Grass is Greener on Kota's Side (5)

Part 11.

Part 11.

Kota's POV.
Around ten minutes after Sang and Luke left with Dr. Green, Nathan tapped my shoulder,
"What?" I asked, a bit too sharply. I inwardly winced. I've been on edge all day and I guess I still haven't calmed down.
Nathan frowned at me, "All I wanted to say was Gabriel might be getting cold out there, but never mind, dude, be grumpy," He held his arms up in fake surrender and crossed them at his chest, "Don't even try to think or act you're the only one here who's upset."
"I never said or did that!" I exclaimed, a little too loudly.
"Stop yelling."
"I'm not yelling."
"Did my ear drums just burst 'cause I can't hear."
I wiped my hands down my face and groaned in frustration. He has to do this, now?
I stood up and wiped imaginary dust off my jeans, trying not to let the anger bubble up, "I'll go see what Gabriel's doing then."
Nathan gripped my arm tight so I was forced to stare into his blue eyes. His face was grim, "You're not the only one upset here, that's all I'm saying. Don't get so fucking worked up." He let go of my arm and settled back in the chair, looking away.
I grunted, sounding a little like North, and made my way to the exit, opening the door to meet a really fresh, strong breeze. I instinctively wrapped my hoodie tighter around my body to ward off the cold. Immediately, I felt terrible for the little spat with Nathan, but we'll both have to get over it. We don't need any more tension than there already is.
I turned to Gabriel. He was sitting on the hard concrete, his eyes closed, his entire body shivering. He was cradling his head in his hands, his pale face troubled.
Squatting down in front of him, I tapped his shoulder, "Are you alright?"
He huffed and glared at me through his crystal eyes, "For Chrissake, Kota, how could I be alright?" His eyes were red and I tried not to think about why, "North and Silas were just hit by a fucking bomb, Kota. A bomb that some shit head. Thought. Would. Be. Funny."
It was almost freaky how close this conversation was to Sang's earlier, except for all of the swearing.
Gabriel continued, his voice tight, "My head hurts too. And I can't stand hospitals. They depress me." He hugged his knees to his chest and shook his head, "I just want to be alone."
I touched his arm, "You're frozen."
"I'd rather get fucking hypothermia than go inside." He snapped.
I was getting annoyed now. Didn't he care about his own well-being?
Standing up high, I pointed to the door, "Stop being dramatic and go inside. Now." I commanded. I really felt horrible but at this point I was close to breaking. I'd say or do anything to make sure they were all okay. Healthy. Happy.
We're anything but.
Shakily, he stood up, his eyes with a fixed death glare, his face red with anger, "You're a fucking dick, Kota, you know that? Don't you even care about me?"
That shocked me. I stepped back, wounded, "Of course I care about you." I said, my voice softer.
Seconds of silence followed of us just staring each other down. He wasn't happy with me.
Eventually, he pressed his palm against his forehead, gritting his teeth, "Whatever. I just wanted fresh air. Now I want Panadol." He turned to walk inside, but I didn't want to leave this argument unresolved,
"Gabe-"
"Just don't talk to me," he kept going towards the door, "For now, don't talk to me."
I stood there in the freezing cold, coming to the realisation that sometimes, the ones you love are the ones you hurt the most.

Sang's POV.
The room that North and Silas were in was about the size of Kota's living room. They were separated by a white drawn back curtain. By this time, I've become accustomed to what hospital rooms look like. I still prefer the downtown hospital, it's more welcoming, but this one was alright. It had a beach feel which made it a bit more warm and inviting.
Nevertheless, a hospital is a hospital. They're not the happiest place to be.
It's weird seeing tough, strong, big Silas lying in a hospital bed. He was sitting up, his head back as he stretched his neck, his eyes closed. He was a little pale, covered in bandages and bruises, but other than that, he seemed like he'd be okay. The scare I'd been harbouring all day eased a bit.
"Silas?" I whispered, wondering if he was asleep.
Immediately, his head snapped up, his eyes wide open. They were bloodshot, but they were awake, and that's all that mattered.
He smiled wide and opened his arms out, "Hug?" His deep voice reverberated through my bones and I grinned. Perching myself on the bed, he wrapped me in a tight, warm, loving hug. My hands grasped his biceps and I couldn't feel more at home as I breathed in his ocean scent. Relief flooded through me.
"Am I hurting you?" I asked as a squeezed me tighter.
I could feel his lips curve into a smile on my head, "You could never hurt me, aggele mou. Never."
There were a few more seconds of tight squeezing before there was a knock at the door. We all turned to see a petite nurse, about in her thirties, smiling at us.
She turned to Dr. Green, "Good to see you again, Sean, I thought I'd check some vitals."
He gave her a grin, "Of course. Firstly, let me introduce Luke, North's brother," Luke waved at her with a crutch, making her laugh, "And this is Miss Sang."
She turned to me, holding out her hand. Silas let go so I could give her a small handshake. She smiled at me. I liked her, "I assume you're family too?"
I nodded, automatically becoming shy around new people.
She smiled warmly, perhaps sensing how timid I get, "Would it be alright if I checked him?"
I nodded again, and stepped back next to Dr. Green, watching.
She shook Silas's hand, "I'm Nurse Effie."
Silas's eyebrows raised, "You are Greek?"
"Why, yes I am."
He said something to her in Greek that made her laugh, and then they proceeded to talk to each other in the foreign language I had no understanding of.
I leaned back relaxing, but forgot that there wasn't a wall behind me, falling back against the partition. Regaining, my balance, I looked up.
At North's bed.
Standing rod straight, I mustered up the nerve to look at him, and I almost burst into tears.
His skin was ghost white, which shocked me. I'd never seen him that pale before. His breathing was deep, yet shaky. His whole body looked fragile with the several bandages and bruises. I noticed a cast on his left arm as well.
Swallowing the ball in my throat, I approached him, pushing his hair back from face, wishing that he didn't look as helpless.
"I know. It's horrible." I didn't realise that Luke was standing next to me.
He took my hand and I leaned my head on his shoulder.
We'll be okay.
Right?