"Your.

Heart.

Moniter.

Please, Andy. They're saying scary things. They're saying that you're overworking yourself. That your heart is beating erratically because your body is overexerting itself to heal. Have you been listening to me? When I told you that you were being a lazy fuck, were you really just pushing really hard to try and get well sooner? Why did you listen to me? You know how I am, I always say things, but I don't really mean them. Especially when they're shitty things.

I didn't mean it! I'm sorry- I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Please stop, Andy. I mean it this time. Don't hurry up. I can wait, I can fucking wait! Just take your time- take all the time you need!

Andy, you don't understand. I can't do this without you. I can't walk out the door without you. I don't care that they can probably hear me say this, I don't care if the whole goddamn hospital hears me, I can't do this without you.

You remember those flowers that that asshole sent you?

They're dead.

They're fucking dead, and I just couldn't stop myself from getting upset about it this morning. The nurse couldn't understand why I yelled at her when she threw them out. I was so fucking angry at her; I could feel literal angry tears burning in my eyes as I told her to put them back. Why did she have to touch them? Why couldn't she just leave them?

I wanted you to see them. I wanted…I just want you to be ok. Please be ok, Andy.

Please don't leave me. I don't want to be without you-I'm too scared to do this without you. How can I be so helpless to help you when you always seem to find a way to save me?

Andy, I'm sorry. I don't hate you. I don't wish you would stop hugging me, or kissing my cheek, or singing to me. I like the way you are always looking out for me. I like it when we read together, even though neither of us can really act out any female characters' parts very well. I like fighting with you, but I like making it up with you even more. I love your eyes- they make me think of the sun, Andy please, my world will be dark without you…

Fuck-I need you."

He had started to cry when he felt the hand he held onto so tightly twitch ever so slightly. He ignored it at first; he had thought this before, and he wasn't going down that road again. He only tightened his grip, sinking his face into the bed. He trembled viciously as he tried to swallow down the tears that just kept flowing without his permission.

But he couldn't mistake the stuttering in the chest, nor could he deny the voice that barely choked out:

"Chucky- baby… please… don't… don't… cry."

He sat up and looked straight into open, golden eyes. He could see that every inch of Andy was in pain, but his eyes were open. His breaths were uneven, and every once in a while his breath would catch and he would have to take a shuddering breath to steady himself, but he was breathing. He felt Andy's hand slowly curling around his, and he could see the hurt expressions cross his face every time he moved a muscle.

"Andy, you…"

He was frowning, but he couldn't stop himself when he jumped forward onto the bed and took the young man's face into his hands and kissed his face, again and again and again. "You stupid, you idiot, you cruel son of a bitch," he murmured in between kisses. "Did you hear me this whole entire time?"

Andy nodded slowly, each move burning more than the last.

"Why the fuck didn't you say anything before, you asshole?"

Chucky was ready to let out a whole other string of curses, but the most broken sound came from Andy's mouth when he whimpered out, "hurts… too… much… couldn't… see… you… crying… I…"

"Shut up, Andy," he shouted to try and cover how heartbreaking it was for him to hear Andy sound like this. He leaned over him to kiss him again. "You just shut the fuck up! I don't want to hear another goddamn word come out of those- geezus- those gorgeous lips of yours."

Andy complied, though it wasn't too certain whether it was out of simple obedience or out of pain to speak any longer.

Chucky, meanwhile, continued to spout bitter words at him. The nurse, who was just nearby out in the hall, heard the racket and came rushing in. The moment she saw Andy's opened eyes she gave a little shout and immediately poked her head back out, calling for the doctor to come in and see.

The doctor's eyes widened when he saw that the young man had escaped what had been certain death. He clicked his pen nervously and began scribbling onto his pad frantically for several last-minute tests to make sure that everything was absolutely fine. Chucky was disgruntled about the fact that he had to let Andy go, but he covered it rather well, simply muttering furiously for them to, "take their time with that bastard."

By the afternoon, Andy was cleared to leave the next morning.

Chucky sat on the chair next to the hospital bed and swung his legs impatiently. "You took long enough, you asshole," he complained to Andy, who was just lay there contentedly listening. The young man gave a semi-cheeky grin back. No doubt he was giving some sort of come-back; Chucky could see it in his eyes. He huffed and crossed his arms. "I can't wait until tomorrow; you know how goddamn long I've been here waiting on you?"

Andy just kept his smile, mentally shaking his head. He started to try and reach out his hand to grab Chucky's, but his sigh of pain caught the doll's attention and he reached back quickly and held it first. "Stop that," he grunted. "No moving. I mean it. I'm not waiting another week because you decided to try and play patty-cake with me."

"Hey- Chucky?"

The look that Andy was given was poisonous. "What did I just fucking say? No…"

But Andy squeezed his hand gently and whispered, "I… need you too…"

Chucky blushed and turned away, frowning. "Just shut up already, will you? Can't you just listen to what I say?" he shouted, and if Andy could laugh, he would have.