Accepted (Peterick)

Tour Bus Blues And An Arms Race (part two)

Beep. Beep.

I opened my eyes. Everything's hazy. There's an annoying beeping noise in my head. I wished it'd stop.

I slowly became aware of another noise. It's sniffling. Someone's crying.

My vision focused and I saw a white ceiling. I turned my head towards the crying person and I see that it's Pete. I'm in a hospital. I was shot. I was mugged. My notebook!

I tried to sit upright but somehow, I couldn't move.

"Patrick?!" Pete jumped at my sudden movement.

"Mmmnu.." I tried to speak. My head started to throb.

"It's okay," he smiled. "You're still sedated, so you'll feel a little woozy."

"Mmy nnu.." I need to know if he left my notebook!

"What? Baby, don't strain yourself."

Hearing him call me baby made finding out about my notebook even more important.

"No buh.."

"No what? Patrick, you're drugged. You should sleep."

I cried in frustration. Why was my tongue like lead? I took a few breaths and tried again.

"Notebook!" It sounded weird but I got it out.

"You want your notebook?" He asked.

I nodded as well as I could. He got up and went over to a dresser at the other side of the room and came back. He placed it in my hand and I clutched it in relief.

"What's in it?" He asked.

I shook my head. It's not ready. I'm not ready for him to know what I wrote inside.

There was a knock on the door and two nurses came in.

"We're here to change his bandages," the female nurse said. "Mr... Wentz? Would you mind.."

"N-no," I shook my head. "I want him to stay." Even through my ears, it sounded like I said 'I wannim tih thay'.

She nodded, "alright."

They came to my right side and rolled me onto my left. The guy nurse was standing behind my and the girl pulled my hospital gown down. Was I seriously naked? Oh God. The guy was standing behind me, he probably can see my ass. I felt extremely selfconcious.

They peeled the bandages off of my side at the same time. The bullet must have gone through for there to be a hole in my back as well. Great deduction Sherlock.

I looked down to see my wound and almost gagged. That's disgusting. It was stitched shut and the skin was a sick yellow. I stared at Pete to stop thinking about it. He'd looked too and was just as grossed out as I was.

They replaced the bandages with new ones and covered me back up.

"Okay, the wound is looking better," the girl said.

Better? It's freaking disgusting!

"You should get some rest. I'll have someone come with a tray of food," she continued.

"Okay." I said quietly.

They left and Pete kissed me. "I'm so happy you're awake.."

"Pete, how long have I been here?"

He looked like he didn't want to say.

"Pete?"

"A little over a month."

"How long until I can leave?"

He shrugged, "no idea."

I pulled him to me and started crying into his chest.

"What's wrong?"

"Everything."