ph33r my rod: *is lying in bed, not fully awake, but not quite asleep either... just plain out-of-it*
Omega19x: *Ryou is sitting in the bed next to him. They insisted on keeping him in for observation.
Omega19x: He notices Malik stir.
ph33r my rod: *groans*
Omega19x: "... Malik?"
Omega19x: *climbs out of bed, and kneels next to Malik's bed*
ph33r my rod: *looks over at him* "...hey." *weak smile*
Omega19x: *immediately holds his hand* "...h...how are you?"
Omega19x: "Are you... in a lot of pain?"
ph33r my rod: *gives his hand a squeeze back, a bit stronger than yesterday's attempts, but still pretty weak* "Just feel like I've been hit by a truck... so not too bad." *seriously trying to be strong*
Omega19x: "... I... tried as hard as I could to... to find you... and get you back safely..."
Omega19x: "I'm... sorry you're hurt..."
ph33r my rod: "I know... you did find me, though. That's what counts..." *'nother smile* "I'll be fine. I've been through-- ..." *cuts off, looks blank for a few moments*
Omega19x: "... Malik?"
ph33r my rod: "...I can't say I've really been through worse anymore. 'Cause they had to go and..." *closes eyes, whispering* "...do that 'worse' to me again."
Omega19x: Ryou squeezed his hand. "... your back..."
ph33r my rod: *hand is shaking* "...they tied me down, and used the Rod to..." *bites lip*
Omega19x: Ryou holds that hand. "... It... it's over now... It's over..."
ph33r my rod: *turns his head away so Ryou won't see him cry* "I was so scared..."
Omega19x: Ryou knows it anyway. "... I... I would have been too... I... I mean, I was... but... you know... I'm sorry... I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner..."
Omega19x: "... I... I'd do anything to stop that from... from happening... I... I know how terrible it... it had to be the first time..."
ph33r my rod: *just clings to Ryou's hand* "...they told me that you weren't gonna come. That nobody... cared if I was gone or not... and I feel so bad, because I think I might've started to believe it after a while..."
Omega19x: "I... I never stopped looking, Malik. I... I never stopped looking..." he held that hand, pulling it up to his cheek.
Omega19x: "And... and I cared very much... Isis... Isis was worried just as sick as I was... Everybody missed you..."
ph33r my rod: *looks back over at Ryou, gently stroking his cheek with his thumb* "...I'm sorry I worried you, and her, and... well, everyone."
Omega19x: "... It... it's okay... You're back now... They... the ghouls... they can't hurt you again."
Omega19x: "I... I won't let them."
ph33r my rod: "...what all happened, anyway? Like, yesterday... all I remember is being knocked out, and then waking up here..."
Omega19x: "... they dropped the... the anchor into the ocean... I... I dove in after you with the keys..."
Omega19x: "I didn't think about anything, not about being afraid, not... not about anything... I just swam... as hard as I could."
ph33r my rod: *vaguely remembers water* "...you weren't afraid?"
Omega19x: "... I was... I... I had to be... but I... I didn't have any time to think about it... I... I just reacted... I... I had to save you... nothing else mattered."
ph33r my rod: *strokes his cheek again* "...and you did it." *smiles, sniffling a little* "I owe you my life..."
Omega19x: "... You... you might owe it... but I just want your heart as payment..."
Omega19x: *smile*
ph33r my rod: *laughs a little, even though it kinda hurts* "...you've had that for a long time now."
Omega19x: "Yeah... but it's all I'll ever need."
ph33r my rod: *reaches up a little, gently stroking Ryou's hair* "Yours is all I need too... that's what kept me strong through this whole thing."
Omega19x: "... your back will heal... and... and the ribs will heal too... Though you shouldn't be moving around a lot for a while... and... everything will be okay now..."
Omega19x: "... I'll be strong for you... I promise."
ph33r my rod: *slowly nods* "...thank you. I'll try to be strong too."
Omega19x: "... no... it's okay... You can be strong after you rest..."
ph33r my rod: "But..." *twitches as his leg randomly spasms* "...ow. Okay, yeah, you win..."
Omega19x: "... I... I'll be here with you..."
Omega19x: "... And I'll help you get better... anything... anything you need... I'll get for you... And... if... if you want to... to talk about... what they did to you.. .your back, I mean... I'm here for that too...:"
ph33r my rod: *looks at him for a minute, then reaches around Ryou's neck and tugs him closer, in the best hug he can manage at the moment* "...thank you. You have no idea how much that... means to me."
Omega19x: He just hugged him back, being careful not to aggrivate any injuries or wounds.
ph33r my rod: *cringes a little, but keeps on holding him... as he hasn't been able to in a week*
Omega19x: "... Dr. Malouf said you'd... you'd recover... You were pretty dehydrated... when they brought you in, but... you'll be okay..."
ph33r my rod: *nods, letting him go* "I know... I'll be okay, now that you're here."
Omega19x: "... I'll take good care of you..."
ph33r my rod: *yawns, still pretty damn tired* "...'kay."
Omega19x: "... you just rest...." Ryou stroked his hair gently. "... and then Dr. Malouf will let you go home..."
ph33r my rod: *leans into the strokes* "...do they know how long I'll have to be here yet?"
Omega19x: "... they were mainly concerned with... with getting fluids into you yesterday..."
Omega19x: "... still are, a bit... Dr. Malouf hasn't said much to me today..."
ph33r my rod: "I guess that makes sense. The bastards barely fed me at all..."
Omega19x: "Right now, they're giving you liquids... When you can handle regular food, that's... probably when they'll let you go home..."
Omega19x: Ryou should know how it all works by now.
ph33r my rod: "...yeah, 's probably better to ask you than them at this point." *yawn*
Omega19x: He stroked Malik's hair. "You just... rest. You've been through a lot... that you shouldn't have had to go through..."
ph33r my rod: *nods and closes his eyes* "Stay here with me?"
Omega19x: "... I... I won't leave... Not even for a moment."
ph33r my rod: *smiles, trying to huddle closer to Ryou - which, sadly, isn't much more than turning his head toward him* "Thank you... for everything."
Omega19x: *continues stroking his hair.* "... you're welcome... I... I don't know what I'd do without you, Malik..." \
ph33r my rod: "...dunno what I'd do without you either." *mouths a kiss at him*
Omega19x: "Thankfully you'll never have to find out..."
ph33r my rod: "...I know." *smiles and relaxes* "'M glad you're here..."
Omega19x: He continues stroking Malik's hair, gently, rhythmically, until he starts to fall asleep.
ph33r my rod: *drops off into a much less troubled sleep than the several nights before*