Bundle of Branches

Chapter 3

When Dante's eyes fly open and he gasps out a breath, Thalia is right next to him, her hand on his head. "Hey, Dante. Hey." She tries to keep her voice as steady as possible. "You're okay. You're okay. The second bullet missed your spine, and the first bullet-"

"I... I can't move my arm." Dante blinks a few times. His face is almost white, terrified. "I can't move my arm, Tal."

"Are you sure?" Thalia reaches out with her left hand and touches it. "Can you feel it?"

Dante shakes his head slightly. "I can't feel anything." He swallows. "I can't feel my arm, I... I can't move it. I- oh God..."

"Paula!" Thalia stands up. She's shaking, she's scared, she's so scared. "Paula, help!" Her hands are trembling, and she can't make them be still. It feels as if she's filled with electricity, shocks sparking down her arms and legs and in her chest.

Paula is there immediately, not even stopping to put down the pen she'd been holding. "What's wrong? Is Dante-"

"He can't move his arm" is all that Thalia can get out. Her breaths are shaky, and she tries to make them stable.

And Paula's face pales. "That's really not good." She lays a hand on Dante's arm. "You can't feel that?"

"N-no." Dante's eyes are shiny - he's crying, and he hates it. He didn't cry when he watched Dez get his throat slit. He never cries. He is always the stoic one, the strong one. "I can't feel anything at all on that arm."

Paula takes a deep breath. "Dante, I'm afraid that the bullet tore your brachial plexus." She sits next to the bed. Her face looks almost apologetic. "It means that your arm may be permanently paralyzed."

And suddenly the room is too small, it's too small and the air is too heavy and Dante can't breathe. His head is pounding, swimming. Because if he can't move his right arm, he can't go out on jobs; if he can't go out on jobs, he can't protect the team; if he can't protect the team, he'll be useless. "Paula, please," he says, his voice hoarse and breathless. "How can- I mean, is there a way to tell if it's permanent or not?"

"Only time will tell that." Paula hands Dante a tissue. "I'm so sorry, Dante. I wish there was something I could do."

Dante just stares at the ceiling. Inside, he's a wreck, grappling with the possibility that he might have a useless right arm forever. But outside, he can't let any more tears slip. He needs to hold up the image that they all have of him. He's the protector, the fighter. If they see him cry more than they already have, they'll have to rebuild their opinion of him, and- well. Dante swallows. "Okay, Paula. Thank you." And he tries to calm the storm inside of him, the massive tangle of anxiety and fear. He pushes it back until he is hollow and the only thing distinguishing him from a corpse is his heartbeat.

****************************************************************************************************

"Hey, Dante." Teddy tries to smile, tries to bring some light into the dreary emergency med bay, but he can't stop the tears from welling up in his eyes. "Hey, bud. How are you doing?" He reaches out, placing a hand on Dante's knee.

"Not so well," says Dante. His face is grayish in color, his chest rising and falling in labored breaths. "Everything hurts."

That hits Teddy like a punch in the heart. He sighs. "Look, I... I'm sorry that I didn't come see you before. I wanted to, but-" He glances up at the ceiling, blinking away tears, before making eye contact with Dante again. "There's really no excuse. I should have come earlier."

Dante squeezes Teddy's hand. "No worries. You're here now."

"Are you ready, Dante?" Paula asks. When he nods, she reaches out and gently grabs hold of the top of his chest tube. "I've cut the sutures away - now it's time for the removal. This is going to hurt a little, okay? I'm going to need you to hold your breath for me."

Dante draws in a breath and holds it, squeezing Teddy's hand harder.

"One... two... three." Paula pulls out the tube, immediately covering it with a bandage, pressing around the edges until it's sealed completely. "You alright?"

"Holy fuck," wheezes Dante. "I- I thought-" He tries to sit up, but can't. "Is that it?" Tears bead in the corners of his eyes.

Paula smiles. "That's it. It's out. You did wonderfully."

"She's right, bud. You did." Teddy pats Dante on the shoulders. "I'm going to come see you every day from now on, alright? No more skimping on the visits." He's smiling too, but his eyes are sad.

"Oh, stop it." Dante playfully nudges Teddy with his left arm. "Hey, thanks. You really saved our asses in the warehouse."

Teddy swallows back tears. "No, I didn't. You were the one with the gun. You covered us. I just... opened the door."

"No, you were the brains of the whole thing," says Dante, trying to smile, but a short spike of pain hits his chest. "I was only the brawn, and you were the brains. That's how it's always been, right?" Now his eyes are filling with tears, but he doesn't let them fall. He refuses to let them fall.

Teddy's heart twists. "I'm sorry," he whispers. It feels like the room is spinning, like everything is collapsing on him. "I'm so sorry."

Dante manages to sit up a little bit. "Teddy? Why are you sorry? Te- what's wrong?"

"I just-" Teddy sucks in a breath. "You said I was the brains. I was the brains. And I was the one who planned it all. It's my fault you got hurt. I was... I was reckless, and I should have had a backup plan. I'm sorry." Now he's shaking.

"Teddy, I didn't mean it like that." Dante reaches out his left hand and puts it on Teddy's knee. "Do you understand me? It was not your fault. It was the man's fault. He shot me, not you."

"He shot you because of me," whispers Teddy, his mind flickering back to that day, to the loud gunshots echoing in the room, to seeing Dante stumble and fall to the ground, blood seeping out from his shoulder. He stands up to go. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"No!" Dante says, panic suddenly in his voice. He looks away. "Sorry, I mean- please stay. Please don't go."

Teddy slowly sits back down. "You don't have to apologize for that," he says softly. "I'll stay with you for as long as you need."

"Thanks." Dante looks relieved. "It's just... every time I'm alone..." He sighs. "I know it's stupid, but I feel like I'm dead again. It's too quiet... too lonely."

"Hey, that's not stupid, okay? Don't say that." Teddy rests a hand on Dante's arm. "Like I said, I will stay with you. It's no big deal." He lets out a breath and smiles, and this time it's a happy smile. "So, how are things going with Thalia?"

"Oh, they're great," says Dante. He can't help but smile, too. "She's really been there for me throughout this whole thing, supporting me, not leaving me, even though I'm kind of useless right now."

"You're not useless," Teddy says.

Dante gestures to his right arm. "This arm is." Then he takes a deep breath. "I really love her, Teddy. Whenever we look at each other, I just feel pure happiness. And I hope... I hope she feels the same way."

"I'm sure she does," says Teddy. "You're perfect for each other."