Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Tony burst through the hospital doors, sprinting through the halls, not caring who he bumped into on the way.
"You okay, kid?" Martin asked, looking up from his newspaper. He stood up from his chair inside the ICU room, stepping outside to check on the frantic boy.
"I'm, uh, I'm-- I'm Noah's--" Tony stammered, out of breath.
"Boyfriend. He's my boyfriend," Noah groaned weakly from his hospital bed.
"Holy shit! He's awake!" Marlene squealed. They all rushed to his bedside as relief washed over every inch of their bodies.
"Boyfriend, huh?" Tony teased gently, grabbing Noah's hand.
"Almost dying makes shit really fucking clear," Noah sighed. Tony sighed, laughing quietly.
"How's Stella?" Noah asked frantically, panic suddenly jolting through his body.
"She's in recovery. We don't know when she's going to wake up-- but, sweetie, the doctors said you saved her life," Marlene said softly, stroking his hair out of his face.
"God, my arm hurts like a bitch. Did the doc say when I could get back on the field? They're shipping me off to college ball training in a couple weeks. I'm sure they could reschedule--" Noah rambled.
"Son, we need to talk about baseball," Martin said, putting his hand on his wife's shoulder. Marlene broke down sobbing, unable to look Noah in the eyes.
"What about baseball?" Noah asked uneasily.
"The damage to your arm is irreparable. You can't play baseball. You're done," Martin said sadly, trying to keep himself together.
"Fuck!" Noah shouted, ripping his arm out of the harness hanging from the ceiling. He tore the IVs out of his arm, swinging his legs over the side of the hospital bed.
"Noah!" Tony shouted worriedly, running to the other side of the hospital bed.
"Honey you can't walk yet!" Marlene screeched. Noah crashed to the floor, knocking over a table of medical supplies, which clattered down around him. Tony and Martin lifted him gently back into the bed as nurses and doctors stormed into the room with sedatives.
▽
"Any updates?" Martin asked, looking into his daughter's room with sad eyes.
"Nothing yet. This one's up to her now," the doctor sighed. Martin nodded, understanding but not believing.
"My baby's a fighter. She'll be okay," Marlene interjected firmly.
"Yes, ma'am," the doctor agreed, offering them a small, sympathetic smile.
"God, Martin, what if she doesn't want to come back--" Marlene sobbed.
"What are you talking about, Mar?" Martin asked worriedly.
"Jeff's up there-- she's been so depressed and I don't know if--" Marlene cried.
"Everything is going to be fine," Martin promised.
▽
Days passed and everything stayed the same. Noah didn't want to talk about his arm. Stella didn't wake up. Martin put on a brave face for his wife. Marlene broke down with every breath. The lives of the Marlowe family were just slowly spiraling.
And then her eyes opened and everything changed.
"Noah?" Stella gasped as her eyes snapped open.
"Martin, get a doctor!" Marlene ordered quickly. He took off running down the hallway, chasing down the nearest doctor, dragging him into the room.
"Hi, honey! Oh god, we were so worried about you," Marlene cried, pulling her daughter into a hug as the doctor tried to work around her.
"Where's Noah?" Stella asked frantically.
"He's okay. He's okay. He's in the next room. When one of you is strong enough to leave the bed, you can see each other," Marlene promised.
"God, mommy, it wasn't his fault-- that truck came out of nowhere--" Stella rambled weakly.
"Hush-- no one is blaming Noah. We're just glad you're both okay," Marlene consoled her.
"I want to see him now," Stella said firmly.
"Honey--" Marlene argued.
"Either you can help me out of this bed or I will do it myself," Stella interrupted. Marlene looked back at her husband, who just shrugged, knowing there was no way that they could keep those kids apart for long.
"Fine," Marlene sighed defeatedly, helping the girl out of her bed and into a wheelchair, rolling her into the next room.
"Look who opened those big pretty eyes," Marlene said softly, walking into Noah's room.
"Can't get rid of me that easy, Marlowe," Stella teased weakly.
"Stel? Oh god, sis, I'm so sorry--" Noah apologized profusely.
"You did me a favor-- I got some closure," Stella sighed vaguely. The family all huddled in close, grateful that they were all breathing. Stella smiled happily when she looked down to see Tony and Noah's hands intertwined. Noah just sent a wink in her direction, making her giggle softly. And for the first time in a long time, they were happy.
▽
a/n: And that's a wrap. Thank you for reading! I really appreciate all the support! Hope you enjoyed this book!
