About You Now

Darklings

As had been routine for Seth since the accident, he went to the hospital to visit Echo. Every day, he had hoped there would be some change, and she'd finally wake up, but he'd been met with the same stillness and the usual sounds of the machines working. He struggled over the previous school week, and although thankful for the weekend, he didn't look forward to it. Things weren't normal, and everyone could see he wasn't himself. Serenity certainly hadn't helped with her breakdowns, especially the last one when she'd ripped the decorations on Echo's locker off and destroyed them in a fit of rage.

"Leave me alone, Roman," sighed Seth, noticing Roman had followed him to the hospital again. "I've got nothing to say to you," he added, suspecting Roman would again take the opportunity to try and put things right between them. Seth, as to be expected, had rejected every attempt so far, as had Dean and the Darklings. Both Seth and Dean had the same line of thought: Roman attempts at fixing things were far too late; after everything he'd done, they weren't about to forgive him, even if others apart of their family were.

Seth stopped and froze when he opened the door to Echo's room. Something was different this time; he could sense it. The familiar and often harrowing sound of the ventilator doing its job was missing. As were a few other tubes that had once adorned Echo's arms and battered body. Upon stepping into the room further, Seth instantly knew Echo's parents had visited at some point. The cards were now on a small pinboard across from her bed, and a bag was now sitting on the chair Seth usually occupied. The TV was also on, although the volume was low, as if not to disturb the room's peaceful atmosphere.

"She's woken up," came the calm but smokey voice of Hunter, Echo's twin brother. His shoulder-length hair was loose as usual, and his typical red and black bandana was in its normal place. "Aleister didn't tell you?" he asked upon seeing the surprise and confusion written across Seth's features. "Mom sent us a message just after lunch," he explained, suspecting Aleister had intended for it to be a surprise. After all, Seth had been a moping mess on auto-pilot the entire week; it wouldn't have registered if he was told. Hunter soon grinned softly before walking over to his twin sister and kissing her temple softly; she was resting now, but still, she fidgeted as if to escape his display of brotherly affection. "Her memory is a little dodgy, but the doc has hope she'll be released at some point next week," spoke Hunter before patting Seth on the shoulder and leaving. Now, he was sure someone would be with his sister.

"Echo," gently called Seth. He wasn't sure when he'd moved to her bedside, but he wasn't about to complain. He was where he wanted to be, where he was meant to be. A smile crept across his lips softly upon looking over her. Cuddled under her favorite black blanket from home, the small black teddy bear with a studded collar wrapped in her arms. She slept comfortably on her side, seemingly unbothered by the wires threatening to tangle together. She was peaceful, and she'd regained her color now.

Slowly, Echo woke once again, rousing from her peaceful nap. She cuddled the teddy bear a little closer before a yawn escaped her. Her eyes found Roman when she opened them for a moment, and then she turned them to the person who'd woken her. With little thought, Seth carefully leaned down to hug her, silently welcoming her back while whispering he'd missed her. He didn't bother to stop the grin that spread across his lips. His dread had vanished, like with Punk the day before; it had been replaced with hopefulness.

"You got my bracelet," Echo said as if only realizing the thin black band around her wrist wasn't her usual studded bracelet. However, she didn't appear surprised by it, as if suspecting he'd somehow end up with the small piece of jewelry that had been a mainstay in her daily choices. "What did I miss?" she asked as if she hadn't been in a coma for a week; her sapphire eyes flicked between Seth and Roman as if she could sense the tension between them.