Jayvaughn stood silently outside Axel's hospital room, arms crossed and shoulders tense. Through the narrow gap in the door, he could see the doctor moving carefully around Axel, checking monitors and scribbling notes. Yet Jayvaughn didn't step in. He couldn't.
He had rushed to the doctors the moment Axel opened his eyes. He had been the one to sit vigil for fourteen sleepless days, watching every twitch of Axel's fingers, praying for a flicker of his lashes. And now, with his wish finally granted, he found himself rooted to the hallway floor, unable to face the very person he'd longed to see awaken.
Footsteps approached from the far end of the corridor, breaking him from his thoughts. Jayvaughn looked up to see Noah walking briskly toward him.
"Hey," Noah said, coming to a stop in front of him. "What are you doing out here?"
Jayvaughn hesitated, then exhaled lightly. "Axel's awake," he said simply, his voice low and unreadable. "The doctor's inside with him right now."
