Fingers were combing through Connor Rhode's thick, dark hair, fingertips lightly caressing his scalp as his head rested on his folded arms on top of Ethan's hospital bed. The sensation was a pleasant one, one that made him feel contented as he stirred from what had been a troubled sleep. He didn't want to remember the nightmares, he brushed them away like cobwebs as his senses began to awaken. All too quickly it was over, that tender touch disappeared leaving an absent feeling in his psyche as he grumbled, his tired blue eyes flickering open.
It took him a moment to gather his thoughts and take in his surroundings as he listened to the sound of Ethan's even breathing over the steady beeping of the monitors in the background. It had been a few hours since he had come out of surgery and the outcome looked positive. The bullets had damaged the muscles in Ethan's shoulder and chest, also causing a bleed inside the thorax that his lungs had begun to soak up. They'd fixed the bleed, removed the bullets and given Ethan a blood transfusion before patching him up and sending him up to recovery. Ethan had awoken briefly after the anesthesia had worn off, giving enough time for Doctor Abrams had to check if there were any deficits from the lack of oxygen his brain had been receiving when he was coding. Thankfully there were none.
Ethan had drifted off back to sleep again before being wheeled into one of the Cardiology ward's private rooms. It had been over three hours since then and after the insanity of the day, the adrenaline that had been keeping Connor going had seemed to wane and he must have dropped off at some point. The muscles in his lower back twanged from the hunched position he had fallen asleep in, between the chair and Ethan's bed.
Gentle fingertips trailed over the rough stubble of his jaw this time and Connor leaned into it, his lips lightly brushing over those familiar fingertips before he supported his head on one arm and turned his full attention to his lover.
Ethan was propped up against the plush hospital pillows, his neck supported by the very tops of them as he reviewed Connor from hooded lids. His pallor was much paler than usual but there was color in his cheeks and that was a good sign. That square, white bandage pad peeked out, just over the neckline of Ethan's hospital gown. It was a stark reminder of what had happened today, of how close Connor had come to losing his lover. He felt that huge ache of emotion balling in his chest once more as his mind drifted back to those moments back downstairs, the ones in which Ethan had slipped away from him.
Ethan tapped his fingers weakly on the mattress with his right hand, distracting Connor from those darker thoughts. He knew that Ethan needed to feel the thrum of their connection right now, the same way he did so Connor obliged happy. He reached out, his soft surgeon's fingers threading through Ethan's rougher ones until their hands were entwined.
"How long have you been awake?" Connor asked his lover, watching as Ethan's dark unfocused eyes took in the room round him with rapid blinks.
"Minutes." Ethan responded feebly, he paused sucking in a deep breath, wincing when it hurt. "Parents?"
"They should be getting on their flight from Hawaii in the next hour or two, I think we'll be seeing them first thing in the morning." Connor informed Ethan, his thumb softly stroking the space between his lover's thumb and forefinger. "I've been keeping them up to date."
"Thanks." Ethan said, his gaze slipping to the bedside cabinet alongside, his dark soulful eyes brightening for just a moment before he started laughing.
That sound, it hit Connor like a ray of sunshine, brightening up his entire world. Ethan jerked for a second, his handsome face creasing with agony at the sensation in his chest before he sagged back against his pillows. There was still a smile on his face though, Connor knew it would take a while for his lover to come to terms with his current limitations but he was happy to support the other man through it.
"I got you this little guy." Connor told Ethan, reaching for the stuffed panda with his free hand and tucking it into the crook of Ethan's right arm, nestling it safely between his inner elbow and torso. "Sarah went a little over the top with the gift basket."
Ethan was still grinning as he took in the gift basket in all it's entirety. To say it was panda themed was an understatement. Tucked inside the wicker basket was a vast assortment of items, Ethan could see a panda t-shirt, panda socks, a mug, pens, a blanket, a cushion, even panda shaped lollipops. Attached to the handle of the wicker basket was a foil panda helium balloon, it's cheery features surveying the room as it bounced barely inches from the ceiling.
"That. . Come. From. The. Giftshop." Ethan strained to get the words out, his chest heaving as his gaze flickered upwards towards the balloon.
"No it did not." Connor stated, hiding his own mischievous smile behind his free hand.
"You helped." Ethan accused.
"She wanted to do something nice for you." Connor said with a halfhearted shrug. "I just pointed her in the right direction.
Ethan's eyes were beginning to flicker closed again, Connor already see his lean shoulders relaxing as his head began to loll slightly under it's own weight. Ethan was trying to fight it but Connor knew from experience that it wouldn't take him long before he was dragged back under again.
"Sleep." Connor urged, purposely lowering his voice as Ethan squeezed his hand as tightly as he could.
"Stay?" Ethan questioned, his dark eyes already closed, his breathing beginning to even out.
"Always." Connor whispered as Ethan drifted away once more.
