"Hey, Lisha?"
"Yes?"
"He went after you today, you know—after Sarah—well, you know, was Sarah. He was on his way to the theater when he got called in."
A weird mix of guilt and happiness settled in the pit of her stomach. She didn't know what else to do other than to nod and murmur a "Thanks, James," before hurrying away in the opposite direction.
James walked into the room and occupied the chair Alisha had recently vacated. He felt so guilty seeing his best friend in that damn hospital bed. He should have kept this from happening somehow. Remaining silent for a long time, he finally cleared this throat and tried to find the right words.
"Big, man, I'm so sorry," he told his sleeping friend. "I should've had your back in there today and I—fuck, I really let you down. You're my partner and my best friend and I should've been watching. I should have known that beam wasn't stable. I should have been there. You would have seen that and had my back." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fuck, dude—I'm just so damn sorry."
"You're such a fucking pussy, Keller," Big croaked, arching a brow in James's direction. He tried to grin, but the split on his lip burned and he hissed in protest.
James felt his face grow hot and he scratched the stubble on his cheek. "Er, um—sorry, I thought you were asleep."
Big chuckled slightly, not wanting to press his luck or test the limits of his pain medicine just yet. "I should fucking hope so because saying that shit to me while I'm awake ain't kosher, dude."
He took in James's frown and creased eyes. Well, hell. He was worried about him. "Keller, knock it off or I'll kick your ass as soon as I'm outta this joint. It's not your fucking fault that I got hurt." Big shot him an I-mean-business look, but he wasn't too sure he pulled it off. He had a feeling the hospital bed sorta detracted from his badassness. (James's dry laugh all but confirmed it. Fuck!)
"Yeah, alright," he drawled sarcastically. "Just glad you're gonna be okay. I've gotten used to you after all these years—don't have the time or energy to break in a new best friend."
Big smirked. That was much better than the queer shit he was spewing earlier. He heard a faint knock on the door and Alisha poked her head in through the door, looking like herself again. "Hey," he greeted.
"I thought I told you to get some sleep," she said, a smile flirting over her lips.
"I was," Big defended, "until James here came in and started blubbering like a vagina and woke me up."
"That's my cue," James announced. "Get better, dickhead."
"Thanks, bro."
Alisha shook her head, a crooked smile on her face and walked over to the bed, sitting down gingerly beside him. She waved goodbye to James and turned back to Jake, who was looking up at her with heavy eyes. "You look terrible," she sighed.
"Fuck, Larrington, don't sugar coat it," he groaned, closing his eyes. (Though he was sure he looked as bad as he felt she didn't need to point it out.)
She dropped her forehead to his. "Jake," she breathed, letting their closeness soothe her frayed nerves. "You scared me."
He ran his hand up her arm and tried to laugh it off. "Shoulda listened to you though, Lisha—you warned me about those tall trees." Alisha pulled back and frowned down at him; her brows creased together and her eyes went shiny. (Shit) "I'm—you were really worried." (It wasn't a question)
Alisha nodded softly, and felt the stinging in her eyes again. (She didn't let them fall) "Yeah," she replied quietly.
Big swallowed thickly against the strange lurching in his chest. "Even after everything?" That idea sort of blew his mind left him a little speechless. (and a lot hopeful)
"Yes. Don't you get it?" she asked softly. He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "You're important to me, Jake."
"Alisha," he murmured, a slight smile on his lips. "C'mere." He wanted (needed) to kiss her right then and split lip be damned, he was going to. She leaned down but he didn't have the energy to meet her in the middle. "Gotta help me out here, Shorty," he rasped.
God, he was cute. She grinned and lowered her lips until they gently pressed against his. Her eyes fell closed against the kiss. After last night she wasn't sure she'd get a chance to kiss him again (and especially not after this morning); she was so glad that wasn't the case now.
"Lisha," he said when she pulled away. "There's stuff I want to talk about…" he could barely keep his eyes open. "But, fuck all, I'm tired."
"It's all right, Jake, you need to rest," she insisted, cupping the side of his face. "Do you need anything?"
"Just stay," he told her, laying his hand on top of hers.
"Okay," she nodded, moving off the bed. She paused when his hand tightened around her wrist.
"No, I mean get in bed with me," he said sleepily.
Despite the droopy eyes, the look on his face was purely rakish. "No," she answered, biting back a smile.
"You're gonna deny me? I almost died today."
"Jake," Alisha admonished, "That's not funny." Her eyes welled up instantly.
The tears in her eyes made him feel like an ass. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.
"I'll stay, but I'm sleeping in this chair."
"Don't be retarded, Alisha," he sighed. "Just get in."
"There's not enough room," she argued.
"Fuck that. You're tiny. C'mon…I'll sleep better." He gave her what he thought was a sad puppy dog look. When that didn't work he added "Please?"
"All right, Jake," she conceded, toeing off her shoes. "But if the nursing staff gets mad, I'm blaming you."
"Deal," he smirked to the best of his ability, but the drugs and the exhaustion were rapidly taking hold of him. He noticed her studying him and the bed. "What?" She turned worried brown eyes
