A/N: Hey guys… so… here's the next chapter and it's more or less a "filler chapter" before the "real action" starts… But we do hope you like it anyways… I will try my best to have the next chapter ready by tomorrow, but I can't promise anything since at the moment there is a lot going on in my life. But I swear I'll try to have it ready as soon as possible.
Thanks for your comments – as always.
Lewis Avery POV:
Lewis knew that Eli wasn't really happy that he had made him promise not to tell anyone about what happened on the rooftop, but he was still glad Eli agreed to it.
It had been a stupid move, and talking to Eli had made Lewis realize that. Realize that life was too short anyways and that he didn't want to run away like that. It would have been cowardly to just jump and leave all the people that loved him behind. He needed to take responsibility for the things he had done and he couldn't do that if he was dead.
Eli and he just rounded the corner on the way to his office when Tyler appeared out of nowhere.
And he looked quite upset.
How long had he spent with his and Jackson's mother?
Lewis immediately knew that something had gone down. Something he didn't know about. Something Tyler obviously wanted or needed to talk about. He just hoped he hadn't made things worse for Tyler. He should have tried talking to his mother alone, without Tyler.
When he asked him to talk to him alone, Lewis felt a nervous flutter in his stomach. Looking at Eli for a moment, the guy excused himself immediately, even though Lewis didn't really know if he wanted to be alone with Tyler. But he knew he owed him that much privacy.
They entered his office and the minute Lewis opened his mouth to ask Tyler what was going on, he felt Tyler's lips on his own, felt Tyler trapping him between his body and the wall, and he knew he had to do something. He couldn't let that happen again. Not like that.
Tyler couldn't just bump in here and have his way with him whenever he pleased, no matter how much Lewis still loved him.
It took all of his willpower for him to push him away and look him in the eye directly.
"What are you doing?" he asked, not really prepared for what came next. Not really expecting any of the words Tyler was saying.
He stood there in front of him, apologizing for things he did and it felt like Lewis was trapped in a parallel universe.
Staring at Tyler, Lewis needed to let the words sink in for a couple of seconds.
He still needed to make one thing clear, because he definitely didn't want Tyler to start this again just because he felt sorry for him. Just to give him one thing to hold onto, when right afterwards he left him again.
"I don't need your pity... you've made your opinion on us very clear," Lewis said, even though the mere thought that this could be exactly what Tyler was doing here hurt him.
But Tyler immediately told him the exact opposite, and Lewis couldn't believe his ears.
"And I was wrong. Please Lewis...I won't fuck us up ever again, I promise. Just give me one more chance to prove it to you"
"You... you're saying you... you want another chance even though I have been the one that messed everything up?"
"Lewis... we... we both messed up, don't you think?" Tyler grabbed Lewis' hands, holding them in his own, while his eyes rested on Lewis' eyes.
"I love you... I love you so much... and I can't live without you. Hell, I don't want to live without you. I know I hurt you, I know I took out my pain because you chose Alex on you and it wasn't right... I shouldn't have used you like that."
"You had every right to," Lewis interrupted him. "I know I deserved it. I deserved nothing else than that... and you... you, Tyler, you deserve better than me... I... I am not right for you."
"Yes, you are," Tyler disagreed. "You have always been right for me. You have always been the one for me."
Taking a deep breath, Tyler let go of Lewis' hands and touched Lewis' face instead.
"I realized that we both... yes... could be happy with someone else... that we could have a good life, even if we're not together, but it's not the life I want... it's not the way I wanna spend my life," Tyler admitted. "With someone who will always be second choice because I couldn't have you..."
"Tyler... I... I don't know what to say..." Lewis replied, feeling slightly overwhelmed.
Up there on the rooftop he wanted nothing more than to have Tyler back, but for it to happen now was unbelievable. Was something he couldn't quite process right then.
"Say that you love me..." Tyler whispered and Lewis knew that Tyler really needed to hear those words. That he was desperate. Lewis heard it and he saw it in his eyes.
"I love you," Lewis said, grabbing Tyler's face and feeling him flinch when he touched his right cheek, only then noticing that it was red and even a little swollen.
"Oh my god, Tyler..." Gently, Lewis started to caress Tyler's cheek, leaning down and carefully kissing it. "What happened?" he whispered into his ear, even though he had quite an idea.
"It's not important." Tyler tried to avoid the subject, leaning more into Lewis' touch. "I probably deserved it..."
"Like I deserved it?" Lewis asked, pulling back enough so he could look back into Tyler's eyes.
"My mother can't run around slapping people like that... slapping you... I won't let her get away with it." He let go of Tyler and moved towards the door, only to be stopped by Tyler's hand catching his wrist.
"No. Lewis, no, please, don't."
"She hurt you." Lewis stated, and the mere thought that his mother attacked Tyler cut like a knife.
"And it's all my fault... because I let you get in between this family war again. You... you shouldn't even be with me right now."
"I'm exactly where I should be. Lewis, please... let's... let's give this... us... another chance... I need you so much... and I need you now... I need you tonight... I can't do any of this without you." Again, Tyler literally begged for his forgiveness, and Lewis couldn't believe how wrong it was on so many levels. He should be the one to begging for Tyler not to walk out of his life again.
"Tyler..." Lewis breathed out his name before turning back to him, grabbing him by the hips and pulling him close.
"I need you, too... you have no idea how much I need you."
He leaned down and the first kiss after this rushed one overwhelmed Lewis with emotion, because it was so gentle, tender, almost careful, as if both didn't want to break whatever they were having right now.
Tears were glistening in Lewis' eyes when he looked at Tyler again, feeling the strong need to be even closer to him than he was right now.
"Are we gonna be okay?" he asked quietly, trying his best not to burst out in tears again. He had cried enough for a lifetime over the past few days.
"Yes... yes, we're gonna be okay... I... I won't let you slip away ever again." Tyler replied, making Lewis feel so much better with only a few words.
"I'm scared, Tyler," Lewis admitted. "I'm so scared..."
He felt Tyler hugging him, holding him very close, responding to the embrace by putting both of his arms around Tyler's waist and pressing his whole body against Tyler's.
"I'm scared, too..." Tyler said. "But we'll get through this... together... I promise you, whatever happens, I'll be there..."
"I love you," Lewis interrupted him. "I love you..."
He leaned back so he could capture Tyler's lips with his own.
"I love you..."
Over and over again he said those words whenever their lips weren't touching as if it was some kind of magic that would break a spell that had laid over them.
"I love you, too, Lewis, I love you..."
Now it was Tyler speaking out those words and it felt like with saying them he tore down the wall Lewis had tried to build around him for his own protection within seconds.
Lewis felt Tyler's hands starting to unbutton his shirt, but Lewis grabbed his wrists, keeping him from going any further.
"No!"
"Please, Lewis... I need to feel you..." Tyler begged, his voice full of emotions.
"Not here..." Lewis whispered. "I don't want this to happen here... in my office... and I don't want it to happen here in this hospital, if we really want to start over. And I also don't want it to happen in my apartment... where all the memories about Alex are... this has to be about us..."
Biting his lower lip, Lewis looked into Tyler's eyes.
"You have no idea how much I wanna make love to you right now... how much I wanna undress you slowly... watch every inch of your beautiful body get revealed to my eyes, before I start to take care of you by touching you... and kissing you... and preparing you..."
Only the thought made his heart beat rapidly in his chest.
"But this hospital is so full of memories... memories I don't want in my head when I am with you... it's... it's stupid... I know..."
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"And maybe... maybe it shouldn't happen tonight..." It was pretty hard for him to say, because he really longed for Tyler. Really wanted to be close to him. But it most likely would be the right thing not to sleep with Tyler tonight. Not before Jackson wasn't out of the woods.
"We... we have time, right?"
Shaking his head, Lewis rushed forward, capturing Tyler's lips in a heated kiss. He knew he was about to lose his mind right now, because his mind definitely said different things than his body, and for once he really wanted to listen to his heart, even though it was probably wrong.
"Forget what I just said..." he whispered in between two kisses, letting his tongue slip into Tyler's mouth and caressing it while his hands started touching Tyler's back and grabbed his ass, holding him very close. He needed this right now, and having Tyler back made his whole world look so much better than it looked a couple of hours ago. He just needed a moment for himself. For them. And he would have this moment.
Alex Karev POV:
Alex had learned a lot in the 6 years he had lived in Seattle. No place had given and taken away so much and it was a place he had both come to love and hate in equal measurements.
Sometimes he thought it was a damn miracle he survived long enough to be where he was at. Alex had been beaten, shot, and left for dead and yet if someone were to come to him and ask if coming here was a mistake he'd tell them no in a heartbeat.
He knew without a doubt he would not be the man he was if he hadn't come here and met these group of people that changed him so profoundly.
Sitting on one of the benches outside of Seattle Grace Mercy West he looked up at the night sky and saw stars. It was unusual for this time of year and even more unusual this far into the city.
Maybe it was a sign that Alex couldn't quite understand. The kind that gave people hope that things were going to turn around. Get better and regain some sort of familiarity.
In this moment it was what Alex wanted more than anything in the world.
He had two of the most important people in his life occupying rooms in the building behind him fighting one of the hardest fights they ever would. One for their life and another for the innocence that had been lost.
Alex occasionally found himself dumbfounded how two people could mean so much to him. Maybe if it was someone like Meredith it would make more sense. Meredith had come up with him. Trudged through their first years together and so many of her battle scars matched his own.
He could say without a doubt he loved the woman. Their relationship had twisted and strained, but there was too much history to ever break completely.
It made sense to Alex.
April and Jackson. They were the ones that baffled the hell out of him.
They had come into his life when it had been falling apart. His wife had been gone and his world had hung by the thinnest of threads. They hadn't even been friends until a year later. He had found April annoying and Jackson uncomfortable.
Somehow the three had fallen into a friendship that was hard to explain. Over time Alex found April's quirks more endearing than mind numbing. He found himself seeking out Jackson's company simply because he missed being around the guy.
They managed to become essential to his day-to-day living.
And if he were to lose that now, had to sit back as Jackson died and April's light was slowly snuffed out, Alex knew a big part of him would be gone too and the thought terrified him.
He's didn't make it a habit of needing people that much. He had only done it twice before and one had been shipped off to the nuthouse and the other had abandoned him completely.
Watching the stars he closed his eyes "Don't take them away from me" he whispered softly. "Please."
Prayer had never been something he took much stock in, but it never hurt to stack the decks.
He didn't know someone was behind him until he heard the small cough and looking behind him he saw Meredith standing a few feet away, meek and unsure of what to do.
Alex felt embarrassed for a minute. He didn't make it a habit of speaking to unknown fates in the company of others and as he approached he looked down.
"Mind if I take a seat?"
"It's a free country" it came off as callous and rude. Something that was not intentional, but his nerves were shot and it was his default tone.
Meredith walked around and took a seat beside him before looking up at the sky "So many stars" she spoke aloud "looks weird."
He shrugged his shoulder and picked at a piece of lint on his pants.
The last time they had talked was in angry words and Alex wasn't comfortable enough to know where they stood.
"I heard about the fight" Meredith said "in Jackson's room"
"Great" Alex responded sarcastically "now everyone is going to know" that could make it very hard for Owen to let it all slide.
"No" Meredith corrected "I noticed you weren't in Jackson or April's room and I asked Eli, he filled me in" Alex could still see Eli's angry stare and the pit of guilt pooled at his stomach.
"He's still pissed?"
"Not so much" Meredith told him "honestly, I think he's a little bit impressed"
Alex chuckled slightly.
"For what it's worth I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing"
"Really?"
"I know how close you and Jackson are" Meredith said "and if it was Cristina in that bed and the guy who pumped her full of drugs paid a visit I would have taken a swing at him"
Alex smiled. Meredith and Yang's relationship was the stuff of legend at Seattle Grace and for her to compare his and Jackson's relationship to theirs felt… touching.
Although knowing that it was a possibility that it could all be over by that time tomorrow made his heart heavy.
"How is she?" Meredith asked and Alex looked at her confused.
"April" she told him.
"You haven't been to see her yet?"
A look of shame crossed Meredith's eyes "I-I'm sure it's the last thing she needs"
"Are you serious?" he asked somewhere between anger and bewilderment "you're one of the closest people she has here"
"And I fucked up" Meredith responded "I let myself get caught up in things that should have never happened and I wasn't there like I should have been"
Alex couldn't pretend like he wasn't upset at Meredith focusing so much on Holt, but he was guilty of dropping the ball himself.
"We all fucked up" Alex said "it's kind of what we're good at"
That had gotten a small smile from Meredith "We've certainly done our share"
"She'd like to see you" Alex said "I think it would go a long way"
"She nearly died, Alex" Meredith told him "it would have taken 5 minutes of spending time with her to know the kind of stress she was putting herself under and demand she sees someone"
"We've all could have done things different, Mer" Alex replied "but if I've learned anything over this past year it's that trying to fix your mistakes isn't easy, but worth it"
Meredith was quiet for a moment before bumping her shoulder against Alex's with a grin "When did you get so smart?"
"With it just being us two left one of us had to pick up where O'Malley left off"
With Meredith's smile it felt like the tension that accumulated was washed away.
"I think after Jackson's surgery you should go and give her the good news" Alex suggested "she'd like that"
"I don't know, Alex..."
"Trust me" Alex told her "she needs it"
"Is she okay?" Meredith's concern touched him.
"I think she could use a friend right now" he responded.
Alex would have loved to be the one there for her, but he knew he represented something that was too painful.
"I need to be there for Jackson tomorrow" Alex said "and I need somebody I can trust to look after her Mer, and that's you."
She grabbed his hand and held it tight "Thank you, Alex" she answered and he saw how much it meant to her. The two shared a tender moment and with eyes wide Meredith smiled "Oh, I realize I haven't seen your little girl yet" she told him "show me, show me"
Her enthusiasm made him laugh "I can't right now" he gave back and pointed to his face "I don't want to scare her"
"You can't help the shape of your head, Alex. I'm sure she'll grow to love her daddy looking like an orange"
"Screw you" he chuckled as she pulled him up and headed towards the entrance. He hadn't felt happy enough to laugh in a long time and he wanted to enjoy it. So letting Meredith lead him back into the hospital he prepared himself to show her his brand new pride and joy.
Lewis Avery POV:
When Lewis opened his eyes the next morning it was still pretty dark in the room. Moving a little bit to get to his mobile phone, he noticed the weight laying atop of him and he had to smile.
Tyler.
It hadn't been a dream. They were really together again and Tyler was here. Like he had promised he hadn't gone anywhere and Lewis was damn relieved about it. For a moment there he had thought everything... all of this... was too good to be true, but obviously it wasn't.
They didn't have sex last night, though.
Lewis had really wanted to sleep with him, even though he had had his doubts if it was right to jump into this relationship again like that but Tyler had kept him from taking the next step once Lewis had tried to unbutton his shirt.
They had kissed and touched and Lewis had felt that his body started to react, but then Tyler had stopped the kiss and pushed him away slightly.
"Wait." he had breathed out, looking at Lewis.
"You... you're right, we shouldn't do it like that..."
It was just what Lewis had said before and instead of sleeping with each other, they had talked and then decided they should get some rest before Jackson's big surgery.
They had gone to an empty on-call room, undressed to their underwear and laid down in bed.
Lewis had to admit, he hadn't felt that rested in quite a while.
When Lewis lifted his head to look at Tyler he noticed immediately, that Tyler was still asleep, even though he couldn't see much in the darkness, but his breathing was slow and steady and he didn't move an inch, even though Lewis did. He was clearly still in dreamland and Lewis definitely didn't want to wake him up.
Still, he needed to get up somehow. He needed to pee and he even was a little bit hungry.
He had barely eaten since Jackson was rushed into the ER and everything had gone down so quickly, but it seemed like Tyler was making him better again already.
As careful as possible, Lewis managed to move away from underneath Tyler's body and sat on the edge of the bed, letting out the breath he was holding when he noticed he hadn't woken Tyler.
He grabbed his mobile phone, pressing a button so the display would lighten up, noticing that it was still early.
About four hours until Jackson's surgery, and despite everything that had happened: Lewis still wanted to check on his brother one last time before the surgery, even if it meant he had to face his mother again. He was willing to do this for Jackson, knowing that Jackson would do the same for him if it was the other way round. Probably.
Getting up and moving across the room where he could see the outlines of the chair they both - he and Tyler - had put their clothes on, he stumbled over his shoes on the way there and landed on the ground with a thud, cursing silently when he heard Tyler's mumbled voice.
"What are you doing?"
Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Lewis got to his knees, crawling back to the bed.
"I tried to get up without waking you... Mission failed, I guess..."
When he leaned over Tyler, he felt Tyler grab his hand and squeeze it.
"I woke up the moment you tried to get me off your body," he admitted.
Letting out a sigh, Lewis leaned down to kiss him. "I'm sorry, baby..."
"Don't worry, it's okay... what time is it?" Tyler asked.
"6.30... so you can still get a couple of hours of sleep if you want to," Lewis said, feeling Tyler pull him onto the bed and snuggling against him.
"Not without you... "
Lewis couldn't help the smile that was appearing on his lips.
"Always the snuggle bear, aren't we?" he teased him, knowing exactly what he was doing and almost awaiting Tyler's reaction when he punched against his chest.
"I'm not snuggling," he protested.
"Of course not," Lewis giggled, starting to tickle Tyler's ribs, knowing exactly how sensitive they were.
"Just like you're not ticklish."
"Ah... stop..." Tyler laughed, starting to curl in Lewis' arms, and Lewis couldn't help but laugh, too. And it was liberating. For the first time in a while he felt happy again, despite everything that had happened.
He loved to hear Tyler's laugh, loved to be childish like that with him, even though Tyler would never admit it ever happened afterwards, but Lewis loved him just the way he was.
"Stop, please, stop. I'll do everything, but please... stop it already," Tyler begged in between giggling, seeming already pretty breathless.
"Anything I want?" Lewis asked, still letting his fingertips dance across Tyler's body.
"Anything!" Tyler blurted out. "Just please, have some mercy..."
"Okay..." Lewis smirked, moving above Tyler so he was laying atop of him, feeling Tyler spread his legs invitingly. "How about you take care of my morning wood? I think it could need some attention..."
"I can do that..." Tyler whispered, letting his hands slide down Lewis' spine and pushing his shorts downwards just enough so his cock sprung out.
Grabbing it, Tyler started to move his fingers up and down the shaft, his eyes never leaving Lewis'.
"Like that?"
Taking in a sharp breath, Lewis nodded enthusiastically. "Yes... yes, just like that... oh baby... you're fingers are magic..."
"Oh yeah?" Tyler smiled up at him. "Good to hear I haven't lost my touch..."
He slid back the foreskin just enough so his thumb could touch the sensitive glans that was hiding underneath it, knowing it would drive Lewis crazy, and it did.
Uncontrolled, he thrust forward, against Tyler's body, noticing that he was hard too.
"Need a hand there?" he asked breathlessly, letting out a low moan when Tyler started pumping his erection, speeding up immediately.
Before Tyler even had the chance to reply, Lewis had already hooked his thumbs into his shorts and pulled it down, causing an electrifying friction when he sank down enough so their cocks touched.
"Oh god... Lewis..." Tyler groaned, rearing up and wrapping his arms around Lewis' waist, while his hand let go of his cock so he could loop his arms around his neck.
Lewis understood this as the request it was, starting to move against Tyler a little unhandy at the beginning, but soon they found a rhythm, letting their bodies slide against each other with every new thrust.
Tyler moaned and shifted underneath Lewis, almost melting into him. Their kisses got more and more heated with every second, almost nasty, their tongues pushing greedily into each other's mouth.
"That's... that's perfect..." Lewis brought out, feeling himself getting closer to the edge.
Sweat was on both of their bodies, making everything just that much more slippery, and it was just really, really good. And exactly what Lewis needed right now. What they both needed. Having sex without really sleeping with each other. Lewis couldn't believe how close it made him feel to Tyler, and if he hadn't believed before that everything would be okay: he definitely believed it now.
"Lewis..." Tyler whispered, rocking up and down. "Please... please open your eyes... I need to see you..."
And Lewis did, because he knew it was what Tyler needed. As soon as his eyes met those beautiful dark blue ones he couldn't understand why he had even closed them. He wanted to see every little change on his lover's face, wanted to see the reaction to the things he was doing to him.
"God..." he gasped, rocking against Tyler. "Jesus. Oh yes..."
"Fuck, Lewis..." Tyler gave back, arching his back and again meeting Lewis' movements. "That feels good."
Lewis couldn't believe that he really had him back. That from now on nothing could stop them ever again. He wouldn't let anything or anyone get in between them anymore.
Increasing his speed, Lewis looked down between their bodies, watching their cocks slide against each other, and he could have come alone from this, feeling that he wouldn't be able to hold back much longer.
"Ty, I'm close," he said, wishing he could enjoy this forever.
Tyler whined, the noise caught in the back of his throat, and then shifted, making Lewis open his eyes to see what was happening. He nearly came right then, as Tyler took both their cocks in his hand, starting to rub and massage them. It was almost too much already.
"Oh hell, Tyler," he groaned, gripping Tyler's hips hard and thrusting into his hand over and over again, unable to do anything but try to give as good as he got.
"Lewis, god, please, Lewis, please," Tyler begged, not taking his eyes from Lewis' face as he let go of their cocks and instead wrapped his legs around Lewis' hips once more..
Lewis could feel his orgasm building at the base of his spine and he knew he couldn't hold it off for much longer. He slammed up against Tyler again and again, praying he was giving Tyler what he needed.
"Oh, oh, oh," Tyler chanted finally, his back arching as he froze and cum started to spurt out of his cock between their bodies.
And that was it. Lewis couldn't hold on any more. His hips snapped up once, twice and then he came hard, his eyes squeezed shut against the ecstasy. He rode it out, thrusting shallowly forth and backwards, drawing out his own pleasure and making the other man moan.
"Oh Jesus," Lewis breathed, collapsing onto Tyler's chest, shaking and twitching as he came back down to earth. "Oh god."
"Yeah," Tyler answered, wrapping his arms around Lewis' body, while Lewis just snuggled against him.
"Who's the snuggle bear now?" Tyler teased, and when Lewis looked up, there was a happy smile on his face.
Happier than Lewis had seen in a while.
They were back. Stronger than ever. With Tyler by his side he could overcome everything. He was sure about that.
Eli Lloyd POV:
Eli had a ritual he did before a big surgery. Other than the usual crossing the T's and dotting the I's to make sure every detail was fully taken care of he would go to the patient and say a silent prayer over them.
Religion and hospitals were never that good of a mix so he never told anyone about his practice, but it helped give him piece of mind and maybe, if there was something greater than themselves out there, swayed things in their favour just a bit.
It was 10 minutes until Jackson's surgery and as he walked in he saw Mark, Lewis, Catherine, Alex and Tyler all standing around the bed. It was clear that some weren't talking to one another, but decided to be civil and let everyone enjoy a few moments with Jackson before Eli had to wheel him down to O.R.2 which was already getting prepared.
"Hey" Eli said politely "I have to get him ready" and everyone in the room had worked in medicine long enough to know the rules and not argue about more time.
Catherine was the first to bend down and give her son a kiss on the forehead "I'll see you in recovery, baby" she whispered before standing up and smiling at Eli before leaving the room.
Next was Alex who gave a quick squeeze to Jackson's hand before bending down and kissing his cheek. Their relationship both baffled and intrigued Eli. The emotional highs and lows between the two reminded Eli so much of his own with his brothers. They loved each other severely, but also pissed one another off more than anybody else in the world was capable of.
Once Alex was gone Lewis and Tyler stood side by side as they looked down at Jackson. Eli took note of Mark turning away from the scene. His anger towards Jackson's brother was still strong and the nurse doubted it was going away anytime soon. Eli couldn't really fault him, but Mark would have to learn how to deal with it if he ever hoped to move on, especially with Jackson.
Lewis was going to be a part of the man's life. Lewis would make sure of it and despite everything that had happened Eli knew Jackson would still want that.
"You're going to kick ass in that surgery" Tyler said as he looked down at Jackson "I just know it."
Eli knew it was hard for the men, all of them really, because Jackson dying was still a real possibility and this could be their last time with the man. The thought seized Eli's chest with a cold fear.
Lewis bent down and leaned in close to Jackson's ear. He spoke so quietly that most in the room couldn't hear what he said, but before he broke away he kissed Jackson's temple and said "I'm sorry." Standing back up Eli could see the tears shimmering in the man's eyes and his heart went out to him.
Walking towards the door Tyler exited and just as Lewis passed him Eli grabbed his shoulder and gave it a light pat. Grabbing his hand Lewis gave a smile to the man before following Tyler to the viewing gallery.
Mark was the last man standing and pulling a chair up beside Jackson he grabbed the man's hand and gave it a kiss "Hey Jackson" he spoke "today's the day".
Eli stood far enough back to give the man his privacy, but Mark didn't even seem to notice him in the room. "I need you to get through this and come back to me, okay?" he said "I… I can't do any of this without you, baby. I tried and I failed, so please" then leaning forward Mark closed his eyes and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.
It was one of the most beautiful and saddest things Eli had ever seen.
Mark gave a quick nod to Eli before leaving. Taking a deep breath Eli approached Jackson's bed.
"You see how many people care about you?" he smiled "your face turned into its very own kissing booth".
Unhooking Jackson's lines he replaced them on the movable gurney and reattached the essentials so that the man could still get the medicine he needed until he reached the O.R.
Looking behind him quickly Eli saw that nobody was around and facing Jackson he closed his eyes and started to pray
God of all goodness
Look with love on those who wait
for the safe return of their loved ones
In faith and hope, we turn to you for comfort,
Grant that we may trust in your mercy
and send an angel to sustain us as we await their safe return
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Given a traditional crossing Eli opened his eyes.
"That was beautiful" Sasha said as she walked up to Eli and the man turned around quickly.
"I-"
"Don't worry about it" she smiled "your secret is safe with me." Standing beside him she looked down at Jackson "I think anything that can help is more than welcomed"
Eli could see the fear in her eyes "He's going to be okay" he told her and the woman nodded her head as a tear fell down her cheek. "My mind knows that" she told him "I've helped with enough of these surgeries to know the odds are good, but..."
"But what?"
"It's Jackson" she choked out "I can't-" she tried to say before being too overcome with emotion to continue.
"I know" Eli told her as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder "none of us wants to imagine the worst and in a couple hours we won't have to. He's going to wake up and we can all start to fix the damage that was done"
"You want to know the worst part?" Sasha asked "I'm still so angry with him for using me the way he did"
Eli looked down at her.
"He's here fighting for his life and I'm this selfish brat who's still can't get over her stupid feelings for a guy she never had a shot with"
"Stop it" Eli told her "you can't help who you fall for, or the reaction you have when that person uses it to their advantage, but you know the guy who did that wasn't really Jackson, right?"
Sasha shook her head "I know" she told him "Jackson is one of the best people I know"
"That he is" Eli smiled "and once he's better I know he'll apologize for what he did"
"The best apology would be just waking up and being okay" Sasha said "that's all I want"
Rubbing her shoulder Eli ignored the butterflies in his stomach as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're amazing with words?" Sasha asked and Eli laughed softly.
"I may have heard it once or twice" he spoke "now why don't you help me transport our guy here to the O.R."
"I'd like that" she grinned and set about assisting Eli move the bed out of the room and down the hall as doctors and staff lined the halls to watch the young doctor. The scene almost made Eli cry.
If ever he doubted the family that resided within these walls this moment would always prove how much these people meant to him.