Chapter Text
"He's anemic." She said flatly. "He should have come in after he lost consciousness the first time. I'm surprised he's still alive with how bad he's gotten."
"Well, he hasn't been home. So I wouldn't know." Luke growled at the doctor and shot an angry glance back at John B.
"He has internal injuries as well, I can assume he's been in a fight-"
"You can assume all you want, the point is, he's hanging out with a group of trash rats. Who knows what they got him into."
"Hey-" Kie started forward, but was held back by Pope. They've been waiting at the hospital since this morning. And after not being able to sleep at all the night before, they were at the end of the rope.
John B groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. He was impatient to see JJ after being left in the waiting room the whole day yesterday after Peterkin dropped him off. He ended up sleeping on a hard sofa over night and he was grumpy and tired of waiting.
"What's important is that JJ is here now and we can get him the help he needs. There's a lot to go through so I'll need Mr. Maybank to come with me."
"Uhh what kinda stuff are we talking about?" Luke grunted, "'cause I don't got no money or nothin'."
"We'll get everything figured out, Mr. Maybank. I'll need your cooperation so we can get it done quickly and efficiently. Now please follow me."
After they walked off another nurse went over to the group of teens left standing in the hall.
"You are allowed to see him now."
They all held their breath at the sight of their friend, frail and weak, hooked up to machines and tubes and wires. A blood bag along with IV fluids hung above his bed and he had an oxygen mast on.
"He'll need lots of rest. So you can stay for only a short period of time today." The nurse said sternly, her face softened as she met their eyes, "but visiting times will gradually get longer, so don't worry."
Words could not form in their throats. So they nodded in understanding. Then there was silence, everyone standing awkwardly by the bed.
Until Sarah knelt down and reached for JJ's hand. She rubbed his knuckles with her thumb and squeezed slightly. His eyes opened after a moment and it was like the unbreathable air left the room and an audible sigh escaped everyone.
Pope cleared his throat, "how you feeling, Bud?"
JJ tilted his head ever so slightly and closed his eyes. As if something so subtle could explain everything going on inside his head. But they understood.
Pope looked over at the nurse curiously, "I know I'm not an expert on illnesses or anything, but I thought anemia wasn't so.... Serious?"
"Well, sure!" The nurse said brightly, "it shouldn't be so serious, I suppose. If found and treated early enough. Your friend here is malnourished and from what I hear, has been fighting a big battle for a good while before showing up at the hospital practically in a coma."
The nurse was in her 30s, maybe closer to 40, with a long blond pony tail and bright blue eyes. Her smile was kind and she wore white scrubs with yellow bumblebees on it. She checked the machines and tapped at her computer.
"What will happen to him now?" Kie asked.
"Well, a few more blood tests, some infusions. Possibly surgery if we find something else. He's dehydrated and also has some concerning internal injuries. Anemia isn't his only problem."
"That's gonna crush Luke." Pope whispered stiffly.
"Not treating Anemia could result in a faster heart beat and lower oxygen levels. Which would explain him losing consciousness or being extremely fatigued. Not to leave out dizziness and nausea. His reports say he had a high fever and panic attacks. Makes since to me with those kinds of symptoms." The nurse added.
Everyone shared guilty looks.
"What about his internal injuries?" Sarah asked cautiously, "what did they find?"
"We are still waiting on those results. There's bruising on his ribs and stomach. So I'm sure there's something." She looked over at them with a raised eyebrow, as if to ask something, but was cut off.
"About that, Anyone ready to clear up what happened?" Officer Shoupe entered with his arms crossed.
The air froze again.
"Well.... To be honest," Pope started slowly, "we found him beat up like that."
"You found him... Where?"
"At his house." John B said matter-of-factly.
"So.... What? A bunch of guys beat him up and dumped him at home? What's not being said here, guys?" Shoupe sounded strung out. Fighting with Luke since the day before, and not getting any information from the useless blockhead really ruined his mood.
No one spoke.
"Guys?" He waited a moment, "c'mon, I know there's more to the story."
Shoupe had always hated Luke Maybank and had a sneaking suspicion about him as a single father. But nothing ever showed itself enough for him to bring matters into his own hands.
"We didn't see him get beat up, Shoupe, ok?!" John B's voice dripped with annoyance.
Shoupe put his hands up to calm John B, but shouting in the hall grabbed his attention and he spun around.
Luke's loud voice exploded through the halls and as he passed by JJ's hospital room he stopped and whipped a folder at Shoupe. Papers flew everywhere, forcing the officer to storm out of the room after him.
John B checked his friend to see if the commotion had woken him. His eyes were open halfway, looking toward the door. The heart rate monitor went up slightly, which caused an alarm, but the nurse switched it off just as quickly and went to JJ.
"Ok, everyone out." The nurse ordered.
"But-"
"Nope, no way, if you care about your friend you need to let him rest. Out."
JJ's eyes were unfocused and blank, John B's heart called out for him, but the nurse got a hold of his arm and lead him out into the hall after his friends. She then went back into the room and distributed a syringe of something into JJ's IV drip. John B, Pope, and Kie stood in the doorway and watched solemnly as JJ's eyes closed and the beeping became steady once again.