It's Quiet Uptown

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Stay Alive

Lin's POV

    The first thing that greeted me as I gradually woke up was pain.

    It radiated in waves from several points; my arm, head, leg, and thigh. Everything felt like it was on fire.

    The pain stacked on each other, exacerbating their effects until the combined agony made my eyes tear up.

    So I kept my eyes clenched shut and dove back into sleep to escape.

    Unfortunately for the crowd of anxious eyes watching my every move - or lack thereof - the discomfort drove away any memories of what caused my injuries.

*  *  *  *
Groff's POV

    I could've sworn I saw Lin's eyes flutter.

    The Hamilcast and I were squeezed into Lin's hospital room, waiting for him to resurface after the sleep medicine from his surgery wore off.

    I had calmed down significantly after Lin was brought back from surgery, gashes stitched up and his head bandaged. It was clear to me that if his life was in danger, we'd be in the ICU. Since we weren't, it was likely he'd open his caramel eyes soon.

    But what replaced that fear was a conversation I'd had with a doctor two hours ago.

*  *  *  *

    "Is he going to pull through?" I asked her, fear making my breathing come in short gasps.

    "Yes, he will survive." the doctor said, smiling as I sagged in relief.

    "Oh, thank God," I sighed. The fear that had kept my muscles tight and my heart race receded, allowing me to relax for the first time all day.

    Was this the same day? So much had happened - Daveed's text, the rescue, Nathan's death, the beating - I had truly never had a longer day in my entire life.

    "But there are some... complications," the doctor continued.

    Immediately, the bottom of my stomach dropped. Shit.

    "Complications?" I asked, my voice quavering.

    "The helmet protected Mr. Miranda's head from the worst of the beating, but towards the end, it crumpled and injured his occipital lobe."

    Brain damage? Images of a hampered Lin raced through my mind. I wouldn't care if he couldn't do what he used to be able to - but the damage ruined his ability to write and sing, to share his gift with the world... I felt like I was about to vomit.

    At my terrified expression, she said, "The occipital lobe controls vision, Mr. Groff. Extreme damage can cause loss of vision, color-blindness, or illusions visible only to the patient."

    Visual damage? I could live with that. More importantly, Lin could live with that.

   The doctor smiled. "Luckily for Mr. Miranda, the helmet held out long enough for any damage to the lobe to be superficial. He'll have quite the nasty headache from the concussion, but otherwise? No damage."

    Relief flooded through my veins. "Thank you so much, doctor," I said emotionally before wrapping her in a hug.

    "You're welcome," she whispered. "And do me a favor - put a ring on that one. Even a blind person could tell you care immensely for him."