A Place in the Sun - cash au-

Yesterday Is A Closing Door

He looks up abruptly and an expression of shock flits across his face before he frowns.

"I didn't realize Nash had reconnected with you," he says shortly before he returns to looking at Nash.

"Clearly you have me at a disadvantage because I have no idea who the fuck you are," I reply curtly and cross my arms.

"Domineering just like he told me," he mutters, he glances back at me. "How is it that you knew Nash was here and I wasn't informed? I'm the closest thing Nash has to family now and I've been going insane looking for him."

"How about you tell me who the hell you are before asking me any questions?" I'm getting agitated and he clearly is enjoying it because a small smirk crosses his face.

"It's funny when Nash first told about you and what you did to him, I hated you instantly. But seeing you here and how you've clearly put your life on hold for him," he gestures at the cot that sits in the corner that has my contracts sitting on top of them along with my laptop and phone. "And how protective you are of him... I hate you a little less. Just a little bit though. You still broke the purest heart I've ever encountered and even if Nash is able to forgive you, I won't be able to."

"I don't even know who you are, your forgiveness means nothing to me. Obviously Nash is the only one that matters," I reply quietly, him bringing up what I did is a low blow but I do deserve it. He's right. Nash's heart is pure and I was the one that broke it, I don't deserve Nash's forgiveness but it doesn't stop me from seeking him. I can't live without him.

"Anyway... my name is Anthony, I'm Nash's best friend. We met at school, we're both studying business there." He finally introduces himself and I relax a bit when he tells me he's Nash's best friend, but I tense up because best friend means nothing, Matthew was Nash's best friend but he definitely had feelings for him.

"Don't worry, I'm not Matthew. Nash and I are just friends," Anthony says with a small smirk on his face that falls when he looks back at Nash. "What happened?"

"He was jumped by some thug, who apparently used Nash's head as stomping grounds and caused severe swelling. The doctor's had to put him in a medically induced coma in order to give the swelling in Nash's brain a chance to go down. He..." I get choked up as I think about how I almost  lost him yesterday. "He coded but they brought him back."

"Jesus fucking Christ," Anthony mutters. "Did they catch the asshole?"

"They did, I'm ensuring that he's being tried for attempted murder. My lawyers are working with the prosecution on the case, there's no way he isn't going to pay for what he did. He deserves worse than what he'll get," I mutter angrily and he takes in a shaky breath, he blinks a few times and I know he's trying to get a handle on his emotions.

"I don't get why I wasn't notified... I called this hospital so many times asking if he's here and they always denied it. It was actually by chance that I even found him..." Anthony trails off and I feel a sliver of guilt because I had them put a security hold on Nash's medical chart. His name doesn't pop up in the system unless the person has authorization.

I know how thugs work and they might come looking for revenge because their gang member is in jail because of him.

"That was me, sorry. I just had to make sure Nash was safe and that no one looking for revenge would find him here. " I confess and Anthony nods in understanding.

"I get it but it's been a horrible week for me. I was so scared Nash was dead in a ditch somewhere," he says quietly. "I went by his apartment and all his shit was gone, then the whole building was condemned and I know Nash he wouldn't just disappear without telling me. "

"His landlord was illegally evicting him, that building wasn't habitable so the city shut it down," I explain shortly, I don't get into how I pulled strings to get it done. It's none of his business.

"I guess it was just a very strange sequence of events. I didn't even go to class at all, I've just been searching the city, hospitals, shelters,parks.  Anywhere I thought Nash could be..." he trails off. "I guess he never updated his emergency contact. Even though it was the shittiest week ever and you're probably the last person I'd want near Nash, I'm glad he has you. You've obviously taken care of him well... even though you're an asshole." He states begrudgingly and I smile a little.

He glances at his watch and frowns. "I actually can't miss work tonight, I know they're about to fire me because I haven't gone all week since I've been looking for Nash. But I'll give you my number and you can keep me posted. Matt was worried too, I'll
let him know where he is. I'll be back tomorrow most likely."

We exchange numbers and he holds Nash's hand for a little bit longer before he lets go and leaves.

I feel relief that Nash isn't alone in the world like I had feared, I find solace in the fact that if Nash doesn't want me back in his life, he has someone who's willing to fail classes and get fired to find him.

I take my seat back next to him and hold his hand again.

I begin to talk softly to him, even though I have contracts waiting to be looked over, I always want to talk to Nash everyday just in case he can hear.

--------

"We're ready to trial extubation," Nash's surgeon tells me days after Nash coded. I'm worried that they're doing it too soon after his heart gave out but they're the experts, this is why he gets paid the big bucks.

I've kept in contact with Nash's friend, I have no plans of alienating one of the only people he has in his life right now.

Nash deserves to have a room full of visitors, he deserves to have people fighting over the right to stay with him in this room. But his friends in North Carolina aren't able to fly in just yet, I've kept in contact with Tex, the one he was closest to while he lived there but the years he's spent in New York have strained the friendship and they aren't willing to leave during midterms.

"How will this proceed?" I question, wanting to know every step before they do it.

The surgeon walks me through the process and when he's done I nod, not truly understanding the medicine behind what they're doing but knowing this is what's best for Nash.

I watch as they work it together to take the tube out of Nash's throat and turn down the medicine that's sedating him.

I stare closely at Nash's chest and there's a tense silence in the room. When Nash's chest moves as he takes a breath of his own, I let out my own breath of relief.

They monitor his vital signs closely, ready to intubate him again if needed.

The Doctor gestures for me to come closer to the bed and I approach slowly.

"You can wake him up, it's better if someone close is the first person he sees, there's less panic that way," he murmurs.

"Nash," I breath out softly and I caress his cheek gently. "Wake up baby."

I wait patiently and my heart races when Nash's eyelids flutter. "Wake up beautiful..."

I don't care if they can hear me or they can see the affection I have for the boy in the bed. My love for him doesn't embarrass me.

His eyes finally open and mine burn with tears when I finally see his beautiful blue eyes again.

"Hi, baby..." I whisper as he focuses on me.

He's awake.

A/N- sorry for the very long wait! I'm trying to update a lot more often because I want to finish this. 😊 hope you guys like it.