Make It Out Alive

Chapter 21

Danny took a few more hits of his cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray. He slid an arm around Cameron, resting his head against his shoulder "I know I should be glad he's okay, and I am....it just hurts he doesn't know who I am" he shook his head, looking at the two. "Has there been any word on jake?" He asked, hoping for some good news.

James leaned closer, pressing a kiss to the corner of Jake's lips while he tried to speak, grinning a little before adding "and then he was even more startled," he joked. Andy narrowed his eyes at the two, pushing at Matt's shoulders before looking at Ashley. "Are you guys gonna let them talk to me like that?!" Andy joked, leaning back while he looked over at Jake while he apologized. Smiling a little, he shrugged. "I'm pretty sure I can speak for Ashley when I say that we're just happy you're okay."

Ben looked a little pained at the reaction, glancing down at Bex's hand on his arm. Everything felt wrong. Like he knew he was living a lie, like he was missing so much, so many important things. "I don't know how to fix it," he muttered softly, scrubbing at his face with his free hand.

Cameron sighed softly, laying his arms around Danny's shoulders while he glanced at Sam. Tucking his chin over Danny's head, he rubbed his back soothingly, nodding a little to let him know that he understood. And he did understand, but not in a way that he could relate to. "Yeah, um, Jake's awake. He's doing okay. James is waiting to hear back about Ben," he reminded himself, glancing back into the hospital.
Jake laughed, pressing a kiss on James' chest, just over his heart. He'd never been so thankful for one person in his life. He would have understood had James wanted to go see Ben, but instead, he was by his side and for that he'd be eternally grateful. "You love it, Andy and you know it." He teased. Matt's eyes fluttered open and he looked a bit confused as he mumbled "what?" Still half asleep.

Bex shook her head, her thumb lightly running across her brothers tattooed flesh. "You don't worry about that now, Ben. It'll all come back to you. I promise. All we care about is you getting better.

Danny let out a sigh of relief, learning jake was awake and seemed to be doing well. "I bet that's a load off James" he said softly, hesitantly letting go of cameron. "I know I should be happy that physically Ben's okay, and I am, I just....this hurts so fucking bad" Sam sighed softly "I'll go and give the others an update on Ben" he said softly, lightly caressing Cameron's back as he walked past. "I'll be right back"

James moved his hand to brush his fingers slowly through Jake's hair, kissing his forehead softly. Andy nodded toward Jake when Matt looked confused. "Jake's talking shit," he repeated, realizing after the fact that he hadn't even known he was awake. "Oh, and he's awake."

Ben shook his head slightly at Bex as his tears came faster, more fully. "I woke up, staring at the single most fucking... breathtakingly beautiful human being, everyone tells me it's my husband? And I don't even fucking know his name. Not even a name, much less remember a wedding or anniversary..." He explained.

Cameron glanced down at Danny, nodding toward the hospital. "Hey, Bex is with Ben, do you want to go see Jake? Andy and everyone are in there," he offered, hoping to provide a momentary distraction.

Jake fake pouted at Andy, shaking his head. "Me? Talk shit? I would never do something like that" he teased, looking up when a nurse came in to check his vitals and add another bag to his IV. She turned to jake, smiling as she asked how he was feeling. "I'm actually feeling pretty damn good" he began, looking at James with a smile "ready to go home already" Matt stretched, lifting his head to see that Jake was in fact awake. He smiled brightly, grabbing Andy's hand and giving it a squeeze. "Good to see you awake bro"

Bex sighed softly, turning as she heard the door open again, the doctor coming through the door. "It will all come back to you, Ben" she assured him. "It might take some time, but you'll remember everything and everyone sooner or later. And Danny will be right there as soon as you do"

Finally making it back to Jake's room, sam knocked on the door, waiting till he heard a voice telling him to come in. He smiled at James, who was still next to jake. "Hey you" he started, the smile on his face growing. "You look so good" he nodded, taking a seat in the chair next to James. He sighed softly, hating to tell them Ben had lost his memory now and didn't even know who Danny was. Danny nodded as he put his cigarette out in one of the nearby ashtrays. "Yeah, I'd like that" he said as he headed toward the door, waiting for Cameron.

Words couldn't even express how thankful was to see Jake's smile again. Returning it, so wide he thought he may pull something, he tucked Jake's hair back behind his ear gently. "Ready to take you home and show you off," he agreed. Glancing up when Sam came in, he straightened a little. "Hey, how's Ben? Is everything okay?" Andy rolled his eyes playfully at the couple, but he still couldn't stop smiling. Squeezing Matt's hand, he sat up when Sam came in, tracing his thumb gently against the back of Matt's hand.

Ben looked up at the doctor when he entered, quickly wiping at his eyes as to not be seen crying. He noticed Danny pass behind him, and he called quickly to him. "Hey! Hey, come back!" he shouted loudly, waiting for Danny's appearance in his door. Motioning him in, he moved to his knees on the bed. Motioning further, he waited until Danny was beside him, wrapping his arms tightly around his neck. Whispering softly to him, he promised "I don't know who you are, or what we are, and I'm so sorry because I know this is killing you, but I will, I swear I will, because even now, like this, waking up like I just did, seeing what I just saw every single morning would make my whole life so perfect, and even like this I know that, and I know that love you even if I can't remember your name."