Chapter Text
Todd Anderson didn’t believe in miracles. Not since the only miracle he ever got killed himself on a freezing December night. But Todd believed in love. The kind of love that can keep an entire friend-group together after tragedy.
James Wilson didn’t believe in love. He had it, right within his fingertips and then it was ripped away the minute his old self decided that a life of control wasn’t worth living for. But he believed in miracles, the kind that only a wayward nurse can give you.
But Todd Anderson was going to find his miracle.. and James Wilson was going to experience love. Conveniently at the exact same time in the exact same hospital.
——————
Todd Anderson always woke up shaking, he was never quite the same after Charlie woke him up that fateful night.
Todd swung himself over the side of his bed, running his hands through his blonde hair that always seemed to be greasy. He groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and reaching for the notebook on his nightstand.
The one Neil bought for him.
Neil…
The fall is endless, endless leaves, endless scarves, endless classes. He keeps me steady.
A notebook? This isn’t mine…
“To Todd, make your dreams come true.”
Neil?…
Todd shakes his head, effectively recycling his thoughts. He runs a hand over Neil’s perfect handwriting, still as perfect as it was when he wrote it. He moves his finger down to where he wrote the dedication for his first novel.
“To Neil, I’m sorry I couldn’t make your dreams come true.”
Todd turned his face, feeling the oncoming swell of grief.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and then reminding himself that the past can’t be changed.
What’s done is done.
Neil Perry is dead.
Todd stands, pulling at a loose thread in his boxers, he walks into his small bathroom, looking at his reflection with disdain.
He’s always been a baby face, and now, he’s still the same, just more tired, and more droopy. The only thing about him that’s really changed is his eyes, once a clear blue, they now have settled into a tired, grayer blue.
While he continues to ponder himself, his phone rings, and Todd scrambles to find it and pick it up, before straightening up quickly to whisper, “Hello?”
Saxophone blaring. Todd holds the phone away from his ear. “CHARLIE! IT’S 7 AM!” Charlie cackles like a madman, “Time is not important to MUSIC! Wake up, Toddy!”
Todd finds himself groaning loudly, and he can almost hear Charlie’s signature, infuriating, smirk.
“Let’s just meet at the park…” Todd hangs up just as Charlie cheers and begins to blare his saxophone again.
Charlie has always been the same. For better or for worse, Todd couldn’t tell.
Charlie had been hit particularly hard after Neil’s death. His once inexhaustible energy was gone, and Charlie could barely get out of bed each morning. The silence was unbearable.
Todd was too scared to bring it up, he was always too scared. Knox is the one that saved Charlie. Since then, Charlie has written several plays, and finds himself working on a musical currently.
Charlie hates the stage, yet he performs every day. Gotta do more, gotta be more.
Knox got his sense slapped into him, and he distanced himself from Chris. Currently, they’re friends, which everyone agrees is for the better.
Meeks found himself a girl who’s probably smarter than he is, and Pitts went into architecture. But Todd…
Todd is always the same. Year after year, they all share accomplishments, and Todd always says, “I’m working on a book.”
Without fail.
Todd has grown used to routine, growing more and more tired each week.
He pulls on a grandpa sweater and straight leg jeans, Charlie tells him he dresses like a teenager, but that’s just what’s comfortable to him.
Todd decides to not analyze himself again and to just leave, walking the 2 short blocks to the park, where chaos awaits in the form of Charlie Dalton.
He brought his saxophone, of course he brought his saxophone. Todd contemplates death for the second time today, this must be a record.
Charlie envelopes him into a hug, “Hey Birthday boy!”
Oh.
Todd remembers it is his birthday.
flying desk set…
Todd shoves his hands into his pockets, “Yeah, hey.”
Charlie gets his smirk once more, “Wanna play some tag?”
Todd raises his brow, “Charlie.. no way we’re-“
And he’s gone.
Well it was nice while it lasted.
Todd takes off after Charlie, how is he still so fast? This can’t be possible.
Charlie decides to swing across the monkey bars and Todd pauses.
No.
No way.
No way in hell.
Todd swings to the first bar and immediately his hand slips off it, and he goes hurtling to the ground, which, of course, isn’t far, but Todd was never the athletic type.
SLAM
“OH SHIT, TODD ARE YOU OKAY?!”
Todd feels only pressure. Probably because he’s lying face-first in a bunch of mulch.
“Heeeyy… Toddy, come on..”
Charlie turns Todd over and hisses slightly, “Uh… dude.. you got a little.. something.”
It was blood, gushing from Todd’s nose, which was probably broken. He could feel tons of cuts around his face from the mulch.
This is kid-friendly?!
That’s how Todd Anderson found himself in the passenger seat of Charlie Dalton’s car, keeping his head tilted upwards as Charlie apologized profusely.
“Hospital… hospital, here we go…”
Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Sounds absolutely fantastic right about now.
Charlie ushers Todd inside where they’re led to an exam room with one grumpy Dr. House.
“Name?” the doctor mumbles. “Charlie Dalton… oh you meant him. He’s Todd Anderson.” Charlie was in a slight state of panic currently. “What happened to him?…” the doctor holds back a snort.
Charlie prepares to launch into a never-ending story, “So it’s actually a really funny story-“ “Never mind I don’t think I really care enough.”
Charlie huffs, “Whatever. Can you bandage him at least?” House shrugs, “Calling my coworker, Wilson, he’ll definitely know what to do.”
Charlie begins to get annoyed, “Dude, it’s a broken nose it’s not rocket science.” House retorts, “Then why don’t you do it yourself?” Charlie narrows his eyes, “Cause it’s not my job!”
The fighting begins to escalate, and Todd finds himself more tired than ever.
Then, the door opens slightly, “House, I’m sure you can do this one on your own, I’m really busy right now…”
Charlie turns his head slightly as House mutters, “I desperately need some assistance, you clearly don’t understand.”
“You son of a bitch…” Charlie speaks, absolutely breathless, but he isn’t talking to House.
Todd tilts his head back down and he feels everything crash down with it.
It’s him It’s him It’s him
No..
No.
But it is.
“…Neil?”
As if Todd didn’t feel stupid already, his nose decides to gush blood once more as the other Doctor stares in horror.
“Todd?…”