Saving Us || l.h

F I V E

Michael's POV

I sat in the airport, waiting for my flight when my phone began to ring. "Hello?" I ask, not bothered to look at my caller ID. "Hey babe." Ashley's tired voice comes through the line. "Hey, how's your brother doing?" "Better, the surgery went well." "That's great, I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you guys." "Hey, don't be, you have a job, I understand that." "I still feel bad." "Please don't." She says.

"What are you doing for Christmas?" I ask, changing the subject. "Probably staying in the hospital with Will." I hear my flight being called so I go stand in line. "What about you? Are you spending it with the band, friends, family?" "It's a secret." I say, looking at a few fans standing a few feet away. "Fans around?" "Yeah. I'm about to board my flight, I'll call you when I land?" "Sounds good." "Love you." "Love you too Mikey." I hang up, handing my ticket to the lady, listening to the beep. I head down the tunnel, getting on my flight to New York.

I discussed it with my parents so I'm spending Christmas with Ashley and Will and New Years with my parents. Ashley just doesn't know I'm coming. The flight from Las Vegas to New York seemed short but that's probably because I slept half the plane ride. I moved swiftly through the bustle of the New York crowd, getting my luggage then hailing a cab to my hotel then St. Jude's children's hospital.

I walk in with roses and a teddy bear, going up to the front desk. "How can I help you?" The lady asks. "I'm here to see Will Anderson?" "Third floor, make sure you check in up there." She smiles. I nod, going to the elevator and pressing 3. I check in, getting a visitors badge, then make my way to room 302. The door was closed so I knocked, Ashley opening the door. "Michael?" "Surprise!" I smile. She wraps me up in a hug, kissing me softly. "You're amazing." She mumbles before pulling me inside.

"Hey, Will, this is Michael, the guy I was telling you about." She says quietly to the small boy on the bed. He looked to be about 10 or 11. "Hello." He greets. "This is my little brother Will." She tells me. "How are you doing?" I ask, sitting down beside her. "Better." He nods enthusiastically. "And you?" I turn to Ashley. "Good. I got a nap in while he was napping." "Good. I have something for both of you." I say, handing Ashley the roses and Will the teddy bear.

"Thank you Mikey." Ashley smiles. "How's your mom doing?" "Still cooped up in the apartment, she won't leave. She went to my dads funeral a few months ago and that's it." "I'm sorry." I sigh, pulling her into my side. Will was watching a movie on the tv and seemed pretty occupied by it. "I just wish she would come out of the house, start living her life again, you know?" "Yeah, Dylan was the same way when she lost her brother a few years ago, it's just going to take time." I say quietly.

"How is she?" "Good. Her and Luke went to his parents house for Christmas, they should be somewhere between LA and Sydney." "That's good, what about her panic attacks." "From what I know, she hasn't had any as bad as Germany but I haven't talked to her too much. Luke hogs her when she calls." "Well, they did spend the last two years rarely ever leaving each other's side." Ashley laughs.

"Are you hungry?" Ashley asks as a nurse walks in. "This could be a while." She motions to her brother and the nurse. "Sure." I nod. We go down to the cafeteria where I find a few fast food places, the healthier ones, and we head to subway. We get our food and sit at a table. "You didn't have to come out here for us." She says quietly. "I don't want my girl spending Christmas alone, okay? No one deserves that." "I wouldn't be completely alone." "But for the most part you are, I also wanted to meet your brother, see what I was paying for." "I never did thank you for that." "Then let me stay here with you as that thank you." She laughed, nodding.

"How's college?" "Good, I got out last week, I'm halfway done with my sophomore year." "That's great." I smiled. "How are the classes?" "Pretty good, not too hard, my math ones are a little difficult but I'm struggling through them." "Luke could always help if you need, he's a whiz at math and stuff. Just give me a call and I'll hand the phone on over." She laughed again, smiling at me. "You're studying fashion, right?" She nods.

"Where does math come into that?" "Measurements. A few other things you wouldn't understand." She grins. I finish my sandwich, throwing away our trash. "Back to the room?" I ask. "Back to the room." She nods. We walk hand in hand to Will's room, finding the nurse just finishing up. Will was back to watching his movie but he looked a lot more tired this time. "She gave him some sleep pills to help him sleep through the night." Ashley explains as his eyes droop more and more.

"Ashley, the doctor would like a word." A nurse pops her head in. "I'll be right back." She says before stepping out of the room. "Michael?" Will asks. "What's up bud?" I ask, going over to the bed. "Thank you." "For what?" "Everything. Making my sister happy, paying for my surgery, the teddy bear." He lets out a yawn. "No problem, why don't you get some sleep?" He nods, already half asleep. I smile, watching him.

Ashley walks back in a few minutes later, smiling. "So, they think he can be released tomorrow." "Really? That's just in time for Christmas." She nods, still smiling. "Where are you spending it? At your moms or your dorm?" "I'll see what Will wants to do, where are you staying?" "Hilton in Times Square." "You can come stay with us, wherever we are going." "Is there room?" "Yeah, Will loves the couch in our dorm and at my moms there's an extra room." "Alright. I'll get my things later." I smile.

"You don't need to spend the night here, the chairs aren't too comfortable." "How about you go to my hotel room, get a real nights rest, and I'll stay. And I'm not taking no for an answer." I add as she opens her mouth. She gives me a knowing look but stands up. "Call me when he wakes up in the morning." She says gathering her things. "Will do." I say, handing her the keycard. "Don't put it by your phone." "Duh." She laughs. "Michael, have you done that?" "Quite a few times actually, it's very annoying." "I'll see you tomorrow." She laughs, leaving.