Waking Up
Who: Xavier Mitchell, Fletcher Van Hall, DJ Holt, Winter and Henry Mitchell. @fletchervanhall
What: Xavier wakes up from his induced coma
Where: NYC Hospital
When: Friday, June 28th, 2024
A/N: Xavier wakes up from his coma and he and Fletcher talk about their future together.
Fletcher was shaking. He hadn't left Xavier's hospital room unless he had to, and so far, that had only been to walk out Henry and Winter when they'd gone back to the hotel suite with DJ to sleep. He'd been talked into getting food down in the hospital cafeteria but he always brought it back up to Xavier's room. He slept in the room in the stiff reclining chair, and stepped just outside of the room to make calls home to check on Emiliana, Drew and Phoebe. He was thankful all was well back home, aside from their worries for Xavier. His own worried had grown significantly after the third day passed and Xavier was still comatose. He'd contacted Riley as well as Xavier's family in England, even though he was sure DJ was also keeping in contact with them. He absolutely did not want to hear about the worst, should Xavier not wake. He couldn't bring himself to go there despite what the doctors had said. And while he was not technically Xavier's next of kin, he sincerely hoped that his family wouldn't give up hope soon.
It was the second time in less than a year that Fletcher took to fervently praying whilst in a hospital. The first time was when Phoebe was in the NICU. He didn't know if that had made any difference or not but he wasn't going to take any chances in this instance. And after 5 days of uncertainty, of stress, fear, fatigue, and some private tears shed, Fletcher very nearly jumped out of his own skin at the sight of Xavier's hand twitching in his, and his eyes cracking open and slowly blinking.
Fletcher almost couldn't believe it but when it continued happening, he whispered, "Xavier? Sweetheart, can you hear me?" He gently squeezed his hand as tears pricked his eyes but he did his best to fight them as he pressed the emergency call button several times.
The next thing he knew, a small team of medical staff rushed into the room and Fletcher had been ordered out. He didn't want to; it was the last thing he wanted to do now. But he had no legal standing to stay there and wasn't about to get himself banned from the hospital altogether. So he now sat in the waiting room, fingers trembling against his phone screen as he sent a text to the group chat he was now in with Winter, Henry, DJ, Clayton, Emiliana and Drew.
"*He's awake. I'm in the waiting room rn. Waiting on an update from the doctors.*"
The last couple of days were full of dread. Clayton had taken over on making most decisions, keeping up with phone calls and talking to Fletcher. It was nice having DJ as an intermediate and knowing she had the business side of things covered. Aside from maybe Athena, he had no one really he could count on when it came to figuring out what was next and in truth, he didn't want that responsibility. The media, SNL, the cast and crew had bombarded their phones and their mother had given her mobile to the patriarch of the family. She didn't want to talk to anyone. Only Xavier. He knew his family didn't play favorites but everyone knew that his mother and his twin had an unbreakable bond much like Clayton's and their father.
"Mum, they're saying it's been too long. They won't know for sure without a scan but his brain function could--" Athena shook her head to stop Clayton from continuing and their father stepped in.
"We're not making any decisions right now. He will remain in the ICU until we say so. We know what we must do." Dorian Mitchell bit down his emotions and kept his arms around his wife as she cried into his shoulder. Yes, it had been too long but that was their son. There was no way they were going to give up right now. "Any word from Fletcher?"
Clayton shook his head as he looked down at his phone. There was a five hour difference but it didn't stop them all from being together at a time like this. Clayton would have been in New York City already but Athena didn't want to take leave until things worsened. It's not that they hoped for it but it was better to take the time when it was truly needed especially with the twins still being so young. His mother was very much too fragile to fly as she just went into remission and his father wouldn't leave them behind. So for now, they had no choice but to wait.
"As soon as he wakes, we're leaving to the states." Athena reassured her mother and father-in-law. Clayton was glad she was the hopeful one out of the two of them. He worried that Fletcher had caught on to his state of giving up.
A few hours had passed and Dorian and Suzanne had gone off to bed. Clayton couldn't sleep. He wasn't sure when he did that last and suddenly a sharp headache stopped him in his tracks and he stood up from the couch to reach his phone when he heard the group chat notification go off. He read the text message and couldn't believe what he had just read. "Dad! Dad!" Clayton ran up the stairs to deliver the miraculous news.
Xavier heard the familiar voice and while it felt very distant, he tried his best to hold on to it and squeeze the man's hand. Tears fell from his eyes not because he was conscious of what was happening but because he felt as if his chest had been punctured several times. Blinking a few more times, he heard the beeps and other voices but they began to drown out the one he had heard first. A nurse grabbed his hand and talked him through removing his chest tube before Xavier let out a painful cry.
"Mr. Van Hall. Your partner is awake. We needed to give him a couple of hours so we can properly sedate him as it is very common that patients who wake up from a coma after significant injuries are not only confused but in a lot of pain. We're going to run some proper tests, a brain scan and some blood work to make sure everything looks good but he's asking for you and food. So looks like he's okay. We'll discuss more details tonight but you may go see him now."
Fletcher couldn't read his phone screen after sending the text. He was struggling to keep himself together. On the one hand, he'd felt massive relief about Xavier waking up. On the other, being kicked out of the room was unsettling. It left him too much space to make things up in his head. Was Xavier going to be okay? Would his memory be affected? Would he recognize him, Winter and Henry? Would the medical staff keep him out of the room until Xavier's family arrived? Fletcher truly didn't know what was going on or what to expect.
His knee bounced up and down almost non-stop as he gripped his cellphone. He had nothing to keep himself occupied from thinking the worst despite Xavier waking. He'd teared up a few times while waiting and was quick to wipe them away. But when someone in scrubs approached and spoke his name, he lifted his bloodshot eyes and forced himself to push his thoughts aside and listen to what was being told to him. His heart sank hearing that they had to sedate him and while he understood, he was saddened to hear that Xavier was likely in a lot of pain. A pang hit his chest, immediately followed by a single, faint chuckle hearing that Xavier was asking for him and food. He rose from his chair, thanked the staff member and, on his way back to Xavier's room, sent a quick update to the group chat.
He shoved his phone into his back pocket and slowly pushed the door open to Xavier's room. Closing it quietly, he returned to his boyfriend's bedside, pulling a chair up close. "Xavier?" he spoke softly, initially going for his hand but remembering the medic's comment about being in pain and rested his hand on the bed instead. He was frowning ad he placed his other hand above Xavier's head at the corner of the bed mattress. "Sweetheart, it's me. It's Fletcher."
When Fletcher came into the room, his chest rose with great difficulty but it was worth showing his relief. Dark eyes settled on his boyfriend's face and all he wanted was to reach up and touch it but for a few minutes, he remained silent as he searched for the words to say. The nurse had given him ice chips and allowed him to clear his throat earlier. The hardest parts were practically over but Xavier struggled to say something at first.
He let a soft sigh escape his chapped lips. "Baby..." Xavier started slow and then smiled at the other. "You look terrible. Were you in the hospital for a week or something?" He smiled a little more. "I think my nurse has the hots for you..."
Fletcher felt some relief that Xavier recognized him right away. He knew from what he'd been told that Xavier had been asking for him but didn't know if it meant he would remember him specifically. It was more of a relief seeing his boyfriend without a tube down his throat for the first time since arriving. "Hi to you too," he replied with a half smile on his lips before reaching up and tenderly touching Xavier's dry pair. "Yeah, I've been here ever since I arrived." His beard was unkempt and he'd just barely run a comb through his hair when he'd gotten dressed each day; his eyes were probably still bloodshot but his appearance was the furthest thing from his mind. His priorities had been Xavier and the kids. He was sure that DJ would likely be bringing Winter and Henry here soon, now that they knew their dad was awake.
Brows furrowed, he said, "Youâre kidding me." He looked to the door as though the nurse would come waltzing through again, and then he resumed gazing at his boyfriend. "Well she's gonna be disappointed as hell when she figures out I wasn't camped out in your room the past five days as your living room decor." He ran his thumb along Xavier's lips a little more and then crouched to his duffle to take out his chapstick. Popping the cap off, he gently brushed the Burt's Bees stick along his boyfriend's bottom and then top lip. "Do you need anything?" he asked, capping the tube and dropping it back in the bag. His voice dropped to just above a whisper as he sighed, "God, I've been so damn worried about you, X."
Xavier was still very much confused. He had been given some details but they were blurry as the doctor didn't want to give him too much all at once. When Fletcher told him he had been there with Xavier since he had arrived, his expression softened. Xavier's chest still felt tight and his ribs were killing him but the sedatives and Morphine were doing their job. He closed his eyes when Fletcher touched his lips and let out a soft sigh. "Thank you for being here with me. It felt like I was dreaming over and over. Same thing. Drowning in a giant river like that one." He gestured toward the view in his room. "And I'd try to wake up but I couldn't. I can't--I don't remember anything. The last thing I remember was arriving at the airport. My driver was already running late. I had asked DJ to meet me outside so we can catch dinner..." Xavier closed his eyes again. "Everything else it's like someone wiped my memory clean."
He looked up at Fletcher as he applied the chapstick to his lips and then whispered, "Thank you." Xavier shook his head at the question. "They're bringing me more ice chips and maybe I can have some vanilla ice cream. Breakfast of champions..." He trailed off, eyes still on his boyfriend. "What day is it? What time is it?" And then his eyes widened a bit as of a sudden realization had hit him. " Where are the kids? Winter? Henry? Phoebe? Are they okay?" There was a faraway thought that reminded him that his kids were not in the accident and that he was in New York but connecting the pieces just hours after waking up was hard. The rail to his bed had been lowered and Xavier reached for his boyfriend's hand. "Don't go anywhere...." He frowned at his own feeling of dread and fear. "Stay with me, okay?"
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Fletcher promised and then listened to Xavier share how he'd been feeling and what he remembered. His face was stern and somber at the same time, the more he listened to the drowning comparison and where Xavier's memories ended. He wasn't sure how much he should say to him but it largely sounded like Xavier remembered everything up until he was struck. He winced when Xavier shook his head, worried about the pain but quickly calmed his expression. "Itâs Friday, a little after eight pm here. He glanced out at the setting sun only to quickly look back to his boyfriend upon hearing the panic. "They're okay, they're okay," he softly assured, bending to give his lips a feather-light peck. "Winter and Phoebe are staying at a nearby hotel with DJ, and Phoebe is back home with Emiliana and Drew. Everyone is safe. I promise." He saw Xavier's hand and took hold of it. "I will. I'm not leaving until you get out of hear. I promise. He sat down and bent his head again so he could kiss Xavier's hand. "Are you in a lot of pain right now? The nurse who came and got me said you'd been in pain when you first woke up." He hated the thought of Xavier being in pain and hated even more that there was nothing he could really do to ease it.
"Friday?" Xavier's puzzled expression fell over his face. "How is that? Friday? What date? How long have I been here?" his lips fell, forming a frown as tears filled his eyes. An irrational and overwhelming feeling of dread kept taking over and while the doctors had warned him of his emotions being confusing for the next couple of days as his body caught up with his mind, he hated not understanding a lot of things. The only thing that made sense at that very moment was his boyfriend. Hearing that his children were okay, he took a deep breath only to wince in pain. "DJ...okay. Good." Xavier was glad to hear that Phoebe was also in good hands and it cemented where he was, erasing confusion of why he could see the East River from his window and not California. While he knew this information beforehand, he felt like he could *only* trust Fletcher versus the doctors. It felt selfish to want him there, especially with the baby. "I'm--my chest hurts. My back and my legs. But they gave me some good stuff. Probably why everything is...a mess." While the morphine did have a lot to do with the confusion, his brain was still healing. "I'm sorry I worried you. Is my family here too?"
Hearing the series of questions along with the seeing the tears growing in Xavier's eyes very nearly broke Fletcher's heart. "Sweetheart, sweetheart, slow down, it's okay." As gently as possible, he wiped Xavier's eyes with his thumb. "Listen to me. I'm not going to lie to you but I'm also not going to make this worse for you when you just woke up a couple hours ago. One thing at a time, alright?" God, he wanted to hold Xavier and just absorb all of his pain and confusion. It wasn't easy to see his normally vibrant, sweet and energetic boyfriend being wiped out, disoriented and badly injured. The shallow cuts and scrapes were already healing up with some mild scabbing but he knew the swelling in his brain and the other internal injuries were going to take longer. Slowly and soothingly, Fletcher rubbed the inside of Xavier's forearm and kept his eyes fixed on his boyfriend's. "You... you were hit pretty hard. I'm glad the meds are helping, and whenever you get outta here, I'll help you with your recovery." When he heard Xavier apologize, he shook his head, "Don't even. Don't apologize. The only one who should be apologizing is that fucking moron driver." He kept trying to sooth Xavier as he at beside his bed and bent his head to kiss the inside of Xavier's wrist. "Not yet. They know what's gone on though and will likely be here in the morning now that you're awake." While going back to running his fingertips along Xavier's forearm, he said, "There's some flowers for you too. Celeste sent some from her family, and there's some from Juni, the Escobars, the Smiths, and NBC, Nickelodeon and Disney all sent some." Fletcher pointed to each bouquet clustered around the room and said, "I had DJ, Winter and Henry take a few bouquets from the SNL cast and crew, and a couple celebrities you've worked with back to the hotel with them." Every surface in the hospital room was occupied by a vase, and a couple of them had 'Get Well Soon!' balloons tied to them.
Xavier responded with, "About an 8. Is it normal for everything to be wearing off so quickly?"
The nurse nodded her head as she wrote down his answer. "That's quite normal. There's a lot of trauma to the body. The doctor will be in here soon before your children arrive, he will speak to you and your partner about your injuries, further testing and recovery. We won't be stepping you down until we see significant change in your brain function. There's a MRA scheduled for tonight. We want to see how you're doing there. I'll order more Morphine and something a bit stronger to go with it. It'll make you very sleepy so we won't administer until you've spoken to the doctor and see your kiddos. They're so cute by the way! Your daughter is so sweet!"
Xavier arched a brow. "Winter?!" And then looked over to Fletcher as if asking for an explanation, a small smile growing on his face.
"Yes, that would be her. She's lovely and your son has the voice of an angel. Had us all crying when he sang to you. A song from Hamilton I believe? I'm going to draw some more bloods and get you something for blood clots since you've been immobile for a week. We need to be careful of that. I'll return shortly with the doctor. Mr. Van Hall? Can we do something for you? More blankets, pillows? Do you have any questions for me?"
Fletcher was aching for Xavier and what he must have been feeling through this. He couldn't even imagine what it must like to suddenly be unconscious for 5 days and then waking up in pain and with no knowledge of what had gone on in that time. He furrowed his brows as he said, "You're not actually trying to tell me not to help you through your recovery, are you? Because I'll tell you right now--that's not happening." He knew that if the roles were reversed, Xavier would be helping him out, no matter what. They loved each other and they showed up for each other. There was no question about that, and in Fletcher's eyes, there was no arguing this. After reaching and his hand hovered next to Xavier when he shifted and groaned, he grimaced a little while shaking his head, "Of course you would be wondering about other people while you're barely awake. No one else was seriously hurt." He was admittedly bitter that it was almost always the victims who suffered the most in car accidents.
 His eyes wouldn't leave Xavier after telling him about all the flowers that were sent for him, and he wondered what Xavier wanted for when he was discharged. Unable to help it, he chuckled as soon as he heard his boyfriend's request. "Yeah, we can. Whatever you're in the mood for. Hell, once you're up for it, we can get you some really good food. You're probably gonna get sick of this hospital food fast."
And the mention of Henry singing had Fletcher softly and briefly smiling to Xavier. He listened to the nurse some more and made the mental note to add to his notes in his phone, but he shook his head. "I don't need anything, thanks. My only question is about how long do you guys think he'll have to stay in the hospital?" He knew there wasn't a definitive answer yet since Xavier had only just woken up a couple hours ago. But it was the only question he had for the nurse at this time. Looking to Xavier, he asked, "You've got some more ice chips and some vanilla ice cream. You want either of 'em?"
Xavier knew that Fletcher wouldn't let him recover without his help but he figured he'd try anyway. He already felt like his boyfriend was doing so much and couldn't imagine the scare he probably had. He had to arrange flights and communicate with everyone. Xavier knew how much he loved Fletcher before all of this but to see him here for so many days and how much he wanted to be there for him only made Xavier adore him even more if that was at all possible. He listened to Fletcher and then took a small deep breath when he heard no one else was injured. Xavier agreed with getting sick of hospital food. He had never been in a hospital for so long so all of it would be a bit of culture shock. He smiled the best he could at his boyfriend, happy that he'd do that with him and that he was here. Xavier, felt emotion bubbling inside of him but he'd keep himself at surface for now.
While his nurse had been sweet and gentle with him, Xavier had a hard time retaining much of what she was saying. It wasn't so much the brain injury as much as the heavy feeling on his chest. He smiled at his boyfriend saying he wasn't the patient and listened as much as he could to the nurse. It was nice to hear that Winter was behaving and being the kind-hearted teenager he knew her to be. "That's my girl." He cleared his throat, his voice still sounding a little raspy. At Fletcher's question, Xavier looked up at the nurse to listen to the response. "Hard to say. We want to make sure Mr. Mitchell won't need any rehab after this but he's young and very strong. If he's able to clear stairs on his own and his MRI comes back clear, he should be stepped down in two days and then we monitor for another day or two before he goes home. At best? four days total. If we see a decline or that he needs to be here, we keep him longer, step him down, and then recommend rehab but from what I gathered, you all want him to rehabilitate at home?"
Fletcher loved Xavier's pride and adoration of his kids. His response about Winter made that love grow in that moment. And then after asking his question to the nurse, he listened carefully to what was likely to come in the days ahead. He kept a straight face when the nurse started talking about the alternate scenario if Xavier's recovery declined. Internally though, he was frustrated. He didn't want to go down that avenue unless absolutely necessary, and with Xavier only barely being awake a few hours after several days of being comatose, he didn't want any more focus on potential shitty outcomes. His brows sloped a little when they were asked about Xavier to rehab at home. Fletcher hadn't even tried to offer an answer, knowing it wasn't up to him. And now that Xavier was conscious, he didn't want to talk about him like he wasn't in the room or capable of speaking for himself. He knew Xavier was still in a lot of pain and was still trying to orient himself but this was a question that Xavier should answer since he could. No matter how he ended up responding, Fletcher was going to support him. His eyes were back on his boyfriend when he spoke him and shook his head. Internally, he winced a little, wondering if the head shakes were adding to his pain or making him feel dizzy. But he squeezed Xavier's hand as he listened and the moment new tears welled in his boyfriend's eyes. Fletcher stood and tugged a tissue free from the box on the tray where the ice chips and ice cream cups sat, slowly melting. He wadded the tissue and dried Xavier's eyes as gently as possible. "You will go home, sweetheart. We just need to make sure you're well enough to get there first." He bent to kiss Xavier's cheek, and then whispered soothingly, "Our family will be okay if you're getting the care you need to heal and recover--whether that's here or at home. I promise."
Fletcher had been so grateful for the network of support he and Xavier had. And if Xavier's time had to be extended here in NYC, he knew that things would get worked out. If Xavier had to do recovery here long term, Fletcher would talk to Drew and Emiliana about arrangements for the former; he would fly back long enough to bring Phoebe out there and meet with the crew at The Ink Tank about holding down the shop in his absence. He would talk with Rodrigo, Celeste and Khamani about helping out with Drew--checking in on him and helping him to get to his PT and other medical appointments. He would do all that he could to support Henry and Winter through any additional time spent away from home, and make things work out.
Fletcher would move mountains for the man lying in the hospital bed before him. He knew this already but felt it deeply affirmed the moment Xavier began to cry. "You're just waking up after being in a coma for days, X. We know they're not discharging you tonight, but we're going to get you out as soon as possible. *We* can do that. I'll be here to listen, to ask questions and make sure the answers are clear and make sense. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you know you're not alone in this. And you're going to do your best to get better and get the hell outta here. That includes resting when you need to and being honest about the pain, the meds, all of that."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have--" The nurse went up to the other side of Xaier to soothe him as much as possible. It was a lovely sight, seeing him with his boyfriend whom she knew had barely left the room in the week the comedian was here. She should have been careful with her choice of words and to keep the man's dignity, she should have offered less a less callous response. "I'll page the doctor. He will have better answers and has promised to be here before your children arrive with your publicist." She nodded once, giving Xavier's shoulder a gentle squeeze before leaving the room for a few minutes.
He had listened to everything Fletcher had said and was trying his best to settle down but it was difficult. Everything felt like too much all at once. "I'm sorry." He whispered, feeling like a child that had just suffered from a meltdown. "I'll take some ice chips." He hated this. He hated asking for help, hated feeling like he couldn't do anything for himself. Xavier felt stuck. "Don't tell the kids about possibly staying. I don't want them to worry more." Xavier looked up at his tired boyfriend's face and frowned. "I love you. You and *our * family" it fell from his lips like a whimper. Xavier felt incredibly humbled and loved.
"Xavier! Remember me? I'm Dr. Padilla. I was here when you woke up and we managed to control your pain medication. I hear it's wearing off?" The doctor appeared and plucked the chart from the front of Xavier's bed. He nodded at Fletcher and then placed his attention on Xavier. "We're going to up your Morphine, add something else too that'll help with nightmares and sleeping later." He walked up to the comedian and pulled out his pen light. "Can you open your eyes for me? Nice and wide. Xavier, where are you now?" Xavier answered. "Mm hmm and what is my name?"
Xavier's brows furrowed as he tried to search for the name of the doctor. "Did you tell me?"
Dr. Padilla wasn't concerned and he wrote a few things down after looking into Xavier's eyes. "I'm Dr. Padilla. And who is the president of the United States?" Xavier answered correctly. "Mm hmm and one more question, what is my name?"
Once again Xavier struggled with the answer and Dr. Padilla nodded, jotting down a few more things. "Well, the good news is you're strong as an ox. Your blood work has been consistently coming back at levels we like to see them. We decided to schedule the MRI in the morning instead because we want you to rest and I heard family is here tomorrow so you'll want to be rested for them. "We are going to keep you here for another two days and step you down if everything comes back positive. I will be happy to discuss more logistics with you then. In the meantime, I won't bother you or your family or your husband unless we really need to. I want you to enjoy your time with them. I also don't want to bombard you with information." He looked up at Fletcher. "Can I speak to you for a few minutes? Just need you to sign his MRA order."
He walked around the bed and led Fletcher to the door and toward the couches of the family visiting area. "How are you?" Dr. Padilla, tucked his pen into his pocket. "Xavier has suffered a brain injury that we have managed to keep at bay while he was in his coma. I know I wasn't his doctor at registration so I'll run it buy you again, forgive me for repeating myself. The swelling was too well, chaotic to manage if we kept him awake. So he was placed in a medically induced coma. The ideal situation is he wakes up on his own in 2 days. Once we go over a certain amount, we worry about permanent damage and that the patient won't wake up. Five days is not impossible but it is rare and nothing short of a miracle. He's very confused and his short term memory is affected."
He folded his arms across his chest. "We think it's best if he is surrounded by all his memories he's fond of like you and his family and his children. It'll help tremendously. Puzzles and books? What are his interests? Maybe we can help with figuring out ways to enhance and access that short-term memory. He's going to be alright. It's only temporary and common. I will step him down in two days but he will need physical therapy since he had a breathing tube in and has broken a few ribs. He can do all of that at home in California as long as his MRA results come back okay and the swelling is gone. So you should be back home in about four days or so give or take? How does that sound?"
For a moment, Fletcher only stared at the nurse before fixing his gaze back on Xavier. He listened while she spoke and when she said she would go get the doctor, he replied, "Thanks," and then lifted Xavier's hand to kiss knuckles. He followed by running his thumb along Xavier's knuckles, taking in the few minutes alone the two of them would get with Xavier being awake. "You don't have to apologize. There's nothing for you to be sorry about, sweetheart," Fletcher reminded, drying Xavier's eyes again. He traded the balled up tissue for the cup of ice chips, and then let go if Xavier's hand long enough to fish one out of the cup to give him. As he set the cup back down so not to melt the ice faster by holding the cup. He listened to Xavier and said, "I won't tell them. I'm also not gonna lie to them but I won't try and go adding to them worrying. They're gonna be glad to see you awake." He held steady to his resolve and stood, leaning in so he could kiss Xavier's forehead. "I love you too, sugar. We're gonna get you through this."
He very nearly jumped out of his skin by the doctor popping up in the room and hissed a low, "Jesus," under his breath, not having heard the door slide open prior to. He listened to the doctor and planned to note in his phone what time they were giving him pain medication. "Whats the 'something else' you're planning to get with the morphine?" Fletcher wanted to document everything. He was used to doing so with Drew's appointments and physical therapy, just as much as he was used to record keeping for The Ink Tank. He'd settled down from his initial surprise of the doctor's appearance and then sat listening and watching as the doctor assessed him with a few questions and requests. He masked his concern when the doctor asked Xavier his name a few times, and that Xavier hadn't retained it. Some worry struck him but he wasn't about to show it in front of his boyfriend. He easily pushed his own feelings aside and took his phone out to add to his notes, listening as the doctor explained the plan for next steps.
His fingers fumbled across the screen when Dr. Padilla referred to him as his husband, but he also didn't correct the man. Fletcher wasn't sure *why* he didn't correct the man. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. It wasn't until the doctor asked to speak with him and to sign something that Fletcher was compelled to clarit. He looked to Xavier as he stood and promised, "I'll be right back. Just outside the door." He followed the doctor out, not wanting to distance himself too much from Xavier. But once they were alone, Fletcher verbally waved off the question about himself. "I'm fine. And I'm his boyfriend, not his husband by the way. Am I allowed to sign anything?" He wasn't sure if they had contacted Clayton or Xavier's parents to give him permission to make any medical decisions or sign anything for Xavier. Fletcher listened some more as the doctor talked about Xavier's major injuries, namely to his brain.
"Does that mean it's too soon to know if the short term memory loss is a permanent thing?" He knew that it if it was, it would be an adjustment for Xavier, especially when it came to his career with writing sketches and preparing to act in them and other roles. But Fletcher agreed about Xavier being around those who were most familiar to him. "He loves to cook, spoil his kids and our friend's kids. He writes and acts for a living; he dances, reads...entertainment is his pleasure and his passion. We watch movies and shows together..." Fletcher's words trailed off as he thought about his boyfriend some more and then lifted his gaze from somewhere distant, back to the doctor. "As long as he's safe to fly back. We won't put him on a plane back home if he's not." Fletcher hadn't met the Mitchell's in-person yet but through all the correspondence over the week, he was sure that they wouldn't want anything, like the change in altitude or the lengthy duration seated on a plane, to negatively impact Xavier's recovery. "Whatever he needs done, I'll make sure he gets it." Between himself, Louise and Eliza, Xavier would be taken to the doctor's or physical therapy every time he had an appointment. Fletcher would set up beds downstairs at both his home and Xavier's if it made it easier on Xavier than taking the stairs each night. "You're sure it's only temporary? With the memory loss?" His arms were folded across his chest and his expression was stern with an underlying layer of concern in his features and his eyes. He'd hated that all of this had happened to Xavier of all people and meant what he said about doing everything possible to help him heal.
Xavier wanted nothing more than to be alone with Fletcher but the hospital staff was hard-pressed on keeping them apart or busy or talking or signing papers. It was becoming frustrating, especially with everything he was feeling and wanted to let out only to his boyfriend. He took the ice chips and let them roll inside his cheek before biting into the small piece left. He was glad for Fletcher's support in not telling his kids about possibly staying longer and hoped that they wouldn't ask too many questions about it though knowing Winter, she'd want full disclosure and upon thinking about it, Fletcher was right. Lying would do no good. He appreciated that type of tag teaming they always seemed to do even when they weren't noticing it. Fletcher was already such an important part of his kid's lives.
Smiling at the thought of seeing his kids again, Xavier closed his eyes at the kiss. "I just really wanted to tell you---" and once again, they were interrupted and he huffed audibly. Dr. Padilla, while nice was just another person getting in the way of quality time.
He handled the doctor's questions, slightly concerned about not remembering his name but also wondering if this was some trick. Xavier remained quiet when the doctor spoke to Fletcher. "Ambien or Lunesta. We'll administer it about an hour before bedtime. But the Morphine should get here soon. Either of you could call a nurse in if it runs out again. We want Xavier to be comfortable." Xavier didn't correct the doctor when he referred to Fletcher as his husband. It didn't feel right and for a few seconds, he wondered if he had missed something. He nodded when Fletcher left the room, readying himself for the nurse who had come in minutes after with the promised pain medication.
"Oh, my apologies. I heard so much about his partner who wouldn't leave his side. I just assumed..." Dr. Padilla pulled out a yellow form and handed it to Fletcher. "You can sign anything if he makes you his proxy."
He then quickly explained how that would be beneficial considering most of his family was overseas and with Xavier awake, it would be the right time to do so. "You two can discuss it. I know it's a pretty big conversation but it would be a good idea. I'll wait for signatures until his Morphine wears off later or if you two have made a decision." Dr. PAdilla noticed the concern on the man's face. "Then plenty of music, his family arriving should help and support from the people who love him. And the two of you can watch your favorite shows together while he's here if you continue to stay with him. We will ensure he gets discharged when it's safe to fly. I am pretty sure it's temporary but anything can happen with traumatic brain injuries. We'll keep him closely monitored. If it ends up being more of a long-term issue, I know some excellent therapists in California that would be helpful. I know this is all concerning but we're taking care of him and we'll make sure he gets the best patient care here. I've seen some of his work and I can see how much he loves doing it. All the flowers and the gifts, he's very loved and I can tell he means a lot to you. Anything you need, please don't hesitate to have my staff page me. I'll be here all weekend and at clinic next week so I'm a page away. Here's my card." He pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Fletcher. "I can also meet with his family when they arrive tomorrow. But I won't keep you longer. I know you have been waiting patiently for your reunion." He smiled at Fletcher and then rubbed his arm before making his way to the nurse's station.
Visibly annoyed, Xavier waited for Fletcher to return and when he did, his entire expression changed. He was glad the rails on his bed had been lowered and he patted the spot beside him, asking Fletcher to climb in with him. "Hey, husband. Did you get me a wedding present while you were gone?"
Fletcher wondered what Xavier wanted to tell him but he'd gotten distracted by Dr. Padilla's appearance and how it scared the shit out of him for a fraction of a second. He hadn't lifted his head from looking at his phone and the notes he added, and nodded while texting in "*morphine with Ambien or Lunesta (at night, 1 hr before bed)*" in his phone. He'd pocketed the device when he stood to join the doctor outside of the room and then listened some more while they stood near the waiting area.
"Itâs fine. I'm not bothered," Fletcher's tone reflected how unbothered he was about being mistaken as Xavier's husband. "I just wanted you to know, since we're talking about me signing things for his care. If you think he's fit to make me his proxy, I'll talk to him about it." Fletcher didn't think Xavier would have a problem with it but he also knew Xavier was still very early in his recovery, and they just learned that his short term memory was currently affected. He accepted the form and then took his phone out and decided to shoot a text out of the group chat with Clayton about the proxy topic and the MRA order. He doubted the other Mitchells would have a problem with it either but Fletcher was making a point to keep Xavier's family in the loop. Simultaneously, he was listening to the doctor advise him of things to do to try and aide in the recovery of Xavier's short term memory. He had Spotify on his phone to handle the music; there was a TV in the hospital room, and he had his laptop in his duffle bag and could pull up some of the streaming services he had subscriptions for if there wasn't anything good on the TV. He could arrange Zoom calls with Drew and Emiliana, and get Phoebe on the screen too, much like they'd done throughout the week already. He knew there were things that they could do to make it work out for however long Xavier needed. And their families and friends would help with any necessary adjustments once he was back home in San Francisco.
His voice was serious but still held his placid evenness. "Thanks. I know you're all doing everything possible for him and his health. He needs and deserves that. And yeah, he does mean a lot to me. I love him. Why do you think I wasn't bothered by you thinking I was his husband already?" His lips crookedly tugged up in the ghost of a smile that soon vanished as he took Dr. Padilla's card and placed it in his back pocket. "Thanks. Yeah, please plan on meeting with his family. If they have questions, it'd be good for you to be around to answer it." He'd taken detailed notes but ultimately was not a doctor. "Thanks again." With a brief nod, he made his way back to Xavier's room.
He slid the door open and quietly closed it behind him once inside. As he approached the bed with the intent of sitting back in the chair, he saw Xavier pat the bed and arched a brow at him. But he soon chuckled. "What, my presence isn't enough of a gift?" He sat on the edge of the bed, facing Xavier and placing the younger man's hand in his lap. "I'm not laying in this little bed next to you when you've got broken ribs, babe. But I *am* gonna have to tell the doctor you remembered him calling me your husband." He smirked and bent his head while lifting Xavier's hand to kiss it again. "You must've really liked the sound of it. Or you'd already been thinking about it a lot." He lifted a brow questioningly to Xavier while gently caressing his knuckles, periodically massaging an individual finger in between.
"It's the best gift but I could have done with some chocolates. That vanilla ice cream looks like it was made in a gym bag." Xavier chuckled softly, enough to not hurt his body while doing so. "I think it's a decent wedding present. Some vending machine M&Ms." He gladly placed his hand in Fletcher's, smiling again at the comment about telling his doctor he had remembered the comment. "For about 30 seconds, I wondered if it happened and was really mad I couldn't remember it. I'd want to remember something like that. I *do* like the sound of it and maybeeee I've been thinking about it a lot. They gave me morphine, might as well give me truth serum." Xavier interlaced his fingers with Fletcher's. While it was true that the pain medication would make him loopy, he was being truthful about it all. He kept his gaze on his boyfriend, admiring his face as if he hadn't seen him forever. "We didn't, right? Get married?" He laughed again, feeling virtually no pain this time. "Or did you finally say yes?"
Xavier looked out when he saw that a nurse approached to close the curtain over the sliding glass door. "Privacy? Oh that's unheard of. Where'd you go off to?"
He turned back to fully face Xavier again and said, "The doctor was trying to check on me and fill me in on plans for your recovery. You'll be happy to know that that part includes spending more time with the kids and me, so prepare to get sick of my face." He was, of course joking, and then added, "And before.*you* ask too, I'm fine. You're awake, and you're on the mend. Drew, Emiliana and the kids are all safe and healthy. The Ink Tank's still operating, and Jade hasn't throttled Rodrigo yet so I'm fine." He reached for the cup of ice chips and looked in it. "Do you want some more ice chips? Some of them are melting but the nurse put a lot in here, so youâve got some time before it all turns to water." His mins drifted a little back to their marriage talk and he thought about what he was going to say before the nurse came by, and then he asked, "You said you've been thinking about it a lot--getting married. So that's something you want someday? Us getting married?"
âA gym bag. It makes sense in my head.â He rolled his eyes but then smiled so that Fletcher could see it was all in good humor and that Xavier was actually feeling kind of nice. âIâd like that. Thank you. And you need to have whatever meal is next. Dinner, right ?â He sincerely hoped his boyfriend was eating. Talking about remembering a marriage between them kept him smiling and Xavier watched their hands almost simultaneously as Fletcher did. âIâd get you a pretty ring too. Something that matches your personality. Not like Iâve been looking or anything.â He closed one eye and grinned lazily. While he was relieved he didnât miss a big chapter of his life, he did feel kind of sad that it wasnât true that Fletcher was his husband. He figured that was the drugs but he forgot the sadness just as quickly as it began. âOkay. No marriage yet. Got it.â He joined in the soft laughter. Xavier noticed the frustration in his boyfriendâs expression and grazed his thumb over his knuckles. âWhen we are out of here, we are playing hooky together and staying in bed all day. Yeah?â
âSick of your face? Pfft doubtful. But Iâm glad youâre fine. Promise me youâll tell me if youâre not and that youâre not putting on a brave face for me.â He listened to Fletcher talk and Xavier wondered if his boyfriend knew, âyou take care of everyone. I love you for that. Iâm not sure you even realize it. Youâre the best boyfriend, best daddy, best friend, best nephew, faux son, husbandâŚâ he grinned again. âSleep tonight. For me.â He chose to eat the chips that were left in the cup and took that from Fletcher . âIâll finish whatâs left in here, baby.â The next question sent a shiver that shot through his hands and up his arms, jolting his chest and circling there as Xavier smiled at his boyfriend. âYes. I do want that.â A soft laugh fell from his lips and he sighed. âOh God. Thatâs a lot right? Maybe itâs corny like in those movies or books where people have these sudden realizations afterââ
His words trailed off for a moment. âAfter their lives are in jeopardy and I guess thatâs the romantic thing to say but Iâve thought about it before because I can remember it.â He pointed to his temple with his free hand. âBut almost dying puts it into perspective too. What about you? You donât have to agree. Itâs okay, Iâm not gonna get mad or anything.â He smiled at his boyfriend. âIâm always the one doing everything first. First move, first I love youâŚitâs okay if you donât feel the same way yet.â
"Well at least it makes sense somewhere," chuckled Fletcher. He soon gave Xavier a mild look of reproach. "Ohh no. You're not gonna fuss over me. Not right now. I'm eating the halfway decent cafeteria food. I've gotten some sleep. I've even showered." He pointed to the closed bathroom door on the opposite side of the room, indicating that there was a shower in there. DJ, Drew and Emiliana may have harassed him about eating and trying to sleep so he could actually be functional and helpful but he'd done it. "So don't worry about me skipping meals, especially with you being awake now." He listened to Xavier talk about rings and chuckled once at the end, dryly replying,"Uh-huh. I'm convinced." But it got Fletcher thinking about looking sometime soon, since he'd never had a reason to browse engagement or wedding bands for someone he'd involved himself with before.
Hearing Xavier's hooky suggestion made him smile a little. "Hell yeah. Just watching shows, napping and maybe some cuddling if you're up for it." He smirked a little and said, "You could get sick of my face telling you to not worry about me. We agreed on no secrets between us, right? I can be fine and still put on a strong face from time to time. Like not telling the kids everything to add to their worrying." After dropping that reminder, Fletcher added, "I'd been worried about you. I'll worry about you and still be as strong as I can be. And I know you're not one-hundred percent outta the woods yet but you're awake. You're showing some good signs already according to the doctor. You remember your families, you remember me and that I love the hell outta you. For right now, all that's enough for me to relax some."Â He helped Xavier out with the cup of ice chips and then listened intently to his answer about marriage for them. His eyes were trained on his boyfriend the entire time, his gaze was serious but calm and attentive.
He expected the question to be posed to him and after lifting an ice chip to Xavier's lips, Fletcher said, "I think you're right that it's pretty natural to think about things we might have missed out on together if you weren't here anymore." He set the cup back down and wiped his fingertips on his pants before taking Xavier's hand to hold again. "The short answer's yes. I've thought about it and someday, I want that with you. Before you and I got serious about each other, I didn't give marriage much thought. But before Phoebe, I didn't give fatherhood much thought either. Drew's been that constant for most of my life but in less than a year, Phoebe, and then you, and Henry and Winter came in and changed how I thought my life might be. Our lives have become so tied up in each other and I don't want that to change unless it's for the better. We still have things to figure out before I'd like us to take that step, but it's a step I hope we'll take. Someday. As in someday when you're healed up, so we can plan something that's special to our family. And someday when we're all living under one roof. And someday, when I can put a damn ring on your finger--one you deserve and will love to wear."
Xavier laughed softly, his body finally relaxing and his breathing less labored. He was glad that the doctor had ordered stronger medications. In truth, at first, Xavier was vehemently against pain medications but he now understood the importance of it. There was no way he'd be able to get through this unmedicated. At least his kids would see him a lot calmer than how he was hours ago. "Wait, you're telling me the cafeteria didn't have Nobu for you? I'll file a complaint." He smiled at Fletcher, loving how much he cared, and didn't mind being put out the last couple of days. Xavier was glad there was a shower in the room and wondered how long he'd have to stay in bed without going to an actual bathroom for his necessities. It all felt gross especially when he worried about the way he looked. At least he knew that Fletcher didn't mind it all. He listened but in the back of his mind, he kept repeating *in sickness and in health* how his boyfriend's actions spoke volumes of how much love existed between them. It was wild and it was like falling in love again. Suddenly, he was taken back to the week they spent together and how domestic it had all felt. He knew then he had fallen in love but didn't know how permanent it would be. Then there was New York and Fletcher's surprise and how they spent as much time together after that, trying to find new and creative ways to live together without actually living together yet. On the evening that Xavier was checking out a potential car to purchase online, he stumbled upon a website for engagement and wedding bands. It started as an ad at first and then curiosity, as always, took over, and before long, Xavier was thinking about logistics. What was Fletcher's ring size? Did he prefer white gold or yellow gold? And then logistics turned into pure excitement. That night, Xavier didn't sleep. Instead, he imagined how he'd scheme getting a ring a size even if it meant storing the information for months.
It was never on his mind except for fantastical reasons so he never had ideas or inspirations to dwell on. Something about the way he walked into the Van Hall home one day and Henry ran straight to Drew while Winter bantered with Fletcher. Something about the way Phoebe fit in his arms and he flew her around the house as if she was on a Disney ride. Something about the way Emiliana whispered to him that she had left them food on the stove. Something about the feeling of being complete made it feel more than okay to fantasize about ring sizes and scheming. And now? Fletcher watching over him, calling their blended family *theirs* and having this very important talk made all the pieces come together. "I love the idea of cuddling. Can you kiss all the bruises?" He looked up at him with warm eyes, craving the closeness, the familiarity of being with the man he loved. "Nah, still won't get sick of your face." He listened to Fletcher being vulnerable and how Xavier remembering the important things mattered most. Xavier accepted another ice chip, licking his bottom lip and appreciative of the cold. Xavier listened to how Fletcher never gave marriage much thought and it was something he could relate to. Hearing about how much had changed for him made Xavier happy. Fletcher deserved all the good things. He would die on that hill. "I didn't give it much thought either. I never thought I'd find someone. There were goals I had that didn't align with many people. Wanting family before marriage, fostering, traveling...it's a lot." He let a small laugh fall from his lips. "I remember when you asked me what we were and I think you had a mini freak-out about it because I had come back from London and you word vomited about Phoebe as if it would change things and it didn't. I was genuinely relieved. Another dad? Wow, that's hot." He laughed again and cleared his throat. "Marry the fuck out of me, then. Not now. Someday. Big wedding, small wedding...."
Xavier squeezed Fletcher's hand. "And we'll make sure all our friends and family are there for it."
"Good. Channel your inner Karen when you file that complaint," Fletcher dryly replied. Hearing more of Xavier's voice and listening to him joke one moment and be sentimental the next felt like a fast-acting balm spread over his mind. The days of worry, uncertainty and fear were being eased with each minute he was now spending with his boyfriend. He knew Xavier still had healing to do from his brain injury to the breaks and bruises in his ribs. Neither would be easy to recover from but the doctor seemed to think that, pending the MRA results, he'd be on a good recovery road.
Hearing Xavier talk about cuddling and getting his bruises kissed made Fletcher smile a little bit. He traced his fingertips along the length of Xavier's arm again and said, "Cuddling, huh? I think you might have to wait for some *good* cuddles but while you're healing, I'll be next to you and yes, I'll kiss your bruises. Your scars, and your lips and anywhere else I can." He playfully rolled his eyes to the ceiling when Xavier doubled down that he wouldn't get sick of his face. But his face still held a faint smile. And after answering about the question of marriage, he listened some more to his boyfriend. "Eh. It wasn't really me freaking out. I just wasn't sure what we were to each other and didn't want some gray area when the feelings were there. They were new and things were moving fast between us without factoring in our kids yet. You knew your feelings sooner than I did and were open to telling them to me. You know I have no problem letting you know how I feel or what I think about... well, anything. But I just haven't been as quick about it between us so far." He wasn't blaming or even trying to compare the two of them; merely stating how things had been between them and their relationship thus far.
"And yeah, I didn't know if it would change things for you wanting something serious with me. But I also didn't know what I could handle yet either. Phoebe was barely home from the NICU when we kissed at the gala. I was adjusting to fatherhood and everything around that. And I told you I hadn't really done much serious dating in my life before you. And yeah, there was your life to consider too with the traveling, fostering two teenagers, and your growing fame. So, yeah. Not a freak out. Just, me thinking about a lot, figuring it out and all that. But it's nice to know you found my dad status as hot." He chuckled a little and went to reach for the cup of ice chips again but stilled, brows sloping over his eyes as he stared at Xavier. "Uh... Sorry, back up a sec. Was that a proposal? 'Marry the fuck out of me then'?" He chuckled once despite the uncertainty etched in his face. "I honestly can't tell if you're being serious or if it's the morphine talking, babe."
"It shall be done." Xavier was obviously joking about the Nobu but it softened his heart even more for the tattoo artist hearing how he had stayed by his side and was willing to rearrange his life for him. He can't say he's ever had an experience with someone he's been in a relationship like this and he wanted to cherish that about Fletcher. He felt his body relax completely now that he had been on the pain medications for roughly more than twenty minutes. Xavier's major pains were nearly gone and he found himself thinking a bit clearer.
He groaned playfully, not realizing that a part of recovery probably meant no *good* cuddles for a couple of weeks. "Dammit, I'll miss those a lot." Still, he enjoyed his boyfriend's touch. It kept him at ease even with everything that had been going on. Xavier caught on that his memory wasn't 100 percent and typically, this information would cause him to panic but the medication and his boyfriend's presence gave him the calm he needed. One side of his lips tugged into a gentle smile when Fletcher reassured him he'd kiss his bruises and scars and that he'd be next to him. There was no doubt in his mind that was true. "You're so good to me, baby." He said those words in a slight whisper, feeling humbled by his man's love. It was nice hearing his voice. It was soothing to Xavier so he listened intently as his boyfriend explained where they stood months ago, Fletcher's words and explanation meant a great deal to Xavier. He can't remember the last time (if there were any) when he'd have anything close to such a serious conversation with someone he was in a relationship with. But then again, he wouldn't call his past partners relationships. They were nothing like this. They wouldn't even hold a candle. "With all that said, I appreciate how you have been with everything. Not saying that my approach hasn't been genuine I just have grown to know you and knowing you've spent time thinking about things, well, its special to me."
Xavier continued listening and revisiting the memories of how he had kissed Fletcher at the gala and how he couldn't stop thinking about it the whole time he was in London. It was wild how much he was looking forward to seeing Fletcher again, how he couldn't help but ravish him the moment they were alone again. And then everything that followed and how quickly Xavier had grown to care about him and his daughter and uncle. He smiled again and cleared his throat. "I mean, it was more than that. It was nice. Finding someone who understood that. I think that was important in our link, in how we gelled. We had a very specific and vital common ground and it was new to both of us. The details couldn't be more different but we were on similar paths in a way. I wasn't so much looking for someone as I was wanting to have what others had if that makes sense." Xavier closed his eyes a bit. "Romantic relationships, I knew they had to take the back burner because of work and the kids, and then I met you and I couldn't stay away." Xavier then reopened his eyes finding that his boyfriend was looking at him *like that*. He felt a sudden pang in his chest, realizing the full weight of his words. Was he high? Maybe but his mind was clear. He loved Fletcher. Fact. He loved his family. Fact. He wanted to spend as much time together especially while he was on holiday from work. Fact. He couldn't wait to introduce him to his family. Fact. His kids loved Fletcher. Fact. He had been looking at rings last month. Fact. Fact, fact, fact. The word kept playing in his head and he found himself feeling nervous just like on the night he had kissed his now boyfriend. "I don't have a ring..." He whispered, feeling foolish but still, determined to say. "You don't have to say yes now. Someday." Someday. "Will you marry the fuck out of me, someday?"
After asking if Xavier was actually proposing to him, Fletcher stared at him, serious but patient as he waited and listened to what Xavier would say back. And when he stood firm in his proposal Fletcher felt his heart pulse harder than normal. His expression hadn't changed right away as he'd been taking it in. Xavier was asking him to marry him. Someday. The smart-ass in him wanted to point out how adding someday wouldn't be any different than if he'd proposed without it since they sure as shit weren't getting married while he was newly conscious and confined to a hospital bed. But he took in Xavier's proposal and said, "You know I already told you I wanted to marry you someday, right?" He wondered if this was a sign of Xavier's affected memory or not as he gingerly cupped a hand to Xavier's cheek and then leaned in to kiss his forehead and then his lips--chilly from the ice chips but still as addicting as the first times he'd kissed them. "And I plan to. You know I'm not one to go back on my plans or my word. So yeah. Someday, I'll marry the fuck outta you. We'll have the wedding we want. Or hell, no wedding if we want and just get married and party with our friends and family after. Whatever marrying you's gonna look like, someday, we'll do it. You and me, sweetheart."
By now, Xavier was completely at ease with virtually no pain. His heart rate had even slowed down more and his vitals were stable. He wasn't uncomfortable and his head wasn't splitting in half anymore. The combination of proper medications and pain management had helped but waking up to seeing a familiar and the best face made this part of the process easier. Even with the understanding that there could have been damage to his short-term memory, Xavier felt like he could conquer it all. He smiled lazily and pretended to gasp with genuine humor. "You love me?" Xavier listened to his boyfriend, his smile remaining on his face. It felt like a dream having him there and hearing him talk after feeling a strange silence for so long. He let a soft chuckle fall from his lips. "Casual. I thought that too. What did I say? No strings attached or something? I prefer this." He hoped his memory would allow him to remember Fletcher's words to him and he repeated it in his head a few times, hoping it'd stick in the morning.
Even with everything going on, the beeping from his heart monitor, the chaos outside his glass doors, the doctors and nurses interrupting every chance they got, Xavier remained true to his words and how he felt about Fletcher. Newer details and other things were foggy but his love for his boyfriend was constant and evolving. Some would argue it was too soon to feel that way while others probably saw it coming but to him, everyone else's perspective didn't matter. He knew how he felt and he felt strongly about those feelings. His kiss was quick and gentle but it didn't stop the shiver it caused to run through his body. He never wanted to lose that. "I'll ask again with a ring. I promise. Unless you beat me to it. Or we do it the same time because we would." He smiled at Fletcher's words. "I'll do it right. Me and you." His eyes filled up with tears once more. He heard a familiar voice struggling with the glass door and his sister arguing,
"It's a slide, Henry!" And then DJ chuckling as they all entered the room.
"Dad! Fletcher!" Winter let Henry run to the bedside first and Winter wrapped her arms around Fletcher's side. She had grown even closer to her father's boyfriend in the last couple of days. For the longest time, it was only her taking care of Henry and then they finally got a dad to take care of them first and when their dad ended up in the hospital, it was nice to have Fletcher and Drew and everyone else that came through for them. She buried her face into the older man's side and began to cry.Â
Henry was careful not to throw himself on his dad but he took his other hand on the other side of the bed and brought it up to his chest. "Don't mind, Winter. She's super emotional now. It's a new thing she's trying."
"Oh, yeah?" Xavier decided to give Winter her space and waited for her to come to him. "I'm okay, honey."
She sniffled and slowly walked to the other side where Henry stood and gently pulled the bed sheet over her father's shoulder.
Standing up again, he was his full height just as Winter collided into him. He brought an arm around her, and then kindly released Xavier to hug her fully. "Hey, kid," he affectionately greeted, giving her a brief, comforting squeeze before hearing her sobs. He let her keep her face hidden and held his arms around her for as long as she needed, understanding the unspoken feeling she was undoubtedly releasing now. Fletcher knew it had been hard on her and Henry both, seeing their dad lying comatose day after day with no certainty he would wake. He was sure Winter had been holding herself together as much as possible but the dam finally broke and he would let her have her time. Hearing Henry fill in Xavier made Fletcher crack a smile, but he would bet that Winter hearing Xavier's voice again was music to her ears, much like it had been for him. Fletcher bent his head and spoke low, "You heard your dad, right? He's okay. And from the sounds of things, he's on the right track for getting better from here."
Even with Fletcher telling Xavier not to fuss, his mind went to finding the right ring for Fletcher. Would he get an engagement and wedding ring for him? Should he ask him again properly in front of their family? Or should it be something more romantic and private? Would they tell anyone about what they had discussed? It made him nervous and happy all at once and when he was about to add to his words, Xavier heard his children. Henry by his side filled him with so much love. Xavier's fingers reached for Henry, one was covered by the oximeter. Henry was careful not to move anything around but he kept his father's hand close to his chest wanting to update him on everything he had missed in a week. Winter had warned him not to do that so he kept his cool and kissed his father's hand several times. Winter remained quiet and close to Fletcher which warmed Xavier's heart. He waited for her to come to his side, touched by the encouragement Fletcher was giving her.
Winter nodded at Fletcher's words and let out a sigh that felt like she had held in forever. "Dad I--" Winter didn't know where to begin. She had so much to tell her father, so much he needed to know in case it all happened again. She looked up at Fletcher and then DJ and then tip-toed to kiss Xavier's temple before whispering, "Please don't leave us again. Eliza forgot to take the chicken out once and it was, it was bad, Dad." She smiled at her father. "Henry and I are pretty lost without you and Fletcher too." She kissed him again, wanting to so badly wrap her arms around him. "Are you in pain?"
"Yeah, dad. Are you in pain? Leo and Michael are so happy you're awake. Everyone is! I made sure I let the Discord chat know."
Xavier smiled at his kids, his gaze on Winter for a moment. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. We gotta get Eliza cooking lessons. I'm not in pain right now but I will be from time to time. It gets better though. Henry, have you been on discord all day?"
He looked up at DJ and smiled at smiled at her too. "They gave me the good stuff and some sleep meds are coming in a bit. They wanted to hold off until you guys came. And Fletcher's been here this whole time making *friends* with the staff." Xavier teased him.
"Oh my God was it the chatty one with the glasses?!" Winter asked Fletcher. "She drove me insane!"
Fletcher felt Winter nod and when she sighed, he took it as a cue to release her to her dad. He stepped aside so that she and Henry both could be by their father's side. Gradually, Fletcher made his way over to DJ, who was tapping away on her phone but also listening tp what was going on around her at the same time. "You look like hell," she told Fletcher to which he chuckled once, dryly. "Thanks." His response was low for her. "Nearly losing the person you love'll do that to you. But I'm better than I apparently look. At least now I am."
"Yeah, I believe it." DJ replied; something about the way she said it told him that she'd been affected by Xavier's accident, beyond him being her client and possibly beyond him being her friend. Maybe she'd put herself in his position at some point, wondering what she would do if it had been Cris in that hospital bed. It was a helpless and shitty feeling and Fletcher wouldn't wish it on anybody he cared about.
Arms folded casually across his chest, Fletcher listened to the Mitchells, smiling a little at them. But his smile vanished as he rolled his eyes at Xavier's teasing. "I thought we agreed not to lie to them," he reminded with an accusatory arch of his brow. And then he looked to Winter. "She seems to have a crush on me despite the fact that I couldn't be more obvious that I'm with your dad. Well... that's not true, I *could* be more obvious but I'm pretty sure your dad wouldn't like it if I was. Well... nah, that's not true either. He'd like it. But it'd be real fuckin' rude to the nurse." He winked to Xavier and unapologetically smirked at what he'd just implied, knowing he could be talking about something as simple as a kiss on the lips, to as blatant as a makeout session to as explicit as a blowjob. Fletcher liked the vagueness of it all at the moment and then said, "But yeah, same nurse unfortunately. I'm convinced she's a cyborg and never takes time off."
"Ewww! A crush on you? Gross. Dad, that explains everything because she kept offering Fletcher coffee and he was like no thanks like clearly the last thing he wants or needs is coffee. I mean, maybe he did need coffee but he didn't *want* it not from her at least. But she was like obsessed with getting him pillows and stuff and oh my God!" She snapped her fingers and then giggled a bit. "That one night you fell asleep on Eliza's Llama bag, the nurse came in and was like aww so cute and she was like are you his daughter and I was like hell yeah I am, lady. I'm both their daughter and they have a little boy too." Henry shimmied with amusement. "And that's how I started this rumor you two were married. But yeah, she obviously does NOT give a crap and I will have words, dad. Just tell me it's okay."
Xavier listened without blinking. How did teenagers talk so quickly? He then listened to Fletcher who also made him laugh and he couldn't help but be amused at how similar they both were. Diabolical in their own way. Fletcher's words made him shake his head some and Xavier even snorted. "Alright, you two. Well, that explains A LOT. Doesn't it?" He winked at Fletcher as well knowing well what he was implying.
"I told you AI is taking over. I have read all the articles. DJ is going to help me write a thesis on it. Right Deej?" Henry looked up at the woman and Xavier wondered how much of a handful his kids had been.
"I heard you two really ruled this hospital wing, hm?" Xavier chuckled and reached for Winter's hand as well.
"A little. Like we're going to allow them to do whatever they want. I've watched Grey's. I got Fletcher into it too. Right?" She looked up at her faux dad. "by the way, as if you didn't know, we decided Fletcher gets to stay in the fam like big time."
"Yeah, dad! No take backsies!" Henry added. "Stuck with us."
"She's lucky I haven't ripped her head off for being so goddamn unprofessional," Fletcher muttered to no one in particular. But he smirked at Winter proudly proclaiming she was both their daughters. He chuckled from the way everything was recounted to Xavier in full and then said, "Don't worry about it, Winter. She'll get taken care of." Fletcher intended to make sure her behavior was well known before Xavier was discharged.
Fletcher was leaning against the wall next to the bathroom door as he listened to everything. He smiled a bit when Xavier winked to him and then said, "Sure does explain a lot."
DJ chuckled, "Sad but true. And yeah, although for the life of me, I can't figure out why you're wanting to write a thesis at your age. Aren't you gonna start learning MLA format next year or something?"
Fletcher was content being a spectator to Xavier's reunion with the kids but he heard Winter and said nodded, "Yeah it's not half bad as far as TV dramas go." He was likely to mostly watch the show if he was watching with Winter but he liked thar they'd have something to watch together as their 'thing'. He heard Winter's comment about accepting him for staying in their family, and chuckled a bit when Henry cosigned this. "Thanks, you two. That's a damn big honor. Can I call Drew and tell him he's on the outs?" He'd been joking of course but the kids weren't immune to his brand of humor.
For a moment, he spoke low to DJ thanking her like he'd done a handful of times during the week for being more than just Xavier's publicist and for being an extra familiar face for Winter and Henry. He'd had no idea if they'd been to NYC before. Even if they had, he doubted they knew the city, and being back and forth between the hotel and the hospital in a place that wasnt home for them, all while worrying about their dad had to be more stressful than maybe even they realized. He was grateful to DJ.
When he set his attention back to the Mitchells, Fletcher asked Xavier, "Your ice chips are probably mostly melted. Do you want me to see about getting you some more?" He wanted Henry and Winter to spend as much time with their dad before he'd need to sleep and didn't mind stepping out for a minute or two, with the mindful promise to return right away.
Winter grinned at Fletcher's words. "Okay, but same." Her annoyance was practically gone when her father's boyfriend stated he'd take care of it. "Good. See, dad? We've got your back."
Xavier smiled at Winter, keeping her hand in his. "I'm sorry she behaved that way. The funny story is they thought we were married probably because of your little rumour and it made zero difference." He rolled his eyes. "Wanted to replace me. How dare she?" He joked, amused by his daughter's efforts to start such an elaborate but adorable story.
Henry, who had grown close to DJ too nodded. "We started this year. The Honors classes have been doing a lot of 8th grade work to get us ready for high school. The thesis is for pleasure. Leo and I have a pact. He excels in math and I excel in language arts, we teach each other and then rule the world."
Xavier wasn't sure if Henry was being serious or not. He had this way about him that when he told stories, it was hard to catch the sarcasm versus the truth. It's what made his youngest so funny. "You'll love university then. You'll be doing a lot of writing there. DJ, thank you for taking care of them and helping Fletcher. I can't tell you how grateful I am for you both. "
It warmed his heart seeing and knowing that positive, affirming adults surrounded his kids. Fletcher had stepped up and become something of a father figure to Winter and Henry and they both adored him. DJ, he imagined, had stepped up in ways he could never repay. "Now you have a watching buddy." He smiled as both his kids protested with laughter against taking Drew out of the picture.
"Hate to break it to you, Fletcher but that's Grandpa. He ain't going anywhere." Henry was definitely Drew's sidekick.
When Fletcher mentioned getting more ice, he nodded with an adoring smile. "Thanks, baby. yes. Don't go fighting the staff now."
âX, you really need to not apologize for something that you have zero reason to apologize for. If anything she just made herself look dumb and desperate.â
DJ listened to Hery and shook her head with a smile, âWell dang, thatâs impressive and surprising. But you also go to a private school and youâre ridiculously smart, so I shouldnât be so surprised.â She nodded in agreement with Xavier about college-level assignments. But she waved off Xavierâs âthanksâ. âNo problem. Gotta look out for my friend and number one client, *and* that includes his family. Iâm just glad that youâre awake and healing and, well, still *you*.â
Fletcherâs head bobbed a few times, echoing DJâs sentiments about being glad Xavier was awake and on the mend, and still very much himself.â He would be on the road to recovery for a while but Fletcher already knew he would be alongside Xavier through it. Heâd told the young entertainer as much, and he was a man of his word. At the mention of Greyâs Anatomy and talking briefly about Winter introducing it to him, Fletcher said, âYah, sheâll have to explain things if I missed something along the way.â And hearing Henry talk about Drew being their grandfather made Fletcher feel happier. His idiot cousins were shitty kids, and while his cousin, Andrew had 2 kids, Drew hardly knew them and only really got to see them through photos, thanks to Andrewâs toddler-like behavior.Â
After agreeing to get Xavier some more ice chips, he heard Xavirâs words of caution and paused after locking his phone screen. Looking right at Xavier, he said, âI promised not to ever lie to you so Iâm not gonna guarantee that wonât happen, sugar.â He wasnât going to look to get into a physical altercation with the hospital staff but he was going to make sure the necessary people were spoken to about Nurse McFlirt. He placed his phone back into his back pocket and headed for the sliding door, letting himself out to get Xavier more ice chips and have a word.
"Ugh, it's just annoying. And obviously, I don't want any of you stressing more than you already have." There was a slight concern over how much everyone had probably been concerned over Xavier and his status. While the doctor didn't disclose too much, a week seemed like a long time to be in a coma. If it were Fletcher, he'd be a mess. He looked over to DJ and his boyfriend recently turned fiance and smiled a little. He appreciated everything they've done for him.
"They do have a lot of little geniuses there." Xavier squeezed his son's hand and smiled proudly. Xavier really was the luckiest dad. He listened to DJ, humbled by how amazing she was. There were so many fuzzy details and memories didn't quite make sense but he did feel like himself and that was a great first step. He watched happily as his kids interacted with DJ and Fletcher and would smile at them when one child hugged him every so often and the other remained close. Henry wouldn't stop squeezing his hand and Winter would casually kiss his cheek or shoulder. He felt so much love in the room and it was the best thing to wake up to. Knowing that they were safe with Fletcher and hearing how much they appreciated DJ and Drew and everyone in their lives, Xavier felt safe too.
Xavier flashed Fletcher a half-smile knowing that he'd be going out to get ice chips and finding a nurse's manager or the doctor on call. He understood Fletcher's annoyance because he'd do the same too especially hearing from Winter that they had even more intimate details and still tried to make a pass at Fletcher with Xavier in the same room. It didn't sit well with him at all. He watched Fletcher leave until he couldn't see him anymore and also watched DJ follow. She simply smiled at him and he knew she wanted him to have some time with the kids too.
Alone with Winter and Henry, Xavier let Henry sit a the edge of one side of the bed and Winter on the other side.
"Your dad's going to be out of here soon and then we're going to California where he'll do some in-home therapy. Fletcher and I were thinking about doing it at his house since he'll be there with Drew and it's unfair to move Drew around so much. I wanted to make sure that was okay with you two?"
Winter's eyes widened and she smiled. "That means I can see more Phoebe. Well, *we* can but I can help and it's better if we're all together. I'll pack all my stuff. How long are we staying?"
Xavier was glad that Winter was a voice of reason at such a young age and that motherly attitude came from raising Henry. "I'm sure Fletcher and Drew would love that and Emiliana will be there too. I'm not sure how long but a good amount, I think. If I recover quickly it shouldn't be a crazy amount of time."
Henry had been quiet and then added, "Why not? Winter and I really love Fletcher and Phoebe and Drew and Emiliana. We can stay however long we need to. We don't mind. Maybe we can do summers at our house like a summer house!" He chuckled and we can move in with the Van Halls! Do you think they'd care? It'll be like one big family like...the Brady Brunch!"
Xavier laughed softly. "What do you know about the Brady Brunch?"
"Just ask grandad Drew." Henry placed his head on his father's shoulder. "We love them."
Xavier cuddled into his son's head as much as his wires allowed him to. "Me too.."
"Me three." Winter stayed close. "I hope Fletcher doesn't go to jail tonight though..." The three of them laughed and continued with their banter until Fletcher returned and Winter asked, "Are you going to need bail money because I have a fund."
"We love you, X. That includes us getting to stress, worry and maybe even fuss over you from time to time," Fletcher replied plainly but after a beat, he curved one corner of his lips a little. "And cussing out nurses if need be." He shrugged at that added comment and then started for the door and then kept it open when he heard DJ follow him out.
"You're not gonna try and stop me or tell me to be nice, are you?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder to DJ.
"Nope. All I'm gonna ask is not to let it get physical unless it's self defense. Physical altercations are a tougher clean-up on the PR front than verbal ones--especially when you have male-to-female conflict."
Fletcher nodded once to DJ and then strode over to the nurse's station. He let the person sitting at the front know that he wanted to talk to whoever was in charge of this area. The nurse politely asked if everything was okay, to which Fletcher said, "Not really. That's why I want to talk to whoever manages the nurses on this floor." And while it seemed like the woman wanted to know more, the look on Fletcher's face must have kept her from prying further. The few other nurses at the station had clearly been listening but none of them approached or offered further aide.
While Fletcher waited, he turned his back to the station and leaned against the counter. DJ was a short distance away, busying herself on her phone but was still in earshot, he was sure of it. Fletcher then stretched his neck and rubbed it, habitually on the side where the slightly raised skin of an old injury from his bouncer days was permanently scarred. Most people couldn't see it due to the tattoo he'd intentionally gotten there, but he was often reminded of it whenever the recollection crossed his mind or his or Xavier's fingers brushed along it.
He lowered his hand back to his side when someone new spoke up behind him. He turned around to find himself introduced to the ICU nurse manager. Fletcher nodded and gave his first name in response. As he did so, from his peripheral, he saw the nurse in question come from around the corner but he pretended not to notice as he proceeded to tell the manager. "I wanted to talk to you because I have a problem with one of your nurses acting unprofessionally. She's made her interest in me blatant despite me being here everyday for the past week waiting for my partner to come out of a coma."
The nurse manager's surprise was evident as they quietly asked, "Xavier Mitchell? Is he your partner?" clearly having recognized the patient description.
"Yeah, he is. I love him. I loved him before he came to this hospital and I'll be loving him long after he's outta here. I was clear about my reason for being here. Our daughter was clear in telling this nurse why I was here. So I don't appreciate her still making advances or flirtatious comments to me, least of all while the person I love's lying in a hospital bed in a goddamn coma."
The nurse manager took in a breath and said, "I'm so sorry. I'm hoping that the nurse didn't mean anything by it and--"
The nurse manager looked to the nurse in question for a moment and then back to Fletcher. "I apologize again, Fletcher. The situation you've described is not the kind of standard set here and I assure you that I will personally address this. Please extend my well wishes to Mr. Mitchell and know that we intend to continue our care for him. Nothing unprofessional should take place from here on out."
Fletcher's face was stony as he said, "Sure." He was more about actions speaking louder than words, so he'd believe it once he knew he wouldn't have to see Nurse McFlirt anymore. "Before I go back to be with family in there," he jerked a thumb over his shoulder while keeping his eyes on the nurse manager, "where do I get him more ice chips?"
The nurse manager offered to get them but Fletcher declined and asked to be shown where to go. The nurse manager provided him a cup with clear and simple instructions to the machine, and he replied with a nod and a, "Thanks," before heading away.
He caught DJ flash him an amused smirk as he passed her by. And when he returned to the room, DJ hadn't come with him, still seeming to be busy on her phone. Fletcher held the cup as he slid the glass door shut behind himself. He looked on at the Mitchells and calmly approached Xavier's bed. He chuckled once at Winter's question and placed his free hand on her shoulder. "No, I'm not getting arrested. Not today anyway. Save your money for homecoming and yearbook and all that shit at school." His gaze then want to Xavier as he asked, "Do you want more ice chips right now, or some of the ice chips that melted into water?"
When Fletcher returned, Xavier noticed how much his kids perked up and it made him smile. He knew how much they cared about him but it really did feel like they were all a unit. He also knew he was more emotional than usual but after the talk he had with Fletcher prior to the children arriving had put him in such a different mindset.
Winter sighed out of pure relief even though deep down inside, she knew Fletcher wouldn't do anything drastic but she was also moments away from causing a scene to gain some respect but figured it'd be better if the adults handled it. The idea of homecoming wasn't as exciting for her as it was for her friends but she smiled at Fletcher anyway, glad that he was okay. Henry lifted his gaze from where he was, noticing a doctor or nurse coming in and whispered, "incoming." He didn't know who was who but he assumed the last thing his dads wanted was another interruption.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Dr. Liu. Dr. Padilla left for the day but I wanted to introduce myself. I'll be watching over Mr. Mitchell tonight and I know we have a reunion here so I will not keep too much of your time." She walked to Xavier's side as she pulled her stethoscope. "How's your pain, Mr. Mithell?" She asked him with a smile as she listened to his heart. Xavier sighed and then answered. "About a 5."
The doctor pulled away and nodded. "Five is good. Great, even. It's hard to tell how you will respond to different medications when patients pull out of something this traumatic. I understand Dr. Padilla explained brain injuries and the MRA we're hoping to get in for the morning. I was thinking of fasting you before then but you must be hungry."
"Girl, yes." Xavier chuckled.
The doctor feigned shock. "What? Ice chips and cafeteria icecream isn't helping?" She grinned and then addressed the family. "He can eat. Let's not overwhelm him with McDonalds or greasy foods but he can eat. Are these your children?"
Xavier smiled, "Yes. Winter is the oldest and Henry is my middle child. I've got a baby in California that is very much a part of this family..." He grinned, glancing over to Fletcher.
The doctor followed her patient's gaze. "Your partner. I've heard a lot about you, Fletcher. I love blended families. I had four and my wife had six when we met. Everyone thought we were insane but here we are. Beat that Brady Bunch."Â She offered him a friendly smile. "We're going to take great care of Mr. Mitchell so he can be stepped down soon and on a plane to the little one. Alright, well, I must go tend to the others. It's a big shift change right now so you won't hear from us until bedtime. Dr. Padilla ordered some Lunesta for you so in the meantime, you guys can enjoy a family dinner. Anything you need, I'll be at the nurse's station. Good night." She exited the room.
"I'll go get dinner with DJ." Winter reassured her father. "I know exactly what to get dad. Henry, come with us. We need the manpower. Pop? Fletcher?" Winter smiled mischievously knowing what she had just said. "The usual, ok?"
Xavier's brows shot up, his smile forming slowly as he glanced over from his daughter to Fletcher. Henry seemed unbothered, almost as if they had been planning when to drop the name. He was completely amused and while he couldn't remember the doctor that had just been there, he hoped he'd remember this. "Baby, sit. I'll wait on whatever drink the kids get."
Fletcher waited to see what Xavier's answer would be about the ice chips or the water when the door slid open again. He turned around and saw a new doctor enter the room. Stepping out of the way, Fletcher set the cup of ice chips down on the tray near Xavier's bed and moved out of the way. He pulled his phone from his back pocket and listened while opening his notes app. He noted Dr. Liu's name, the time and where Xavier said his pain level was at that time. He was reminded of the MRA and that he hadn't gotten back to Dr. Padilla about the approval for it but hoped that they'd find Xavier cognizant enough to approve it for himself. If not, he'd ask fiancĂŠ about it once they had a moment alone.
He smiled a little when Xavier admitted he was hungry. He thought about putting in a Doordash order but would wait until the doctor was done. His smile grew though, listening to Xavier affirm about his children--all three of them. And when Dr. Liu looked at him, he nodded in acknowledgement to her. And after the doctor left the room, Fletcher pocketed his phone again and listened to Winter set up plans. "The usual? Damn, have I gotten to be *that* predictable already?" His head shook a little but he soon realized that when Winter said 'Pops', she was referring to him. A lone brow raised and his smile returned. "Yeah, that'll be fine, kid. Just, uh... a root beer or Dr. Pepper for the drink."
After DJ and the kids left the room, Fletcher had still been staring after them but his gaze swung to Xavier's direction. The evening seemed to come swiftly as he thought about there still being light out and Xavier staring out at the East River when he'd first come into the room. Now, it was a deep purple outside with several dotted lights from the city. He still had the reclining chair--that was where he'd been sleeping--propped upright with his duffle bag sitting in it. But he sat on the edge of Xavier's bed and held his hand again. "Okay. Y'know, I forgot to ask you about that MRA."
"Got it and got it!" Winter text Henry the order in case she forgot something. Dad, I'll get you some waters to keep in your room and fruit punch. I know you're going to want strawberry lemonade but the citrus might kill your stomach." It made her a little sad acknowledging that her father hadn't had any food orally in a week and that they'd have to ease him into it all. "And I'll ask the nurse's station for tea bags to stash here. Oh and creamer because you're a Brit who loves his milk in tea." She stuck her tongue out at her father and smiled at Fletcher before leaving with Henry, wrapping her hand around his shoulder and laughing every time he bumped into DJ "by accident".
Xavier had been lost in his thoughts as he had many of the afternoon now turned into evening. There was a lot of information that had come his way, a confession or two, a declaration and disappointment thanks to his former nurse. It was a lot to take in but he tried to separate all of them into little imaginary boxes. What was useful and what wasn't, what would he liked to revisit again, and what he wanted out of his mind. He used his memory a lot for work so he was already working hard at keeping himself centered. When Fletcher took his hand, he smiled softly. "Right. The MRA. They want to um..." He sighed, trying to remember what the first doctor told him. "check my blood flow, right? Make sure there isn't any injury." He hoped there weren't and that all his emotions and the clarity he felt were good signs and not the calm before some other giant storm. "It's tomorrow, right? Will you be here?" he let his thumb graze over Fletchr's fingers, remembering the question he popped before the kids arrived and then remembering telling himself they'd tell everyone together after he could put a ring there. "And if that's okay, they can step me down?"
Fletcher waited patiently while Xavier tried to recall about the reason behind the MRA. He squeezed his hand and said, "Yeah, that's basically it." He lifted his hand to kiss it and then listened, answering Xavier. "I'm not leaving here until you do, sweetheart. I promise." Oddly enough, he wasn't all that hungry at the moment and just wanted to rest beside Xavier, knowing that he was improving. And with the doctors planning to give his fiancÊ a sleeping aide soon, he suspected Xavier would want the same after he had spmething other than ice chips. "Yeah. That was the plan Dr. Padilla was talking about--your previous doctor here." He stood to kiss Xavier's forehead and then let go of his hand long enough to move the recliner directly beside Xavier's bed and then he knelt on the cushion so that he could lay his head next to Xavier, his upper body half-resting next to his fiancÊ for the time being. "Hey, how soon do you wanna tell our family that we're planning to get married someday? You wanna focus on getting through all this first?"
Xavier didnât remember some of the details. Admittedly, if he saw his doctors roaming the halls, heâd probably wouldnât recognize them but at least he was self aware of that. Maybe he brain was just tired and he knew he had to stop being so hard on himself especially after waking up hours ago. He appreciated Fletcherâs support more than he will probably ever know and Xavier smiled at him lovingly when he kissed his hand. âIâm safe here.â Not in the hospital bed or in this God forsaken facility. Not in the hands of his doctors or laying by the East River. âWith you. I feel safe here.â His well being was of Fletcherâs best interest and he knew his future husband would advocate for him when he couldnât. It was a relief knowing that Fletcher was there while Xavier was asleep, listening to every clinicianâs words and making decisions he probably wasnât prepared for. Thatâs why he would be lucky to someday marry him. He had struck the relationship lottery. He felt comfort and warmth as Fletcher rested beside him. âI love you so much. I know you say there is no where youâd rather be but not a lot of people are built for that. Waking up to you has made all of this easier. My kids would have been scared, my mom a wreck, my brother too rigid. Youâre here and you know the right things to say and do.â He felt his eyes well up again. â I want to tell them as soon as I get a ring for you and I can celebrate with our family. I want it to be private for us first because we both deserve that.â He smiled at Fletcher. âYouâre gonna be my husbandâ
"Of c-" Fletcher started to say of Xavier being safe there. But when he realized Xavier wasn't referring broadly to the hospital itself, he smiled a little and lifted his head enough to press a tender kiss to his fiancÊ's cheek. "That's all I want for you." He wanted Xavier to feel safe, to *be* safe and know that he would be okay. He wasn't going to let Xavier's recovery be any harder than it was likely going to be. He'd ask questions, take notes, cuss put nurses, do whatever was needed so that someday, Xavier would not only feel better but actually *be* healed. The accident never should have happened in the first place and if he could, he would deck the offender senseless. But right now, his focus was primarily on Xavier and their family. He listened to the younger man while threading their fingers loosely together, and then lifted his head again so that they could look each other in the eyes, brown to brown. "I don't think I ever wished I could clone myself so much as I had this week," he admitted, thinking about how he'd be at the hotel with Winter and Henry, back in California with Phoebe and Drew, and in the hospital with Xavier all at once. But since that was impossible, he did the next best thing. He knew it had all been extremely hard on Henry and Winter, and that Xavier's family overseas along with his family in California all were worried sick. While drying Xavier's eyes with his thumb, he smiled softly again. "I guess I should start looking for a ring for you too then," he winked. " I've got an idea of what I want to get you. I just have to see if I can find it or get it made." He squeezed their fingers and replied, "Damn right I will be. And you'll be mine." And in truth, Fletcher felt contented by that thought. Through all the fear, stress, sleep deprivation and uncertainty of the past week, he was comforted by the thought that he and Xavier planned to spend the rest of their lives together.
