Chapter Text
Dream woke up several times.
He didn’t remember much. Mostly, it was a repetitive jumble of one image after another. Being moved through their home, towards the medical bay. Someone’s fingers locked around his own, quiet voices trying to reassure him. Something being pressed to his face. Then he was out, and he woke up briefly with a fuzzy feeling wrapped around his whole body.
Around him, there was some sort of repetitive beeping, whirring and other noises he didn’t know how to really describe. Opening his eyes, Dream swallowed and winced. A tight pain made its way through his throat, and he twitched his fingers. Around him, the beeping sped up slightly. Then, there was someone at his side, fingers carding through his hair.
“Hey, hey, it’s alright. It’s alright.” Someone said. After a moment, Dream caught a glimpse of their face. Of pale pink-blond hair and blue eyes. Niki. Reaching up, he grabbed at her hand. She took it, smiled softly. “Yeah, yeah, you’re okay. You’re okay. Just get some rest, sweetheart. The others are okay, too. You just need to rest. You just need to close your eyes, okay? Everything’ll be right here when you wake up, everything will be fine.”
He nodded, didn’t remember drifting off really but knew that he did. Niki’s fingers brushed through his hair, his eyes fluttered shut. Then he was out, floating in a sort of starless darkness that he couldn’t avoid and couldn’t leave. Just floated in.
The next time he woke up, he felt someone curled into his side. He glanced down, saw a hospital gown and black hair. Broad shoulders and bandages around tanned skin. Shuffling slightly, Dream curled an arm over Sapnap’s waist, closed his eyes and let out a breath. The beeping changed pattern, he didn’t know what it was, though.
That was kind of how the next while went. He wasn’t sure how long that while was. It could have been hours. Days. Weeks. He didn’t think that it was months, actually. If it had been, then he would have felt something. He would have known, somehow. Probably.
Hopefully.
Still, when he finally did wake up, he didn’t know what time it was. Years of living and sleeping outside meant usually, he had a natural internal clock. Knew when dusk and dawn were. His injuries and the medication (because he had to be on painkillers there was no way he wasn’t), though, must have thrown it off.
That’s annoying. Slowly, he took into account everything he had. His armour had been stripped off, and now he was covered in bandages. A hospital gown sat on his frame, and he let out a long sigh.
Somewhere, he heard the door open. Looking over, he met Niki’s gaze and smiled. “Hey.” She said, walking over. Behind her, Puffy poked her head through the doorway. Immediately, her gaze softened and she hurried over, too.
“Hey, Niki. Puffy.” His voice sounded worse than he thought it would. Frowning, he glanced over “How long have I been out?”
“Just a little while. It’s okay.” Settling down in the chair across from him, Puffy distracted him while Niki kept working on the medical stuff. There was a pinch in the crook of his arm. Still, Puffy stroked his hair back. “Just keep looking at me, sweetheart, you’re doing fine.”
“How are the others?”
“They’re okay. Ant’s got full vision. George is conscious. Bad’s on crutches, but then that’s okay, and Sapnap’s with Quackity and Karl.” Puffy replied. “Everyone has someone watching over them.”
“You could say that.” Niki chuckled, pressing a bandage to Dream’s arm. He glanced down, saw the vials of blood in her hand and frowned. “Just a precaution. We need to make sure you don’t have any issues or anything.”
“We found traces of some…stuff in the others’ blood. Wanted to check to make sure you don’t have the same thing.” Puffy elaborated. Glancing at her, Dream nodded. Getting up, Niki retreated into another room. “Do you feel like food?”
“I feel like checking in on the others.”
“Well, you can’t do that.” When he pouted, Puffy shot him that sisterly look. The one that said he was not going to do whatever he wanted, and she would stop him if she had to use force to do it. Sighing, Dream looked at her. “No, Dream. You’re hurt. Unless you want me to put you on more sedatives—and I will—you’re going to stay in this bed. The others are mobile, I’m sure they’ll come by soon.”
“I can be mobile.”
“Uh-huh.” Niki entered with a tray of food at the perfect time. Settling it in Dream’s lap, she kissed his hair.
“Please don’t get into a fight, sweethearts.” Niki reminded lightly. Then, Puffy smiled at her and Dream paused for a second. I feel like I know what happened but also did I miss something? Clearing her throat, Niki gently said, “Dream?” He looked over at her. “Can you eat, please?”
“Aka we’re not leaving until you eat and Niki will shove it down your throat if you refuse.” Puffy said bluntly, crossing her arms. Across the bed, Niki gave her a sweet but also long-suffering look. Dream, meanwhile, looked down at the food.
Shrugging, he tucked into it.
He wouldn’t say it was “surprisingly” good. Niki made it. Of course it was good food. It was always amazing. Still, he pushed it away, looked up, and said, “There. Are you happy? Can I go see the others no?”
Leaning in, Puffy gently kissed his forehead. In the sweetest tone possible, she said, “No.”
Dream stared at her, and she let out a loud, cackling laugh. Eventually, Niki shook her head, pulled her away. Still, he didn’t end up empty handed.
Niki promised him she’d bring people by, and he was going to keep her to it.
+++
Sure enough, Niki did hold to her promise.
Something Dream was…incredibly grateful for. He wanted to move, needed to move, and instead he was stuck in the stupid little hospital room, unable to move because of a stupid arrow to his hip meaning he wasn’t meant to walk or he would tear stitches. And he had other injuries that he had to wait to heal, because stupid health potions not working properly on him for…reasons. He wasn’t going to think about that.
Nope, not at all. Not thinking about it. He was not going to think about it. At all.
The door opened, and immediately he lifted his head from the book he was reading. Niki was holding the door open, Skeppy in the hallway behind the person they were bringing in. Meanwhile, Bad was limping in on crutches. “Dream!” He said, hurrying over shockingly quickly. With a yelp, Skeppy hurried after him, panicking. “Leave me alone, leave me alone I am fine, Skeppy!”
“BAaaadd!” Skeppy yelled. Shoving his arms off, Bad settled down in the chair beside Dream’s bed. “Bad, you need to take care of yourself.”
“Go away, you muffin, I am fine.” Bad mused, shook his head. Then, he grabbed onto Dream’s hand, “How do you feel? Are you alright, do you need something to eat?” He kept chattering away.
Eventually, Niki moved in before Bad could start ruffling through his bag and grab things out. “Bad, Bad. Let me take care of my patient, please remember that you’re a patient, too.”
“Fight me, Niki. Not really, I love you.” Bad said, and Skeppy grabbed his free hand and started massaging his knuckles. Apparently, Bad wasn’t willing to pull his hand from Dream’s, so he just gave Skeppy a look for a moment. Then, he shrugged it off, started chattering with Dream again.
“Baaaad!”
“Shut up, Skeppy. Muffinhead.” Skeppy gawped at his platonic partner. Who just…completely ignored him. Holding onto Dream’s hands, Bad switched topics. “I found this really cool tea, do you want me to—“
“BAD!”
+++
Tommy and Tubbo stopped by with Ranboo.
Of course, Ranboo didn’t really hang out as much as sleep. He was curled on the chairs, arms wrapped around an also-sleeping Michael with a blanket thrown over them both. Courtesy of Puffy. Meanwhile, Tommy was talking about a mod video he wanted to film with Dream and George and Wilbur. Tubbo was sitting beside him, too.
Which led to some pretty entertaining moments. Of course, Dream knew what it was like with Techno by Tommy. Usually, the man would try and get Tommy to hold something. Successful attempts included various cups, frozen burritos, snacks, and once Tubbo. Unsuccessful attempts included Wilbur, Dream, and Quackity. And a baguette.
Of course, Dream hadn’t seen him when Tubbo was around him trying to prank him. And currently, Tommy was holding onto a sandwich that Niki had forced into his hands so he could eat.
As Tommy chattered away, gesturing, Tubbo started leaning towards the sandwich. Tommy didn’t notice. Dream, however, did. Fighting a smile back behind his oxygen mask, he nodded. Glanced towards Tubbo a few times as he got closer and closer to the sandwich. It was like watching a shark approach an oblivious seal. With every second, he was getting closer and closer to the sandwich. Like he was actually chasing the sandwich with every gesture that Tommy made.
“And then he just—“
Tubbo bit down on the sandwich and tore off a significant chunk of it. All of a sudden, Dream burst out laughing. Tommy looked at Tubbo with nothing but pure offence on his face.
“Tubbo?”
“Yeah, Big Man?”
“You have three seconds to run.”