Breathe Anew

Called

I'm still in shock over the reception of this story. I mean, you guys like it that much? Well, wow!

Finally, some new material that wasn't in that COLT chapter and this chapter is longer than the last two. Guys, I have so many ideas for this story, it's scary!

Disclaimer: I wish I had more time to write.

Breathe Anew

Called

The moment he walked into the room, he felt as though someone pulled the rug from under his feet. For all the years that he had known Matthew, he never saw him look so frail. Sure there was that one time when he had fractured his ankle after a hockey game, or that other time when he needed stitches on his eyebrow, but at least Matthew had been awake and joking around with him.

This was too different. Matthew was plugged in way too many machines and there were too many tubes to count that were sticking out of his arms. There was a white gauze bandage wrapped tightly around his head and Gilbert didn't like the slow rhythm of his breathing. It wasn't regular.

He took three steps and was by his partner's side in a heartbeat. He took the metal chair that was close by and placed it by the cot, before sitting down and taking the other man's hand in his own. Gilbert noticed that it wasn't as warm as it usually was and it only made his heart constrict more. He was silent for a moment before he started apologizing for everything and anything that he had ever done.

"It's my fault, Matt, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought you to the lake, I shouldn't have-please, wake up, liebling, please, just breathe again, Matt, wake up, I don't think I could forgive myself if you don't. Come on, love, please, don't let them take you away, think of your brothers, think of us. Please, Matt, please, just open your eyes again." He whispered over and over. He didn't know when he started, but at some point, tears spilled from his eyes onto Matthew's hand which he clasped in his own hands.

Gilbert continued quietly sobbing and whispering confessions to the younger man all night long until he fell asleep with his head resting by Matthew's limp arm.

The following morning, he woke up to the greatest discomfort in his neck and lower back. For a moment, he was disoriented and wondered if he fell asleep in the study while doing some work for the job, however when he raised his head and saw the arm that was in front of him that had a multitude of tubes sticking out of it, the events of the previous day came rushing back to him. He took in a shaky breath before getting up and stretching the kinks out of his sore back. What was he supposed to do now?

He realized that he hadn't called Arthur or Alfred the day before and as the immediate family, they sort of needed to know. Gilbert was complete rubbish at telling other people bad news and he wasn't looking forward to letting them know that Matthew was in the hospital because of him.

When the nurse came in to check up on Matthew, he excused himself for a moment and went to the reception. He had to make those calls. When he had the phone in his hand, he hesitated for a moment before finally summoning the courage to dial the number. The phone rang twice before it was picked up.

"Hello?"

"I need to talk to you." Gilbert simply told him, cutting to the chase.

"Gilbert? Why are you calling from the hospital? What have you done?"

"Well, thanks for assuming that I did something." There was an awkward pause between the two of them.

"Did you?" There was another pause.

"Gilbert, what are you not telling me?"

"Matthew's in the hospital." This time, it was Arthur who was left speechless.

"What?"

"You heard what I said."

"What have you done?"

"Are you implying that I hurt him? You should know that I would never do such a thing!"

"Then what happened?" Arthur wanted to know.

"Ill tell you once you get here. Are you going to call Alfred or do I have to do that?"

"I'll let him know. You have some serious explaining to do, Beilschmidt, and I expect some answers when I get there." Gilbert concluded his conversation and hung up before returning to Matthew's room. He hoped that he would find his lover awake, but alas the younger man was still in his coma. Gilbert sat down and took Matthew's hand in his own before kissing it lovingly. He was not looking forward to what would happen next.

For some reason, Arthur and he never got along unless they were getting smashed at a bar. From the very first day they met, the older man was suspicious of him and discouraged his brother from frequenting him. Luckily, Matthew didn't listen to Arthur's warnings and continued to see much more of him. Gilbert still didn't know how Matthew managed to convince his brother to let him move in with him, but he wasn't going to complain.

It didn't take too long for the others to arrive. Ten minutes after he called, Arthur, Francis and Alfred came running into the room. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw Matthew lying still in his cot.

"Is he dead?" Alfred asked breaking the silence.

"I think I would have told you if he died." Gilbert replied calmly.

"What happened? What did you do to my baby brother?" Arthur finally snapped. Francis put a hand on his arm and he calmed down a little. Gilbert then proceeded to explain what happened the previous day. He omitted the part about wanting to propose to Matthew and kept that for himself. He told them what the doctor said and when Arthur heard that Matthew was in a coma, he lost it for good.

"You bastard! I knew I couldn't trust you! I knew you would only be trouble for him! Look what you've done! This is your entire fault! I warned him not to hang around rift raft like you, I warned him, but he didn't listen. He told me that you were a nice person; bollocks! Look what you've done to my family! I'll have you pay!" Arthur lunged himself at the younger man, but luckily, Francis was there to stop him.

"Mon cher, calm down, it is not his fault. S'il te plait, Arthur, do not do anything stupid. This was an accident. It is not as if Gilbert pushed him in or something. Everything will be okay, mon coeur, respire." Francis pulled Arthur to him and wrapped his arms around his back. At first, the shorter man tried to push him away, but after a moment or two, he clutched Francis' shirt tightly in his hands and sobbed uncontrollably. Gilbert had no idea what he was supposed to do next.

OWARI 3

TO BE CONTINUED

I love this story. I really do. And, oh lookitz! Francis is speaking English in one of my stories for the first time EVER.

I do accept anonymous reviews.

Started writing: April 25th 2010, 12:59pm

Finished writing: April 25th 2010, 2:22pm

Started typing: April 25th 2010, 7:54pm

Finished typing: April 25th 2010, 8:41pm