Soulbound (Final Space. Jackspeed fic)

Ch 10: The Worst Happens

There was a small person in his bed. A very small person, with olive green skin and a large head. "Jack?"

"Yawn! Good morning, John. You're up early," the Greytrexian said, greeting him with a cheerful smile as he sat up in the bed. The blankets pooled in his lap as he stretched, revealing his rather unclothed state — at least from the waist up.

"Uh, you're... in my bed," John stammered, his brain feeling rather foggy despite the morning sun shining through his window.

"Of course, I am, silly. I'm your sou..."

John felt his eyes widen as he watched a dark stain begin to spread over the smaller man's chest. The captain had patched enough of his co-pilot's wounds over the years to know exactly what it was.

"John?" Jack sounded so terrified, his golden eyes wide as he clutched the spot where the blood was dripping out of his chest.

"Jack!"

RING

            RING

                          RING!

The captain sat up rapidly, his heart beating like a drum. His cell phone was ringing on his bedside table, calling for his attention. A quick glance was enough to confirm that there was no one in his bed except for him.

What a weird dream. Reaching out, John picked up the phone and held it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Is this Captain John Goodspeed?" the unfamiliar voice at the other end asked.

"It is. Who's calling?" John picked up the clock on the table. It had only been a few hours since he'd fallen asleep.

"My name is Nurse Lancaster from the Infinity Guard Main Hospital. I'm sorry about the late hour, Mr. Goodspeed, but you were his emergency contact," the man on the other end stated.

John felt a jolt of liquid terror surge through him as the nurse began to explain the situation. "Why is he in the hospital? A car accident? The driver passed away at the scene? He's sustained head injuries?" John put the phone on speaker as he rushed to dress.

"Captain Goodspeed, are you still there?"

"Yes. I'm on my way now," John insisted, barely remembering to grab the phone and shove it into his pocket as he raced to get Gary.

***

John thanked his lucky stars that his elderly neighbor was willing to take care of his son for the night. The little boy shouldn't have to see his favorite person in the hospital.

Not that he was jealous of Jack being Gary's favorite adult. Not anymore. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much the little man had sacrificed to live with him. Jack had taken on the most difficult tasks that came with raising children. John didn't know how he did it. Goodness knows, he did not have the infinite patience that the little alien seemed to have when it came to dealing with Gary's temper tantrums, and his sometimes overly-energetic temperament.

The guilt was back. He'd forced his best friend out of the house, robbing his son of the other man's companionship. All because he felt betrayed over something so stupid. Jack had to have a good reason for his silence, John decided. And if the other man made it out of this alive, then John would insist that he move back in with them. And he'd drop the soulmate topic altogether. He didn't need a soulmate when he had someone as wonderful as Jack in his life.

***

"Thank you for coming on such short notice, captain. I need you to fill out some paperwork. Now, it's my understanding that Jaxxtrixx riiandra neek is living with you at this time," the nurse said, stumbling a bit over the lengthy name, even as he handed John the forms he would have to sign.

"Yes." John began looking over the paper, his eyes barely able to focus on the writing.

"If you could just verify some information," the nurse was saying, but John's eyes had caught sight of a very familiar set of symbols next to Jack's name. Turning over his wrist, he quickly compared them. It was a match.

"OH! Oh my, I'm dreadfully sorry. I didn't realize you were his soulmate. If I'd have known..." the nurse tried to apologize, bowing his head.

"It's alright. I... I recently found out, myself," John admitted. Damn it, Jack. Why didn't you tell me? We've been living together for years, and you never once told me that YOU were my... No, this is no time to get upset. I need to make sure he's alright.

"What room is he in?" John immediately asked.

***

"He's in a coma. I'm sorry, Mr. Goodspeed, but the doctors aren't sure if he'll regain consciousness."

That was what the nurse had said once he'd led the captain into the single room. John had waved him away, taking the time to get a good look at the condition his soul... his Jack, was in. The little Greytrexian was laying on the hospital bed, his entire body limp. Bandages were wound around one his eyes and most of his head. There were dark stains on the white fabric.

Pulling a chair close to the bed, John found himself reaching out for Jack's hand. The man didn't even twitch when he took it, his larger fingers entwining with the little alien's green ones.

"It says here that he doesn't have any immediately family, but if you could notify his friends, captain..." the nurse suddenly interrupted from the doorway.

"I'll take care of it," John commented, his attention focused entirely on his soulmate lying comatose next to him.