Chapter nine:
Mello is the first to awaken and he raises his head confused as to where he is for a few moments as he looks around himself but then his head clears of the sleep fog letting him remember what happened. He turns to Nate and reaches forward gently stroking Nate's cheek. His lips curve upwards.
Yes. He can get used to this just being with Nate.
Four days later….
Mello is taking Nate up a hill that has a single beautiful oak tree at the top. "Come on Nate you can make it." He says glancing over his shoulder with a wide smile.
"I'm coming!" Nate responds also smiling widely.
Mello is almost at the top and he turns to face forward.
Nate doesn't have time to react as his eyes slip closed as he falls to the ground passing out.
Mello looks back in time to see this making him freeze. He turns rushing back to Nate falling to his knees next to him.
In worry mixed with fear as well as panic Mello scoops Nate up into his arms bridal style and gets to his feet.
He begins dashing with his face showing worried panic as he heads towards the hospital. He holds Nate close.
A repeated thought runs through his mind.
'Don't give up. Come on Nate. Don't let it end like this. It'll all be ok. I promise.'
Mello even shoves past a few people but doesn't even to seem to notice anyone else's existence as he rushes Nate to the closest hospital in a desperate attempt to try to possibly save Nate if this is bad enough for it to be that dangerous.
Though in Mello's mind it is a very deadly thing.
Mello bursts into the hospital. "Please help him!" He begs. "Please! Don't let me lose him!"
A nurse turns ordering a wheeled bed be brought immediately as she looks to the passed out Nate in Mello's arms.
Mello explains about what happened and Nate's condition as the wheeled bed is quickly brought over to them.
In no time Nate is being wheeled off into the hospital.
Mello left to pace in the waiting room anxiously.
…
The nurses and doctors who moved to help work hard to help Nate.
...
Mello paces the waiting room refusing to sit down as he is too worried and fearful for Nate. His heart beating heavily so much so that it thumps in his ears with every... Single... Beat.
Time passes and Mello keeps glancing to any doctor or nurse passing by him as well as looking at the clock every now and then.
...
The hospital staff place Nate in his own room that was available at the time.
Nate is still unconscious but should be alright now.
A nurse turns to the doctor. "You know this as well as I do." She says to him.
The doctor nods. "I know. Don't worry I know."
...
Mello feels like yelling 'FINALLY!' When a doctor approaches him but instead he speaks in an indoor voice as he stopped pacing the moment the doctor approached him. "How is he?" He asks.
The doctor looks at Mello calm. "He will be alright." He says. "I have a feeling you'll want to see him."
Mello feels relieved to hear this and nods. "Please."
The doctor gestures for Mello to follow then leads him deeper into the hospital as Mello follows.
They reach Nate's room and the doctor allows Mello inside.
Mellos eyes come to rest upon Nate's sleeping body lying there on the hospital bed. He moves closer feeling relieved to see Nate is indeed alright and as soon as he stands next to the bed he reaches forward only to place one of his hands on top of one of Nate's own as if to assure himself Nate is still indeed here.
"I would like to talk to you about something." The doctor says seriously.
Mellos eyes remain focused on Nate's sleeping face. "What is it?" He asks.
"I take it you are his lover." The doctor starts.
Mello nods. "That is correct."
"Well I'm glad that he has someone who will love and hold him." The doctor says.
Mello turns and stares at the doctor as if he is some kind of suspicious character needing to be identified. "What's going on?" He demands as he is smart enough to read into the doctors words that there is something more to what he is saying.
The doctor sighs softly. "Well you see." He begins. "I'm afraid there is bad news."
Mellos heart sinks. "What do you mean?" He questions. "What bad news?"
The doctor watches Mello seriously. "I'm afraid that he isn't going to make it."
Mellos face falls in horror. "W-What do you mean?" He asks as if he can't believe what he is hearing.
"I'm sorry. He is now living on limited time. Currently we cannot say for sure how long he has at the moment." The doctor explains.
"Please." Mellos eye sight blurs with tears and he raises his hands to emphasize his desperation in his words. "Please. Test me. Maybe I can do something to save him."
The doctor looks sympathetic. "I'm sorry. But it's too late."
Mellos head flops down so his chin is against his chest.
The doctor watches with sympathy. "I truly am sorry." He says.
Mello turns back to Nate not looking at the doctor as he remains silent.
"I have a feeling you need some time." The doctor slips out with that.
Mello once again covers one of Nate's hands with his own as his head remains down.
This goes on for a few moments then Mello speaks softly almost as if to himself yet partially at Nate who still remains asleep at the moment.
"I promise you that I will everything in my power to make your dreams come true more so than I have been trying. Remember that I will still sacrifice anything and everything for you."
When Nate awoken he finds he is looking at a hospital ceiling that he is very familiar with.
Nate turns to look to Mello who is gazing down as if lost in thought. "Mihael?"
Mello blinks as if coming back to reality then he looks to Nate. "Ah good you are awake." He says grateful that Nate is now awake.
Nate blinks in worry noticing the slight change in Mello. "Are you alright?" He asks.
Mello looks into Nate's eyes and smiles softly almost sadly. "It'll be ok." He assures Nate but he knows Nate deserves the truth. "You're living on a short amount of time." He explains and as he continues he moves to sit next to Nate on the bed as he doesn't look at Nate as he moves to sit down instead looking at his knees. "It's too late and you have an unknown amount of time to live... You're dying." He turns back to Nate at the last words which is when he is settled sitting on the bed only to continue. "But don't worry. I'll make sure everything will be ok."
Nate smiles softly with a wave of sadness that rolls over you when you look at the smile. "I see. I'm sorry I'm causing Mello pain. I do not mean to."
Mello brings a hand to cup Nate's cheek. "Hush. It's ok my love. It's ok."
Nate places a small peck on Mellos lips.
"Everything will be alright."
...
Mello spent the rest of the day with Nate as they talked while Nate stayed in bed.
By the time visiting hours are up Mello decides to leave today.
"You get some rest." He tells Nate while the nurse who alerted him that visiting ours are up stays in the doorway waiting. "I promise I will be back tomorrow." He then leaves with the nurse closing the door behind them.
That night Mello returns to the orphanage and grabs a chocolate bar before heading to his room.
As he passes by Matts room he can hear the other playing video games.
Typical.
He closes his room door behind himself then after a few moments of leaning against the door he moves over to his desk sitting down as he opens the chocolate bars wrapper. He begins eating as he hunched over to work on something until he ends up passing out there.
That morning...
Mello heads away from the orphanage. He walks through town with his hands in his pockets until he comes to a location. He pauses to look at its front doors.
Not many people will be here since it's the morning.
He moves inside pushing the door open using the cold metal rod door knob and sure enough there is no line. He heads to the lady at the front desk.
The lady is filing her nails as she looks like she's trying to be some kind of Barbie doll wannabe. "What can I do for you?" She asks.
"I need a paper. A specific paper." Mello explains. "I need it because my love is dying."
Later...
Mello heads on his way away from that building with a paper in hand. He enters another building this time it has automatic doors. He looks around until he finds what he is looking for. "Two of these." He points to the item. He soon is heading off on his way once again.
...
Nate has been waiting for Mello to come even staring out the window now. He wonders if maybe Mello only is late cause possibly one of the Shadows members that Mello got to know a little better over the time since Nate took Mello to the Shadows for the first time, stopped Mello to talk or something.
There is a knock and Nate turns only to see Mello standing there in the doorway.
Nate smiles. "Come on in."
Mello moves in as he is still smiling ever since he got to the hospital. He stops beside Nate's bed. "Nate my dear Nate." He says then brings a hand forward to give Nate a piece of paper.
Nate curiously takes it and looks at it only to blink before turning back to Mello as if in surprise. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Mello lowers himself to one knee taking out a small box from his pocket only to present it to Nate. "Nate." He begins. "I ask you." He speaks as he slowly opens the box. "To marry me." He has the box open at the marry me part showing Nate the white gold ring with little lines etched into it that appear silver in colour but is a design that looks amazing.