Eric Brady navigated the crowd at the Valentine's Day hospital charity dance. He adjusted the camera strap around his neck and snagged an appetizer off a passing tray.
Seeing his aunt and his father bickering nearby, Eric snapped several pictures.
Kayla whacked her brother, Roman Brady, in the arm several times. Her champagne flute, filled with sparkling cider, precariously on the verge of spilling.
"You take that back," Kayla huffed out.
Eric continued photographing the scene. He enjoyed the teasing look in his father's eyes and his aunt's pursed lips. Despite what they wanted to hear, they both reminded him of his grandparents.
Hope watched the squabbling over her champagne glass. It was nice to see everyone unwind.
"Why would I do a stupid thing like that?" Roman gruffly responded, cracking a smile.
"You are so full of it," Kaya argued. She turned to Hope for support when she saw Eric and his camera. "Are you taking pictures? You stop that!"
Eric, adjusting his camera, parroted back his father's words. "Why would I do a stupid thing like that?"
"Eric Brady, you point that camera somewhere else," Kayla warned.
"I'd do it if I were you," Hope laughed. "You don't want to mess with the woman in charge of your healthcare."
"Hmm, good point," Eric agreed. He lowered his camera and asked, "Where did Arianna go? I wanted to get some shots of her."
"Ari and Lucas were just here," Hope commented. She gazed around the dark room until she spotted Lucas' familiar dark head of hair. "There's Lucas," Hope pointed. "He's over there dancing with Ari and-oh."
Everyone turned and stared at the sight before them. Lucas held Ari securely against him with one arm. Even from a distance, everyone could see the wide beam on Ari's face. Lucas' other arm was wrapped around the waist of Adrienne Kiriakis.
Eric's camera flashed as he snapped a few more pictures.
"Oh boy," Kayla murmured.
"That's, uh, something," Hope agreed, swigging back the rest of her champagne.
"I call dibs on not telling Will," Eric proclaimed.
Just as Kayla opened her mouth, her hospital phone vibrated.
Damnit, Kayla sighed. I can't get a single night off, not even for the children's benefit.
Kayla glanced at the screen, eyebrows wrinkled.
"Excuse me," Kayla called to the small group around her. She waved her phone, proclaiming, "Duty calls."
Daniel Jonas rushed to the ambulance bay, jogging along as the stretcher and paramedics raced inside.
"What do we got?" Daniel questioned, eyes drifting towards the switchblade sticking out of the patient's side.
"Stabbing," one paramedic unnecessarily assessed. "BP is down and dropping. The patient was unconscious when we arrived on scene and has lost a lot of blood."
"Whoever called it in performed CPR," another paramedic added.
"Alright, we'll take it from here," Daniel ordered. He shouted to the nurses and interns hovering, "Get 'em up to the OR!"
"Daniel," Kayla, still in her dress and heels, called out as she rushed out of the elevator. "What's the damage?"
Daniel never answered. As he opened his mouth to speak, both Daniel and Kayla took a good look at the patient's face as he was wheeled by.
"Oh, no," Kayla's face dropped, instinctively grabbing Daniel's arm.
Daniel, somber, cleared his throat, "This isn't good."
"Maxine!" Kayla yelled out. "Call Will! Then call my brother. He's gonna need to be here."
"Why are we all up here?" Roman demanded, walking up to a nurses' station on the third floor. The entire group Kayla left at the Valentine's Day charity dance poured out of the elevator. "Who called us?"
"Yeah," Hopes pushed ahead. "What's happening?"
"Is it my mother?" Roman choked out, fearing the worst.
A young nurse, clearly overwhelmed by the amount of people crowding her station, sputtered uselessly.
"Roman Brady," Maxine Landis barked, making her way through the crowd. "I know you aren't up here causing no commotion."
Adrienne, Lucas, and Ari stepped out of the next elevator. Ari was dozing softly against Adrienne's chest, tiny little eyes flitting open in a valiant effort to stay awake.
"Dad got a call," Eric frowned at Maxine. "Saying we needed to get up to the waiting room as quick as we could."
"I got a call too," Adrienne commented, Lucas' fingertips brushing against hers.
"Oh, right," Maxine sighed deeply. Hospital protocol forbids her to give out patient information. But Dr. Brady expected Roman and company to get there as soon as they could. When Will Horton didn't answer her call, Maxine was forced to call the next number on Sonny's emergency contact list.
Maxine stood on her tiptoes searching for Adrienne. Finally, in the back, standing suspiciously close to one Lucas Horton was Adrienne.
Maxine quirked one brow.
"Adrienne," Maxine beckoned, disregarding her desire for gossip. "I better tell you this in private. I tried calling Will first but he didn't answer."
"Tell me?" Adrienne, helping Lucas shift a sleeping Ari in his arms, rushed towards Maxine's side. The situation finally hit her. "What happened? What's wrong?"
"Should we go somewhere else?" Maxine questioned, appraising the large crowd.
"Will?" Hope questioned. "Why would you call Will?"
"Just tell me!" Adrienne beseeched with wide, terrified eyes.
Ding
The elevator doors opened once more revealing a blood splattered Will Horton.
"Will!" Lucas screamed, startling Ari awake.
A series of loud gasps and screams surrounded the room, everyone shuffling aside to let Will pass.
Paul, hands and arms covered in brown, dried blood, held onto Will's shoulders, guiding him forward.
"Can I get someone to look at him?" Paul requested, voice shaky. The events of the past hour were catching up to him.
Eric reached out and plucked a drowsy Ari away from Lucas before she could see her father. Will would never forgive any of them for letting his daughter see him so bloodied.
"It's okay," Eric shoved Ari's face against his shoulder. "Shh."
Eric soothed Ari back to sleep before rushing to Will's side, terrified.
"Son!" Lucas shoved someone out of his way. "What happened?"
Will shook his head. Eyes blearily opened but unseeing. The journal he found held tightly in one hand. Dried blood smeared haphazardly over his entire face.
"I think he's in shock," Paul answered. "Seriously, where's a fucking doctor?!"
Lucas, seeming to realize Paul was there for the first time, rounded on him in a rage.
"What the hell happened to my son?" Lucas demanded, shoving Paul away from Will.
Paul stumbled away from Will, wanting to cry at the loss. After such a terrifying experience, Paul didn't want to let Will out of his sight.
"Son?" Lucas put his hands on Will's face, twisting it left then right, taking in Will's injuries.
Will blinked several times, jumping away from Lucas' hold. He moved backward until he was pressed against Paul's chest.
"What did you do?" Lucas shouted, flashing sharp, accusatory eyes in Paul's direction.
Adrienne stared at Will in horror. She didn't hear Maxine calling her name. Forgot that she was the one Maxine called. Forgot that Maxine called Will first. Forgot what that meant, that she was on someone's emergency contact list.
"I didn't do anything," Paul spat out, offended. "I tried to-,"
"Everyone settle down," Hope requested. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions over seeing Will in such a state. "Tell us what happened," Hope looked into Paul's heavy eyes.
"Saved him," Will whispered. His hand reached behind him, searching for Paul's hand. Will needed Paul's strength, needed Paul there to ground him.
"Saved who?" Hope asked, apprehensive of Will's fragile tone.
"Saved him," Will repeated, eyes closing. "Where is he?"
"Let us through," a doctor yelled. A nurse with a wheelchair was hot on his heels, trying to navigate their way through the large crowd.
"Where did he go?" Will begged, knees trembling. "Paul saved him. I want to see him! Please, I want to see him!"
"Will," Paul hushed, holding Will upright. He winced at the throbbing in his shoulder. "Will, please."
"No," Will clutched at Paul's forearm, practically on the floor. "Where is he? Where is he? Where is he?"
"Will," Lucas whispered, horrified.
"Sir, please get in the wheelchair," the young doctor requested. He looked at Paul for help when it became obvious Will wasn't going to listen.
"Will, you need to sit," Paul informed him. He shoved Will in the direction of the wheelchair.
"I need to see him," Will shook his head but allowed Paul to manhandle him into the chair. "I have to tell him."
"Sit and they'll take you to him," Paul lied, desperate to get Will to listen. "Okay, you're going to see him."
"Thank you," the doctor sighed in relief. "Alright, Mr. Horton, this way."
Will screeched terribly when they wheeled him out of Paul's sight.
"No!" Will screamed. "No, no, I need-he saved-I can't! No!"
Not wanting to cause any more of a scene, the doctor indicated for Paul to follow.
Just as Will and Paul were led to a private room, a loud alert called over the hospital sound system.
"Paging Doctor Dagger," the melodic voice requested. "This is a code blue."
The doctor wheeling Will paused, staring at the nurse following him. With a nod, he rushed off in the direction of the ER.
"What was that?" Will demanded, hand clamping down on Paul's forearm. "What did that mean?"
"I don't know," Paul answered. "It's nothing. You need to get checked over."
"Was that him?" Will shouted, trying to stand up. "They said dagger. Was that about him?"
"Sir, please, I need you to sit," the nurse tried.
"What's going on?" Lucas asked. "What happened to my son?"
Adrienne finally realized it. There were only a handful of people that could get Will to react that strongly. Arianna and Lucas were safe. Sami and Will's siblings were in California. It couldn't be any of them.
That left only one possible candidate.
"Oh, god," Adrienne cried, mouth falling open. "Where's-where's Sonny?"
Paul and the nurse managed to shove Will back into his wheelchair and into a private room. The door closed behind them with a resounding snick shut.
Ding
Rafe and another police officer stepped out of the elevator with subdued expressions.
"Rafe," Hope noticed right away. "What's happened?"
Roman, stunned into silence at the sight of his blood-stained grandson, shook himself out of his stupor.
Spotting Adrienne, Rafe cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry, Adrienne," Rafe stated. "There was an incident in the park. Sonny was rushed to the ER."
Adrienne's hands flitted over her gaping mouth.
"He was stabbed," Rafe declared wincing at Adrienne's high-pitched wail.
Eric carried Ari away from the group after hearing the cursory details of the incident. He couldn't believe what happened.
Hasn't Will gone through enough? And now Sonny might not make it. How is anyone going to recover from this?
Eric sat on one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs. Ensuring that Ari was still fast asleep, Eric grabbed his phone and pulled up a familiar contact.
"Sami?" Eric said into the phone. "Yeah, it's me. I'm at the hospital. No, no, it's not me. It's not Grandma either. Sa-Sam-ugh-Sami, shut up! Look, something happened to Will."
He frantically turned the volume down on his phone when Sami started screaming.
Will sat on the edge of a hospital bed, fingers curled around Paul's. A nurse diligently stitched the deep cut on Will's eyebrow together.
Paul, feeling queasy, did all he could to not look. Instead, he kept his eyes on his and Will's linked hands. Will didn't seem to want to let him go.
"What's that?" Paul asked a subdued Will, nodding at the book in Will's other hand. Throughout everything, Paul never noticed the object.
"I found it," Will whispered, fingers reverently caressing the journal. "It's from Sonny."
"How do you know that?" Paul wondered, staring at the object warily.
"It has an anchor," Will explained.
Paul didn't understand but wouldn't push the subject. He was just glad Will was no longer hysterical, probably due to the painkiller the nurse insisted he take.
"Well, how about we clean it up?" Paul suggested, looking at the blood-stained pages.
"No," Will pulled it against his chest.
Paul sighed. It couldn't be healthy or safe for Will to hang on to something with that much blood on it.
After he sees Sonny, Will might let it go, Paul thought. If he sees Sonny.
Despite what Paul promised Will at the park, he had no idea if Sonny would live or not.
Knock Knock
"Will?" Rafe poked his head through the door. "If it's alright, I have some questions."
"Is he okay?" Will pressed, moving around and bothering the nurse stitching him up. "Do you know?"
"Stop moving," the woman requested.
"He's still in surgery," Rafe answered. He moved closer so Will wouldn't get too squirmy. "There is a whole team of doctors working on him. He's in good hands."
"Oh," Will looked down, eyes locked on his journal.
"Can you tell me about what happened?" Rafe questioned again.
"It's my fault," Will declared. "I let fate decide and now Sonny could be, he might-, and it's my fault."
"No, Will, it isn't," Paul argued. "You had nothing to do with this."
"What happened?" Rafe repeated.
"Paul saved him," Will squeezed Paul's hand. "He did. I just screamed. There was a lot of blood, too much blood."
Will's eyes watered again just thinking about it.
Rafe, frustrated, disregarded Will and turned to Paul.
Rafe hadn't met the man holding Will's hand. He only knew what he saw on the news and the disturbing, new article released a few hours ago.
Rafe didn't know Paul Narita but he was certainly suspicious of him.
A mere hour after the news of their affair came out, Sonny ends up in the hospital, Rafe thought. Coincidence?
"I met Will at the park and these two," Paul searched for a word to describe Anthony and Angelo. "Thugs came at us. They wanted Will to go with them."
"Thugs?" Rafe frowned, leaning against the hospital door.
"They wouldn't tell us why but they mentioned some sort of boss wanting Will," Paul continued. "Will and I wouldn't cooperate until they pulled a knife out. One of them held Will down while the other did that," Paul nodded at Will's face. "To him."
"Then what happened?" Rafe crossed his arms.
"I didn't have a choice. I let Will go with them," Paul defended. "Only, Sonny came running out of nowhere and knocked the one with a knife down. I tried to get Will away while Sonny was beating on one of them. Then he got stabbed."
"And you don't know who they were?" Rafe frowned.
"No," Paul shook his head. "Only, well," Paul licked his lips, "Once they got a look at Sonny they bolted. They looked terrified."
"Because of what they did?" Rafe tilted his head.
"Maybe," Paul shrugged, before wincing. "It looked more like they were afraid of whom they hurt."
"Yeah," Rafe sighed. "Knifing Victor Kirakis' favorite nephew would cause anyone to flee the scene. Think you can talk to a sketch artist?"
"Yes," Paul confirmed. "I remember what they look like."
"Okay, I'll send one over as soon as I can," Rafe stated. He looked at Will with a sad frown until he noticed what Will clung to. "What is that?"
Paul noticed Rafe's eyes on the journal.
"Will found it after the ambulance took Sonny," Paul said. "He said Sonny gave it to him."
"It's evidence," Rafe reluctantly replied. He didn't like how Will clung to the book. "I'm afraid I'll have to take it with me."
"Can you wait?" Paul asked. "He, Will, he uh, he isn't gonna let you take it. Please," Paul implored, hoping Rafe would understand.
"Let me get an evidence bag at least," Rafe sighed. "Will's contaminating everything."
Rafe searched the small hospital room until he found a plastic bag. Will fought him a little on it but relented in the end.
"Alright," Rafe said once Will snatched the bag away from him. "Um, not that it's going to be fun but I need to bring someone in to take pictures."
"Pictures?" Paul frowned. "Why?"
"Part of the case," Rafe replied. "We need to gather all the evidence we can get. We need to document Will's injuries and yours," Rafe nodded towards the bruising on Paul's face.
"Oh, um, right," Paul closed his eyes. "Will?"
"Hmm," Will answered, not paying close attention.
"The police are gonna take your picture, okay?" Paul explained. "Is that alright?"
"You'll be there too?" Will turned his head, upsetting the nurse stitching his eyebrow closed.
"I'm right here," Paul said before nodding at Rafe. "Let's get started."
Once the pictures were finished, Rafe shook Paul's hand.
"I'm heading back to the park. If you think of anything else, Will has my number," Rafe addressed Paul.
Will ignored them throughout the situation. He pretended the camera wasn't there, pretended Rafe wasn't there. He barely even paid attention to Paul. He kept picturing everything at the park over and over again in his mind, Sonny's pale face, his white lips. The way his chest was so still. The way he spoke, like he was giving up.
Will would never forget it.
"Thank you, Officer," Paul said. Paul got the distinct feeling that the man would do all he could to help Will. That's all Paul wanted.
"Look after him," Rafe requested, staring at Will. Even if he didn't trust Paul, he could see how much the man cared for Will.
"I will," Paul agreed.
Rafe set his jaw before beckoning Paul over into a corner. He almost forgot.
"There are several paparazzi assembling outside the hospital," Rafe whispered even though Will wasn't listening. "It looks bad."
"What looks bad?" Paul crossed his arms.
Rafe stared Paul right in the eyes.
"You slept with Sonny and a few hours after the story broke Sonny was stabbed," Rafe stated bluntly. "You and Will were the only witnesses. You're both covered in blood. Everyone saw you walk in here. You have to know where they're gonna take the story."
"But Will and I had nothing to do with that," Paul argued, horrified. "We would never do that."
"It's not you I'm worried about," Rafe said calmly. "You know how bad this town got when they thought Will cheated. What are they going to do now that they know it was Sonny and now he's in the hospital? They're going to blame Will."
"But he didn't do anything," Paul groaned in frustration. "Those idiots were after Will not Sonny!"
"It won't matter," Rafe responded. "That's how it works in Salem. Everyone is going to think Will is guilty. And with you following him around even though you slept with his husband," Rafe shook his head. "It won't look good."
"But that was before-," Paul tried to say.
"It doesn't matter," Rafe continued. "Will. and Sami before him, are never the victim in any situation. Now," Rafe clapped Paul on the arm, "Watch over him."
As Rafe turned to go, he looked over Will one last time sitting small and frightened on the hospital bed. Will was an integral part of the happiest time in Rafe's life. He hoped Will wouldn't have to suffer anymore.
"We need more blood," Kayla requested as she slowly removed the switchblade from Sonny's side.
Daniel, searching for internal damage, agreed.
"It's a mess in here," Daniel commented when the vital sign machine went off.
BeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeep
"He's crashing," a nurse called out while looking over Sonny's monitor.
"Damnit, Sonny," Kayla complained. "Don't you dare do this, now!"
"Where's that blood?" Daniel shouted. "Anything we fix isn't going to matter without it."
Kayla bent down close to Sonny's ear and hissed, "I am not telling Will you died on this table. Do you hear me? You are going to make it through this."
Standing upright, Kayla began yelling orders, working as attentively as she could.
"All done," the nurse declared, stepping away from Will. "Now," she turned to Paul. "Let me see that shoulder."
"No," Paul shook his head. "I'm fine. Worry about him."
"I'll be the judge of that," the woman rolled her eyes. "And I can worry about the both of you."
A few minutes later, arm back in a sling, Paul and Will were finally alone.
Paul stared at Will, at the tacky blood staining his face. Will barely agreed to the stitches earlier and flat out refused to be cleaned up. Now, though, with Will looking so complacent, Paul knew he could get Will to agree.
"Come here," Paul said. He yanked on Will's hand, pulling him toward the bathroom. "You need to get cleaned up."
Will nodded, docile, "You too."
Will noted the dried blood on Paul's hands and clothes.
Paul shoved Will onto the closed toilet lid and wet a washcloth with warm water. The journal, inside of the plastic evidence bag, sat on Will's lap.
"Tell me if this is too hot," Paul requested, wiping tenderly at Will's face.
Will stared at Paul as silence enveloped them.
Each sweep of the cloth revealed another part of Will's pink skin. Paul had never seen Will look so young or vulnerable. Not even after he found him alone and heartbroken on a park bench after discovering Sonny cheated on him.
And now here I am, Paul thought. Wiping Sonny's blood off of him.
The situation seemed so surreal. One minute Paul was terrified of the latest scandal and the next he was fighting for Will's safety and potentially his life.
Then Sonny came and he might not make it, Paul frowned. Sonny could be dead for all we know.
"That's better," Paul whispered once Will's face and neck were clean. He tossed the stained rag into the sink once he realized Will was staring at it.
Paul, mindful of the sling, washed his hands and arms, up to his elbows.
"We need some new clothes," Paul spoke, trying to fill the silence. "These are ruined. I'll have to ask a nurse or someone."
"So much blood," Will stated. "Too much," Will shivered, thinking about what that meant for Sonny. "Can you lose that much blood and still, you know?"
"They're working on him," Paul reminded Will. "I'm sure they have it under control."
"He was so pale," Will said, eyes watering. "He's never pale. His skin is always-,"
"Don't do that," Paul cut Will off gently. "You have to believe he'll be alright. You can't give up on him."
Will nodded, moving over to wash his hands as well. He watched as the blood swirled down the drain, slipping away so easily, too easily.
"Come on," Paul turned the water off when Will's skin began to wrinkle. "I'll find us some new clothes. And I'm sure your dad wants to see you."
"Don't go," Will pleaded, catching Paul's eyes in the mirror above the sink. "Please."
"I'm right here," Paul promised, staring at Will's reflection. "I'll take care of you."
Lucas, pacing outside the door to Will's room, nearly barreled into Paul the minute the door opened.
"Will!" Lucas yelled in a panic. He shoved Paul out of his way, gathering Will into his arms.
"Dad," Will used one arm to hold on, the other holding his journal in a death grip.
"Rafe told us what happened," Lucas pushed Will away, holding onto Will's shoulders. "I'm just glad you're alright."
"Yeah," Will nodded. It took him a second to remember his father was watching Ari tonight. "Where's Ari?" Will asked, eyes widening.
"It's okay," Lucas reassured him. "Eric has her. She's sleeping on him in the waiting room," Lucas pointed over his shoulder.
Will looked past his father and sighed in relief. He could see his uncle Eric's familiar frame cradling Arianna.
"Did she see me?" Will fretted. "She can't, I don't. This isn't supposed to happen to her!"
"No, no," Lucas assured him. "She was barely awake. It's okay."
"Oh," Will nodded before thinking of something else. "God, what am I gonna tell her about S-Sonny? What am I-?"
"Hey, don't worry about that right now," Lucas insisted. "Not yet, okay."
Paul waved down an orderly, asking for a change of clothes. He did his best not to listen to Will and Lucas' conversation. He envied their relationship. Paul was close to his grandfather but it wasn't anything like Will's bond with his father. Paul couldn't help but wonder if he would have had that. If his father was alive, if Paul grew up with him.
Do I even know who my father is? Paul thought, mind recalling the events of the past few days.
Automatically, Paul reached to grab his phone only to remember it lay smashed on the sidewalk at the park.
I need to call my mother, Paul knew. We were going to meet for dinner. She must be worried.
Paul moved further back into the hospital room and picked up the phone. He was thankful he had a knack for remembering phone numbers.
Will and Paul sat side-by-side in matching blue scrubs. Will's journal and the pink quartz he found by the river earlier in the day sat on his lap. Ari slept soundly against Will's shoulder none the wiser to anyone's anxiety.
Paul focused on Will and Ari. Lucas and Adrienne didn't appreciate his presence but Paul didn't care. Will wanted him there. He would stay as long as Will wanted.
Paul shifted, hand resting near Will's leg.
Adrienne sat huddled across from them, glaring at the way Paul's fingers brushed against Will's thigh. Her son could be dying for all they knew and still they carried on this way.
She spent the first hour waiting on the phone. She called all her children, begging them to pray for their brother's life. She talked with her mother, crying together with an understanding only a mother could appreciate. Lastly, Adrienne called Justin. She didn't know if she trusted his promise to be on the first flight to Salem.
Victor and Maggie arrived at the hospital 45 minutes ago. As soon as Victor spoke to Rafe, a thunderous expression crossed his face and he hobbled out of the hospital faster than anyone anticipated. Maggie, confused, chased after him.
No one would tell them anything. Adrienne didn't think she could stand any more waiting.
Hope and Roman left with Rafe to assist in the investigation. As worried as they were, they both needed to do something. Neither were good at sitting around and waiting. Eric, after Will took Ari back, went back to the dance to find anyone else that needed to know.
Ding
Marlena, arm-in-arm with John, stepped off the elevator and rushed towards her grandson. Eric followed behind them.
"Will!" Marlena shouted. "What happened? Eric said there was some sort of accident."
Marlena and John stopped in front of Will, lowering their voices when they noticed Ari fast asleep.
Will's pressed his lips together. He couldn't talk about this anymore. Adrienne asked question after question, forcing him to relive it again and again.
He wouldn't do it anymore, couldn't do it.
Paul, glancing at Will's withdrawn expression, cleared his throat.
"Will and I were in the park and two guys tried to kidnap Will," Paul said. "There was a big struggle and Sonny ended up with a knife embedded in his side."
"No," Marlena gasped, turning to hide against John's side.
"What about you, kid?" John asked, looking at Will. "What happened to that angelic little face?"
Will's lips quirked slightly. When Will was younger, back when he referred to John as Grandpa, John always teased Will for his less than virtuous behavior as a kid. John was one of the few who never made Will feel bad about himself. Even throughout the last few weeks, John kept his opinion to himself. Will appreciated it.
"Someone sliced my eyebrow with a knife," Will said in a dead voice. "Then they shoved the knife inside Sonny."
Paul moved his hand to encompass Will's knee and squeezed.
Eric, moving from behind his mother, lifted one eyebrow at the movement. The other day when Eric had lunch with Will, Will told him he didn't want to see Paul anymore. That he was confused and needed space.
Cut to a few days later and the man was groping Eric's nephew in a hospital.
Eric set his jaw and cleared his throat.
"Will," Eric softly said as he advanced forward. Eric subtly nudged Paul out of the seat next to Will.
Paul grunted face pinched in annoyance at the man shoving him unceremoniously out of his seat.
Eric noticed the goosebumps lining Will's arms. He pulled off his suit jacket and wrapped it around Will's shoulders.
"There," Eric rubbed up and down Will's arms. "Is there anything else you need?" Eric requested. He took Will's abnormally cold hand.
"No," Will licked his lips, staring at Eric with rounded eyes.
"I talked to Sami," Eric said. "She needs to make some arrangements but then she'll be coming to you."
"Oh," Will hummed. Seeming to realize it wasn't Paul's hand he was holding, Will desperately searched for him.
Seeing Paul sitting on Eric's other side, Will sighed.
Eric and Lucas shared a quick glance with each other. The same exasperation lined their faces at Will's behavior. Neither approved of Will clinging to Paul in the aftermath of what happened. It might not have been conscious but it couldn't have been healthy.
Marlena spoke to Adrienne in a quiet whisper, heads bent together.
"When was the last time you ate anything, kid?" John questioned. He keenly observed Lucas and Eric's silent communication.
"I don't know," Will admitted. "This morning, maybe."
"That won't do," John decided.
"You," John lightly kicked Paul in the shin with the tip of his shoe. "Come with me. Will looks like he's gonna pass out. He needs something to eat and drink. You're not looking much better."
Paul held the gaze of the strange man before him. Besides Lucas and Adrienne, Paul didn't know any of the people in the small waiting room. Obviously, Will was important to everyone there but Paul didn't know them. He was well out of his element. A stranger in a room full of so much history.
Something in the strange man's face told Paul it would be easier to agree.
"Right," Paul reluctantly stood up. He wasn't stupid. He knew everyone didn't want him there, thought he was intruding.
Will wants me here, Paul reminded himself. Will is more important than any of them.
Disregarding the stern looks geared at him, Paul kneeled in front of Will. He gently placed his hands on Will's knees.
"I'm gonna get us something to eat," Paul said, looking up into Will's eyes. "Then I'll be right back."
"But-," Will argued. He didn't want Paul to go. What if something happened?
"We're right here, son," Lucas reminded Will, cupping his shoulder. "And Paul will be right back."
"Exactly," Paul put on a brave face. "It won't be long at all."
Will didn't look convinced but when Ari huffed in her sleep, Will diverted his attention. Even now in Will's manic state Ari would always come first.
John grabbed Paul by the elbow and pulled him up and towards the hospital cafeteria.
"Why do we always end up here, huh?" Eric asked as Will checked on Ari.
"The hospital should have frequent visitor punch cards," Lucas suggested. "After nine visits the tenth one's free."
"The hospital would lose money that way," Marlena noted. "Especially with this one," Marlena pointed at Will.
Adrienne snorted loudly through her nose, crossing her arms.
Will knew what that sound meant, what it always meant. He was accustomed to Adrienne's ever changing opinion about him. Over the past few weeks, Adrienne had been a model mother-in-law. She supported Will, listened to him. Will didn't want to go back to how things were in the past. He didn't want her to hate him again.
Lucas, startled, stared at Adrienne incredulously.
Eric, still holding Will's hand, squeezed once before letting go.
"Something you want to say?" Eric bluntly asked Adrienne while Marlena disapprovingly watched.
"…No," Adrienne decided. There isn't, not yet.
"I didn't think so," Eric held her gaze heavily.
Eric and Sami might have been vastly different people but they were twins. In many respects they were similar and protecting their family was one of them.
Will, shoulders hunching inward, squirmed. He didn't like the tense atmosphere around him. He hated being in the hospital, always had. He knew as soon as he opened his mouth someone was going to belittle him, scold him or shame him for his actions. Will didn't even know which actions exactly but it would happen. It always did.
Everyone is going to blame me and Sonny could be dead and it's my fault.
Will just wanted to wait for news on his husband in peace.
Oh, god, Will clenched his eyes shut. Please be okay. Please. He has to be okay.
Will lowered his head, spotting the stone he found earlier. Clenching it in his fist, Will recalled what it was supposed to do. Closing his eyes tightly, Will focused. He waited a few minutes before getting upset.
Why aren't you bringing me inner peace, you piece of shit?
Eric watched Will struggle, going through some sort of mental battle. There wasn't much Eric could do. There wasn't any comfort Will would find solace in now. But there was one thing Eric knew how to do.
"Will," Eric said in a gentle tone. "Come with me."
Will glanced at Ari sleeping in his arms.
"I'll take her," Lucas offered, ripping his narrowed eyes away from Adrienne.
"I don't know," Will mumbled as he shoved the pink quartz back in the pocket of his scrubs. "What if they have news?"
"Then they'll find us. No one is going to tell anyone anything without you," Eric promised. "Trust me. You need this."
Hesitantly, Will handed Ari over to Lucas.
"Maybe you should call and see if someone could watch over her," Marlena suggested. "At least for the night."
"Dad," Will said. "You could take her home with you."
"I could," Lucas nodded. "Except I'm not leaving until you do, son."
"Dad," Will sighed. "You don't have to do that."
"Would you ever leave if Arianna was in the hospital?" Lucas asked with a raised brow. "That's what I thought."
"I don't want her to leave at all," Will admitted, shamefaced. "I don't want any more of my family taken away."
Adrienne softened against her will. She recalled the bits of Will's journal she read. She knew how much everything hurt Will, the inner pain he possessed.
I shouldn't be so hard on him, Adrienne thought.
"I'll call Henderson and see if he'll bring Ari's pack and play," Adrienne interjected with a kind smile.
"Thank you," Will responded, staring at his mother-in-law. He understood what Adrienne was truly offering.
"Come on," Eric said. "This way."
Will, holding the plastic evidence bag, followed.
"I'm not really that big on prayer, Uncle Eric," Will confessed as they walked into the hospital chapel.
"You don't have to be," Eric shrugged. "But I am. And I think you'll find at least a small amount of comfort from the experience."
Will nodded once before following Eric down the aisle to the front pew. The two kneeled together on the benches, hands folded together.
Will awkwardly looked around the small room, eyes locking on the cross in front of him. Will wasn't the religious type. Spiritual, yes, but not religious.
"I don't know what to say," Will whispered, head low.
"Just say whatever you want to happen," Eric suggested. "Or don't say anything."
Will nodded, closing his eyes. He wished some sort of spiritual awakening would happen, something that would fill him with divine hope and love, solve all his problems.
Nothing did.
"I feel guilty," Will admitted after a few quiet minutes.
"Why?" Eric wondered. He knew Will wouldn't be able to handle the silence, that eventually he would cave and start talking.
"I couldn't make a decision," Will said. "I tried and I couldn't. So, I told myself that fate would decide. Whoever I saw next would be my choice."
"Alright," Eric encouraged.
"And Paul showed up," Will said. "Literally seconds after I thought that. And that was it. Finally, I had my choice. I let fate decide and they gave me Paul."
"Okay," Eric frowned, uncertain where Will was going.
"Then those guys came and, and everything was awful," Will sighed. "I let fate decide and Sonny was stabbed. I couldn't make a decision myself and fate took Sonny away."
"Will," Eric denied. "That isn't how it works. We've talked about this before."
"But it is," Will argued. "I thought I could be with Paul and now Sonny could be dead. It's my fault."
"No, it isn't," Eric shook his head. "Will, none of this is your fault. You are not responsible for other people's actions."
"I should have gone with them, those men," Will insisted. "If I had gone, Sonny wouldn't have been hurt."
"Yeah," Eric sarcastically responded. "And Sonny shouldn't have cheated on you or none of this would have happened. EJ shouldn't have died so Sami wouldn't have moved to California and you would never have left. Or, I suppose, Sami never should have slept with Lucas twenty years ago and you wouldn't have to deal with any problems at all.
"That isn't how the world works, Will," Eric said. "Yes, bad things are going to happen. And, yeah, they seem to happen at an exponential rate with you. But it is not your fault. You don't know what would have happened if you had gone with those men. You could be the one in the operating room. We just don't know."
"But I-," Will cut himself off. "I didn't choose and now Sonny might-he said," Will paused to refocus. "Before he passed out he said I was always going to be his last love and that he wanted my face to be the last thing he saw. I don't want him to die," Will sobbed. "I don't. I love him."
"I know you do, Will," Eric replied. "Everyone knows, even Sonny."
"Then how do I make it better?" Will demanded. "How do I-how do I fix this?"
"You just have to have faith," Eric advised. "You need to believe that Sonny is going to be fine."
"He has to be fine," Will said. "He can't leave."
"In life, Will," Eric preached. "You've made a lot of mistakes and gone through a lot of pain. But mistakes make you wiser and pain makes you stronger. At the end of the day, no matter what happens, you'll make it."
Will nodded, wiping at his eyes.
"I think I want to say something now," Will revealed. "If, um, if you'll help me."
"I always have and I always will," Eric promised. He grabbed Will's hand and bowed his head.
"God," Will licked his lips. He felt a tad ridiculous praying in front of someone but he had to try. "Please, watch over Sonny, heal him. Please give Aunt Kayla and Daniel and everyone else working on him the strength and the knowledge to fix him. Please, don't take Sonny away from my baby. She-she needs both of her daddies. There is so much I haven't been able to figure out on my own yet, like how to use that stupid steam cleaner. I either put in too much water or not enough. And then it makes that weird scary sound and I don't know how to make it fit in the hall closet. I try but it gets stuck against the vacuum and why do we need a steamer and a vacuum? Why not just have one that does both and-,"
"Will," Eric cleared his throat, amused.
"Right, sorry, God," Will said. "Just, please watch over Sonny. He's done a lot of bad things lately but he needs to be around to make it up to me. He isn't perfect but I still love him. And if I get another chance, I'll tell him. Please, I just want him to be okay."
"Amen," Eric said once Will tapered off.
"Amen," Will sniffed, blinking away more tears.
"Will?" Marlena knocked on the chapel door, poking her head in. "Kayla and Daniel are waiting."
"What happened?" Will ran into the waiting room. "Is he alright? Is he alive? Tell me!"
"There were a few close calls," Daniel said after looking at Kayla. "But, everything seems to be fine. We fixed the damage, gave him a few blood transfusions, and god willing he'll be fine in a few months."
"He will?" Will asked, knees shaking in relief.
Eric swooped in to help Will to his seat.
"Oh, thank God," Adrienne praised while staring up at the ceiling, hands together. "Thank you, God!"
"I can't believe…He's really going to be okay?" Will questioned again, tears escaping.
"Yes, Will," Kayla stated with a supportive smile. "You can see him after he leaves recovery."
Eric pulled Will into a bone-crushing hug.
"I think your prayer was just answered," Eric said in a low voice that only Will could hear.
"So," John said as he stood beside Paul in the elevator down to the cafeteria. "You're Paul Narita?"
"Yes," Paul answered, feeling shaky without Will near. He knew realistically Will was safe in the hospital but it was different knowing something versus seeing it.
John looked Paul over. He certainly had many of Tori's features. John would know those eyes anywhere.
"And you?" Paul grunted, fed up with not knowing anyone in Will's world.
"My name is John Black," John answered. "I've known Will since before he was born."
"Oh," Paul recognized the name. This was the man involved with his mother's secret past.
"Why don't you tell me what happened tonight?" John questioned. "I'm on the force. I might be able to help."
"Who was that woman with you?" Paul ignored John. He had questions of his own, curious over the man involved with his mother. "And the man sitting with Will?"
"Well, the woman," John smiled. "Is Dr. Marlena Evans. She's Will's grandmother and my woman. The man with her was Eric Brady, her son."
"Right," Paul nodded. He recalled the names from his conversations with Will.
The elevator dinged and the two exited. John guided them towards the cafeteria.
John appraised Paul. He knew the rumors surrounding Will and Paul. Knew that Sonny had moved out and into the Kiriakis mansion. John didn't want to think poorly of Tori's son but he couldn't help it. John knew Will and Sonny. He didn't know Paul.
As they entered the cafeteria, Paul headed straight for the hamburger station. He knew that was Will's favorite. Will loved greasy hamburgers and extra salty fries. Whenever he was upset, though, Will gravitated towards sweet treats.
After picking up two hamburger and fries, Paul headed towards the desserts.
John, collecting as many coffees as he could carry, met Paul in the checkout line.
"Did you ask Will what he wanted?" John wondered.
"I know what he likes," Paul commented. He didn't appreciate the looks John was giving him.
"Do you?" John asked. "Or do you know what you want him to like?"
"What the hell does that mean?" Paul demanded, handing over a fistful of cash to the cashier.
Grabbing their food and coffee, John explained. "It means you need to back off of Will."
"I am not doing anything," Paul shook his head. "Will asked me to be here. He wants me here."
"Does he? Or is he merely vulnerable and hurting?" John countered.
The two walked into the elevator, Paul's face pinched in frustration.
"All I'm saying is Will is young," John shrugged. "Just because Will slept with you before doesn't mean he will now."
"I have never slept with Will," Paul hissed. "He would never do that to Sonny especially now."
"Then why are you here, going after someone that's married?" John pressed.
"Unhappily married," Paul rolled his eyes. "Will is my friend above everything else. We went through a terrifying situation together. I'm here to support him, that's it."
"A friend?" John lifted one eyebrow. "Anyone with eyes can see how you look at him."
"So what?" Paul questioned. "It is none of your business who I care about or not."
"No," John agreed. "But Will is my business. I love that boy like he was my own grandson. I know how he was raised and what he values. And he does not need you clouding his head."
"I am not doing anything," Paul growled. "I've done nothing but respect his wishes for weeks."
The elevator dinged, doors opening. Before Paul could exit, John grabbed his arm.
"Do yourself a favor and back off," John requested. "Before anyone else gets hurt."
"Why don't you take your own advice and stay away from my mother? You know, since Marlena is your woman and all," Paul countered with a sneer.
Paul carried the food over to Will who was locked in a tight hug with his uncle.
"Hey," Paul greeted, frustration leaking out of him. "What happened?"
"Paul," Will exclaimed. He pulled away from Eric and rushed at Paul. "Paul, he's going to be fine. They said he's going to be okay."
"That's great," Paul genuinely replied. "When do you get to see him?"
"When he's out of recovery," Will said. "God, I don't think I've ever been so relieved."
"Yeah," Paul nodded. "Um, I brought you something to eat."
"Thanks," Will closed his eyes and smiled. "I didn't realize how hungry I was. God," Will laughed happily.
Paul stared at the pure relief on Will's face, the innocent smile.
"Yeah," Paul swallowed. "I didn't realize it either."
"What did you bring me?" Will asked, staring at Paul.
"Oh, um, here," Paul handed Will his container of food.
"My favorite," Will quipped, sitting down and beckoning Paul forward.
"Yeah," Paul sat down with Will. "I know."
"Thanks," Will shoved a fist-full of French fries into his mouth.
Paul watched Will eat. He did the best he could to ignore the sting that John Black's words left.
Will kept a close eye on Ari in her pack and play as he waited for news about Sonny. He knew it would take a while for Sonny to get out of recovery and moved to a private room. But, watching Ari sleep peacefully was mesmerizing.
While Will watched Ari, Paul watched Will.
"Hey," Paul got Will's attention. "I also bought this for you in the cafeteria."
Will smiled when he saw the cupcake Paul bought him. It was chocolate with pink frosting, his favorite.
"When I was seven or eight," Will narrowed his eyes in concentration. He couldn't quite remember. "My uncle Austin made a whole bunch of these for my aunt Carrie. I was helping or at least, I was pretending to help. Either way, Austin left me alone with the whole batch to pick up my aunt from work. I ate all of them before Carrie could see them. I spent hours afterward puking them up."
Will peeled the liner off the cupcake and split it in half, ignoring the spilling crumbs. He handed half over to Paul.
"Didn't stop me from eating them again," Will shrugged. He shoved his whole piece into his mouth at once.
"You're an interesting soul, Will Horton," Paul remarked. He couldn't resist reaching out to wipe away the mess of frosting Will smeared around his mouth.
Will caught Paul's eye once he pulled away.
"I'm not very good at staying away from things that hurt me," Will admitted quietly.
Lucas, Eric, Adrienne, John, and Marlena watched the two of them talking with varying signs of worry on their faces.
"Can I ask you something?" Paul questioned. When Will nodded, Paul said, "How do you know that journal is for you?"
Will glanced at the journal encased in the plastic evidence bag. He placed it by his feet for safe keeping.
"It has an anchor," Will repeated himself from hours earlier. "I just know."
"What does an anchor have to do with anything?" Paul wondered.
"That's what Sonny always said," Will explained. "That I was his anchor that never weighed him down. That I would keep him grounded. It was in his vows too."
Will rubbed his hands together to get the crumbs off. After, he lifted the evidence bag and showed the inscription to Paul.
"Life's roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors," Paul read. A sense of dread filled his insides. "Right."
"It's your Valentine's Day gift," Adrienne interrupted their conversation. "He put a lot of effort into finding one that would be perfect."
"Oh," Will placed the bag back on the floor.
With the accusatory expression in Adrienne's eyes, Will scooted farther away from Paul. It wasn't his fault he gravitated towards Paul. He didn't do it on purpose. It just happened.
Fate brought me Paul, Will recalled. And at the same time, fate took Sonny away.
Will wasn't sure he could ever reconcile that in his mind.
"Will?" Kayla walked back over to the waiting area, tired and beleaguered.
"Yes?" Will jumped out of his seat. "Is he okay?"
"We just moved him to a room," Kayla explained. "You can see him now. Only one at a time, please."
Will, knees shaking, slipped into the hospital room and closed the door behind him.
There was Sonny in the bed. A cannula in his nose, various tubes and wires sticking out of him. Will didn't know what they were for and at the moment, he didn't care. All Will cared about was Sonny.
Slowly, Will moved to Sonny's side. He watched as Sonny's chest rose and fell rhythmically. After the way Sonny stopped breathing in the park, Will found such comfort in the motion.
Will placed the journal encased in plastic on the table by the bed along with the pink quartz. Then, Will sat down.
"Hi," Will whispered, eyes watering once more.
Sonny's chest moved up and down.
"I'm really mad at you," Will confessed. "What were you thinking? You don't know how to fight anyone, not properly. I mean, T beat you up once. T! Everyone always says I'm the stupid one but not this time. Why didn't you call the police? Why did you have to be a hero?
"I'm pissed at you," Will continued. "You made me think you weren't coming back. You could have died in front of me. I should hate you for that. But I don't. I don't hate you and that's always been the problem. I don't know how to hate you."
Will sighed, rubbing at his eyes.
"I love you, Sonny," Will said. He reached forward and grabbed Sonny's hand. "I don't, I don't know what this means for us but I do. I'm sorry I made you think I didn't.
"Geez," Will chuckled sadly. "How did you handle this when I was shot? I don't know what to do here. I'm the one that gets into these messes." Will closed his eyes. "I'm the one that should have cheated. I'm the one that should be in the hospital. I'm the one that should be here not you. Why'd you have to steal my mistakes, huh? I'm the screw-up. No one knows what to do when I'm not."
Will cried softly. He bowed his head, pressing his forehead to Sonny's hand.
Paul, standing outside the door, turned away with a sigh. He leaned against the wall, lightly banging his head.
Will's never going to pick me, Paul realized. He's never going to love me the way he loves Sonny, not now.
Author's note:
Recent spoilers for Days have left me, well, let's just say less than pleased. But it reminded me as to why I started writing this story. So, I would like everyone to tell me what and/or who they want Will to end up with here. Sonny, Paul, being single and enjoying his time with Ari, engaging in an illegal, illicit affair with Adam, meeting someone new, T discovering his latent bisexuality, I don't care. Please, just let me know what you'd like to see.
Thanks for reading!