Chapter 27

                                    

                                          
"Room 23..." Andy said to himself, as he followed the directions the nurse had given him. He finally found the room and slowly opened the door. 
                          
Ashley was asleep, and the television in the room was playing some kind of animated movie (maybe Disney?) that Andy didn't recognize. Andy sat in a chair and politely waited for Ashley to wake up on his own; he needed all the sleep he could get. 
                          
Ashley stirred, and his eyes opened, almost as if he could feel someone watching him. He sat up and looked around the room. His gaze fell on Andy, who smiled. 
                          
"Hey, baby." Andy got up and kissed Ashley's forehead. 
                          
"Andy? What are you...what are you doing here?" Ashley asked. He was worried about Andy, but Andy was much more worried about Ashley.
                          
"Some asshole beat you and left you to die, but I found you. I brought you here because you were extremely hurt." Andy explained what had happened.
                          
"I remember the people that attacked me. They stole my stuff." Ashley clarified. Andy's jaw clenched. If he ever found one of the people that hurt his Ashley...
                          
"How did you know to look for me?" Ashley asked, curious.
                          
"I had a gut feeling. Lay back down, you need rest." Andy said as Ashley tried to sit up more. 
                          
"Are you...are you wearing my eyeliner?" Ashley laughed, the corners of his lips turning upward. 
                          
Andy shrugged. "Why not? It looks decent." 
                          
Ashley laughed. "It looks good on you. It really does. Brings out your gorgeous eyes." Ashley said as Andy leaned in for a kiss. Suddenly, the door opened and a nurse walked into the room. 
                          
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was unaware that you had company... Is now a bad time?" She whispered.
                          
Andy and Ashley looked at each other. 

"You're fine." Andy said.
                          
The nurse walked over to the side of the bed with a blood pressure cuff. 

"Ashley, I just need to take your vitals, okay?" She said as she put the cuff on Ashley's arm. 
                          
"Can I be taken off the monitor now?" Ashley asked. The nurse shook her head. "I'm sorry, but you need to be on it at least twenty-four hours and show no signs of trouble." 
                          
Ashley sighed. He hated the stupid clip-like piece of plastic on his finger, and he hated the hospital gown. He hated the hospital altogether. He wanted to go home and be with Andy. 
                          
"It's okay, just one more day, Ashes." Andy said as he reached down and started petting Ashley's hair.
                          
Ashley sighed as the nurse stuck a thermometer under his tongue. 
                          
The nurse eventually left and Andy and Ashley were alone. Ashley persuaded Andy to get into the small bed with him and to cuddle with him as they watched what Ashley identified as Big Hero 6. It was a good movie, but Andy was too busy getting lost in Ashley's eyes and completely lost focus on the cartoon. 
                          
Andy and Ashley eventually both fell asleep, Ashley on Andy's chest and Andy on his back in what was quite an uncomfortable position, but he would go through any discomfort just to be with Ashley.