𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐎𝐦𝐧𝐢𝐚 | Night at the Museum [Ahkmenrah]

Chapter 14: Let's Escape a Hospital

Chapter 14: Let's Escape a Hospital

• 𓎬 ☼ 𓋹⋅☾𓂀 ☽⋅𓋹 ☼ 𓎬 •

Larry XXXII

2014 - London

He blinked his eyes open, adjusting his sight with the bright hospital light before he stretched his arms out with a yawn. Towards his left, he tilted his head to find a figure sitting in the chair – eyes focused on the laptop perched on his knees.

With those dark circles under his eyes, Larry didn't need to deduce that his son hadn't slept again. Why didn't he and Rebecca go and spend some time outside instead being cooped up inside? Even if they were on some form of business holiday, he knew Nicky was busy with college applications whilst Rebecca was sorting some work for the museum.

But seeing him here made his heart clench and flutter.

"Hey...Nicky," He weakly said followed by a rasped breath before reaching his hand out.

In a stuttered motion, Nick inhaled in surprised and placed his laptop down on the side-table, almost dropping it in the process. Larry couldn't help but chuckle at his son's antics. He might have been asleep for almost three days, but those three days have been the longest for him and everyone that he cared for. He felt detached to the real world at those times, trying to relay the moments and struggling to get off the nightmares.

So, seeing his son by his side was something he needed.

"Dad, I'm glad that you're awake," Nick said, relief in his voice when he grasped Larry's hand.

It took him a moment not to choke up and realise the sudden interaction. Remembering the last time his son had held him was when he was bleeding on a bridge.

The room went slightly chilly, though not as long as he presumed when his eyes spotted Rebecca stand up from her seat. She went over to the end of his bed, a soft smile that filled him with warmth. She didn't appear any better, dark circles and tense shoulders as she sat back and always diverted her eyes anywhere but his torso. And despite all that, she was here and breathing – with the beauty and clever eyes he loved.

Guilt struck a chord in him once he dwelled on the thought of them. They had through so much because of his recklessness; because he did what he thought was right. Now it seemed all like a mistake.

'Maybe I was wrong.' He thought. 'Maybe I shouldn't have done it.'

Of course no once couldn't truly go to the past and change things. No magic – even the Tablet – could do something as going back to the past (unless there's more to the Tablet's magic...). Even now: Larry began to think about what had happened. Did his family see it? His parents and cousins and uncles and aunts? What would they think of him now?

And the exhibits? If they saw him there and then on the hospital bed, he would not hear the end of it from every one of them.

Rebecca spoke quietly, "I'm sorry if we woke you up."

Larry sat up, groaning in slight pain whilst he adjusted his position. He cracked up a joke, trying to remove the feeling of pain both from guilt and physical pain.

"It's fine. I've been asleep for over a day now." He held his hand up, waving it to his son and fiancée to show the needle and tube which connected to the drip. "You've got to thank the doctors here for the free health care."

He nudged his chin to where Nick placed his laptop and quipped about being able to probably understand the coding his son did after waking up.

"You're drug talking, Larry." Rebecca wryly replied, but there was an underlining tone of concern.