"Take a deep breath."
If Dex could go back in time to prevent every single event of the past week, he'd do it in a heartbeat. Part of him wishes everything was one big blur, that his time in Greenland and his subsequent recovery was one extended nightmare, but he knows better than to think he has that kind of luck.
"Another," Liesl commands, and Dex breathes in the air the nebulizer on his face produces. He's not entirely sure how many rounds he's gone with the device, done at random intervals between intensive chemical therapy and (arguably) excessive medication cocktails, but he's just as unsure if he was even keeping track, "Good."
"Is it safe to take these things off?" TJ asks, a hand on his oxygen mask.
"Let me see," Liesl removes hers and takes a deep breath, the inhale and exhale going smoothly, "It appears so."
TJ follows her lead, smiling when he's able to release air with no complications, "That antidote you made worked perfectly!"
"Great," Dex sighs as he hands the nebulizer back to Liesl, who then puts the nasal cannula back on his face, "Does that mean all this crazy treatment can stop now?"
"We stripped the pathogen of its contagious element-"
"Isn't that enough?"
"Hold on," the doctor holds a hand up, "We're still working on eliminating its presence within your bloodstream. I'll take a blood test and see what progress we've made, if any."
"Please do. Take as much as you need," Dex holds out his arm, to which Liesl siphons a sample, "Is the rest of me okay?"
"Yes. I had some doctors surgically mend the wound on your head when you were rushed in."
"That explains why the migraines are gone…" Dex touches the affected area, gently running over the stitches covered by his dirty blonde hair.
"It was a little complicated with all of the oxygen masks and potential risk of death, but Dr. Obrecht here," TJ gestures to her, "thought it was better to fix that first since the procedure and recovery would take less time."
"Thank you."
"It's the least I could do after the hell Victor put you through. Now, if you'll excuse me…" she offers a smile, nodding at the men before exiting.
"So," TJ begins, stepping closer, "how badly do you really want out of here?"
"I mean, hospitals are practically my second home," Dex responds cheekily, "but honestly, I just want to see my daughter. Have you seen her at all? How is she?"
"She was in the NICU for some checkups, and she's doing just fine. Alexis has been taking care of her while you've been here."
"I'm glad she's okay," Dex's smile is warm, "and, y'know, with 'getting out of here,' I also want to stop feeling like garbage because of the meds, so the sooner, the better."
"Well, now that you can't kill people, we'll work on getting you visitors."
"Thanks," Dex flashes him a smirk before quickly dropping it, "Hey, uh, TJ?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry for snapping at you a little while back. Me being stressed and tired was no excuse to be aggressive. You're my friend. You're really important to me; I don't want to lose you."
"It's okay. Don't worry about it. I should've known better than to push you to let Molly in after what she said about you in court, and I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be. I get it. We love some great, crazy women."
"You still love Kristina?"
Dex takes a breath before nodding, "I do."
"I imagine it makes your decision at the hearing that much harder, huh?"
"...Crap, the hearing!" Dex feels panic rush in as he looks around the ICU room, "Isn't it today?! What time is it?! What day is it?!"
"Whoa, relax," TJ laughs, holding up a hand, "Alexis told me that Diane stepped in and got it moved because of what happened. It'll happen in a couple weeks."
"Oh, okay, cool," Dex sighs in relief, offering the doctor a smile, "So, uh, are we good?"
"We're good," TJ responds, mirroring the smile before pulling Dex into a firm hug. He then pulls away first, "I'll give Alexis a call and have her bring Ciara by."
Dex settles into bed as TJ exits the room, closing the door behind him. Kristina gets to her feet immediately, tidying up her hair.
"How is he?" she asks, "Is it safe to go in?"
TJ takes a deep breath before answering, "He's no longer contagious, but I'm not sure you should go in there."
"I know you're still mad at me, and you have every right to be, but-"
"No, no, that's not why. I mean, of course I'm still angry, but right now, my job comes first, and the well-being of my patient is top priority."
"I'm not going to stress Dex out-"
"No, Krissy, just…leave him alone. Let him rest, please. We just found out that he's not contagious anymore. Don't try and force him to talk to you about Ciara or the hearing or anything like that, okay?" TJ shakes his head, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make some calls."
Kristina watches in sorrow as he walks off, heading towards the elevator. She sits back down on the sofa outside of Dex's room, pulling out her phone. She immediately goes to her photo gallery, lip quivering as she swipes through a number of photos: her cradling Ciara when Dex snuck her into the penthouse, Ciara resting upright on the sofa by herself, and Dex and Kristina in places such as Rice Park and Perks together.
"Kristina?"
Her head shoots up, both eyebrows following when she sees Spencer, Trina, and Josslyn together, approaching the seating area. She immediately gets to her feet.
"How's Dex?" Trina pulls her into a hug, and Spencer follows with the same.
"TJ told me that he's not contagious anymore, so he's making some progress."
"Contagious?" Josslyn asks.
"Long story," Spencer responds.
"Why are you guys here?" Kristina looks between the three of them.
"I wanted to see how Dex was doing after what happened," Trina answers.
"And I wanted to see how you were doing," Spencer follows with, "Aunt Alexis told me you'd be here."
"I'm doing okay. Dex is on the mend and Ciara is safe and sound; that's all I care about," she then looks at Josslyn.
"What?" the young woman asks, "Can't I visit Dex too?"
"Not if you plan to win him back," Spencer snorts.
"Win him back?" Kristina raises an eyebrow.
"You didn't know? He cheated on Joss with you…after Joss cheated on Cam with him."
"Dex dated you?" Kristina looks Joss up and down, and the young woman rolls her eyes and purses her lips in response.
"Yeah, and things were going well until you entered the picture," she scowls.
"First of all, I didn't know you two were a thing. Secondly, you hate my dad, and Dex works for him, so you dating Dex is a little hard to believe."
"So?"
"So?" Spencer laughs, "God, you're ridiculous!"
"Dex really didn't tell you about him and Joss?" Trina asks.
"He didn't, but I'm sure he would've."
"You know him that well?" Josslyn questions.
"I do. If he really was in a relationship, whether it was with you or not, he would've told me."
"Wow, okay. I mean, I should be shocked that you're so nonchalant about Dex being a cheater, but then I remembered what you did to Molly and TJ. You two are birds of a feather: liars who don't think about how your actions affect other people."
"That's rich of you to say," Spencer snorts.
"Excuse me?"
"You're running your mouth and calling Dex and Kristina a pair of liars as if you haven't lied yourself. Or does Cam not matter to you the way you don't matter to Dex?"
"Spencer…" Trina mumbles, glancing away from him while Josslyn dons a glare, offense present in her eyes. Spencer returns Josslyn's expression with ease, turning to face his cousin.
"Dex still loves you," he says, watching Kristina's face slowly light up with surprise and hope. Josslyn's expression drops to one of disappointment, "He told me on the Haunted Star when I confronted him about the cheating…and he wanted me to make sure Ciara ended up with you if the pathogen killed him."
"Is that true…?" Kristina looks at Trina, who nods. Josslyn looks away, tears gently stinging the corners of her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Trina asks her friend.
"She's realizing that Dex never gave a damn about her," Spencer crosses his arms.
"You don't know anything, Spencer," Josslyn snaps, "and even then, it's none of your business-"
"And their relationship," he gestures between Kristina and the ICU room, "is none of yours."
"I'm sorry, don't you hate him? Since when were you guys friends?"
"We're not, but he makes my cousin happy and he's a good dad to his daughter. I can't hate him for that."
"Really, that's all you need to be okay with him? What's next, you'll start to think that the mob is a beacon of morality and good choices?"
"Well, you think you are, so…" Spencer shrugs, "Why are we even obsessing over your situationship with Dex anyway? Why does this matter so much to you?"
Josslyn doesn't answer, shooting daggers at both him and Kristina. She eventually marches off, her stomps echoing in the hallway. Trina lets out a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"We should go after her," she says, scowling at her boyfriend before grabbing Kristina's hand, "I'm glad everyone in your family is okay. I hope Dex has a full, speedy recovery."
"Thank you," the elder woman watches them leave before she steps up to the ICU room window. Dex lays flat against the cushioning, his eyes closed. She approaches the door and knocks, and she jumps when he looks at her. Twisting the doorknob, she slowly walks inside, and he sits upright.
"Hi," she gently squeaks.
"Hi," he answers in kind.
"Are you up for a visitor?"
He doesn't answer, gesturing to an open stool nearby. She closes the door behind her and takes a seat.
"I'm sure you don't want to waste any time with small talk, so…lay it on me," she gestures outward. Dex stares at her for a beat, his mind racing a million miles a minute. Kristina takes his hand in hers, fingers running over the pulse oximeter and IV tubing.
"I…I'm not sure where to begin," he shakes his head, "These last few weeks have been…a lot, and I haven't had time to process all of it. I mean, I've tried to think about what I want to say, but every time I do, I just…can't put the words together."
"Whatever you want to say, say it. I can take it."
"...I'm mad at you. I'm so, so mad at you. You had no right to lie to me about our baby. I lost out on two years' worth of memories and milestones for no good reason, and I have dealt with more than enough grief over your bad decisions."
Kristina opens her mouth to respond, swiftly shutting it when she sees Dex shake his head, "You know, at first, I blamed myself. I thought that I said or did something so cruel or hurtful that it would justify keeping me from our baby. But the more I replayed every conversation, every little interaction we had, the more I realized that there was nothing. I didn't say or do anything wrong."
He begins to choke up, eyes slowly turning red, "I just…I don't get it. What did I do to deserve this? How could you do this to me?"
"It was nothing against you, not at all. I was so caught up in giving Molly and TJ what they wanted that I just…I neglected a lot of things that I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, Dex. I'm really, really sorry. You ended up being collateral damage, and you shouldn't have been."
"Why didn't you say anything when Dr. Navarro told you that you were pregnant?"
"I didn't want to hurt Molly and TJ."
"But it was okay for you to hurt me?"
"No, no, I never wanted to hurt you, and I'm sorry that I did. I had so many opportunities to say something, and I just…I chickened out every time. I couldn't face what I did until the world forced me to, and that just created more problems."
"Kristina…" Dex looks away, flinching. His thought goes harder: Don't think of what happened like that…
"Not a day went by where guilt wasn't kicking my ass. I felt it every time you'd smile at me or hold me or kiss me, and not saying anything killed me on the inside. I was too focused on proving myself to my sister and trying to give her the family she wanted…and all that did was screw up the one I made."
"If you were that dedicated to being Molly and TJ's surrogate, we could've figured things out together, y'know? You didn't have to do all of this."
"I know. I'm sorry that I kept you from our daughter for as long as I did, and I will do anything I can to make it up to you. And before you say it, I'm not here to apologize and weasel my way into winning the hearing. I'm here because you mean a lot to me, and I want you in my life for as long as possible."
Dex doesn't respond, his breath caught in his throat. Kristina reacts with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" she asks.
"I just thought you'd be a little more…aggressive in your defense," he says.
"Yeah, um, that's not really my style. Not anymore, at least. These past few years have been…really transformative. I mean, honestly, I expected you to be more aggressive towards me."
"Well, I mean, you listened to my piece and took responsibility for what you did, and I appreciate that. And even then, I have my own sin here. I didn't listen to you when you first told me that Ciara was mine. I brushed it off as a trauma response, and I should've been more considerate. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I don't blame you for thinking that. Things were…pretty tense back then."
"Yeah…" Dex sighs, the image of her standing behind the glass window flashing in his mind, "Hey, uh, can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Was I hallucinating, or did I see you in Victor's laboratory in Greenland?"
Kristina offers him a warm smile, "You saw me."
"You went out of your way to join the mission, even with the distance between us? Why?"
"I love you," Dex's cheeks glow a bright pink when Kristina's response hits his ears, "and there was no way in hell I'd let Victor take any member of my family from me."
"I love you too," the words slip out of his mouth, full of air.
"You do? You still do?"
"I don't think I ever stopped."
Kristina retakes his hand in her own, keeping a tight grip around his loose fingers. They both share a meek smile.
"I…" he inhales, "I hate what's happened. Our relationship really went through the wringer."
"Yeah," she frowns, "and it never had to, but, hey, old habits die hard, y'know? It's not going to happen again," she squeezes his hand, "I'm sorry about lying, about dragging things out, and everything that came after."
"I mean, I don't think the whole Greenland thing was your fault. That was all Victor."
"...And Molly."
"What?"
"Molly complained to Victor about you…and it prompted him to kidnap you and do what he did with the pathogen."
"That bitch," Dex hisses, "...sorry."
"No, no," Kristina shakes her head, "you're right. She's a bitch. I'm dead to her because of my lies, and she's dead to me because she put a target on your back."
"She's dead to me too. I'll let her be around Ciara when hell freezes over."
"...You really love that little girl, don't you?"
"More than anything."
Kristina grins in response, and Dex mirrors her expression. Her grip is tight on his fingers, her cheeks flush and heart fluttering. She feels herself leaning towards him, and he reciprocates, their lips brushing up against one another. Loud knocks at the door immediately separate them.
"I hope this isn't a bad time," Alexis sticks her head through the door as the pair pulls away from one another, "...and it seems like it is."
"No, no," Dex shakes his head, "come in, please."
"Good, because there's someone who really wants to see you," Alexis pushes the door open, supporting Ciara on her hip. The baby instantly locks eyes with her father, reaching out with both of her hands.
"Come here," Dex coos at her as Alexis walks over, laying her against his chest. Ciara wraps her arms around his neck, her head on his shoulder, "I missed you too, little one, I missed you too."
"I should probably head out-" Kristina starts to stand up.
"No, stay, please," he grabs her wrist with his free hand.
"Her face lit up when I said we were coming to see you," Alexis smiles, "She adores you."
"I adore her back," he kisses the top of her head, "I told you, baby. I told you we'd get out of there and go home. I told you I wasn't going anywhere."
Ciara pulls back slightly, gripping his shirt for dear life as she gazes into his blue eyes. She lifts a hand and presses it against the side of his lip, "Da…"
Dex takes a sharp breath, holding it hostage in his lungs.
"Da…da…" she babbles with a wide smile, "Dada!"
"Dada…" Dex nods, eyes sparkling with tears, "You said your first word; you said your first word!"
"That she did," Alexis gently shakes the young man's ankle, "I'm glad you're okay."
"Thank you," he says, cuddling Ciara against him. Her giggle is music to his ears, "and thank you for keeping an eye on her."
He then looks to Kristina, "Thank you for coming to our rescue. I couldn't be more grateful."
"Of course," she beams at him.
Life moves at montage speed as time ticks by, and conversations between him, Alexis and Kristina evolves into white noise. He rests his cheek against Ciara's head, listening to her soft breathing and gentle coos. The mounting weight of what's to come sits at the back of his mind, taking up the limited space offered to it. In the moment, he feels a sense of relief and peace he hasn't had in awhile, and he chooses to completely revel in it.