Chapter 18
In the car on the way to the hospital, Edd called Kevin's father and left a voicemail explaining that he had been pretty seriously hurt after the soccer game and which hospital he was being taken to, if he'd like to meet them there. After he hung up, he leaned his head against the window and stared blankly out. His gut was twisted with nerves and he felt like he might cry. Or vomit. Or both. "It was Chris," he murmured to the window.
Wilhelmina cleared her throat a little. "Probably."
He shook his head adamently. "It had to be him. Him and some of the other guys. Once Jason couldn't help defend him, they went in."
She pulled into the hospital parking lot and parked. Edd was out of the car before she cut the engine. He walked around the car and chewed his lip. The door slammed as Wilhelmina got out and caught up to him. "Whoa, slow down. We probably can't even get in yet anyway. No need to rush."
He turned around quickly and looked at her, white as a sheet. "I just need to see him again. He was barely conscious. I need to know he's okay." His voice barely rose above a whisper. He could feel his eyes beginning to water but tried to fight it back as much as he could.
She swallowed hard and nodded. "Alright. Let's go then. I'm sorry."
They walked in, slower than before. Edd looked around, lost as to where to go.
Wilhelmina apparently saw and took charge. She approached the nurse at the desk. "Hi, I'm sorry, we're looking for two guys. They were both brought in from the soccer game over at the university. One had a knee injury. The other-"
"Beat to hell. Yeah I know the ones you're talking about. You family?"
Edd started to say no.
"We're the closest things right now. SO's if you know what I mean."
She nodded and shuffled through some paperwork. She typed a few things in her computer and looked back up. "Sorry. You can see Jason, but the other kid, Kevin, you'll have to wait until the doctor's through with him."
Wilhelmina glanced back over her shoulder at Edd. When she looked back, she lowered her voice. "That'd be great but can you let us know the second we can see him? Kevin I mean? His boyfriend is really worried. We found him in the locker room. Just, as soon as there's news if you or someone could—"
"When we know something, I'll have someone come let you know. Jason's in 218. I assume you'll be in there?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She nodded. "Alright. I'll have them find you there."
"Thank you."
They found the elevator around the corner and went up to see Jason. A doctor pointed them in the right direction when the signs failed to lead them to 218. They knocked on the door and heard a muffled, "Come in." Jason sat propped up in bed, with his right knee bound. Wilhelmina floated in and kissed him gently. "How're you feeling?" she asked.
He kissed her back. "I'm all patched up for now. They don't want me to go home until the MRI on my knee comes back but they think it's just a sprain. Where's Kevin?"
Double D sat down heavily in the chair near the window and stared out without saying anything.
Wilhelmina chewed her lip and watched him. Jason tapped her lightly and gave her a quizzical look. "He um had a bit of an accident after the game."
"What do you mean an accident?"
She chewed her lip again. "We found him—pretty badly beaten—in the locker room. After you left."
He seemed to choke on his tongue. "What?"
Edd looked over. "He was in the showers, they seemed to have jumped him when he was cleaning up. They're going to let us know when the doctors are done with him."
"Well is he alright?"
Wilhelmina cleared her throat. "He wasn't entirely conscious. And there was blood. And was it just me or did his arm look kind of...off?"
Edd nodded and looked back out the window. He stared out the window for an hour without saying anything else. Wilhelmina and Jason distracted each other with small conversation but as much as they tried, Edd couldn't be persuaded to join. There was a knock on the door after an hour and a doctor came in carrying a folder. Edd looked hopeful for a moment before he remembered the Jason's MRI was due back.
"Unfortunately the test was inconclusive. We'd like to do another, if that's alright."
Jason agreed and they wheeled him out again. Wilhelmina stood behind Edd and stroked the hair peaking out of his beanie next to his temple. "I'm sure he's alright," she murmurred to him.
I nodded and chewed the skin on his thumb. The gap inbetween his teeth made it particularly easy to pull more up than he meant to, but he didn't notice the pain until he stopped.
A nurse walked in the room. "You were waiting for news on Kevin?"
Edd jumped up immediately. "Yes. Is he okay? Can he come back to the dorms?"
"Why don't I take you to his room and I'll tell you about it on the way?"
He picked up his jacket and nodded.
"I'm going to wait for Jason. Text me the room number, okay?"
"Of course."
When they reached Kevin's assigned room he still seemed to be out cold but the doctors assured him he would awaken soon. They stood at the door looking in momentarily. "You can go sit with him if you'd like."
"Thank you, so much." Edd took the seat next to Kevin and held his hand, waiting for him to come too. It didn't take long.
Kevin opened his eyes and coughed, then hissed loudly.
Edd carefully held some water to his lips and made him take small sips. "Dork? What happened?" His voice was hoarse, like he'd swallowed broken glass.
"Oh thank, God, you're awake. You were—we found you in the locker room. You were beaten and barely conscious. You're at the hospital now." Edd was surprised to find that he was holding back tears again.
He nodded. He seemed unsurprised, though Edd supposed that could be due to the pain killers the doctors had pumping into his system via and IV. "That explains a lot. What's the damage?"
"Closed comminuted fracture-dislocation of the left arm, broken ribs, internal bruising, a concussion, and a severely sprained ankle."
"And in English that means?"
"Your left arm is broken in two places but didn't break the skin. Your elbow was dislocated but there weren't any bone fragments in there thankfully. You have three broken ribs. I think the rest is self-explanatory?"
"Yeah. Right."
"Do—do you remember anything that happened?"
Kevin shook his head. "Last thing I remember is walking off the field to grab a shower. How—how'd you find me?"
"We waited for you to come out of the locker room after the game. Wilhelmina wanted to get here to see Jason as soon as possible. But when you didn't come out and weren't answering your cell phone, I got worried. We went back to look for you. I was about to leave when you made a noise. Wilhelmina called nine-one-one and we stayed with you until the ambulance left."
Kevin coughed again. Edd helped him with more water.
"I hope it's alright, but I called your father on our way here. I know things are tense between you too but—"
"He should know. Is he coming?"
Edd shook his head. "I don't know. I only got his voicemail. I can't imagine that he wouldn't come though."
Kevin sighed. "I guess we'll see."
Edd leaned over the bed rail and kissed his boyfriend gently. "I'm sure he'll be here as soon as he can."
He nodded. "Did the doctors say how long I'll be laid up for?"
Edd chewed his lip nervously. "Well, broken ribs take about six weeks to heal. And the arm will probably take four to six weeks, but then you'll need rehabilitation to restrengthen it for up to eight weeks. They're leaning toward the full eight because of the dislocation. Your baseball season might be...delayed to say the least."
"When do I get to go back to our dorm?"
"They didn't say but I imagine that they'll at least keep you overnight."
There was a knock on the door and Wilhelmina pushed Jason in the room, a pained smile plastered on each of their faces. "Hey, how're you feeling?" she tried.
"Not feeling much of anything right now." He motioned toward the IV drip. "What's the prognosis on you?" he asked Jason.
"As far as they can tell, sprained knee. I'll be okay to play next season no problem. We'll still manage the team together just fine."
They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes before Wilhelmina blurted out, "I didn't see anything when Edd readjusted the towel. I left the room. Just so you know." She immediately hid her face in her hands.
Jason turned and stared at her in shock, Kevin looked confused, and Edd blushed brightly.
"I erm thank you?" Kevin finally stammered. He shot a questioning look at Edd and mouthed "Towel?"
Edd cleared his throat and nodded. "You were attacked in the shower. Who ever did it threw a towel to cover you but otherwise, you weren't um wearing anything. I adjusted it for modesty's sake while she called the ambulance."
"I see," he said thickly.
She just nodded.
Jason cleared his throat. "We'll bring some clothes and stuff once I'm released. Shouldn't be too long now. What do you guys want for dinner?"
"I'd kill for a Big Mac." Kevin glanced sheepishly at Edd.
"The doctor didn't mention any dietary restrictions, though maybe we shouldn't bring fast food into the hospital. That much fat and grease cannot be approved by the staff here."
Kevin pouted a bit, seemingly less conscious of his demeanor around Jason and Wilhelmina with the pain medications coursing through his system.
Edd finally just nodded. "If you don't mind picking it up, I'm sure it will be fine."
"I think we can handle a couple burgers and fries. What do you say we get back, I'll get them to give me the good to go, and we'll stop back?" Jason looked over his shoulder at Wilhelmina.
She nodded.
Edd dug through his pocket and pulled out his room key. "Here, if you don't mind? Wilhelmina knows where everything is."
Jason reached forward and took it. "Sure. We'll be back in an hour and half or so."
They left shortly thereafter to find out if Jason was ready for release.
Kevin's eyes started to droop.
Edd smiled at him and squeezed his hand gently. "Try to sleep. I'll wake you when they get back."
He nodded. "Don't go anywhere. Just, stay here. Stay with me."
"I'm not going anywhere. Close your eyes. I'll stay."
It didn't take long for him to fall asleep once Edd reassured him that he'd be staying as long as physically possible. Kevin had been lightly snoring for ten minutes when Edd's phone buzzed with a text message from Wilhelmina. "How are you really?" she asked. He responded that he was tired but better now that he knew Kevin was doing alright. "Surprised at how calm Jason seemed," he added as an after thought.
"I told him to keep it light since we didn't know how he was yet. Trust me, he's itching to question him about anything he remembers so that he can go to Coach."
Edd sighed and responded with what he knew: Kevin didn't remember anything and probably wouldn't want him to go to their coach anyway.
"Well someone has to tell him what happened, if only so he knows to lay off any planning meetings or captain things. At least for a few weeks. I'll try to hold him off though. We're heading back to campus now, what would you like me to bring back?"
"Kevin definitely needs clothes, sweats would probably be best. Our toothbrushes and maybe a change of clothes for me? Oh and our computers, just in case."
She sent back a laugh and said that wouldn't be a problem.
Edd sent a thank you and put his phone away. He flicked on the tv to give himself something to do, but turned it off after flipping through all the channels twice. He couldn't have focused on it even if there had been something good on. He sighed and looked around hoping for a book. A bible sat on the bedside table and he briefly considered it but pushed it away with a sigh. He'd never been fully convinced of a Christian god and his leanings toward the religion as a whole had been tainted by its view toward his and Kevin's sexuality. Reading the Bible would only serve to infuriate him over the assault he was sure resulted from the unplanned and forced outing. He could see the boys, angry from the loss, ganging up on Kevin while he showered. He could hear the shouted homophobic slurs, or perhaps just angry grunts with no other noise but the running shower and Kevin's yelps of pain. He could see Kevin attempting to fight back, getting a few punches off before being tackled to the floor.
He glanced down at the hand clutched between his own. Sure enough he noticed bruises and a few splits on his middle and ring knuckle. Edd lifted the hand to his lips and kissed both cuts and the bruises. He kept his lips pressed to the knuckle over the middle finger and murmured in a voice so low it barely came over a breath, "I think I love you."
Kevin shifted in his sleep.
Edd didn't say it again, didn't worry that Kevin had or hadn't heard him. He hadn't even thought the words before that moment. He didn't deny them, to himself or to anyone who could have heard. But he did wonder when he had decided it, even subconsciously. He kissed Kevin's hand again and closed his eyes, drifting out of conscious thinking until Wilhelmina and Jason arrived with supplies.