Deals with Daisy // LN4

58 ~ Patient

Lando's POV

I was lost in thought leaning against the white wall of the hallway and playing around on my phone when Daisy's mum gave me a tap on the shoulder to gently pull me back out of the digital world and into the real one. I still couldn't decide if I was happy that this was reality or sad. It could have been a lot better, there's no doubt about it.

But it could have been a lot worse.

"She's all ready to go... are you sure about this?" Her mum asks and I look away from her for a moment, zoning out on the blue wave pattern on the wall across from us. Was I sure? Did I think that this was going to help Daisy? Or could I end up hurting her more by doing what she wants and not what she needs? Honestly I didn't know... I didn't know what to believe so I just had to go with my gut.

Right now that instinct was telling me to listen to her. It was saying that I needed to show that I'm on her side, that there's something worth fighting for so that she doesn't totally give up. I knew there were several scenarios in which this could go wrong. I wasn't equipped to handle someone with her injuries let alone someone due to go into serious withdrawal any day now but I couldn't say no. I couldn't have someone else take care of her when that was my job.

"No, I'm not sure," I tell her mum, smiling sadly as I welcome the hug on offer. It was a nice moment where everything just stood still for a moment and I realised how much I needed that. More than I thought I had.

"I think you'll be fine," she assured me and I nod my thanks, pushing lightly off the wall as she opens the door back into Daisy's room. We immediately find Daisy and Dr Limler mid debate about the wheelchair currently sat next to the bed.

"It's hospital policy..." Limler says tiredly and I can't help but chuckle, clearly they'd been going at this for a couple of minutes already. It can be painful to find yourself in a debate with Daisy but I never minded it that much, enjoying the way the mental sparring with her made me that much wittier and amusing to others. Besides, I'd resigned myself to not being able to beat her in an argument quite soon after signing her as my manager. The only ones I'd won were regarding my contract and everything going on right now. Not that I'd really call this winning but I was often coming out on top.

"Daisy get in the chair," I tell her, finding the first real smile on my face for the days when she looks at me, her eyes bright. I'm not sure what made her light up like that but for just a moment she looked okay. Her mum had somehow managed to get her to sit up for long enough after everything so that she could plait her hair and there was a rosiness to her cheeks that made it clear that she was alive and not just a figment of my imagination or a daydream I'd conjured up. She was just dressed in a Quadrant t-shirt that was so oversized I couldn't see whatever shorts she was wearing underneath and even though she was injured, I couldn't help but notice how cute she looked. Bruises be damned... she was stunning.

She gets into the chair with the assistance of Limler and her mum while I gather the rest of my stuff and check the room and bathroom, placing my backpack on my shoulder before moving behind the wheelchair to take control of the handlebars. Maybe I was pushing the conventions of what was okay but her mum smiles at me as I do and moves ahead to talk more with Dr Limler so I assume it is okay.

"C'mon, race it car boy," she whispers, looking up at me as we move into the hallway and I can't help the quiet laugh that exits me upon noticing the look in her eyes once more. These moments where we could both pretend that reality didn't exist were the only thing getting me through the last few days. Plus, pretty much everything was better than the almost full day that she was asleep. The arguing, the snapping... I couldn't help but be quietly thankful that she was breathing well enough to get angry at me. It wouldn't last too long though because the moment would be interrupted by me noticing the red gash on her head or the bruise on her chin and cheek and remember the wreck as well as the reason she left without me in the first place, making me mad all over again.