Ben's POV

As we drove to the hospital Oliver would wince when we went over small bumps. I pulled him up, so he was more stable, and he didn't get shaken too much. I used shirts from my bag to clean the blood off his face. He smiled looking up at me,

"Thanks."

Oliver was halfway on me and halfway on the seat. My Dad was tapping his finger's nervously on the steering wheel. I tried to keep Oliver comfortable on the drive, my Dad called his buddy at the police station and explained what happened,

"Yeah that's about it, we're on our way to the hospital now, pull those security cameras, they've got to have them..... Uh huh, we'll call his parents don't worry..... yeah..... okay bye."

I started to braid Oliver’s hair to calm down. When my mom hadn't lost her mind, she taught me how to do several types of braids so I could get her ready for her date nights with Dad.

I had a French braid that was along the side of his head before I realized he might not like his hair being braided and started to take out the braid. Oliver looked up at me as I took it out and grabbed my hand,

"Don't take it out I like it... it feels good"

I laughed and started to braid his hair again. Oliver closed his eyes and I could hear him purring quietly. I felt a small blush on my cheeks, I glanced up at my Dad and he winked giving me a thumbs up. I rolled my eyes and focused on Oliver's hair, in the end, I reached in my bag for something that could tie or pin it. Oliver handed me a barrette clip,

"I've got a lot from my friend Lily."

Oliver kept his eyes closed as he talked leaning into my hand that held his head. I clipped his hair so the braid would stay.

We drove into the emergency station and I helped Oliver get out of the car. My Dad supported him as we walked in being careful to avoid the glass. A couple of nurses rushed over and told us to stay here. We sat down in the waiting room as my knee bounced up and down again. My fingers tapped listlessly against the chair as we waited, my Dad, called Oliver's parents on Oliver's phone. They said they wouldn't be able to come back from their business trips for another month. My Dad said that we'd take care of him and not to worry. I could hear his mom and dad on the other end, they didn't sound worried, I grew suspicious. They couldn't come to see their son, in the hospital, for another month because of business. Not even a hint of worry in their voice. I heard the dad speak up,

"It's not the first time Oliver's been in the hospital for protecting people, we're told to not worry, and he would pay for all his fines as long as we

kept doing what we love. He doesn't tell anyone, but he has a job to pay for groceries, electricity, anything he needs so he can stay at home. I feel he gets lonely and resents us a little for not being there. But I'm glad he has found a friend worth protecting again."

I saw a nurse make eye contact with us and walked over,

"He's ready for visitors."

My Dad nodded saying he'd be there in a minute. I jumped up and followed the nurse to the room, I thanked her as she walked away. I quietly opened and closed the door seeing Oliver looking at me. He had bandages wrapped around his shoulder and abdomen. A little patchwork on his cheek and neck, Oliver smiled at me,

"Hey bud, how you doin?"

I ran over and hugged Oliver,

"You're stupid, ya know that?"

I could feel myself close to crying, Oliver hugged me back pulling onto the bed,

"Aww, c' mon you don't mean that."

I sniffed and hid in Oliver's neck,

"Well, you got hurt because of me an-,"

I choked feeling tears in my eyes. Man, I get it, I cry a lot. That's nothing to be ashamed of. Oliver hugged me tightly,

"It was my choice, you're my friend... Cry it out, crybaby."

I felt myself bury my head in Oliver's neck and hugged him tightly. My legs stretched out past Oliver's as he pets the back of my head. Oliver hummed pulling the blankets over us. I listened to Oliver's humming for a while until my eyelids started to feel heavy,

"Hey, Ol?"

Oliver hugged me tighter at the nickname,

"Yeah?"

"I think I'm going to fall asleep."

"Go ahead, won't be the first time your dad saw us sleeping like this."

I barely nodded as I closed my eyes, moving closer to Oliver. I fell asleep once again, hugging Oliver.