Karma, Bitch! -bxb-

Chapter 40

3 years ago

Danny's POV

Beep beep beep

"....is very unlikely"

An unfamiliar scent of antiseptic and soap hits my nostrils. The hazy mumbling of people filled my ears before a loud ring pierced my eardrums; making me hiss.

A small gasp escaped a small figure among the crowd, and she pushed a taller figure out of the way towards me. "...nny? Danny!" he voice cleared up, and my eyes focused on the light to reveal and puffy eyed Clara holding onto my hand. I noticed the catheter stuck on it and realised that the group of people staring at me were doctors and nurses, each wide-eyed and staring at me.

"...Clara? Why am I..." the memories rushed back in as my heart dropped, making the heart monitor show a sharp drop in my heartbeat. "Argus! Where is he? He-" Clara squeezed my hand and I looked at her in panic. Her tears thickened as she bit her lower lip hard. The creases on her forehead were prominent and she looked as if she had gone through hell and back.

"...he...didn't come back" she whispered. I opened my mouth to say something, but she interjected, "...we already found them. I....saw him" she held back the urge to cry, her voice trembling in synch with her hands. I squeezed her arm back as tears welled up in my own eyes. "I'm sorry. It's my fault." I sobbed. She shook her head profusely as she cried with me, "It wasn't your fault."

"It's my fault and I know it." My head started to throb, "If only I didn't bring Sophie back I- if only I never came into your lives-"

"Who should I blame then?" Clara fought back, "Should I blame you for being born? Should I curse the Gods for giving me this fate? Blame Argus for making me fall for him?" She swallowed back her cracking voice, "Don't try to convince me to hate another person I care for" Her harsh remark was somehow more comforting than any gentle words she could've mustered out. And yet so bittersweet.

Tears streamed down my face as much as it had on her's, "...he's gone, Clara." I sobbed. She nodded, pulling me towards a bone crushing hug, "...he's gone"

Soon after, the medical professionals excused themselves to give us out moment. Clara and I spoke for hours about what had happened and all about Argus. There were some jokes he told we would reminisce about, and the things that he'd do just to brighten up our day. From the little habits he'd unconsciously do, to the grand gestures he often played out from time to time. Clara explained that I had been in a coma for half a year, and that the doctors had close to given up to the possibility of me ever waking up. "Well, guess I proved them wrong" I chuckled.

She smiled, and pulled me into another hug, "And I'm glad you did. I wouldn't have coped with losing two of my most precious boys" she whispered the last bit. I reciprocated her hug and we stayed there for a while. "How have you been able to for this long?" She shrugged, "I've kept myself busy, mostly trying to wake you up and raise Sophie"

The mention of the small cub filled by mind like a stream, "How is she? Where is she? Does she know what happened?" Clara nodded as if to dismiss my rambling, "She's doing fine. She's barely two, she's not exactly grasped the concept of death nor does she barely remember much of what happened to her before half a year ago. She's been seeing a therapist lately just in case, and they found that she has trouble with her memory regarding her biological family. The therapist said that it was most likely that she was either abused or neglected by her parents due to her reaction to the terms 'father' and 'mommy'. "

"Has she been fighting this alone this whole time?" I bit my tongue, guilt-ridden. "She has gotten better. Much better. She's still the cheerful little girl that you knew. She's an extremely strong-willed individual" Clara chuckled, "She's one of the reasons I haven't lost my mind yet"

Just then, a small knock came from the door and Clara perked up, "Well speak of the devil!" I raised a brow in confusion, "What? She's here??" Clara nodded, making her way to the door, "Her therapist works right down the hall"

The door opened to the little blue eyed brunette, now a little bit bigger than how I remembered her to be half a year ago. "Clara! Up!" she squealed excitedly. Clara complied as if it was an automated response, "Was your session today good?" Sophie nodded, "Dr. Cho said I was better today than last week!"

"That's great to hear, Soph. Now, someone's been eager to see you again." Clara turned towards me, and Sophie's eyes locked with mine. I smiled nervously, worried the child had forgotten about me after such a long time. To my surprise, her face broke into the brightest smile, the same child-innocent grin she always gave me in the past. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, jumping down from Clara's embrace and running up to me.

Her small body didn't reach mine which was lifted by the hospital bed above her neck, but she tiptoed to reach my arm and pulled it into a tight embrace. "You're awake!!" she squealed.

I looked at Clara in confusion, and she mouthed that she'll explain later. I took that as a hint to just go with it. I turned my attention towards the excited child and smiled, "I've missed you, baby" I whispered weakly. She looked at me with her glowing eyes, "I missed you daddy!!" she repeated my words. She ran back to Clara, requesting her to carry her up to my bed. I gave her permission to do so, and the small cub instantly latched onto my chest like a koala. "I like the awake daddy" she sighed in bliss. I chuckled, "I like the awake daddy too"

It took Sophie 4 hours to fall asleep after her energetic outbursts. I was happy to entertain her for that period as I had genuinely missed her bright presence more than I thought. She was sleeping soundly on my chest, her soft breathing synchronised with my own as I caressed her soft hair.

"So why does she think I'm her dad?" I asked Clara in a whisper. "She started referring to you as daddy a few months ago when she started the first few therapy sessions. Apparently the therapist was trying to disassociate her bad experience with father figures by replacing them with the gentle and loving "daddy" that has always played and smiled with her. And apparently she had associated that figure with you, the only male figure she still recognised from her memories."

"Ah" was all I could muster as I gazed at the small bean huddled at my chest. She was so small, and yet had to endure such a burden. A memory of the deranged man the rogue had called "honey" passed by my mind. Was he her father? A rush of anger came back to me at the thought of such a disgusting existence being a contributor to the birth of such a bright and innocent child. Then her mother came back to mind. I had previously thought that she was trying to kill herself and her child, but from her reaction before her death, I'd suspected that she was just trying to get rid of the child she thought of as a nuisance instead. The crazy rogue seemed to only care about gaining the affection of that aggressive human.

Gently I kissed Sophie's temple, careful not wake her up, "Don't worry Soph, from now on I'll protect you."

Are ya'll ready to finally find out what happened between Danny and Ben 3 years ago? Cuz it's coming next lol. Also their arc is coming to an end soon which meansss finally going back full circle to Derek and Robin haha (took 20 chapters more that I thought it would).