Mileven Stories

Waiting Game (1999)

My queen and dear friend, breathless_writer requested this many moons ago, (like seriously, two months ago), and I am just now fulfilling this prompt. I hope it lives up to expectations, (fingers crossed)! Enjoy!

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A constant beeping noise echoed off of the eggshell white walls. The fluorescent lights in the room were blindingly bright, but only the darkest emotions were festering inside of Mike Wheeler.

He was sat along side a hospital bed, clutching onto his wife's hand. He caressed his thumb along her smooth knuckles, trying to distract himself from the fact that she had been unconscious for nearly five hours. So far, there was no sign of her awakening.

Mike had to forcefully drag his eyes up to her beautiful face, which was abnormally pale and coated in blossoming bruises. He gritted his teeth in anger; unbelievably maddened that this happened to them. To her.

The two had gone out for dinner and a movie to celebrate the new year. Hopper and Joyce had taken in Willow and Benjamin for the night, providing the couple with a chance to have a much needed date. However, they never made it to the movie.

On their way to the theater, a car begun sliding across the icy concrete surface and was headed straight at Mike's side, but he never felt the impact. El had busied herself by forcefully stopping the car, which thoroughly drained her.

They were just sharing a sigh of relief, looking over one another to assure they were okay when headlights suddenly illuminated El's body. And Mike could still hauntingly see her face in that moment. Fear was evident there when she had realized what was coming, followed by the flash of pain that lasted a single moment before she fainted.

A gorgeously gruesome gash appeared to develop on her hairline rather rapidly. Her arm had suffered damage as well, ultimately being broken in a few places.

Mike couldn't even feel himself screaming, but the ringing in his ears informed him that he was. He held on to his wife, pleading for her to wake up. He hoped she could hear him and prayed that she knew he couldn't lose her.

According to the police that arrived on the scene, the driver of the car had been heavily intoxicated. And even though he took that piece of information into consideration, Mike still couldn't stop himself from feeling as though this was his fault. She saved him from being in this position and somehow ended up being injured herself.

He was now leaning forward in the uncomfortable hospital chair to kiss her forehead and remained hovering over her as he whispered, "please wake up, El. I need you. Willow and Ben need their mom. I know it's selfish of me, but please come back. I need to see those pretty eyes, I need my home here."

Mike gave it a few minutes, hopeful that his words would have somehow healed her back to health. But when nothing happened, he felt his optimism deflate. The sobs that were violently wracking his body caused so much physical pain that he nearly lost consciousness, but he wanted to remain stable for the sake of being here whenever El woke up.

After pausing the emotion that threatened to destroy him; he softly began creeping into the empty space beside her in the bed, being incredibly mindful of her injuries. He gently lifted her battered cranium, placing her delicate head onto the safety of his chest.

"You're going to be okay. Not for me or anyone else, but for you. You deserve to live a long, happy life. I love you and everything is going to be okay. I promise," he murmured, tenderly rubbing his warm hand up and down her back.

Seven hours after the accident, Mike was struggling to fight off sleep. His orbs had just forcefully fallen shut when he heard footsteps enter the room. A familiar throat cleared before he was even able to pry open his heavy eyelids.