phaticancitiii

you winced slightly, hand rubbing over the aching area to try and soothe yourself.

will noticed, like he always did. his fingers threaded through your hair softly as he looked down at you. “is everything alright?”

“yeah, i- i think i’m gonna head home.”

you shifted uncomfortably, trying to sit up without risking staining his bedding.

“wait, why?” he asked, concerned, sitting up with you.

“i’m pretty sure my period just started and i forgot to take my stuff with me. i’m not stupid, it wasn’t supposed to-”

“what do you need?” will’s gentle voice interrupted your nervous rambling. “tampons, a heating pad?”

“i don’t want you to go out of your way to get anything, it’s so late.”

“i’ve got everything, baby. don’t worry.” he simply mumbled, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. then, feeling your inquisitive gaze on him, he chuckled. “third drawer of the bathroom sink.”

“you just have tampons laying around the house?”

“nah, i have your tampons.”

opening the drawer that will had mentioned, you saw that those were indeed your tampons: same brand you used, same size, for the right type of flow, fragrance free so your skin wouldn’t itch. you nearly gasped right there and then, taking notice of the amount of care that he’d put into something that you hadn’t even asked him to do.

seeing that, much to your surprise, you still hadn’t messed your shorts up with dark red stains, it took you a couple of minutes to clean up and walk back into will’s bedroom. he was exactly where you’d left him, movie paused where you’d left off.

“how’d you know which ones to buy?” you curiously asked, climbing back in bed.

“i took a picture of the box at your place.”

you didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at how attentive your boyfriend was when it came to you, even when it came to the smallest details. you couldn’t help but wrap your arms around him, basically throwing yourself on his lap.

half-straddling him, you basically let yourself melt into his embrace when his arms tightened around your frame, pulling you into him.

“i love you, i might cry.”

“i love you too, babe.” he chuckled, fingertips ever so gently caressing your back through your shirt. “please don’t cry.”

your eyes flickered for a moment before they closed, a soft sound leaving your lips when the palms of his hands started rubbing your back in slow, unhurried circular motions. his face ducked into the crook of your neck and he pressed a small kiss on your pulse point.

“is this working?”

the tension in your back seemed to vanish as soon as his hand even hovered above it, and your brain had long turned into mush. far too relaxed to form a proper sentence, the only response you gave him was a muffled moan.

will laughed, like that was enough. “i’ll take it as a yes.”

and you didn’t reply. not verbally, at least. there wasn’t a lot to say, so you just let yourself completely wrap around him tighter, like a snake sizing up its prey, but with much less evil intentions.

Macklin likes to joke that you’re a witch, which of course you immediately threw your slice of apple at him as he said it.

“Not the scary kind!” He amended as Will gave him a ‘did you really just call my girlfriend a witch’ look.

“You’re lucky I like you.” You chirp back to the younger player, as Will gives your side a squeeze.

—

Really, Will doesn’t know how these things keep happening, but they do.

First it was Macklin in the summer, he was walking down to the dock, the wood squeaking under his bare feet. He was rambling about something, Will couldn’t really remember because he was entirely too focused on you.

The breeze through your hair, the deep brown color of your bikini against your skin, the smell of pine wafting off you from your body wash that Will tells you smells like Christmas.

But then he noticed the switch, noticed your skin grow goosebumps, the slight shiver that racked through you. At first he thought you were cold, even with the warm sun beating down on the July day. But then it was the paleness of your skin, and the shaking of your fingers. And then.

“Mack.” You say, all teasing and lightness dropped from your tone. But Macklin wasn’t paying attention, which was not out of the ordinary. “Macklin.” You say again, voice stern. Yet, his best friend still didn’t stop walking. “MACK.” You finally yell, your hand going up to Mack’s t-shirt. You tightened your fist around the fabric and yanked him backwards. His body crashing into you, which then crashed into Will.

“What the fuck!” Mack yelped more out of suprise than anything. And the very next second the board Mack was just about to step on cracks, the old wood falling into the lake, and three of you stare at the spot that definitely would have made Macklin fall through if he stepped on it.

Not that the boys weren’t convinced, but the second time made them agree never to question you at all. What you say goes now. So, at dinner with the team, Will and Mack both agreed to listen to you.

A dish was getting passed around, but as soon as you saw it you questioned it. Then that all too familiar feeling crept in, and you whispered quietly to Will not to eat it. He looked from you to the food, and he nodded. Macklin agreed too with no hesitation, and once again, you were proven to be correct. Half of the team got food poisoning.

“You’re basically magical.” Mack told you while you and Will were dropping him off that night. And you shrug your shoulders, trying not to get freaked out by whatever it is that makes you feel these things.

—

Will has been on the road for three days. Which isn’t long by hockey standards, but you’re definitely missing him being around. So when Mack plans for you to surprise Will in the hotel after their game, you jumped on the opportunity.

Mack:

It’s room 130

You:

Okay, I’m just up the street

Mack:

Hurry up

You:

Oh my bad, I’ll make sure to tell my driver that. I’m sure he’ll listen

Mack:

Wow, you must really be missing Will

You:

And you’re implying what exactly?

Mack:

Nothing. Just try to hurry

By the time you make it there, Macklin is already waiting half in the hallway half in the room. You roll your eyes with a smirk at his impatience as he ushers you in.

“My god woman you’re so slow.”

“It’s been three minutes since you texted me last!” You whisper exclaim, not wanting Will to hear your voice over the shower.

As you throw your bag on the bed Macklin looks at you, before hugging you quickly in greeting before the shower shuts off.

You instantly sit on the foot of the bed Will is going to be sleeping in and as Will opens the door he sees Macklin standing there.

“Dude, what are you doing?” Will asks, walking out of the bathroom but not yet seeing you. He’s got a Boston shirt on, and a pair of black sharks shorts. This golden hair is damp, wet curls stuck to the back of his neck.

“Nothing. Move.” Mack says, getting defensive.

“You’ve been weird all-“ But then Will stops, stops because he turns to see you, sitting on his bed, a goofy smile on your face.

“2 goals tonight? That’s pretty impressive.” You say, a sultry little tone in your voice. You make sure to keep it in check because you know Macklin will complain otherwise.

But Will doesn’t say anything, doesn’t say anything until his arms are around you, picking you up and spinning you around a few times.

“What the hell are you doing here?” He asks, your feet back on the ground as his hands move to your face.

“I missed-“ But you’re cut off by the press of his lips. Like he couldn’t even wait for you to get your sentence out.

“Oh my god.” He says with a laugh.

“Your best friend did some planning.” You say with a small shrug. And at that Will turns to Mack, who’s standing sheepishly by the door like he’s trying to give you guys privacy in the smaller hotel room.

“You did this?” Will asks, and Mack also gives a small shrug.

“You’ve been a mope since we left, plus she’s been no better.”

You and Will both laugh, and Will goes back to you, pressing his forehead against yours and planting small kisses to your face.

“I dreamed about you the last couple nights, so this better be real.” He says.

“It’s real.” You whisper.

“I figured. If it was a dream Macklin would not be here.” He says, and you let out a laugh, your shoulders shaking in his arms.

“Hey, I brought her here!” Macklin says, but you see the bright smile on his mouth.

“Thank you man, really.” Will says, before pulling you into him once again. The smell of him washes over you, some musky woodsy calming smell, reminding you as well that this is real. You lean up on your tip toes to kiss him once more, before you fall into the familiar pattern of your boyfriend and his best friend.

—

A few hours later the three of you are still up, still laughing together and eating the room service Will called for.

You’re leaning into Will’s chest, his thighs and legs bracketing you, and you couldn’t lie that his size compared to you makes you blush.

Macklin was retelling some story from the game, and Will chimes in every once in a while to add something Mack forgot.

Everything was good. Everything was happy and safe and warm, until it wasn’t.

You think you fake it for a second, but then the feeling hits again. That cold, bone chilling feeling that slithers up your neck. You freeze against Will, your heartbeat picking up as your eyes scan the room.

“Baby?” Will says, a bit concerned, and Mack immediately shuts up as he notices what’s happening. “What’s wrong?” He asks, but you stay still, color draining from your face as you wait for the sense, that weird voice to tell you what is happening.

And then it hits.

You fly off the bed, yelling at them to stay there as you race to the door, using your shaking fingers to use the chain to lock the door shut.

“Y/N.” Will says, getting up with Macklin directly beside him.

“Don’t.” You say, and then you hear it.

Three soft knocks on the door. The three of you freeze.

“This is maintenance, we have to check on your bathroom. The room beside yours flooded.”

“Y/N.” Will says, taking a step forward.

“Stay away from the door.” You say, your voice comes out in more of a whisper than anything.

The knocks happen again, and Will steps forward again. But not for the door, instead for you. But he freezes again as the knocks are now pounds. Angry. Loud. Violent.

“Will Smith!” The voice bellows outside the door. And instantly you shove your back against Will’s chest, like you’re ready to protect him if this man gets through.

“Macklin!” Will calls, and Mack flies towards the phone. Dialing quickly for the desk before holding it to his ear. The pounding sounds again, even louder and more aggressive this time. And Will like he’s now realizing where you’ve placed yourself, says “Absolutely not.” And shoves your body behind his.

“Yeah, room 130. Someone is banging on the door trying to get in.” Mack says quickly, the pounding continuing, the yelling of Will and Mack’s names making your hands shake violently. Mack steps in front of you both, the three of you in a single file line. You shoved behind Will, because he will always protect you, and the two of you behind Macklin, because Macklin wouldn’t let anything or anybody hurt the people he loves.

But that’s when it happens, the beeping of a hotel key being swiped, and the door opens a half an inch. You swear, one hand gripping Will’s shirt, one hand reaching around to grip Macklin’s.

“They have a fucking key!” Mack says urgently into the phone, his left arm coming around to shove both you and Will farther against his back.

But the door doesn’t budge past that half an inch, because you locked it. Because somehow, something told you to do it. And as the gold metal lock holds strong, you know deep down you were able to protect them, just like they protect you.

“Will.” You mumble, and he tightens you further into his back.

“It’s going to be okay, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Your chest rises and falls fast, and you squeeze your eyes shut as you shove your head as deep into his muscled back as you could get it.

But then finally, after what feels like hours, you can hear the yelling of security, what sounds like a scuffle outside the door, and the confirmation from Macklin that security has taken someone away.

There’s a knock on the door, and you go wide eyed until you hear the voice of a man, he states his name, how he works for the hotel, and tells whoever is on the phone to confirm this information with the front desk. Mack relays it, and he hangs up with a thank you as he goes to unlock the door for the security guard.

You hold out a breath you don’t remember holding. And as Macklin talks to the man, Will whips around to you, holding your face in his hands as he tells you over and over that you’re safe, that everything is okay now.

“Breathe, baby.” He soothes, unable to stop touching you, like he’s got to prove to himself you’re safe. “You’re doing so good, just like that.” He says as you following his breathing.

And once everything has calmed down, and Tyler Toffoli has checked in on you guys, the three of you sit on the same bed. You can tell they want to say something, anything about how you basically flew for the door, but both of them know it’s not the time.

Will only keeps his arms around you, keeps you pressed into him as he takes a deep breath in and out.

“I thought he was going to get you.” You say, and you meet Will’s worried eyes. “I didn’t want him to hurt you. Either of you.”

“He didn’t, because of you.” Will says, kissing your temple for a long moment. “But this doesn’t mean that once we get out of this fucking hotel that I’m not going to lecture you about trying to stay in front of me.” Will says, and you roll your eyes with a small smile.

“That’s just what you do when you love someone.” You say.

But you and Will both think back to it, think about how Mack was the one to step in front of you both. How Mack reached his arm around to hold onto both of you as the man tried to breach the door.

“He wouldn’t have gotten to you.” Mack says. “You either.” He says looking at his best friend.

“Yeah?” Will says, still anxious, still on edge, but giving Mack his normal teasing tone and face.

“I’m Macklin Celebrini.” Mack says, with a wave of his hands. “I would have figured something out.”

And even though you can tell behind the jokes that Macklin is serious, that if it came down to it he would have thrown himself in the line of fire for you and Will, you both decide that something more light hearted is in store.

“You mean like how you got into a fight early because someone hit Eky?” You question, eyebrow raising.

And that seems do to the trick, because next thing you know Macklin has jumped into the detailed story, and you lay back against Will, his thumbs rub small circles into your skin. Like he needs to remind you he’s here.

“I love you.” He says into your ear.

“I love you more.” You whisper back, careful not to interrupt Mack as he’s deep in acting out what occurred on the ice.

“I can go.” You say, standing up and grabbing your phone off the island counter.

“Just give me ten minutes baby, I’ll come with you.” Will says, stirring something a bit faster than before.

“I can go to the store by myself.” You joke, but Will is still stirring fast.

“I’ll go with her.” Mack says standing up and heading over to his shoes.

“Keep cooking, we’ll be right back.” You say, kissing Will’s cheek and putting your shoes on.

Will watches as you grab your keys off the hook, and you wink at him as you and Mack leave the house, the cool November air of San Jose hitting you both as you get into the car, and make your way to the store.

—

“Now what is that!” You exclaim with a laugh, as you notice Macklin throwing another random item into the basket.

“Since when do you control me?” He asks in a teasing manner.

“Since you left your wallet at home.” You say with a dead pan stare.

“Yeah, okay that’s fair.” He says with his usual gummy smile. But you see his eyes catch on something behind you. And you turn to see the cooler packed full of Red Bull.

“Go on then!” You say, and Macklin smiles gratefully. “Meet me at the front!” You call as you both split up in two different directions.

“Have I ever told you that you’re the best?”

“Not nearly enough!” You say back, laughing as you make your way up to the front. You’re excited to get back to the house, the smell of whatever Colleen was cooking is calling your name.

But before you could make it to the registers, something strange catches your eye. A man is walking around, hood up and skiddish. Suddenly, you regret not sticking with Macklin.

And at that moment too many things happen all at once. Mack rounds the corner, about two aisles separating you guys from each other. Then the man starts yelling, and before you know it shots are fired into the air as people scream and hit the ground.

You and Mack both duck, and the man screams for everyone to get down. You look around, a woman with her child tucked tightly to her, an elderly couple shaking on the floor, random men and women all scattered around the checkouts. And then your eyes flash back to Macklin, “don’t move” Mack mouths to you. And you nod your head so slightly, like you are too afraid to move it half an inch.

Then, the silence was broken.

WILL SMITH, your phone announces into the store. His contact picture pops up, and your eyes go to it as it’s on the floor near you. But you’re too paralyzed to make a move to stop it, because the man has already heard it. His sights already set on you.

“Who the hell was that?” The man asks, approaching where you’re kneeling on the ground. You get a good look at him as he does. He’s frantic, his hand shaking as it holds the gun. His eyes look wired, and then, as they flick to Macklin, they light with recognition.

“Holy shit.” The man says, and you feel the blood drain from you. He recognizes Mack, recognizes the name that called your phone. “You’re that kid.” He says, waving the gun around in hopeless abandon, but his words seem.. angry.

“Hey, man, it’s okay. Nobody’s doing anything.” Mack says as he raises both hands slowly.

“You’re that fucking hockey kid! You know I bet against you, you made me lose a lot of fucking money!”

“Mack.” You whimper before you can stop yourself, and that makes the man’s gaze snap to you.

“Don’t look at her. Look at me.” Mack’s voice goes sharper.

“You want me to spare her?” The man asks, and Macklin says yes instantly. “Then give me your fucking wallet, kid.”

“I don’t have it with me.” Mack says, and you can see how hard he’s forcing himself to remain steady.

“Bullshit.” The man calls, his gun aimed directly at Macklin.

“I don’t.” Mack’s hands stay up, but his eyes keep flicking to you. “I left it behind, I swear.”

“What about you?” The man demands. “You’re with him, you’ve got money.” And you watch as the gun swings toward you and your entire body locks.

“Okay, okay.” You say, your voice shaking as you slowly reach for your pocket. Mack moves half an inch, so little that you almost miss it, but the man doesn’t.

“Don’t!” The man screams, and it causes Mack to freeze.

“Okay!” Mack says, voice trembling now. “Okay. Just… just don’t point that at her.”

Your fingers fumble, and you stare at the weapon still pointed at you. And for a moment, your life flashes before your eyes. You see Will on the ice, in the kitchen on a lazy morning, you see Mack next to you at the kitchen island while he sneaks chocolate chips away from his best friend. You see the blonde shine of Grace’s hair, and feel how she’s always loved you from the second you guys met.

And then, you see movement behind the man. And your eyes widen as two men go to tackle the robber down. It all moves so fast, fast enough to make the gun jerk, fast enough that pain registers before the deafening shot rings out through the grocery store.

Then Mack screams your name, and there’s so much pain in his voice that you focus on that. For a second, your not really sure how you got onto your back, or why Mack leans above you, why he’s screaming, why his hands are pressing against you.

“No, no, no, no!” He’s pleading, voice breaking. “Stay with me. Stay with me. Look at me. Hey, look at me.”

And you try, try to focus but his face swims above you. He looks pale, and younger than you’ve ever seen him.

“Mack?” You breathe out with a question, but the pain rips through you then. And you cry on the floor of the grocery store.

“I’m here.” His says as his hands press harder against your abdomen. “I’m right here. You’re okay, I’m not leaving you, you’re going to be okay.” His voice is cracking, tears dropping down from his eyes and landing around you.

“I want Will.” You croak out, and Macklin nods. Nods but doesn’t take his eyes away from you as you can hear the sirens approaching.

“I’m going to call him, I’m going to call him as soon as they get you stabilized okay? You’ll see him very soon, I promise.” Mack says, and despite his tears, despite the pain, despite the tunnel vision starting in your eyes, you believe Mack. Because Mack wouldn’t lie to you, so you nod in agreement.

“I love him.” You whisper to Mack, but you don’t hear his reply as your eyes start to shut.

“No, no, Y/N!” Mack says, one of his bloody hands coming up to cup your face. “You’ve got to stay awake, stay awake for Will, please.” He begs you, but your eyes shut completely, and as you go limp in his arms, Macklin screams.

—

Colleen wipes her hands on the towel as Will’s phone misses another call.

“Will.” She says to her son, who is just finishing up on his portion of the meal. “You missed another call.” She says, and he starts washing his hands, but then her phone rings.

She pulls it from her back pocket, the unknown number displayed across the screen. But for some reason she feels the need to answer it.

“Hello?” She asks, and the person on the other end of the line makes her heart stop.

“Is this Colleen Smith?”

“Yes this is.” She says, and the eyes of her husband, son and daughter fly to her.

“I’m calling from the San Jose Medical Hospital-“ The voice says, and Colleen gasps as the nurse relays the information to her.

Robbery. Gunshot. Surgery.

Her eyes fill with tears as Will and Grace are begging her for some information.

“We need to go now.” Colleen says quickly to her family, still remaining on the phone as the nurse continues to fill her in.

“Mom what’s going on?” Will asks her, and she bites back a cry as she responds.

“There was a robbery at the store. Honey… Y/N’s in surgery.”

Will’s lips part, and for half a second he just stares. Then his knees buckle, but his dad catches him under the arms before he fully drops.

“No.” Will gasps. “No. Mom, no.”

“Get your shoes on, let’s go.” She says, and the Smith family rushes towards the door.

“Macklin!” Will exclaims. “Macklin was with her.”

“Was there a boy with her? Macklin Celebrini?” Colleen asks, and when she tells him that Mack is unharmed, Will squeezes his eyes shut, a sound coming out of him that is half relief and half agony.

But he doesn’t dwell on much else as his family rushes towards the hospital. As Will rushes to you.

—

The ER is just as horrible as Will thinks. The smell crawls through his senses, the lights seem too bright, and as he runs towards the direction that the front desk attendant told him, he sees his best friend.

Macklin Celebrini sits in a chair in a small private waiting room, a shirt on his body that is definitely not his, but it’s his hands that cause Will to choke.

Mack’s hands are shaking so violently, and Will stares at the red staining them. It’s in his nail beds, in the cracks of his skin. Like he tried to scrub it, but it wouldn’t all come off.

And like Mack could sense that he was no longer alone, he looks up. And his face crumples the second he sees Will.

Will crosses the room in three strides, and for one second, Mack flinches like he expects Will to smack him. Instead, Will grabs his best friend and pulls him into his arms.

Will and Mack completely break and the feeling of the other.

“I’m sorry.” Macklin sobs into Will. “I’m so sorry, Will. I was right there. I was right there and I couldn’t-“

Will grips the back of his shirt so tightly his knuckles go white.

“It’s not your fault Macklin, it’s not your fault.” He sobs, so relieved that his best friend is okay, but so terrified at the same time. His family is still behind them both, the three crying silently and trying to give the pair a moment.

“It should have been me.” Mack says, his voice so crackling and wet.

“Don’t say that. Don’t you dare say that.” Will says, pulling him in tighter if that’s even possible.

“I should have protected her.”

“Look at me.” Will says, pulling back a bit to look in the red bloodshot eyes of Mack. “I need you, Macklin. I need you to tell me what happened, and I need you to not fall apart on me because if you fall apart, I’m gonna fall apart.” Will says, like they both aren’t already falling apart. “Do it for her.” Will whispers, and Mack nods quickly, wiping at his face with the heel of his hand, leaving a faint red smear against his cheek.

Will sees it, and his stomach turns. Blood. Your blood.

They all sit down as Mack tells them exactly what happened, exactly how he split up to grab Red Bull because he knows Will loves them.

It cracks his heart in two, and as he listens to Macklin, Will looks toward the double doors.

Surgery. You’re in surgery. Somewhere in this hospital you’re cold, alone, and in pain. And Will can’t breathe.

A nurse comes to update them after what feels like hours, when Will sees her he shoots up so fast he knocks the chair back. The loud scrape causing Macklin to jump.

“She’s still in surgery.” The nurse relays. “But she’s tough, she’s a real fighter.”

“Yeah.” Will says, new tears falling. “Yeah she is.”

He listens as the nurse gives them more information, but he can’t get himself to rip his eyes away from Mack’s hands. Colleen managed to grab some wipes from the nurses desk, and she’s been carefully working on cleaning your dried blood from them.

“I need air.” Will finally says, standing and walking towards the doors.

“Will-“ Grace says, but their father grabs her arm softly, probably whispering something about letting him go.

He makes it out the automatic doors, moving towards the side of the hospital that is not facing the parking lot. He closes his eyes for one moment before he hurls over, puking in the bushes.

His stomach rolls, his throat burning as he thinks he’s done only to realize he’s not. But when he’s sure now that his stomach is completely empty he spits a few times, too scared and too tired to be embarrassed by it.

He walks towards a bench, biting his lip to stop the tears from leaving his eyes as he tilts his head back. The San Jose sky is clear tonight, the stars shining brightly down on him. And he almost laughs at the irony of it. How many times have you laid in the backyard staring at the stars? How many times have you pointed to them, telling Will which constellation is which? And yet here they are, shining bright, but you aren’t here to see them.

Will initially wants to scream at them, almost begging for clouds instead. But then he pictures your face, how happy you are when you’re able to lay under them. So he cries, he looks up and sobs.

“Please.” He begs, and he doesn’t feel any ounce of embarrassment for begging the stars. “Please don’t take her from me.” He says, voice cracking. He keeps staring up, like maybe they’ll answer him, like they can promise him that you’ll be okay. “She’s everything to me, please.” He whispers, putting his head in his hands and sobbing.

He doesn’t notice someone coming towards him until they are almost next to him, and without looking he can tell it’s Macklin. He sits down on the bench, and Will turns into him, holding tightly onto the fabric of the shirt the hospital must have given him.

“I can’t lose her Macklin.” He sobs. “I can’t I can’t I can’t.”

“You’re not going to.” Mack says, voice shaking but firm at the same time. “She’s stubborn as hell. She’s gonna wake up and be pissed about them cutting your sweatshirt off of her.”

Will snorts, nodding his head. And he and Mack stay on that bench for a long time.

—

The doctor comes to the waiting room at 1:17am. Will knows that because he’s been staring at the clock, watching the minutes tick by for a few hours since him and Mack came back inside.

Everyone stands up, anxiously waiting as the doctor confirms what Will has been hoping to hear.

“She made it through the surgery.” The man says, and Colleen sobs, covering her mouth, Grace cries into their father, and Will and Mack both grip the arms of their chairs, processing the words.

“She lost a lot of blood, but she’s stable. You guys have a real fighter, you should all be proud.” He says with a smile, and Will runs his hands through his hair in relief.

“Can we see her?” He asks, not realizing when he moved towards the doctor a few steps.

“Yes, but we need calm and quiet in the room.”

“Of course.” Colleen says, and everyone swallows their fears and emotions as they walk into the room.

Will stops in the doorway as he sees you, wires and tubes hooked up to you in various places, but all he can look at is the rise and fall of your chest. Like seeing that is finally what he needed to tell himself that you’re alive.

He rushes to your side, the nurse kindly stepping out of his way. He sits down in the chair positioned right next to your bed, and he so gently, so carefully grabs your hand.

“I’m here, baby.” He whispers, eyes so glossy that his vision shakes. “I’m with you. And you’re okay, you made it.” He kisses your knuckles softly, your skin cool to the touch. “You’re so strong, you’re the strongest person I know.”

Someone behind Will whimpers, but he doesn’t care enough to turn around and see who. All he’s focused on is you, and for the next few hours, he doesn’t dare tear his gaze away from your body. He refuses water, a sweatshirt, food. Will Smith barely breathes until your fingers twitch in his, and he sees your eyes slowly open.

—

To say you have no clue what happened is an understatement. But as your eyes adjust to the dimmed hospital lights the memories come flooding back.

The grocery store. The man. The gun. Macklin. The urge to see Will one last time.

Voices sound to your right, but they sound muffled. Like you’re underwater. But there’s that familiar feeling, that feeling of home. And as you look to your right, you understand why.

Will sits there, eyes wide as his mouth moves. And then finally you can hear it.

“Hey, hey. Don’t move baby. You’re safe, I’m here.” He keeps uttering like a broken record.

A few nurses come in, and Mack has to pull Will back while they adjust the machines around you. But he stays locked in on your eyes, and they find his, glossy and wide, and you make an attempt to reach for him.

One of the nurses steps aside, softly reminding Will to be careful, but letting him reach for you back.

His hand takes yours, his other going to your face and resting on your cheek.

“Will?” You ask, and Will has never heard a more perfect voice in all of this life.

“I’m here. I’m right here with you.” He says, and you cry with him.

“I love you.” You say, because that’s the first thing you want him to know. The most important thing to get off of your chest.

Will laughs, sniffling as he plants the softest kiss to your lips.

“I love you more, beautiful girl.” He says.