It's Coming Around | Lawrusso

It's Coming Around Chapter 8/10

"I was talking to Doctor Austin this morning," Daniel said softly as he reached over the bed and gently stroked the back of Johnny's hand. "She told me that you're still positive for the virus, so it'll be a few days before you can wake up."

It was four days since they'd come to the hospital. Four days of listening to the machine breathe for Johnny. Four days of worry and crying and talking in hopes that Johnny would know he wasn't alone in this.

The first day Robby and Miguel had rushed to the hospital after Daniel called them, and had to be separated in the corridor, blaming each other for what was happening.

"You did this!" Miguel shouted. "You broke my back, and that's why this is happening to him!"

"You said you wanted me to feel it!" Robby shouted, pushing him back. "You're the one who made him feel so bad about it that he blames himself!"

"Enough!" Daniel shouted, as he dragged them apart. "This is a hospital! You can't fight here!"

Robby and Miguel looked at each other angrily, then Robby said, "Sorry, Mr. LaRusso."

"Yeah, I'm sorry too," Miguel sighed.

"I know you're both upset, I am too," Daniel said. "But please, just try to get along while you're here, for Johnny's sake."

After that it was agreed that Robby would visit every morning, and Miguel would visit every afternoon, so there wouldn't be a repeat.

"How's he doing today?" Robby asked, poking his head round the door.

"Same," Daniel said solemnly. "He tested positive for the virus again today."

Robby let out a sigh, then held out a cup of coffee. "I thought you could use this. You looked tired yesterday, and I figured you would today too."

"Thank you," Daniel said reaching out to take it. "The coffee in the vending machine here is awful."

"Why don't you go home for a few hours and get some rest?" Robby asked. "I'll be here till lunch, then Miguel will sit with him."

Daniel shook his head. "I don't think I could rest even if I tried."

"No offence, Mr. LaRusso, but you could definitely use a shave," Robby said with a half hidden grin.

Daniel ran his fingers over his chin, feeling the drag of the stubble across this fingertips. He smiled and said, "You're right on that count."

"Seriously, go home for a couple of hours," Robby said. "I'll call you if anything happens."

"OK," Daniel conceded. "You promise you'll call?"

"Of course I will," Robby said with a smile.

Daniel was asleep on the couch when his phone started ringing. He'd only sat down for a minute when he found himself dropping off.

The sound startled him awake, and he grabbed his phone from where he'd dropped in on the floor.

"Robby, what's wrong?" he asked.

"You need to get back here right now," Robby said. "You need to tell them to stop. They aren't listening to me!"

"Robby, slow down," Daniel said. "Tell me what's happened."

"They said they're taking him off the ventilator!" Robby said, his voice breaking. "You said he was still positive, but they're waking him up!"

"What?" Daniel gasped, as he stood up. "I'm leaving the house now, Robby. I'll be there as soon as I can."