↔IMPULSE↔

↔Blushing↔

Three days had passed and Gabe's results were finally back.

Archie sat at Gabriel's bedside with Mr and Mrs Escott, holding one of Gabriel's hands between both of his own. Dr Buchane walked in, "good news is: the mass isn't cancerous. It's a hemangioblastoma which is fairly rare. Since it's benign and the position on your brain, we should be able to cut practically all of it out with very little chances that it would reoccur because it isn't malignant."

Mrs Escott began to cry in relief, Archie felt Gabriel squeeze his hand when their eyes met, Gabriel smiled, a real smile. Gabriel turned to the doctor, "So, Tom, when are we taking this nuisance out?"

"I want to schedule you as soon as possible so you can head on home and heal up. I'm thinking we'll have time tomorrow morning, sound good?"

Gabriel smirked, "it's not like I have any plans."

"Okay, I'll reserve an O.R. I'll see you bright and early, Gabe."

Archie let out a breath, it wasn't cancer. However, Gabriel still had brain surgery the next day so he wasn't completely relieved. It was funny though, how Gabriel was on a first name basis with pretty much everyone on the floor.

His parents left to go tell Sandy the good news and get some much-needed sleep. The nurses dropped by to talk to Gabriel, Gabriel was an institution. Everyone gathered around him, wishing him good luck in his surgery and bringing him pudding cups. 

He laughed breezily, "if you guys keep bringing me pudding I'll be put into a diabetic coma. I can't worry this guy for a while now," Gabriel touched Archie's shoulder and the nurses all 'awed'.

They were very open as a couple, the nurses thought their relationship was cute and gave them well-wishes for the future. Gabriel shared half of his mountain of pudding cups with Archie and they ate them as they talked.

"I can't wait to go home! I miss my bed! Once this is over I won't get these headaches anymore and I won't feel so nauseous." Gabriel smiled happily and licked his spoon. Archie sat on the bed next to him, he leant over and kissed him gently.

Gabriel smiled and kissed him back, his mouth tasted like vanilla pudding. Archie cupped his face and deepened the kiss, his tongue pressing against Gabriel's and exploring his mouth. He pulled back, staring at a dazed Gabriel with kiss-swollen lips.

"When you get better, we can continue this too."

Gabriel blushed and gave him a cute, angry look. "You dick, it's so unfair to stir me up and leave me be!"

Archie pecked his lips and smirked, "think of it as motivation to get better."

Gabe took back the pudding cups, "no pudding for teases."

When the next morning came, Gabriel kissed him good-bye as he left to be prepped for surgery. Archie sighed, all he could do now was wait. Mrs Escott was filling out some files for work as she sat on the sofa and Mr Escott was talking with Sandy about hieroglyphics.

It seemed to take forever. 

Archie was getting jittery and impatient, what if there were complications? What if the surgeons mess up? It was frustrating and it made Archie feel helpless. 

When Gabriel's bed was wheeled back in, Gabriel was unconscious and his head was wrapped in bandages. Archie felt his heart leap in his chest at the sight, Nurse Emma smiled and said everything went well and that Gabriel would wake up once the anaesthesia wore off.

Everyone was relieved. Flowers and get-well-soon cards filled the room. Archie covered Gabriel up with his fluffy, yellow blanket to block out the cold of the hospital room. He took Gabriel's hand and smiled. Finally able to exhale with relief, Gabriel was okay now.

Gabriel woke up and was groggy, he smiled weakly at  Archie, "my head hurts like a bitch."

Mrs Escott scolded him, "Gabe! Language!"

"Oops," he said but didn't sound too sorry. Sandy laughed and told him about her drama at school. His family stayed for another hour or so before leaving so he could sleep and recuperate. Everyone seemed so much more relaxed now that Gabriel was okay.

Gabriel stared at Archie with a distant look, "what's up, Gabriel?"

"I had the weirdest dream when I was out."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I dreamt that I died and became a ghost before I could tell you I love you and I kept following you around trying to leave hints at it but you were a rational bastard that didn't believe in ghosts and when I woke up and saw you I really wanted to slap you."

Hearing this, Archie couldn't process it, he stammered out, "you—y-you love me?"

The two blushed furiously, Gabe covered his head with his blanket, hiding, "shut up..." the lump under the blankets said shyly.

Archie laughed and hugged the lump kissing it repeatedly, "I love you too, Gabriel."

Poking his head out, his face looked like lava and his eyes were teary. "Stupid Archer! How can you say that when we've been dating for two months?"

He laughed, a clear laugh that was absolutely delighted, "you said it first."

"My dream-self thought it!"

"So you don't love me?" He made a sad face and deflated and three, two, one...

"I never said that!" By this time, Archie was seriously worried that Gabriel would overheat. "It's—it's just...an epiphany..."

How could he be this adorable? Archie buried his smiling face into the edge of his bed, he probably looked like a complete and total idiot with how big his grin was. Gabriel was the cutest ever!

Nurse Emma walked in, "you're awake! Are you feeling okay?" Emma walked over checking for a fever. "You're temperature is a little high..."

"That's his fault!" Gabriel pointed to Archie who's shoulders shook with laughter, his face still hidden. "He's razzing me!"

Archie sat up and Nurse Emma was smiling too, "you're already so energetic! Dr Buchane will be happy to hear when he comes by so don't overexert yourself." Turning to Archie, "try not to tease him too much."

"But he started it! He told me he loves me!" Archie protested and saw Gabe's face glowing red as a pillow suddenly hit Archie's face. Emma tittered happily, commenting about how lovey-dovey they were as she left to tell the other nurses Gabriel was up.

Archie decided to follow the nurse's advice and let Gabriel calm down a little, his face slowly returning to its natural colour. He stilled pouted on his bed looking away from Archie as Archie held back his laughs as he apologised for messing with him.

He was incandescently happy. He was in a loving relationship with a mega-cute boyfriend who was now safe and healthy and would get to go home soon. Everything was okay now. Gabriel had been right, everything was okay.