PHOTOGRAPH

Chapter 35

Chance slowly opens his eyes. He doesn't remember much of what had happened. He thinks he remembers talking to Tina but his memory wasn't too clear. It's all so foggy. He definitely didn't remember getting rescued from the bus.

His eyes scan the hospital room as they begin to become more focused and his mind becomes clearer. His hearing picks up on a quiet sobbing to his right. Someone was gripping tightly to his right hand.

Slowly turning his head to the sound, he sees Tim sitting in a chair next to the bed. His head was resting on his arm that he had laying on the bed next to Chance.

"Baby?" Chance calls quietly causing his lover to quickly raise his head. His cheeks wet with tears.

"Chance," Tim sobs as he rubs the bearded man's cheek. "Are you going to die?"

"No, Angel." Chance chuckles softly as he wipes the tears from the brunette's face. "I'm going to be fine. I just have a bump on my head. Are you okay?"

"I cut my hand." Tim says showing him his now bandaged hand. "But I'm okay, just scared. They said that you would have to stay overnight for observation. I wanted to stay with you but they said that I couldn't and that I would have to go back to the sanitorium."

"Sweetie, you'll be fine." Chance says softly, brushing back his lover's hair. "I'll be home in the morning."

"But I have bad dreams when I'm not with you." Tim says in a whisper as more tears stream down his face. "He comes in my dreams."

"Who does?" Chance asks.

"My dad." Tim whispers, wiping his eyes with the palms of his hands.

The door opens and a smug-looking nurse walks in. "Visiting hours are over. You need to leave."

"Can I stay with him? Please?" Tim pleads as more tears escape from his eyes.

"No. You have to go back to the mental institution." The nurse replies rudely as she checks Chance's IVs.

"No need being so rude, mam." Chance says. "He just feels more comfortable here with me."

"I don't make the rules, Mr. Ray." The nurse replies. "He has to leave."

"Baby," Chance says, taking his lover by the hand. "Maybe you'll feel safer in my room. He can't harm you there. Let Nate know you're there so he can check in on you, okay?"

Tim sniffs as he nods his head again wiping his cheeks.

Tina had to receive several stitches to her face but was released from the hospital. Jenika was fitted with a cast on her broken arm. Austin's injury required stitches but was released afterward.

Nate and Olena had come to the hospital after receiving a call from Sami about the crash. He was told that no mental patients were allowed to stay. After having a few unpleasant words with the Chief of Staff, he heads out to find their patients.

As he walks into Chance's room, he sees Tim crying, holding on desperately to his lover. The nurse stood by the bed with her arms crossed over her chest, a look of disgust on her face as she glared down at the crying brunette.

"Really? Are all the employees here assholes?" Nate says as he gently lays his hands on Tim's shoulders.

"Excuse me?" The nurse asks with raised brows.

"Come on, Buddy. We have to go." Nate says, totally ignoring the nurse.

"Nate, let him stay in my room, alright?" Chance says as Nate carefully pulls the distraught patient from the bearded man's arms. "Take care of him."