Falling - Benny and Nina - An Adapted In The Heights Roleplay (COMPLETE)

27 - Falling in Hospital

Benny was shattered, today had been such a long day for them both. He wanted to sleep on her shoulder but knew he couldn't for obvious reasons. "I hope it's not too bad, I feel so bad taking your money Nina. When I find myself a new job and I have a decent income I promise I will pay you back.

"It's fine, Benny. You being okay is reward enough."

"Are you sure baby. You've worked hard for that." He put his arm around her shoulder and brought her closer to him. He fiddled with her hair again, he realized he did a lot when he was stressed.

"Yes. I'm completely sure. I couldn't live with myself if I let you live with this handicap. And if we're lucky enough where long distance works, then we'll be sharing our paychecks. That'll make up for it enough. You being alive after that is more than enough."

"I'm really scared about having to work long distance, I really want it to work, more than anything else. I don't want to live my life without you Nina. I love you too much. I just don't want to let you go, but I know you have to go back."

"I know, baby. I don't want to either. Wish I could stay, but I know my dad won't let me." She put her hand in his, and frowned.

"We can do this though. If we work together, I know we can. I'll miss you beyond words but it will all be worth it, I'm sure. It will make our times together more special." He squeezed her hand.

A voice rang through the room. "Benny!" Nina pulled him up, letting him use her as a support, and walked him over to the person, Usnavi trailing not too far behind.

Benny leant on Nina when she pulled him up. He was so thankful for her right now.

"Mmhm," she mumbled, as they walked up to the person. She led the three of them to a hospital room. In a sickly-sweet voice, she said, "Right here. Benny, if you could lay down on the bed?" Nina and Usnavi sat down on hospital chairs. A few minutes later, a nurse came in and asked a few questions about his condition, all of which Nina answered on his behalf. It ended up in him needing an x-ray.

"I've never had an X-ray before," Benny told Nina. He wasn't sure why he told her, but he did all the same. He held out his hand for Nina to hold while they waited again.

"I know," she said. Nina paused, and then added, "It's okay. You'll be okay." She rubbed the pad of her thumb across the top of his hand, rough from working with the car parts.

"Thanks Nina." He looked up into her eyes, "It can't be too bad can it?"

"Nope, it won't be," she said, thinking back to the time when she fractured her hand. Back to the time when she didn't have problems.

"Fab, when did you last have an x-ray? I can't remember, must have been a long time ago?"

"I was seven. The three were playing in the park after school when Usnavi accidentally pushed me into something. I couldn't write for a month or two." She smiled fondly at the bittersweet memory.

"Gosh that was 12 years ago, and look at us, all grown up. Most of our childhood behind us. I wish I had a better childhood, my early childhood was horrible, but it was made so much better when I came here when I was 10. I'm very glad that I'm ending my childhood happy and with you." He smiled, thinking of all those evenings with the radio in the parks rapping with Usnavi.

"Yep," she smiled as the doctor came into the room. She asked Usnavi and Nina to step out of the room, and so they did, letting the doctor do what she had to do.

Benny hated being alone. He hated being without Nina. 'It won't be too long' he thought to himself.' He pondered how on earth he was going to survive a long-distance relationship with her. She was definitely worth waiting for but if it hurt after only 3 minutes, how would he cope with 3 months at a time.

The whole time that she was away from Benny, Nina was worried about him, and how he would cope alone. She wished that she could be in there to hang over his shoulders and say that it would be alright.

Benny hadn't realized how much he depended on someone being there besides him. Almost every moment in his life there was someone besides him, whether it be Nina, Kevin at work, Usnavi in the bodega or even Sonny. Unless he was asleep he had always had someone to help him.

The doctor told him to relax his body. He hadn't even realized that he'd tensed up. He told Benny to sit up against the recording plate, and he did so with a bit of pain. He was instructed to put his hands on his hips, and that the doctor would do the rest. As they were taking the x-ray, Benny was instructed not to breathe, so he didn't, reducing blurriness in the photo. Eventually, Usnavi and Nina were permitted to come back in.

As soon as Nina was allowed back in he stretched forward as far as possible and held out his hands for her to take ahold of. When she did he pulled her towards him until she was able to sit on the chair by the bed. "I missed you Nina, I felt so alone without you by my side." He brought her hands up to his lips and gently kissed then. He then continued to stroke the backs of her hands with his thumb.

"I know baby," she looked endearingly into his eyes, "I missed you too."

Benny shuffled to the edge of the bed. "Get in, I could do with a cuddle." He tapped the empty half of the bed. There was plenty of room for both of them, if they cuddled tightly.

"Benny, I'm sorry, I really am, but I can't. It's hospital protocol."

"Ughhh, why do hospitals have to be such a pain." Benny moaned, he then shuffled over to the side of the bed Nina was next to. "Looks like you'll just have to cuddle me from there then?"

"Benny! No matter how much I want to, and trust me, all I want to do is hold you close, this is your bad side! Even though I want to cuddle you, I want you to get better."

"Oh yeah." Benny looked down. He took Nina's hands in his and squeezed them tight. It was all he could really do. He held them to his heart, knowing that's where she would always be, even if she wasn't physically with him, she would always be there with him on the inside.

Nina put her hands on his heart, looking into his eyes with sparkling affection.

"Nina!" Usnavi said from the corridor outside, "Visiting hours are over."

Nina fought the urge to tear up, standing and kissing Benny on the forehead. She put her hands around his, squeezing them to reassure him.

Benny didn't bother trying to hide the tears in his eyes, "Bye Nina, come first thing tomorrow." He said through the tears. He squeezed her hands back, he slowly sat himself up on the bed, reaching up, putting one hand around her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. It was short and sweet but was just what Benny needed before he had to spend the rest of the night alone in hospital. Not exactly what he had planned for that evening. "I love you Nina, don't forget."

"I promise, I'll come back. And I promise I won't forget. I love you too."

Benny smiled at her, but as Nina walked out the door Benny's heart broke. He was completely and utterly alone. It was now 10pm. He had to wait 12 whole hours until Nina could return. He laid back down leaning on his right side. Uncontrollable silent tears flowed from his eyes. A nurse came in telling him that he would need to wait until the morning to be told what he had actually done to his ribs and what treatments would be available. After the nurse left again, Benny tried to sleep, but was unsuccessful.

He closed his eyes thinking of everything. 'How Nina was going to pay for this? How he was going to be able to pay her back? What Nina's father would say when he found out? How they were going to be able to work long distance when he couldn't even go a few minutes without missing her or feeling alone? How he was going to get a new job? How he was going to pay rent?' All these thoughts circled his head. He finally fell asleep at 4am and was then woken up again by the door opening at 7.