Nina and Ian: Reclaiming

Chapter 8: Always There

Ian was sitting in the stiff chair with his face in his shaking hands. The hospital smelt of sour disinfectant and medicine. Nina's family was sitting next to him on one side, with his crew members on the other. They were all waiting eagerly; waiting to hear from the doctor about how Nina was.

Ian felt terrible. He had been ignoring Nina for a while when she wanted to talk to him, and now...

He didn't know why, but he blamed himself for this. Maybe if he had talked to her, she wouldn't have left set so eagerly. Maybe she would've laughed at his sarcastic comments rather than screamed when that asshole of a driver drove right into her. He cringed at the thought. He didn't want to imagine the utter terror Nina must have felt as that car crashed into her. He didn't want to imagine how bad her injuries could be.

Nina's mother was crying softly next to him. Nina's father was whispering into her ear with his hand soothing her back. Ian glanced towards Paul, Kat, and Candice to see that they too were crying softly. Ian didn't know why he wasn't balling right now; maybe he was still in shock. Either way, he felt out of place. He wanted to be with Nina. He needed to see her.

A doctor in a white coat walked down the hallway and stopped near Nina's parents.

"Are you Mr. And Mrs. Dobreva?" The doctor asked. They both shock their heads with their eyes widening as they realized that this was it. The moment of truth.

"Nina has been stabilized, and she's currently resting. She has three broken ribs, a fractured wrist, broken leg, and a slight coma." Ian felt his heart sinking. Nina must have been on so many pain killers right now. He couldn't believe someone as innocent as Nina had been crashed so badly.

"She's lucky she's still alive, to be honest. She'll have to stay here for a week. You can see her now, but only two at a time, please." The doctor explained softly. With that, he lead Nina's parents down the hallway and into a room.

Ian wished he could've seen her first, but he knew that her parents came first. Definitely over an ex-boyfriend.

Ian sat in his chair for over an hour, before someone patted his shoulder. It was Nina's mom.

"You can see her, Ian." She said empathetically. She looked at him with sad eyes; like she knew what this was doing to him. Ian gave Nina's mom a soft squeeze on her hand before he began to walk towards Nina's room.

Time seemed to slow. Every foot step he took seemed to grow heaver and heavier. When he finally reached her room, his hands were trembling. Ian swallowed before he gripped the door knob and opened the door.

The first thing he heard was the beating of a heart monitor. It was steady like music. Ian froze when he saw her.

Nina had gaze wrapped around her forehead with a cast on her right arm. Her right cheek was bruised to a purple; her lip was cut. She looked like a frail bird that had been stomped on. Ian's heart ached, and finally the tears started clouding his eyes. He ran over to Nina's side and kneeled down next to her. He took her cold hand in his and kissed it softly. Tears were streaming down his cheeks and a deep sob rose in his chest.

"N-Nina.." Ian began. He stared at her pale face. She was just as beautiful as always, despite the gashes and bruises. The mere idea that she had been hurt so badly caused more tears to come.

"Nina, I'm so s-sorry," Ian cried.

"So sorry..." Ian pulled her hand to his chest.

"I should've been there for you. I should've-" Ian choked on a sob.

"God, I'm sorry..."

Ian placed his head on Nina's shoulder and cried. The heart monitor mocked him. It reminded him that the reality was that Nina was here in a thinly layered bed with tubes connected to her arms.

Ian forgot how much time had passed before he felt a light stir under his face.

Ian shot up straight.

Nina groaned hoarsely as her eyes fluttered open.

"Nina?" Ian asked; relieved to see her doe eyes again. He gently squeezed her hand in his.

"I-Ian?" Nina asked quietly. Her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.

"Yeah, I'm here. It's okay. You're okay." Ian cooed gently. Nina stared at him and gave him a sad smile.

"I knew, you'd be here," Nina closed her eyes and moaned slightly. She hissed in pain.

"Nina? Are you okay?" Ian began to grow worried. Nina opened her eyes again and looked at Ian. Tears were in her eyes.

"The car, it-it hit me. I was just trying to get my-"

"Shh, Nina," Ian placed a kiss on her soft hand. "You don't have to talk right now. Just try to rest."

Nina, stubborn as ever, continued anyway.

"Ian, how bad is it?" Nina choked slightly. A tear escaped her eye and trailed slowly down her bruised cheek.

Ian swallowed.

"The doctor said you broke three ribs. Your wrist is broken, your leg is too, and you hit your head. God, Nina. I was so worried about you," Ian placed his head back on the bed. He felt Nina run her fingers through his hair softly. The sensation brought a rush a memories back. He missed those times when Nina and him were happy together. Now look at them.

"I'm okay, Ian. I'm alive aren't I?" Nina gently comforted.

Ian looked back up at Nina and gave her a small smile. They looked at each other for a while; no words were needed. They shared a quiet conversation that was expressed in eye contact.

Their small connection was interrupted when Nina hissed softly. Ian panicked slightly and grabbed her hand and squeezed it worriedly.

"Ouch." Nina breathed.

"What hurts?" Ian asked; concern written all over his face.

"My chest hurts,"

"Okay, I'll go get a doctor." Ian stood up and kissed her forehead. Ian was shocked when he did so, but it felt so...natural. Like kissing Nina so gently was something that was suppose to be...

Nina blushed slightly as Ian walked towards the door.

"Ian!" Nina called as Ian turned the doorknob.

"Yeah?"

Nina looked away for a second; trying to figure out the right words to say.

"Thank you. For being here." Nina said. Ian's blue eyes stayed glued to hers for a spilt second.

"You've always been there for me when it mattered, and I really appreciate it." Nina continued. She smiled at Ian gently.

Ian smiled back. "Your welcome, Neens." Ian replied.

When Ian walked out to find a doctor, he felt like he was blushing. This woman had this effect on him. He wanted nothing more than to be able to have her in his life until the day he died.

UPDATE COMIN SOON. Hope you all liked it! (Ian was always gonna be there)