Snow Lodge
Chapter 59
It was a subdued, yet more hopeful Kevin and Howie who were first to visit the ICU. It had been a few hours before Shelly finally came in and told them they could go and see AJ. By that time Howie had mostly recovered from the effects of the sedative, and so he and Kevin elected to go up there. Nick decided that it was more important to stay with Brian; not wanting him to be alone. Brian knew there wasn't any point in protesting so he could go, Jonesy had made that clear. Instead, he made Howie and Kevin promise that they would tell AJ that he would be with him as soon as he was allowed.
Kevin kept a close eye on Howie as the elevator ascended to the ICU. Howie looked pale and drawn, his brown eyes not sparkling like usual. Though with everything that had happened in the past couple of days, Kevin wasn't really surprised.
The elevator stopped and the doors slid open, but Howie hesitated. Kevin turned to look at him, resting one of his strong hands on Howie's shoulder.
"D?"
Howie shook himself and looked at Kevin before stepping out of the elevator.
"You okay?" Kevin pressed further.
Howie nodded hesitantly.
"The last time I came up here I flipped out 'cos they wouldn't tell me what was going on."
Kevin nodded in understanding.
"You ready for this?" He asked.
"Not really." Howie replied. "But I'm not about to leave him alone any longer either."
Kevin smiled as they began walking down the corridor towards AJ's room. The duty nurse looked up from the nurse's station and smiled at them as she stood up.
"You can go right in." She told them.
"Thanks." Kevin smiled back at her.
"No problem. Just buzz me if you need anything."
"Will do."
With that Kevin and Howie reached AJ's door. Kevin put his hand on the door handle, before taking a deep breath. Howie closed his eyes and took a deep breath as well, both still slightly afraid of what they might find on the other side of the door.
Kevin pushed the door open and walked into the room, Howie following close behind him. They found AJ laying still on the bed, the ventilator the only sound in the room. Howie and Kevin walked back over to AJ's bed, taking up their posts in chairs either side of him, each taking one of his hands.
Howie pressed the back of his hand against AJ's cool forehead, pleased to see that the fever had indeed broken, he smiled at Kevin, who squeezed AJ's hand as he smiled back.
"Hey Bone." Kevin spoke softly. "I'm glad you could stay with us."
"Yeah, you gave us quite a scare man." Howie scolded him lightly.
"Especially Brian." Kevin added.
"And me." Howie amended softly.
"Who we kidding. You scared us all Alex. And you know how much I hate it when you do that." Kevin told him.
"Brian wants to come see you again." Howie told him, changing the subject before he started crying again.
"Yeah, he really wants to, but the Doctor won't let him. Not for a while at least." Kevin told him.
"But he'll be with you soon." Howie promised his best friend.
Kevin and Howie watched AJ closely, looking for some kind of a reaction, especially when they mentioned Brian. They wondered if talking about him was going to help bring AJ round. But there was no change.
