Sometimes Things Fall Apart

Chapter Eight

       I was absolutely freezing. Colors were all running together, and I couldn't hear properly. Somebody with wicked blue hair was above me, saying something I couldn't understand. I tried to tell them to calm down, but I couldn't make much sound. I was very, very cold. Everything felt numb, but my leg felt like it was on fire.

       The crazy blue haired dude was moving really weird. He put something on top of me and I felt a little warmer, but I was still freezing.

       I was so tired. It was hard to keep my eyes open anymore.

       "I'm gonna take a nap...."

       "Stay awake, dammit! Stay awake!"

       Everything went quiet then.

-x-

       "I don't know how she's doing right now, but she'll be fine, Beth. I promise."
       "Just take care of her, dad. We're gonna be gone for a while, but we'll come home straight away if you need us. I promise."
       "Thanks, sweetheart. Go have fun. I got this."

       I heard a door close, then wheels were moving. "God, I'm so sorry, (F/N). I didn't mean what I said. I didn't. You just... you lied. You lied so easily, and that just pissed me off. I don't know why i-it did, but I just got so mad. I couldn't believe how easily you could lie to me. But I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I felt something lay against me, and then it started shaking. It sounded like somebody was crying.

       Is somebody crying on my bed?

       I moved my hand and put it on top of whatever it was, feeling them jump up, and I opened my eyes a little bit. They were so heavy. But it was the crazy haired dude. He looked like he'd been crying a lot.

       Rick's the crazy haired dude? I'm so tired...

       "(F/N)?! Oh, thank God!! I'm so sorry, I'm so, so, sorry." He put his head on the bed again. I put my hand on his head, "You have... some crazy weird hair." It was so hard to talk.
Rick chuckled, the kind of sad chuckle you make when you're crying really hard but somebody says something extremely funny. "Crazy weird, huh?" He gave me a sad smile, but I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.
       "Go to sleep. I'm right here. I'll always be right here."

-x-

       When I woke up, it was pitch black. Thunder rolled outside and a few streaks of lightning flashed nearby. As I glanced around, taking in my surroundings with each flash of light, it occurred to me that I had absolutely no idea where I was. The most I knew was that I was still so tired. Looking around for my phone, I realized I was in a very small bed, designed for one person.        I wonder who sleeps here?
        I tried to knock the blankets off of me, suddenly feeling too hot, but my leg started burning. "Ah!" I grabbed my leg, trying to make it stop when the light turned on. Standing in front of me was a very sleep deprived Rick. "It's alright. You're on a cot, in my room." His voice was very low and quiet. I almost missed a majority of what he had said.

       He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes fighting to stay open. It was almost like the dark bags beneath them were too much to hold. His lab coat was in a ball on the floor near him and it looked like he'd been sleeping there. "H-have you slept much? I can trade, i-if you want. I don't mind sleeping on the floor."
       Rick just waved it off, "It's alright. You need to sleep, I can see that you're still tired. You lost a lot of blood."

       "What happened?" I pushed the blanket over to the side, noticing that I was wearing a pair of pants very similar to Rick's. I don't own anything like that. How peculiar... "I'll tell you in the morning. Go back to sleep."

       I laid back down, "Are you sure? I can't just make you sleep on the floor. I can try to make room." I yawned, propping my head up on my hand. Rick took it into consideration, "I suppose, if you want." He left his coat on the floor and groggily made his way to the bed. I moved closer to the wall, giving him space as he laid down. He laid on his back, taking up a majority of the bed, before he glanced over to me through tired, slitted eyes. "Oh, hang on..."
        He adjusted himself before he pulled me towards him, laying me on my stomach and placing my head down onto his chest. "There we go..." his voice was barely audible as his head fell to the side. He was absolutely exhausted. I pulled my arm up and laid it closer to his side, uncomfortable with it dangling from the edge, and one of his arms wrapped around my back.
       "Such a peculiar man."