AN: Thank you for all your very kind reviews. I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me what you think of my stories. Your reviews encourage me to write more! Hope you enjoy the finished story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
The Danger Within
Chapter 7 : Epilogue
The first thing that penetrated Steve's subconscious this time was not the sound of a ringing phone but an incessant beeping . That sound was all too familiar to Steve and at once he realized that he was once again in the hospital. Why did he always seem to end up here? They would probably give him his own room soon! The hospital smell of disinfectant assaulted his nostrils. It was a smell he detested. Although there was the beeping of machines there wasn't an excessive amount of them and the heavy headed sluggish feeling in his brain both led him to conclude that he was probably in recovery and just coming around from the anaesthetic. God, he thought, he really had been here too many times before. As per usual his eyelids felt like lead and it took a couple of tries before he could manage to keep them open. His eyes adjusted to the light and he slowly looked around. It was then that he saw Mike. He was sitting in the chair next to the bed and when Steve looked his way he smiled. God, had he been there all day? He could always count on Mike and in that moment he felt so blessed to have him as a friend. He looked tired though and Steve felt guilty for putting him through such a stressful day. " Hey... " Steve croaked and suddenly realized how dry his throat felt. " Hey there yourself.. how are you feeling buddy boy?" Mike replied and without being asked he picked up the cup of ice chips off the bedside locker and placed a small spoon of them up to Steve's lips. Steve gladly accepted them and the cool ice moistened his parched lips and soothed his dry throat. "Thanks Mike. I feel ok. A little sore but that awful pain is gone.." " The doc said you were very lucky today buddy boy. Your appendix was very badly inflamed. You gave us all a real scare today you know. You and I are going to have to have a long talk about your avoidance issues when you're feeling better. No more secrets ok? " Mike scolded but he kept his tone light to convey to Steve that he wasn't upset with him just relieved that he was ok. Steve felt embarrassed. He knew he'd worried everyone but he had learned his lesson. " I'm sorry Mike really I am. I just thought it was food poisoning from the hotdog yesterday and I didn't want to make a fuss. I never thought it was anything serious. Honest. But I've learned my lesson Mike. No more secrets. I promise. " Steve felt like the air had been cleared between the two men and he felt himself smiling and relaxing for the first time in ages. " You know you look terrible Mike..." Steve chided "Why don't you go and get yourself something to eat. It's been a long day for you and you're not getting any younger. You know people your age..." " Hey, hey ,less of the people your age speech..." Mike retorted with a playful swat at Steve's shoulder, both now enjoying their usual playful banter. " Maybe I will go and grab something to eat "Mike said ,suddenly realizing how hungry he actually felt. "People my age..." he repeated with another playful swat in Steve's direction. " I'll see you later"."Ok... " Steve replied smiling. Just then the door opened and in came a nurse carrying a tray with what looked like a bowl of chicken noodle soup on it. " Dr. Armstrong says if you want to get out of here tomorrow you have to try and eat something "she informed him. As Mike got to the door he couldn't help but laugh when he looked back and saw the face Steve was making at the strange smelling soup. " You know I could just bring you back a hotdog buddy boy.." Mike said laughing and closed the door just as he heard a soup spoon hit the other side. As he walked down the corridor toward the canteen he couldn't help smiling to himself. He decided to wait until tomorrow to break it to Steve about all the nursing Jeannie had in store for him but you know he couldn't help but look forward to having his family under the one roof again even if it was for only a little while and as a result of such dramatic circumstances. God really did work in mysterious ways.
The End