Chapter Text
Darius stepped outside the hospital, his heart racing as he leaned his back against the cool wall. He let out a frustrated scream, the weight of everything crashing down on him. He rubbed his face, his fingers dragged over his skin, trying to ground himself, but it didn’t help. The tightness in his chest wouldn’t go away. His eyes wandered down to his pocket.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, seeing Sammy flash on the screen. He hesitated for a moment, he didn't want to worry her. Taking a deep breath, he forced a calm mask over his face, trying to sound like everything was fine—when in reality, he felt like he was falling apart.
Worrying Sammy was the last thing he wanted to do. He knew if she heard even a hint of panic in his voice, she’d drop everything, grab Yaz and the kids, and rush to see him.
"Hey, Sammy, what's up?" He tried to keep it light.
"I heard what happened. Is everything alright?!" Sammy’s voice was filled with concern. So much for not worrying her. "You can tell me in person. I’m on my way."
"No, no! Sammy, it’s okay," Darius said, his voice strained as he tried to reassure her. "I don’t want you dropping everything just to come see us, okay?"
"Darius," Sammy’s voice softened, her concern unmistakable. "You know I’d be there in a heartbeat if I thought you needed me, and I can tell somethings up. Talk to me"
"Sammy, I’m fine—"
“Darius,” Sammy interrupted “I’ve got a wife who’ll deny if Coraline sets the kitchen on fire. And three kids who could lie with a straight face and I could still sniff them out. So I’m a human lie detector and the go-to for parenting advice. So don’t even think about telling me you’re fine.”
Darius blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Uh, right,” he muttered, his words faltering. He took a shaky breath, realizing he couldn’t keep hiding from Sammy anymore. “Okay... I’m just—scared. Really scared. And I feel... useless. Watching her in that bed. Being treated” His voice cracked as he spoke, the weight of everything hitting him all at once. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Sammy. I keep thinking I’m messing everything up. And now Dahlia—” He trailed off, his throat tight as if saying it out loud would make it too real.
"You did the best you could," Sammy said softly, her voice steady but full of compassion. "The best that any parent could do. And Dahlia's at the hospital now. She's going to make a recovery."
"But It isn't enough! That still doesn’t change what she’s been through," Darius replied, his voice cracking, barely above a whisper. "How is this going to affect her long-term? I should’ve done better to prevent this. I should’ve seen the signs... should’ve kept her safe. It was also my responsibility to protect her, and I failed her."
His shoulders slumped, the weight of his words sinking in like a heavy stone.
"..was all of this a mistake?" Darius's voice was barely audible, his words a whispered confession. "Adopting her? We weren’t ready for all of this. What if we’ve made her life harder, not better?" He pressed his palms to his eyes. The thought of hurting Dahlia in any way was too much to bear.
"Darius, no parent is perfect. It doesn’t matter who Dahlia’s with—things are still gonna happen. That’s just life. You can’t protect her from everything. What matters is that you love her, and you’re here for her now..That’s also just parenting," Sammy continued, her voice softening. "You're a first-time parent. You're always going to learn things the hard way. How did you think I felt when Coraline sprained her wrist? I freaked out. But you know what? We make it through just like I know you and Ben will. She’s fine now, and so will Dahlia."
"...Thanks, Sammy." He took a deep breath, the weight on his chest a little lighter now, even if the anxiety hadn’t completely gone away. "I guess I needed to hear that more than I realized."
"Giving people parental therapy—just another chapter in the Sammy Gutierrez story," she said with a light chuckle, her tone warm but full of that trademark confidence.
“Wish I could hug you right now,” Darius said, managing a small smile.
“You can in two days,” Sammy replied.
“Sammy, really, it’s okay. You don’t have to drop everything to come over here.”
“I’m coming to visit, end of story,” she said firmly. “Plus, I need to get out of the house, and I think the kids would love to see Dahlia again. The twins haven’t had a proper introduction yet.”
Darius huffed and smiled, a bit of warmth breaking through. “See you soon, then?”
“See you soon.”
And with that, the line went dead.
...
Darius walked back into the hospital, his hands heavy in his pockets. He spotted Ben standing outside Little D’s door, talking on the phone.
Ben’s face lit up when he saw Darius, his expression brightening like a dog spotting its owner. “Oh, Darius! Hey, I’ll call you back, Yaz,” he said quickly, ending the call. He turned to Darius with wide, expectant eyes. “Hey, D.”
Darius raised an eyebrow. “I’m guessing you told Sammy about Dahlia?”
“Yeah, well… I called Yaz, and Sammy ended up hearing from her. Then I asked Sammy if she could call you,” Ben said, looking a little sheepish. “I didn’t think you wanted to hear anything I had to say,” Ben muttered, his tone a bit uncertain.
Darius’s expression shifted slightly, and for the first time in years, things between them felt a little awkward.
“Ben.” / “Darius.”
They both called each other’s names at the same time. They both gave awkward half-smiles.
“Sorry, you can go first,” Darius said.
"…D, I don’t even know where to start. I messed up. I shouldn’t have left her alone, even for a moment. Now Dahlia has to pay the price because of my mistakes. You were right to be angry, and I—" Ben’s words tumbled out getting more emotional as he went, but before he could continue, Darius stepped forward and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I was wrong, Ben," Darius whispered, his voice thick with regret. "I didn’t mean anything I said. I was just bitter and upset…Accidents happen, and none of us have control over what comes next. It's nobody's fault." He pulled back slightly from the hug, locking eyes with Ben. "I should know that better than anyone. It’s a lesson I’ve had to learn over and over, but somehow I still forget. I guess, with everything going on with Dahlia, I let that lesson slip. And I lashed out at you when I shouldn’t have... I’m sorry."
Ben’s face softened, his features easing into something more relaxed. "How about we stop playing the blame game, huh?"
"Deal," Darius chuckled, the tension between them easing for the first time in what felt like forever.
Ben pulled Darius back into a hug, a familiar, comforting rhythm repeating itself. "I am sorry, though," he murmured, his voice tinged with genuine regret.
Darius pulled back slightly, his smile playful but firm. "Hey, the 'S' word is banned now."
Ben pulled a mock pout, looking back at him in disbelief. "Aw, what!? You can't just ban 'sorry' like that!"
Darius grinned, his eyes softening with a quiet warmth. "I can, and I did."
Ben let out that laugh Darius loved—genuine and full of relief.
The two lovebirds just stared at each other, grinning like a couple of idiots. A smile stretched wider with each passing second. But the moment was interrupted by a small whine from the room behind them—one they instantly recognized as Dahlia.
Without a word, they both walked in, finding the nurse trying her best to soothe the upset child, but nothing seemed to be working.
"Hey," Ben said softly as he sat on the edge of Dahlia’s bed. He wrapped her in a gentle hug, rubbing soothing circles on her back. Slowly, the tension in her body started to ease.
"Hm," the nurse hummed, watching the scene. "I guess she just wanted her dad. Well, I’ll leave y’all be." With a final glance at the pair, the nurse quietly exited the room.
Darius sat on the other side of the hospital bed, leaning back slightly, his gaze fixed on Ben as he calmed Dahlia down. A small, quiet smile tugged at Darius’s as he watched them, his heart settling in a way it hadn’t for a while.
Dahlia stayed overnight at the hospital, and the next day, she was finally able to go home—where she was greeted by a surprise visit from her aunts and cousins.
And made a full recovery.
(This is the part where I get too lazy for a "after the kids are in bed" Benrius Yasammy parent talk :>)