A/N: Top-up time. The beverages are on that side. *points to a corner* Take this reusable bottle. Refills are free, as long as you ditch disposable paper and plastic cups. We don't need more of those in landfills.

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A bodyguard phoned Cassie from the hospital. Michael's skin injuries were minor. The sprained ankle expected. The worst was the shocked nerves, due to spinal trauma from the incident. But all in all, he was conscious, coherent and essentially, his normal self. For now, he simply needed to take medicine accordingly and get lots of bed rest.

As Cassie wrapped her head around the sudden event, worry inexplicably gave way to a form of irritation and anger. He knew, yet he still did it. Those were the words circling her head. 

Out of professionalism, stubbornness or who knows what, he decided to plow through twenty more minutes of the performance after suffering not a silly little fall, but an almighty crash that caused him to crumple to the ground the moment persistence succumbed to his body's physical limitations.

She settled the children safely to sleep, promising to answer any questions they have once she was back. Riley and a couple of other bodyguards naturally remained at the hotel to watch over them. Soon, she left with the driver. The hospital was nearby so they arrived in less than 10 minutes.

A small group of paparazzi was already there, eagerly waiting outside the building to take sickly, unflattering photographs should Michael step out of the main entrance. Fortunately, the vehicle was an unassuming one and Cassie, looking like any other hospital visitor, entered through the large glass doors without drawing a single person's attention.

The bodyguard had informed her where Michael's ward was earlier. Reaching the top floor, she spotted the guard outside the room located at the very end. She mouthed a small word of thanks to him before opening the door with a quiet click.

The soft overbed lamps were lighted. Closing the door, her back to him, she was still caught between the desire to just comfort him and not raise any disagreements, with the frustration at his thorough lack of hindsight and consideration.

Michael laid on the bed, still awake. His head turned to the door with anticipation but immediately noticed the reserved expression on her face.

She sat down on the chair beside his bed.

"The kids are sleeping. Riley's watching over them," she said.

He sensed her distance but nodded in response. "Thank you."

Except for the subtle buzz of the air-conditioner and the far-off noise of cars zooming through the midnight streets, the room was very silent. 

"Why didn't you stop?" she asked.

"I had to ... The show had to go on," he answered stubbornly, meeting her gaze. His eyes were adamant yet sad. As though he didn't want to force himself like this but the actions were built into his system.

"The whole thing crashed down from like what – fifty feet?"

"A bit of injury is common ..." he said vaguely, looking away.

"A bit? You collapsed at the end of it." She didn't raise her voice but she made the incredulity clear.

"But the show –" He winced in pain when attempting to sit up and make his point. Groaning, he laid back down on the pillow. She sighed, helping his movement.

"Michael, I'm not a doctor. Or a vet. But I've seen enough spinal injuries in animals. It's either the miracle of 'Thank God, nothing happened' or in most cases, serious lifelong consequences."

"The audience loves you. Your audience loves you," she continued. "There's the human in the professional. People share the same emotions, like you said. They can understand it was an accident beyond your control."

He averted his eyes for several moments, thinking it over. "I won't ..." He seemed to be dealing with some inner struggle and took a deep breath of resignation before saying heavily, "I understand what you mean."

She sat back down, rubbing her hands together due to the cold air-conditioning. The temperature in the room appeared to have dropped several degrees. She wasn't weepy or about to get teary-eyed from the mishap but it did frighten her. Now that the adrenaline that sustained her collected, level-headed-in-an-emergency self was gone, she felt quite drained. 

He passed an extra blanket to her. It was a pale mint-green color. She wrapped it around her body.

"Michael."

He looked at her.

"You know how to take care of others," she said, her voice softer. "So remember to take care of yourself, too."

Slowly, finally, he nodded, some of that single-minded stubbornness in his eyes fading. She took that he was listening to what she had said, as he led one of her hands into both of his, slipping them under his own blanket to warm her.

"The doctor said you might have back pain issues, even after you've recovered?"

"Yeah, he did say that. I'll have to be careful ..."

"Your kids still need you, okay?" she reminded.

"They're yours, too."

She paused at this. It touched her that he expressed his trust aloud.

"Our kids ..." she chuckled at the thought.

"What? I'm undesirable now that I'm lying in a bed?" His light teasing made her laugh a little, breaking their remaining tension. 

She folded her free arm to lay her head down next to his. Beneath the blanket, his thumb brushed a spot on the back of her hand. The sensation was tender and soothing. Within those few minutes, her anxious posture relaxed. She suddenly felt that she was so tired she could fall asleep right there and then. Eventually, stifling a yawn, she forced herself to sit back up. She needed to get back to the hotel.

"Get some rest. I'll bring the kids over tomorrow morning. We can eat together," she told him, sliding her hand out from his warm caress. It wasn't without reluctance. She removed her blanket and smoothed it out to cover him.

"I'd like that," he smiled.

He touched her hand one last time just as she was about to turn away. Meeting his gaze, she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and returned his smile before she left.

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A/N: When I titled this story part, it coincidentally reminded me of the graphic novel, Blankets, by Craig Thompson. A bittersweet read about growing up and first love. It has some challenging themes in there, but the story has a raw honesty to it. Just a recommendation from me to you. :)