Ink sighed as he looked down into the operating room day dreaming while Jessica was outside of the observatory, discussing some long term options for Chris with another doctor. It had been a week since the collapsing building accident, and during her time at the hospital, Chris had managed to crash. 

Twice. 

So now, the doctors were opening her up to find out what was going wrong. Since multiple tests of different types kept coming back clean. 

Everyone in the observatory started up as the doctors started rushing around. As Ink glanced at the screens that were keeping track of her vitals, he realized why. 

There was nothing but flat lines. Chris had crashed again. Someone in the room brought over some defibrillators, and after a couple shocks, Chris was back. 

The defibrillators were put away, and it looked like one of the doctors had an 'aha!' moment, because they started pointing at something around the heart area. After a couple minutes, the doctors pulled something away, rested it on a nearby table, and began the process of closing her up. 

A couple hours later, and Chris was resting in the recovery ward of the hospital while Sabrina and Ink were informed of what had been happening. 

"As it turned out, all that was happening was a very small object was blocking one of the smaller valves to Chris's heart. And that object was this" Dr. Angie said. 

She held up a small vial, and inside it, was a small shard of twisted metal. 

"That was the reason for Chris crashing? A small shard of metal?" Sabrina asked. 

"Foreign objects can often do a lot of damage, no matter the size" Dr. Angie said as she pocketed the vial and brought out a clip board she had been carrying with her. 

"And as it turns out, it was also something that was keeping Chris out of it, so, she might wake up sooner than expected" she added. 

Ink and Sabrina shared a look before looking back at the doctor. 

"Wait, really?" Jessica asked. 

She got a nod in return. 

"But I don't want you guys to get your hopes up, just in case if she doesn't" Dr. Angie warned. 

"We understand" Ink told her. 

"Alright, I'll leave you to get on with your days. As I do have another surgery in my schedule" Dr. Angie said. 

After a last exchange of goodbyes, she turned and left...

***

With the knowledge that Chris was going to be alright now, Ink was able to return to work with a peaceful mind, and told a frantic Jessica about what was going on. And two days later, she came to his office with the news that Dream wanted to see him. 

Dream looked up with a soft, knowing smile as Ink entered. 

"You wanted to see me boss?" he asked. 

"Ink, do you have any time to spare?" Dream asked. 

"Yeah, why?" 

"Just got the news that Chris is awake, thought you might want to go visit her" Dream said as he casually shifted through some paperwork. 

"Wait, really? She's awake?" Ink asked. 

"Mmmhmm. Tell her I said hello" Dream hummed... 

"Hey girl, how you feelin'?" Samantha asked. 

She and a couple other people were in the room as Chris looked at them. She looked tired, but was happy to see her friends nonetheless. 

"Tired, but happy" Chris replied with a small smile. 

"Really? I thought you would be a bit upset with the fact that your leg is gone" said Joseph's boyfriend. Yeah, he was the blunt type. 

"Well, I was trying to not focus on that" Chris replied, momentarily glancing at the stump that was now her left leg. 

"So, how was everyone while I was out?" she asked. 

"Worried sick for sure, especially that skeleton boy of yours" Sabrina said. 

Chris blushed and looked off to the side. 

"Oooo~ You like him, don't you?" Joseph said. 

"Yeah, I do" Chris replied. 

No use in playing that denial game, she thought. 

"You haven't figured that out yet? Dude, why do you think I put them together in the same room when they came around for their mission?" Sabrina said to Joseph, who looked a bit sheepish. 

After a few seconds of silence, there was a knock. Everyone turned to see Ink, who was leaning against the doorway. 

"Room for one more?" he asked. 

"Come on in Ink" Chris invited. 

Ink walked into the room right as Sabrina gave a suggestive look to the others. 

"Welp, I'm feelin' a little thirsty, so, who wants to go with me?" she said. 

Joseph glanced at his boyfriend, then at his watch. 

"Well, actually, I would, but I have a job interview to get to" he said. 

"I'll come with, offer some moral support" his boyfriend offered. 

Joseph nodded and everyone left, leaving Chris and Ink alone together. He approached the bed and sat down on a chair beside it. 

"So, how are you feeling?" he asked. 

"I'm alright, just..." Chris replied before trailing off. 

She looked down at her leg, leading Ink to do the same. 

"...Still trying to get used to that" she said. 

Ink sighed a bit. 

"I should've done something" he said, looking away. 

"Ink" Chris said softly, grabbing his boney hand, which made him look at her. 

"There was nothing you could do. It was my own choice to go back in there. Nothing anyone could do or say would've stopped me. You know how stubborn I am once I've made up my mind about something" she said. 

"You know, there's something about you that I both hate and love" Ink said after a moment's silence. 

"And that is?" Chris asked. 

She was caught by surprise when Ink stood up, sat on the bed, and hugged her, making her blush. 

"Why do you have to be so good with words?" he asked. 

He heard her softly huff in amusement and felt her hug him back, which made his face burn. He nuzzled her neck a bit, breathing in her slightly sweet scent that he had grown to love. 

And crave...

Apologies for the shitty start of this chapter, I didn't have much inspiration until I kept going with it. So, bear with me here

- A/N