Once Upon A Song And Against All Odds (Coco AU)

|Chapter 1|

Ernesto left him at the door of a church in Mexico City when he last saw him. He told Hector that he was going to look for a doctor. That he would be right back.

De La Cruz never returned, but then again, Hector wouldn't have known. The pain was too much and he lost consciousness shortly after the man left.

He spent the following few days after De La Cruz had disappeared in a bed in the back of the church. One of the Sisters had gone to put out the lamp at the door and discovered Hector lying there looking like death warmed over. By then he'd thrown up and ruined his nice suit. But then, he couldn't help himself. The food poisoning left him weak and incapacitated. She brought him inside, changed his ruined clothes for a clean nightshirt, and did what she could to make him comfortable.

For three days, he lay delirious in that bed, slipping in and out of consciousness, but never truly awake. A lot of the time, he wasn't even sure if he was alive.

He remembered little of that time, the fever cooking his brain too much for him to really get a grasp on anything. All that was familiar to him were voices, and the constant burn in his throat from vomiting. The voices would whisper in worried tones- 'he's skinny as it is..I'm concerned if he can't keep something down-' or 'what a poor soul..I pray for his strength.'

None of the voices he would hear regularly belonged to Ernesto, though. In his rare lucid moments, Hector hoped that his friend wasn't lying somewhere in a similar state. He'd suggested sharing that rotten chorizo to save a little money instead of having to pay for two plates. Biggest mistake of his life.

The morning of the fourth day, he's finally able to open his eyes without the room spinning. He finally gets to see the face of the woman who saved him. She looks to be around the age of Imelda's mamá, but with a far kinder face. She's replacing the damp cloth on his forehead when he wakes up.

"Good morning, señor. It's good to see that you decided to pull through for us." Her tone is gentle, as is her smile. She places a hand on his forehead before rewetting the cloth in her other hand and placing it back on his brow.

"Still a little warm..but I don't think the fever is any danger now. Now that you're awake, if you're able, could you tell me your name?"

He wondered to himself for a moment if he was able. But then he coughed and answered in a voice so hoarse from sickness that he didn't recognize it as his own at first.

"H-....Hector. My name is Hector Rivera."

His throat was sore with every word. The woman offered him a sip of water, which he accepted gratefully, even if it didn't do much to sooth the roughness of his voice.

"It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Rivera. My name is Lucinda. Do you know where you are?"

Hector gave the woman a questioning look, trying hard to recall the last tour stop. His head ached with the effort.

"Am I still in Mexico City? Ah-ha..do forgive me..The last few days are a little fuzzy around the edges.." He was slightly embarrassed at his lapse in memory. Sister Lucinda merely laughed and answered his question.

"Yes. Mexico City is where we are. You've been very sick, Hector. We've watched over you for the better part of a week, now. Four days." She spoke, tucking the quilts about his frame more snuggly.

Four days. He'd been unconscious for nearly four days. Hector's thoughts wandered to Ernesto again. Those thoughts quickly turned grim, considering his own health. The man's absence was concerning.

"You didn't by any chance see the man who brought me here, did you? Is he alright?"

Lucinda frowned. He didn't like that.

"I'm sorry, señor Rivera. I saw no other man. You were alone when I found you. I wish I could speak well of your friend, but I truly do not know of his state. I'll keep him in my prayers for you."

Hector let out a heavy sigh. Not the answer he was hoping for. He suddenly felt the weight on his chest grow heavier.

"Gracias, Sister Lucinda." He breathed tiredly. He was grateful for her honesty, truly, but not knowing what became of Ernesto did nothing to ease his conscience. The woman patted his arm through the blankets, offering a sympathetic look.

"Would you like to try eating a little? Breakfast has just been made."

Hector's stomach turned at the mere thought of food, but the offer came as a welcome distraction from his worries. He'd much rather rest now that he wasn't so constantly uncomfortable.

"Oh-no, por favor..Maybe later. Gracias." He replied with a barely there laugh. "Besides, I'm still very tired. If it's alright, I'd like to sleep for a bit longer. Perhaps I'll feel more rested this time."

"Of course, señor. I'll leave you be, then. Sleep well. I'll come back to check on you in the afternoon."

Lucinda stood and collected her things. Hector muttered a 'thank you' as she left and allowed himself to be lulled into sleep by the warmth of his bedding. As he drifted off, he couldn't help but think about his wife. How he missed her terribly.

And more so, how he hoped that he'd dream of her.