Okay so last one for today, hope it's okay.

Medical Room
CIA DC HQ
No clue, for once
Sunday or Monday
June 19th or 20th

Ben's POV:
I woke up and heard someone sitting next to me. It was a her, I could tell that surely. I racked my brain and after a while figured it was probably one of my sisters, Zoe, or... Erica. It was Erica.

I tried to turn my head and open my eyes but I- couldn't. I couldn't move at all or feel anything. I could only hear things around me. Someone was on the phone.

"Yes mom, I'm still at the CIA DC HQ hospital wing with Ben. It's only been a few hours. I'm fine." She said between tears. "Yeah, I'll be okay. Thank you. Love you. Bye."

A few hours meant it was still close to the 19th. Around Sunday-ish.

I tried to think about what might be happening. I realized I was only able to hear, so I heard everything. When I lost the use of my other 4 senses, 5 if you're counting my math skills ;), my one sense left was heightened greatly. 

It was hard to think about stuff and try to figure out anything even remotely quickly. It felt like everything was moving in slow motion. And I hated it.

I also hated that the love of my life was right next to me, sobbing, and there was nothing I could do to help her.

I slowly thought about things that would unable me to move, speak, feel, taste, and do calculations. 

Paralysis?

Um maybe? Break it down. What do I know about paralysis? What is it I could have?

-It's not locked-in syndrome. I can't blink or open my eyes. You can do those with it.

-It's almost guaranteed not to be any kind of sleep paralysis because I wasn't asleep, falling asleep, or waking up at the time.

-Not monoplegia; it's only one arm or leg

-Not hemiplegia; it only affects one arm and one leg on the same side of your body.

-Not paraplegia, it only paralyzes both of your legs

Therefore, quadriplegia, aka tetraplegia, is the only possible form of it that I may have. Symptoms include loss of movement, loss or altered sensation, including the ability to feel anything, loss of bowel or bladder control, etc.

But it's usually caused by a spinal injury. While I acquired many injuries over the years, none spinal related. And it'd have to be recent as well, considering when it happened. If it was a previous injury that caused it, it would have happened then. It was from the mission. I only got bullets to the chest and leg. Broken ribs and leg too probably, but that probably wouldn't cause it either. 

So I most likely am not paralyzed. Just unable to move due to whatever. Okay so what if I- oh my god. I'm in a coma. She said it the first time. Right after I got out of the operating room. 

Now before you question how I was able to think so well, that little bit there, took me an entire 2 and a half weeks to figure out. I would black out for a while, and then eventually be able to think again. I know now it was 2 and a half weeks because I remember Erica practically lived there, and she told me her side and we compared to get an average. I'd hear her talking to me every single day. I couldn't make out everything she said at first. But then I'd replay it in my mind. Over and over and over again. Until I pieced together the sentences. I was slowly thinking faster and better as time went on.

I eventually stopped thinking and just listened. 

The first thing she said was, 'Hey baby. I cannot believe you broke 3 ribs trying to protect me. And you broke a leg running after me and trying to keep me safe you doofus. Two bullets to the chest, from trying to keep me from killing Joshua even though he deserved it. One bullet from a mission to save my grandma. One from trying to kill Joshua because you knew it wasn't him. 4 bullets, 3 broken ribs, 1 broken leg and a partridge in a pear tree." I laughed between tears. "You better be okay Mister. You risk too much for me. You are literally in a freaking coma from the amount you protected me. I love you too much to let you go now. Please don't go.'

The main point of all the talking, as she told me, was to help me get better and come back. And to try to avoid memory loss and not knowing what I missed. Because I was in a coma. 

Eh. Could be worse.

She told me about them all kinda moping around. The youngest like my siblings went back to Spy School, though they were still worried, but everyone that'd graduated just moped around and missed me. She said Mike was almost as worried as she was. She told me about how Zoe and Mike a huge couple moment. She talked about how she missed me a ton. How they all did. How she'd kill me if I died. (Kinda confused on how that one works) How she hated that I could be gone any moment. How she loved me. How they all did. 

And then she said, 'Ben. I need you to come back. I need you to hang in there. To be strong. I need you. Please.'

I want more than anything to hug her. I felt her slide her hand into mine and-

Wait. I felt that.

I felt her touch me. 

She squeezed my hand and I used all my strength to squeeze back. It was only a little bit but she jumped. 

"Ben?" She asked. "No. It's just your mind playing evil tricks on you."

I tried to open my eyes and slowly did. I looked over at her and her tear-strewn face.

"Erica." I muttered.

"Ben!" She shouted. "I thought I lost you."

"How... could I... leave... someone... as amazing... as you?" I said slowly.

She was crying more now. She called the doctors in. She then stood up and bent over to hug me. I slowly lifted my arms to hug her back. She kissed me and set her head on mine. Her tears fell onto my face. But I didn't mind. It meant she really cared about me. 

"How long?"

"3 long weeks baby."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"I love you."

"I love you more."

"I love you most." I smirked.

She rolled her eyes.

"How much did you hear if anything?"

"I think all of it but at least most of it."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"I'm gonna tell everyone."

"Okay. Just have them go easy on me. I am like basically broken."

"They will." She whispered with a laugh.

"I dunno..."

"You'll be fine babe."

"You're right."

"I know."

I laughed as she got a text. And then like 68 more.

"Mike and Zoe are coming first. Then Chip and Jawa, with Rebecca and Jessica. Then my family, then yours."

"Technically they're both our families. Considering we are married. And isn't that like a lot for me to handle?"

"Well yeah but I meant like- you're right." She chuckled.

"I know." I said in a fake mocking tone.

She punched me in the arm.

"OW! I was kidding! Gosh."

She just grinned.

"Mike and Zoe are here."

I nodded and sat up.

They walked in and Mike looked at me. His eyes were red and they both looked exhausted. He stood next to me and hugged me.

"I love you man. But what did I say? You were gonna overwork yourself into a coma? Well hate to say it but told you so you absolute doofus. Next time when we tell you to sit down, you will listen."

"I love you too. Sorry bro but no promises."

Zoe piped up. 

"Well then it's a good thing we weren't asking."

"Hey Zo."

"Hey Ben."

She hugged me and Mike lay down next to me.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was Ben? You are basically my freaking brother. And best friend. I would have gone crazy without Zoe." He shot a thankful look to her.

She just blushed a little and smiled. He turned and whispered into my ear.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I love her so much Ben. So much."

"I know bro." I laughed a little.

"What'd he say?" Erica asked.

"Well I hate to say it but if he wanted you both to know, he'd have said it out loud. It's not my place." I said.

"But we wanna know too." Zoe added.

I smiled and shook my head.

Mike put his arm around my shoulder like I always did to Erica.

"Love ya bro. Good to have ya back."

"Love you too man. Good to be back."

"Well we should probably be going so Chip and Jawa can come. They're not gonna stay long but there are 4 of them and we don't wanna overwhelm you too much."

"Okay. See you later."

They left just as the others walked in.

"Glad you're okay homie." Chip said with a fist bump.

"We missed ya." Jawa added.

"Thanks guys."

We talked for a little but they left pretty quickly considering there were many more people coming. Whoopee.

"Hello Benjamin."

"Hey Catherine. And Alexander. And Cyrus. And Jillian."

"I can't believe you kid." Cyrus shook his head.

"You literally got like 7 pretty major injuries, a bunch of cuts and bruises," Alexander started.

"And a coma. All to rescue me and make sure everyone was safe. I might not know you super well but you're a good man and a great person." Jillian added.

"And an amazing husband."

"And son-in-law..."

"Grandson-in-law." Cyrus smiled. (Still not used to that)

"You're a good guy Ben."

"Aww thank you all." I blushed.

"We should probably get going. Your siblings are on their way."

"Okay, thanks for coming." I smiled.

After they left Erica laughed. 

"You are such an special guy. Okay so your siblings are coming next and none of their dates are coming. You'll see them when we go to lunch once they let you out."

"Okay then." 

She got up from the beside chair and lay down next to me where Mike had been. She lay her head on my chest and I put my arm around her shoulder.

Ash and Griff walked in.

"Hey little guy." Griff said.

"I'm 19. And married. I'm not exactly little. Young, but not little."

"Fair enough."

"How ya feeling?"

"Okay. Kinda confused and still a little slower than normal. But I'm alive so counting my blessings."

"Well we love ya but you have 3 final visitors here."

Gabe, Ava, and Kiley walked in.

"Hey guys."

"Hey idiot." Kiley joked.

"Hold on a second. I'm Smokescreen. The Idiot is the principal." I said with a goofy grin.

"Fine. Hey dumbass." Kiley said with her arms crossed.

"Woah. Watch your language little sis." I laughed.

"3 weeks." Gabe stated, staring at the base of the hospital bed. 

"Huh?"

"3 weeks you were out. Because you were an idiot and a dumbass and an asshole!" He punched me in the arm, and then the chest. "You wouldn't sit down. You checked on everyone 3 TIMES! We were fine, and you weren't. But you still came 3 times. And look how well that went. Do you have any idea how worried we all were Ben? Do you?" He grabbed the front of my shirt and glared into my eyes, lifting me up about a foot or two. 

"Gabe I-"

"Save it. You don't. Next time, if there is one, I will force you to sit down. Conscious or un." 

Erica slowly got up and walked to him. 

"I love you Ben! We all do! Do you understand how worried we were. We were all sick with worry. You're my big brother and yet you won't sit down with broken bones and numerous bullet wounds. Be more responsible. We can take care of ourselves. It's very sweet how much you care but do you get how guilty we all felt?"

"Why-"

"Because none of us forced you to sit. To rest. We weren't sure if one of us making you sit earlier could have prevented you almost dying or ending up in a 3 week coma." He said with a single sob. He started to charge at me but Erica hugged him from behind and stopped him.

He broke down in tears. He was kneeling on the floor with Erica trying her best to console him, tears streaming down both their faces. Kiley and Ava sat down on the bed and helped me sit on the side of the bed as I struggled to get up from my laying position.

Erica was whispering in his ear. I heard her vaguely.

"Listen, Gabe I understand. I really do. I get it. You have no idea how much I do. I wanted to punch him for not listening. I couldn't believe how stupid he was. I cried myself to sleep every night. With only my amazing dog. I love Mav, but it wasn't the same without Ben. I understand how worried and upset you were. How guilty you felt, like it might all have been your fault. But it wasn't. Ben is an idiot. It's his fault. And as much as I love him, once he's healed I'm going to beat his ass. For not realizing the only thing any of us needed was for him to rest. Like 3 times? He's freaking insane. But at least it's because of his overwhelming love for his friends and family, right? I mean I know better than anyone he's a psycho, but he cares about everyone around him 100 times more than himself. You know why? Because he loves everyone so much he thinks all he needs is everyone else to be okay. He may be an idiot and a dumbass and an asshole, but it's only because he cares." 

All I could think was she's gonna beat my ass? Well I'm dead. Wait did she call me insane and a psycho? Owch bro. And agreed I'm an idiot, true, a dumbass, oww and an asshole? Wow I didn't realize how mad she was.

Gabe stopped crying and Erica helped him up.

"Can you all chill with the language a little? Am I really that bad?"

"Bad? No. Stupid? Oh absolutely." Erica said with a smirk.

Gabe laughed a little.

"Listen I'm sorry guys. I really am. But I couldn't rest until I knew everyone of the people on board were okay. You are all my family and family comes first. Hate me, don't, I don't care. Well actually I do but point being, I love you and never meant to hurt anyone. I'm truly sorry." 

Gabe walked over to me and stopped, looming over me. I winced prepared for another attack. But it didn't come. Only a hug.

"Love you Gabe."

"Love you too psycho."

"Aww no is that gonna stick?"

"Just for a while." Erica giggled. "Or forever. Who knows?"

Boom okay next is him getting released and them going to lunch.