We get inside and the doctor has Able helping him move furniture around in the living room. "Lay him flat on the floor and get his clothes off."
We do as he asks and I cut Miguel's suit from his body. "Come back to me." Tears well in my eyes. "Please, Papi." I press a kiss to his cool forehead that leaves a metallic taste on my lips. I step back, letting the doctor get to work and we get him everything he asks for. "We may need to get him to a hospital." He starts an IV and uses a pole he brought with him to hang a bag of fluids.
"You know we can't do that, doctor. There will be way too many questions. We called you here for a reason."
He nods. "I'll have to call for more supplies."
"We can get you whatever you need," Isaiah says, trying his best to appear confident. "Name it and I'll have it delivered."
The doctor gives us a list and Isaiah makes a call. We get Miguel moved to the bed the moment he becomes stable. "Looks like he jumped out of the vehicle and wasn't thrown. He suffered a few third degree burns from the explosion, but looks like he got away before too much damage could happen. Leaving the car quickly saved his life."
"So he'll be okay?" Isaiah asks, gripping the door.
"He will need rest and time to recover, but yes, he'll live. Most of his injuries are external from what I can see. He does have some bruising and tenderness all over his body, a few broken ribs, a broken arm, and some injuries to his head. When he wakes up and is able to move more, we should get him to my office for x-rays. He is sleeping now and his vitals are getting better."
"Thank you, doctor. When do you think he'll wake up?"
He shrugs. "Could be hours or days. He's heavily sedated. Call me if there are any major changes. I'll be sure to check in regularly."
We thank him again and Isaiah pays him, showing him to the door while I crawl into the bed beside Miguel, clinging onto him anyway I can. It's the sounds of his breathing and beating heart I use to comfort myself. It isn't enough to completely settle me, and I won't leave his side until he opens his eyes. The rest of the world can wait forever if it has to.
Chapter 25
Miguel
I come in and out several times, not able to stay awake long enough to talk or to even know where I am. I occasionally hear voices, but everything comes out like static and anything happening around me is too far out of my reach to grasp onto.
Someone touches my arm and the warmth of their hand on my skin is comforting and lessens the ache of my bones. "Come back to me," someone says from close by. My eyes remain shut, the heaviness weighing them down. I don't have the strength to fight against it.
"Please, I need you."
The soft, soothing voice calms my fast beating heart.
I know that voice.
The more it speaks, the more relaxed I become and am able to fall into an easy slumber, knowing I'm safe. "Shh, I'm right here, mi amor. I got you."
My eyes blink open and the room is bright, making it hard for me to adjust to. After feeling like I've spent forever in the dark, the brightness is overwhelming. The voice from before speaks again as if somehow knowing how much I need him to. Fingers stroke through my hair, familiar and gentle. "I think he's waking up, his eyes blinked," the man nearby says.
We aren't alone and someone else speaks from the other side of me. "Give him some time. Maybe after some more rest he'll be strong enough to fully come to," the other person says.
A nose nudges into my neck and the comforting voice from before starts humming a familiar tune. Bringing back a memory so strong I'm almost sure if I reach out far enough I could touch it.
"Dance with me?" Marcus smiles, spinning around in the grass.
I smile, shaking my head. "How about I stand here and watch you instead?"
"That's not as fun. Come here, take my hand, and move with me."
"There's no music."
He huffs. "I can be your music." He starts humming and singing"Volver Volver."His voice and moves are magnetic, before I know it we are locked together spinning underneath the trees. He kisses me, the noise of nature taking over his singing.
The memory slowly distances itself from my mind, but never fully goes away as long as "Volver, Volver,"continues being sung above me.
"Go back, go back," he says over and over.
I'm trying.I won't stop until I make it back to him, until I can take Marcus in my arms, and we can dance under the stars again.
