*POV* Randell Franklin 2nd
I awoke with a start and sat up in the hard bed, the machines behind me started to beep. I started at the IV in my arm for a split second before I pulled it from my arm with a quick jerk.
Someone rushed into the room and stared at me for a second before I was being pushed back into the bed. "Lay down Captain, you are in no condition to be running about." I settled down. I knew the nurse was right.
My heart was racing and I didn't know why. My mind flipped from the hospital bed to Coral. "Where was she? Was she okay?" My eyes search the white ceiling for answers. "You seem alright. Are your vitals are steady." The female nurse confirmed after a minute.
"Are you feeling dizzy or." I nodded and she smiled. "If you are feeling up to it I will bring you some food and I will relay the news of your condition to General Coden."
I stared around me as the nurse left the room. "My father? Where was I?" I relaxed when my eyes counted the clipboard that was sitting beside me on a table. I was in Fort Dex a couple miles from the Capital city.
I started to wonder if Lexus had come to see me, it had been a couple years since we had seen each other. The door opened and my nurse returned. "Here you are!" She smiled as she set a tray of food in front of me. "Thanks."
"Of course. I relayed the news and General Lexus is on her way. Sense it is quite late. Your parents said they would come in the morning." I nodded.
I relaxed a little but my heart still felt near to bursting. "Could it be because I am so close to my family? Was my power over loading?" When I finished my food it was taken away and I layed back to rest.
2 hours later Lexus shoved through the door. "Dude Randall, you are going to be the death of me!" I looked at her and Stefon through half closed eyelids. "Hey Lexy." She took my hand and began babbling.
"You won't believe what your Lieutenant was doing! It was Coral who found out she was poisoning you! Can you believe it?" I couldn't. "Green was poisoning me?" She sighed. "Yes, it turns out she is a part of the Blue Phantom's. Crazy right."
She continued talking for a while catching me up on how my parents were doing. "Where is Coral?" I asked out of the blue. "Oh, she is in her apartment. I had nowhere else safe enough. Don't worry there is a guard watching her around the clock. Mother said you can stay with them until we find something else for you."
I nodded. "Alright, I need to see her!" Lexy pushed me down with a steady hand on my chest. "Not tonight cowboy." I sighed, and caught myself frowning.
"Get some rest, I will come with Mother to see you in the morning and if the doctors say you can then we will go see her. Brother, don't be stupid."
I knew she was probing my mind for anything that would give me away, to tell her if I planned to be rash.
"Okay." I said simply before rolling over to close my eyes. "Randall.." I hummed in reply. "You rest, we will be back tomorrow." I hummed again but in my head I was repeating one word. "Sleep sleep sleep." It annoyed her when I tried to keep my thoughts from her but right now she needed to leave.
My heart was racing, I placed a hand over my heart and counted the beats to calm down. Lexy finally left with Stefon in toe and I turned to stare at the ceiling. "At least Coral was safe."
I awoke with a start the image of the dream I had been having swirled around me in the dim room. My heart was racing still and I started to wonder if I was having a heart attack. "What is wrong with me?" I questioned the darkness quietly, a spike of pure terror had me gasping for air.
The only other time it happened was when Coral had been having her night terrors. I slipped off the bed and as my feet hit the cold floor my mind was made up.
It was me and her going through this, I wasn't going to leave her alone with a dream that had her feeling terrified. I slipped on the white
slippers beside the bed and rang for the nurse.
When the male nurse entered I smiled. "I need some clothes?" The man looked skeptical. "Where do you think you are going? We have orders to keep you here and your body is in no condition to leave here." I let him finish before I spoke.
"I appreciate your concerns, but I am leaving one way or another." He seemed ready to fight me when the door opened behind him and the light flicked on. "Don go clean something, leave us alone." I sighed when my eyes locked with Doctor Tessa Dell's, she sighed too.
"You have got to be kidding me Randall!" She whispered loudly as she shut the door after Don left. "Hey, thanks for coming." She wore her doctor's coat well. "I am risking my job? I don't think so!"
She pulled a chair over to sit beside me as she placed a bag on the bed. "Just because I liked you in high school doesn't mean I still like you now." I chuckled and opened the bag to reveal the clothes inside. "I know. Thanks though." She huffed.
"She must be some girl, from what I have heard you have done quite a lot for her." I could feel my cheeks growing hot. She smacked my knee. "The car is waiting outside, so go. Let's catch up sometime for lunch, do you know how long you are going to be here?" I shook my head.
She nodded "Alright." She stood and left. I dressed quickly and made my way outside, by the time I slid into the car I was growing a bit dizzy.
The soldiers driving stayed quiet and dropped me off at my apartment building with a salute before he drove off. I got to my door, and a bit of anxiety started to grow in my chest.
I pulled out a key and pushed the door open. I expected to have to explain myself to Lexus's favorite private, but all that greeted me was a dim house that smelled like home.
A snuffed sound caught my attention as my eyes adjusted to the lighting. A movement beside the kitchen counter made me stop my movements. "If you are looking for Judy she has stepped out."
Her small voice reached me, followed by a sniffle. "Was she crying?!"
I let the door click shut. "Coral?" Her figure straightened. "Who is asking?" She asked in a shaky voice. "It's me Randall." She didn't move for a minute, so I shuffled forward. "Are you doing alright?"
She waved a hand. "I am fine!" She choked on a sob. "I am glad you're okay.. but why are you here!?" She asked, her voice shaking. "I came to check on you." I hesitated before walking over to stand in front of her.
She laughed shakily. "Why? You are the one sick, I am fine." She said in a stronger voice before blowing her nose with a tissue. "Yeah right I could feel it!" She snorted a laugh. "I am guessing that's your power.." she huffed.
"Sort of." She sighed. "You're- you should go sit down." I agreed with her but neither one of us moved.