The Teammate

12 - A Breathless 'Hey'

Earlier in July 2024

Ten missed calls. It was enough to make Levi's heart pound in his ears. Especially considering who it was from; the long-term care facility that her sister was currently staying in. The eleventh call went through, and Levi listened long enough to hear the words 'ambulance' and 'emergency room' before he tossed his phone on his passenger seat and just drove. He had never cared less about speed limits, traffic signs, or other drivers on the road. Luckily for him, there wasn't any police or traffic enforcement on the roads, and the trip from his house to the hospital was short.

Levi hardly had time to shove the gearshift in park before he jumped out of the car and bolted towards the hospital doors. His shoes were mismatched, his jeans a few days old, and his sweatshirt was on backwards.

Not that it mattered. He couldn't remember what he was wearing when he had gotten the call that his father had died or the call about his mother. The only thing he remembered was flashes after the worst had been confirmed.

However, this time, he remembered everything.

It felt like he was walking through a tunnel. The lights were blinding but blurred somehow at the same time. The sounds were muffled and far away. Everything around him seemed to be moving at a glacier but also at hyper speed. Before he was ready, he was standing at the nursing station asking about her.

"I'm looking for my sister, Arabella Van Dijk?" He was surprised at how even his voice was.

"Levi?" A familiar voice slid through the fog and suddenly the blinders lifted from around him and he could see more than just the nurse in front of him. "Levi?" It sounded even clearer and closer than the first time. He turned his eyes focusing on a familiar face.

"Allie?" The nurse smiled, her auburn hair was loose around her shoulders and her scrubs were replaced by street clothes, jeans, and a long sleeve shirt. "Where is she?"

"Come, I'll show you." She motioned for him to follow her, and he did. "There's something you should know before..."

"Don't." He said shaking his head. "Please."

"She's through there." She said stopping in front of a closed door. "I'll be out here if you need me." Allie placed a hand on his arm, giving it an encouraging squeeze and he nodded thanks to her before stepping up to the door.

As he pushed it open and stepped over the threshold of the hospital room, he felt like his knees were about to give out. His head was light, and the room started to spin. The faint sound of beeping filled the room, the same beeping he had heard over his many visits.

The room stilled as his mind started to comprehend what his eyes were taking in. His sister was lying in bed, her face turned towards him, but there were no more tubes. Her rosy cheek was resting on the pale green pillow, her chapped lips pushed into a smile and her light blue eyes were open.

"Hey." Her tone was breathless, barely audible, but it was there.

"Hey." He breathed.

"You didn't think I'd leave you too, did you?" A broken half chuckle half sob escaped her lips, and it was enough to shatter the last thread holding Levi's emotions in. Stepping forward he crossed the room towards his sister with tears welling in his eyes. They had never been the most affectional siblings. The only reason he could remember the last time he hugged her was because of their father's funeral. However, at that moment he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her frail frame into his arms.

"I thought." He leaned back looking her over, his hand pressed to the side of her face. "Oh my god, I thought..."

"I know." She smiled. "I'm sorry I took such a long nap." He laughed, which turned into a choked snort.