Escapade | Daniel Seavey AU

24

I couldn't sleep properly until I had finally landed back in Portland. Corbyn was still in New York, saying that he needed to get some things done. I had given him a brief explanation on why I had to leave so suddenly and he didn't ask any other questions, knowing this was urgent and I was going to explain to him when the time felt right.

I had gone straight to the hospital Brennan was admitted in and found Jack outside of her hospital room. With one glance through the window into the room, I felt my chest tighten at the sight. Non-family visitors weren't allowed at this time, since she had been in critical condition but Jack had explained to me what had happened.

"She came to school fine that morning," he began as we sat at the hospital cafeteria. "I don't know what happened, but from other people, she had been asking around—asking for you—" my breath had hitched at that moment, knowing that she was looking for me, "—then all of a sudden, in the cafeteria, I spotted someone helping her and then noticed how she was unconscious."

"Then you brought her to the hospital?"

"No, because the other teachers weren't informed about Brennan's leukemia, they didn't think it was serious case despite the fact that I was practically screaming at their faces," he continued to explain, his expression gradually becoming more irritated. "They said that she probably stayed up too late and didn't eat breakfast, but only when the principal had come in and told them to bring her to the hospital was when they actually did."

"And you got the actual reason to her fainting, right?"

He nodded, "Because of her leukemia, she gets tired very easily and because of the fight you guys had, she hadn't been eating as much—and you know that she likes to eat, so this had taken a huge toll on her health." The guilt had begun to spread as he explained. "When she couldn't find you in school, I guess she got really stressed out and panicked, she wouldn't stop running around to find you according to the people she shares classes with, and it caused her to lose consciousness."

I was silent then. This happened because you didn't think your words through. I kept beating msyelf up, pushing the untouched food from me before excusing myself from the table. He understood, informed me that he'll text me if I'm allowed to visit her.

Once I was away from everyone else in the hospital, finding refuge in a secluded area not far from the facility, I broke down completely. I was crying hysterically. The guilt had taken over me and I couldn't stop sobbing, the cries created a huge ache within my chest as the image of her lying in the hospital bed, IV needles in her arms and an oxygen mask over her face, her skin looking even paler than before—I felt responsible.

I knew better than to feel responsible for it because her fainting or falling into her breaking point was bound to happen with her condition, but I didn't have that mindset then and kept beating myself up for it.

My mom noticed—of cours e she'd notice, I had gotten home three days before my original plan and looked like I had witnessed a death—which seemed likely. She tried talking to me, but I just shrugged it off and assured her I'd tell her. I'm sure she knew somehow, that something was genuinely wrong with the world, but didn't pry until I felt it was safe to talk.

It was until two more days did I finally get access to her room. Unfortunately, I wasn't told that she had left the room for fresh air and ended up finding an empty, tidy bed in the room. At first I thought I was in the wrong room until I had seen the nametag by her bed, and immediately thought of the worst case scenario.

"No, no, you weren't supposed to leave yet," I exclaimed, rushing over to her bed.

"Why not? I'm sorry the processed air didn't feel refreshing enough." There she stood by the door frame; still dressed in her hospital gown and now, brown hair falling weakly to her shoulders. Her face was pale, but her eyes still held some sort of light—some sort of hope as she held onto her IV drip.

"Oh my gosh, you scared the shit out of me," I sighed in relief.

"Good because now we're even," she sent me a playful grin, "where did you go?" I explained to her that I was on trip, and she nodded, a frown on her lips.

"You should've just called, you know?"

"If I could, I would," she chuckled dryly, "my phone broke because I dropped it in the toilet."

I stared at her bewildered, "Why are you an idiot?"

"Hey!" She pouted. "I'm in the hospital, show me some pity."

"I thought you didn't like being pitied," I rose a brow to her.

"Yeah well, the situation's different." She mumbled, her fingers finding themselves onto mine, gently tracing the shape of my hand as she swung her leg over the edge of the bed absentmindedly. The look she had given me next was something rare but I've seen before—she looked scared. "Please stay."

"Visiting hours are until ten," I reminded her, intertwining our fingers.

She moved closer, resting her head onto my shoulders before whispering, "Then stay until ten." I couldn't say much, as I wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer as I held onto her cold hands before I gave the top of her head a small kiss.

I then muttered, "Okay."

THERE'S ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT