Ashton slowly blinked awake, his eyes straining against the harsh lights. There was a subtle synchronized beeping sound coming from somewhere in the room. Eventually the blurriness of his vision went away and he could see the white tiled ceiling. His body felt numb, his mind was foggy, and he was confused as to where he was. The last thing he remembered was hearing someone's voice, and then... nothing. He slowly turned his head to look around, and saw none other than Jaxon half asleep in a chair next to the bed he was laying on. Next to him was a hanging bag of blood with an iv that was connected to his own arm. I'm in the hospital..? He tried to shift, but hissed as a burning sensation went through his muscles.

Jaxon's eyes flicked open at the sound. "You're awake." He stated standing up and moving closer to him.

"It was your voice..." Ashton thought aloud. His eyelids still felt heavy, but he began to remember what happened. He went to speak again, but found himself coughing.

"Yeah, it was me." Jaxon stated calmly. "Idiot...What the hell were you thinking? I told you once before how something like this can affect people. Do you know how stupid that was? You're lucky I got there in time..."

"I wasn't..." Ashton trialed off, not finishing the sentence, before coughing again.

Jaxon gently pushed Ashton's hair back, feeling his forehead with the back of his hand. "You still have a fever. Are you in pain?"

Ashton nodded. "My body burns."

"That's what happened earlier, they had to sedate you. I'll tell the nurse." Jaxon replied pressing the button next to his bed.

"I was awake earlier?" He asked.

Jaxon frowned. "Barely..."

"Hm..." Ashton felt like he was being drawn back into sleep.

"Get some more rest. You're not going anywhere anytime soon..." Jaxon pulled the thin white blanket up over him.

Ashton hardly nodded in response before closing his eyes again and sleeping.

-&-

When Ashton opened his eyes again he was met with a tear filled stare. He was surprised by who was standing at the edge of his bed. "Peppy?"

Patton sniffled sucking in a breath. When he heard the familiar nickname he seemed to fight off more tears. "Ashton... why?"

Ashton still felt weak, but less numb, so he slowly managed to sit up on his own. The pain was gone, except for in his wrists. "I'm sorry Peppy..." he apologized, not able to look at him. "I didn't mean to hurt you, now or ever. I honestly don't deserve your tears or forgiveness... I don't deserve much of anything actually... You're the one who deserves happiness."

Patton let out a small sob before suddenly leaning forward and pulling Ashton into his arms desperately. "I forgive you. I forgive you, okay? I forgave you a long time ago, so please... please don't do anything like this ever again! I may have fallen in love with Logan, but you still mean so much to me, don't you understand that? How could you ever possibly think I could be happier if you were gone?"

Ashton blinked a few times in surprise, but smiled as the crying boy hugged him. "I was right... you really are too nice for your own good."

"Shut up." Patton sniffled. "My brother was the one who was right... you really are a godamn Idiot."

Ashton just chuckled lightly returning the others embrace.

Patton eventually pulled away, sniffling a few more time and wiping his face. "Ashton... you said you really liked me, that wasn't a lie right?"

Ashton was surprised by the question. "No, I would never lie about something like that..." he trailed off. "Especially not to you, but don't worry... I already know you're with Logan, I'm not gonna do anything to ruin that."

Patton nodded. He remembered how bad he felt when he thought Logan didn't feel the same. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to break your heart."

"What are you apologizing for, you didn't do anything wrong." Ashton shook his head. "Besides... it's not like I haven't had my heart broken before."

"So...?" Patton trailed off seeming to find it hard to say what he wasted. "It's not because of me right..? You didn't do this because I-"

"No!" Ashton said quickly. "God Patton, no. I was fucked up long before I met you, I should have asked for help, but I never did and it just got a lot worse. None of this was your fault."

Patton nodded looking down to his folded hands. "I'm still sorry... I don't know why exactly, but I am." There was a short silence, before Patton broke it. "Ashton... I have to say that I still love Logan, I don't want anything to change the fact that I'm finally together with him, but if just for a moment I can give you happiness..."

"Yeah, I understand. like I said, no need to worry. I-" He was cut off when Patton suddenly leaned down and kissed him, only for a second before pulling away.

"I just thought maybe if we had one proper kiss you would stop feeling so guilty about what you did." Patton stated leaning away again, looking away from him.

Ashton blinked at him in shock.

"But just one!" Patton stated quickly his cheeks a slight pink. "And I got permission from Logan for only one, so you don't have to worry about us."

Ashton brought his fingers to his lips for a moment. He then couldn't help but burst into a laugh. "You are really not like anyone I've ever met. That's so weird!"

"Don't make fun of me!" Patton whined slightly. "I was trying be nice."

This only made Ashton laugh a little harder, so much so that he had to cover his mouth with his hand, and clutch his side in pain. Still, he couldn't help but tease him more. "Do you go around kissing everyone you wanna be nice to?"

"No!" Patton screeched, his face turning red. "This was a special case, and like I said it was just once, so don't go making a big deal out of it."

"I really don't understand how your brain works." Ashton let his laughter die down.

Patton let a small smile grace his lips. "Well anyway... I'm glad that I can see you laugh again."

Ashton nodded. "Oh... and can you apologize to your brother for me as well?"

Patton tilted his head in confusion. "Why would I apologize for you, tell him yourself."

"I don't know if we'll see each other again." Ashton replied.

"Why do you say that?" Patton chuckled. "He just went to get food, he'll be back."

"He's coming back?" Ashton asked.

"Um... yeah. Why wouldn't he?" Patton looked at him strangely.

"Well, it's not like he actually cares about me." Ashton stated.

"Are you serious?" Patton asked in disbelief. "He saved you."

"Wouldn't anyone?" Ashton stated solemnly.

"Ashton." Patton said seriously. "My brother is a pretty carefree person, he's always been charismatic and easy to get along with. True he would probably do the same for anyone, but he doesn't cry often. Almost never actually. For him to actually shed tears for someone, especially in front of others... must make that person pretty special."

Ashton looked down, seeming somewhat lost in his thoughts.

Patton smiled grabbing the small bag he brought with him. "Well, I told Logan I would meet him downstairs, so I should probably get going for now. Get well soon Ashton."

The boy nodded. "Thanks Peppy, See you later."

"See you later." He replied before leaving.

-&-

Logan glanced to his passengers Seat where his boyfriend was sitting quietly, looking out the window like he was lost in thought. He sighed moving his eyes back to the road. "Are you Alright Patton?"

Patton looked at him before nodding slowly. "I'll be okay..."

"We can go back, if you want to spend more time with him." Logan offered. He didn't necessarily 'love' the idea, but he understood that Patton was very worried for his friend.

Patton smiled at his consideration, but shook his head. "No it's fine, my brother will be back with him soon anyways."

Logan nodded. "So, did you kiss him?"

Patton seemed surprised by the question. "Um yeah... but just once, and only for a second, just like we agreed!"

"And?" Logan asked wanting him to continue.

"And..?" Patton mirrored back nervously.

"How did he respond?" Logan clarified.

"Oh, he laughed at me." The smaller replied.

"He laughed at you?" Logan asked in slight disbelief.

"Yes he started teasing me and calling me weird, honestly he's the weird one." He huffed playfully crossing his arms.

"You both are strange." Logan stated, starting to break for a red light.

There was a short silence before Patton spoke again. "But Logan.... I just wanna tell you..." he looked out the window feeling his cheeks warm slightly. "No kiss will ever feel as good as yours."

Logan was surprised by the statement, and stopped the vehicle somewhat suddenly. He then smiled leaning over to his boyfriend and pressing his lips against his cheek. "As it should be."

Patton smiled happily, "So, Where should we go for dinner??"

-&-

Jaxon stopped the nurse outside Ashton's room as he was coming back from getting some food for himself. "Excuse me, how is my friend doing?"

She smiled politely. "He's doing okay right now." She then frowned and shifted a bit, getting more serious. "Although, and I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but I would suggest you keep a close eye on him from now on. Suicide attempts and self harm are scary enough, but I'm fearful that isn't the only issue he's having. The high amount of alcohol found in his system is very unsettling for someone his age. Not to mention he was already sick, and mixed with everything, his fever was dangerously high. If his own actions didn't kill him, something else very well might have."

Jaxon nodded in understanding. "Thank you." He smiled politely at her before walking back in the room.

Ashton was sitting up in his hospital bed, staring out the window, he turned his head in the other's direction when he came in. He then cleared his throat and looked away awkwardly. Ashton now felt tense when he was around Jaxon. The times before when he saw him or interacted with him he was either drunk or in a haze, now that everything was somewhat normal he didn't know how to act around him. It was true that he didn't know anything about him, and he had an inkling that they didn't have much in common, but should he really feel this strange around him? He's just another person after all... he thought to himself. Although, maybe that's the problem. I've never been good with people.

"How are you feeling?" Jaxon asked sitting down in the chair still beside the bed.

"Weak... but okay." The younger replied softly. He felt his cheeks warm a little when Jaxon suddenly came closer and place a hand on his forehead.

"Your fever's mostly gone, that good." Jaxon stated going back to his latter position.

Ashton nodded composing himself again. "Did they say how long I have to stay here?"

"Well, they said if you were fine tomorrow then you could leave." Jaxon answered. "I'll come to pick you up tomorrow if they say you're up to it."

"You're getting me?" Ashton raised an eyebrow at him.

"Who else would?" Jaxon asked. "I'm definitely not bringing you back home either."

"Why not? It's not like I live alone." Ashton sighed in slight annoyance. Not that he wanted to go home, but he was sick of people trying to control where he could and could not go.

"Because I seriously doubt some of those injuries you have are self-inflicted..." Jaxon responded gently.

Ashton looked at him in slight surprise, he felt his heart speed up. No one knew about what his father did to him, and the realization of someone finally finding out terrified him. He didn't know why exactly, maybe because when a secret stays hidden for so long it's hard to see the reality outside of it.

"Ashton..?" Jaxon broke him from his thoughts.

Ashton shook his head slowly, feeling his jaw clench. "Whatever..." he tried to sound bitter, but his voice betrayed him and came out small. "Do what you want, I'm going to sleep more." He laid down again, turning away from the other male.

Jaxon sighed, standing up. "Alright, then I'll leave for the night." He began to walk toward the door, but stopped and looked back at him once more. "See you tomorrow..."

"See you." Ashton replied before watching him leave. His mind was racing with a million thought, but he closed his eyes and tried to push them away. Right now he just wanted to forget everything. Then a sudden thought came through all the negative ones,

Maybe now my life can finally start getting better...

Hey guys, I hope you liked the new part. Yes Ashton child is safe and okay. I hope you guys don't mind where the story went for these two parts, I'm not saying Jaxon and Ashton won't be back, but I'll try to have more logicality in the next part. Vote and comment, bye!
~Hannah😋