[Why. Am. I. Here. I can’t even find the words to describe how friggin tired I am. Lol, yet here I am, posting the next chapter for y’all. And I’ve almost caught up with myself. Muchas gracias for all the reviews! (Hmmm, maybe that’s why I’m here, against my better judgment. Hehe.)

The clattering of the breakfast tray startled me out of my not-so-peaceful slumber. Yawning, I rubbed my eyes and looked around the room. A tech was just leaving the room, pulling the door shut behind her. Nick was standing on the other side of Brian’s bed, the lid to the breakfast tray in his hands. Brian’s face was twisted in a grimace at the food in front of him.
“Well, glad to see you finally decided to join the land of the living,” Nick joked with a grin on his face.
I stretched and I could feel my back pop several times in protest to the awkward position I had been curled up in. “Mornin’.” I mumbled, my voice resembling AJ’s even more than usual. My eyes met with Brian’s. “How are ya?”
Brian smiled slightly and mouthed ‘ok.’
“Did I fall asleep before you?” I asked hesitantly, hoping that I hadn’t.
Brian shook his head. “I must’ve. Don’ ‘member.”

I nodded, mildly relieved. Hearing him struggle to get the words, though, drove a stake through my heart. He shifted uncomfortably in the bed and tried to sit up a little straighter. Pain flickered through his eyes and he shut them briefly before composing himself. Nick and I exchanged worried glances.

He placed a gentle hand on Brian’s shoulder. “Bri, you gotta eat some breakfast, it might make ya feel a little better. Give you some strength anyway.”
I snorted. Obviously Nick hadn’t gotten to experience hospital food too often. Brian caught the look on my face and gave me a knowing smile.

“Look, they have apple juice and some yellow jello and hot tea,” Nick listed the menu. “Hey, you get to choose what you want for lunch!”
I rolled my eyes at Brian and made a not so nice gesture with my hand, displaying my lack of enthusiasm. Brian’s eyes widened in mock disapproval at my fisted motion, but couldn’t keep the corner of his mouth from twitching.

“Okay, Bri, you can have steamy hot chicken or beef broth and chilled ice t---”
“Nick, I don’t think he really cares,” I interrupted.
The smile slowly vanished from Nick’s face. “Brian, you have to eat. How are you going to gain any strength if you don‘t?”
“You pick.” Brian whispered with a slight smile on his face, pushing the menu towards Nick.
Nick frowned thoughtfully as he used the tiny pencil to scribble on the menu. “How about while I do this, you try some breakfast?” He suggested, pushing the tray table a little closer to Brian.

Brian stared at the tray for a moment, then he slowly shook his head. “Not hungry,” he whispered.
“Brian, as gross as it is, Nick’s right. You aren’t going to get any of your strength back unless you eat something. Maybe the tea would soothe your throat?” I gave him a sympathetic smile. Having a tube down your throat left it pretty sore for a few days. As
far as I knew, though, he hadn’t said anything about it being sore from the damage at least. But then again, knowing him, he’d keep it to himself as to not worry us further.
Brian shrugged his shoulders and uncapped the lid to the dark blue plastic coffee mug. Just as he started drinking, a young dark haired woman entered the room.
“Hi Mr. Littrell, I’m Melissa from physical therapy.”
Brian set the cup down and looked up at her expectantly.
“When Jay gets in we will take you for a short walk down the hall, how does that sound to you?”
As Melissa waited for an answer from Brian, Nick spoke up. “He’s probably ready to get on his feet, huh Brian?”
“I think he can speak for himself,” Melissa replied in an annoyed tone.
I gave Nick a look, but he ignored me. “Well, Melissa, if you read his fricken chart, you would know that he can’t speak for himself.”
Brian looked apologetically at Melissa, and he shot a disapproving look towards Nick for his outburst.

“Um, Nick, how about you and I go and check some things out that we were talking about earlier?” I said quickly.

Nick gave me a blank look.
I got up from my chair and walked over to where he was sitting on the edge of Brian’s bed. “I think Brian needs to do this on his own. We can come back in awhile, okay?”
Brian’s eyes met mine and he nodded in appreciation. I knew Nick wanted to be in there to help Bri, hell, I did too. But I also knew that Brian wanted to do this on his own. Other than that unrelenting need to be strong for everyone, he probably didn’t want an audience for this. Not yet anyway, not when he didn’t quite know what to expect from the therapy. After physical therapy comes it would be followed with the speech therapy.
“We’ll be back in awhile, I’m praying for you,” I whispered into his ear.
“Thanks,” he whispered in reply.