Hate is Love

Chapter 6: The Hospital

Thyme woke up to the sterile smell of antiseptic and the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment. His entire body ached, a dull pain radiating from his ribs and head. As he slowly opened his eyes, the harsh fluorescent lights above made him squint. It took a moment for his vision to clear, and when it did, he saw Namcha sitting beside him, his eyes red and puffy from lack of sleep and worry.

Namcha's head jerked up at the slightest movement. "Thyme," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You're awake."

Thyme tried to speak, but his throat was dry and scratchy. He managed a weak smile instead. Namcha quickly grabbed a cup of water with a straw, holding it to Thyme's lips. The cool liquid was a relief, and Thyme drank gratefully.

"Thank you," Thyme croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Namcha set the cup aside, his hands trembling slightly. "You saved my life," he said, his voice breaking. "You... you took the hit for me."

Thyme reached out with what little strength he had, gripping Namcha's hand. "I couldn't let anything happen to you," he said, his voice still raspy but filled with conviction. "Not when I finally told you how I feel."

Namcha's eyes filled with tears. "I can't fight it anymore, Thyme. I love you too," he confessed, his voice trembling. "I've loved you for so long. I just... I was scared."

Thyme's heart swelled with relief and joy. Despite the pain and the exhaustion, he felt lighter than he had in years. "I know," he said softly. "I was scared too. But not anymore."

Namcha squeezed Thyme's hand, a tear slipping down his cheek. "I thought I was going to lose you," he admitted. "When that truck hit you... I thought I was going to lose you forever."

Thyme managed to lift his other hand, brushing away Namcha's tear with a gentle touch. "I'm right here," he reassured him. "And I'm not going anywhere."

They sat in silence for a moment, just holding onto each other, both absorbing the magnitude of their shared confession. The world outside the hospital room seemed distant and irrelevant. All that mattered was that they were together, and that they had finally admitted their feelings.

The door opened, and Lucas and Rachel walked in, looking relieved to see Thyme awake. "Hey," Lucas said, a rare smile breaking across his usually stern face. "Good to see you back among the living."

Thyme chuckled weakly. "Barely."

Rachel approached the bed, her eyes soft with concern. "You gave us all a scare," she said. "But we're glad you're okay."

Namcha looked at them, his expression serious. "Thank you for getting him here so quickly," he said. "I don't know what I would have done if..."

Rachel placed a hand on Namcha's shoulder. "He's going to be fine," she said. "He's tough. And he's got you."

Namcha nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Yeah, he's got me."

Over the next few days, Thyme's condition gradually improved. The doctors were optimistic about his recovery, though they emphasized the need for rest and patience. Namcha rarely left his side, and when he did, it was only for short periods to grab food or check in with their groups.

One evening, as the sun set and cast a warm glow over the hospital room, Thyme turned to Namcha. "We need to talk about what's next," he said, his voice stronger than before.

Namcha looked at him, a mixture of hope and apprehension in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Thyme took a deep breath. "I don't want to go back to the way things were. The fighting, the danger... it's not worth it. Not when we have this chance to start over."

Namcha's heart raced. He had been thinking the same thing, but hearing Thyme say it out loud made it feel real. "I don't want to go back either," he admitted. "I want to build a life with you, away from all this."

Thyme smiled, relief washing over him. "Then let's do it," he said. "Let's leave the underworld behind and start fresh. Together."

Namcha leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Thyme's forehead. "Together," he agreed.

The following days were filled with planning and quiet moments of intimacy. Thyme and Namcha talked about their dreams, their fears, and their hopes for the future. They made plans to leave the underworld behind, to find a place where they could build a life free from the shadows of their past.

Lucas and Rachel, along with a few trusted members from both Alpha and Beta, helped them make the necessary arrangements. It wasn't easy, and there were risks involved, but the desire for a new beginning fueled their determination.

As Thyme's recovery progressed, the bond between him and Namcha grew stronger. They shared stories from their childhood, reminiscing about the times when life had been simpler and their friendship had been the most important thing in the world. They laughed, they cried, and they found solace in each other's presence.

One afternoon, as they sat together in the hospital room, Namcha took Thyme's hand. "Remember that summer camp we went to when we were kids?" he asked, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips.

Thyme chuckled. "How could I forget? We spent the entire week building that treehouse."

Namcha's smile widened. "And we swore we'd live there forever, just the two of us."

Thyme squeezed Namcha's hand. "Well, maybe we can finally make good on that promise," he said softly. "Not in a treehouse, but in a place we can call our own."

Namcha's eyes sparkled with hope. "I'd like that," he said. "I'd like that a lot."

With their hearts and minds set on a future together, Thyme and Namcha knew they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The road wouldn't be easy, but they had each other, and that was all they needed.

As the days turned into weeks, Thyme grew stronger, and the time for their departure approached. They said their goodbyes to the life they had known, ready to embrace the unknown with open hearts.

And so, hand in hand, Thyme and Namcha stepped into the future, ready to build a new life together, free from the shadows of their past.