Something In Between: Sequel to On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 48

I'm unsure if it was too many emotions or a complete lack of them, but I was still empty as I sat next to Tim's hospital bed. Mary and Tess had rejoined us, but the chatter was non-existent. Someone had flicked on the History Channel, and a documentary on World War II droned in the background. Billy would have enjoyed it.

The doctor's arrival should have startled me, but the wall I had up was too thick. Instead, I lazily lifted my eyes to his. I was only partially aware of Tim grasping my hand. He must have been gripping it quite hard because my fingers were growing cold from the pressure, but I didn't feel any pain.

"He's up," the doctor announced.

"He was down?" Mary shot at him, clearly annoyed by the lack of communication. "Can Lily see him?"

I heard my name, but it didn't register.

"Only family is allowed in," the doctor explained.

"Lily is my daughter; Billy's sister," Mary seamlessly argued.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize Mr. Collins had a sister," the doctor said as he looked over his chart.

"Well, he does. Not every aspect of my son's life needs to be available for public consumption." Mary's words were cracking in my stupor. Her rabid protection of Billy reminded me of all the conversations I had with him about Viv and Jackson.

"I'm sorry," the doctor said again as he continued to hide his face in his chart. "I've made a note so that Lily won't have any entry issues in the future. Lily, if you'd like to follow me, you can see him now."

I looked helplessly at Mary. Why had she done this to me? She pulled me in for a hug.

"Please, I just can't see him if..." Mary's words dropped out, causing tears finally began to well in my eyes. It was the first time Mary had ever asked me for anything. It was my duty. I swallowed back my tears and followed the doctor.

"It's a nasty bump on his head, and he's on some pretty heavy painkillers," the doctor quietly spoke. I didn't even bother to look at where we were going; I barely listened to his words. Instead, I found my eyes watching his shiny black dress shoes contrasting against the floor's pale linoleum. "So, he may be groggy. It's best to be calm, so he doesn't get anxious." The doctor held open a door for me but didn't follow me in.

People always say that their loved ones look small in hospital beds. I don't know why they say this; the bed was small, and Billy filled it easily. If anything, he looked obtuse in the twin bed. I doubt Billy had been in a twin bed since his mom's old house.

He didn't have the relaxed look of sleep on his face. His eyes were not twitching beneath his paper-thin eyelids, and his lips didn't have the slight part. Most of his erratic dark hair was bound up in bandages circling his head. How would he run his hand through it? It was what soothed him, running his hand through the tangle of his wiry hair. The bruise's discoloration was falling to his eyes, causing an even deeper shade of purple than usual to pool beneath them. It looked painful. I slipped quietly into the chair beside the bed and slipped my hand into his. For the first time, his eyes fluttered open.

He managed a smile before managing, "I never mind when you wake me up, especially if you come bearing coffee."

"Sorry, no coffee today."

"Good, because I'd probably throw it up," he winced; I couldn't tell if it was due to general pain or the thought of throwing up. "How's Tim?"

"Completely and utterly panicked, but physically better than you."

"First time for everything," Billy's voice was coarse but not the usual rough from overuse. This was a ragged, dry croak.

"How bad is it?"

"The doc says I'll be fine, just a nasty concussion. Hurts like hell," he added.

"Wow, when you admit pain, I know it must be bad."

Billy let out a small laugh and squeezed my hand.

"Hey, you're here?"

It was my turn to laugh. "The bat signal went up, so here I am."

"Thanks, Lil."

"Sarah is making her way back, too," I added.

"Mmhmm," but as he acknowledged the words, he sunk deeper into the pillow.

"And Mary and Tess are here. Your mom is basically running the hospital now."

A small smile tipped one side of Billy's lips. "I'd expect nothing less."

"Hey, Billy," my voice creaked. His eyes fluttered back open to meet mine. "I'm going to break now. It's going to be a lot of tears, and it's only because I know you're okay."

"Oh, Lil," Billy soothed. "I am; I'm okay."

The knowledge that he was all right, he'd be fine, tipped me; the tears came all at once.

"Come on," Billy tugged on my hand.

"It's just a twin bed; I won't fit."

"Lil, you always fit."

I slid in next to him and heard his breath catch as he winced. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, my bruised ribs hurt me; you're perfect."

I gingerly settled on his chest amongst the cables and tubes, and felt one of his hands smooth over my hair.

"I love you, Billy. When I thought something had happened to you..." I couldn't finish; the lump in my throat choked my words.

"It's okay, Lil. I'm okay."

"No, Billy, it wasn't okay. You, right now, aren't okay. I'm not okay. Without you, I can't exist. I don't know how to be a person without you also being a person. It'd be like trying to be a person without my dad. I just, I can't live like that."

"I know, Lil. I love you too. We're all okay."

I never wanted to leave his arms again. I suddenly needed a constant physical connection with Billy to ensure his safety. It washed over me in overwhelming waves, and the only thing calming me was his hand combing through my hair.

And then Sarah arrived.