Part 9: Reaction.
"I feel great," said David, sitting up on his chair. The previous entanglement of tubes and wiring were all gone, and he was sipping on a cup of apple juice, which tasted sweeter than he ever remembered it.
"That's good to hear," said Gabriel.
"Is Nate all right?" David asked.
"Yeah, he's home," replied Gabriel, "he's been home for a few days now.
"You know, we were all really scared that you weren't gonna come back."
David smiled. "Well I am, aren't I?"
-----
Mike and Leah intercepted Evelyn as she entered the hospital's doors.
"I think it's better for David to just relax, Ev," explained Leah. "He's a little frazzled."
"Yeah, real frazzled," Mike added.
Evelyn sighed. "Well, has anyone seen him besides one of you?"
"Nope," Leah replied, knowing full well she was lying.
"I'm going up, then."
-----
Nate got up from his study, half-asleep, and placed two more pills in his mouth. This was his sixth pill in two hours; well over what was considered an overdose.
He managed to dial David's home number, and he left a message.
Then he slept, felt his body fly, and was swept away. He lay there, not breathing, as if waiting for someone to come pick his now lifeless body up from the foot of his bed.
He planned on dying like this, but he didn't expect to die with tears streaming down his cheeks.
-----
Joseph returned to the hospital just in time to see Evelyn go up the elevator, Leah and Mike with her.
"Damn."
-----
Gabriel decided that David needed some fresh air. "I think I have to go. You look exhausted."
"Yeah. I feel great. Great and exhausted."
"Take care, man. I'll see you soon."
Gabriel rounded the corner and waited for the elevator. The doors opened, and revealed Leah, Mike, Evelyn, and Joe, who was obviously trying to catch his breath.
"Hey!" shouted Leah, "I wasn't expecting you here!"
Gabriel figured it out. "Yeah, I took the back way."
Evelyn scoffed. "You would."
She stepped off the elevator, followed by Leah and Mike. Joseph stayed inside, and gestured for Gabriel to step in.
"You know," panted Joseph, "that was a really close one."
Gabriel smiled as the elevator doors closed, and headed to the lobby.
