Alive and Breathing (Adopted By Alex Gaskarth)

Chapter Eight

Morgan

When I woke up there was an obnoxious beeping noise and everything was really bright and blurry. I felt an oxygen mask pressed against my face and warm tears against my hand. I blinked, trying to remember what the hell happened to me. I remembered being with Andy at Warped Tour and watching concerts from backstage and then there's a blank space in my brain. "Morgan?" a voice cut through my thoughts. There was some shuffling and suddenly my bed was being adjusted. I was sitting up more now and Alex was sitting in front of me. His eyes were red-rimmed and I realized that it must have been his tears that I felt against my hand. I opened my mouth to say something when Alex shushed me. "Hold on, don't talk. I paged a nurse," he said. Sure enough, moments later, the door opened to reveal a young nurse in a top covered in Charlie Brown characters. I then took in my surroundings and realized I was in a pediatric ward at a hospital. The walls were a light purple in my room with flowers painted on the walls. 

"Good evening, I'm so glad to see you're awake, Morgan. My name is Charlotte but you can call me Char," the nurse, Char, said. I tried to smile at her but the damn mask got in the way. Char came closer and took my vitals. She switched the oxygen mask out for nubbins which felt much better on my face compared to the bulky oxygen mask. When she left I immediately turned back to Alex. "What happened?" I asked, taking note of how raspy my voice was. 

"You passed out. Your stats dropped really low. They think your lung function has dropped but they couldn't run a PFT while you were out,"Alex said. "Oh,"I whispered. Is this how it was going to go? I was doing okay. I just met someone I genuinely wanted to get to know and be with and my lungs decide to try crapping out. Alex wrapped me up in a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay. I promise Morg, it's going to be okay. I'm not letting you die without a fight,"he whispered in my ear. We just sat there hugging for awhile until my door opened again and my doctor came in.

"Morgan, how are you feeling? I'm glad to see your awake. I'm Dr. Andrews,"he said. "I'm okay, I guess,"I replied. "I'm sure that Alex here has already given you most of the details and if it's okay with you both I would like to go ahead and run a PFT to check your lung function and see what we're dealing with,"he said. Alex looked at me and gave a slight nod. I nodded at the doctor. Dr. Andrews gave Alex some paper work as Char came in with a wheelchair and helped me into it. "I'll see you after,"Alex said, pressing a kiss to my forehead. I felt fine and probably could have walked but I realised they were concerned about me passing out again. Char had handed me a mask before we left my room. It was pretty standard practice. If I came in contact with another CFer I could give them bacteria from my lungs since we all harbored different kinds. It was dangerous to get too close and the mask helped to protect me as well.

I was led into a separate room that was set up for testing. A PFT, otherwise known as a pulmonary function test, was when I would take in a big breath of air then they would plug my nose while I breathed the air from my lungs into a tube to see how well my lungs functioned. I was at about 60 percent the last time I did this test. I did as I was told by the doctors although this procedure wasn't anything new to me by now. The frown on the doctor's face said it all. I'd failed essentially.

Char took me back to my room while Dr. Andrews examined my results and consulted a few of his colleagues. I was hooked back up to oxygen in my room. Char left us alone. "So, Morgs, you can absolutely say no but the guys are waiting downstairs with Andy. They're really worried about you. Do you want to see them now?"Alex asked. I nodded. I didn't want to say no but I was also worried how this was going to go. Having them see me so fragile.

Minutes later and Zack, Jack,Rian, and Andy burst through the door. "MORGAN!"Jack shouted as hyper as ever before running to my side and wrapping me in a tight hug. "Can't breathe,"I joked, though he was indeed squeezing me really tight. Jack jumped back immediately, looking me over. I started laughing. "Sorry, Jacky, I couldn't help it,"I said between laughs. "Glad you're okay, kid,"Rian said hugging me gently. Zack hugged me next and then Andy made his way cautiously to my side. There was a couch by the window that Zack and Rian sat on with Jack sprawled on their laps. Alex was in the chair beside my bed. Andy sat on the edge of my bed and timidly hugged me. "I thought you were dead. You were gone and I couldn't wake you,"he whispered, head buried in my neck. I rubbed his back, realizing the warm water on my neck was his tears. "I'm okay. I'm not letting go that easy,"I whispered back, clinging to him with all I had.

Dr. Andrews came in then baring the most grim face I'd ever seen. "Morgan,  Alex, we need to talk,"he said glancing around the room. Andy pulled away. "No it's okay, they can stay they're basically family too,"I said. The doctor nodded. "Your PFT shows that your lungs are only operating at about 30 percent. We can try adding a few new medications as well as a steroid to boost your lungs but you're going to need a transplant within the next year. I've spoke to my colleagues and I've had you placed on the list for a double lung transplant. I'm so sorry I don't have better news,"he said. I saw the guys staring at the floor while I bottled up my tears. It was time to be the strong one.

A/N: Hey y'all! Long time no see. I'm sorry for just disappearing life was quite honestly insanity and kept trying to kick my ass. College was a lot to handle with my personal life but I'm back. I can't promise that chapters are going to be more regular because I start school again in a few days but I hope you'll stick with me! I'm not done yet, this story is only getting started. I hope you had a great holiday and a good new year. Much love!

B