Paired with the Badboy

Chapter 25

I was getting some serious déjà vu at the moment. We were running through the hospital and did not stop at the reception just like the last time I had been here. The only difference here was that we were running hand in hand and took the elevator not the stairs.

The fifteen seconds we took waiting for the elevator doors to open were the most nerve wrecking in my entire life. Daniel had not informed me on anything on our way and him constantly squeezing my hand was not helping the slightest.

The doors slid open and we rushed out. Unlike the last time, there were no doctors rushing up and about. Daniel walked up to his mother's door which was closed and his hand hovered over the handle, shaking slightly. "I think I will ju-" I tried excusing myself to give him some privacy but he quickly drew me back. "No, I-I want you here- with me." He said so vulnerable and his eyes looking into mine showed a broken boy. "Are you sure?" A single nod was all it took for me to step closer to him and hold his hand tighter. Daniel let out a big puff of air before gripping the handle and opening the door.

Two doctors were in the room, talking to Daniel's now conscious mother. She had turned her focus to us the moment the door had swung open. Her eyes were glued to Daniel who was frozen in place and looking at his mother with unshed tears at the rims of his eyes. And that was when it hit me, Daniel's mom was awake after so long and she was right in front of me.

Well dang, I was meeting the parents already...or parent I guess.

"Danny?" At her weak voice Daniel let go of my hand and walked up to his mother. He took a moment to truly look at her. "Mom." He embraced her and she returned it though with less strength. The doctors excused themselves and left me as the third wheel to the mother-son reunion.

It was so awkward standing there, watching Daniel and his mother cry their hearts out. Was it wrong if I just stepped out for a while? It probably was since I had promised Daniel I would be here with him.

Talk about a third wheel.

Minutes later both mother and son finally pulled away from the hug. "Oh my boy, I am so sorry for putting you through all that and making you grow up without me." Tears were forming in her eyes and her voice grew hoarse. "And you got so big. It feels like yesterday when I saw you and you were only about a few inches shorter than you are now. " Her voice got stronger with every word. "It's okay mom. And you look like you haven't aged a day. I missed you so much mom." My heart was cracking more at how broken Daniel seemed but I could still see how happy he was to finally talk to his mother. He truly did miss her.

Maybe I should let them have their heartfelt moment alone.

"It looks like you had someone keeping you company in my absence. You can come and sit here young lady." I was on my way out when she finally noticed me. "Oh no, I do not think I should intrude any further." I tried my luck but it seemed no was not a word in her vocabulary. "Nonsense. Come and sit here." I had wanted so bad to refuse her but I just couldn't. She slowly pat the space on the bed. I looked at Daniel who gave me a smile and nodded reassuringly. Slowly I moved from the door to her bed where she insisted I sit on the bed.

"What is your name young lady?" Her voice was truly melodic and could make any word sound pleasant. "Maddison. Maddison Richards. It's nice meeting you Mrs O'Brion." Mentioning her last name brought a sad smile to her face but she was quick to change it. "You can call me Daniella sweet heart. Thank you for being with my son." She said so genuinely it made me want to go to my kneels and do anything for her. At that moment the door swung open and one of the previous doctors walked in. "Mr O'Brian, can we have a word?" His tone was so professional that it did not disclose anything.