The light was bright, so bright.

Too bright.

I started to panic.

I remember all too well trying to open my eyes under intense light one time before.

I remember.

This felt like that time.

I took a breath, and heard myself make a small sound when I exhaled. Thank God. I forced out another low humming sound, then switched my focus to my fingers. I lifted one finger, then two. I wiggled fingers on my right hand, then my left.

I tried opening my eyes again. The light stung. I felt cold. Why was I so cold? I opened my mouth, tried forcing my lips to form a word. "Ja...hhh" was all that came out.

Shifted focus back to my eyes. I made a little more progress. I could make out dark shapes in the white room.

Open. Close. Open a little more. Close.

I was finally able to actually turn my head and open my eyes at the same time. I opened my mouth again to speak, then licked my lips. I was thirsty, I wanted water. My lips felt dry.

It was then that I heard someone say my name. It was a lovely sound, fuzzy and soft, and it sounded far away. I focused on the voice. A female voice.

I opened my eyes again, just barely, and this time I was rewarded with a face to go with the voice.

"Hi, Mark. Can you open your eyes? Take your time, you're probably still sleepy," the voice said to me softly.

I opened my mouth again, I could feel my head turn slightly, but I wasn't aware of moving it. I made another attempt at speaking, and this time I had more success.

"Shack..." I whispered, then licked my lips again, "waaer. thirssy..."

The lovely voice said softly "You're thirsty? I can get you some ice chips," then I felt something wonderfully cold and wet touch my lips. I opened my mouth just wide enough for the ice to slide onto my tongue, and it felt like heaven.

Once the ice was melted, I licked my lips again, the dry feeling gone now. I tried speaking again. "Jack?"

Success.

The voice responded in her warm, sweet tone, "Jack? Yes, I will go get him for you. Rest now. You did great."

I did great?

Oh.

Oh yeah. Surgery. My mind was starting to wake up, I opened my eyes a little. My vision was getting better, the room wasn't a blur anymore. I could see that I was in a room, I could make out the walls, the TV, a small table and a chair. I could see what I imagine was a door, but I didn't know where it led.

I looked down, and I could see my feet under the thin blanket that covered my lower half.

I was so tired. I would just close my eyes for a second.

I must have fallen asleep. I have no idea how long I slept for, but when I started to rouse again I could tell there was something different about the room before I even opened my eyes. I could smell something soothing and comforting, and I was immediately more at ease.

I moved my hand again, and I felt something warm and smooth against my fingers. I felt cool, smooth metal.

Jack.

I opened my eyes, and he was there. Just like always. My rock. My strength. He was there.

He was always right there.

"Eyyy..." I said, my voice deep and gravely. I blinked away the sleep; I could see him clearly. I thought about the way I saw him through anesthesia-laden eyes. His hair was as vivid green as ever, his eyes as blue as the sky. Jack was so bright. He was so vibrant. He fills my darkness with color and wonder.

He smiled brightly. "Hey, babe! Good morning! Everything went great. How are ya feeling?"

I felt his fingers run through my hair. The small gesture made me feel warm, made my head tingle. I felt myself smile. "I feel... tired. Cold. Thirsty. Hey... can I... more ice... please?" I lifted my arm to my face. I rubbed at my eyes. My hands felt like they weighed ten pounds each.

I closed my eyes again.

I couldn't help it.

I was startled awake by the feeling of ice being rubbed on my bottom lip. I inhaled sharply, then relaxed a little when I opened my eyes and saw Jack. I parted my lips for the refreshing, frosty-wet treat. I felt Jack's finger brush my bottom lip after the ice slid onto my tongue. I liked that feeling.

"Thanks..." I whispered to him. He brushed a strand of hair back then pressed his lips to my forehead.

"Where are we? Is this recovery or my own room?" I asked, finally pulling myself out of the sleepy brain-fog I was in.

"Your room. You were in recovery for a while. After you woke up and asked for me, they moved you in here, but you had fallen asleep again." Jack fussed over my blanket, pulling it up to cover my chest. He stroked my cheek with his thumb, then leaned in and softly pressed his lips to mine. "I'm so glad you're okay. I love you."

"Love you too. So when can I get out of here?" I asked, trying to prop myself into a sitting position. I felt some pain, but not much. I winced and asked "How many stitches?"

"None!" Jack said brightly, "They used Dermabond."

"Whazzat?" I asked.

"It's basically super-glue for skin."

"Cool!" I liked that I didn't have to get stitches taken out. "Answer my other question. When can we go home?"

"Tomorrow, I think, maybe the next day" Jack said, "as long as there are no complications."

Something was nagging at the back of my brain after he said 'no complications'... something I remembered seeing or reading... I couldn't quite grab the thought, though. Maybe it will come to me later.

"Have you eaten anything?" I asked him.

"No. It only took a couple hours from the time they took you out of the room. I didn't even have time to get hungry," Jack took my hand, held between both of his, and propped his elbows on the bed. He rested his chin on our amalgamation of fingers and smiled at me, staring into my eyes. "How can you be so awesome?"

I chuckled. "What?"

"You just had your insides cut out, but you are worried about me eating. How did I get so lucky?"

"Luck had nothing to do with it," I said, smiling. "You were destined to be with me because my mommy says so." I teased. Jack let out a little laugh, his gorgeous eyes dancing and sparkling just for me. I don't think I have ever been more in love with you than I am at this moment, I thought to myself.

"I don't think I have ever been more in love with you than I am at this moment," Jack said to me, pressing his lips into my hand, then resting his chin back on our intertwined fingers.

My mouth dropped open. I shook my head a little and closed my eyes, then looked at him with my head slightly tilted, "... w-what did you just say?" I asked, completely baffled that he just said my exact thought out loud.

Jack's eyebrows scrunched up, and he looked at me like I had two heads. " I said I don't think I have ever been more in love with you more than I am at this moment, Mark. Wh... did I... do something wrong?" Jack backed his body up in an almost defensive manner and tried to pull his hands from mine, but I wouldn't let go.

"No... " I breathed out, "No, Jackaboy, you didn't do anything wrong. You just... " I let out an almost sarcastic little 'heh' sound, "said the exact words I was thinking, literally word for word, out loud, the moment I thought it."

"What? It was just a coincidence, Mark. We talk all mushy like that all the time," Jack said to me.

"This was... different, though. It would be different if I thought I love you and you said 'I love you'. That is something we say all the time. But this... this was different. I'm telling you, Jack, it was literally word for word." A chill ran down my spine.

"So, what? You think we have some kind of connection or somethin'? News flash, Mark! We are soulmates! Your mom knew we would be together years before we ever met! We have supernatural bloodlines! We killed an angel and we are on a mission to kill a demon, that lives inside me, for fuck's sake!" Jack shook his head, trying to hold back from laughing at me. "You are acting like some kind of psychic connection is a rare or weird thing with us."

"Well... it is for me," I said, my tone low and defeated. I looked down at the blanket, then I had a thought. I looked back at Jack, "wait... has this happened before? Jack, can you hear my thoughts?"

Jack pursed his lips, his sparkling eyes looking down as if he were ashamed, and said "I... think I can, Mark."