A/N:

My sister attacked me for the previous few chapters being too short😂, so this one's for you. Enjoy TiffanyJConrad

Love
-AmberLee

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Steven's POV:

Our banter continues for fifteen or so more minutes before Frank rushes in and breaks the thickset tension between Peggy and I. At times during our banter, we derailed completely, bringing in arguments that had nothing to do with the current situation we're facing.

"She's awake," are the first words to leave his mouth.

I have no idea how or when it happened, but before I knew it I was standing in front of her door.

I reach out to grab at the door handle to open the door, but fail as my hand gets brutally yanked back. My head snaps towards the idiot ready to blast a string of profanities, only to see Peggy glaring at me.

Fuck, forgot she's here.

"What do you think you're doing!?" she yells, only loud enough for me to hear. Before I can answer, she raises a finger indicating for me to be quiet as she takes a deep breath to calm down.

"I'll go in and check on her. I don't need her freaking out again. If she's fine with you coming in, then and only then will you do so. Understood?" 

My only response is an 'are-you-kidding' look. Peggy looks back at me expectantly and finding no energy to argue with this forsaken woman, I nod in agreement and go to lean against the wall.

I adjust my body to a more comfortable position, taking pressure off of my healing leg. As soon as she realizes that I won't be going anywhere anytime soon, she enters the room with files-and-all ready to do whatever it is that she has to.

A coma. I still can't believe this shit.

My knowledge of comas is down to an absolute zero. So imagine my surprise when Peggy informed me about hell cat's condition. Apparently, she had no choice but to put hell cat in a medically induced coma to allow her brain to rest and for the swelling to decrease. Hoping to prevent some or all brain damages from occurring. Hell cat took some pretty heavy blows to the head.

All I remember is one minute she passes out in the basement, forcing me to ignore my injuries and carry her all the way to the evaluation room. Next minute the damn child is in an induced coma due to head injuries inflicted by Michael. I will find him before the end of the day. He's going to pay for what he did.

Not that I allowed Beth off the hook. She choked the shit out of hell cat and for someone with a nine-year-old daughter, she sure lacked some fucking self-control. Sadly, Marcus beat me to it with her. Her punishment is far from pleasing, for her that is. I, however, approve of it one hundred percent.

A lingering presence knocks me out of my trance and I rotate my head to see who it is. How I haven't noticed him idling around before is downright ridiculous. Of course Frank followed us all the way here too.

"Must be a heavy cross to bear," he announces and I almost do a double take. He can't seriously believe that I'm putting this shit on my conscience. This isn't my burden to bear. I'm simply doing my job.

I decide on a plain, yet meaningful response; "Fuck you."

He raises his hands in surrender before uttering his next words. "I'm just saying, man. You've been standing out here for about thirty minutes now. If you didn't care, then why are you here?" he questions and I'm suddenly overwhelmed with exhaustion. Dull, small talk conversations tend to mentally drain me.

"Because it's Tuesday," I respond.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning it's a workday. Meaning I'm doing my job and I think you should be doing the same." I end bluntly. Frank opens his mouth to protest, then chooses against doing so. He shakes his head and a peal of slight laughter can be heard before he turns and walks away.

Did he say thirty minutes?

After coming to the conclusion that hell cat most likely doesn't want me to enter, I decide to call it quits and occupy myself with something else. If Peggy won't tell me where Michael is, Marcus will have to. One of them is bound to crack his location eventually. It's been a solid week. He can't hide forever.

I bounce off of the wall ready to leave before the puzzling creaks of a door become audible. Peggy soon comes into view and I notice that I can't quite decipher her expression. Which is rather unusual as Peggy's easier to read than an open book. This only puzzles me further, causing me to step closer waiting for her to flap a word or two.

"Steven, she says you may enter. But only on one condition..."

I have to admit I'm no fan of dramatic pauses. Nor will I beg her to continue whatever it is she has to say. So I simply stare on with a raised brow, the question 'which is?' clearly visible on my face.

"I have to stay out." she finishes.

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Vivian's POV:

'Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple' - Dr. Seuss.

Yet I still find myself in deep thought of what the correct answer should be. I ponder on endless possibilities, but neither stands out more than the other.

A deep state of unconsciousness. That's what Peggy called it, trying to lighten the already baffling and topsy-turvy atmosphere. A coma, is what I call it. There's no need to sugarcoat the truth. Sometimes it's hard to face the music, but in the end it's better than drowning in a lie.

I found myself lost and thrown off balance when I first came out of the coma. I woke up like a chicken with its head cut off. Not that it's gotten much better.

"Welcome back princess." Were the first words I heard, but couldn't reply.

All too soon I became irrational and started thrashing my body about, trying to rid whatever object was stuffed down my throat. Somehow I couldn't locate my arms or hands. I could feel them perfectly well, just didn't know where they were. Not to mention not knowing where I was in general. Everything felt numb, weak, dead. Yet, I continued to thrash about.

"Stop. You'll only hurt yourself, princess. Help is on its way." Those were the next lot of words spoken.

I didn't believe the speaker. I couldn't help, but think who the hell this individual was constantly calling me princess. I could tell the voice was manly, but other than that, all has been a blur. To say I was rather disoriented is an understatement.

Soon exhaustion took over and I decided to rest a while, only to start thrashing about all over again. The world around me continued to stay a mystery for heaven alone knows how long. Time seemed to stand still, however, my racing heart could not. The beeping of a monitor wouldn't stop buzzing in my ears and I wished to drown the sound out. It was rather unpleasant.

Before I knew it, a figure made its way in front of me and suddenly my foggy eyes cleared up. A beautiful woman stood in front of me and I couldn't help, but wonder why she looked so familiar. At the time, my mind was still scrabbled and I failed to identify that it was Peggy. She had to recall my memory by reminding me of everything that has happened thus far. As soon as the dreadful tales ended, I wished for my amnesia to return. I couldn't believe my fate.

Yes, I'm still stuck in this inferno of misery...

Peggy explained as much as she believed I could take in. Both from past activities and recent conditions. To be frank, I barely understood most of what she said, but simply nodded to avoid wasting time. Once she declared that I could breathe on my own, she removed the ventilator. Which is a machine that pumps air into the lungs through a tube placed in the windpipe, or so I remember?

She examined me with a fine-tooth comb, writing every spec of information down in those files she brought with her. The beeping of the monitor continued, but at a slower pace, becoming more bearable in the process. My flaccid muscles were barely able to move on their own. As much as I hate it, some physical exercise will definitely be required. I guess it's a definite that all these wires and IV tubes connected to my body won't be coming off anytime soon.

She soon examined my speech abilities by asking a few questions. I opened my mouth to respond quite a few times, only for faint whispers to be heard. After about fifteen minutes or so, my speech slowly started coming back. Little did I know that my ability to speak would spring the most random request from Peggy.

"Are you okay with Steven visiting you? As in right now?" she asked me once she snapped the files closed in her hands. To which I'm assuming meant that she's done with me for the day.

Why would he voluntarily want to see me?... I couldn't help but wonder.

Then again, Peggy has informed me that Steven's the one who carried me out of that basement. The memories of those few days down in that place has flashed more times than I am able to count in my mind. Despite everything that Steven has done to me, the thought of him carrying me to safety caused a feeling inside of me that I still can't seem to place.

You make as if he had a choice... Jess exclaimed and I had to refrain from rolling my eyes.

So against all rational thoughts, I agreed to him entering. On one condition, of course, Peggy should stay outside. I know that it's strange, but I need to know why he came down there in the first place. Without Peggy being present that is. The lesser the crowd, the lesser the intimidation. So here I am, lying in my bed, looking like some android with all these wires and monitors sprouting about. Facing the one man I never thought I'd face by myself.

Steven.

"You wa-warning... Mean, wa-wanted to s-saw me?", no I'm not nervous. My damn mouth just refuses to function with my brain. I feel speech impaired. Fully aware of what I want to say and how, but it comes out all funny.

"Yes, I did. How are you?" he questions.

How are you? What the hell does it look like? Oh no, just as peachy as can be. Always dreamt of experiencing a coma. What a joyous ride... Chill it Jess!

"Not f-funny. Fine! N-not f-fine." I respond in the dumbest way possible. I honestly feel like smacking myself with a brick. A small amused look makes it's way onto Steven's face, before being wiped away by an angry scowl. Damn, and here I thought my mood changes were bad.

"What's wr-" I begin, but he beats me to it.

"I'm assuming Peggy told you how you ended up here?" I nod my head, not trusting my words at this point in time. The wheels can be seen turning in his head as he takes a seat on a chair besides my bed that I didn't notice before. "Michael is going to pay for what he did to you." he says, barely audible. I doubt that I was suppose to hear it. My brows knit together as I try to figure out why the hell he's suddenly so protective over me. If I can even call it that.

"Why y-you real h-here?" I question. If this what I have to deal with for the rest of my life then screw the English language and it's laws.

Not only am I stuttering like some feebly minded dunce, but actually failing to form a proper and basic structured sentence. I'm not even deceased yet and already going through hell. The afterlife has to treat me right.

"I'm guessing you're curious as to why I came down there in the first place, am I correct?" I quickly nod my head and watch as he visibly contemplates his options before caving with a sigh. "Oh, what the hell. I might as well tell you. I heard what Michael was doing to you and came to get you out," he continues. 

My eyes grow to the size of golf balls. Why did he come to get me out? Me? Where on earth did those bullets hit him, in the head?

"But when I got there Beth was choking you and you soon passed out. Don't worry, I caught you before you smashed to the ground." 

I raise a brow suspiciously.

"Okay, tried to catch you before you hit the ground." He corrects himself and I can't stop small laughter from erupting from the pit of my stomach. My light laughter soon grows into heavier balls of humor and I catch a glimpse of a smile on Steven's face too.

Are you sure you're not still in a coma? Why's he being so nice and pretending to care?... Oh, would you stop Jess?

As soon as my laughter dies down, my coughing catches up. A coughing frenzy along with a dry throat has never been a joyful combination. I steal a glance at the glass of water on the dresser and Steven rotates to see what it is that I'm looking at. As soon as he spots the glass, he reluctantly gets up and retrieves it for me. With my arms still flaccid and failing to rise off of the bed, I tilt my head for him to pour the water into my mouth.

To which I assume he has never had to help someone drink out of glass before as the water pours down the sides of my mouth, soaking my hair and pillowcase. Either that, or he tried to drown me. 

He rushes to the bathroom and grabs the hand towel, dabbing away as much water as he possibly can. It's a rather funny sight to see. I think I heard him mumble an apology, but that would be pushing it.

"Th-thank you." I voice once he drops the hand towel randomly on the bed and returns to his seat. The glass of water now on the bedside table.

"Sure. No problem."

"N-no. I mean, thank y-you." I repeat, hoping he gets the deeper meaning behind my words. I won't make a fool out of myself by giving a 'thanks-for-rescuing-me' speech.

A knowing glint flashes in his eyes as he nods in understanding. 

"I should go. You should get some rest." He announces before getting up and walking to exit the room. Just as he grabs at the handle, his feet stop in its tracks and he turns to face me again. "It's good to know you're still breathing. Let's keep it that way." Are his last words before completely exiting the room.

For some reason I find myself smiling like an idiot.

You look like an idiot. Calm your face. It's Steven we're talking about here. What has gotten into you?... Jess voices and I roll my eyes deciding not to over think things.

My head rotates away from the door only to stare into a familiar, yet unfamiliar object. One I have long forgotten of. "Be careful princess. They fool easily." Announces the voice from that damn camera.

I guess it's time to figure out just exactly who you are mystery man...