Logan

65. You Saved My Life

Canyon, Aeron and I had been released under the promise we would stick to our medication, and go to therapy sessions.

Canyon had called his wife, and from what I heard from the conversation the two of them had, it was a happy occasion.

When I had a moment to myself, I opened the piece of paper Micah had handed me. 'We're pulling for you' in scribbled handwriting, part of me wanted to cry, the other wanted to smile. Kellan's truck pulling up jogged my thoughts. I'd tried calling him, but he was busy at the new bar/studio AB was opening, so Damien came to rescue us instead.

"Wow, I'm surprised they let you out," Damien laughed as he jumped down and adjusted his jacket, "I'm really glad to see you though," he said as he enveloped me in a tight hug.

"You smell like fruit," I mumbled.

"Oh, it's a new shampoo." Hearing his voice reminded me I was so close to going home, and part of me felt scared, and I wondered if I was doing the right thing by leaving so suddenly. Aeron must have sensed my apprehension, because he clasped his hand over mine.

"I've got your bags, sweetheart. We should get going before visiting hours are over..." His voice drifted, but we both knew what he was thinking.

"I can take those," Damien scrunched our things into the back of Kellan's truck, and we all piled in. Canyon said he'd be behind us, and we all headed toward the hospital.

It was silent for only a few moments before Damien stuttered, "Uh, well, I heard about... you and Logan."

"Damien."

"Anyway," he shook his head, "I'm sorry about your friend, I'm sure everything is going to be fine."

I shook my head, "I don't know, they didn't say anything before they left."

"Micah was with them though, you said?"

"Yeah, he was the one that..." I stopped for a moment, remembering Frankie's frail chest beneath my fingers. I shook my thoughts free, and continued on, "Um, he's the one that took my friend from my compressions."

"You're so brave, Natalie. You don't even know." He smiled back at me, his eyes glinting. "Looks like there's a storm coming, it's been cloudy off and on all day."

"I see that," I could see the clouds turning more and more gray, the longer we drove.

"Logan asked about you, you know. He doesn't know you're out, but he was asking Kellan how you were doing the other day."

"I don't want to talk about him."

"Sorry, I just..." He stopped, and started again, "Did you need to go to your house first, or-"

"No. Straight to the hospital, please."

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The ride to the hospital felt like... forever.

I must have dozed off, because when the truck finally stopped, Aeron was gently shaking my arm, a sad smile on his face as he helped me out of the vehicle.

When we arrived, I asked hospital attendants for her name, and after lying and saying I was her sister, I was directed to the ICU.

I had seen Frankie's parents in photos, so when I saw her father sitting reading a magazine, I wasn't sure exactly how to talk to them. His hair was a salt and pepper, parted on the side, and his expensive suit was tussled, part of his tie had been pulled. He looked up for a moment, and then called us by name. "Natalie, Broehein, Francesca's told us all about you." He stood, holding out his hand. "Edgar Briar, it's nice to meet you. Felicity, Francesca's mother, is in the room with her. I'll go get her for you." Before he could move, I held out my hand.

"Um, how's she doing?"

"They're keeping her for observation, doctors have told us it was a heart attack. Given her mix of medications, the frequency of changes and fluctuation, it was bound to happen. After this, we're going to take her home. You'll be able to see her, of course. Francesca has grown up with very few friends, and what friends she's made, we plan on keeping around." Before we could say anything, he disappeared into the hallway, and soon we were directed into Frankie's room.

Frankie was pale, and the amount of wires and tubes hooked to her took me for a loop, but I took a deep breath and persevered. I wasn't used to being on the other side of this interaction "Frankie," she was still, but mustered a smile.

"You made it, how'd you get in?" Aeron and I both grinned.

"I told the nurse I was your sister, and Aeron was my husband, and that our brother Canyon would be arriving soon." A few seconds later and Canyon was led into the room too.

"I'm so glad you guys showed up," her hand was frail in mine, squeezing softly.

I felt a tear on the side of my face, and wiped it quickly. She noticed, because she patted the space of bed and I sat down. A few more tears fell down my face "I don't know what to say... other than I'm glad you're alive." We laughed for a moment, as if nothing had happened.

"I told you, I'm a tough cookie." She smiled, and then it faded, turning serious "Natalie... you saved my life."

"It wasn't just me," I shrugged, "I just did the right thing."

She rolled her eyes, "Don't downplay this, okay? It's my life, you held it in your hands, flipped Death the bird and said, 'not today,' and for that, I'm so grateful."

Canyon kissed Frankie's forehead, "I'm glad you're alright, little bird."

Aeron patted Canyon's back, "Yeah, we broke out of there just to come see you."

Frankie's eyes widened, "What? How?"

"Basically, we signed ourselves out, therapy, pills, blah blah blah."

"Oh, you rebels," She laughed.

We only spoke to her for a few more minutes, until the nurse ushered us out. Mr. Briar and I exchanged information, as well as Canyon, and her dad told us he'd be in touch when things changed.

When we walked out of the hospital, it was already raining, but just barely.

"We're walking," Canyon said to us.

"Yeah, but Kellan's truck is right there, we can just get a ride from Damien. I'm sure he'd drop you off at your place." He shook his head.

"I won't drive or ride in the rain... you're just going to have to manage without me." Aeron and I looked at each other, and I told Damien to just drop our bags off at the house, and to leave them in the garage. I also told him not to tell anyone I was back in town, I wanted this time to be with Canyon and Aeron, as much as possible. I wanted to delay the inevitable moment when Logan would see me with Aeron. Part of me cared what he felt, but another part of me felt heartless.

We walked to a nearby diner, I'd been there before, and we ate together, talking about how much we missed Frankie.

"What about you, Canyon, what are you going to do now that you're... I don't know how to describe it..." I fidgeted with my napkin, my hands almost trembling, until Aeron placed his own hand on my knee underneath the table.

"I'm going to spend a lot of time with Kat, I spent so much away from her, that we're both different people. I want to get to know her again, and I want to hold her hand before she can't hold mine anymore. I missed her, and I didn't even realize how much." He motioned to us, "What about you?"

We both looked at each other, and Aeron looked at my lips for a moment before looking up at me, "Yes, Natalie, what exactly are our plans. I have to say, you're the boss in this situation."

"I want to sleep in my own bed. It'll be nice to sleep in my own bed without having nightmares." I laced my fingers with Aeron's "You can crash in our spare basement bedroom, until we figure out what else we can do with you."