling and turning back around, shuffling slowly towards Scott. It was obvious he was remorseful for the other man's condition and discomfort.

"I'm sure they put heat packs under him, and they're giving him blood. Plus, they promised to give him your hoodie once he was done wth surgery." He reassurd, frowning. "I'm sure they're taking really good care of him."

Jund and Pewds walked down the hall and outside, and they sat down on a bench, Pewdie lighting a cigarette. Jund reached into the other man's pack and lit one for himself, making eye contact with the blonde. Brown eyes met blue. "One time thing." He stated before Pewds could say anything else.

The medicine made Pewdie feel distant and fuzzy, barely awake, and he took a drag on his cigarette, watching the night sky. He could barely see the stars thanks to the city lights. It made him genuinely miss Italy. From his apartment, he could see Romeo and Juliet's castle, every star illuminating the dark nigt sky. There, things were safe.

Here, Cry had suffered. If he made it out of this alive, Pewds decided that he was going to take him back to Sweden with him. There, they could enjoy the nigt sky together, the stars illuminating the horizon...he wondered if they would ever get to experience that together.

"If he hadn't come to visit today, he would be dead." Felix whispered, his lip trembling. He took another drag off of the cigartte and closed his eyes. "Did anyone give him any hint that we were coming to visit today?" He asked softly, swallowing hard. He had to figure this out. He had to have known, something! Something had to have happened...

Scott shook his head no. His eyes flooded with tears. "I talked to him, this morning, though. I-I...it's my fault. I must have pushdd him over the edge..."Jund broke out in desperate sobbing, the first time he had legitimately cried all day. "I thought I was helping...it's my fault." His voice quivered and broke from the weigt of his words.

Pewdie was confused. What was he talking about..? He they gotten in a fight? "Jund, you arein no way responsible for his decisions...but...what did you say?" He asked, placing his hand on the American's shoulder. Jund shook his head. "I shouldn't say. I-I'm sorry Pewds...I can't, n-not until I that he's okay..."

Pewdie blinked and nodded. He wasn't going to pressure him to answer. At least, not yet.

The boys silently finished their cigarettes and went to the bathroom to change. Pewds went into the stall and stripped off his clothes while Jund, jund just ripped off his clothes in front of the mirror, splashing water all over his blood stained skin. The nurses had given them a stack of towels to get clean with and he scrubbed his flesh free of the red, relieved when it was gone. He dried himself off and slipped into a pair of Cry's jeana and a hoodie.

Pewds changed into a pair of sweats and a tee shirt, and rewrappedthe blanket aroumd himself. "...Pewds, you can't keep wearing that..."

"...O-oh..."

Scott offered up one of Cry's hoodies, which was comforting enough for Pewds to forfeit the dirty blanket. "O-okay..."

On their way back to the waiting room, they passed Red and Russ.

"Cry's out of surgery!" she could barely breath, gasping for air from jogging down the hallway. "He's doing okay! Battlestar and Snake are already waiting by his room." Red continued running down the hallway immediately. She didn't offer any other words, too consumed in joy and relief to say anything more.

Pewdie looked up at Scott, tears immediately pouring down his face. Scott Jund pulled Russ and PewDie into his arms and they all released mixtures of sobs, sighs amd whimpers of relief and joy.

Their best friend was still alive.

There were no words to express that kind of joy.

So they didn't say a word.