The day at work was slow. I had that talk with Gabriel in the morning. He didn't seem happy, but he was understanding at least. He also had no idea Matt had a twin brother. He was also very surprised to find out I was dating that said brother. I told him everything the doctor said about him potentially waking up at any time, but also that it hasn't happened yet. Gabriel gives me a once over, and he must clearly see I am a mess, because he tells me to go back to the hospital. I thank him, and head back to the hospital before he changes his mind. I don't bother to change I rush off in my pencil skirt. I have things there I can change into.
I stop and grab food on the way. Matt will be so grateful, and if anything is going to wake Daryl from the dead it would be the smell of food. Maybe we can even play some music for him today. As God is my witness, I am going to bring that man back today. I have been quietly doing his books via laptop by night. I worked beside him watching him breath, but that's so the old Jewel to sit and wait. Daryl has been teaching me to take charge and make things happen. Hopefully that can happen today.
Once I get back to the hospital I propose the idea of music to Matt, while we both munch on breakfast sandwiches and work on the accompanying coffee. He actually agrees and gives me a list of some of Abuela's favorites, and I start making a playlist. I have something to look forward to for the first time in days.
As soon as I finish my sandwich I go to work opening the blinds to let the sun in. I turn on music and take a cool wet wash cloth, and use is to wipe his face and arms. Then Matt and I start talking to him like we are just waiting any moment for him to have a response. By noon though I am out of songs on the list and Matt's stomach is growling. Both of us are trying not to be discouraged. It's not very helpful. I log in to Grubhub and place an order. A big one. This girl still has a couple things in her arsenal. I order a bunch of food I know he loves. The bill doesn't look nice, but anything is worth giving a shot.
I reach down and place my hand in his and I feel that little jolt. It's so much more subtle then normally. I look down at his hand maybe he is just twitching a bit, which is also a good sign. I can't help the smile that stretches across my lips.
"You like what you see with me in this bed Angel?" I gasp and my heart stops. I choose to ignore the fact that he called me Angel even though I asked him not to. My eyes leave his potentially twitching hand and I look into his golden flecked hazel eyes. They look tired, but I see him when I look into them.
I smile so large I can help it shouting his name and practically just into bed with him throwing myself into his arms as I shout his name. This instantly draws in Matt's attention, who probably had not heard his weak voice over his own chewing. "I knew hunger would be the thing to wake you if nothing else would."
"It's so good your awake, bro." The nurse then rushes in looking concerned, and sees Daryl awake.
"Oh, thank God." She says with real relief on her face. "The monitors went crazy. It's so good to see you awake Mr. Ortega. I am just going to do a quick assessment if you don't mind, and then call the doctor." She does her assessment checking everything from his grip to his pupil dilation, before quickly exiting the room. She comes back shortly telling us the doctor will be down soon to see Daryl, and then asks us not to make him too weak with too much information or questions. I get the warning! Do not bombard him right now.
I revert my attention back to Daryl. I have been dying for his company, and he at least seems to be himself. "Hey stranger. How are you feeling? Can you move everything?"
"You want to touch me all over and see if I can feel it?" Yep, same old Daryl. I feel myself blushing all over just at the thought. It's been days since I have even thought about it, but now that he has said something I can't help where my thoughts go.
"Still here man." Matt chimes in. We both look at him awkwardly. Daryl starts moving everything just a little but then groans and stops.
"Maybe wait a bit longer before I do anymore of that." He looks under the blanket, and then at the side of the bed. "I have a tube in my dick? Anyone want to tell me what the hell is going on. And how I ended up here this time."
"Daryl they just asked us not to excite you too much right now especially before the doctor gets up here. There was an accident you were taken to the hospital, and you have been asleep for a little bit." I know that is about as vague as it gets, but I can't bring myself to say the Lamborghini was totaled, it's Monday and you have been asleep since Friday night. Nor should I at this time considering. "We will tell you more after the doctor comes in. I also need to call Miguel."
The nurse comes in and asks about pain. Daryl said that it just hurt to try to move everything quite a bit. She comes back in a few minutes and injects something into his IV site. I swear I watch Daryl relax more almost immediately after that. Maybe it wasn't food and music that woke him up maybe it was pain. That is actually a very scary thought. I give his hand another squeeze continuing to hold it, continuing to feel that vibration between us that it almost feels alive. I have been dying to feel it.
We all chatter a little bit keeping conversation to joking. I actually sit back and watch more Daryl and Matt go to town on each other. The two of them are quite entertaining. How can they make so light of something so serious? I think more about their lives, and it occurs to me. It's what they had to do, probably often. It makes me a little heart sick to think about, but I keep my hand firmly planted within his, just delirious with feeling life within him again. I feel almost high from the buzz coming from just this simple touch.
The doctor comes in and checks out Daryl. He talks to us for a while and answers questions. He has him move each of his limbs. Daryl isn't happy about all this you can tell. The doctor says he will start him on a diet and have physical therapy and occupational therapy check him out in the morning. I have no idea what any of this means, but he tells Daryl the diet is a clear liquid one for a bit. That is when shit hit the fan.
"What does a clear liquid diet mean and what actually happened to me because my family said that they weren't supposed to say anything until the doctor saw me? And when can this tube come out of my penis?" He is obviously annoyed.
The doctor steps back a bit. I guess he didn't expect that one from someone who has been in a coma for three days, even if it was medically induced. "Well Sir, your family can definitely talk to you any time about what happened, and I will gladly also answer any questions you have. A clear liquid diet is like broth, jello, popsicles, and most non-dairy liquids." I hear Daryl groan. "As for the catheter I can have the nurse pull it any time now that your awake, but you have four hours to pee after that or we have to place another."
"Oh thank God. What about coffee, can I have coffee."
"As long as there is no cream or sugar in it." He hasn't stopped grumbling about the food or lack thereof, but at least he drinks his coffee black. I know he is going to be starving so I mentally take note of what he can have. I will bring in a lot more of it for him.
"How long am I going to have to eat liquids?"
"Just until we know you can tolerate them, so each meal you can have an upgrade. Next will be full liquids which is like milk, ensure, ice cream and orange juice. Then you can move up to solid foods, as long as you continue to have normal bodily functions and tolerate the upgrade. Do you have any other questions, or would you like to talk to your family first?" I am still thinking about the fact that I have been called family about three times. I look at Daryl and then at Matt, and I realize that they are possibly the two most decent and resilient men I have ever met. I also realize that not only am I okay with being their family. I am lucky, even honored.
"No thank you doctor." Then he leaves.
"Don't worry Daryl if I need to go get you extras of something to fill you up I will gladly do that." He makes eye contact with me. I never took my eyes off him. He touches my face, his golden eyes beckoning me to him without words. He pulls me to him like a tractor beam. Our lips are about to touch, when I hear Matt cough from the end of the bed.
"Guys I am still here, and I think we have something to talk about." I sigh, heavily. He is so right. I can hear Daryl grumbling again. I swear I hear the words cockblocker, and if I do I know Matt does. Honestly with this two! I don't know whether to laugh or slap them both. Then I hear Matt mumble pussy whipped, and the answer is both. Even though I keep the laughter in.
Clearly, I have to be the adult right now. "Alright. Both of you. Matt is right. We do need to talk about what happened. Daryl what do you remember?"
"Uhm. I remember the both shoots, at the warehouse, but not really anything after that."
"Okay. Well I will tell you what I know. There was an envelope on your seat after we left the warehouse that night. You flipped through it before we left and shoved it under your seat. You were driving home, and when you went to hit the brakes there were none. We collided with the car in front of us. The impact was more driver side. There was initially a good amount of bleeding. They had to give you two transfusions, it was probably from the glass shattering. You have been in a medically induced coma since Friday night."
"What? What's today?"
"Monday!" Matt says. I see the shock as that fact starts to sick in.
"The Lamborghini?"
"It was deemed totaled by the insurance company. Miguel went and emptied it out. Matt and I couldn't bring ourselves to. He has been amazing during this time, and I kept up on the books with your trusty laptop, which is here." I say pointing to it. I hear him mutter a damn under his breathe.
The nurse comes in to remove the catheter, and I let Daryl know I will be back in a bit. I am going to call Miguel and get him food. Well broth and ensure. Tomorrow when he can have real food I will stop by early and bring him some home cooked potatoes and mid-west style breakfast. He deserves a good meal as his first after all this. I'll pick up everything I need for that from the store as well.
I pull out my phone on my way out. Matt decides to stick around to be a put of the process of having a tube removed from Daryl's penis. He said something about paybacks are a bitch! Those two I swear. I dial Miguel to let him know Daryl is awake, and he thanks me. Twice even. He said he is on his way to the hospital and asks if there is anything Daryl needs. I said he should bring him some clothes because now that he is up he won't be happy in a hospital gown. He thanks me again and hangs up.
I head to the store to pick up everything I need, before dropping everything for tomorrow off at home, and heading back to the hospital. I don't know why but I have a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I feel so nauseous I have to pull over just to vomit. The last time I had a feeling like this was when mom passed I woke up from a dead sleep in her room to vomit. I suddenly have a very bad feeling.