With A Twist

FIVE (THEO)

She's here. 

My little darling is back. 

This last few weeks have been so painful without her there. Not having her bratty attitude pulling me out of work mode, or her laugh making me smile more than I have in the 32 years alive before I met her. 

And now she's hurt. 

The steady beeping of the machines hooked up to her are constant reminders of how we failed to keep her safe. 

Seeing her hooked up to all these machines is breaking something in me. 

My eyes stay attached to her sleeping body as Atlas walks in. He pats me on the back, expressing an unspeakable emotion for both of us.

Failure. 

He moves to sit in the chair next to her hospital bed, reaching for her hand and taking it in between his. I watch in silence, feeling too caught in my own emotions to reward myself with the feeling of her touch. 

The door opens again and I hear Dawson and Andros's footsteps flood into the room, cramping the large room with our four bodies. 

I move to lean against the wall opposite Hazel, my arms crossed as I continue watching her beautiful face as she sleeps, peacefully. 

This is probably the most restful sleep she's had in weeks. 

"How's Alessia?" Atlas breaks the silence.

My attention breaks from my little darling to Andros who is sat on the sofa next to Dawson. He has a slight relieved smile on his face at the mention of his sister being safe. 

After Hazel rescued her. 

"She's all good. Doctor checked her and said she was untouched. She's asleep guarded by about 10 men outside," he smirks before his eyes fall on Hazel and his face drops. 

"We've sent the jet to go pick up his Mamma and Nonna," Dawson adds as he stares at Hazel too. 

Fuck, we're all entranced by her. 

"Did the doctor say when she would wake up?" I finally speak, my voice gravelly and raw, but deadly quiet. 

"Should be a few hours. They gave her a sedative to keep her passed out whilst they nourish her with nutrients from being basically starved for weeks," Atlas answers me and I watch as his hand grips hers tighter as he bows his head. 

He's blaming himself, too. 

"Fuck, what else did they do to her?" Dawson runs his hand through his hair in despair. 

"We won't know until she wakes up and tells us," Atlas shrugs. 

"If she wants to tell us," I mutter.

Silence ensues as we wait for her to wake up, not moving from our respective positions for hours. 

"A-Atlas," her raspy voice fills the room, making me look up from my spot on the floor. Her eyes flutter open and I feel propelled to move closer. 

Walking round to the other side of her bed, I take her other hand between mine, gratefully looking down at my now awake little darling. 

"Theo," she smiles softly as her eyes flicker between the both of us. 

Thank god. 

"Hey, bambolotta," Atlas uses one of his hands to brush the hair from her face. She winces as he touches her head and I know she must have one hell of a headache from hitting it when she passed out. 

"Where... wh-" she tries to speak but erupts into small coughs. 

"We're here, angel. Alessia is in the next room sleeping," Andros answers, him and Dawson stepping forward so she can see them. Atlas and I help her sit up slightly and I pour her a drink of water. 

She sips it slowly and we all watch her, mesmerised by her every move. Her eyes flicker up from the cup to us and she tenses when she sees us all staring at her. 

"What?" she says, her voice more clear after drinking water. Confusion plagues her face and I fight the urge to kiss her. 

"We missed you, little one," Dawson whispers, reaching for her foot beneath the blanket and rubbing it comfortingly. She relaxes slightly at his touch. 

"Please don't leave us again," Atlas says, his voice low and vulnerable. 

I've never seen him like this before. 

She turns to face him and they stare into each others eyes as sadness and adoration flick over hers. They begin to water but he moves his hand to her face, rubbing her cheek.

She looks down, a tear escaping her now closed eyes. 

"I didn't find her," she whispers and I lean forward, planting a kiss on her hand. 

"Find who, spitfire?" Dawson asks, his voice gentle as he sits on the edge of the bed. 

"My mum. Alexei told me she was alive," she whispers as she shakes her head. 

She doesn't know what to believe. 

Fuck it. 

Letting my heart overpower my brain, I move onto the bed, pulling her to my side as I wrap my arm around her shoulders. She snuggles into me naturally, making my breathing steady. I hold her as the tears fall, keeping her pressed against me to provide as much comfort and warmth as I can whilst she hurts. 

"We'll look into it, angel," Andros nods, conviction in his voice. 

Someone get this man a computer.

Her eyes open again and she moves her head to look around the room, finally taking notice of her surroundings. 

Her gaze falls on her arm and she furrows her eyebrows as she follows the tube coming from the cannula to IV bags. 

"You were malnourished so they had to give you some nutrients. You were also bleeding so they had to medicate you to make sure it clots, given your haemophilia," Atlas fills her in gently when he notices her confusion. 

She nods before shutting her eyes and cosying into me again. I can't help but smile as I feel her soft breaths rising and falling against me. Her breathing slows and I look down at her to see she has fallen asleep again. 

"She's an angel," Dawson mutters.

"That's why I remind her of it every day," Andros nods.

I smile slightly, happy that we have her back. 

Our missing piece has returned. 

I nod my head slightly to Atlas but he shakes his and stands up, letting go of her hand gently and walking out of the room. I look to Dawson and he nods before following him out the door to check on him. 

Andros quickly fills Atlas's place, pulling the chair closer to the bed and resting his head on her stomach as he holds onto her hand. 

We both close our eyes as we enjoy having our girl in our arms again. 

Slay... I have nothing to say really <3