Burning Conscious

Chapter 6 - Visitor

He zipped up his jacket ad the cold air flowed through the vents. Fidgeting with the box of doughnuts that rested on his lap, anxious without his gun or at least his pack of cigarettes, which he had to leave in the car. The lady who sat next to him made him feel..... Uncomfortable. She reaked of some type of perfume, that smelled good at first but grew into a poison over time. He covered his mouth as he coughed, avoiding the glances the people in the waiting room gave him. He felt so out of place, being in a place like this. People who were naturally sick or injured forced into a place like this, while Steven was making himself sick. He knew he was hung over, he had spent most of the afternoon throwing up after all. He barely even made it to the hospital.

"Steven?" Steven looked up in surprise, previously so lost in thought he didnt even see Dr. Maheswaran walk up. "Greg's ready to see you."

Steven stands up, carefully holding the box of doughnuts in his hand, the smell of the lady's perfume even stronger as he stood. "T-thanks." He looked down at the box before opening it slowly. "Want a doughnut....?"

The doctor laughs. "No thanks, I'm good. You know your way to his room." The doctor says,  escorting him past the card required doors. 

She walked ahead, proably going to check on something. Steven walked slowly down the hall, stairing down at the box of doughnuts as he walked. 

This was the first time he was visiting his dad since the wreck. He wanted to avoid it if possible, since he was the one who talked his dad into teaching Lapis how to drive. 

Pausing infront of the door, Steven took a deep breath, gaining his courage. He slowly opened the door, peeking his head in. His dad was watching TV, the slight sound of the news making its way into his ears. 

Stepping in, Steven gave a nervous grin. "H-hey dad... How was the surgery...?'

Greg looked over at his son, turning his body to not hurt his neck. The sight of the cast on Greg's neck made Steven feel awful, and the bandages on Greg's legs only made Steven feel worse. And his hair..... "It went great snueball! They just had to cut my hair to get the glass out...." Greg let out a nervous laugh as he runs his hand through what remained of his hair. "I'm gonna miss the old gal. And the van....." 

His heart begins to race as he looks over his father. He remembers seeing the van, they still haven't moved it from the side of the road where it crashed into a tree, the tree had even fallen on top of it, nearly breaking his dads neck....

Stepping in fully, Steven avoided eye contact. "I'm really sorry I convinced you into teaching Lapis how to drive..... I wish things had turned out better...."

To his surprise, Greg laughs. "It's fine really. I mean someone had to teach her. She's so young..."

"Heh... Yeah." Steven remembers the raid that he lead into finding the blue haired girl. He was only twelve back then, and all he wanted was to help the gems in stopping the Diamond's. He had seen the missing person posters, and he was the one who found all the pieces that lead tp her freedom. She was only 23 when they found her, and she claimed to be trapped in that basement for years. She was scared to even get near a car and Steven just wanted her to get past that..... "Did you hear about mom coming back?"

Greg gives Steven a tired smile. "Actually she came to visit me earlier. It was nice seeing her again, I forgot how much I missed her...... Have you talked to her....?"

Steven shakes his head. "I'm kinda avoiding her right now... Im just not really ready to talk to her." Steven looks down at the doughnuts, remembering their existence. "Oh yeah, i got you a dozen of the Big D's finest." Steven gives a shy grin.

Greg holds up a hand. "Sorry snue, they said i shouldn't have any good for the next few hours so my throat can heal up. And you really should talk to her...."

"Oh then I'll give these to Amethyst and get you a new dozen when you can eat again." His optimistic tone hiding how nervous he felt. He hoped Greg didn't know too much about the DM. 

"Alright." 

It goes quiet as they lose interest im the conversation. Greg begins watching the news as Steven stands there, silently watching. After a few minuets of them watching the same story about a dog who had heat stroke because a cat drank its water, Steven opens the door to leave. "I'll see ya later dad, I've got.... Stuff to do."

"Cya snue. And dont forget to talk to your mom!" Greg says as Steven closes the door behind him.

As Steven walked back towards the entrance he wondered what exactly went wrong with the driving lesson that ended up with Greg in the hospital and Lapis with a broken arm. Only they knew he guessed.

Besides, he didn't need to know everything right?