Tuesday,

September 10, 2012

9: 17 AM

New Orleans Hospital - 204

The brown door is cracked, a vain attempt at privacy from the busy crowd in the hospital's hallway. Anyone that wanders closer to the door, can hear the angry mumbled curses of a disgruntled man and a Doctor struggling to get through to the stubborn patient. Kane woke up hours ago, in the middle of the night. From the moment the tube was removed – and he could speak clearly without strain – he demanded to be let out and then refused more treatment. Sunny and Valli stood back, entertained between the moments of soft, quiet fog floating in the room. Kane hadn't asked questions upon waking, he simply smirked at Sunny and squeezed Valli's hand tightly. He has a few inquiries, but this content, relief-filled fog that's settled over him is warning enough. They all need time just to sit, and ... breathe.

The man noticed the absence of the Witch. It's one of the first thoughts that ran through his mind within the thirty minutes it took to be more lucid, rather than the blurry and slowness from the drugs vacating his system. Valli had been clung to the hospital bed, to his hand and forearm once most of the nurses stepped away from the sides. Sunny only shook her head at the silent questioning gaze over Valli's head – a sign Kane knew well, a motion he had given more than he could count.

Addy didn't survive, he doesn't need to be told. Instead of ruining the calm peace, he observes Valli content himself with clinging to his hand and the side of the bed. Slim fingers draw invisible scenes on his rough skin, from small and intricate shapes to an entire finger tattoo of invisible lines only given life by Valli's finger. The sensation is somehow calming, it satisfies a deep part of Kane that he'd be creeped out by if they didn't still have medication in his veins. As it is, he allows that repetitive, soft movement of his boyfriend's warm fingertip to lure him into a lulled tranquility.

With his eyes closed, he ignores the staff member in front of his bed. Upon refusing more treatment, the nurses left and a doctor stepped in an hour or so later. Dr. Roberts doesn't understand why his patient had stubbornly rejected any other treatment, yet Mr. Ranger continues to demand to be discharged as soon as possible. What bothers him the most is the fact he can not find a reason to keep the man in the building – Mr. Ranger was gutted, but all the tests and scans on his organs, their sutures, and his vitals are perfect. The man is – somehow – healed, if not completely, other than the scars of the event. He is in no – although there is still the residue of medication in his veins – pain, distress and not experiencing any bleeding. As much as it stumps (bothers, annoys, and nettles) him, there is nothing he can really do.

The doctor has been trying to convince Kane to stay, for them to run more tests and monitor him for another day or so. The only thought going through the staff member's head is; how did he survive? Was it a miracle? It had to be! However, neither of the people with the patient appears shocked, whenever the doctor glances at them, they either smile (Sunny) or ignore his presence altogether (Valli). The man himself is more than indifferent to Dr. Roberts, only speaking to interrupt with an unyielding demand to be discharged.

Finally, the doctor drops his arms with a defeated sigh. His eyebrows jump as slight irritation builds and for a brief moment, his jaw clenches. "Okay, Mr. Ranger. You can be discharged, as there is no reason I can hold you. As strange as that is." He scowls at the satisfied smirk that crosses his patient's lips. "But, I highly recommend returning or allowing a form of therapy, just in case. I can either set you up for a visitation here or have someone drive out to you."

"No." Is the single, grunted answer that makes the doctor's eye twitch.

"Now, Son." Sunny scolds from the corner, a snicker lingers as she sips from a water bottle filled with vodka. The medical professional gratefully smiles at the woman, relieved one of them speaks up in his defense. "You'll get someone to come down to the house. Val and I can only put up with your grumpy ass for so long before we put you back in that bed. Let the man set this shit up."

"You love me too much to put me back in this bed, Ma."

Sunny grins, winking. "I do, but you've put me through some shit in your teens and I've held a small grudge."

Kane groans, but there's a shameless smile on his lips as he hears Valli chuckle from his position at the side of the bed. He had laid his head on Kane's thigh, messing with thick fingers; bending, tracing, and holding his hands. Little kisses are planted on his knuckles, nails brushed over his skin for goosebumps to form on the surface. Kane can feel the breathy laugh from plump lips on his wrist, then the vibration of Valli's words softly. "You're getting that therapy."

The Hunter huffs a laugh, his free hand rising to pat the head of chestnut hair on his thigh. Knowing he has no choice, Kane agrees for Valli and Sunny. He'd put them through hell, that's how he is with injuries and recovering. He hates staying still, and there is no doubt he will not be allowed to do hands-on work for months, at most. He dreads it. So, with huff he nods, scratching briefly behind Valli's ear. "Fine. If you're gonna team up on me, I'm gonna be fucked."

"It won't be so bad! In no time you'll get back to work!" Dr. Roberts assures, forcing himself to be bright in light of his bewilderment of the situation. Only, the response he gets is a deadpan scowl from Kane. The man nervously clears his throat, a fist blocks his pursed lips. "I'll go get the forms ready. Your stuff should be in the drawers here."

"Thanks, Doc." Sunny lifts her hand in a short, half-hearted wave toward the doctor. She didn't react out-worldly if she noticed his slight wince as he returned the gesture.

Once the door is cracked and the silhouette of the doctor is gone, Valli mumbles, a small giggle escaping. "I don't think he likes us."

"He's put off by Kane being alive, I don't blame him." The older black woman on the couch, laid back, adds with a smirk. "Then to top it off, you're rude as hell."

"He's just pissed I ain't staying to give him more money on that check he gets." Kane sasses, his fingers dug into thick silky hair to massage Valli's skull. The man leans into his palm, leaning heavily on the side of the mattress and the beefy thigh under his ear.

Both people with him laugh, Valli's tiny, breathy chuckle is followed by a pecked kiss to the up-turned palm of Kane's right hand. Sunny's titter is drowned by the vodka in the bottle she tilts back to swig from, the strong clear liquid bubbles and drains under halfway as she gulps it down. Kane is glad the doctor gave in to his stubbornness to get a discharge, being in the hospital is the worst; they always squeeze more money out of patients, run unnecessary tests, and bills are difficult to hide from. Hunter's don't have hospital money. Valli doesn't have gutted and un-gutted money. Usually, Kane would just toss a random credit card, some sort of money card, at whoever requests payment and fucking run into hiding.

There's a reason Hunters don't use their real names on anything linked to the government. They renew their driver's licenses, or get state IDs, but never use them for purchases. They can't leave paper trails for when the government eventually links them to these fraud cards. Hospitals are too risky, and too expensive in currency and to their freedom. He wonders how they'll get out of this expansive bill, none of them have the big bucks needed to pay it off. Sunny should have some extra cards, none of his cards match the name the doctor was referring to him. Mr. Ranger, who the fuck is that supposed to be? Who names their son Ranger, like a Park Ranger?

Rather than consider it, he blurts the question out to Ma. "You got some cards?"

"I'll have it handled. Emma and Victor will drive your truck, and Emma's car up here. Victor will drive you and Val back, and Emma and I will deal with the money-hungry leches." Sunny dismisses the slight worry of the inquiry, her hand waving the plastic bottle, the contents sloshing.

"I'll help if I can," Valli adds, not raising from his position. He makes the offer easily, recalling the money he saved up. "I have some extra money, some cards if they still work."

Before Sunny can refuse, Kane is already sounding his pretest with a deep, gruff grunt and a light pat-slap on Valli's head, like a small punishment for even suggesting he pay. "Nah. You ain't spendin' more than twenty bucks on me, ya hear?"

"Not even for a birthday? Christmas?!" Valli pouts, playful and joking.

Kane repeats himself, kidding yet determined. A finger pokes the other man's nose, lips twitching into a crooked smirk when Valli scrunches his face comically. "No more than twenty bucks."

"You're no fun." A tongue is shoved out from between lips, childishly poking at the older.

Sunny laughs at them, her head shaking and eyes fond. She's doubly grateful for Kane to be alive after seeing him awake, and how he allows Valli to distract himself with his thick fingers or deep rumbled words. The only regret she has of bringing Kane to the hospital is that most of her savings will be put into this payment, as well as some of Emma's. However, it's worth Kane's life. They can't run, not when they want to stay based in Louisiana. Valli can't have cops soiling his driveway in the search for criminals, that wouldn't be right.

No, they'll do this right. They'll pay the bill like everyday people, then they'll go home and burn a body.