"Being Ben's"

37. Safe

I groaned, trying to roll over but rope?... strings?... wires? were holding me back. I grabbed at them and felt someone's hands pushing mine away. Then fuzzy voices and a ringing in my ears and a bright light. I rubbed my eyes, then my heart started beating fast and I shot up.

"Wh- where's... Ben?" I pushed blankets off of me but hands were on me trying to pull me back into the... hospital bed? I shook my head, tears flying everywhere. "He's dead, he's dead! Valentino killed him! I nee- I need ta-." I felt a heavy, droopy feeling and fell back into the bed.

I blinked open my eyes and my eyes darted around the room. I sat up, my heart beating full speed again but this time a single nurse came over to me, placing her hand on my arm. "Hey, Shh Shh. You're okay, B-."

"Ben? Benicio Rivera." I looked around, this time fully realizing I was in a hospital with a hospital gown on, wires that lead to my chest, an IV in my arm and a brace around my ankle. "Where is he?" I asked, my eyes wide with worry. She nodded and breathed out a soft breath. "He's okay, he's fine."

A huge wave of relief knocked into me, like the biggest wave in the ocean knocking against one of those huge boats. I put a hand over my heart. "He's okay." I repeated, blowing out a breath. The nurse nodded giving me a friendly smile. "Yes. Alrighty my friend, I'm Samantha, you can call me Sam. I'm a nurse here and you're friend for the next several hours I'm here. Can you tell me your name?" She asked, putting some clippy thingy on my pointer finger and looking at a machine. I watched it, zoning out a little bit until she looked at me. "Uh, um... I'm... Felix... Felix Knight."

Sam was a blonde haired woman with kind eyes and a warm smile. I can guess why she got me assigned to her. Her hair was cut short at her jaw and she had a plain black headband on with scrubs that had rainbow hearts on them. She was probably in her mid thirties with kids just a couple years younger then me.

She smiled. "Perfect, now Felix. You're friend is fine and you're-."

"Friend." I whispered to myself. She nodded, taking my statment for a question. "Yes, B- Ben... Benicio Rivera. That right?" She looked at me and I nodded. She nodded back firmly. "Can I see your arm?"

I blinked down at her hand that was outreached and back at her, hesitating to put my arm in her hand.

"How're we doing?" A loud booming voice said as the curtains were pulled back. I pulled my arm back from Sam, wincing. I pulled the thin blanket up to my face and slid down the length of the bed. I saw Sam hit the doctor in the arm and he apologized. She rolled her eyes a bit and looked at me. "It's alright, Felix. This is Doctor Grey and he's a friend. You can trust him."

I looked at her and nodded, sitting back up again.

They spoke in rushed whispers for a minute and I zoned out for probably the fifth time in the ten minutes I've been awake. They nodded at each other and looked at me. "I have an update on your friend, Felix." The doctor said. I looked at him, blinking whatever this haze was away. I watched him come over and put his hands on the railings of the bed on the right side. I moved a little to the left and swallowed dryly.

"Ben's your friend, right?" He asked noticing my move and lowering his voice. I started to nod then stopped, correcting him. "He's my boyfriend." I said dryly. "Can I see him?" I asked, ready to jump out of bed. The doctor sucked in a breath. "He's not awake yet but you can see him as soon as he is."

"Not... awake?"

"He was in surgery, a bullet hit his right shoulder. Tore some muscle and damaged some nerves but he should be fine." The doctor nodded looking down at a clipboard with a lot of papers on it. I looked down to the end of the bed I was in. "Oh..."