Dylan didn’t remember much of what happened but waking up in the hospital was something he really hated. He had a pain in his chest and in his right arm, his throat was dry and his head was killing him but when he opened his eyes and saw Emma sitting next to him, he couldn’t help but smile. He reached out and ran his fingertips over her hand that rested just a few inches away from his. He wondered how long he’d been in the hospital. He wondered how long she’d been here with him. The moment his hand made contact with hers, she jumped.
“You’re awake! Finally! Let me get you some water.” She hurried around trying to get him a cup with a straw and trying not to get pulled back by her pet’. She brought the straw to his lips and he welcomed the ice cold relief.
“Hey.” He croaked painfully.
“Hey…are you in any pain?” She frowned sitting the water down.
“Kinda…nothing I can’t-” Before he could finished she smacked his wounded arm.
“OW! What the hell Emma!?” He raised his voice as much as he could for just having wet his throat.
“Does it hurt now?” She asked firmly.
“Yeah it hurts a lot now thanks to you.” He complained.
“Good! What the hell were you thinking Dylan? You could have gotten yourself killed.” Emma was clearly upset with him but he knew what he was doing was for her.
“I was trying to-” She cut him off again.
“I don’t care what you were trying to do. You don’t just…you can’t just ask someone out on a date and then go off and get shot.” She held a sad glare that made him feel like he was disappointed in himself for getting shot.
“I didn’t exactly wake up planning to get shot. It just sort of happened.” He explained.
“Caleb told me why you did the run. Why do you suddenly want to help me so badly huh? You never cared before.” She pointed out.
“Because I care now. I like talking to you. I like that you’re always around. I like that I don’t feel so alone when I’m with you. You’re kind of the only positive thing I have in my life and I don’t want to lose that. I don’t…I don’t want to lose you.” He forced out trying to push through his pain as she remained steady with her arms crossed over her chest.
“So you just want my company.” Emma dismissed rolling her eyes to the side.
“No it’s more than that now, for me at least.” Dylan finally caught her attention.
“I want to take you out on a real date, not at the house with my family. I want to take you to dinner for the two of us. I want to take long drives with you and learn about each other. I want to hold your hand because it small and soft and fits pretty perfectly into mine.” Dylan reached out and took her hand away from her chest.
“I know you and Norman-” She huffed.
“Oh please, there is nothing going on with me and Norman.” She dismissed.
“Good because I’d to have to fight him for you.” Dylan joked making her smile slightly.
“See, I want to see more of those. Your smile, it just…it makes me smile. It’s contagious.” Dylan said with a soft smile.
“Well then maybe stop being so damn chivalrous and getting shot so we can go out and have fun.” She sat down on the side of his bed and touched his face. He leaned into her touch and started to feel himself getting sleepy.
“I’ll work on it.” He mumbles. Emma had pushed the button on his pain meds so he could get some rest but he didn’t let go of her hand as he drifted back into unconsciousness. He wanted to make sure she was still there when he woke up again and to his delight, she was.