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“You promised me this would never happen again.”
Nancy was rarely in this position. Sitting at a quiet bedside as the hard back of a plastic hospital chair dug into her skin. The only sound in the room was the soft beeps of monitors. Stuck with her own thoughts as she stared at a still body, begging them to wake up.
She wonders if this is how Carlos felt all those times TK was in a coma.
It was supposed to be a routine call, an accident on a bridge. There were only minor injuries, firefighters were only there to help people out of their cars. Hell, Nancy didn’t even have to take anyone to the hospital.
But some bastard had to ruin that.
Officers said he was drunk or high or whatever but Nancy didn’t really care. Only thing she cared about was the way Mateo’s brown eyes widened in shock and fear as the car ran the both of them off the bridge into the churning water beneath them.
Mateo had always hated the water. Nancy had wondered about it but she’d just been waved off with a vague answer before an abrupt subject change. She just wished she knew how bad it was before this.
The impact to the water with a car on top of him had caused many injuries including a broken leg, arm, and internal bleeding. He was also at risk of pneumonia on account of nearly drowning after having a panic attack in the water.
He wasn’t moving when the 126 dragged him out of the grey-blue sea.
Now Nancy was here next to him, staring at his peaceful face as if he hadn’t almost died. She vaguely wonders why the 126 have so many near death experiences and why the two that have happened to Mateo they practically had to drag him out of death's arms.
She’d nearly lost him during the nuclear meltdown after the asteroid. The other team of paramedics had wheeled him out covered in his own blood, toeing the line between the two realms of existence. It was a very close call and she made him promise he wouldn’t be like TK and start a trend of constant near death experiences.
He had agreed.
And now he was here.
Nancy startled at the appearance of Judd popping his head into the room. He slowly walked in as if he were walking close to a scared animal. Gently he set the bag of takeout next to Nancy. “Any news?” He said in the southern drawl of his, plopping into the other chair with a soft groan.
Nancy just shook her head, trying to will away the nausea that came with the smell of the food. “No. It’s been a week and the doctors said if he doesn’t wake up soon…” She trailed off, the looming outcome clear to them both.
Judd exhaled shakily. “He’ll be okay. I know it.” Nancy sniffled, wiping at her eyes. “How do you know?” “Because he’s a little shit.” Nancy let out a startled laugh at that. “Even though he sucks at keeping surprises, he loves planning his own. He’ll pop up like ‘Guess who!’ and everything will be fine.” Judd said this with such certainty that Nancy could only believe it. She just clutched Mateo’s stiff hand, trying to push aside the thoughts that he seemed like he was already dead.
Judd glanced over again, staring at Nancy’s downturned face. “You should probably eat something. I mean, I brought you food.” “Not hungry.” Judd leveled her with a look. “What have you had to eat today?” Silence. “Nancy.” She looked up, tears welling in her eyes. “Please just eat something. Mateo would be all pouty otherwise.” Nancy let out a warbled laugh. “Yeah you’re right. He would do that.”
Judd counted it a win when she began nibbling on some fries.
——
Hours later after the 126 came and went, Nancy sat curled up staring holes into the floor. The sun had long since gone down and one of the marvel movies was playing on the dingy tv on the wall. She figured Mateo might enjoy it if he could hear it.
She wasn’t sure if she hoped he could hear what was going on or not.
Did he hear the way the doctors hoped lowered everytime they checked on him? Did he hear the way the nurses whispered about keeping him on machines? Did he hear her crying over him?
But does he hear the funny stories they tell him? Does he hear the way his family has all rallied for him?
Does he hear how much they all love him?
She doesn’t know.
——
It’s been two weeks and the medical staff have clearly given up all hope. Nancy still clung to the flickering ember in her chest and she knows the 126 was experiencing the same.
But what would she do if the unthinkable happens? If his heart eventually fails and he leaves this world and leaves his family behind.
What would she do?
Nancy’s voice cracked as she began to speak. “Hey baby. You have to wake up. You have a lot of people waiting on you. You have me waiting on you. I haven’t gotten to kiss you or hug you or really hold your hand or even say hi to you in the past two weeks. Who’s going to take me on dates and try my terrible baking and make me laugh until I cry? Who else is going to understand what happened with Al and Tim and TK? Who’s going to shave their head because I might have had cancer?” Her voice choked, tears clogging it.
“Mateo you have to wake up. I don’t think I can find anyone else like you, you’re the one I love. You can’t just leave me hanging. So wake up dammit!” Finally Nancy dissolved into soft sobs, face buried in her hands. The hospital was silent at this time of night, no one else with her besides the still body of her partner on the bed.
That’s why she practically jumped out of her skin when a finger gently brushed over her arm.
Her head shot up to meet bleary brown eyes.
Mateo was awake.
Everything was going to be okay.