Chapter Text
Howard POV
After all that he went through and all that he saw, even after he and Phillip left Greatmaw... Howard didn't know quite what to do. For you see, he didn't really think his plan through.
He stole a ship in the dead of night, but he didn't even think about the town putting up a fight. He is glad to be defended by his dear friend, or else his days of freedom will see a swift end. The moon looks lovely on this dreadful night, but Howard is beginning to not feel right.
Maybe now is the time to see the damage those damned rocks brought. Although, he is worried a cure for his ailments can not be bought. Howard looks down at his broken limb. The chances of it healing flawlessly are looking slim. It is bloody and twisted and looking at it isnt easy. In fact he feels himself start to get queasy.
People around him are talking. Phillip seems to be carrying him while walking. The words swirl around him like water in a sink. The pain is making it hard to think. He doesn't know where they are going but Phillip quickens his pace. He also has a worried expression on his face.
"Phillip, friend, why do you worry? What is the cause for all this hurry?"
"..." Phillip stays silent, his expression blurred. Perhaps it didn't help that Howard's words were slurred.
"You're badly injured and you need help. I-... I don't know how to take care of you so we're going to the hospital. Just- Just stay awake okay?" He hears Phillip say. He opens his mouth to tell Phillip he will be fine, but instead his lungs ache and whine.
Howard feels Phillip falter at his expression of pain, but he keeps going even as tears fall like rain. Both men are covered in red, but thankfully the hospital is right up ahead. Howard struggles to keep from sleeping. He passes out to the sounds of his friend weeping.
Phillip POV
The second he feels Howard pass out in his arms, he runs as fast as he can towards the hospital. Before he was trying not to jostle him and cause him more pain. But now he's just trying to get him inside before he bleeds out.
"I NEED SOME HELP OVER HERE!" He shouts as soon as he gets through the door. The staff see them both, still covered in blood, and collect Howard out of his arms.
He tries to explain Howard's injuries and tells them everything he can, but he wasn't exactly down there with him. He gets told to wait in the lobby while they do their jobs, but he wants to know his friend is alright. They stand their ground and tell him to sit down while someone else hands him a drink.
Phillip knows he's being ridiculous but he has to know if Howard is going to be okay. If he dies like this because he tried to save him, Phillip doesn't know what he'll do. He sits down and waits.
And waits.
And waits..
And waits...
And then he starts pacing. He can't sit still, he's too anxious. Phillip wishes he could say Howard's health was all he was thinking about, but in reality he was also thinking about their fight.
It feels wrong to still be upset with Howard, he saved his life! He stole a boat and came all the way to the island because he was worried about him... And yet Phillip is still upset. Obviously he still cares about Howard, but so much has happened.
All they have is each other, and while Phillip knows it isnt healthy he can't help but think that he misses what they were before. Sure they fought sometimes, but, maybe it was better that way. Back when it was just the two of them and neither of them were trying to go to that damned island. They were awful for each other but they were happy... Weren't they? ...
Phillip feels bad for even thinking it. They were both miserable even if they both ignored it in favor of depending on each other. Phillip wants to fix things between them, make their friendship better. So he has to actually talk to Howard instead of whatever they did before now. He just has to talk to Howard.
So he'll wait.
He'll wait for Howard to wake up and then everything will be fixed if they just talk to each other. Everything will be fine. And then, with his mind made up, Phillip sits and finally let's himself relax.
And then he falls asleep.
<~◇~>
Someone is screaming in the other room. He knows its one of his coworkers but he can't handle identifying their voice right now. He's trying to run, but it's no use. His body feels sluggish and slow. His mind feels just the same. He can't run, he can't think. But he can't get caught. He knows what happens to those who get caught. He runs into the greenhouse to try to hide. Maybe Nessie being there will make him think thaf Phillip is hiding somewhere else. He feels trapped. Like he has no where to run. He wishes he hadn't come here. He feels like a rabbit being hunted for a quick meal.
He feels trapped.
<~◇~>
Phillip wakes up when someone touches his shoulder. He jumps out of his skin a little and bolts upright.
He's in the lab. He needs to run away. He's in the lab. The Doctor found him. Why else would he be in the lab. He's in the lab. He's in the lab. He's in-
"Sir? I just wanted to tell you that you can visit your friend now. He's out of surgery." A nurse says to him. He breathes in and out a few times, calming himself down.
He's in the hospital. He brought Howard here. He's fine. Howard is fine. Everything is fine.
"Thanks... What room is he in?" He says once he stops panicking and finds his voice. The nurse smiles at him. She looks nice, calming.
She looks a lot like one of his coworkers did before The Doctor mutilated her-
"He's in room 5 dear. Just head that way and you'll find it. I'll let the front desk know about your visit and sign you in. I'll just need your name." The nurse tell him. Its the same nurse who handed him a glass of water earlier. She has a pleasant voice. Phillip doesn't make eye contact.
"My name is Phillip Maude... Thanks..." He wishes he weren't so awkward but he has to go see Howard. He answers as quickly as possible and leaves to find Howard's room. He knocks on the door, and calls out his name...
Howard's POV
"Howie?" Is the call Howard hears from his bed. Then in through the door Philip sticks his head. Howard is overjoyed to see someone he knows. This hospital absolutely blows! If another nurse comes in and jabs him in the arm, Howard thinks someone is going to come to harm!
...
Not actually though, of course! Howard would never use force! (Flinging rocks with a slingshot doesn't count he internally claims. Especially when the target is a spider who maims)
"Phillip my friend, visiting me finally! I'm afraid since I awoke I've been quite lonely." Howard jokes trying to lighten the mood. It doesn't work and his friend continues to brood. Phillip is silent for a moment just looking him up and down. Howard isnt able to ignore his friend's frown.
Just as Howard is about to ask for help trying to walk, Phillip comes over to his bed to talk. "Howie, you okay? They told me you had to go through surgery." Phillip says worriedly. Howard was passed out but he knows they got him to the operating table quite hurriedly.
Phillip continues. "I couldn't come with, I had to wait. What all did they do?" Howard would ordinarily try to make a joke about this. But its likely better sooner than later Phillip finds out about that leg of his.
Even still, he decides to leave it for last. He understands Phillip's mistrust of surgeries after their recent past. "Well you see friend, im stuck in this bed. But at least I have bandages for my hand and my head. My chest does ache quite a bit, and all these wires and needles make it hard to comfortably sit. I fear the state of my leg is better to show than to tell. I'm afraid it was quite damaged on our trip down to hell."
Clearly that wasn't a great way to word that. Phillip is staring at Howard and clutching his hat. Howard lifts the blanket to reveal his sorry state. "I'm afraid fixing my leg just wasn't in my fate." An empty space where his leg used to be. And bandages everywhere else that Phillip could see. "Its just my luck the doctors claimed it unfixable. My walking from now on will be less than stable."
Phillip rushes over to Howard with worry in his eyes. He looks like he wants to say something but he simply cries.
"I'm so sorry Howie."