Tanner and the Forgotten

That one Place with the Walls and People

I don't remember much. I remember drifting in and out of consciousness, seeing different people at different times. I heard something about 2 broken ribs and 3 fractured ribs and a concussion. I saw bright lights and people in masks. At one point, I even saw my mom and sister cooing over my head. Eventually everything stayed black.

I heard the rustle of magazine paper. Where was it coming from? Was I dreaming it? No, it was definitely real, and it was close. I pulled at the sound until I could open my eyes. The light was so bright that I had to close them again. I groaned and turned my head away. The action was greeted by the sound of a Magazine being forcibly put down and 2 pairs of footsteps coming towards me.

"Tanner?" My mom said. I sighed inwardly. Laying here in the hospital after losing a fight was kinda humiliating. I made another attempt to open my eyes, this time with more success. Mom and Addison were standing over me looking worried as all get out.

"How did I -sigh- what happened?" I asked. It was mom who answered.

"You got in a fight. You have 2 broken ribs and 3 fractured ones. You also have a concussion."

" Well that's just...Awesome." I said, groaning.

" How is that awesome?" Mom asked. Neither one of my parents knew what sarcasm was. It's a miracle they were even interested in adopting me.

"Sarcasm mom," Addison filled in for me.

"Dude, how did I even get here?" I said, sleepily.

" Oh, well Jesper went and got the coach-" mom started to say,

" Who, by the way is now Mr. Smith. The guy who came over yesterday for dinner." Addison explained. I groaned acknowledgement. That must have been why his voice was familiar but not recognizable.

"Anyway," mom continued, "Jesper got the coach who stopped the fight. You weren't doing so well, so they called the hospital and brought you here." Once finished telling me, my mother laced her fingers together and placed them on the side of my bed. I sighed. I was starting to feel a bit more awake now. Something you should know about me...I can heal fast. Not wolverines fast, but like, if I broke my arm, it would be healed in 4 days to a week. Not really sure what that's about but hey, I'm not complaining.

" Hey Addison? Would you...um...you know?" I said gesturing towards our mom and the door, signaling to get mom out, and a doctor in. Our mom doesn't know that either of us have powers. She isn't exactly as stable as she used to be.

" Oh, yeah, sure. Hey mom? I think that Tanner needs to rest. Besides, Jesper will be here in a bit and can watch this little ra-this person on this bed." She said, slowly shooing mom out of the room. I gave her a pointed look for the almost name calling. She gave me a "so? Suck it up dude" look back at me. Right after they left, the shadowed man in the trench coat showed up. He didn't come in my room, he just stood there in the hallway, hands in his pockets, staring at me. I tried to sit up but my broken ribs contracted in pain and I fell back on my pillow with a groan. With Mr. Shadows standing so close, I was able to tell hat he had a mustache and then rest of his face was clean shaven. At least I think so. Still hard to tell because of the shadows. Suddenly, he turned and left for no apparent reason.

A nurse came a short time later.

"Your sister said that you wanted to see me?" She asked.

"Yes, how long before I can leave? I asked.

" Well, you should be out in two days. We just have to make sure that the bones are healing properly." She said. She crossed her hands in front of her.

" Can you do it now?" I said, slowly sitting up. She looked concerned but didn't stop me.

"Well, you've only been here a few hours-" she started.

" But can you do it?" I insisted.

" I... Well...sure. Yeah, I can, but why n-"

"Just...Please." I took her hand and used some of my Irish charm and my blue eyes to plead with her. She gave in.

" Ok sure. I can either get the doctor to do a scan or I can do it. I'll have to press on your ribs though, so it will hurt."

"Is it faster?" I leaned forward. She looked hesitant.

"Yes, but, like I said, it will hurt."

"That's ok." I took my hand off hers and laid back on the bed. She lifted up that thing that people wear when they're put in a hospital (I have no clue what it's called). We both took a breath before she presses her cold fingers on my ribs. She was right, it hurt, but it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. Her fingers skillfully prodded and messaged each of my ribs. I winced but did my best not to do anything more than that. She stepped back and looked at me.

"Feels like your already healing nicely. I don't know how it's possible but, you only have one truly broken rib, not two. The other is severely fractured but not broken." She looked completely dumbfounded.

"Thanks. Does that mean I can leave?"

" No, but it means you can leave tomorrow instead of two days from now." She put her hands in her pocket and kept looking me up and down like she was trying to figure out what I was. I nodded my thanks before she left and prepared myself for a long day of boredom and pain.