Keeping Us Apart

Burn Alive (17)

*Joel's POV*

"Joel, you have to go get some sleep bro." Ahren's hand on my shoulder breaks me free of my thoughts, and I turn my head to look over at him.
"I can't. What if she wakes up and I'm not here?" I give a brisk shake of my head as if to get rid of the idea of sleep entirely.
"If you're scared that she'll be alone, she won't," Ahren says patiently. "I've been here every moment as well."
That was true. Neither of us had left Hudson's side in days. The band had decided it was in the best interest of everyone involved to put the tour on hiatus. We were all worried that we'd disappoint the fans, but when the news got out, the overwhelming support of our decision confirmed that we'd made the right choice.
My gaze wandered over to the array of cards, letters, and signs that were tacked up beside Hudson's hospital bed. "I just can't believe that someone would hurt her. She never wished ill upon anybody." The whole situation felt like an awful nightmare.
Ahren sighs and takes the empty chair next to me. "I know.. Do the police have any leads?"
"They checked the security tapes but they only saw enough to determine that there were two female suspects," I say, trying hard to keep my voice level. "And the weapon wasn't found so no fingerprints either. They pretty much told me that the hopes of finding who did this are slim."
"But what about the tickets? They had to have been in the venue at some point, security was posted at every back entrance," Ahren continues, his gaze focused on Hudson.
"You're right. But the cops already looked into it, and the security had left after the concert ended. They interviewed some of the guests, but it's hard to find two people in a sea of hundreds with only blurry video footage to identify them.
Ahren curses under his breath. "I just... Ugh. I just want whoever's responsible to pay for what they did." His fists clench and I see anger etched into his features.
"Me too, dude. Me too," I agree, looking over at my sister's still form. Most of the time I can separate her from the tubes and wires connected to her, but other times she looks so frail and helpless. This is one of these moments, and suddenly I can't look at it all anymore. My chest tightens and I feel the tears coming, so I push my chair back and mumble something about going to the bathroom to Ahren before practically sprinting from the room.

*Ahren's POV*

Part of me wants to go after Joel, but a larger part knows I should let him have a moment alone. These past days have been stressful and I know he's been the one most affected.
Hesitantly, I scoot closer to her bed and rest my hand on top of hers. Hers is cool to the touch. It feels so unlike her usual warm self. After another moment I intertwine our fingers. Even though her touch is cold, her skin against mine brings tears to my eyes, and I find myself wondering if I'll ever feel her pressed against my chest again. Will I ever bury my nose in her hair? Hear her laugh? See those emerald eyes peer right into my soul?
The sound of the door startles me and I yank my hand away, looking guilty, but when I see that it's just the nurse making her rounds, I allow myself to take Hudson's hand once more.
"Hudson, please... If you can hear me, wake up. Joel needs you. I... Need you. Please. Squeeze my hand if you can hear me," I beg through another bout of tears. Leaning closer as if to somehow let her know I'm here, I grip her hand tight.
Then, just when I'm about to give up hope, I feel her fingers weakly squeeze back. My heart nearly bursts out of my chest, but before I can react, Hudson's eyes slowly flicker open, so green that I'm left breathless.
The nurse smiles and gently lays her hand over Hudson's free hand. "Hi honey. I'm Nurse Emily. Can you tell me your name?"
A brief silence passes, and just when I think she won't say anything, I hear her voice. "H-Hudson.." she says, soft as a whisper.
"Very good. Do you know how you got here?" Nurse Emily asks.
Hudson gives the tiniest shake of her head, and right then Joel walks into the room.
His expression is happier than I've seen it in what feels like forever, and he immediately rushes over to occupy the empty chair. "Holy shit. When did she wake up?" He asks, looking between me and the nurse almost frantically.
"Just before you came in," Emily replies, giving Joel a comforting smile. "She is still very weak, but she knows her name, although not much else." While he and the nurse continue talking, I take the opportunity to squeeze Hudson's hand since Joel's distracted.
A smile curls her lips and a bolt of electricity zaps through me, but before I can do anything, Hudson moves her hand away. For a moment I'm stung, but when Joel turns back towards us I understand why she did it.
"Hudson, how are you feeling?" Joel asks, his hand replacing mine as concern laces his voice.
"I-I.. feel sleepy," she answers in a voice as soft as a whisper. "But other than that, alright.." Her speech is a little labored and I can tell that she's in pain but being brave.
"Rest, sweetheart," Emily says kindly.
"Yeah, go to sleep if you need to," Joel agrees. "You've been through a lot." Hudson nods weakly, and Nurse Emily injects something into the IV attached to Hudson's arm. When Hudson's eyes close again, I can't help but catch Joel's eye. I know he's thinking the same thing as I. What if she doesn't wake up again?

*Hudson's POV*

The knife pierces the skin of my stomach and I drop to the ground, agony jolting through me white hot. Two people loom over me as I lay there, but where the features should be on their face is just a blank canvas. I don't know who they are.
Darkness creeps into my vision, and just as the lights go out, I jolt awake laying in bed. For a moment I don't remember where I am, heart pounding in my chest, then I feel a hand cover mine and I look up into my brother's worried brown eyes.
"Hudson, it's okay. I'm here," Joel says softly, his tone soothing. "Did you have a bad dream?"
I nod slowly, my mouth and tongue feeling just as sluggish as the rest of me. "Yeah.. I was stabbed and they just watched me die.."
Joel looks even more concerned, but I can't guess why. He doesn't say anything for a long while, then finally he lifts my arms as gently as possible and folds back the blankets. "You know you're in the hospital, but don't remember why, right?"
I nod, looking down at my hospital gown and noticing for the first time the droplets of blood that dot the front.
"There was an accident. Somebody followed you outside after a concert, and they beat you up, and stabbed you, then left you for dead," Joel says, his voice gentle yet each word deliberate. I can tell that he was using the previous silence to decide how to break the news. "Before you woke up yesterday, you were in a coma for nearly a week. I know it's a shock, but you're okay now. You're safe."
The words absorb into my brain like a dry sponge soaking up water, everything making sense now. The dreams, the pain. I knew something had happened to me but I couldn't fathom that it would be something like this. "Is that why I hurt?"
"Yes. You were in pretty bad shape when... uh.." Joel's voice breaks here, and I can tell it's hard for him to tell me this, so I wait patiently until he can continue. "..when we found you. The doctor says you suffered a couple broken ribs and a pretty bad stab wound to the abdomen. But you're healing well, and I swear nobody will ever hurt you again Hudson."
I nod, smiling reassuringly over at my brother. "I know. Can I just ask one question?"
"Of course."
"How come I can't remember anything?"
"The doctors think either you hit your head on the way down or it's from shock. Your brain scans are normal. So it's a bit of a mystery, but I'm just glad you woke up. It was touch and go for a while with the severity of the stab wound."
Just then, the door to my room swings open and Ahren walks in, looking just as worried as Joel. Butterflies tickle my belly but I can't let my brother see how happy I am to see Ahren, so I bite down on my lip and will the fluttering to vanish. The moment our eyes meet though, I have to grab onto my blankets in order to stop myself from hugging him. Ugh. Why does he have to be so cute?
"How are you feelin'?" Ahren asks, his brown eyes still locked on mine, telling me it's just as hard for him as it is for me.
"Well apart from the whole being stabbed part, not too bad," I reply with a small grin. The best I can do is try and make light of this situation. "It's less painful every day."
Ahren looks relieved. "And your ribs? The doctor said a few were broken."
I open my mouth to answer but Joel cuts in with a smile. "Let's not pester her, okay?" He chuckles.
"Okay, okay. Sorry Hudson," Ahren says, looking sheepish.
"I'm fine guys, I promise. You've already spent enough time worrying yourselves to death." I look between Joel and Ahren. "The worst part is over, now we must all move forward and focus on the recovery."
Joel nods, his expression thoughtful. "You're right. You can't heal if you focus on the pain of the past."
"Or the what-ifs," adds Ahren.
"Correct," I say with a smile.
We all continue chatting until Joel and Ahren excuse themselves to go get food, and once the door shuts behind them, the heaviness of my brother's words finally hits me. All alone in the sterile hospital room, I finally allow myself to cry.

~~~
"Hudson, you have a visitor honey," says my Nurse Emily as she enters my room a few hours later. It's just me and Joel watching a rerun of American Dad. Ahren had left a little bit ago to go back to the hotel room and shower and change.
I shoot Joel a confused glance, which he returns with a grin. At that moment, my best friend Ari walks in, holding a big bouquet of flowers. They're red roses, and although I don't care much for roses, I give her a big smile.
"These are for you Hudson," Ari says as she puts the vase down on my bedside table. "How are you feeling? I'm so glad you're okay, I was super worried!"
"I'm okay, getting better every day. And me too, thank you so much for the flowers," I say with my smile still fixed in place.
"Ari flew in this morning. She wanted to check on you," Joel says, his smile as she came in making sense earlier.
"And you coordinated the whole thing didn't you?" I turn towards my brother.
"He did!" confirms Ari. "I had texted your phone and Joel answered. He told me what happened to you after I left the concert, and I just had to come and check on you."
Something about her presence here seems off, but I ignore the feeling in my gut, and instead smile up at her.
"You're the best friend in the world," I say.