There was a beeping in his ear, rhythmic and loud. When he breathed, he heard a soft click and felt cold air go into his nostrils. His throat was sore, as though he had been screaming for a long time. His arm and leg felt heavy, and there was a pressure on his left hand. He lifted a finger, trying to remove it. He heard something rustle nearby but couldn’t place it. He felt a weight across his middle and a familiar smell filled his head, something he loved. Spicy burnt wood and bourbon.

There was a soft breathing sound coming from beside him, the exhalations warming his cheek. He knew that breathing. Knew it very well. He tried to lift his hand again but it felt so heavy. Slowly, he opened his eyes, the light above was soft and unfamiliar.

Where am I? 

He let his eyes roam around the room. This wasn’t his room or the loft. This was somewhere different, yet somehow familiar. He had been in a room like this before. The walls were white, with generic paintings of landscapes on either side. A large window on his left showed a blue sky with a few light clouds. All along the room on every flat surface available, were huge bouquets of flowers, boxes of treats, stuffed animals and anime plushies, and tons of cards. A white board with names and numbers hung on the wall nearby, and there was another, smaller window that showed a sterile hallway, people in medical garb walking past. His eyes continued to drift around, landing on a blonde woman sitting in a chair with a book in her hand. No…that’s not a book…it’s a manga, one he had read before. He had liked it, he remembered that. Gen liked it, too.

Gen…Genya…my Genya!

Kana’s eyes glanced at him then back to the manga. She jumped up and hurried to him. “Oh my god, Mika! You’re awake! Gen, Gen he’s awake!” She pushed on Gen, waking him up.

He looked around and then at Mika, his eyes going wide. “Mika?” he said, his voice low and soft. “Mika can you hear me?”

Mika’s lips parted. “Gen-ya?”

“Nurse! He’s awake!” Kana yelled as she bolted from the room, yelling for her dad to come quick.

Gen sat up and leaned over Mika, his hand on his cheek, his red-rimmed eyes filling with tears. “Oh my god, Mika, you’re awake! You’re alive!” He kissed Mika’s face, and held his head gently as he cried with joy. Gen moved his forehead to Mika’s. “My Mika,” he said, softly. “I was so scared. I thought I’d lost you.”

Mika gave a small smile. “No…chance,” he said slowly, his throat raw. He tilted his head so Gen could kiss him again, gently, his hand going to his hair, his tears landing on Mika’s face.

There was a flurry of activity as a nurse rushed into the room, followed closely by Donovan Parker, his eyes wide and mouth open in stunned relief. 

The nurse took his vitals and checked the monitors. “Welcome back,” she said cheerfully. “How are you feeling?”

“O…kay, I think,” he croaked out. 

“You may be a little groggy from the meds,” she said, “but your vitals are good. Are you in any pain right now?”

“Sort of? I don’t know.”

“That’s okay. Like I said, you’ve been on a lot of heavy duty meds the last few weeks.”

“What?” Mika’s heart rate began to increase slightly. “Why? What happened?” He looked down at himself for the first time and saw his casts and bandages. In a moment of panic, he touched his chest and stomach, then grabbed his side, his breathing becoming erratic.

“Woah, hey, calm down, kiddo, it’s okay,” the nurse said, gently putting her hands on his shoulders.

Mika turned wide, frightened eyes to Gen. “He–he stabbed me! He cut me and broke my arm!”

Gen took Mika’s face in his hands as Mika continued to ramble incoherently, his fear and panic escalating into tears. “Mika, babe, it’s okay, you’re safe, I promise, no one is going to hurt you, okay? I’m right here.” He kissed Mika, holding him gently to his chest, kissing the top of his head as Mika clutched at Gen’s shirt with his left hand.

“He–tied me up–” Mika sobbed.

“I know,” Gen said gently. “Baby, I know. We know everything.”

His right arm fell across his belly and he struggled to lift the gown up to reveal his smooth, nearly unblemished stomach. He looked at Gen, confused. “But…he…he cut–”

“I know,” Gen said, moving to sit on the bed with Mika while the nurse continued to monitor and record. Don stood at the end of the bed, Kana dashing in with Kelly and Riley on her heels. “But it’s gone now. Kana made it go away.” With the sound of Gen’s soothing low voice in his ear, and Kelly coming up just behind the nurse to put her hand on his casted arm, Mika managed to calm down, if only a little bit.

The nurse, satisfied with Mika’s slowed heart rate and lowered blood pressure, told Don she would get Dr. Hart. He nodded, his eyes still on Mika. Kelly took the nurse’s place, wrapping her arms around her cousin’s neck.

“Mika, I was so scared, I’m so glad you’re okay!” she cried

“My guy!” Riley said, coming to stand next to Gen. He took Mika’s left hand. “You gave us quite the fright!”

“Sorry,” he said as soon as Kelly released her death grip. Kana came over and kissed him all over his face.

“We’ve all been so worried about you, love,” she said. “This idiot hasn’t left your side the entire time. Even though the doc said you wouldn’t be awake for a while.”

Mika gave Gen a small smile. “I can believe that,” he said.

Everyone talked excitedly, pointing out all the cards and gifts that were sent to him, Kelly bringing him one of the One Piece plushies, which he held to his chest. Mika scooted over the best he could so Gen could stretch out next to him. Mika held his hand, and rested his head on Gen’s shoulder. Something finally occurred to him; someone was missing.

“Where’s my mom?”

Everyone suddenly went quiet, exchanging awkward glances. Don cleared his throat. “Um,” he said. “Your mom left, kiddo.”

Mika’s eyes filled with confusion as he looked at Gen who’s dark gaze looked down at Mika’s hand, his fingers gently interlacing with Mika’s, his brow knitted together.

“She took Ben and Ana and they went to her sister’s in another state,” Don continued. “They left a couple of days ago.”

“Why didn’t…” he swallowed past the pain in his throat. “Why–”

“She said it was better if she wasn’t here when you woke up,” Don said gently. He came over and put his hand on Mika’s head. “I’m sorry, Mika. She’s gone.”

Mika’s eyes lowered, his mind whirling as he tried to process this information. His mother was gone? Ben and Ana…were gone?

“Where am I supposed to go?” he asked softly. 

“You’re coming home with us,” Gen said. “Everything’s already been arranged.”

Mika looked from one face to another, all of them drawn. “But…why? Why did she leave me?”

Kana took his hand that was in the cast. “We’ve learned a lot the last few weeks,” she said softly. “One of which is that you had an incredible father who loved you enough for two parents and then some. That love is what brought Gen to you and saved you. And it’s that love that you need to hold on to for the rest of your life. Understand?”

Mika swallowed as Kana’s eyes told him more than her words, or anyone else’s could. The realization that dawned on him hurt more than all of his physical injuries combined. He put his face in his hands, and cried.

-*-