Chapter Text
With a deep growl, Robert gave the coffee machine his best death glare, kicking his foot against it rather pathetically with a huff. The vending machine simply stared back mockingly, refusing him the caffeine he so desperately needed.
Heaving a deep sigh he turned away and shuffled towards the room he’d unfortunately become too familiar with over the last week. He’d been forced out a little over two hours ago by a determined Vic who insisted he go outside to get some fresh air and head home for a much-needed shower. He’d rushed through it of course, desperate to get back as quickly as possible, despite the fact that the shower felt amazing and the fresh air was a much-needed break from the overly sterile air that clung to every inch of the hospital. But two hours away seemed like far too long, and he’d rushed back only to realise how truly exhausted he really was. He hadn’t had more than a few hours sleep in days, afraid that if he closed his eyes, he’d miss something.
He had been nearly five hours away, in the middle of a haulage meeting in London with the most insufferable man he’d ever had the displeasure of working with when it had happened. He’d gotten the call from Adam, and at first, he was confused. Adam was all over the place, talking over a mile a minute without really saying anything that made sense. Something about the pub and scrap and blood loss. It wasn’t until Victoria finally took the phone from him that Robert found out the real reason behind the call; Aaron had been in an accident and was in a critical condition at Leeds major trauma centre.
Robert dropped everything immediately, grabbed his things and recklessly broke every speed limit and traffic law on his way to the hospital. The whole time he’d been completely terrified of what awaited him at the hospital, or worse… knowing that Aaron’s condition was critical, he wouldn’t get there in time.
This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Things were supposed to be good. He was supposed to come home that evening after finishing a long week of meetings and walk into their house, Aaron there, smiling and practically jumping him as soon as the door closed, thrilled that their dreaded five-day work separation was finally over. They’d planned to have dinner together that night and celebrate Aarons new scrap contract and several new clients for the haulage firm. He’d even bought some fancy wine that he’d finally managed to get Aaron to taste and they were going to make heart eyes at each other over the table until they couldn’t resist each other any longer.
Instead, he was racing towards uncertainty, hoping against hope that what would greet him would be better than the worst-case scenario. When he finally arrived at the hospital a little after seven o’clock , Adam and Vic were there in the waiting room, both squirming in their chairs, apparently waiting for him.
“What the hell happened?! Is he ok? Where is he?!”
“They’re just moving him to a room. He’s been in surgery,” Adam explained, nervously wringing his hands together. “There were some… complications and some internal bleeding. They’ve stopped it, but the doctor said the next few hours will be critical.”
Robert just stared at them both, taking a deep breath he tried desperately to keep the tears threatening to spill from his eyes at bay. This couldn’t be happening.
“Robert, he’s going to get through this,” Vic said with as much conviction as she could muster. She tentatively reached out, placing a comforting hand on Robert’s leather-clad shoulder. “Aaron is a fighter. You know that. He’s not just going to give up on you.”
Robert just nodded, staring down at the floor, terrified of what would happen if Vic was wrong. Terrified of the worst. Terrified of what would happen if he lost Aaron.
It was nearly an hour later when the three of them were finally lead to Aaron’s room. If Robert was scared before, the sight that greeted him froze every muscle in his body. Aaron lay in the hospital bed, bruised and broken. He had a set of stitches across his forehead that matched the set along the right side of his jawline, cuts and scratches littering his face and arms, tubes and lines hooked up to all sorts of machines that beeped and buzzed around him. The doctor had warned them that the sight may be upsetting, but Robert wasn’t prepared for this. Aaron was the strong one, the one that could carry the world on his shoulders. But laying there in that hospital bed, he looked so small and fragile.
It had been eight days since that night. Eight days and Aaron still hadn't woken up. Eight days of the doctors performing test after test, attempting to get any sort of response from him without success. Eight days of Robert never leaving Aaron’s side for more than five minutes, spending his days begging Aaron to wake up and his nights huddled in an uncomfortable chair to the right of Aaron’s bed, holding his hand, and staring at the sleeping man committing every detail to memory.
Today was the first time he’d left the room at all, having taken advantage of Adam, Vic, Chas and paddy, who had arrived the morning after the accident, flying home from their holiday as quickly as they could. They'd all suggested that he take some time away, but it wasn't until he was forced out by a persistent Vic that he actually left. Only now that he was back, the guilt he felt from leaving in the first place was beginning to overwhelm him. What if something had happened while he was gone? What if he missed something? Rubbing his hands over his face with a sigh he rounded the corner towards Aaron’s room and was immediately met with an anxious Vic and Adam.
“There you are! We’ve been calling you for the past hour, why didn’t you answer your phone?” The eager tone of Adams voice caught him off guard.
“What’s going on?” Robert asked, glancing down at his very dead phone and realising for the first time that he hadn't actually used it since he called Chas a few days ago. “Did something happen? Is he-”
“Awake! Robert he’s awake!”
“Are you serious?”
He didn’t even bother waiting for an answer as he barrelled past both of them and into Aaron’s room, his eyes immediately meeting those ocean blue eyes he’d been so desperate to see. He was awake. He was okay. Hearing Adam and Vic rush in behind him, he finally let out the deep breath he’d been holding, and felt his lips turn up in the biggest smile he’d had in weeks.
“Hey you,” he said, slowly walking towards the bed and taking Aaron’s free hand, smiling down at him. It was taking everything he had to keep the tears welling in his eyes at bay, he couldn’t break down now. Not when Aaron was staring back at him expectantly. “God, I’ve missed you so much. How are you feeling?”
“I don’t know. Sore. Confused. Tired.”
“God, it's so good to hear your voice,” Robert chuckled, tenderly brushing his thumb across a few bruised knuckles.
“Yeah… I just… sorry, I don’t understand.” Pausing, Aaron looked around the room, briefly making eye contact with Robert before casting his eyes down at the scratchy hospital bed sheet.
“Don’t understand what, Aaron?”
Turning his gaze back to Robert, he opened his mouth to speak only to close it again struggling to find the right words. Briefly glancing down at their joined hands only seemed to heighten his panic.
“Aaron, you were in a car accident. But everything is going to be fine,” Vic anxiously chimed in, looking for some way to be helpful.
“Yeah, I know. I remember the crash. I was on my way back from a pick up and I was going to meet Adam in the pub,” he said, turning his gaze towards Vic and Adam.
“Yeah mate that’s it. Do you remember anything else?” Adam spoke hopefully from the corner of the room.
“Er…. I just, I don’t remember…” Aaron paused, once again glancing back and forth from his hand gently clasped in Roberts and to the blondes anxious eyes. Pulling his hand away, he closed his eyes and briefly shook his head, seemingly trying to collect himself. When he opened his eyes again he was met with a confused look from the man next to him.
“Don’t remember what? What is it, Aaron?” Robert was panicking now, why was Aaron pulling away?
“Who are you?”