AN: Klaus is meant to be complex. A part of him wants to support Ryan without question, but another part of him wants to protect him and then another part is actually resentful that Ryan is getting with Johnny what Klaus wanted with Félix. He's not perfect.

Part 41

Nooshy went back after Eddie came out. Ryan didn't want to leave Johnny's side. The Canadian lynx stared at her dance student. Laying in that bed, looking so much like a science experiment in a sci-fi novel, she could hardly believe it.

"How is he?" She asked Ryan.

Ryan shook his head. "Still asleep. There's no way to know… oh gosh… I can't…. I can't lose him." He held Johnny's hand.

Nooshy shook his head. "Hey! You won't! Johnny is stronger than you give him credit for!" She had to get control. She'd seen worse on the streets. "He'll be alright."

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Though the crowd was disappointed about the overall show, they were good sports when they learned about the young dancer in the hospital. Clay Calloway was more than worth the price of the tickets. Up on the stage, he thought of the last solo concert he played. The last concert Ruby was able to attend before her illness took her home.

He knew he'd always play for Ruby but tonight, his eyes scanned the crowd for another. Wearing a salmon pink dress, sitting in the front row, and watching him with the most startling pair of green eyes. She had been torn between staying to comfort her daughter and seeing him sing. Meena had convinced her that she was alright, Alphonso was with her and Johnny would be alright. And her boyfriend needed her more.

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Back at the hospital, Johnny was moved to a larger room to accommodate up to three guests as Ryan was unwilling to leave Johnny's side and no one had the heart to demand it.

Suki's stomach was in knots over Johnny's condition. She was trying desperately to comfort Marcus while not getting sick. She was sure it was just nerves. The job was giving her an ulcer.

Rosita finally noticed that she was looking a little green. "Suki, are you alright?"

She waved her hand while Marcus looked up at her. "I'm fine. I'm just worried about Johnny, that's all." He tilted his head. "Really, I'm fine…" Her body decided then to betray her and she ran to the nearest trash can.

"Suki, what's wrong?" He rephrased Rosita's question. "If you're sick, you need to tell me."

She sighed. "It's just an upset stomach. I've been working too hard, worrying too much. Trying to find shows for the theater, dealing with the board, Porsha wants to sell, getting engaged…. it's all so much… and now Johnny's hurt and it's just one more thing!" She turned into his chest and broke down into hysterical sobs.

He held her close. "Hey, Johnny'll be alright. He's tough. I know it's been stressful. I'm sorry if I haven't helped."

She shook her head. "No, it's not you. You are wonderful. If not for you, I don't know how I would have managed." She buried her head into his broad shoulders.

He nodded. "Well, I'd feel better if you'd see a doctor while we're here."

She sighed with defeat. "Fine… I'll see a doctor." She kissed him.

In the corner, Lance was on the phone. "Thank you for looking after them, Ty. Now, remember bedtime is at seven, so nothing to drink after six-thirty. And easy on the sweets. And no scary movies!"

Ash shook her head. "They'll be fine. Tyler will take good care of them."

He nodded and reluctantly said goodbye, letting Tyler handle the babysitting. "How are you holding up?" He asked.

"Alright. Johnny will be alright. I have to believe that," she said. He hugged her and she leaned into the hug.

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Outside the hospital, Klaus still sat. He wasn't welcome in the waiting room with everyone else and he knew he deserved it. He always knew Ryan might find someone someday.

He had grown from the lad who was scared to tell his father that he didn't want to play football, that he didn't want to go to the university his father wanted for him. He remembered sitting outside his house while he carried the few things they allowed him to take. The expression on his face was the same as he wore that night. He had felt so betrayed by his father and mother, thinking he must be worthless and had spent several days just hiding in the bedroom that Klaus provided him, crying for his lost family.

The first time Klaus had met Johnny, he was not impressed. He was just another wanna-be who would never understand what it took to be a real dancer. Had he known that Ryan was attracted to the gorilla, he never would have partnered them. Ryan had never challenged him before that night. But that night, everything changed. He had chosen to side with that gorilla, pushing him to defeat Klaus in the dance battle.

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He remembered when he and Ryan returned to their apartment. "Klaus, what even was that?" He laughed. "You've never done that before."

The monkey waved his hand. "That was his final test. I didn't expect him to beat me. Or for you to cheer him on!"

Ryan shrugged. "He deserved to beat you after that. Sorry sir, but he deserved to win. He deserved to do his dance. I wish I could have gotten to do it as planned." He sighed. "Maybe we should have stayed. Poor Mr. Moon…"

Klaus nodded sadly. "There was nothing you could have done. We need to let them be tonight. Tomorrow, you can offer your condolences." Mr. Crystal brought in many new producers and new students with them. Too often the producers ran away while he got to keep the students. And Klaus was none too impressed with any of them. However, Mr. Moon had left an impression. The little koala was tenacious and was the first to stand up to Crystal. Johnny, however, did not impress him. He just knew the gorilla would never master the steps even though he certainly tried. Then that street dancer, the riff raff Nooshy appeared and somehow turned him into a wiz on the floor. It wasn't fair. He trained for decades to get where he was. How did Johnny advance so far in just two days? It wasn't right. He couldn't let that be it. He had to test the boy himself. And Ryan had chosen to support Johnny instead.

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Johnny had forgiven him once, no doubt influenced by Ryan or perhaps that had attracted Ryan to him. While Crystal Entertainment fired him, Johnny asked Rosita and Eddie to give him a job. And he repaid him by abusing him again, by pushing him so hard and trying to sabotage what Ryan was building.

He told himself that he was trying to protect Ryan. He just wanted to protect Ryan from being hurt and becoming angry and bitter, like him. But Johnny was just as passionate about the relationship as Ryan was. It was nothing like what he had with Félix. Could he be mistaken? No, it wasn't possible. Johnny would fail Ryan. He was certain that Kia would tempt Johnny away but Johnny had only been repulsed by her. It was becoming clearer that Johnny was truly committed to Ryan. Not going to the wedding would not keep the wedding from happening even though he had been hopeful. Damn. If Ryan became angry and bitter it would be because of him.

"Ryan…. Ryan… I am so… so sorry…" he sobbed.

"Are you?" He looked up at the tiger. "Marcus wanted a few minutes alone with Johnny and I heard you were hanging around." He explained himself.

The old monkey nodded. "I am so sorry. I wish I could take it all back!"

"Well you can't!" Ryan shouted. "I don't know what Johnny did to you sir, but I love him! And you hate him! You hate the gorilla I love!" He trembled. "Why? What did he do? Beyond loving me with all of his heart? Beyond treating me with respect and dreaming of a future with me!"

Kickenklober shook his head. "I wish I had an explanation for my actions but I don't. You're right, Ryan. I acted hatefully. I was wrong. I hope you can find a way to forgive me. To give me another chance."

The tiger shook his head. "Unfortunately it's not that easy. You hurt the gorilla I love. You hurt me. You can't accept him, so you can't accept me. I told you not to make me choose." He turned his back. "Go back to Calatonia. You didn't want to come for my wedding, so I don't need you here now." He walked back into the hospital.

"Ryan! Wait! Come back!" Klaus shouted. "Ryan!"

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He had never seen his son look so small, so frail, as he did in that hospital bed. Marcus sat beside him, holding his hand. "Son…. Oh my son… it's not fair… you should not be in this bed… You should be on stage with Ryan." He trembled. "You can't give up son. You have to fight and you have to wake up! Ryan needs you. I need you. Your friends need you…. You need to wake up." He looked up as the hospital room door opened. Suki came into the room with a shocked expression. "What is it?" He prayed she wasn't about him to give him more bad news.

She sat down beside him. "I… I just got done with the doctor… Um, good news is I'm not sick… Well…. I guess it's all good news… Marcus…" She handed him the visit summary paperwork. She kissed his forehead while he read it and his mouth fell open with shock. "Are… are you alright?"

He read the summary and looked up at her. "This means… are we… and there's no chance at all that this is… I mean… we are…"

She nodded quietly. "Yes… are you alright?" She sat across from him, trying to read his expression.

He leaned over and kissed her. "I'm great! This is great! If you're happy…"

She shook her head. "I'm thrilled. Or I would be if the situation wasn't so…" She looked at Johnny. "How is he?"

Marcus sighed. "He's still just asleep. The doctors were able to fix the damage but… Suki, what if he never wakes up?"

"He will! He's just resting, recovering. You have to think positively," she assured him. "And think of all the great news you'll have to tell him when he does wake up. And until we can tell him, we won't tell anyone else." She hugged him, resting her head on his chest.

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Meena and Alphonso went back with Ryan when Marcus and Suki came out. Meena could barely believe this was the same gorilla. "Hey, Johnny… it's Meena. How are you doing?" She asked though she knew he wouldn't respond. "Now look, don't you worry 'bout a thing. Alphonso and I'll help Ryan do all the planning so all you need to do is rest and wake up, when you're ready." She kissed his forehead. She sat beside him and squeezed his hand.

Alphonso looked at Ryan. "How are you holding up?"

The tiger shook his head. "My fiancé is in a coma. There's no way of knowing when or if he'll wake up. I can't lose him…"

The bull elephant sat beside him. "Look. Look at me, in the eye, that's right. I know that Johnny is going to be alright. He's going to wake up. You're not going to lose him. He's going to be fine."

"How can you be so sure? I mean all I can think about is…" he stammered.

"Because I believe it. I believe that God is not done with either of you yet. Not by a long shot," Alphonso watched his eyes roll. "Yeah, I know but…"

Ryan nodded. "It's all you got… I just want him to wake up." He lowered his head, worrying tears falling down his face. The hardest part was he couldn't turn to the one person he always turned to before. That pillar of strength that he clung to had crumbled and he didn't know if it could be mended.

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The hours melted together until the next day came. It was all the same. The doctors came and went. Their friends would come visit. Marcus and Suki canceled their own appointment at the chapel. They wanted to wait until Johnny could be there. Marcus made sure Ryan ate and slept. The hospital even provided a cot for the tiger. Even Nana came all the way from Calatonia to look in on them. She was even good enough to take away the burden of the eventual hospital bill.

One day became another and another. At the end of the week, the rest of the troupe had to go home. The core 5 wanted to stay but the kids all had school. Nana and Suki both promised that the minute Johnny woke up, they would use both helicopters to get everyone back to Redshore City.

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It felt like he had been sleeping for a really long time, but at the same time, the time passed by quickly. Just talking with Buster made it go by. Sometimes they heard voices echoing around them, the voices of their loved ones. Johnny's dad and Ryan were the most common but a few times, they heard Porsha begging her big brother to wake up. Nooshy came by. And Meena and Ash. Rosita brought flowers that Johnny could smell beside him.

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Kickenklober quietly watched over Ryan and Johnny when no one was there to see. He didn't know how to make this right. How could he possibly make up for his reprehensible behavior? But he couldn't make himself leave either.

Of course, Ryan couldn't always hover over Johnny and Marcus had to go back with Porsha and Nooshy. On the rare occasion when Ryan would either go to the bathroom or get something to eat, he snuck into the hospital room.

"Johnny…" he said softly on one such occasion. "If you can hear me… I'm so sorry. You were kinder to this jealous, bitter old monkey than I deserve and I repaid your kindness rather poorly." He wept. "But now you have to wake up. You can't sleep forever…"

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He had spent much of the couple of weeks just complaining about him. "I just don't know what to do about him… He's important to Ryan so…"

Buster nodded sadly. "Johnny, you might not be able to convince everyone. You don't need his approval. He's the one with the problem, not you." He said.

"Johnny…" that voice sent shivers through the gorilla. "You have to wake up, you can't sleep forever…"

Buster chuckled. "Of course he's right about that. As much as I've enjoyed seeing you, Johnny, you can't stay asleep."

Johnny nodded. "I miss Ryan. Do you think I'm ready to wake up yet?"

The koala shrugged. "It's up to you. Do you feel ready?"

He thought about it. "I'll have to say goodbye, won't I? I'm not ready for that…"

Buster nodded. "Johnny, I'm sorry that this all happened. I never meant to leave you guys when I did." He hugged him. The truth was if Johnny was ready to wake up, neither of them could stop it.

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The sky began to snow as temperatures dipped below freezing. Clay and Sitara made a special trip by bike. She carried a small care package from everyone, including Meena famous iced Christmas cookies. Johnny had been hyping them up since November and Ryan was glad to try one.

"How is he doing, sweetheart?" Sitara asked him.

He shook his head. "No change. The only positive thing is his brain still shows activity. His body just isn't ready. Specialists have been brought in and they're trying to see if they missed anything." He held his hand. "I won't give up… not until…. No, I won't give up." He squeezed.

Clay and Sitara shared a glance. "No, don't give up Ryan. Johnny will pull through this. He beat Klaus on stage. He can beat this." Clay reassured him.

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, he can. He will. I just hope it's by Christmas, you know?" He stroked his fiancé's cheek. He was trying so hard to hold onto hope.

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He remembered the first time he saw this gorilla. He had walked into class with the shyest smile he'd ever seen. For a brief moment, he was the only other person in the room. At first he thought Klaus saw Ryan was attracted to Johnny when he partnered them for the finishing move. Until he saw how badly Klaus treated him. Tearing him down with each failure. That's not how Klaus taught him but something about Johnny rubbed Klaus wrong from the start. Then after two days with Nooshy, Johnny performed in a way that lit a fire in Ryan. He wanted to know this gorilla better. No, he needed to know this gorilla better.

So after proving Nooshy was right, Ryan finally asked Johnny out to eat. Although he realized Johnny didn't understand his intentions.

He took Johnny out to the food court. His salary as Senior Dancer #1 did not afford him much. They shared a basket of chili fries at one of the tables.

"So how long have you been with the New Moon Theater?" Ryan asked.

"Since December of 2016, and it's been absolutely crazy. I love it though. Buster is about the best boss a guy could ask for," Johnny said.

"It sounds awesome. Do you dance there too?" He asked.

"I play the piano and sing. I do a little jazz dancing but that's different," Johnny explained. "This is my first experience with this type of dancing."

Ryan smiled. "Well, you're a natural. You have real, raw talent when you're with the right teacher." He put his hand on Johnny's. He blushed brightly.

Johnny's cheeks became a beautiful rosy red, so handsome. He wanted so badly to kiss him but not in front of so many people.

The night of the show, he had been so ready to finally dance with him and formally ask him out after. But Klaus got in the way and then… it happened. Ryan heard Johnny's cry of anguish down to his core and Klaus stopped him from rushing to his side.

"Mr. Moon, wake up!"

"Klaus, let me go…"

"Ryan, this is not your business. Nor mine. We must not interfere right now. Home."

The gorilla he desired was in pain and there was nothing he could do. The next day, he'd see him and offer his condolences, perhaps even offer his affections.

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It was the week before Christmas, schools were on break so the troupe regrouped in Redshore City. Ash and Lance visited with the twins. The twins played with Ryan, trying to cheer him up.

Ash looked down at Johnny. "Hey, how long are you planning on sleeping, huh? You know it's almost Christmas?" She squeezed his big hand. "Hey no show we do is the same without you, bud. So you need to wake up already…"

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Johnny could hear people calling. He wanted to wake up. He just didn't feel ready yet. In fact, he was starting to feel very tired.

"Johnny?" Buster's voice called to him. "Oh hell no… Johnny, wake up!"

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Suddenly, the heart monitor began to fluctuate and flatline. Ash leaped up while Ryan screamed in desperation. Doctors and nurses ran in. "Get out of here and let us work!" The doctor in charge ordered.

In the waiting room, Ryan was back to that dreadful fear he felt the first night. Back to fearing that his world was ending.

Klaus watched Ryan pace for lieu of something else to do. Until the large gorilla crossed the room and hugged him.

Finally a doctor came out and Klaus positioned himself to hear the conversation. "There was a piece of shrapnel lodged…. We got it out but he's been bleeding out and we're out of AB neg. Mr. Green, you're his father, are you…"

Marcus shook his head. "No, I'm B positive."

The conversation went around the room with no luck. Klaus bit his lip.

"So what do we do? We can't let him bleed to death!" Ryan begged. "We have to save him!"

"I can help!" The old monkey revealed himself, coming out from behind the corner. "I'm AB negative." He and Ryan locked eyes. "I want to help."

The doctor nodded. "Get back here, quickly!"

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Buster sat with Johnny, fighting to keep from falling asleep while the doctors worked. "Come on Johnny. I didn't sit here with you for almost a month just to take you with me now!"

Johnny moaned. "Why am I so tired?"

"Don't, Johnny. You can't fall asleep on me. Listen to my voice. Tell me about your wedding plans…" the koala pleaded.

Johnny moaned. "Well… honestly, I was just picking at random. Ryan was so upset. I guess we'll get to try again though. We can pick together…"

"Yeah, you can. When you're better," he held Johnny's hand. "It's not your time, Johnny. You have to stay awake."

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Ryan wrung his hands together, pacing the waiting room. Marcus tried to calm him but the silverback was only just holding himself together.

Off in the corner, Ash watched him. "Oh my gosh. Lance, I don't know what to do. What if Johnny…"

He hugged her. "Don't. Don't think that way." He stroked her quills. "But it does make one think though… We are not promised another day…." He picked up her hand. "I love you Ash. Meeting Becky again, I knew I could never love anyone but you."

The female porcupine looked into his eyes, wondering where he was going. "Lance?"

He sighed. "I know it's not the best time. I don't have much to offer outside of a food service person's wage and my love… and I know I messed up before but… Ash, would you ever…" The conversation was brought to an abrupt end when the doctor came back out.

Everyone gathered around the poor bear as he looked at Ryan and Marcus. "I think we got him this time. I went through that boy with a fine tooth comb and we got everything patched up this time." Several relieved sighs echoed through the waiting room. "Now he just needs time to recover. Good thing is he's stubborn."

Marcus chuckled. "Well he's my son, so… but he'll be alright? You're sure this time?"

He nodded. "Of course we couldn't have done it without Mr. Kickenklober's donation."

Ryan sighed. "That monkey is a walking contradiction. He actually saved Johnny's life… Can I see my fiancé now? Please?"

The doctor nodded and led him back to the hospital room. Klaus was laying in the bed beside Johnny. Ryan sat by Johnny, taking up his hand.

"Well, no more of those scares, okay, Johnny? You can't keep doing that to me," he chuckled. "Or your dad, you almost gave him a heart attack." He became aware of Klaus watching him. "Why?"

The monkey shook his head. "It was the right thing to do… Ryan, there's no word or phrase that I could say to fix this. I should have been here for you when you needed me. I failed you…"

The tiger sighed. "I love Johnny. I want to marry him. I want to be with him forever. I know the odds are against us but we want to be together." He squeezed Johnny's hand.

"I know, I see that now. I'm sorry I didn't see it before. I promise, I'll change. I'll treat him with the respect he deserves," the old monkey didn't know what else to say. "I'm sorry. Please, I know I don't deserve forgiveness but I'm asking for it anyway."

Ryan fixed him with an uncertain gaze. "It's not really my forgiveness you need." He looked down at Johnny.

AN: When will Johnny wake up? Will Johnny forgive Klaus for his behavior? Will he and Ryan get to say "I do" before the ball drops? Keep reading. And please leave a comment.