Chapter 28
Days pass, and the hospital becomes Ellie’s second home. She comes every morning and every night when she can. She sits in the chair beside Sonny’s bed with her backpack and attempts to study or do homework. Some days she can, others, she is too worried that Sonny will not wake up. The familiar mark on Ellie’s foot remains, and she checks it like a ritual. It is the only reassurance she trusts.
Bull visits too, but he keeps his distance. He stands in the doorway, hands in his pockets, looking like he is guarding a grave.
Jess comes more often be she knows that where Ellie will be and she want to support her. She brings Ellie food, then sits with her in silence. Sometimes they talk just to keep the room from swallowing them.
On the fifth day of his coma, the monitor tone changes. Sonny’s fingers twitch. Then his eyes open.
Sonny blinks like light hurts. He looks around the room, confused for a second, then calm returns like a mask snapping into place. He starts removing monitors.
A nurse rushes in. "Stop that. You need those."
Sonny’s voice is quiet. "I don’t."
The nurse freezes, not sure how to argue with someone who is ripping medical equipment off like it is tape. She leaves to fetch the doctor.
Sonny closes his eyes. Ether flows. His Ether Cast settles over him, smoothing his face into the version the world recognizes.
The nurse returns with the doctor. The doctor steps in, stunned. "You’re awake. And you look very different. Welcome back to the land of the living."
Sonny tries to sit up slowly. Stitches run across his torso. His ribs are wrapped. His right arm is darkened and stiff.
He notices the spare bandages beside his bed and reaches for them. The bandages respond to his ether and wrap his entire body, moving with purpose, bracing and compressing.
The doctor stares. "Are you doing that?"
"Yes," Sonny says.
The doctor finds his voice again. "We did extensive surgery. Rib cage reconstruction. Skull stabilization. Spine reinforcement. You should not be moving."
Sonny affirms the doctor’s guidance. "You’re right, I shouldn’t. Thank you for all you’ve done."
The doctor hesitates."We also need to discuss your arm. The burns you sustained are severe. Unfortunately, we recommend amputation."
Sonny looks down at his charred right arm. "No need. I will keep it."
The doctor raises his eyebrow with skepticism. "You may never regain function."
Sonny’s tone stays flat. "It will take some time, but I believe my bandages can heal it."
The doctor looks like he wants to argue, then stops. "When do you think you can leave?"
"Well, considering what you have told me, I won’t be fully healed for some time, but discharge in Seventy two hours seems realistic," Sonny replies.
The doctor exhales sharply. "That’s not realistic. Between rest recovery and physical therapy, you’re looking at two weeks minimum until discharge and minimum 18 months until you are somewhat back to normal."
"Three days until discharge," Sonny says, like he is predicting the future.
The doctor shakes his head. "It’s your life." He steps out to notify Dean and Ellie.
Ellie arrives shortly after being notified and is already crying. She grabs Sonny’s hand like she is afraid he will disappear again. "I came every day. I prayed. I thought…"
Sonny squeezes her fingers weakly. "Thank you."
Ellie laughs through tears. "That’s all you have for me?"
"No," Sonny says. "I thought of you every day in the crypt." Ellie finds some joy in that statement.
Sonny looks at the room, then back to her, sadder than usual. "What happened to Thomas?"
Ellie’s face falls. "They held a service at AM," she says quietly. "It was a nice service. Practically the whole student body attended. His body was returned to his family. His parents are suing the school; understandably so. The crypt program will go through heavy revisions next semester, but will continue without a crypt dive. Dean is under lots of scrutiny now. The school board has launched an investigation."
Sonny closes his eyes. His throat works like he is swallowing something sharp. "He became a friend," Sonny says.
Ellie nods. "Loss is an unavoidable dark side of the human experience. You wanted to experience it all. Sadly, this is part of it."
Sonny’s voice is quieter. "It feels like punishment. I’ve had so much pain inflicted on me throughout my life that I don’t even react to it anymore, but this pain, this nonphysical pain, is different and hits much worse."
Ellie watches him. "Karma is cruel."
Sonny’s jaw clenches. "I now understand the people close to my victims must’ve felt. Devastated."
A long silence passes. Then Sonny speaks again, softer. "If Wexel could grant one wish, I would wish the Omegas never took me. Thomas would be alive. You would have peace. I might be living a normal life with my family."
Ellie stares. She remembers telling him about Wexel months ago, back when he acted like the world was a big puzzle. Now, it’s a smaller puzzle.
Her voice breaks. "Don’t say that."
Sonny looks at her. "Sorry. I’m just venting I guess."
Dean appears later, hat in hand for once. He steps into the room and studies Sonny’s face.
"You look less dead. That is positive news." Dean says.
Sonny looks at him with his regular expression, like he is trying to hide his pain. "Agreed."
Dean’s eyes move to the charred arm. "We’ll talk about the crypt when you’re back at AM. Bull and Jess gave me their version of what happened. I want yours. No rush, health comes first."
Sonny nods once. "Okay."
Dean taps the doorframe lightly. "Rest. And be nice to the doctors. They are here to help." He leaves. The room goes quiet again.
Sonny turns his head to Ellie. "Did you know Thomas had a crush on one of your friends?"
Ellie is caught off guard by the remark. "What? Really?"
“Yeah. I promised him that we’d all get together some time so he can get to know her.” Sonny looks down at his lap remembering his conversation about Ellie with Thomas in the crypt.
Sonny’s voice is calm, like he is asking about the weather. "Are you my girlfriend?"
Ellie chokes. She did not expect that. "What kind of question is that?"
Sonny watches her, genuinely waiting. "Do you want to be?"
Ellie begins to blush. She looks down at their hands. "Do you want me to be?"
"I do," Sonny says.
Ellie’s mouth lifts into a shaky smile that turns real. "Then it’s official." For a moment, the hospital room feels lighter.
News of Sonny waking spreads quickly. Reya arrives first, carrying flowers. She stops at the door, eyes fixated on Sonny’s bandaged body. "You’re awake. I am glad."
Sonny gives a short nod. "Yes. Thank you for the flowers. Very kind of you."
Ellie sits in the corner unsure if she should be scowling at Reya for bringing flowers, or Sonny for entertaining her.
Reya sets them on the table. "I’m glad you’re okay. Your condition they told us was… scary. Seems like a long road to recovery."
"I will heal in due time," Sonny says.
Reya stays for a short conversation, then leaves.
Jess and Bull come next. They step in and freeze when they see Sonny’s face looks normal again.
Bull points at him. "You look like you. How is that?"
Sonny looks at both of them. "I’m sorry you had to see me like that."
Jess’s eyes are tired. "You scared the hell out of us you know."
Sonny accepts it. "Yes. Again, I am very sorry for all the trouble I have caused."
They talk about Thomas. About the service. About the school’s questions.
Jess lowers her voice. "Dean is in trouble. The board is furious."
Sonny nods once once. "Ellie informed me. I will speak to him when I return."
After another couple days, Sonny can stand. A nurse walks in and sees him at the edge of the bed. She nearly drops what she is carrying. "You can’t be up."
Sonny ignores her warning.
The doctor returns, still baffled. "This is not medically possible."
Sonny’s bandages tighten around his torso like they are holding him together. "It is because of these. They have healing and support abilities utilizing my ether."
The doctor sighs. "Looks like those bandages are better than our ether specialists. Fine. We’ll discharge you soon, but you’re not leaving without paperwork."
Sonny gives a short nod. "Okay."
Dean arranges a ride for Sonny to return to his apartment. Ellie helps Sonny back to the apartment and puts him in bed. She plants herself beside him like a guard.
"I’m taking care of you," she commands like a drill sergeant. "That is what girlfriends do,” Ellie says with an undertone of pure delight.
Sonny looks like he wants to argue against being doted on, but doesn’t. "Fine."
Ellie makes soup. Sonny takes one bite, thinks carefully, and says, "It needs salt and pepper."
Ellie glares and scoffs. "Tsk. You’re unbelievable. I’m trying."
Sonny’s eyes soften. "It’s a good start. We’ll work on the cooking.”
Over the next week, Sonny's healing progresses. He meditates when Ellie is in class. He plays back and reviews the fight with Two in his mind preparing for his next and final bout that will come.
Tonight, when Ellie returns home, Sonny wants to show her some tips to improve her cooking. They are making a simple beef and vegetable dish.
Sonny watches Ellie reach for the butter and gently stops her.
“Wait,” he says. “Use the pan first.”
She looks at the browned surface, confused. “It’s dirty.”
“It’s flavor,” he replies. “Take the meat out.”
She does, setting it aside. Sonny points to the pan.
“Water,” he says. “Just a little.”
She pours it in, and the bottom hisses. Brown bits loosen and swirl.
“That’s deglazing,” he explains. “Everything you cooked stays in the dish instead of on the pan.”
Ellie nods slowly. “Then what?”
“Vegetables,” Sonny says. “Now.”
She adds the onions, carrots, and celery, stirring as they soak up the liquid.
“If you skip this,” he continues, “you just taste butter. This way, you taste everything.”
When the food is done, Ellie lifts a forkful of onion and takes a bite. She freezes. “…Oh,” she says quietly.
Sonny watches her reaction but says nothing.
Her eyebrows raise as she chews. “That’s way better,” she admits. “Why did no one ever tell me this?”
He shrugs. “Most people don’t use what’s already there.”
After dinner, they sit and watch TV for a bit, enjoying each other's company. Sonny says quietly, "This is peace."
Ellie rests her head on his shoulder. "Get used to it."
At the start of the next week, Sonny tells Ellie he is going back to class.
Ellie frowns. "Are you sure?"
Sonny inclines his head. "Yes. And I need to talk to Dean."
Ellie exhales and squeezes his hand. "Okay. But if you fall over, I’m going to say I told you so."
Sonny’s mouth lifts slightly. "Understood."
