Baby Don't Stop

Chapter Twenty Four

             Ten felt his steps take him further and further away from Taeyong. Further and further stretched the string that tied their two hearts together. Every step his heart pulled for its other half.
            "Did you say goodbye?" Johnny asked when Ten caught up to where he was waiting at the end of the hall.
            Ten crossed his arms over his body and started to chew on his thumb nail. "No. it's not goodbye." He turned back to the door they had just taken Taeyong through. Something was bothering him. Ten rolled his shoulders and turned away from the door to the waiting room beyond.
            "Um, Ten. When the rest of the team found out they all wanted to come wait. I don't know if you want to be alone right now or if you wanted them there." Johnny spoke quickly.
            Ten turned the corner to see every seat in the little waiting room occupied by someone Ten knew. Whether it was the members or staff from the company. Everyone was there. Ten didn't want to greet everyone or tell them thank you for coming. Quietly he gave them all a bow and headed to the back of the room where Taeil had saved him and Johnny a seat.
            It had to be about one am. The day had gone on forever and there was still more to go before the day would be over.  Ten let himself flop down in the seat and lean his head back till it rested against the wall. He just let himself sit there and take deep breathes in and out. He could hear vaguely some of the members ask Johnny more about what was going on and what had happened. But Ten would let Johnny take care of it. He just wanted to be alone with his thoughts right now.
            It wasn't that he didn't like that everyone was here, but he still had to let his brain process all that had happened in one night. He let himself replay in his head over and over their first kiss and the many that followed.
            Those might be the only kisses he gets.
            No, he couldn't let himself start thinking like that. Taeyong was going to be alright. He was going to be fine.
            The night was filled with such happiness but also filled with such fear. And right now as much as Ten tried to concentrate on all the good that had come out of the night his mind kept returning to the not so good.
            One of their managers had come into the room and was talking to Johnny now about what had happened. Johnny was saying they should sue the hospital for missing something so important and putting Taeyong's life at risk. The manager was agreeing and said more but Ten chose to tune it out. He didn't want to listen.
            Ten pulled his head upright and looked around. Everyone was talking quietly amongst themselves, Taeil looked like he was taking a nap, and some were glancing over at Ten with concern reflecting back at him.
            How was he supposed to survive the surgery waiting like this?
            "If you want to sleep I can knock you out." he heard Taeil whisper from beside him.
            Ten felt his heart jump as he turned toward the oldest member who had one eye peaked open and staring at Ten.
            A short breath left Ten before he responded. "What do you mean?"
            "I mean I have a really nice right hook." A grin spread across Taeil's face as he closed his eye again and went back to his nap.
            Ten chuckled, "I'll let you know if I need to resort to that." He went back to chewing nervously at his thumb nail.
            Time passed quietly in the waiting room that smelled of anaceptic and bleach. Slowly the members started to doze off in their seats and Ten chewed on fingernail after fingernail. When he ran out of nails to bite he picked at the strings on his jeans.
            The wait went on forever. The doctors should be done by now. Something went wrong. Something went wrong and they haven't figured out a way to tell him.
            Ten could feel his breathing catch as it became harder and harder to get a deep breath. His brain wasn't getting enough oxygen. He couldn't breathe!
            "Ten? Ten. You're alright," Yuta spoke from his other side. He was one of the only one's still awake and he was supposed to be secretly watching over Ten who also refused to sleep. "Ten you have to breathe."
            Gasping in, Ten tried to get air into his lungs.
            "Put your head in between your legs."
            Ten let his head fall forward into his hands. His breathing was starting to come easier and easier.
            Even after his breathing had become even again he kept his head in his hands, scared that if he lifted his head that he wouldn't be able to breathe again. "What time is it?" he finally had the air to ask.
            "Almost 7 am." Ten could hear Yuta shift in his seat. "Ten, I think the surgery is done."
            "How would you know that?" Ten asked fuzzily.
            "Because there is a doctor here to talk to you."
            Ten's head shot up faster than lightening. Standing in front of him was a doctor standing in scrubs, holding his hat.
            Ten cleared his throat before he spoke. "Can you tell me how he is or can you only tell family?"  He remembered last time when the doctor had refused to speak to him.
            The doctor let out a soft chuckle. "The patient's instructions were quite clear. He forcefully told us if we stopped you from seeing him or knowing then he would personally find you himself. That being said, I am Doctor Byun head of Neurology here. Taeyong's surgery went very well. We were able to successfully clip the aneurism without much fuss and I did Tissue adhesive to give him the best chance at having minimal scaring. It will be a while before he wakes but you are free to go and wait in the ICU room with him."
            Ten could feel his heart start to soar. Taeyong was alright. Taeyong was okay. What had he been worrying about?
            "What we waiting for? Lead the way." Ten turned back to Yuta who was sitting patiently, a wide grin across his face. "Don't wake the others. But when they wake let them know. And as soon as Taeyong is moved to another room I'll see if they can visit." Ten stood up and took a deep breath before following after Dr. Byun.
            They had him dress in a bunch of steril scrubs and a face mask. Taeyong was at a high risk for infection and they wanted to do everything possible to prevent that.
            Taeyong's head was all wrapped up. What remained of his faded red hair was tucked away under the bandages. If not for the plentiful amount of machines that were hooked up to him he almost looked as if he was just taking a nap.
            Ten quickly made a note to bring Taeyong a beanie. He knew that even though Taeyong would put on a brave face he would be more comfortable if the bandages were covered by a hat or beanie so it was less obvious.
            He turned back to the nurse who stood in the doorway, "Can I touch him?"
            The nurse gave him a small nod before she left to check on her other patients.
           Oh, Taeyong. Ten stood over the love of his life. Suddenly his knees felt weak and he couldn't stand any longer. Luckily there was a chair behind him and he fell back into it. His hand reached the distance till his fingers met Taeyong's. He grasped Taeyong's hand tightly and finally let the relief that Taeyong was okay wash through him. His mind was already turning to fog before his head even hit Taeyong's mattress in front of him.