Sage

"I'M SORRY, I HIGHLY DOUBT HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT."

Never in my life has such a fluent sentence, seemed so foreign to me. You'd think as many times I've been in this hospital I'd grow accustomed to the horrors inside it. Everyone in this place must think the Blackstone's are nothing but bad luck, seeing as they're always in here.

I've become so numb to the emotional pain that this family has brought me that I honestly can't find the energy to show the hurt, express the distress.

Dawn is a mess, crying. "No." She sobs. "He can't."

Nathan, her husband, is with her. He slips his arm around her but is immediately pushed away, they share a look, then she walks away.

"You'd think that a guy whose married to Dawn would know never to touch her when she's a wreck like that." Hudson scoffs, bitterly. "Figures she'd fuck up on choosing a husband."

"This isn't the time to belittle Dawn's husband, don't you think?" I look at him.

Hudson eyes me down. "Says the sociopath, showing absolutely no emotion towards the situation."

"I just...can't feel anymore...it's hard." I curl up into a ball. "The pain is to hard to deal with."

He shoves a random cart onto the ground. "Fuck!" Hudson rubs his temple and stressfully walks in a circle. "Why'd he have to put himself in that position. That bastard just HAD to go and walk into the eye of the beast like that."

"Hudson." My eyes crawl up towards his face, filled with so much sadness.

"No!" He shouts. "That fucker needs to stop thinking about himself, and start thinking about about everyone who will be affected by this. You, Hamilton, Dawn...me..." He pauses. "...Greyson."

I close my eyes, forcing the pain to stay inside.

The moment Greyson wakes up he's most assuredly going to want to know what happened to his Father. Once he hears that someone shot Richard in the head from behind, I'm not sure what he'll do, or how he'll react.

The Doctors aren't giving us much, the surgeons are currently working on him, and everytime someone comes out they tell us news that are much worse than what we originally heard.

Dawn has been mentally checking in and out for the past few hours, and I had was bombarded by police—again. But Todd shooed them away as soon as he arrived once he got news about what happened, David explained the nights events to him. Needless to say, David was immediately fired for allowing Greyson to get involved in this.

"I'm going to rest..." I say, standing up.

Hudson zooms towards me instantly as my legs give in. "I don't think you should be walking, you've gone through a lot today, and I'm sure you shouldn't overexert yourself."

I cringed at the flashbacks, the stomach-curling taste, one that using an entire bottle of Listerine can't wash away. Having that...thing in my mouth...

I cover my eyes with my face. "Do...Do you think he won't want me anymore?"

Hudson was there when I described the entire scenario to the police with the men who were shot in the room. How I was two seconds from being assaulted and that one of them had me perform disgusting acts to him.

"Fuck, no." He says sternly, then chuckles sourly. "When he wakes up and hears what those fuckers did to you, he's going to revive their asses just to kill them again."

I snickered, but didn't smile. "You're probably right."

"Is that why you've been out here, instead of in there with him?" He asks, placing me back on the chair.

I sigh. "I'm aware it could have been worse...but I just feel so disgusting. Like I'm infected somehow by another man. I haven't even gotten used to sleeping in the same bed as Greyson and suddenly I am forced to do that to another man."

"You're not disgusting, Sage." Hudson assure me. "Greyson will know that, you're pretty much the most important thing to him. Though he won't admit that because he's fucking stubborn." He scoffs. "But don't worry about that, just use a few more bottles of mouth wash, brush your teeth eighty times a day...maybe use some bleach." He grins.

I slap him. "Ha. So funny."

"I know, I'm fucking hilarious." He trails off as his gaze is caught by something.

Following his eyes I see him staring at Dawn, who was back and apparently having a stern talk with her husband. A lot of hands are being thrown around angrily. But that's not why Hudson's staring at her, that look in his eyes says differently.

"You're infatuated by her, aren't you?" I ask.

His eyes slide to mine, wide. "Huh?"

"You totally have a crush on Dawn." I say.

He rubs his head. "Crush is an understatement, more like puppy dog love."

"Really?" My brows raise. "You've been friends with Greyson for a long time and she's been with Nathan for like, ever. You can't be in love with someone who won't reciprocate the feelings."

"Why not?" He sends me a curious look. "If I remember correctly, Greyson isn't a man who reciprocates basic feelings such as love. Yet, he risked his life to save you, seems to me it's very possible to make a one-sided love into a mutual thing. Don't you think?"

I crossed my arms. "You're smarter than you act, you know? But gander me this, she's a married women, how will someone so in love with her husband suddenly change her mind and go with you?"

"Well, it's simple." He glances at me. "Fate. I believe that somewhere along the line Dawn Blackstone—not Mercer, will be mine. Not to mention I know her better than any man she'll be with, even if it's her husband."

"You're a hopeless romantic, eh?"

He shrugs. "Guess so, but if I'm not mistaken so are you? But gander me this, why aren't you with the man you love, why are you wallowing here when you can be the first face he see's in the bliss of survival?"

I stared at Hudson and pondered his question.

Then I got up.

→←

"Sage."

I grumble. "Tired..."

"Sage, honey."

I curl up tighter. "Five more minutes...please..."

"Baby."

Wait...

"Baby, wake up."

My eyes snap open and immediately my gaze met with a pair of diamonds. I don't know why but relief engulfed me, and instantly after everything hit me. And without warning the waterworks came crashing in.

Greyson didn't say a word as I cried into his chest—which was in dire need of a bandage replacement. He just stroked my head despite the pain he was most definitely feeling. I'm not sure what I did to deserve someone who would get banged up so bad for me. Even now he's putting me first when he should be pushing me off and asking for a nurse.

So I sucked it up and wiped my tears away, then smiled. "You're awake."

"I've been awake, babe, you're the one who slept like you were fighting wars in this small bed." Greyson chuckled, then cringed. "That hurts like a motherfucker. Can you call the nurse?"

"Sure." I said, getting up.

"And while you're at it get me some water."

Just as he asked I went to fetch a nurse and get a cup of water for him. Only to come back to the room to see that he was gone. Alarms blared in my head, the same guy who got shot is up and about!? When I ran to the front desk to report Greyson's disappearance I see him angrily yelling at the nurse."

"Where is he!?" Greyson yells.

Oh my gosh, he's looking for Richard.

"I'm sorry sir, but we're going to have to bring you back to your room, you're in no condition to be walking around like this." The nurse says, while two male nurses walk behind him with a wheel chair.

"Fuck that, tell me where my father is! I have the right to know!" He shouts, clenching his fist onto the desk.

Somewhere deep down, I'm almost positive, Greyson knows that his father isn't in tip-top condition. That something bad is going to happen soon.

"It's fine." Dawn enters the room...with Hudson!? And no Nathan to be seen. "Greyson, sit on the chair, I'll take you to see him."

"But ma'am, he's not in any condition—"

"Greyson is stubborn and I'm pretty sure he'd literally have himself killed just to see our father." Dawn informs the nurse. Something about her demeanor is questionable.

Greyson complies and sits down on the chair, Dawn goes behind him and grabs the handles. She hesitates for a moment but Hudson gives her a good push and whispers something in her ear. Slowly her eyes close and she exhales, as if holding back tears, then nods.

The two go off first, Hudson and I follow behind.

"What'd you say to her?" I ask, curiously.

"I told her she has to bring him...to say goodbye." Hudson says.

I start tearing. "So...there's not chance."

"In reality, no." He breathes. "But...I just can't give up on the idea that the bastards going to get up and tear us a new one." He chuckles, but I can tell he's holding back the sobs.

Even someone like Hudson giving up, a guy I barely know, makes me feel absolutely depressed beyond words. I'm not ready to see Greyson with his father, the goodbye, I never seen the two show emotion towards each other and it's horrible that the only time it'll happen is when he has to say goodbye.

We reach the room, Dawn opens the door, and they walk in. Just before I walk in Hudson stops and leans against the wall and waits.

"You're not going in?" I ask.

"I'm not a big fan of goodbyes." He shrugs.

"This is the last time you'll be able to do it though." I tell him.

He shakes his head. "The moment I say the words, it's real, he's gone."

I understood his hesitation and didn't want to push him. Clearly he's going through some turmoil over this, even though I'm pretty sure Richard gave him the tough love too.

"Wake up!"

Suddenly I hear Greyson yelling and the sound of the chair falling onto the ground. Even Hudson, who didn't want to go inside, ran in.

Dawn was crunched up, her head in her lap, and hands on her ears. "Stop!"

"Greyson—!" Hudson starts.

"Wake the fuck up!" Greyson grabs his fathers shoulders. "I told you not to die! You said you'd be okay!"

"Stop!" Hudson grabs him from behind. "It's over!"

"No!" Greyson spits out and shoves Hudson away.

"Greyson you're hurt, you've got to calm down—" Hudson looks at me. "Sage get a nurse!"

I nod my head and run off.

Hearing Greyson yelling over and over again about his father is something I can't see or hear. It's absolute torture. As I stormed towards the desk, wiping my eyes, I bumped into something.

"I'm sorry—" I freeze when I look up.

The last person I wanted to ever see was standing before me. The last time I saw him was when I called him that fat kid from back at the barnyard. It didn't go so well between us. And especially when his father sided with me and not him.

But today, he looks different.

"Sage." Hamilton says. "Is that Greyson?"

There was no venom in his tone, it was a question, a concerned one too.

I nod.

In the background you can hear the horrible cries coming from Greyson for his father. All of it mainly angry and disappointed.

Hamilton begins walking towards the room, calm and stern. I followed behind him because somehow it felt like he would know what to do when it came to Greyson.

"If you don't get up now I will hate you until I die!" Greyson yells more. "I swear, every moment I live, every breath I take that you're not alive...I. WILL. FUCKING. HATE. YOU!"

"Enough!" Hamilton shouts. "Get off of him!"

Everyone goes silent, except for of course, Greyson. "No! Fuck off Hamilton! He can't die! He told me he was going to be alright!"

"How old are you?" Hamilton grabs his arm. "You're not a child, you can't throw these silly tantrums."

"He's...not...going...to...die..." Greyson falls onto the ground, then grabs his stomach.

"Fuck—he's bleeding." Hudson looks at me. "I'll get the nurse then." Then runs off.

"Hamilton...he can't..." Greyson rubs his face. "...not him too."

Hamilton kneels down next to his brother. "Greyson, he's not going to make it. He's going to be with mother now."

"I killed them both...I'm the reason they're both dead...I didn't protect him..." Greyson cried.

No

He protected me

Greyson chose me over his father

I'm the one to blame for Richard's death.

"It's not your fault, Grey, none of it is." Hamilton assures him.

"But you and father, you guys treated me so horribly after her death. And you kept blaming me." Greyson looks at him. "You can't tell me what you felt is different and that it's not my fault!"

"It's not!" Hamilton says. "I was just angry with...myself and took it out on you. I should have never left to that stupid birthday party and stayed to hear your practice for your recital like mom at home. It's my fault...if I had just stayed I could have prevented it."

Both brothers looked at each other, both in enormous pain, bonding off of their faults.

Then,

"It...was...none...of...your faults."

Suddenly everyone looked at Richard, his eyes barely open, and his breathing unsteady. He looked weak, like he forced himself to wake up.

"Father!" All of his kids yelled.

Dawn stormed to his side with Greyson and Hamilton. Then at the doorway was a nurse who stood behind me with awe.

"That's...not possible." She whispers.

Hudson smiles, sadly. "It is when you're that stubborn bastard. He couldn't leave without saying bye to his kids."

"Don't you ever...blame yourselves." Richard says weakly. "Greyson...your mother would die for you...a thousand times. She risked her life to save yours. Don't waste it blaming yourself for her death. And Hamilton..." He scoffs, closing his eyes. "...you know damn well that stupid party was nowhere near stupid. You met your wife there...isn't that right?"

Richard's eyes moved to Dawn. "My first and only daughter..., divorce that man..."

Everyone gasped.

"What?!" Her eyes widened.

Richard chuckled, dryly. "I hear you in here...bickering with Hudson...I heard everything."

Suddenly she blushed. "Daddy, that's not—"

"He's your first love...Hudson...take care of her." Richard informs him.

Hudson salutes him. "Yes sir."

"And...Sage..." Richard gulps down, and waves me to come over.

Hesitantly, I walk towards him, and grab his hand. "Yes?"

"My son...is a bloody manwhore...been that way since his mothers death." Richard explains and Greyson stiffens. "But with you he's different. He fought his way...into that school...to save you...and despite whether he admits it or not...that boy loves you more than he lets on—"

"Father!" Greyson sends him a look.

"Shut up, son." Richard sighs. "Take care of him...Sage. Okay?"

I nod. "Yes sir."

Then he smiles at everyone, and I felt my stomach drop as his grip loosened and his eyes closed. All of his children immediately lose it.

"Father!" They all yell.

"Daddy! No, no, no!" Dawn cries into his chest.

"Father." Hamilton rubs his face. "No."

"No! You can't go!" Greyson falls onto his knees. "I need you..."

I cry with them.

When suddenly, Richard groaned. "Could you all shut up? I'm trying to sleep. I'm exhausted. Could you mind?" All of us stare blankly at Richard who pulled the covers over him some more. "Can I get some bloody water too, I'm quenched."

Everyone shared a look, confused.

That's when another nurse walks into the room and gives us an awkward grin. We were immediately informed that the bullet barely even grazed his brain and it went right through. Needless to say, the surgery was successful and with plenty of rest and check ups Richard Blackstone was going to be fine.

Even facing death, Papa Blackstone, was indeed a savage.

→←

"That asshole knew the entire time he was fine and let us whine and cry about him." Greyson complained. "He gets on my bloody nerves."

When Greyson talks about his father in this manner he acts like such a child, it's actually very adorable. Despite what we faced during the night and what was to come, it was nice to feel like everything worked out—briefly that is.

Dawn denied her fathers request and called Nathan back. He's currently in Richard's room with Dawn and 'talking', even though I'm pretty sure Richard has us kicked out so that he could recover in silence. Which made sense because a bullet through the head sounds awfully painful and the meds he's on must make him super tired.

"He gets on all our bloody nerves, he's a Blackstone, you all do. It's in your fucking genes." Hudson chuckles, snacking on an Oreo.

Greyson narrows his eyes. "Why are you always in here? I'd like some privacy with my fiance, we did have the worst night of our lives and all."

"And I didn't?" Hudson pouts. "I almost lost my best friend."

"Don't call me that." Greyson snaps.

Hudson grins, then stands up. "I get it, I'm third-wheeling it. I'll go find a nurse of something while you two...mingle. Don't get to comfortable. I shall return soon."

"How about not at all?" Greyson says.

Hudson shrugs. "Depends on how frisky a nurse is willing to get with me."

Then he disappears.

Suddenly I realize I'm alone with Greyson and I become horribly nervous. The things that went on during the night makes me feel self-conscience. I'm not the completely pure girl I once was and I hope Greyson won't mind. Though what guy wouldn't mind? Hearing your fiance performed things to another man by force.

"You look like you want to talk it through." Greyson says. "But I'm going to be honest, my temper is going to kill me, and I'd like to live to get revenge on those bastards. I have a feeling I know what happened in that room Sage...what they made you do and almost do." He breathes. "I heard the police briefly speak about a white substance they found at the crime-scene."

I froze.

He continued, clenching his fist. "I know what happened and you lived through it. But we don't need to let it define you."

I made fists into my pants.

And Greyson smiled at me. "I know it won't go away easily...but," Then the smile turns into a grin. "I'll find ways to make you forget, and I'll offer myself to the cause."

And as if a ton was lifted, I sighed, then snorted. "Oh really?"

"Yeah, I know I'm all banged up, but when I get better I'm going to turn the tables and bang you up."

I chuckled. "That was horrible!"

"I know," He sighed. "these fucking pain meds are making me loopy."

With a large smile I made my way to his bed and curled up with him. "I like loopy Greyson, show me more."

"Well they say actions speak louder than words," He leans in. "and I think loopy Greyson wants to kiss his gal."

I pause. "I don't think..."

"Sage," He scolds. "you're perfectly fine."

I sigh. "I'm just...not ready to make out with you...especially with what happened and your wound might open—"

Before I could finish protesting Greyson placed me on my back and slammed his lips onto mine.

"No one tells me what I can and can't do with my girl." He says, then begins kissing me again.

It didn't take the nurses long to show up, apparently, Greyson's heart rate was unusual and they got worried. Oh and of course he ended opening his wound—again. Seeing him in pain after forcing me down made me laugh hysterically.