| When Brian awoke, he called for Rose again, as he'd been doing for the last few hours, always with out success. "Rose." He called, his eyes snapping open. "Brian." He felt a tiny hand wrap around his, and his mouth stretched into a smile. "You're here." He said, drowsily, and it was obvious he was fighting to stay awake. Rose's other hand reached out and touched his face, stroking his cheek gently. "I'll always be here." She said softly, and Brian smiled again before he fell back into sleep. Three hours later, his eyes opened again. Rose still sat beside him, holding his hand, and looking down on his face. He looked back at her for a minute, then reached up one hand and softly pushed a peice of hair behind her ear. "Have you just been sitting here this whole time?" He asked, and she nodded, a bit sheepishly. "How're you feeling?" "Okay. Tired." He paused for a minute. "You're here." He said, again. She nodded. "Surprised?" "A little." Brian shrugged. "Last night you. . ." But she shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. If it hadn't been for me last night, none of this would have happened. Can you forgive me? I'm so sorry, Brian." His eyes widened. "What? I'm not mad. This isn't your fault, Rose." He yawned loudly. "I'm so tired, though." His eyes fluttered shut. "Wait for me." He mumbled, before he fell back asleep. As Rose watched Brian snore away softly, the door to his room opened, and the same four guys she'd met after his surgery trooped in. Nick smiled at her, and walked around the bed to join her. He leaned against the wall by her chair. "How's he doing?" Rose smiled a little. "He's woken up twice, each time he stays awake a little longer. A nurse that keeps coming in told me that by tomorrow or the next day, he'll be himself again, back on his regular sleep schedual. But she said his body's so worn out right now, he needs a lot of extra rest." "I'm not so worn out." Brian said, suddenly, startling them all. He opened his eyes again. "Hey guys. How's it going?" The four men crowded around their friend, leaning in close to him and talking hurriedly, before he fell back asleep. Rose felt a tiny tinge of jealousy in flooding through her. They were taking up all her time with Brian! She'd realized that she should wait until he got his strength back to tell him how she felt, but she coveted the moments when he was concious enough to speak with her. "Rose." He said suddenly, interupting the speech of his friends. There was a general laugh from all of them. "Oh, so now we see what's really important to you." One of them said. Brian laughed a little. His laughed seemed tired and used. He would fall asleep again soon, Rose could tell. "I want you to get some sleep, too. You missed breakfast and lunch, get something to eat. Please." She nodded, reassuring him. "Will you bring me. . .?" His voice faded, and his eyes dropped shut, but he lifted his hand a little and pointed to his dresser before he slipped completely into dream world. Rose left his side for the first time in eight hours, and made her way to the dresser. The men watched her with curiosity as she pulled a a tiny box from inside the first drawer. She walked back to Brian, and laid it on his chest, then placed both his hands over top of it. She leaned down, and kissed him on the nose, and was on the verge of sliding her lips down and touching them to his mouth when she remembered that she wasn't alone in the room. She looked up, embarrased. They were all looking back at her. She felt that somehow, maybe, they'd known what she was thinking about doing. What feelings she was having when she looked at Brian laying there. "I'm going to my room." She said softly, turning and walking towards the door. She paused once, and looked back at him. He looked so calm and peaceful. He looked amazing. He was beautiful. Rose smiled, and left the room. Closing the door behind her, she turned, and whispered through the wood, "I love you, Brian." Not a soul in the world heard her, but, somehow, she thought, Brian understood. |
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