Broken Bonds

I Need You

Q'S POV

Q felt sick to his stomach, his palms were sweaty, and his head throbbed as he wondered how she was. The receptionist had refused to tell him anything because he wasn't a relative. He'd considered explaining to her that they had been secretly sleeping together for months if he thought that would've worked but he knew he was out of luck. And so, he decided to wait. He had been sat in silence for a half hour when he was finally approached by Bessy. He stood to his feet as quick as he could as she met him.

"How is she? What's happening? The nurses won't tell me anything", he told her hurriedly. Bessy sighed as she pushed her hair behind her ears.

"She had surgery to stop internal bleeding, but she's out now and they've put in her an induced coma", she told him.

"Well, what does that mean?", Q asked, furrowing his brow.

"It means she's unconscious right now, and it's all down to her to wake up. Could be hours. Could be days", she sighed once more, looking at him sadly. "I thought Joe might have been talking to you. He's been gone for almost an hour", she said. Q shook his head as he looked down at the floor awkwardly.

"C-can I see her?", he dared to ask, his hands now sweating profusely.

"Her dad's in there right now. I wanted to give him some space with her so it's best just to wait a little while", she told him honestly. Q nodded his head, he wanted to see her so desperately, but he knew Bessy was right. He couldn't just barge in on Vicky's dad at such a delicate time.

"Hey, Bess?", he said suddenly. Bessy looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue. "I'm really sorry. About everything. It's been a pretty confusing few months", he told her honestly. Bessy gave him a soft smile as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"She told me you make her happy. Just make sure it stays that way", she winked. "I'm gonna go give my mom a call to ask her to pick up Milana from day care. I'll come and get you when you can see her", she smiled sincerely before turning on her heel to leave. But, Bessy never returned. He wasn't sure whether Vicky's dad was still sitting with her or whether it had slipped Bessy's mind but, before he knew it, it was now 4am and Q was still sat in the same spot, waiting. He wondered whether she was thinking about him, or whether she could even think at all. And what would have happened if he had ignored her request that he stay away for a while? Could he have prevented this from happening? He just wanted to know that she was okay. He just wanted to see her. As he sat with his elbows resting on his knees, his head hung low, a disposable coffee cup was suddenly presented in front of him. As he looked up, he was shocked to see Joe standing there. Cautiously, he took the coffee from him as Joe took a seat beside him.

"Thanks", Q's voice croaked. Joe remained silent as he drank his own coffee, staring at the wall in front of them. The pair drank their respective coffees silently for a moment. Q had figured Joe had no idea what to say, and the truth was? Neither did he.

"Why'd you lie, Q?", Joe finally spoke. Q sighed as he took another sip of his coffee.

"I – I originally didn't care who knew. Not that I'm blaming Vicky! She – she was just so worried about hurting you and Bessy", he told him honestly. "After a while, I started to think about hurting you too and it was awful".

"So, why didn't you end it?", Joe asked.

"Because I started to care", he said simply. Joe raised his eyebrow at him as his gaze finally met his. "I'm not gonna lie to you Joe, and I know you don't wanna hear it but – you're right – it was just about the sex. At first", he explained. "And it was that way for her too! But, then I got to know her. And – and I found out that she's this amazing, kind, intelligent and funny girl", he smiled to himself, thinking about the time he had spent with Vicky over the last few months, and how happy she had made him.

"It is incredible that she could find herself again after going through so much", Joe smiled to himself.

"I know", Q replied simply.

"You know?", Joe questioned.

"About David? Yeah – yeah, I know", he told him as he sighed. He could tell that Joe was shocked to learn Vicky had shared that part of her past with him. "I told her about Mallory too", he continued. Joe's eyes shifted between his, as if he were looking for some sort of indication that he was being honest. "I told you – I care about her Joey. A lot", he said. Joe sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Bessy said she'd come get me, but I guess she forgot", he told him. Joe sighed once more as he cleared his throat.

"I guess that's my fault", he said awkwardly. Q raised his eyebrow at him suspiciously. "I kinda made a bit of a scene about you going in there to see her when Bessy told me she'd spoken to you", he sighed. Q scoffed sarcastically as he nodded his head.

"Great. Guess I deserved that", he said as he ruffled his own hair.

"So, you've been here this whole time?", Joe asked. Q nodded as he took another sip of his coffee.

"I just want to know that she's okay. I couldn't have gone home and slept knowing that she's stuck here and wondering whether or not I'm ever gonna see her again!", he told him, dropping his head in his hands as he exhaled. There was an eerie silence for a moment as Q fought back his own tears. He couldn't help himself. Physically he was healthy, but inside he was the weakest he had ever felt. He just wanted to see her and tell her that everything was going to be okay. He wasn't angry at Joe for denying him the chance of doing that, he figured he deserved it for lying to his best friend and hurting him the way they had, but he would have given anything to be by her side, even if that meant giving up his lifelong friendship with Joe.

"You love her. Don't you?", Joe suddenly asked. Q had never explored the possibility of being in love with Vicky, but his heart didn't deny it. Without saying a word, he lifted his head up and looked back at Joe, and with that single look, he knew he had confirmed what Joe was thinking. "Go", Joe said simply.

"What?", Q replied.

"Go and see her", he told him. "She's in 394", Joe continued. Without a single word, Q got out of his seat and ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Just as he was about to reach the door, Bessy was making her way out.

"Q? I'm sorry I didn't come back, Joe-"

"I know", Q cut her off. "We've been talking – he said it was okay", he told her, catching his breath.

"Oh. Well, that's great!", Bessy smiled weakly. "I'll – I'll give you two some space", she said, making her way past him and heading down the hall. Q took a deep breath as he stood outside the door that read 394, unsure of what to expect before entering. Vicky laid flat on her back in a large, uncomfortable-looking, hospital bed. She had a purple shiner across her left eye and had more than a dozen stitches above her left eyebrow. A cannula had been fitted into her nostrils and Q noticed that she also had a split lip. Her neck had been supported in a brace and her arms laid out lifeless and pale on top of a pale blue blanket. Q walked carefully to a vacant chair that sat beside her bed, sitting down before cautiously taking her hand in his.

"I know you're a bit of a drama queen, but this is going a bit too far don't you think?", he joked as he gave a breathy chuckle, examining her fingers as he ran his thumb gently over every cut and graze he could see. Q sighed as he looked up at her sleeping face. He'd have tried to pretend that she was just having a nap if her facial injuries didn't obviously prove otherwise. He found it increasingly difficult to hold back the tears he had managed to conceal for the last 12 hours as he allowed a few stray tears to trickle down his cheek and into his beard. "I don't know what to say. I don't even know if you can hear me!", he spoke softly. "I think Joe's coming around. He let me come in here instead of punching me in the face so, I'm taking that as a good sign", he chuckled. "But – but I'm gonna need you to wake up so we can see how this pans out. Because – he's a great guy. And he just wants you to be happy", he smiled softly, his gaze meeting her swollen fingers once more. "I want the chance to prove to him that I can do that for you", he said honestly, his tears now flowing freely as he entwined his fingers with hers. "I really need to see those beautiful big brown eyes, Vicky", he choked as he sobbed. "I know I'm supposed to be the one that tells you everything's gonna be okay, but – I really need you to tell me that now. And the only way you can do that is if you open your eyes", he begged, his voice broke as he shuddered with grief. Q bobbed his head so that his lips could gently meet the top of her hand, pressing them against her skin as he shut his eyes tight, hoping with everything he had that she would be okay.