Chapter 261 You're awake

Chapter 261 You're awake

Three days later, night had settled over the hospital once again. The corridor outside had gone quiet, with only the occasional footsteps of nurses making their rounds.

Inside the room, Alex sat beside Lucas's bed, their fingers intertwined as they had been any time Alex was with him.

His body ached with exhaustion.

His eyelids drooped. Every few seconds, his head would fall forward before he forced himself awake again.

"I promised I'd stay with you," he murmured. "I'm not breaking that promise."

Eventually, fatigue became too much. Still holding Lucas's hand, Alex rested his head against the mattress.

His breathing slowed.

Sleep was just beginning to claim him, then he felt a slight twitch.

Alex frowned. His eyes remained closed.

Then another movement. This time, he felt it clearly. Lucas's finger had moved against his palm.

Alex's eyes flew open..He sat upright instantly, staring at their joined hands. His heart pounded wildly.

"No..." His voice trembled.

Then another tiny movement. Lucas's index finger twitched again.

Alex's breath caught. Tears instantly filled his eyes.

"Dear God..." He squeezed Lucas's hand gently.

"Please...Please let him wake up."

Without taking his eyes off Lucas, Alex slammed his thumb against the emergency call button beside the bed.

Seconds later, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

The door burst open. A doctor and two nurses rushed inside.

"What happened?"

Alex pointed at Lucas's hand.

"He moved! He moved his fingers!

I felt it!"

The doctor immediately stepped beside the bed, checking Lucas's pupils before watching for any response.

"Lucas?" There was no answer.

Alex's heart sank.

Then, another faint movement.

The doctor saw it this time.

A small smile crossed his face.

"Excellent...He did move."

Alex looked between the doctor and Lucas.

"So... he's waking up, right?"

"Let's not rush," the doctor replied calmly. "It's a very encouraging sign."

Just then, Lucas's lips parted ever so slightly. A barely audible whisper escaped them.

"My..."

Alex leaned in until his ear was almost against Lucas's mouth.

"Lucas?"

Another weak breath.

"...baby..."

Alex froze.

The room became so silent that everyone could hear the fragile whisper.

"...save..." Lucas struggled as though every word demanded all his strength. "...my... baby..."

Then...nothing.

His lips became still again. His breathing returned to its previous steady rhythm.

Alex's face became drained of color. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. He looked frantically at the doctor.

"Why did he stop talking? Is he getting worse? Doctor... what's happening?"

His voice shook with panic.

The doctor placed a reassuring hand on Alex's shoulder. "Calm down."

Alex could barely stand still. "But he just...He spoke, and then...he went quiet again."

The doctor nodded.

"That's actually more reassuring than alarming."

Alex stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"The brain often begins recovering gradually after a prolonged unconscious state."

"The fact that he moved voluntarily and attempted to speak tells us that his brain is responding."

Alex listened, hardly daring to breathe.

"He wasn't deteriorating. He was trying to communicate."

The doctor's smile grew warmer.

"Those words didn't come from reflex. They came from conscious thought."

Alex looked back at Lucas, emotion flooding his face. "So he was thinking about our baby..."

The doctor nodded. "Exactly. Even in this condition, his first instinct was to protect his child."

Alex covered his mouth as tears rolled freely down his cheeks.

A smile broke through the tears.

"That's my Lucas..."

He gently kissed Lucas's hand.

"I heard you, Baby. Our little one is safe. You don't have to worry."

The doctor finished his examination before looking back at Alex.

"I won't make promises about when he'll wake up, but tonight, we've taken a very important step." He smiled.

Greater hope, quietly returned to Alex's heart. He tightened his hold on Lucas's hand.

"I'll keep waiting," he whispered.

"No matter how long it takes."

The first rays of morning sunlight slipped through the hospital curtains, bathing the room in a soft golden glow.

For the first time in days, the room felt peaceful.

Alex was still asleep, his head resting beside Lucas on the mattress, one hand still wrapped around Lucas's.

His breathing was slow and even.

Then, something warm brushed gently through his hair. A slow, tender caress.

Alex frowned in his sleep.

It happened again. Soft fingers glided through his hair, just as they had countless times before whenever Lucas caught him working too hard.

Half-asleep, Alex smiled faintly.

"Five more minutes, Baby..." he mumbled.

The hand didn't stop. Instead, it lovingly combed through his hair once more.

Alex's smile disappeared. His eyes shot open. His heart hammered against his chest. It wasn't a dream. He felt it again.

Slowly…almost afraid to hope. He lifted his head. His gaze met the hospital bed.

Bright eyes were looking back at him. Lucas was awake.

His eyes were tired and unfocused, but unmistakably open.

For several seconds, neither of them moved. Alex simply stared.

He wondered if he was still dreaming.

Then Lucas's lips curved into the faintest smile.

"Morning my love." The weak whisper shattered Alex's disbelief.

"Baby..." His voice cracked.

"You... you're awake."

Tears instantly flooded his eyes.

He shot to his feet so quickly that the chair toppled backward with a loud crash.

"Baby!" He carefully cupped Lucas's face, terrified of hurting him.

"You're awake...Oh, thank God."

His hands trembled so badly that he could barely reach the emergency bell. He slammed it repeatedly.

Within seconds, alarms sounded.

Doctors and nurses rushed into the room. The lead doctor immediately moved to Lucas's bedside.

"Mr. Westman, can you hear me?"

Lucas blinked slowly. "Yes."

"Good."

The doctor shone a small light into his eyes. "Do you know where you are?"

Lucas frowned slightly. "Hospital."

"And do you know your name?"

"Lucas Westman."

The doctor smiled. "Excellent."

He continued checking Lucas's pulse, blood pressure, and neurological responses while the nurses adjusted the monitors.

Alex stood off to one side, unable to stop smiling through his tears.

His eyes never left Lucas.

The doctor looked at Lucas again.

"Are you in pain?"

Lucas swallowed. "My... head, it hurts."

"That's expected after everything you've been through," the doctor assured him. "We'll give you something to ease the pain."

Lucas nodded weakly.

His eyes wandered around the room before settling on Alex again.

The confusion on his face slowly melted into recognition.

"Alex."

"I'm here." Alex immediately returned to his side and gently took his hand. "I never left."

Lucas weakly squeezed his fingers.

"You... look terrible."

Alex laughed through his tears.

"I've been told that. You scared me."

Lucas's expression, filled with guilt.

"Sorry."

Alex quickly shook his head.

"No." He leaned forward and rested his forehead gently against Lucas's.

"Don't apologize. Just stay with me. That's all I need."

The doctor smiled quietly as he finished writing notes on Lucas's chart.

"His vital signs are stable," he announced. The next twenty-four hours will be important, but this is an excellent recovery."

Alex let out the breath he felt he'd been holding for days. He kissed Lucas's forehead, lingering there for a moment.

"You kept your promise," he whispered. You came back to me."

Lucas looked at him with tired but affectionate eyes. Then, almost instinctively, his free hand drifted to his abdomen. His brows furrowed.

"The baby?"

Alex's smile softened.

"Our baby is safe."

Lucas closed his eyes in relief.

A tear slipped down the side of his face as he whispered,

"Thank God."