Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan.

SIXTY-SEVEN

Next day in the hospital was kind of the same. I woke up panicked due to another bad dream (not as grave as the last one) and the doctors rushed in after the cardiac monitor ticked them off. Like last time, I was shaking; I dreamt of Marco's dead body again, but there weren't any torturing voices. The episode didn't last long; Zackly wanted to give me some kind of injection, but I held on to the bed's hurdles and thought of Marco, of our last night's kiss, repeating in my mind that he wasn't dead, that I saved him and that he's right in this hospital better than I, over and over again. It was like a loop; I said it like twenty times before the tremor stopped and my heart stabilized.

I really hope it's not chronic because I just pushed my physical limit. My arms and back ached and I still had that soreness in my chest.

-"My God,"- Murmured Zackly somewhere in my room, -"You did it again..."

I released my grip on the bed and slumped back onto the pillow. An uneasy feeling aroused me and until I see Marco, it's not gonna go away, -"I need to see Marco."- I said, a hand on my forehead.

-"No, Kirshtein, I have made myself clear on that matter,"- He shook his head and sauntered close to me. He touched my arm and tugged a syringe out of his pocket, -"Allow me to induce you with a sedative, it will lull your mind."

I shook my head and flapped my hands in the air to brush off his, -"No, just... let me see my boyfriend."

He huffed, already irritated and weary because of me, -"He cannot be here and you are not in the condition to walk yet. I will give you the sedative whether you like it or not."

This guy..., -"Then get me a wheelchair!"- I demanded, crossing my arms and looking away from his irked expression.

-"You are in no position to make demands,"- He said, just like Sienna, and gestured to his daily assistant, -"Rubert, make yourself useful and lend me a hand. Hold him tight. I will give him the bloody sedative."- Oh uh, he cursed. That's not good.

My eyes widened as his helper approached me, -"Don't touch me!"

The guy pushed me down, his palm on my sore chest, but I slapped it off and twisted my body away -"Jean, please, it's for your own good. The sedative will calm your body and mind in just a few min-"

-"No!"- I shook my head vigorously, -"I don't want it!"

-"Jean."

-"Fuck off!"- I flipped my finger at him.

The guy unbent and sighed, -"You were right about this one, doc."

Zackly scoffed and hovered the syringe near me, -"He thinks he can order me around with his insubordinate and insolent attitude. He is wrong,"- He nodded to the guy, -"Again."- Ol' man finally cracked under his staid shell and was losing his shit.

This time, the guy gripped my wrists and pinned me down, -"Let me go!"- I shouted and kicked around, despite my pain.

-"Hold him."- Ordered Zackly as he neared the syringe to me.

I slapped his hand too and the damn thing almost fell from his hand.

His formal expression wrinkled again as he gaped his mouth to probably chastise me until his phone ringed. He growled and stepped away from my bed, so did his pal, -"Yes?"- He answered, syringe still in hand and hovering it near me, -"What? Just give him a sedative..."- Zackly stepped farther away.

He was talking about Marco and he didn't want me to hear.

-"Hey!"- I shouted, -"Who's that?"- I asked blatantly. I admit it was kinda disrespectful of me to shout to him like that and ask him a question like this because maybe it was someone else, someone close to him, but I'm not stupid. I knew he was talking about Marco. He was talking to Celine and something's up. He also stepped farther and kept side glancing at me.

-"Not your business, Kirshtein. Stay still."- He just waved me off and walked out of the room.

-"Wait!"- I yelled again, extending my arms towards his direction, -"Come back!"- Immediately, I was about to stand up, but his pal stayed behind, probably to keep an eye on me, -"Hey, I really need to see him."- Something's up with Marco, I know it.

The guy, Rubert I think, shook his head, -"You need to calm down, Jean. You're not getting better anytime soon if you keep this up."

I gaped my mouth to reply but before I could, he was called and left the room.

-"Fuck,"- I cursed as I, without a second thought, began to dismount the bed. Okay, so I admit I'm reckless to the bone. The second I set foot on the floor, I staggered and quickly reclined against the bed's hurdle at the shot of pain that sailed up from the tip of my toes, -"Ow, ow, ow."- I hissed as I ever so slowly took tiny steps towards the door; it felt like every bone in me cracked with each step. I had to support myself with anything I could place my hands on. Come on man, you can do this. Finally facing the door, I leaned in and peeked through the thin gap, focusing on hearing their chatter.

-"... suffering another nightmare, apparently,"- Zackly was covering the phone's end with his palm as if to prevent whoever was in the other line to hear, -"He doesn't stop screaming the other boy's name."

-"Oh dear."

Zackly slanted his phone on his ear, making a face, like the situation was stupid and trivial for him, -"Like I said, Celine, a sedative should tranquilize him. It is quick, simple and effortless. Have someone pins him if he proves to be inconvenient. Kirstein cannot walk, not yet."

I knew it! They are talking about Marco!

Then I heard it, faint, far, but it rattled and aroused me, -"Jean! Help me!"- A cry from the other line of that phone. It was Marco. He needs me again.

I'm coming, Marco, just hold on! I'll find a way! I'll crawl my way to him if I have to!

My adrenaline swift and my heart pounding quickly, I was about to rush out until Rubert opened the door after getting orders from Zackly to keep an eye on me. I stepped back and made way towards the corner to hide, but I couldn't go far and he spotted me, -"Jean, what're you doing? You can't be up yet!"

He started grappling me, pushing me towards the bed as gently as possible, -"Let me go! Marco needs me!"- I yelled and tried to push him away.

-"Jean, for the love of Christ, just calm down! The doctors have the situation under control!"- He yelled back and as a last resort, he pulled the syringe out of his pocket.

-"No!"- I shouted louder, gripped his arm with the syringe and tossed it away. It clashed on the wall and shattered, -"Get your fucking hands off of me! He needs me!"

Then, the door swung open with force, -"What is all the ruckus in -Kirshtein!"- He bawled and rushed in, -"Bloody hell! Rubert, let him go and get me a damn wheelchair!"

The guy released me, a bit reluctantly. He puffed and spruced his med gown with a glare, choppy and irritated at me for disheveling his hair. I stuck my tongue out at him, leaning against the locker. While he did, Zackly approached me, wagging his finger at me, -"You!"- He waved his arms in exasperation, -"Why must you disarray and cause a commotion for everything to be as you want them to?"- I gaped my mouth to reply, but he held his hand up while the other stroked his nose's bridge, -"Enough. Do no mutter a single word. I will get you to your... boyfriend but only because Celine fathoms it as sufficient for the boy's panic."

-"He needs me, old man. That drug isn't always the suli-"

-"Hush."

I gulped my words. Really, that he agreed to take me to Marco was an achievement and I shouldn't screw it with stupid comments.

I kept my mouth shut as Rubert came in, driving a wheelchair. I quickly sat and allowed the ol' man steer me out of the room. As he rode me across the halls, I could understand why he didn't want Marco up in this area: there was a lot of sick patients up here, all in critical condition. Literally, in every turn Zackly took, I heard someone coughing and screaming, gagging or groaning in pain. I shuddered.

Fuck, my legs hurt. That tussle with the pretty boy behind me was exhausting. I looked over my shoulder and spotted him still glaring at me, struggling to keep up with us. He often groaned and rubbed his legs. I kicked him a few times, alright? I stuck my tongue at him again and he huffed, looking away. His pompous, blonde hair flipped and he combed it with his slim hands. He had blue contact lenses in his eyes and a beauty mark just below his right one (fake too; I bet he drew it with makeup). An effeminate, maybe -or gay- and I gathered he doesn't get along with Zackly. I mean, I saw how the old man orders him around and treats him like shit -like he treats me, actually. He makes a lot faces whenever he talks about Marco and me.

When we made it to the elevator, Zackly clicked the down arrow and turned to face me, -"When we arrive, I want you to control yourself and do as I say, understand? Or is it too complicated for you?"

-"Fine, I get it,"- I spat, crossing my arms and tapping my foot anxiously. Pretty boy snickered behind me and I twisted around on my chair, -"What're you laughing at, Blondie?"

-"That goes for you as well, Rubert."- There's that contorting expression of ol' man again as he eyed Blondie.

Said guy just nodded, but when Zackly turned around, he made faces and mimicked him, just like I did a while back.

Time got slow for me. We were still descending when I got really nervous and anxious, jogging my legs up and down. As a means to manage that, I tried to create idle chatter with Blondie, since the old man was completely ignoring me, but it was like talking to a wall. Both of them were pissed at me, but at least, Blondie snorted at my stupid jokes and attempted to light the mood with more jokes (I got the hunch he sympathized with me), but Zackly shushed us.

The elevator door finally opened and Zackly drove me really, fucking slowly, probably on purpose and I snapped, -"Come on, hurry up! Marco needs me."

-"Do not hasten me."- He said, flatly, and I realized he was really mad at me. I got the feeling he wanted to abandon me right here, but his duty averted him from it.

When we neared Marco's apparent room (M101, I committed it to memory), I immediately heard my boyfriend's cries and shouts, -"Jean! Please!"- He yowled like he did the day of the incident.

Without a second thought, I propelled my body up with my aching arms and tottered my way in, kicking the door open despite what Zackly warned me. I was hastened by fear again, -"Kirshtein!"- He called and followed after me, but I ignored him and made way towards Marco, passing by Celine who quickly stepped back to allow passage.

-"Marco!"- I called and leaned against his bed's hurdle. His body writhed as he clutched his fleeces and tugged them, hitching his body sideways and upwards, -"Marco, I'm here!"- I cupped his face in my hands and tried to push him down. He was sweating and shaking a lot, so my hands often slipped from his face. He was also crying; large streams of tears sailed down and soaked his robe.

-"Jean...?"- He panted heavily, his chest inflating and deflating rapidly. He rose his hands and hooked them on my arms, checking if I was here and 'real'.

-"Yeah, it's me. I'm here, okay? Just relax and open your eyes."- I said and repeated, caressing his freckled cheeks.

-"I'm scared..."- He wailed and sobbed, his tears pooling in my thumbs.

-"It's going to be okay. I'm here for you and I'll protect you like I've always done. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, alright?"- I murmured, my face just inches from his.

He nodded and slowly, he opened his reddish eyes and cried more when they met mines. He hooked his arms around my neck and pulled me down, -"Jean..."- He babbled, squeezing me tightly.

-"It's okay, it's over..."- I said, mounting his bed and wriggling my body close to his, -"Gimme some space."

He shifted his body and I flitted mines comfortably, resting myself on my shoulder and facing him. I ignored the pain and focused on him; I started to stroke his hair when he wrapped his arms around my torso and buried his face in my chest, -"You saved me again..."- He sobbed again, pulling our bodies closer and I felt his heart racing against my chest.

-"And I'll keep doing it, Marco, as much as I have to."- I said, fully understanding the situation. In a nutshell: Marco experienced the incident again in his dream.

-"Jean, it felt so real...,"- He rambled, clutching my robe firmly, but his voice was muffled so I couldn't understand him completely, -"... it was happening again, exactly how it happened that day and it felt so real..."

I kept stroking his hair, trying to calm him, -"But it wasn't, Marco. Open your eyes again and look at me."

-"... I didn't even know what was real anymore and I was so scared... just like then,"- He kept whining and babbling, now soaking my robe with tears, -"A-and the guys were there too, punching and pushing me and then you came in after I screamed your name. Then it started raining and... and..."

Shit, there's that fear again in me as I thought about the incident, perfectly remembering it as Marco spoke.

-"I thought I was going to die... I was terrified..."

I shook my head vigorously and hitched his head up with my fingers on his chin, -"Marco, look at me, please."

He did, very slowly, his eyes red from crying so much as he looked at me.

-"I'm here for you, okay? And like I said, I'll save you every time and I'll come for you each time you scream my name for help, I'll... do anything for you,"- I held his face leveled with mines and a tear escaped my eye. What I just said was true, I meant it, but I also know that Marco is strong. He can overcome this, -"And I believe in you, Marco, you're strong, confident and smart..."- I'm bad at these things, but I try and I'll keep trying because I wanted to take care of him, I wanted him to feel safe and secure, I wanted him to stop feeling so scared...

Marco seemed lost in my eyes, paying no attention to what I was saying. His shaking subsided, at least, and he wasn't sweating anymore. I sighed in relief and the pain in my arm reminded me that this wasn't a comfortable position at all. I started to shift my body when he gasped and gripped my arms, -"Don't go! Stay with me... please."- His expression contorted into distress and he reminded me of that day he got food poisoning (or cum poisoning, I dunno) and he was really querulous and whiny like a kid. I simply loved that day.

-"Just gonna lay back, freckles,"- I said, smirking like an idiot. I liked when he asked -or begged- me to stay, -"My arm's kinda sore."

He made space for me to slack my back onto the soft surface and when I did, he quickly rested his head on my chest. I continued to stroke his hair while murmuring sweet things close to his ears -and naughty things too. When he started giggling after several attempts, I was relieved, but I know there's more to this. I got a hunch that'll only get worse. Marco was still scared and sad.

The people in the room started pacing around and discussing something along the lines of 'test' and 'results', but we both ignored them and snuggled under the sheets. Marco relaxed and dozed off often, but it resulted difficultly. He sometimes woke up startled.

After a few minutes, my eyelids dropped and I dozed off too...

-"Jean."

I jumped, startled at the sudden voice, -"Huh?"

Beside me was Celine looking down at us both, -"I have to speak to you. And you need a bath, quick."- She was oddly serious today.

I sniffed my arms pits and sure enough, I needed a bath asap. I don't know how Marco endured it all this time. Speaking of who, he was still resting his head on my chest, snoozing lightly. Suddenly, Zackly and Blondie came in with some sheets and large envelopes, -"Is he ready?"

Celine snorted, -"Not yet, he just woke up."

-"Kirshtein, up. After you take a bath, we will discuss your test's results,"- He placed the documents on the near table and gestured to Blondie, -"Rubert, call the nurses to bathe him."

I shook my head, -"Nu-uh. I want Marco in there with me, no one else."- Who's more childish now, huh?

Marco's mother chuckled, probably foreboding I'd say that.

Very timely, Marco sat up and rubbed his eyes, in a very adorable way, -"Hmm?"

His mother looked at him and I saw her expression sadden, -"Marco, will you help Jean? He doesn't want to go in the bathroom with anyone and he needs to take a bath before we run a few other tests."

I gave Marco the puppy eyes and he chuckled, -"Okay."

He dismounted the bed first and then helped me down by hooking his arm beneath mines. Limping, I tried not to cause too much weight on him because he was also walking funny. When we entered the bathroom, Marco closed the door and turned on the shower. He tweaked it towards the 'H' for hot. While he did, I looked at myself in the mirror and man, I'm not looking too good. My hair was a mess and I had a huge bruise under my right eye due to a punch I got from... someone. I don't even remember. I just sighed and turned on the sink to splash water on my face.

-"Come on, Jean, the water's hot."- I heard the water drops slosh onto the tiles swiftly.

-"Comin',"- I said and pulled a paper towel from the dispenser on the sink. I dried my face and dumped the paper in the near trash. I hobbled towards the shower and I saw one of those large chairs that had holes made for incapacitated patients. I pointed at it, -"Is that for me?"- What a stupid question. Out of us both, I was the one who couldn't walk well.

-"Mjum,"- He chuckled and started to undo my robes, -"Try not to move too much, Jean. You'll just worsen your bruises."

-"Fine, I'll try,"- I muttered and felt gleeful thrills when Marco took my robe off. I just realized I had no underwear all this time. I looked at my boyfriend's eye and smirked, -"You know, I bet I'm not the only one who's stinky."

Marco blushed and gaped his mouth, but I lashed to him and buried my nose in his armpit, tickling him at the same time. He laughed and giggled, writhing his body away from me, -"Jean, what did I say just a few seconds ago?"

Bummer, he wasn't as stinky as I was, -"I dunno."

-"You're not supposed to move!"

-"Oh, right. Sorry,"- I said and sat on the chair after being gestured by him. I laid back comfortably, allowing the hot water drop on me. My tense muscles relaxed and, even more, when Marco started to massage me gently, squeezing my shoulders and stroking my skin. I moaned at the touch and suddenly, he gasped, -"Huh? What's wrong?"- I twisted my body in order to look at him, but hissed at the soreness in my chest and pressed the area.

-"Your back..."- He murmured, covering his mouth with his hand.

-"Wh-what's wrong with it?"- I asked, trying to look down, but if it kept with it, I'd snap my neck.

Marco disappeared and came back with a small mirror. I stood up and looked back at it and holy shit, my back was rife with tiny lacerations and I remember how I got these cuts. It was the fight with George; he was kicking and pushing me with his foot against a shrub with sharp branches. They weren't so deep so the hot water didn't do much damage.

Marco's expression saddened as he kept staring at it, hands still on his mouth, -"Marco,"- I called him several times until I had to snatch the mirror from his hands, -"Hey, I'm fine. It doesn't hurt, really."

-"But Jean..."

I pecked his lips, -"Don't worry about it, please,"- It warmed me that he cared, but honestly, I was more worried about him and he should too. I couldn't stop thinking about his morning outburst; I also woke up with a bad dream, but mine wasn't that grave so I manage to deal with it. Marco, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. He was dreaming, yet he was re-experiencing that horrible day and by what he said, it was exactly how it happened. He also said he couldn't distinguish reality, -"Come on, this baby isn't gonna clean itself."- I gestured to myself with a wink before I sat again.

Marco chuckled lowly, but I still saw that worry there.

He was washing my hair when I was inspecting my arms -heck, my whole body; it had deep contusions from the punches Rui was giving to me continuously. Aside from the cuts, my back had bruises too and my abdomen, when Kuan kneed me. Marco wallowed over all my physical injuries. I reassured him over and over that the pain was worth enduring because I got to save him and even though neither of us is doing too good, we're at least breathing and walking.

Eventually -by my beseech- Marco took his robe off and I was relieved the rest of his body was unharmed. Marco washed me everywhere and we kind of did more than just take a bath when he started to clean my groin. I got playful and excited, so I retaliated and here we were kissing madly under the shower, our naked bodies stuck to the other. I held both his buns tightly in my grip as our lips crashed onto each other and he had his arms hooked around my neck.

A light knock on the door startled us. That was our cue that we'd been in here longer than they'd expected, -"Are you boys alright?"- That was Celine.

We parted, reluctantly, and panted heavily, -"Y-yeah. We're almost done."- I muttered, breathless.

I gave Marco one last, long kiss before I stepped out of the shower. I then heard him giggling and I looked over my shoulder to see him staring blatantly at my butt, -"They're really pale, like snowballs."

I rolled my eyes as he laughed, but really, I felt my cheeks warm, -"Ha-ha, very funny."- Aside from pale, they weren't so lavish like his. Sure, I had the abs and the muscles, but I don't have the butt. Mine was nearly flat.

-"They're cute."- At least, he found them adorable. Now my face warmed up.

After dressing up, we sauntered out and Zackly beckoned me to sit in the wheelchair again. I noted how everyone was kind of acting odd, awkwardly, albeit temporarily, -"Listen carefully, Kirshtein,"- He cleared his throat and pulled out a large, black and transparent "paper" out of the envelope, -"While you slept the first two days, we-"

-"Hold on,"- I interrupted him, -"Two days? The hell happened to me?"

-"You were unconscious when we picked you up,"- Celine continued, taking Marco into her arms, -"And when we brought you here, you didn't wake up. You were comatose that first day."

My eyes widened, -"C-comatose?"

-"You took a blow to your head. It's a common cause to fall into a coma."

Yeah, I got smitten in the head several times, but a coma? That kinda sounds a bit exaggerated, I dunno. I think I was just unconscious, I mean, it can't be that serious... right? I just have this common image that being comatose is just plain grave, like the people who fall in it never wake up was caused by serious accidents. At least, all the reports I've read about patients under coma that has lasted for weeks never woke up.

I was about to comment on it, but Zackly spoke first, -"At any rate, we conducted a CT scan of your bones and the results were alarming. You have a broken rib."- He said, handing me the test's result.

I cringed and took the large cardboard-like transparent paper. Well, shit, I could perfectly see a crack on my right rib, -"Oh, that's not good, is it?"

Their serious and worried expressions told me they weren't bluffing -why would they anyways? Marco gasped, -"Oh no..."

-"Jean, have you had difficulty breathing? Or does it bother you when you breathe deeply or press the area?"- Celine asked.

I pondered about it and yup, especially when I took deep breaths, -"Yeah, but it's not so-"

-"Why didn't you informed me?"- Spat the old man all of a sudden.

-"Yeah, Jean. You should've told someone."- That was Marco and I gasped at that. Shit, coming from him was different.

-"Hey, hey, easy on me,"- I hovered my arms in front of me in defense, -"And shit, I dunno. It's not that bad so I never thought of saying anything about it."

Zackly had his hand on his forehead while he shook his head. Celine was trying not to take it too seriously and Marco... well, he was taking it too seriously. Aside from peeved, my boyfriend was distressed and sad.

Set on clearing up the mood, I changed the subject -well, kind of, -"So, uh..., how does the treatment go?"- I was planning to come up with a joke, really. Guess I'm worried about myself. Marco was nodding slowly in approval -he was gonna ask the question anyways. Alleluia, I was finally showing self-concern.

-"It heals on its own within two months, but icing the area regularly can help. In addition, breathing techniques are key, which my assistant can teach you in a moment,"- Said Zackly, packing his stuff, -"Rubert, if you will. Take him to his room, it is passed noon already. I have other business to attend to."- And with that, the old man left.

I looked out of the window. Damn, how long have we been in the shower?

Blondie started to steer the chair, -"Wait,"- I said and he stopped. I propelled myself up and hobbled towards Marco. Like always, he started to complain that I shouldn't be walking just yet, but I ignored and hugged him. He was flabbergasted for a second before he returned the embrace, -"I love you. I'll see you soon, okay?"

Marco nodded against my chest, very slowly, like he didn't want me to go, -"Okay..."

I pecked his cheeks before sitting back on the chair and being driving across the hallways. The ride was quiet and I knew Blondie had something to say, he just didn't know how or when to say, -"He's adorable."- He suddenly spoke as we descend the elevator.

-"Huh?"- I muttered.

-"Your boyfriend. He's cute."- He repeated, snickering to himself.

-"Yeah, he gets that a lot."- I was doing pretty fucking good keeping my jealousy and overprotectiveness in check.

-"You must love him a lot, right?"- His words were intended to sound friendly, innocent, and yet, I saw and heard covet there, like he wished Marco was his boyfriend.

-"I do."

-"I mean, how you rushed in and managed to snap him from his dream displayed enough. It was pretty cool and cute -and corny,"- He added and snickered, -"Hope you cleaned the shower, though."

At that, I swooped my body to look at him, -"Excuse me?"- I asked, but I know what he was talking about. What I didn't know is how he knew. Marco and I kind of got crazy in there. We masturbated each other like three times and he gave me a blowjob while I sat... so yeah, we spilled a deal of cum. Did we clean it? Please, don't ask. I was hoping the water would just drift it away...

-"The janitors check those, you know?"- He was looking straight at the elevator's door, but I saw a growing grin.

My eyebrows couldn't quirk anymore, -"What's your deal? Just spill it out already."

And so help me, he wasted no time, -"You should consider suppressing your voice and tone next time. Like, everyone heard you guys."

Now my face was burning.

-"And Zackly was like way too embarrassed and agitated."- He laughed out loud and I knew then he completely enjoyed it.

While he laughed, I just stayed quiet, also embarrassed the shit out, but it wasn't because Zackly heard (I give no fucks about that guy), I was more abashed at the fact that Marco's mother heard us.

When we reached my room and Blondie started to teach me a few breathing techniques that would help me moderate my broken rib, I decided to ask him a few stuff, -"So, you gay too?"- I asked blatantly, out of the blue, and maybe I shouldn't have (I barely know him), but hey, his comment about us cleaning the shower wasn't so far compared to this.

He considered his answer, but seeing as I'm prone to become the only guy he can get acquaintance here that has common quips, he spoke, -"Yup."

-"Knew it."

-"So, are old are you? And your boyfriend?"- He spoke and pressed his hand on my chest, where my right rib was sore, -"Does it hurt when I press?"

I hissed and nodded, -"Yeah,"- Impulsively, I slapped his hand away, -"And we're both nineteen, why?"

-"Just curious."- He snickered, flitting his hand on my chest again.

My brows knitted, -"You?"- Where is the hell is this going?

-"Twenty-five."

-"You single, aren't you?"- That or he has a boyfriend and is very libertine.

-"Unfortunately."- He admitted.

My face creased, -"I'm positive I've seen other pretty boys out there."- I got a hunch he got eyes for Marco.

-"Nah, your boyfriend's pretty enough."

I glared at him, but really, I wanted to punch him.

He burst into laughter, -"You're funny when you're pissed and jealous,"- Funny thing, I think that same way of Marco. I had no idea if this guy was trying to shag me or Marco -or both, -"I'm kidding, by the way."

-"You better be."- I warned.

He laughed again and I decided to give up. Anything else I throw at him, he'll just find it amusing. It was like punching Spongebob.

After a few minutes of breathing with pace, I was left alone and Zackly came once, informing me that I had to stay in the hospital for at least two months so that my rib cage heals fully -among the contusions and inflammation. He also added that he already contacted the school and where I worked, letting them know of my condition and the time the treatments requires.

Around five pm, Celine visited me and she had this sad and worried expression like she's about to give me bad news or something. In fact, she was, -"Jean, I have to tell you something."

-"Everything okay?"

-"More or less,"- She stood near the door, meaning she'll leave the second she says whatever she wanted to say. She took a deep breath, -"I'm worried about Marco. His... mental health doesn't look too good."

My heart skipped a beat, -"Wh-what do you mean it doesn't look good?"- Exactly that, Jean.

-"It may be too soon, but I fear he's developing PTSD."- She had trouble saying that.

I honestly don't know what that means but it doesn't sound good, -"PT... what?"

-"Post-traumatic stress disorder,"- She sighed and closed her eyes, -"It's a mental disorder that develops after a traumatic event. People with PTSD can feel stressed and afraid even when their life is not at risk,"- She paused and turned on the door knob, -"The nightmares are just the beginning if my theory is correct."

This can't be... -"What can I do? I'll do anything to prevent it!"- I was shaking again. The incident was traumatic for both of us, but Marco was in the near-death end of it. He almost died.

This must be the mental issues Zackly talked about it.

She finally smiled, -"I know, Jean, but for now, keep a close eye on him and report anything unusual from him."

I nodded briskly and watched her go.

I was up and hobbling around my room for the rest of the night with an uneasiness that stymied my sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Marco and what his mom told me. This can't get any worse, right? We can't get any worse. When can we have some peaceful time without any complications? Fuck! I just want to Marco to be healthy, but what's worst than physical injuries? Mental lesions!

I punched the near wall and immediately, I regretted it, especially when Marco tottered in and lectured me for being out of bed and hurting myself. The moment our eyes met, I wondered if Marco knew of his condition (which we -and I mean me and Celine- weren't completely sure about) and that made me remember about the time I wondered the same thing about Mom. At first, she wasn't aware of her condition, of the tumor in her brain, but as time passed... she became completely conscious of it. She knew her life was reached its end and she was ready for it.

Marco is clever, smart, and I bet he knows about this PTSD thing and it's symptoms. I bet he knows and I wanted to ask him but coerced myself against it, mainly because his condition isn't clear yet. I was still scared to death, -"Hey,"- I said as I climbed up to my bed, -"You okay?"

Marco barely nodded, -"I don't want to sleep..."

-"Marco..."- I murmured as he climbed up and rested his head on my chest again. I knew why he didn't want to sleep: he doesn't want to experience the incident again. He doesn't want another bad dream.

-"I don't want any more nightmares..."- He rambled again.

Like last time, I started to stroke his hair, -"Marco, you have to sleep -well, we have to."

He perked his head up a bit to look at my eyes, -"You can't sleep either?"

I sighed and shook my head, -"No, I just... I can't."

He tilted his head, -"Bad dreams too?"

-"Kind of."

Now, he quirked an eyebrow and noted I wasn't speaking clearly, -"What's wrong, Jean?"

-"I'm just... worried about you."- Real smooth.

The way he kind of looked away and gazed down, that small interval of silence, told me he knew something was off with him, that he wasn't as sane as he claimed to be -and not just physically because I have more physical scars, his were mental. The incident scarred his mind, -"I'm... I'm..."

-"We're both in this together, Marco, and we can surpass this... together."- Still speaking corny, huh.

He looked back at my eyes, -"Jean..."

-"Wanna watch some funny? Maybe you'll doze off, at least for a few hours."- I said and began to propel up.

He stopped me, -"Wait... I'll get them."- He dismounted the bed and started rummaging through my bags.

I had a hunch he didn't exactly wanted to watch movies, but he knew my intentions, he knew what I was trying to do; to light up our mood -his, specifically- and to try to stay positive.

Marco inserted a few comical movies in the DVD that hung on the ceiling before us. We watched Hangover (my favorite), Shrek (because he loves animated flicks) and Toy Story. The last two weren't mine, let me clarify. He literally begged me to watch them and we laughed so much we couldn't hold the soreness on our tummies. I just love watching him giggle like a kid, so yeah, I must have looked stupid looking at him with lovey-dovey eyes.

Eventually, we got drowsy, but I coerced my eyes open to keep watch on my boyfriend and I was glad when he fell asleep very close to me, his head still on my chest and arms around my torso, like he was hugging a plushie. I kissed his forehead before calling it a day.

Note: Nop, Marco will not be diagnosed with PTSD, just a minor depression, lack of sleep and bad dreams, because he can't come out pure from that incident.