Let Me Love You Again

Chapter 15: Home for Thanksgiving

When I opened his room, the first thing that wrecked through me, was panic. His room... well it was cleaned out... I ran out and ran back to the front desk.

"Where is Nico Roose...?" I asked Stacy. She looked up, an uncaring attitude on her face.

"He was transferred to another room, out of ICU. It's on your clipboard." She said as she popped her gum. I clenched my jaw as I looked at my clipboard for his room number...

Nico Mark Roose: Room 203, Recovery. 'Recovery...?' I sprinted down the hallway, ignoring the calls of doctors and nurses as I turned the corners. 'Why is he in there?' As I made my way to room 203, I barged open the door. Nico looked up startled from his Nintendo, but smiled when he realized who it was.

"Hi Jessica!" He said ecstatically. I stood there, confused.

"Why did they move you in here?" I asked as I took a seat on his bed.

"Well... that's why I'm so happy. The new treatment they have me on, is apparently helping my blood cells work properly! Isn't it on your clipboard?" He asked as he wrapped his arms around me tightly. I shook my head as I failed to actually check his stats. I looked around the room to see no breathing machine.

"You can breathe good now?" I asked, shock still in my tone. He smiled as he took a deep breath and released it. I smiled as I hugged him even tighter. "That's... great Nico! I'm so happy for you!

"Yeah! I'm so happy; maybe my parents will come to see me finally!" He said happily. I felt a pain in my chest as I pulled away from him. "What's the matter...?" He asked as he removed his arms from my waist. I just smiled as I kissed his forehead, holding back the tears.

"Nothing, I'm just so happy for you. I have... interesting news too." I said as I leaned back, watching him turn the game off.

"Tell me!" I smiled at the little kid in him.

"Well, Kimmy and I are going to go back to my house for thanksgiving." I said as I smiled. He didn't smile though, instead, he looked away from me.

"Oh... so you'll be away for the four days you have off...?" I clenched my jaw tightly at his voice.

"Yeah... I guess so..." That's when the craziest idea came into my head. "Would you like to come with me?" I asked as I leaned back to watch his expression. He turned his head up to me, shocked but not taken away.

"How? We aren't family and you can't sign any release forms... Oh that would mean more to me than seeing my real parents any day though..." He said as he laid his head on my lap. I smiled as I tentatively brushed my fingers on his back.

The rest of my day, was spent thinking of my two biggest conflicts... calling my parents and telling them I'll be coming for thanksgiving... and talking to the dean of medicine about Nico.

I was having intense crazy thoughts about my little guy; the latest one I had was even adopting him. I laughed at that though; I was only 23 years old... I'm still in college, I can't just adopt him.

I shook them away though as thoughts of going back home came into my mind again. When I got home I stood in my kitchen, zipping my zipper up and down as I stared at my cell phone. I took a breath, looking down at Astro wagging his tail. I scrolled down my contacts and hit call.

"Hello?" I heard my sister's girly voice. I couldn't help but smile as a laugh came to me.

"Hey you." I said simply.

"Jessica? Isn't it like... one am there?" She asked as I heard her move around in her bed.

"Yeah, I just got out of the hospital, I didn't wake you did I?" I asked as I sat at my kitchen table.

"No, I was just doing homework. College life is hard, Jessy." She groaned. I smiled though as I remembered my first year.

"Wait till sophomore year, Lauren. That's even harder." I heard her groan in the phone and couldn't help but laugh at that. "Is mom or dad awake?"

"Yeah, mom is in the living room watching TV and dad is in the office, doing some sort of work. Why?" She asked curiously.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as I took a breath.

"Well... uh... I'm coming home with Ki-." I didn't even get to finish that sentence though as I heard her scream. By the sounds of it, she ran out of her room and down the stairs to the living room. I heard the TV being turned off and my mom asking her what on earth was the matter. I rolled my eyes as I heard them both scream for joy, my mom taking the phone away from Lauren.

"Oh Jessy! Are you really coming home?" I sighed into the phone.

"That's the plan, mom. Kimmy wants to meet you guys." I said as I rubbed the back of my neck as I stood up and walked into my room, laying down on my bed.

"I'm so excited now! You have no idea how happy i am that we finally get to see you after so long! And to meet your girlfriend, this is going to be the best thanksgiving ever..." And thus, the blabbing had begun. I swore, I think I fell asleep twice during her talking about all the things she was going to plan. After a good half an hour of talking my ear off, she asked my dad to talk to me about the trip.

"Hey Honey, your mother says you're coming down here with your lady friend?" He asked as I heard him moving about in the office.

"Yeah, is that alright?" I asked as I rubbed Astro's belly.

"Of course, I've been putting money aside anyway for when you wanted to come visit us. I have enough for at last two round trips. When do you want to fly in?" I could hear him typing away on the computer. I shook my head as I remember how... what the word... is oh yes, go-getting my family was. I had just brought up the topic half an hour ago and already he was purchasing tickets.

"Dad... can we please do this later? Besides..." I started as I chewed on the inside of my cheek. "I might be bringing a third person..." He paused for a moment.

"Who?" He asked in a curious tone. "You aren't dating two people at the same time... right?" I almost died of laughter.

"No, dad. It's Nico." I could hear him sigh and could only picture him sitting in his chair and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Are you sure you can even take him with you? Would that even be a bright idea?"

"He's on new medication and is finally out of ICU, Dad... and I'm going to the dean tomorrow and seeing what she says. He's doing so much better... and I know how to take care of him anyway if something happens. I'd bring all of his medication with me and our house is literally five minute drive away from the hospital.

He... means a lot to me dad... I basically think of him as my own son, and yes I know that's weird, but if you saw how we are with each other, you'd understand. I don't know... It's just a thought I've been having as of today. It's not really thought out very well, I know, but it's just how I feel."

"Well... I know you have a good head on your shoulders, so I stand by you if you do bring him. We'd love to meet him.
Now... What about Deanney?" I froze as I heard her name being said out loud.

"W-what about h-her?" Astro lifted his head up and laid it on my chest as I clung to him.

"Are you going to see her? Are you even going to tell her you're coming here?" He asked in that parent like voice. I sighed as I scratched Astro's head.

"No... I can't handle seeing her and hearing her voice..." I said as I closed my eyes.

"Hm... Alright sweetie...  call me tomorrow if you can with news about Nico. Your mother wants to talk to again, but I'm just going to let you go to sleep." He said. I could hear my mom in background bickering with him about it, but I smiled.

"Thanks dad..." I said as I took a breath. "I'll call you tomorrow." I said as I hung the phone up. I threw my phone at my hamper as I fought my tears to go away.

Deanney was the last person I wanted to see while going there... She was the whole reason why I avoided going home... I laid there, with my knees to my chest. I can't see her, I won't see her...
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I know it's probably not reality for Nico to go with her, but wouldn't that be amazing?