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The beeping of the heart monitor was the only noise filling the hospital. It was silence, the weight of Fan’s situation still heavy in the air, even if it was nearly a week ago. Fan had been bed bound, and was still unconscious for the most part, but he sometimes would very weakly squeeze or grab Bot or Testube’s hand when they came to visit him, Testube had gotten into the habit of falling asleep in the hospital, refusing to leave his side unless absolutely needed now that visitors were allowed. Others would sometimes pop up to check in on both Testube and Fan, Teakettle would bring homemade food for Testube, and lightbulb would sometimes come in just to give company. OJ, Suitcase, and Cabby all took turns hosting the show, mainly because Testube couldn’t bare to do it alone because it was Fan’s thing. Their thing. It would be wrong to do it without him, Bot would still help out every once and awhile, but most of the time they would sit on the ground in Fans hospital “room” and draw, Bot didn’t want to leave Testube alone, and also didn’t want to leave Fan alone. A groggy groan filled the room, causing Testube and Bot to snap their heads at Fan. Fan’s eyes slowly opened, but quickly closed as the lights filled his vision. Bot stood up from their corner in the room. Quickly running over and extending their legs to look over Fan, Testube had stood up fast from the chair she was sitting in, causing it to topple over and Fall to the floor. “Fan..??” Testube said, quickly grabbing Fan’s hand, holding it firmly in her own. Fan slowly opened his eyes again, squinting to let his eyes adjust to the light. “Where am I-…” Fan said, his voice hoarse from the lack of use. “The hospital, after the.. whole incident, you’ve been staying here for the past week.” Testube said, gripping his hand harder. “A week..? What about the show..?” Fan said, drawing a scoff from Testube. “You wake up after your near death experience and ask about the show? You idiot! You could have died and you’re worried about the show?” Testube’s eyes filled with tears, Bot placed their hand over Fan’s. “The OSC has been handling it, but don’t worry, I’ve been watching over every so often so I can make sure they are keeping things the way you had them.” Bot said, Soon sitting on the bed and retracting their legs. “Thank you.. That means a lot to me, Bot.” Fan muttered, smiling at Bot, before squeezing their hand. Testube let out a small whine. “Fan… I almost lost you-…” As Fan looked over to Testube, tears were already streaming down her face, her blueray had started to wear off now, and whatever residue was still on her face was being washed away by the tears. Fan let go of Testube’s hand, placing his now free hand on her cheek, wiping away one of the tears. “But you didn’t.. so why focus on that?” Fan whispered, smiling at Testube, only causing her to let out a choked sob. Fan gently urged her to lean down, and weakly wrapped his arms around her body. Testube sobbed into Fan, attempting to be gentle with him. “We should probably get Salt and Pepper.” Bot said, jumping off the side of the bed and walking out of the room. Testube backed away, but was still standing over Fan, her hands now placed in his face, feeling the burnt and crisp paper under her fingertips. “I missed you… so much….” Testube whispered, more tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but Fan moved his hand to wipe them away before they could fall, “you risked your life-.. and I don’t know how to feel.. but I could have lost you. I’m mad at you, but also amazed at your careless act..” “It could have ended so much better if I didn’t act impulsively.” Fan said, chuckling a little bit, Testube leaned down and kissed Fan. Fan didn’t flinch back, he accepted the embrace, his hands on her face and Testube’s hands fell down to his shoulders. The curtain opened into Fan’s room, and Testube quickly pulled away. “Welcome back Fan! How’r you feeling?” Salt said as she entered, Pepper scurrying right behind her with a basket. Testube backed away from the bed, bumping into the chair that she had knocked over when Fan woke up. “I’m feeling decent I guess, a little sore and I have a bit of a headache, but I think that’s just from the lights.” Fan said, watching as Salt checked the IV in his arm, then she began to examine the burns and holes. Pepper placed the basket next to his bed, it was filled with what looked to be snacks, water and new blankets. “I see, well you do seem to be a lot more stable.” “What.. exactly happened?” Asked Fan. “Well, when you climbed up that barrier and jumped off, you kinda got struck by lightning.” Replied Salt. “Oh.” “We are trying to figure out ways to repair the burns and holes, we were trying to find a material similar to you that we can use.” Pepper chipped in, before looking at Testube, who was now sitting in her chair again, Bot sitting on the floor rest next to Testube. “Bot we have more chairs.” Pepper said. “I’m alright.” Bot replied, giving a slight nod to Pepper. “Okay. Testube, do you have any ideas for a material we could use to repair Fan?” “Washi paper in Red Orange, and then yellowheart tree wood” Testube replied almost immediately. Salt paused to look at Testube, then Pepper and Salt both give each other a look, “what? That’s his exact material?” “Okay, we’ll see what we can do.” Pepper replied. “I think the best way to put in the new paper is with wheat starch paste.” Testube continued, “then wood glue.” “I don’t know how we are going to fix the wood though.” Salt cut in, “it’s pretty burnt.” “Well… I mean you could replace the wood. But that’s going to be a lot harder.” “Wouldn’t that remove his legs too?” Salt asked. “No, his legs are connected to his paper, not the wood.” Testube answered, Fan adjusted in his seat, groaning softly from the slight pain. “Well, we’ll figure out where to find the materials then talk to you about repairs.” Pepper said. Salt nodded. “Yea, thank you Testube, helps a lot,” Salt then looked to Fan, “take it easy okay? Your still in a very fragile state.” Fan nodded in response. Then Salt and Pepper both left the room. Testube scooted the chair back over to his bedside, Bot stood up to follow, then jumped onto the bed and sat at Fan’s feet. “So, there’s a chance you might have to go threw something simular to surgery.” Testube murmured, Fan fidgeted with his blanket. “I suppose, I hope it goes well..” “Fan, everything will be okay. You should trust me, I know more about how objects work the most, and when we made Bot I used you as reference, so I know how you work better then you probably do,” Testube grabbed Fan’s hand, “Your going to be okay, a wood replacement wouldn’t kill you.” “I sure hope your right.” Fan muttered. “I’m sorry that all of this happened-“ Bot started, shaking a small bit (bot shaking = crying.), “if only I didn’t continue to go after Poppy and Metag you wouldn’t have gotten electrocuted.” Bot whined, putting their face in their hands. “Bot, this isn’t your fault, it’s honestly my fault from my stupidity, I should have thought things threw, but honestly, I was more worried about you being safe.” Fan replied. Pulling Bot closer to him to hug them, “everything’s okay.” It was a hour away from Fan’s surgery. Testube and Fan where alone in his hospital room, Bot was helping the OSC with the challange, and Salt was in the front desk, Pepper very obviously being in the challange. Fan was jittery from nerves about the surgery. “Fan, it’s going to be okay, your going to be fine.” Testube said. “But what if it all goes wrong? What if I don’t make it?” Testube grabbed onto Fan’s face, which now had tears falling from his eyes. “Your going to be okay Fan.” Testube then pressed a kiss on his forehead, “I promise you, I wouldn’t give them any ideas that would put you in danger.” Fan sniffled in reply, wiping his eyes. “We’ve never had to worry about this before… Mephone could just… fix us….” The room fell silent, Testube sighed. “I’m sorry…” Fan whispered, sobbing now. Testube hugged him. “Why?” “I don’t know…” “Fan.. It’s okay.” Testube said, Cupping his Face, “your okay.” “I’m so sorry…” Fan sobbed. “What’s with the tears all of the sudden?” “I don’t know..” Fan said, burying himself into Testube. Testube moved her hands to rub his back, confused at the sudden tears and sadness, but she didn’t question. She just let him cry. He then pulled back to look at Testube. “I love you so much, I’m so sorry you had to worry about me-“ “Fan.” Testube cut it, “stop.. It’s okay. You’re okay. We’re okay.” Testube muttered, sliding her hands back up to his face, tears filling her own eyes. He then leaned in to kiss her, and she leaned in back. The beeping of the heart monitor was the only noise in the room, the lights had been dimmed to be lower since Fan woke up. Other objects would come in go, leaving her well soon gifts and cards, which filled the empty space around the two. It was an odd feeling of peace. When Testube backed away, she looked at Fan, who still had tears rolling down his face but he wasn’t crying anymore. He was still shaky from the thought of surgery, but he overall had calmed down. Testube leaned in for another kiss, she was scared herself. What if something went wrong, and she lost Fan permanently? The thought was something she attempted to bury, but it would bubble up as the surgery time came closer. She wanted to savor every last moment with him, just in case. Fan backed away this time, breathing with a slight huff that quickly subsided. Testube placed a final kiss on his forehead before backing away. “Salt and Pepper asked for me to leave 15 minutes before surgery. So I have to leave now.” “You can’t stay..?” Fan muttered, voice cracking. “Even if I was allowed to, I couldn’t bear to sit in the waiting room with the thought of your surgery being the only thing to occupy my mind.” Testube fidgeted with her hands, “but I’ll come see you as soon as I can, I promise.” “Okay..” Fan replied, before watching Testube leave the room. 2 hours rolled around since Testube left, the sun had started to set and Testube was starting to get really anxious. She knew the surgery would take awhile, but it this long, they said they’d send one of the OSC members to fill Testube in on Fan, but at this point she dreaded it. She sat at the counters in her lab, bouncing her leg as she attempted to focus on her notes from past experiments. But all she could focus on was Fan’s doodle’s and his own commentary in her notes, which she’s gotten after him many different times for tampering with her documentation, but he never stopped. Then someone entered the Lab, it was suitcase. “Testube?” Suitcases voice echoed threw the lab. Testube immediately snapped her head to look at suitcase. “Golly Suitcase, you startled me.” Testube answered. Jumping off her chair. “Surgery was successful.” Suitcase said abruptly. Testube paused, “Really?” “Yes, everything went well! He’s still asleep from being put under, but he should wake up tomorrow morning!” Suitcase smiled, clearly happy by the news herself. Testube put her hands over her mouth,“you’ll be able to see him tomorrow.” “Thank you so much, really…” “Don’t mention it, now, you should probably get some rest.” Suitcase finished, giving Testube a little nod, the both exchanged some goodnight before Suitcase left the lab. Testube walked over to her shared room with Fan (they didn’t share a bed, but they shared a room.) But as she entered, she looked over to Fan’s side of the room, it had been left unused for a good two weeks, Testube stood there, before grabbing her cork and sticking it in her head to avoid her liquid to spill out, which she sometimes forgot to use because she had gotten used to the blueray that freezes her contents. She walked over to her own bed, before pausing, and turning around to Fan’s. She sighed, before walking over to his bed and climbing into it. He wouldn’t have cared, he’d probably be in Testube’s bed every night for the next couple of weeks anyways. The next morning when Testube walked into the hospital, she was met to see Fan, who was standing up on his own, walking around. Testube paused, before making eyed contact, and the two immediately made their way to each other, Fan was slower and had more of a wobble, but Testube practically ran over to him, Testube scooped him up into her arms. “Fan! You're walking! You're okay. You look great!!” Testube exclaimed, before looking at Fan, and brushing her hands over the edges of where the new strips of paper were applied, “you can barely even see where the new paper is!” “Thank you, I feel like a new Fan..!” Fan replied, happily sliding his hands around Testube. “Fan is going to have to stay here for a couple of days so we can monitor him, but we think he doesn’t need to be hooked up to IV anymore!” Salt said, watching the two embrace each other. “That’s great!!” Testube said, “can I stay? Like overnight?” Salt nodded in reply. Testube smiled wildly, before embracing Fan more, she was still being gentle, but because he was repaired with the same material, he was in very similar condition to how he was before everything went down, so she could squeeze him as much as she wanted.