Jax POV 

The smell and sound of sizzling bacon drew my attention. I slid the pan of crispy meat off the eye to let it cool, then I grabbed three eggs and milk from the fridge. After cracking the eggs into a bowl I added a splash of milk and a dash of nearby salt and pepper. I whisked the mixture vigorously. The delicious smells were making my stomach growl. 

Suddenly, I stopped, feeling like that was a strange thought to have, but why? Pushing the absurd thoughts away I laughed at myself instead. I returned to cooking and dumped the mixture into the hot pan. My focus now on the soon to be scrambled eggs that were in front of me. They had just begun to bubble, so I slid the spatula carefully around the pan not wanting them to brown. They looked perfect, just the way Bren likes them. I wanted to surprise him with breakfast. 

In a way it is funny to find myself in the kitchen cooking, I usually am a terrible cook. I laughed thinking how I couldn’t even cook a packet of instant ramen properly.The coffee pot sounded like it was about to finish brewing, and I feared the aroma would wake Bren up before I was ready. Hurriedly, I turned to the old fashioned toaster that I had already loaded with bread. Pushing the button down, I felt a little mesmerized by the glowing coils and warmth that emanated from inside. 

The coffee pot gave a final pop, so I quickly reached for two mugs and walked over to it. The coffee pot was still dripping it’s final drops when I removed it, the steam rose and tickled my face. I began pouring the coffee into the first mug when I was startled by the sensation of something around my waist. I spilled a little coffee on the counter but let out a relieved sigh as I realized it was Bren. 

His arms squeezed gently around my waist and I could feel his warm breath on my neck. His touch sent a shiver up my spine so I quickly sat the coffee pot down. A little coffee spilled out on my fingers and he spun me around quickly and said, “careful Jax, did you burn yourself?” He held my hand up inspecting my wet fingertips, checking for burns before kissing them. I looked into his green eyes, feeling like it had been forever since I had looked into his eyes or felt his touch. He reached for my face, his own face full of concern. 

Why did I feel sadness? He wiped tears from my face and I pushed the side of my face against his hand, craving his touch. The haunting feeling of loneliness didn’t make sense, Bren was right here in front of me. He leaned forward and pressed our lips together and I felt overwhelmed by passion and longing. I felt more tears escaping my eyes as I tried to burn this moment into my heart and mind as I feared it would disappear any moment. 

Bren pulled away looking even more worried as he looked into my eyes. He asked, “what is wrong, why are you crying?” 

I shook my head and wiped the tears away and smiled and said, “nothing is wrong.”  He tilted his head to the side and gave me a disbelieving look and then pulled me into his arms. The warmness of his body felt so comforting and I didn’t want this to end. Why was I so afraid it would? I closed my eyes tightly and held on to him wanting this moment to last forever.

***

“Jax…Jax… can you hear me?” Dr. Nemeroff said as he shown a bright light in Jax’s eyes. 

Jax swatted the light away. The small light stick hit the floor and broke. The bright light had made Jax’s head throb and he reached up to cradle it in his hands, but before he could he noticed tears on his cheek. A disheartening reminder of his dream. He closed his eyes and wished to sleep, to sleep forever if it meant he could be with Bren again. Even if it wasn't real it was better than this. 

“Jax are you ok?” Dr. Nemeroff’s worried voice echoed in Jax’s ear.

Jax grabbed his forehead and squinted his eyes at Dr. Nemeroff while saying, “do I look alright to you?”

Dr. Nemeroff was sitting on the floor beside Jax, the older man had a look of distress on his face. His face glistened with sweat and his hair looked a mess. He placed a hand on Jax’s shoulder and said, “I thought we had lost you. I had to use the defibrillator on you.”

Jax rolled to his side, and realized how much pain he was in but still pushed himself to sit up. His body was soaked with sweat and blood, and the smell was nauseating him. The doctor shifted in front of Jax and told him to stay still, but Jax pushed him away. 

He looked up and saw Creso staring down at him. His sickenly evil smile and intimidating figure hovered over Jax. The man pushed his fingers through his hair and laughed as he said, “I was beginning to think I had wasted a lot of time and money on you, it is good to see you survived again.” 

Jax rose to his feet at what could be perceived as an inhuman speed and grabbed Creso by the shirt with one hand. He took his other hand and hit him in the face before Creso’s bodyguards could grab him. 

When the men grabbed Jax, they knocked him to the ground. Pinning him to the cold floor so he couldn’t move while they waited for Creso’s orders. 

Dr. Nemeroff pleaded, “you are hurting the patient. He is still in shock and I don’t know how stable he is.” When the men didn’t respond to him he got more frustrated and yelled, “good god he was clinically dead moments ago. Get off of him!”

Creso wiped blood from his face and then adjusted his clothing. He yelled at his bodyguards, “sit him up.” 

The men pulled Jax to his knees as Creso approached. Jax hung his head towards the ground and Creso yelled for him to look at him. When Jax didn’t look up Creso leaned forward and pulled his head back by his hair and said, “I should kill you right now. No one touches me and lives.” 

Jax looked at him with dead eyes and scoffed and said, “and yet here I am.”

Creso seemed to vibrate with rage as he squeezed tighter on Jax’s hair causing a pained look to surface on Jax’s face. He then struck him in the face with his knee releasing his hair on impact. Blood poured from Jax’s face as he limply hung forward in the men’s grasp just barely hanging on to his conscious state. When the men released him he fell to the floor, his body seemed to convulse from the pain. 

Creso squatted down and brushed hair out of Jax’s bloody face and said, “next time you won’t live, I promise.”

Creso stood up and turned towards Dr. Nemeroff. He gave the doctor a threatening look and said, “don’t even try to argue with me. Get him cleaned up and ready for more tests tomorrow.” Dr. Nemeroff just nodded and looked towards Jax as Creso and his men left the room.

As soon as the men left and the door shut he rushed over to Jax. He looked down at the bloody crumpled mess on the floor, and wondered how anyone could be so cruel. He sat down beside Jax and lifted his head carefully into his lap. Elevating his head was something small he could do since he was bleeding so much. He called a nurse over to get him supplies to ease Jax’s discomfort until his body could begin regeneration. It was impossible for him to imagine the pain that Jax was feeling or had experienced from all of the tests so far. He knew that Jax could heal from these injuries. He had seen Jax heal from much worse injuries over the last couple of days, but it didn’t make this any easier for him. He was still feeling all the pain. Honestly, he had no idea how the poor boy was still sane after everything Creso had put him through. He may seem frail and weak on the outside, but there was a strength beneath the surface that was keeping him alive and sane. 

Dr. Nemeroff looked down at his blood stained lab coat and an unconscious Jax. He tried to brush the bloody matted hair out of the young man’s face, revealing painfully familiar eyes. Dr. Nemeroff sighed and said, “you look so much like your father.  Everytime I see your eyes, it's like your father is looking back at me and I am reminded of my sins and betrayal. My closest friend died because I allowed that devil access to him.” 

He closed his eyes and whispered, “Joseph my old friend, I promise to do what I can to save your son and get him out of here even if it kills me!”