Chapter Text
Kevin Day had not been drinking that rainy afternoon.
Sure, he was drunk strangely often for someone who outshone everyone on the Exy court. But he was usually content to be driven around like the passenger princess he was. In fact, the only time in memory he had been behind the wheel of a car was when he was fleeing West Virginia.
Kevin had been T-boned in an intersection on the outskirts of the university, driving toward an unknown location, but he had been sober. He had been found unconscious, lying next to a crumpled print-out of turn-by-turn directions.
“It probably would have been better on his body had he been drunk,” the doctor had told the group, who were staring at his unrecognizable form. “His head went through the windshield. He’s been unconscious since his arrival.”
Andrew eyed the monitor which beeped steadily at Kevin’s bedside. “His heart is still beating. But what about his brain?”
The doctor hadn’t wanted to give either Neil or Andrew any information, but Wymack had made it clear she wouldn’t get any rest if she didn’t at least answer their questions.
“Brain activity is minimal, but it is there. We won’t know how much damage he’s sustained until he wakes up from his coma.”
Neil privately thought the coma was probably for the best. Kevin’s face was so swollen he wouldn’t be able to recognize him except for the face tattoo. He also had another thought, but he ran it by Andrew first.
“Do you think we should call Jean? He can’t find out through the media.”
“Call Jeremy. He can make telling Jean his problem, not ours.”
Neil dialed the USC striker, who chirped a cheerful hello.
“Kevin’s alive, but he’s in the hospital. He was in a car accident and is currently unconscious.”
When he finally spoke, Jeremy’s voice was at least an octave lower. “Neil? Are you serious? Of course you are, you wouldn’t joke about this.”
“Jean has to be told,” Neil said, with a warning tone. He could imagine Jeremy nodding back in L.A.
“I’ll take care it,” he promised solemnly.
Taking care of it, Neil and Andrew soon found out, was buying two tickets to North Carolina, and ending up in Palmetto by the next evening.
The group had willfully ignored the nurses’ directive that only two people at a time be allowed in the room. Jeremy had even pulled in chairs from other rooms so there was enough for the group to sit.
Jean preferred to stand at Kevin’s bedside. He said nothing, but picked up Kevin’s right hand and inspected it from multiple angles. He did the same with the left, until he made a satisfied grunt.
“Kevin won’t care if he’s down to his last two brain cells, as long as his hands are okay.”
Jeremy blinked. “I’m pretty sure Kevin is not going to appreciate a traumatic brain injury.”
Jean scoffed. “His body could play a full game and win without input from his brain.”
Andrew nodded. “His body outpaced his mind years ago.”
Jeremy dug his nails into his upper arms. “I’m really worried about him,” he said.
The doctor came in at the tail end of Jeremy’s comment. “The best thing you can do is talk to him. Let him hear your voices. If he’s trying to decide to fight or give up, hearing you can make the difference.”
Neil and Andrew glanced at each other, immediately understanding what had to happen next.
“We’ll leave it up to you two,” Andrew said in a tone that brooked no argument. “If he hears Neil or I, he might just let the void claim him.”
Jeremy shook his head, but jumped up to stand on the opposite side of the bed as Jean. He grabbed Kevin’s hand.
“Hey,” he said softly. “Do you remember the time we first met at the Christmas banquet? You asked me why I wasn’t captain of the team yet. Of course I felt extremely flattered, being talked to by Kevin Day. But Riko was there too, and he let me know in no uncertain terms that you were actually insulting me. I was too star-struck to care, though. To me, it just felt like a huge ego boost. I think I floated the rest of that evening.”
Jean clucked his tongue. “You were floating, no doubt, but not because of Kevin.”
Jeremy laughed, light and carefree. “Touche. Now you try.”
Jean opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. After a moment, he shrugged. “I guess there are simply too many years of history between us for me to say something pleasant enough to benefit Kevin in his current state.”
Jeremy drew his brows together. “Please Jean, you have to try. I know what you mean to him. You have the best chance of anyone at pulling him out of this.”
Jean looked uncomfortable as he digested this truth. That’s when it clicked for Jeremy. Whatever Jean had to say to him, he needed to say it in private.
“I’m going to go get some coffee. I’ll be back in 20 minutes.”
Jean looked at the man in the bed, weighed down by the years of turmoil and angst they had shared between them.
“It would be a shame if you died right now, Kevin. There would be only two people left who I could tease about their horrible French accents.”
Beep. Beep.
“I don’t think I am a good person to talk to you. You would probably like it more to hear your favorite captain. He thinks he knows what I mean to you, but he is a delusional do-gooder who is annoyingly optimistic.”
Beep. Beep.
“I will say this. If I knew the magic words to say to wake you from your coma, I would say them. I would say them now, because losing Kevin Day is a loss that no one should suffer.”
Beep. Beep.
“I–” Just then, Kevin’s eyelids started to flutter. When he started groaning, Jean reached over and hit the call button.
“What is it Kevin? What are you trying to say?”
But whatever it was got lost in the flurry as a nurse entered the room and saw Kevin stirring.