Chapter 43 The One He Calls For
Sunday Morning
Elena woke to pale hospital light and the steady beep of monitors.
Her neck ached from sleeping in the chair. Her clothes were still stained with blood—Leo's blood, dried to rust-brown.
She hadn't left his side all night.
Leo was still asleep, chest rising and falling in the peaceful rhythm she'd been watching for hours.
The bruises on his face looked darker in the morning light. The bandage on his forehead stark white against his skin.
Elena reached for his hand, careful not to disturb the IV.
"Mama's here, baby," she whispered.
His fingers twitched in her palm.
A moment later, his eyes fluttered open.
"Leo?" She leaned closer. "Hey, sweetheart. How do you feel?"
He blinked slowly, gaze unfocused.
"Head," he mumbled. Just the one word.
"I know, baby. Your head hurts. The doctors are helping."
He didn't respond. Just stared at the ceiling, eyes glassy.
Elena's chest tightened.
"Are you thirsty? Do you want some water?"
Nothing.
He'd always been so talkative. Even when he was sick, he'd chatter about whatever crossed his mind.
But now—
Now he just lay there, silent and small and wrong.
"Leo, can you look at Mama?"
His eyes shifted to her face. But there was something distant in them. Something absent.
"Does anything else hurt? Your arm? Your tummy?"
No answer.
Just that blank stare.
Elena forced herself to breathe. "It's okay, baby. You're okay. You just need to rest."
A nurse came in to check his vitals, asked him a few questions.
Leo didn't respond to any of them.
"It's normal," the nurse assured Elena. "After trauma and sedation, some children are quieter than usual. Give him time."
But the knot in Elena's stomach didn't loosen.
This wasn't just quiet.
This was Leo, who talked about dinosaurs in his sleep, who narrated every thought that crossed his mind—
And he'd said one word in two hours.
By mid-morning, Mrs. Chen arrived.
She bustled in with her usual warmth, carrying a small bag.
"There's my brave boy!" She moved to Leo's bedside, setting down the bag. "I brought you something special."
Inside was Leo's stuffed elephant—Ellyphant—slightly worn and well-loved.
Mrs. Chen placed it on the bed beside him.
"Look who missed you."
Leo's eyes tracked to the elephant. His hand moved slowly, fingers brushing the soft fabric.
But he didn't pick it up.
Didn't say anything.
Mrs. Chen's smile faltered slightly. She glanced at Elena.
"How is he?"
"The doctors say he's healing well," Elena said quietly. "But he's... not himself."
Mrs. Chen sat on the edge of the bed, careful and gentle.
"Leo, sweetheart, do you remember what happened?"
Nothing.
"You had a little accident. But you're safe now. You're going to be just fine."
Leo's gaze drifted back to the ceiling.
Mrs. Chen tried again. "I bet you're wondering about your birthday party, aren't you? All those presents are waiting at home."
Still nothing.
"And your excavation kit! Remember? The one Alexander gave you? We can dig for dinosaurs when you feel better."
Leo's expression didn't change.
Mrs. Chen looked at Elena, concern deepening.
Elena's throat was tight. "He's only said one word since he woke up."
"The doctors said it's normal—"
"I know what they said." Elena's voice cracked. "But this isn't normal for him."
Mrs. Chen reached over, squeezing Elena's hand.
They sat in worried silence.
Then—
Movement in the doorway.
Elena looked up.
Alexander stood there, holding a small bag, looking like he hadn't slept.
Her entire body went rigid.
"What are you doing here?"
"I needed to see him." His voice was rough. "Please. Just for a minute."
"I told you to leave—"
"Elena." Mrs. Chen's voice was gentle. "Maybe let him—"
"No." Elena stood, positioning herself between Alexander and the bed. "I don't want you here."
Alexander's jaw tightened. "I know you're angry. I know I have no right. But please, just let me see that he's okay."
"He's fine. Now go."
"Elena—"
A small sound from the bed.
Both of them froze.
Elena spun around.
Leo was looking at the doorway.
At Alexander.
And his hand moved—reaching out, small fingers stretching toward the door.
"Alexander," he whispered.
The word was barely audible.
But it shattered something in the room.
Elena's breath caught.
Alexander took a step forward, helpless. "Hey, buddy."
And Leo—silent, distant Leo who hadn't responded to anything all morning—
Spoke.
"You... came back."
"Of course I came back." Alexander's voice broke.
"I fell down."
"I know. I was there, remember?"
Leo's face scrunched up, thinking hard. "Birthday?"
"You had your birthday. You were very brave."
"My head hurts."
"I know it does. But the doctors are helping."
Leo's eyes were clearer now, more focused. "Ellyphant's here."
"Mrs. Chen brought him for you."
"That's good." Leo's gaze drifted to Mrs. Chen, then back to Alexander. "Are you... staying?"
Alexander glanced at Elena.
She stood frozen, watching her son her silent, withdrawn son come back to life just because Alexander had walked into the room.
"I—" Alexander started.
"Please stay," Leo said, voice small and pleading. "Don't go away."
"Leo, Alexander has to—" Elena began.
"No!" Leo's voice rose, agitated. "He has to stay! He promised! He promised he'd be at my birthday!"
"Baby, he was at your birthday—"
"But then he left!" Tears welled in Leo's eyes. "Everyone leaves. I don't want him to leave."
Elena's chest cracked open.
"Sweetheart, no one's leaving—"
"Alexander?" Leo looked past her, terrified. "You're not leaving, right?"
Alexander moved without thinking, crossing to the bed.
Elena didn't stop him.
He sat carefully on the edge of the mattress, reaching for Leo's hand.
"I'm not leaving," he said firmly. "I promise."
"You promise promise?"
"I promise promise."
Leo's breathing evened out slightly. "Okay."
"Okay," Alexander echoed.
Leo's fingers wrapped around Alexander's. "My head really hurts."
"I know, buddy."
"And my arm has a thing in it." He looked at the IV with suspicion.
"That's helping you feel better."
"I don't like it."
"I wouldn't like it either."
"Will you tell me about dinosaurs? Mama tried but she doesn't know all the facts."
Despite everything, a wet laugh escaped Elena.
Alexander smiled. "What do you want to know?"
"Which one was the fastest?"
"Velociraptor, probably. They could run about forty miles per hour."
"Wow. That's really fast."
"Super fast."
"Faster than your car?"
"Well, my car can go faster. But the velociraptor was definitely faster than most things."
Leo nodded seriously, processing this information.
Then he looked at Mrs. Chen. "Hi, Mrs. Chen."
She laughed, relief flooding her face. "Hi, sweetheart."
"Did you know velociraptors could run forty miles an hour?"
"I did not know that."
"Alexander told me. He knows everything about dinosaurs."
"He seems very smart."
"He is." Leo yawned hugely. "I'm tired."
"Then rest," Alexander said gently. "I'll be right here."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Leo's eyes were already drifting closed. "Love you."
"I love you too, buddy."
Within moments, he was asleep again.
But this time, he looked peaceful.
Not distant or lost.
Just tired.
Alexander stayed perfectly still, holding Leo's hand, tears sliding down his face.
Mrs. Chen stood quietly. "I'll give you two some privacy."
She slipped out before Elena could protest.
The room fell silent except for the monitors.
Elena stood frozen, watching Alexander with their son.
Her chest was so tight she could barely breathe.
Because Leo her baby, who'd been silent and unreachable all morning—
Had come alive the moment Alexander appeared.
Had asked for him.
Had needed him.
And that hurt more than anything else.
Because it was real.
Whatever was between Alexander and Leo it wasn't fake. Wasn't just circumstance.
Leo loved him.
Truly, deeply loved him.
And Elena couldn't change that.
Even if she wanted to.
"You should go," she said finally, voice barely above a whisper.
Alexander looked up, face wet. "Elena—"
"He's calm now. He's sleeping. You should go."
"Please, can we just talk—"
"Not here. Not now." She wrapped her arms around herself. "Just... go, Alexander."
He opened his mouth. Closed it.
Carefully, he released Leo's hand, standing.
"I meant what I said," he told her quietly. "I'm not leaving. Not him. Not you."
"You don't get to decide that."
"Maybe not." He moved toward the door, paused. "But I'm going to try anyway."
He left.
The door clicked softly shut behind him.
Elena sank into her chair, staring at her sleeping son.
At the hand that had reached for Alexander.
At the peace on his face now.
And she let herself cry.
Because she didn't know what to do.
How to protect Leo from the pain that was coming.
How to protect herself.
How to reconcile the man she'd fallen in love with and the stranger who'd left her pregnant and alone.
How to give Leo what he so clearly needed—
When it meant letting Alexander back in.
And risking everything all over again.
She didn't have answers.
All she had was this moment.
Her son, safe and sleeping.
And a choice she wasn't ready to make.
Not yet.
Maybe not ever.
But Leo's voice echoed in her head.
"Please stay. Don't go away."
And Elena knew—
Whether she was ready or not—
That choice was coming.
And it would break her either way.