the shadows hide the cracks.

Nate softly smiled, it wasn’t forced this time. He noticed Henry’s discomfort and felt slightly bad about his comment but he still couldn’t help but ask. “So that’s what happened? You..fell down a cliff?” He shrugged and gazed at the scratches and cuts along Henry’s face. He wasn’t sure if they were deep enough to scar, but yeah, they did look pretty badass. Maybe they would scar for all he knew. Nate rolled his eyes. “Sure, I guess? I wouldn’t know what men like.”

“Hell yeah I did.” Nate says, "I wasn’t going to leave him back at the apartment. I’m not a monster.” He rocked back and forth on his feet, his eyes lingering on the machines in the corner for a moment and it made his mind go back into reality. “Of course.” He forced himself to look back at Henry and took in a deep breath. “Are you okay?” The question came out of his mouth before he had a chance to stop it. “I mean, you look like shit.” He tried to joke but it really wasn’t the joking tone that he wanted it to be.

There wasn’t enough words to say how grateful Henry was that Nate came to visit him and bring Rusty, it felt like a little part of home being brought to him. If he closed his eyes and just focused on Nate’s voice and the softness of his cats fur he could almost pretend that he was at Tangerine Towers. Though, he knew from the sterile smell and faint beeping that instead of being in the comfort of his own home he was suffering in pain in a place he didn’t want to be. As he listened to Nate, hearing the all too familiar question, he appreciated the attempt of joking despite the tone giving it away. “Well, I feel like shit, almost like I fell down a cliff, but hey.... maybe I look badass now... men like bad boys right?” 

“You don’t have to apologize, I wanted to know. I asked.  I wanted to know how you where doing” looking at him, was enough.  He didn’t have to go off and tell him, he could tell.  He just wanted to know how he was really.  “Do I need to bust you out of here, because you know I will” he meant it too, he’d get a wheelchair ,and bust Henry right out.  Though it probably wasn’t the smartest idea, but he wasn’t holding to many of those brain cells. he was to worried and exhausted, to be thinking straight right now.  he was at the moment for his other patient he was waiting for. “I’m sure when the time is right, you’ll remember everything – those memories cant be gone forever?” he wasn’t sure, he hardly knew what he was talking about.  He didn’t know how the brain worked. But he hoped for Henry’s case that he would remember everything. He hated seeing him like this. “Right, I’ll make sure to give them a try” smirking at him after a moment, as he met his gaze, “yeah, feels super nice then?” trying to relax, now that hte other was relaxing slightly. 

Rose: You're lucky I like you enough to subject myself to gross hospital food and keep you company.

Rose: cool cool. Do you need anything? I'm at your service.

Rose: Anything but an escape plan.

Henry: it's because of my endless charm, i know

Henry: BOO GET ME OUT OF HERE

Ilya: ...

Ilya: you're no good at being subtle aren't you?

Henry: it's never been my forte, no

“are the jello cups really that good?” leaning there against the bed, as he looks at him. henry could tell him he was fine, a thousand different ways, and Paxton would see right through it. he knew better. his thumb rubs against his hand softly, “you know you can’t lie to me right? ad i get it, if you don’t want to talk about it, i don’t want you to relive any of it either. but i just want to know how you feel” if he was in pain still, or hurt.  h had been through a lot. they had planned to have so much fun at the camping trip, and it had ended the actual opposite. he rolls his eyes, smirking anyways at his friend, “Oh yeah that comfortable? should i get a matching one then?” 

Nate knocked on the door and even though he hadn’t really heard a response, he decided to take a risk anyways. Henry began talking and it sounded like he had expected someone else, which made sense but it still made Nate’s heart ache a little. He wished he had gotten here earlier. “No, better.” He grinned, he actually had Rusty inside of his jacket. He was lucky the bastard actually fit and was quiet when he got inside the hospital. Smuggling a cat was a lot easier than he thought it would be. He unzipped his jacket and Rusty’s head poked out, the animal gave a soft mew and started to climb out. He grabbed the cat by the scruff of its neck and set him on the bed. “They don’t have cameras in here, right?” He asked, watching the cat as it walked around.

Despite Henry’s earlier meltdown he was very grateful to see Nate, who he had been texting frequently from the confides of his hospital bed, but it was nicer to see him in person. Then he heard a familiar mew and saw the red fur become more visible and a very real smile grew on his face. “Holy shit, you smuggled in Rusty.” He stated, still very much shocked, and he had never been more thankful and awed that Nate would go through all this trouble for him. As soon as Rusty was on his bed he felt his cat walk closer and he didn’t hesitate to scratch his chin and behind his ears, hearing soft mews. “I sure hope not but who knows, the government is spying on us so I wouldn’t put it past them.”

Jules: I can make you a fake ghost sighting to keep you occupied?

Jules: I can also get you better food for sure, what are you craving?

Henry: thats kind of you but probably a bad use of your time

Henry: please bring me food, salt and vinegar chips or cheetos

She intertwined her fingers with his and she held on tightly, not wanting to let go of him in fear of losing him, which is so overdramatic she knew but she couldn’t help it. She moved her chair closer to his bedside and she whispered, “I mean I could break you out of here and just take care of your myself until you get better, but that seems a bit extreme!” She joked sarcastically.

“Well I appreciate the offer, I think that might get you in trouble.” Henry added, though the thought was nice, but he’d try to be a bit more patient even though he was anxious to get out of here. “I’ll just be happy with the fact that you came to visit me.” He added, squeezing her hand, thankful that she had shown up. “So enough about me, how have you been?” 

Nate: I already got him

Nate: [image]

Henry: dont get too comfortable im taking him back when i get out of this god forsaken building

“  because you got beat up real bad ?  “     he said .    he  knew  this wasn’t enough to get the guy to give up .    one of the things ilya respected about the guy was that he was a tough nut .   an annoying nut ,   much to ilya’s chargin ,   but he respected the drive even though the guy was so convinced that ilya’s dad was the town’s local blackmailer .    “  well ,   yeah your right .   but from what i heard you don’t even remember what happened .   what’s your big lead ?    i’m pretty sure your whole situation was a warning .    if you keep this up you could end up way worse ,   “     he said .    even though henry kept egging him on about his dad ,    he didn’t want henry to end up way more hurt than he is right now .    that’s why he’s trying to get him to give this up .     “  just drop it dude .    okay ?  “    

Rose: I would buddy, I totally would.

Rose: But you gotta stay in there till you're better.

Rose: I can come over and fill you in on all the new town gossip and some scooping I've done on the mayor since the incident.

Rose: He's still suspect numero uno, righ?

Henry: boo, that was not the answer I wanted you to give me

Henry: he's certainly still in the running

henry: i've been in this hospital for two days and still no possible ghost sighting

henry: this is a disappointment

henry: pls break me out of here

henry: all that is on is cars... MOTHERFUCKING CARS

henry: kachow

Henry: can you go check on rusty? give him chin scratches?