The Taste Of Rebound Love

Part 21

The sound of steady beeping woke Jack from his sleep.  Although, he didn't feel rested... he felt more tired.  His eyes didn't want to stay open and his body was stiff.  Forcing himself to scan the room in bits as his body fought to wake up.  He sighed heavily in defeat.  A hospital.  White walled and reeking of cleaning products.  He hated hospitals.  It brought back to many painful memories of his grandmother.  Somewhere in the room, a woman was telling someone heatedly.  "I'm sorry, but you can't stay here all night. When visiting hours are over, you will have to leave. Just as I told you last night".  A deep male voice practically growled back.  "Jesus, lady. Have a heart. His family can't afford to fly here and I don't want him to be alone".  The woman's voice turned flat with disinterest as she asked the man.  "Why? Is he suicidal? If so, then I will inform the doctor and he will have a nurse watch over him at night".  The mans voiced pitched higher as he snapped back.  "What? No! He's not suicidal! I simply want to be here for him"!  The woman sighed sarcastically, muttering out at him as she took her leave.  "You'll have to speak with the doctor about it".  Jack turned his head in their direction, just as the nurse closed the door and Mark flicked her off in frustration.

Smiling a bit to himself, Jack sleepily told Mark.  "What is it with you and nurses"?  Mark's expression changed so fast to a warm smile, that Jack had to turn away to weakly hide his blush.  Mark moved closer to his side, asking in a voice flooded with concern.  "Do you need anything? I hate that nurse, but I can always hunt her down".  Jack tried to wave a dismissive hand and flinched in pain.  Lowering his eyes to his body, he took a shaky breath.  His entire right arm was in a cast.  His chest was wrapped up tight and his left leg was in a splint.  Mark dropped into a seat beside his bed, telling him gently.  "They said you broke your arm in two places. Cracked two ribs and badly sprained your ankle. Try not to move too much... they had to give you stitches where the mirror pierced your side".  Jack pried his eyes away from his body to the bland white ceiling, when he asked simply.  "You called my parents"?  Mark voice sounded a bit guilty as he answered.  "The hospital called them... but didn't tell them anything. So, I did my best to keep them informed. They should be here tomorrow morning".  Jack tilted his head to stare down Mark, curiously stating out.  "You told the nurse that they couldn't afford to come".  Mark bit his lip, trying to suppress a smile, before he said sheepishly.  "I didn't lie. They couldn't. So, I paid". 

Jack turned his eyes back on the ceiling as he replied happily.  "I'll pay you back for that. Thank you, Mark".  Mark's warm fingers slid over the cold fingers of his right hand and he turned back to him, asking gently.  "What happened to Felix? Isn't he here"?  Mark lowered his gaze to their touching fingers, when he told him reluctantly honest.  "He's... He was here for the first day... but he couldn't stay. He feels so guilty about what happened that he's afraid to speak to you. I wasn't much help either... When they took you away in the ambulance, I just grilled into him myself".  Jack's eyes widened in horror, when he rushed out.  "When is the last time you saw him?! What if he-".  Mark cut him off by simply raising up his phone with his free hand.  On it was an alert for Felix's latest video that had been posted just a few minutes ago.  Lowering the phone, Mark told him reassuringly.  "Don't worry. We've had time to cool off and apologize. He's just more worried about what you will say to him. I think he is rather fond of you. To be honest... I don't think he was going to hurt you. Felix is a lot of things, but he's not cruel".  Jack glanced down at himself, mumbling playfully.  "Well, he sure can fool you into hurting yourself".  Mark shared a small smile with him, while he stared at Mark's healing bruises and cuts.  Raising his good hand, Jack lightly pressed his palm to Mark's bruised cheek, asking softly.  "How long have I been here? These look better".  Mark closed his eyes, leaning into his hand, when he answered casually.  "Three days. You kind of had a mild concussion... I was trying to think about how to tell you". 

Jack dropped his hand, disappointment creeping into his voice as he stated.  "I missed New Years. I didn't get to kiss my choice".  Mark chuckled softly, telling him.  "Well, there is always next year"?  Jack bit his lip, watching how calm and collected Mark was, before he asked coolly.  "Aren't you going to ask me who I picked"?  Mark shrugged, sincerely answering as he stared so calmly back at him.  "I told you. Whoever it is, or isn't. I'll always be your friend".  Jack rest his head back to stare at the ceiling as he answered nervously.  "I've got to go with my heart, Mark.... and it wants you".  Mark didn't say anything, so he turned his head to look at him.  Mark had a warm smile on his face, and his deep voice warmed him like liquid butter as he said.  "I don't ever want to disappoint you, Jack. I don't want to promise you things that I can't follow through on... but-".  Jack stopped him by simply whispering back.  "Then don't. Let's just start from today and see where tomorrow leads".  Mark happily nodded, rising from his seat to lean over the bed and kiss him so tenderly.  Jack closed his eyes, getting lost in it... until the heart monitor started to blare loudly making them both jump!  According to his monitor, his heart hadn't stopped... but sped up enough for it to alert the nurse!  Jack chuckled at Mark's sour look as the nurse he hated rushed into the room. 

As she bitterly turned off the monitor, she told Mark dryly before leaving again.  "Don't excite him".  Mark rolled his eyes, before sweetly telling him.  "Oh! By the way. I was told to give you this. If the damn doctors won't let me stay, than at least you can drift off to this".  Mark picked up his backpack and removed a stuffed toy.  As Mark moved in closer to hand it to him, he told him cheerfully.  "Your old roommate recognized you before she was released. She planned to give it to you at the next Comic Con. She recorded the sounds of him from the game on this build-a-bear recorder thing. He's knitted. Cute, huh"?  Jack snatched the little knitted Trico and hugged it against his chest.  From inside its body... the toy began to make soft Trico noises.  Mark grinned at him, saying 'Happy New Year, Jack', before the monitor loudly rang out again.  While Mark groaned and flicked off the monitor, Jack laughed through the pain of his stitches.  As the nurse burst back in to yell at Mark, Jack took a deep calming breath before looking out the window.  While the nurse bickered to Mark about 'visiting hours being over', Jack waved to the man standing out on the sidewalk looking in.  Felix waved back to him with a warm smile, before pulling his hood up and slowly walking away.  Only after that did a text from him come in reading. "I'm sorry".  Smiling, Jack texted back.  "I forgive you. Now come back tomorrow. We're going to play cards against humanity to pass the time".  As he started to snuggle up with Trico for the night, Felix texted him back with a simple 'Sure thing'.  The End. 

*Out Now*  The Sequel; "The Taste Of Bitter Longing".