Manhattan

15.

"AIDAN." SOMEONE WAS calling his name. It tugged at him, threatening to rip him away from this half-dreaming state he was in, a state that was peaceful and comforting and a welcome escape from reality all at once.

"Aidan." The voice was familiar, a voice he would know anywhere, a voice that meant so many things to him. "Wake up, Aidan."

Aidan's eyelids fluttered. The hazy atmosphere flickered around him, disappearing all together when he opened his eyes blearily. His neck ached, probably due to the awkward position he'd been sleeping in. Light filled his vision, and it took him a moment to get his bearings. When he did, he saw sterile white walls, hospital equipment, a bed, and a very awake Benji.

Was he still dreaming?

"Benji?" Aidan said, hardly believing his eyes. His voice was a mixture of disbelief and wonder. 

Benji smiled at him. "It's me," he said.

Aidan felt like crying. His hands shook. Swallowing, he reached over and took Benji's hand, tentatively, hesitantly, and when he felt it's warmth, he realized how very awake and alive Benji was.

Aidan moved to hug him. He put his arms around his best friend, careful not to squeeze too hard in case his wounds reopened, and buried his face in his neck.

"Benji," Aidan said again, and this time it was like a prayer, and a thank you, and an I'm so glad you're okay. "You're awake, Benj."

"It's okay, Aidan," Benji replied, hugging him back lightly. "I'm okay."

Aidan pulled back to look at him. There was something in his chest; he found it hard to breathe, hard to grasp the fact that Benji was really awake and okay and not dead, thank God, not dead. "I thought I was going to lose you, Benj," Aidan said, his voice raw, aching.

"You'll never lose me," he replied easily.

Aidan opened his mouth to reply, cut short when the door opened. It was Benji's mom - she entered the room looking distracted, then stopped short at the sight of Benji. She blinked, swaying on the spot for a moment, looking as if she were about to faint, then rushed at Benji. Aidan moved aside as she threw her arms around Benji and started to sob.

From then on, it was a frenzy of chaos, nurses came in and out, wheeling carts and carrying clipboards. Benji was examined, prodded with tools and hands, asked questions and given glasses of water. Aidan stood right by him through it all, not taking his eyes off his best friend, as if he thought Benji would disappear the moment he did. It was all so sudden. Aidan felt into a cycle of thinking this wasn't real, and then Benji would look over and smile at him and he realized it was real, it was it was it was.

• • •

"I've decided to press charges," Benji said.

It was three days after he'd woken up. He was still in the hospital, recovering from his injuries, but he looked much better now. His bruises had faded, but they were still there, still a painful reminder of what had happened. Aidan looked up from his sketchbook.

"That's great, Benj," he said.

He nodded, drumming his fingers on top of his blanket. "I waited so long because I was scared," he said suddenly. "I thought if I said anything he'd hurt my family."

Aidan put his sketchbook away, turning his sole attention on Benji. "Hey," he said. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I get it. Well, I don't. I have no idea what you're going through, Benji. But if anything—" Aidan shook his head. "I could have done something. I could have—"

"Aidan, stop," Benji cut in. "This is not your fault."

"But I saw them, Benji. Your bruises and wounds. I saw them and I didn't even—I should've known."

"Don't," Benji started. "We're not arguing over this. The only thing that matters is that you're here now. And things are going to get better."

Aidan took his hand, squeezed once. He didn't know how Benji could be so hopeful, so optimistic after everything he'd been through.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Benji started, head lowered. "I wanted to, Aidan, I really did, but I was so scared." 

Aidan shook his head firmly."Don't apologize. Don't. If anything, the only one who should be apologizing is—"

"Him." Benji closed his eyes, took a deep breath. When he reopened them, they were considerably lighter, as if he'd let everything out in that one breath. "Let's not talk about this anymore." Aidan nodded, his eyes softening. "And I'm going a little crazy in here. Can we go out for a walk?"

Aidan frowned. "I don't know if you should be out of bed—"

"It'll be fine," he said. "You can wheel me."

Aidan nodded, then went out to get a wheelchair. He came back, helping Benji on to it, ensuring he was comfortable. They headed out the room, through the nearest exit, and Aidan sighed in relief as he breathed in the fresh air. Benji had been right, it was stifling in there. He saw Benji relax as Aidan wheeled them leisurely through the pathway winding around the building. The city seemed distant from here, the sounds of traffic and chatter muffled as they walked.

"So," Benji said after a while. "Tell me what I've missed."

Aidan laughed. "A lot."

"Like?" he prompted. 

He thought back to the past few days. All the worry that had been gnawing at him, rendering him unable to concentrate on anything but Benji now seemed laughable. Of course Benji had woken up—he didn't know why he'd jumped to the worst case scenario in the first place. "Well, my mom's dating again," Aidan said. 

"That's great," Benji replied. "I'm happy for her." 

Aidan nodded. "Yeah, me too. And I think Julie and Amir have a thing going on."

Benji raised his fist in the air. "Ha. Why am I not surprised?"

Aidan grinned, suddenly overwhelmed with happiness. It felt unbelievably good to be talking to Benji like this, about such normal, mundane things. He stopped next to a bench overlooking the small lake by the hospital, locking Benji's wheelchair in place and sitting next to him. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching as snowflakes danced gently over the water.

"Everything's changed, hasn't it?" Benji asked after a while.

"Yeah." Aidan wrapped his scarf tighter around himself. He placed a hand on Benji's arm. "But I think it's for the better."

"Me too."

• • •

a/n: So it's been awhile since I've updated, but thank you to all those who have continued to comment, vote and read Manhattan!! Honestly, coming back to 400+ notifications after a long time meant more to me than I can say, so thank you once again! Please forgive this hastily written chapter - I know it doesn't do justice for those of you who have had to wait so long, but at this point I'm trying to finish this story up as fast as possible, and I'll worry about editing and all that jazz later. 

Hope you enjoyed!