5/?

                                    

                                          
Words: 509
                          
Something a little happier this time!
                          
----
                          
On the fourth day, things seemed to get a little better.
                          
A lot better, in fact.
                          
James fell asleep again, and like yesterday, he woke up with a start, giving Aleks a quick once-over to make sure he’s okay.
                          
He’s fine, and James looks up to realize he’s not alone in the room.
                          
Sly is perched on the guest bed, and he speaks through a mouthful of sandwich.
                          
“You know, there is a bed here, for sleeping and stuff. I’m pretty sure you’re gonna mess with your neck if you sleep in that chair all the time,” He gestures to a second sandwich that’s sitting on the end of the bed, “You missed the breakfast lady by the way. I got you a sandwich.”
                          
James slowly gets up, feeling his muscles tug as he stretches. He manoeuvres around Aleks’s bed, and takes the sandwich.
                          
“Thanks. What time is it?”
                          
Sly flicks his gaze upward, trying to think.
                          
“Eleven-ish, last time I checked. Why?”
                          
“Did I miss anything?”
                          
Sly shook his head, finishing off his own sandwich.
                          
“Nah, nothing really happened. I got shooed out by a couple nurses once or twice while they do their thing, but that’s about it.”
                          
James takes Aleks’s hand in his own, and attempts to make conversation to pass the time.
                          
“How’s Ein?”
                          
“She’s good,” Sly nods, “Enjoys playing with Chef. But I’m pretty sure she misses you and Aleks.”
                          
“Yeah, she gets that way. She’ll be really excited when we come home.”
                          
It takes all of his effort to not add on ‘if we come home.’
                          
He gently squeezes Aleks’s hand, and he closes his eyes.
                          
He’s noticed that the silence isn’t so bad if he’s not alone. For some reason, it’s not as painful. And it’s awful to think, but James can’t help but think that at least he’s not the only one in this situation.
                          
He hates thinking that, but he can’t stop it.
                          
There’s the slightest pressure on his hand, just for a second.
                          
His eyes snap open suddenly, and he sits up.
                          
“What the fuck?”
                          
“What? What happened?” Sly is leaning forward on the bad, worry evident on his face.
                          
James is silent for a moment, before whispering.
                          
“I think… I think he just squeezed my hand.”
                          
Sly slides off of the spare bed and he quickly makes his way towards Aleks’s side, so he’s standing opposite of James. He gathers up the hand that James isn’t holding, and squeezes.
                          
His eyes are closed in focus, and then his jaw drops, and his eyes open wide.
                          
He grins.
                          
“He squeezed mine too! He’s reacting to stuff!”
                          
Sly drops his hand to sprint into the hallway and James can hear as his shoes fail to grip the linoleum floor, and he drifts along the floor slightly.
                          
“Hey! Hey, you’re a doctor, come here! Come look at this!”
                          
James laughs at the excitement in Sly’s voice, and laughs harder when Sly ushers in a doctor, who looks very confused and slightly startled.
                          
Things are getting better. He’s going to be okay.