Tragedy + Time

About an hour later, they headed for the hospital in Tim's gray Subaru. As they entered the waiting room, they saw Colin McGowell, sitting there, reading a newspaper. He told them he was there to see Jack too.

"I'm so sorry, Tim. I know how close you two are. I really hope he'll be alright." Colin said, with genuine care in his voice

"Aye. Me too."

The nurse came in the waiting room and said: "You can go see him now."

They all got up, but Colin said he'll go first, so he could apologize. Maeve and her brother agreed. While they were waiting for him to come back, they each read their own magazine. When Colin came back, Tim and Maeve approached Jack's room. As they entered, Tim was shocked by the sight his eyes met. Jack was laying on his back, with his left leg in a plaster, a sewed up chest and neck in a brace. He waved hello.

"You're the image of a massive, Jack." Tim said as he grinned. Jack raised the sides of his lips too.

"Hi, Maeve."

"Hello, Jack. How are you feeling?"

"I'm bleedin' great." he said with a bit raspy voice and laughed.

"We're glad to hear that." Maeve rejoiced.

Tim proposed to talk to Jack alone, so Maeve left the room and waited for him ouitside.

"I'm so sorry, Jack. I should've helped you get home safely. Or not sell you that much black stuff in the first place." Tim sighed.

"It's not your fault, mate. I should've been smarter." Jack mumbled.

"So how bad is it? When will you be out?" Tim wondered.

"Broken femur, bruised neck, pneumothorax. That's about a month until I'll be discharged. That's not too long. Especially if you'll be visiting me very often, mate." he informed his best friend.

Tim visited his friend every day during his hospitalisation, aside from working regular shifts at the bar. Maeve's stomach has grown a few inches and she's getting more excited everyday.

On a Monday in September, Jack was finally discharged. His brother kicked him out, so he hadn't anywhere to live. Tim offered him his house, if it didn't bother him that Maeve also lives there and that they'd have to share a king-sized bed. Jack didn't have a problem with it, so he's already moved in with them.

"Thanks a million, Tim."

"Anytime, mate."

The first few nights were pretty normal, until one night when Jack and Tim were sleeping. Tim could feel how close to him Jack had got in the middle of the night, but he brushed it off. But just a few minutes later, Jack wrapped his arms around Tim's torso and lay there. As they woke up a few hours later, they were still in the same position and Tim turned to face Jack. He caught himself staring into Jack's light blue eyes and then pressed him a light kiss on the left cheek. Jack just blushed and lightly chuckled. Neither of them knew what this meant. Until the end of the day they acted as if it was just another day. But that same night, it was Tim who wrapped his arms around Jack and got closer to him. Their heads were almost touching. Tim pushed a lock of Jack's ginger hair aside, so he could kiss his forehead, but then changed his mind and brushed his raspy lips against Jack's. The raspiness of Tim's lips woke Jack up and he kissed him back. Tim slowly pulled away in shock and said "I'm sorry. I- You're just so cute when you sleep." Jack pulled himself closer to Tim and stroked his dark hair. "You're cuter." They cuddled and as it was time for breakfast, they realised Maeve was not home. Tim had a day off from work and Jack wasn't working yet after the accident. There was a note on the table. It said: