When I wake up all my senses are overwhelmed. A steady beeping that speeds up as I nearly panic. I open my eyes to bright light. "Travis?" Pop's voice sounds like he's yelling in my ear. I wince and go to cover my ears only to have a sharp pain shoot through my shoulder. "TJ, relax. It's okay, we're at the hospital.
Flashes of what happened play in my mind. "Olivia," my eyes go wide as I remember. "Dad, Jack, and Kayla. They-"
"They're fine," he interrupts. "Olivia's arm is broken and she had a concussion but she's at home. Jack is already healed and spending time with his family. And Dad, Riley, and Kayla are resting in other rooms."
"Holy shit," I whisper as I remember what I did. "I-"
"Yeah," he says sadly. "Shawn's dead. But everybody saw him start everything. The cops arrested his goons. Including Leo."
"What about us? Won't we get any punishment?"
"Everyone at the park testified as witnesses. We were defending ourselves, but we had to answer a lot of questions. And make a lot of deals so the town keeps our secret."
"So, you bribed the entire town to keep quiet?" I make sure my voice stays low as my head aches like crazy.
"Not exactly, we just collectively agreed to keep the knowledge to our town," he shakes his head.
"Can I get out of here? How long have I been here?" My arm is wrapped with bandages and my leg is in a cast.
"The doctor said you could be here another week after waking up. But they don't know how fast you heal," he shrugs. "And you've been here for a week."
"A week?!" I wince again. "Shouldn't I be healed?"
"I don't know," he shrugs. "I should get a doctor in here. They'll need to know you're awake. And they might know." I nod and Pops leave the room with a small smile. I killed Shawn. I actually killed someone. What am I going to do? A doctor comes into my room with a clipboard in her hand and Pops follows.
"How are you feeling?" she asks as she starts looking me over.
"Like I got into a fight with a wolf," I state.
"Well, we need to do some tests while you're awake..." She goes on to explain what's going on and she runs whatever tests she needs to.
After everything is done the doctor tells us that I have to stay for a few more days for observation. When the doctor leaves Pops and I talk until I force him to go home. In the morning a nurse checks on me while bringing me food. After eating I feel a lot better than I had before. The doctor checks on me every once in a while, before Pops comes into my room with Bree, Olivia and Dani following. They all look drained, and Olivia's arm is in a sling over her shoulder.
"Hey," I smile as I set my phone aside. Pops brought it in before I even woke up. "How is everyone? They're all okay right?"
"They're in rough shape," Pops shrugs. "The doctors said they can only do their best."
"Are they all awake?"
"Dad and Kayla are. Riley's still out," Olivia says as they all sit down.
"What about you?" Bree asks. "How're you feeling?"
"Fine," I shrug. "I feel like almost nothing happened. Like I never got hurt."
"You think you healed already?" Pops suggests.
"Maybe," I shrug again. "I don't feel hurt anymore. It's weird."
"Is the doctor going to do any x-rays today? Maybe you can leave," Dani shrugs.
"I don't have any idea what the doctors are gonna do," I state. They catch me up on school stuff and what's been going on. We all talk for a while before the doctor comes in. We ask her to take another x-ray of my leg after she checks all my stuff. I don't know what she's doing besides doctor stuff. When we get the x-ray done, we wait for results as the machines beep. That sound is really damn annoying.
"Well, this is definitely a first," the doctor says as she comes in with my x-rays. We give her expectant looks. "Your bones have completely healed."
"Does that mean I can leave?" I ask.
"We'll have to do some final testing to be sure, but you should be able to go home today or early tomorrow morning," she nods. "Do you always heal this fast?"
"Well, last time I should've been here it healed within a week," I shrug. "That's why I have the scars on my arm and stuff."
"Fascinating," the woman nods. She does her tests and leaves the room to do more doctor stuff.
"When you're let out, we can stop by the others' rooms," Pops says.
"Good, I wanna see them." I nod and we try to continue a conversation, but it ends up being silent until the doctor returns with a smile.
"You are free to go. Just make sure to contact us if you experience any abnormal symptoms like pain or numbness." We all nod and after removing the cast and bandages Pops grabs a hoodie and jeans from his car.
He and Dad always have some extra clothes in their cars just in case. After getting dressed we go to Dad's room first. He's lying in the hospital bed, looking weak and bruised. He has bandages around his head and arm while the rest of him is covered by the blanket. "Trav," he smiles weakly as he sees me. I smile and sit in the chair next to him. He looks so weak and hurt. "I'm so happy you're okay."
"Yeah, being part wolf and dragon makes it easy," I joke. He only chuckles slightly as it causes him to cough. "Sorry."
"It's fine, don't worry about me." I have to stop myself from tearing up as he gives me a weak smile.
"Probably not the best question to ask but, how are you feeling?"
"Not the best," he slightly shrugs. "But I'll be fine. I promise." We talk for a while before we visit Riley a while but he's still out. Tubes make sure he can breathe as he looks paler than ever. After leaving Riley we visit Kayla in her room. She has a bandage on her head and shoulder, from what I can see. She looks a lot better than Dad does. She's sitting up on her phone as we come in.
"And he's alive," she says as we sit down.
"Yeah," I smile.
"You getting out?" she nods to my regular clothing.
"Yeah, fully healed," I nod. "What about you?"
"I have to stay for a few more days. My aunt is moving here to take care of me," she looks a bit sad now. "What about Riley? He looked pretty bad last I saw him."
"He's still not awake yet," Dani answers. We all talk and actually manage a few laughs before it starts getting dark and we have to leave. As we leave the building I feel a slight chill as snow falls from the dark sky. The ground is covered in only a few inches of snow. It's beautiful. We drive home and I flop into bed. I'm exhausted even though I haven't done anything all day. I manage to get a full night's sleep. In the morning I shower and brush my teeth before throwing on jeans and a hoodie. Pops takes the four of us back to the hospital to see Dad during visiting hours.
He looks weaker than yesterday and he's so pale he could be a vampire or something as he smiles weakly at us. "I love you guys," a tear rolls down his cheek. "You all need to know that."
"We love you too," we all sit in the chairs next to him.
"I don't think I'm going to be okay," he admits.
"No," Pops says. "Don't talk like that. You're going to be fine."
"Honey, you guys will be fine without me. Just remember to wear your helmet and be careful driving out there. You know how the weather around here is this season."
"Dad, you promised," I protest, tears blurring my vision as I know everyone in the room is tearing up.
"I know I did. But this is one promise I can't keep."
"But we need you," Olivia says.
"No, you don't. You are mature adults, and you don't need to depend on me anymore. You guys are amazing. And you'll do amazing things."
"No," I don't need the heart monitor to know how his heart rate is dropping slowly.
"You can't leave us," Olivia shakes her head.
"I'm sorry," Dad smiles weekly. "I love you." With that, the thump of his heart stops, and the machine flat lines.
"No," Pops, Olivia, Bree and I sit on the floor of the room as tears stain our faces.
When we finally get up Pops talks to the doctors and Olivia and Bree go with me to see Riley. Their parents are standing outside of their room as we approach them. "Hi," I hesitate as they stand in front of the door.
"Travis," Riley's mother looks at me with a pained expression. "We just got the news."
"Oh my god," I cover my mouth. "I-I'm so sorry." I can't stop myself before I burst into a sprint, running down the halls until I reach the front door.
Tears stream down my face again as I burst through the doors and into the chill air outside. I end up sitting in the snow, leaning against the building as I hug my knees and hide my tear-stained face. I don't move until Pops makes me get in the car and we go home. It takes a while for me to talk to many of my friends besides Lizzy and Caleb. Sarah stays next to me most of the time as I stay in my room.
Eventually, I go back to school and things go back to before. Or as close as it will ever be. After some time, I realize. I have what's left of my family. I can't spend my life being sad about those of my family that I miss. I have to spend as much time with this family as possible because my family isn't blood and I chose the right family to be around. I love these guys.
Family Is Not Blood.