When I open my eyes I'm on the main floor of the hospital. It's like I never had the pain in my head and I never fell over. There is a split second where I honestly believe I imagined it, but then I realize how empty the place is. Emptier than a hospital could ever be.
"Hello?" I cal out, not entirely sure who it is I'm calling for.
Then I see a face I actually recognize, one I've never seen awake before. He has brown eyes, and when he smiles I see a mouth full of metal. "Piper, nice to finally meet you." Charlie says coming around the corner.
"Charlie!" I smile back. "You have braces." Then I mentally smack myself. I finally meet the kid and this is my brilliant first impression. "It's great to finally have a conversation with you."
"Yeah, I've been meaning to tell you, you're really great for Leo."
"You can really hear us?"
"Yeah, it sort of drives me crazy. But I'm really glad you guys talk to me, and stick up for me. It can get boring in here sometimes."
"I can imagine. You know, Leo told me you helped him out when he had his surgery. I hear you talk to all the Red Banders when they pop in. I was almost looking forward to my surgery because of it." I chuckle. Charlie smiles again.
"Yeah, well glad to know people like talking to me. But I really wish I could wake up."
"I know, and you will. You just need one more push. Hey I got a question for you." Charlie's face turns from one of sadness to one of interest. "Have you ever left the hospital? I mean, can we go outside while we're here?"
"No!" Charlie shakes his head feverishly. "It's not really outside. I think this is like an in between for your mind. If you walk out then you go away…for good."
"Okay, swiping that idea from my brain permanently." I bite my lip.
"Hey, wanna see something really cool?" Charlie perks up, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah!" Charlie closes his eyes and then just vanishes from right in front of me. "Holy crap, that is cool!" I say in awe. "Charlie?" He still doesn't return. I start to walk a bit. "Is this hide and seek, because I'm not very good at that game." I call out into the silent hospital. "Charlie?" I start to worry. What if he wasn't coming back? What did that mean?
"Charlie?" I hear a deeper voice call somewhere in the distance.
"Hello?" I call out.
"Charlie?" The voice calls back confused. I move towards it.
"No, it's Piper. Who's there?" I keep heading towards the voice. It becomes more recognizable with each step.
"Piper? It's Dash." I round the corner and run right into him. "Whoa!" He catches me before we crash.
"Dash!" I hug him, then pull back. "Wait, why are you here? Are you okay, what's going on?"
"I missed my treatments, started coughing and then passed out. What are you doing here, everyone thought you were napping. You aren't in a coma are you?"
"Well, I hope not! I was going to find you guys but my head started hurting really bad, so I tried to get to the nurses' station. I passed out before I made it though."
"Damn, that sucks." Dash sighed. "This place is going to hell without Nurse Jackson, man!"
"Yeah, I know." I shake my head.
"Where's Charlie?"
"I don't know." I pause. "We met, and were talking. Then he asked if I wanted to see something cool. When I said yes he closed his eyes and vanished. But now I can't find him. I'm starting to think that's not what he meant to show me either. Has he ever vanished like this before?"
"I don't know I've never met him." Dash answers.
"What do you think happened to him?"
Dash shrugs.
"Dash, I feel funny." I say. He looks at me worried. "Is it possible to faint after you've already fainted?"
"I don't know, but try not to!" Dash grabs my arm.
"I don't think I can control it!" Everything starts to go dark again. "Dash?"
I wake up in my room at Ocean Park. The first thing I see is my Harry Potter poster, from the sixth book midnight release. I scan the room, trying to get my bearings. Then I notice Leo in his chair beside my bed. His head is down like he's fallen asleep and his hand is resting limply on my bed.
I move my hand so I'm holding his. His head jerks up and as he starts to focus our eyes lock. "Hey." I smile.
"Hey, you're up. I'll go get Nurse Jackson." Leo rushes the words out, then starts to push his chair back.
"No, wait!" I stop him quickly, squeezing his hand.
"What is it?" He scoots in closer, squeezing my hand back.
"Can you just sit here with me for a moment?" Leo nods, but says nothing. He turns to look out the window. I sigh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"Why didn't you tell me about the headaches? Why didn't you tell me anything?" He finally snaps.
"I didn't want you to worry. I was also afraid at first that you would make me go straight to McAndrew, and I needed to tell you how I felt first."
"And after that?"
"After that you left to spend time with your friends. I was going to tell McAndrew about it after we sorted out the Nurse Jackson issue, but then my head started hurting again and I passed out before I could talk to anyone."
"I would've stayed with you if you had told me. I didn't have to go with my friends, they would've understood." Leo sighs. "If you had told me I could've been with you. I would've caught you!"
"I know!" I shout back, then sigh. "I know that. But I didn't know it was going to happen. When I told you to go, I really was feeling alright. I didn't want to worry you, and that completely backfired, so I'm sorry. I should've told you."
"We're in this together, you get that don't you? If you don't tell me things, I can't be there for you when you need me and that hurts me." Leo sighed, squeezing my hand a little tighter. "I need you to start trusting me to handle these things. I need you not to keep things from me, Piper."
We lock eyes again, and for a moment I say nothing. "Okay, I won't keep anything else from you."
"Good, now let me go get Jackson. She's been worried about you."
"Wait, there's one more thing I haven't told you yet. It's something you really need to know. McAndrew told me if this tumor grows it can grow into the part of my brain that controls memory. If that's what the pain in my head signifies, then there is a chance I won't remember you once the surgery is over." I rush it out without looking at him.
The information is met with silence for a minute. When I finally bring myself to look at Leo, there is a determination in his eyes I have not yet seen. "I won't lose you. If you don't remember me, I'll remember enough for us both, and I'll make you remember."
"I was a different person before I came here Leo. I might not listen to you." I shake my head.
"Then I'll just have to make you fall in love with me all over again." He smirks.
I look at him in complete shock for a moment. Then a smile breaks across my face. "I love you; you are crazy, and a bit full of yourself. But I do love you." I chuckle.
"And I love you. You should be happy I'm this confident, it means there's no way I'm giving up." Leo winks. "Now let me get Nurse Jackson." He rolls towards the door.
"Wait, Jackson is back?" I sit up quickly.
"You might not be as smart as people think you are." I toss a pillow at Leo's back, but it misses and just lands halfway out my door with a barely audible thud.
"Bring my pillow when you come back!" I call after him.
AN: I know this isn't as long as they usually are, but I just wanted to give you guys something. Next chapter Piper finds out where Charlie went! Also, coming up soon, the surgery and Leo gives Piper her very own red band. Hope you guys enjoyed this one!