(Keifer's POV)
Two days passed.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Just… heavy.
The kind of time that doesn't really move forward—it just sits there, making you feel every second of it.
She was still in the same bed.
Same room.
Same quiet machines around her.
But things had changed.
Slightly.
Not enough to call it okay—
but enough to notice.
She was awake now.
More than before.
Her eyes opened longer, stayed focused a little more, followed movement in the room instead of drifting away.
But that was all.
She still couldn't move properly.
Every small shift came with effort.
Every breath still looked careful.
Controlled.
Like she was thinking before even doing something as simple as breathing.
Talking—
was worse.
She could.
But barely.
Just a few words at a time.
Soft.
Slow.
Like even that took too much out of her.
I stayed most of the time.
Didn't really leave.
Didn't want to.
But I wasn't the only one.
Her brothers—
Aries, Angelo, and Percy—
they didn't leave either.
Not really.
Aries stayed closest to the door most of the time, arms crossed, watching everything, like nothing in that room would move without him noticing.
Angelo handled everything else—talking to doctors, nurses, making sure nothing was missed.
Percy—
he was different now.
Still himself.
But quieter.
He stayed near her more than anyone expected, adjusting her blanket, fixing her pillow, pretending not to care while making sure she was comfortable.
And Section E—
they came in turns.
Never all at once.
Never too loud.
Cin always stood a little to the side, not saying much, just watching her like he needed to see for himself that she was still there.
The others followed the same pattern—checking, staying quiet, leaving when needed.
No chaos.
No noise.
Just… presence.
Right now—
it was calm.
She was awake.
Her head slightly turned toward the window, eyes half open but aware.
I sat beside her, my hand resting lightly near hers, not holding too tight, just enough.
"Hey," I said quietly.
Her eyes shifted slowly toward me.
A pause.
Then—
"…Keif…"
Soft.
Barely there.
But clearer than before.
I exhaled slowly.
"Yeah," I murmured. "I'm here."
Her lips moved again, like she wanted to say more.
But stopped.
Too much.
I didn't push.
"Don't," I said gently. "You don't have to talk."
A small pause.
Then the faintest shake of her head.
"…fine…"
It wasn't.
We both knew that.
But I didn't argue.
"Okay," I said quietly.
Her hand moved slightly.
Not fully.
Just enough to shift closer.
I noticed immediately.
Adjusted without thinking, letting my fingers rest lightly against hers.
She didn't pull away.
Didn't grip either.
Just… stayed there.
Percy walked in after a moment, stopping near the bed.
He looked at her for a second, then said, "You look terrible."
Aries shot him a look instantly.
But Jay—
she blinked slowly.
And something almost like a reaction passed across her face.
Not quite a smile.
But close enough.
"Idiot," Aries muttered.
Percy shrugged slightly. "What? I'm motivating her."
Angelo sighed quietly from the side.
I glanced at her again.
Her eyes were still on them.
Listening.
Even if she couldn't fully respond.
And for the first time—
she didn't look like she was just enduring.
She looked…
present.
I leaned slightly closer.
"Just rest," I said softly. "That's your only job right now."
Her gaze shifted back to me.
Slow.
Tired.
But there.
And this time—
she didn't drift away.
Two more days passed.
And this time—
there was a difference.
A real one.
She could talk now.
Not properly.
Not for long.
But enough.
Enough to answer.
Enough to react.
Enough to be… here.
The room felt different too.
Lighter.
Not calm—
just louder.
Section E had taken over.
Completely.
Voices overlapping, small arguments, random comments, Percy adding unnecessary drama as usual—everything at once.
It wasn't quiet anymore.
And for the first time—
that didn't feel wrong.
"Move, you're blocking her view," Aries said, pushing one of them slightly aside.
"I was standing here first," someone argued back.
"That doesn't mean you live here," Percy added from the side.
"You literally haven't left," Angelo said dryly.
I stood near her bed, watching it all.
And then—
I looked at her.
Jay.
Her eyes were open, following the chaos slowly, like she was trying to keep up with everything happening at once.
And then—
something changed.
Just slightly.
Her lips curved.
Faint.
But there.
She tried to laugh.
Not loud.
Just a small sound—
but even that—
was too much.
Her body tensed instantly.
Her hand moved to her stomach again, her breathing hitching sharply as the pain hit.
The smile disappeared just as quickly as it came.
"Jay—" I stepped closer immediately.
Her eyes squeezed shut for a second, her fingers pressing lightly against herself, trying to control it.
"It's okay," I said quickly, softer now. "Don't—don't do that."
The room went quiet.
Instantly.
Percy froze mid-sentence.
Aries turned fully toward her.
Angelo stepped closer without a word.
Section E—
silent.
Just like that.
She took a careful breath.
Then another.
Slower this time.
Controlled.
Like she was forcing it to settle.
"…fine…" she whispered after a second.
But her voice didn't match it.
I shook my head slightly, my hand hovering near hers but not pressing.
"Don't try to laugh," I said quietly. "Not yet."
Her eyes opened slowly.
A faint look passed through them—
half stubborn, half tired.
"…not… funny…" she murmured weakly.
Percy blinked once.
Then—
"Wow. She's insulting me already. That's recovery."
A few of them let out a small breath.
Not laughter.
Just relief.
I looked at her again.
The pain was still there.
Lingering.
But she wasn't pulling away anymore.
Just… holding through it.
"Easy," I murmured.
Her fingers relaxed slightly.
Her breathing steadied.
And even with the chaos back in the room—
this time—
it felt right.
Because she was part of it again.
A few more days passed.
This time—
things changed properly.
Not just small improvements.
Not just moments.
Real change.
She could sit up now.
Not fully on her own—
but with a little help.
She could move.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like her body still remembered the pain and didn't trust itself yet.
Talking was easier too.
Her voice still soft, still slightly strained—
but clearer.
No more broken whispers.
No more struggling for every word.
The room felt different again.
Not heavy.
Not tense.
Just… steady.
Section E was still around.
Loud when allowed.
Quiet when needed.
Percy was back to annoying her on purpose.
Aries still watched everything like nothing would slip past him.
Angelo handled things without saying much.
And her—
Jay—
she was there in all of it.
Not just watching.
Not just enduring.
Actually there.
I stood near her as she adjusted herself slightly against the pillows, her movements slow but controlled.
"Careful," I said automatically.
She rolled her eyes a little.
"…I am…"
Still soft.
But definitely her.
Before I could say anything else—
a knock came.
The nurse stepped in with a small file in her hand, glancing at Jay first, then at the rest of us.
She checked the monitor briefly, then looked back at her.
"You're doing much better," she said with a small nod.
Jay didn't reply immediately, just gave a faint look that said she already knew that.
The nurse smiled slightly, then added—
"If everything stays stable overnight, you can be discharged tomorrow."
Silence.
Just for a second.
Then Percy straightened instantly. "Finally."
Aries let out a quiet breath.
Angelo nodded once.
Section E reacted in their own way—small smiles, relieved looks, quiet comments.
I didn't say anything.
Not right away.
I just looked at her.
Her eyes met mine.
And this time—
they were clear.
Tired.
Still healing.
But clear.
"…home…" she murmured softly.
I nodded once.
"Yeah," I said quietly. "Home."
And for the first time—
it didn't feel far anymore.