disclaimer: i don't own dan or phil, nor do i own any social media references, music references, and whatever else you recognize. i do own my oc, abigail elizabeth woods :)

includes: sad, angsty hospitals visits

does not include: a reason why i have not been updating, despite "having a schedule" :P

Chapter 35: #RespectForThePhanabily

Phil convinces Abi to go to the hospital again the next day. They stop by Starbucks for three coffees—"You never know," Phil protests. Abi rolls her eyes—and they get on a bus to the hospital.

Abi stares out the window emotionlessly, watching as the city speeds past her. Watching how distracted she is, Phil taps her shoulder, which causes her to nearly drop the tray of coffee cups. She curses, looking at him sternly.

"Alright, we are going to have to get a cowbell on you," she grumbles. Phil smiles apologetically.

"I just wanted to know what you were thinking," Phil hums. "You seem distracted."

"I'm going to a hospital to see Dan in a coma," Abi says harshly, looping her free hand around a strap. "I think the distraction is valid."

"Hey, c'mere," Phil says softly, wrapping his arms around her waist, holding onto the handrail next to her hand. He lowers his head into her shoulder. Abi rolls her eyes, fighting off a smile.

"You're using your height to make me feel all...romance-y."

"I'm using my height to try and cheer you up," he corrects gently, and Abi finally smiles. Phil breaks out into a grin.

"Ah, there it is." Abi blushes. "I knew you would break eventually."

Abi nods, looking at the ground.

"What if this is it, Phil?" she whispers. Phil's smile drops.

"Don't say that," he replies quickly, but Abi shakes her head.

"Phil, it very well could be," she says, her voice nearly breaking. "It's been, what, a week? We don't even know what his injuries is, let alone if they are life-threatening."

"Exactly," Phil says in her shoulder. "We don't know what his injuries are — they might not be as bad as we think."

"But if they are?" Abi whispers. The bus slowly comes to a stop in front of the hospital. Phil takes her hand and lowers it from the strap, holding her hand to chest-level.

"We will be able to get through it," Phil says, squeezing her hand reassuringly. Abi smiles and nods, and the two walk off the bus hand-in-hand.

They go swiftly pass the receptionist's desk and towards Dan's room, before promptly being stopped by a doctor at the door. They exchange nervous glances as the doctor clears his throat.

"Um, are you two here for Mr. Howell?" They nod slowly. Abi watches the coffee tray in her hand shake, and Phil takes her free hand in attempts of calming her down.

The doctor looks down at his clipboard. "We have new information on Dan's condition."

Abi nods. "Yes?"

"Mr. Howell was shot in the right lung, resulting in his right lung to collapse; which explains why he was having trouble breathing at the scene. It also resulted in hydraulic failure — it caused enough internal bleeding so that blood pressure dropped low enough for a lack of oxygen to get to the brain."

"Did the surgery help with any of that?" Phil grits through his teeth, a mixture of frustration and fear settling in. Abi says nothing. The doctor is seemingly unfazed by his reaction, burying his face in the clipboard.

"The surgery was able to resolve all of these problems,"—Phil takes a sigh of relief—"but his body is still adjusting to his injury; hence the coma."

"Do you know how long he will be...asleep?" Abi asks, choosing her words carefully. The doctor sighs.

"We are not sure," he replies. "He is in stable condition, but we don't want to try and disturb his body's natural recovery cycle, as he could relapse any day now. He—"

"Can we see him?" Phil finally snaps, noticing Abi trembling. "Please."

The doctor blinks, and steps out of the way. Phil nods his gratitude, and leads Abi into the barely-lit room by the hand. She sets the coffee tray on the table and the first thing she hears is

Beep!

A steady line of that one sounds, looping every three seconds. Dan is lying down on the bed, his chest rising and settling slowly. Abi sighs, taking a cup of coffee and sipping it.

"I don't think he's going to drink his," she says icily. Phil sighs.

"Abi," he says warningly. Abi rolls her eyes, but she silently takes it back. Phil walks over to one side of the bed and brushes some of the hair from Dan's eyes.

"G'morning, Dan," Phil whispers. "You've been sleeping in for, like, a week now. It's actually not that different from before, if I think about it…"

"Phiiiil," Abi whines, letting out a giggle.

"What?" Phil protests. "He might think it's funny enough for him to give me a solid reaction."

"His reaction would've been a punch in the arm," Abi retorts, putting her cup on the table once more and walking over to stand alongside Phil. He rolls his eyes, and Abi looks at Dan with a sigh.

"I wonder if it's true."

"If what's true?"

"That he could hear us," Abi replies, keeping her stare at Dan's still face. "They say that people in comas can hear you talk to them. Do you think it's true?"

She faces Phil, waiting for a response. Phil looks at her and sighs.

"Did you hear?"

"What?" she asks, confused.

"Did you hear us when we were talking to you?" he asks again. She frowns.

"I'm not too sure?" she replies. She looks back down at Dan. "I like to think I did."

"I like to think you did too," Phil concludes. "I like to think anyone can hear. It may not be, like, scientifically proven or anything; but it's just reassuring, if not therapeutic."

Abi looks at him again and smiles. "Well I hope he can hear you. He deserves to hear someone wonderful."

Phil playfully taps Abi's shoulder and mockingly gushes, "Oh stop it, you."

They exchange a laugh, and as they continue to stand there, a nurse walks in.

"Mr. Lester and Ms. Woods?" They turn around.

"Yes?" Phil answers on behalf of both of them.

"There are two people in the front lobby for you," she informs. "Do you know a Mr. Liguori and a Mr. Kendell?"

As expected, PJ and Chris and are in the front lobby when Phil and Abi make it there. They are chatting about a seemingly sensitive subject; perhaps something revolved around the fact that PJ was staring at Chris' phone, clearly bothered by something.

"PJ? Chris?" Abi asks, surprised. "W-What...what are you guys doing he—"

"Abi," Chris manages to say, running to her and giving her a big hug. Abi could feel nervous tears on the back of her shirt and she hugs back, giving Chris a big squeeze.

"B-bug," PJ says softly, and ruffles Abi's hair when she pulls back from Chris. She sniffles, wrapping him in a hug as well. PJ, slightly surprised, returns the hug.

"It's so good to see you guys," Phil says. "It's been a long couple of days, and I know it must be very confusing, but—"

"We know what happened," PJ cuts him off. "Phil, #RespectForThePhanabily has been trending since yesterday night."

"What?" Abi exclaims, shocked. Chris nods.

"Yeah, the story is everywhere," Chris says. "I guess someone found out about it, because it's all over Twitter and Instagram — bloody hell, even Google Plus."

"Who on Earth uses Google Plus?" Abi mutters.

"Oh my God, this is too much," Phil whispers, panic slowly rising. "This can't happen. Dan can't wake up to this, they've gone too far, the—"

"Phil, calm down," Abi says gently. "Everyone is doing this out of their best intentions. And from what I am reading on Chris' phone, there's this whole community of people who support you."

" 'Praying for Dan, Phil, and Abi (and fuck, Striker too) — in times like this, we have to stand together for the privacy and respect the YouTube community #RespectForThePhanabily'; damn, Jack Howard — your sincerity can't be 140 characters," Chris says, reading the tweet from his phone.

" 'Wishing the phanabily a safe recovery from such a horrible circumstance. #RespectForThePhanabily' — aww, that one's from Dodie!" Abi says, taking a peek at Chris' phone.

"There's one from Louise—who's called about ten times asking for you guys and what to feed Striker so bloody hell, call her back—and there's one from Dean, Tom, Carrie, Jamie...they all really care about you," PJ notes.

"And it's not just them, Phil!" Abi says. "Phil, the phandom is probably the number one fandom on Tumblr right now. There are tweets and letters and posts and they're all dedicated to not only standing alongside us and wishing Dan a good recovery, but even apologizing for the address leak."

"These people care, Phil," PJ says softly, patting Phil's back. "I know this isn't the way you'd like it to come out, but let them care."

"Dan would like that," Abi adds quietly, and Phil looks at her.

"He probably would." He pulls out his phone. "Should I tweet my gratitude now or later?"

"If you want to, but it can be short and sweet, hun," Abi says, rubbing circles in his back. "You don't have to do anything if you don't feel ready yet."

"Just relax a little, Phil," Chris reassures him, "everything is going to be fine."

Just then, the doctor comes running into the lobby. Everyone around them was very concerned at his haste. The four exchanged nervous looks.

"Mr. Lester? Ms. Woods?" The doctor frantically goes to them. "Goodness, I thought you have left. I am glad I caught you — it's about Dan."

Abi's heart drops.

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