Chapter 018

~Jaxon~

The hospital corridors smelled faintly of antiseptic and coffee, a scent that was familiar. But this wasn’t my hospital, nor was I here for a shift. 

My scrubs had been swapped for jeans and a plain black T-shirt, yet the concern I felt was heavier than a twenty-four-hour shift.

My shift had ended earlier than planned, thanks to the head matron’s understanding nature. She’d waved me off with a small smile, her knowing eyes filled with something that felt like sympathy. “Go see your sister, Jaxon,” she’d said. “Family first.”

California. Sunshine and beaches, right? But the skies seemed dull as I stepped out of my car, and even the air carried a strange heaviness. Sasha’s directions had been clear, her voice trembling just slightly as she gave them to me over the phone. 

“Jaxon, he’s in Cityview Medical Center,” she’d said, her words rushing over each other. “Take the freeway and—just hurry, please.” But, I drove instead.

I drove into the hospital, parking at the driveway. The hospital's exterior was a blend of glass and steel that reflected the sky. My heart thudded a little harder with each step toward the entrance.

When I entered, she was there in the waiting room, just as she’d promised. Sasha’s face was pale, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail that hung limply against her neck. She was sitting in one of those generic plastic chairs, her arm wrapped around Brian, who leaned into her side.

“Sash,” I called softly.

She looked up, and in an instant, she was out of her seat, throwing her arms around me. Her body shook against mine, and I felt the wet warmth of her tears soaking into my shirt.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

Brian stood by her side, clutching the hem of her sweater. I reached out and rubbed his hair—a small gesture, but his lips quirked up in a faint smile.

“Hey, bud,” I said softly.

“Hi, Uncle Jax,” he murmured, his voice as small as he was.

I pulled back slightly, keeping a hand on Sasha’s shoulder. “What’s the update? Has Steve woken up?”

She nodded, swiping at her tears. “He woke up briefly. The doctors said it was pneumonia.” Her words came in a rush, like she needed to say them all before she lost the ability to speak. “They’re optimistic, Jaxon. They think he’s going to be okay.”

Relief flooded through me, though it didn’t entirely wash away the tension coiled in my chest. “That’s good,” I said, squeezing her shoulder. “That’s really good.”

“Where is he?” I asked after a while and Sasha led me down the hallway to Steve’s room. 

When we reached his door, she hesitated. “He’s asleep now,” she said, her hand hovering over the doorknob.

“That’s okay,” I assured her. “I’ll just sit with him for a bit.”

The room was dimly lit, the blinds drawn to keep out the midday glare. Steve lay on the hospital bed, his face pale but peaceful, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythms.

I pulled up a chair and sat down, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. For a moment, I just watched him, the steady beeping of the monitor a quiet reassurance. He looked fragile in a way I’d never seen before, and the sight stirred a knot of emotions in my chest.

Sasha stood by the doorway, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

“You don’t have to stay, you know,” I said without turning around. She needed rest, it was evident in the eye bags under her eyes. My heart went out to her, she'd been under a lot of stress for the past few hours.

She shook her head, though I could see the exhaustion etched into her features. “I can’t just leave.”

“You can,” I insisted, glancing over at her. “I’ll stay here. You should take Brian home, get some rest.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but after a moment, she nodded. “Okay. But call me if anything changes. Anything at all.”

“I will,” I promised.

She gave me a weak smile and left, taking Brian with her. 

“Come on, Steve,” I murmured. “You’ve got to pull through this. Sasha needs you. Brian needs you.”

After a few minutes of sitting quietly, I stood and left the room, going to the waiting room and staying there.

Time passed slowly, the minutes stretching into hours. I pulled out my phone, hoping for some kind of distraction. That’s when I saw the text from Barbara.

***Barbara: Hi, hotshot doc.***

The words made me smile—a small, involuntary curve of my lips that felt oddly foreign in this place. She'd collected my contact when we met yesterday, her actions weren't at all romantic as she'd made it obvious she had a boyfriend she loved.

I typed back a quick reply. 

***Hey, I'm surprised you actually texted me.***

Her response came almost immediately. I was quite sure she'd left for her home already and that meant Michelle was alone.

My heart stuttered at the thought of her.

***Barbara: Where are you, anyway? Shouldn’t you be busy saving lives?***

I hesitated before replying, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. 

***Family emergency. In California right now***

Her next text was immediate, but I could feel the tone soften.

***Barbara: Everything okay?***

***Not sure yet. But thanks for asking. How's Michelle?***

I asked and the next text that followed did make me chuckle. She sent Michelle's number instead.

***Barbara: You could ask her yourself ;⁠)***

I shook my head, as I dropped my phone. At least for a brief moment, my mind had gotten off Steve's case.

I sat there, waiting. Waiting for Steve to wake up, waiting for the knot in my chest to finally loosen. Waiting for the assurance that everything would be okay.

I hated being in this same situation again. The first time was our parents. We'd lost them. Although I was now a doctor, there was nothing much I could do at the moment.

But until then, all I could do was wait.