The Contract

The End

I was at the hospital the next day, at exactly 2 PM for visiting hours to see Donovan.

My head was a mess, I couldn't sleep in our bed knowing that Donovan wasn't with me, and he was here, in the hospital, recovering from something I didn't really understand.

I spent the entire night, morning, and drive over here looking up everything I could find about exhaustion-induced panic attacks, and how to stop it from happening again, desperate to avoid this in the future.

A nurse comes over to me and smiles once I stand up, nervous and completely out of my mind with worry.

"Evan Beckett?" She asks, and I nod my head.

"Mr. Steele is just down the hall there, on your left, room 3, he's expecting you." She tells me as I walk straight past her, going as fast as my legs could take me without running to get to his room.

Once I get to Donovan's room, the door is already open, making me freeze in the doorway as my eyes land on Donovan's, wide and beautiful, staring back at me.

He was sitting up in the bed, he was no longer pale and shaking, he had color on his face and he looked well rested, but most of all, he was alive, and he was fine, and that was enough for me.

I'm completely frozen, staring at him as my eyes become blurry with fresh tears, unable to take my eyes from his, afraid that if I blinked he'd disappear.

"Hey." His deep voice calls out, holding his hand out to me.

"Come here, Evan."

I walk into the room and stand in front of him, moving my hand in his, a sense of peace washing over me once I realize just how warm his hand was, how rough it felt, and much larger than mine, something I thought I'd never get to feel again.

Donovan wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest as I can't control myself anymore, still feeling the pain and fear of finding him yesterday, and not being able to sleep, my mind being consumed at the thought of losing him forever playing over in my head.

"I'm ok Evan, I'm fine." He comforts me, kissing my face as his thumb pushes the fresh tears from falling down my cheeks. "Look at me, let me see you." He softly says as I open my eyes, resting my forehead against his.

"I missed this."

He sighs out, closing his eyes for a moment, before looking directly into my eyes, with those stormy grey eyes I love so much.

"I'm sorry for scaring you baby." He quietly said, his arms tightening around me. "I'm going to be fine, I promise, it's not going to happen again." He said, making me cry harder into his chest.

"Please don't cry... come on, Evan, look at me." His voice softly says, his hands stroking my cheek.

I shake my head and wipe my tears with the sleeve of my jumper. "Y-You can't do that again Donovan," I tell him, my voice breaking. "I thought I lost you, t-they wouldn't let me see you since I'm not your f-family."

"Y-Your mom..." I wipe my face with my sleeve. "I didn't know what to think.."

He frowns and leans in and kisses my cheek, soaked in tears.

"I never want to s-see you like that again, do you h-hear me?"I tell him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and hugging him as his large hand rests flat on my back.

"Why would you do that to yourself?" I ask, desperation in my voice. "Your health is way more important t-then my fucking stupid birthday Donovan, god, d-dammit, you b-bastard!"

He laughs out huskily, the sound making my stomach flip with how much I had missed hearing him laugh.

"Don't be mad at me at me Evan." He kisses my shoulder, resting his forehead on my neck.