Seek With Me? | chanbaek

.3

Chanyeol hardly slept that night, and the next morning he rose bright and early. He quickly showered and got dressed before hailing a cab.

When he got to the hospital, he sneaked pass the front desk since yesterday he had learned only family could visit Baekhyun. He found his room easily and slipped inside, and what he saw was like a punch to the gut.

Baekhyun laid so still upon his hospital bed. The right side of his cheek was a deep purple color, and Chanyeol could see just the corner of the bandage they placed over his stitches on the back of his head.

Chanyeol walked towards him slowly. His vain hope that he would wake up and give Chanyeol one of his brightest smiles, as he held out his arms for a hug while he happily called out, "Channie!"

But none of that happened. He continued to lay so still. His skin even paler than normal; his wrist tapped with a tub going into his skin; the machines beeping away like an ominous drum.

It was the saddest thing to see his Baekhyun like this, comatose and unsmiling. And that thought had Chanyeol wondering if Baekhyun had even woken up yet. Although apart of him already knew the answer.

He exhaled a ragged breath as he grabbed the nearest chair and took a seat. He was mindful of the wires and tubs as he took Baekhyun's hand and stroked the back of his hand with his thumb.

"Baekhyun," he gently said. "Do you want to know something that'd make me really, so insanely happy?" Chanyeol paused to take another steady breath, his voice cracking when he continued by saying, "Is if you opened your eyes for me, right now. That would make me so happy. I love you, Baekkie," Chanyeol softly whispered before leaning forward to kiss his forehead.

"Wake up for me . . ."

~ ~ ~

Chanyeol woke up to the sound of scuffling and voices. He blinked his eyes open with a yawn, and lifted his head from Baekhyun's bed when he saw Sehun —- looking as ragged as the night before —- with the doctor by his side.

When Sehun glanced at Chanyeol, his face fell even more. Chanyeol looked from him to the doctor as he said, "What is it? Is Baekhyun going to be okay?" Chanyeol's voice came out thick from both sleep deprivation and worry.

"I'm—-I'm going to let the doctor tell you...." Sehun mumbled dazed-like as he shuffled to the other chair in the corner of the room.

Chanyeol's gaze diverted to the doctor as he stuttered, "T–tell me what?"

The doctor sighed, and face drawn in sympathy, he said, "Mr. Byun is . . . in a coma."

Chanyeol knew it was something like that. But hearing the words out loud for himself made it all the more real —- all the more heart crushing.

"When—-when do you think he'll wake up?" Chanyeol mumbled, his voice sounding distant and underwater-like to his own ears.

"It's hard to tell . . ." the doctor said. "The mind is fragile, and the hit to the head caused swelling to his brain. All I can say for sure is that he needs time to heal, and once he has, he'll wake back up."

"But how can you be so sure?" Sehun mumbled.

Chanyeol gasped and rounded on him, yelling, "Shut the hell up, Sehun! He's going to wake up."

Sehun's brow furrowed and he sighed as he said, "I'm sorry. I just . . . If I ever find out who did this, I'm going to kill them."

"Then you may be in luck," the doctor said. "Although I don't agree with your 'I'm going to kill him' statement. The police station called about sending someone over for a statement from Mr. Byun. But since he's in a coma, they'll be asking you questions about the man they have in cus—"

"Wait! What?!" Sehun yelled.

"They have someone in custody and we're only hearing about this now?!" Chanyeol also yelled.

The doctor nodded and then sighed as he muttered, "They really don't do anything right. Do they?"

"No, they don't!" Sehun growled before grabbing his coat.

He was almost to the door when he realized Chanyeol wasn't beside him. He sighed. "Chanyeol, we have to go to the police station. Then we'll come right back. Okay?" Sehun said gently.

Chanyeol forced himself to tear his eyes away from Baekhyun's sleeping face when he quietly replied, "But I don't want to leave him, Sehun. I mean, what if he wakes up and I miss it? I want to be here for him."

Sehun nodded sympathetically and softly replied, "As do I, Chanyeol. He's my brother and I want to be here for him too. But right now, we need to help him do something he can't right now. Which is putting the son of a bitch who did this to him behind bars. So are you coming?"

Chanyeol sighed and gave Baekhyun one last forlorn look before quietly replying, "Yes."