Return To Me, My Love

Twenty minutes after I wake up the doctor comes back around, checking on my pain level and fiddling with my IV before leaving again, telling me a nurse will be around in another hour to give me more drugs to help me sleep, the more rest I get the better and when he leaves again Mikey and Pete stand up, telling me I'm only allowed one lot of people at a time and that dad should be back in soon. I nod, Mikey standing before leaning down to hug me and I try hard not to wince in pain as he touches me. Once they're gone I relax back into the pillows, my eyes slipping closed and when I hear footsteps a minute later I reopen them and say "Dad could you get me some...." My voice trailing off as I see its Frank coming into the room, not dad. As I stop talking Frank stops walking and we stare at each other for a few long seconds, neither of us saying anything and Frank looks miserable. "What do you need baby?" He asks softly and I remain silent for another few seconds before saying "Water." "Of course" he says, quickly crossing the room and grabbing a bottle that someone left there earlier, a straw sitting nearby and Frank opens the package around it before putting it in the bottle and bringing it over so I can take a drink, unable to sit up properly. Once I've had enough I pull away, slumping back down and Frank sits the bottle aside before taking the seat Mikey was just using. "How are you feeling?" "How do you think?" I snap, still upset about the fight and what he did to my arm and Frank sighs before saying "I'm sorry, you know I would never do that to you intentionally right? It was an accident and...." "Sorry really isn't doing anything for me" I tell him and he falls silent, his forehead creasing into a frown. "I thought I was going to lose you" he whimpers out after a few long minutes of silence, his voice shaky and cracking and when I roll my head to look at him again his eyes are swollen and red. "There was so much blood and you wouldn't....I couldn't wake you up and...." Frank trails off, tears rolling down his cheeks and I sigh softly, feeling my own eyes well with tears as he looks up, his eyes meeting mine. "Don't cry babe, I can't stand to see you cry" Frank says as he shuffles closer to the bed, his hand coming up to gently cup my cheek and I wince in pain, any kind of pressure feeling like its breaking my jaw. Frank bites his bottom lip as he pulls his hand back, his eyes trailing my face and I take a deep breath before saying "Stop." "Stop what?" "Stop looking, I don't want anyone to look." Franks eyes widen before he nods and drops his head, his gaze now on his own lap and I breathe out in relief, the picture dad took before stuck in my head and I don't want Frank or Ian to see me like that.

The rest of the afternoon passes quickly, Frank leaving so dad can come back in and it starts to get late so I tell him to go get some rest. "Are you sure?" He asks and I nod as much as I can before saying "I'll be fine." Dad stands and gives my hand a squeeze, knowing a hug is out of the question right now, telling me he'll be back in the morning before leaving the room and a minute later Frank comes back in, standing beside the bed with his gaze on the floor as he says "Do you want me to stay?" I think about it for a minute before saying "You should rest, I'll be here tomorrow." I see him nod before he lifts his head, his eyes locking with mine as he says "I love you." "I love you too" I tell him, watching as his mouth pulls into a massive smile before he leans down and presses a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth, being careful of all the cuts and bruises I have. "I'll be back first thing" Frank tells me and I nod, watching as he leaves the room again.

An hour after everyone has gone a nurse comes around to give me more pain killers and ten minutes later my whole body feels warm and heavy and relaxed and just as I close my eyes, ready for sleep, I hear soft footsteps come into the room so I force my eyes back open, expecting another nurse but my breath catches when I see its Ian. "What are you...." "I couldn't leave not knowing if you were alright baby" he tells me and I feel my mouth pull into a small almost smile. "They told me you went home" I choke out as Ian crosses the room to sit beside the bed. "I was, but when I got to the airport I just couldn't. If something happened and I hadn't been here I would never be able to forgive myself. This is all my fault and I'm so sorry baby." "Don't blame yourself" I tell him, my eyes starting to feel heavy and Ian reaches out to take my hand, sliding his fingers between mine as he says "You wouldn't have fallen if it wasn't for me." "Don't want you to feel guilty" I tell him, my eyes remaining closed and my voice starting to slur, feeling right on the edge of passing out. "Get some rest baby" I hear Ian say softly and I groan before saying "Will you stay? Don't want to be alone." "Of course baby, I'll be here all night." I try to slide my body over a bit, trying to make room for Ian on the bed but as soon as I move pain flares up and I whimper pathetically. "Baby what are you doing? Don't hurt yourself" Ian says softly and I force my eyes back open as I say "Wanted you to..." A yawn cutting me off but Ian seems to get what I was saying as he says "No baby it's alright I'll be fine right here." Ian stands up, reaching out to pull the blankets up and help me get comfortable before he leans in and presses his lips against mine, not applying any pressure just touching our lips and I feel my heart flutter as he pulls away, taking his seat again and slipping his hand back into mine. We stare at each other for a few minutes until I can't hold it off any longer, my eyes closing and my body slipping into unconsciousness, Ian's warm hand still clutching mine.

Notes

So....haven't recieved many comments about what people want from this story (I really appreciate the ones I have recieved) so this chapter is really kinda a filler chapter where the story could go in any of the directions I suggested. I will be giving everyone two more days to comment on what they would like to see happen before I make my decision on which next chapter I post (I have roughly written one for all three scenarios) so if you have a strong opinion on any of the options please comment