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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐎 drifted through Stella's apartment as August stretched in the living room, legs pulled high, working himself loose for training.

"Hothead, you've been at it since 7," Stella said as she walked into the kitchen, pouring orange juice into two glasses—one for herself and one for him. "That's a lot of stretching. Come on, take a break."

"Well, yeah. Tournament's in a month. Sensei's gonna kick our asses all week, and I've gotta be ready," August said.

"Fine," Stella said, grabbing a toasted bagel. "Just don't break my vase."

"Don't worry, I won't break your precious vase," August teased, bending his leg back behind him.

A hard knock rattled the door. Stella, still holding her bagel, opened it to reveal Johnny standing there.

"Hey, Johnny," she beamed

"Hey," he said, swaggering in like he owned the place. His eyes flicked toward August.

"Your student's ready for some intense training," Stella teased.

"Oh, is he?" Johnny smirked. "We'll see about that."

"Hey sensei, let me grab my water bottle," August said, moving toward the hallway. "Stella, I left it in your car."

"My keys are on the nightstand," she replied.

"Got it. Thanks," August said, fist-bumping Johnny before disappearing toward her room.

The second he was out of earshot, Stella lowered her voice. "Babe, we need to tell him."

"We'll take him to dinner," Johnny said. "What's his favorite restaurant?"

"He's got two. Back home it was Texas Roadhouse, but since they don't have those here, it's Applebee's." Stella said

"Ah, that's not gonna work. I had a little incident there once." Johnny said

"What happened?" Stella asked.

"You know how they make that loaded potato soup?" Johnny started.

"Yeah." Stella said. "It's Grandma's favorite."

"It's like—"

But before he could finish, August reappeared, holding Johnny's black headband in his hand. "Um... sensei, I think this is yours."

Johnny froze. Stella's eyes widened. The three of them sat down—Johnny and Stella side by side on the couch, August across from them in a chair.

"Here's the thing," Johnny started.

"We wanted—" Stella said at the same time.

"You go," Johnny nudged her.

"No, you," she insisted.

"Well, someone should go," August cut in, staring between them.

Johnny blew out a breath. "So your sister and I are hooking up."

Stella's head snapped toward him, unimpressed.

"Not just hooking up," Johnny corrected quickly, fumbling. "When two people are... you know, attracted to each other—"

"I get it," August interrupted. "Y'all are dating."

"Yeah, we're dating," Johnny said firmly.

"Yes," Stella added with relief. "We didn't mean for you to find out like this."

"No—we were waiting for the right time. Wanted to take you somewhere nice. A Chili's. Marie Callender's. Red Lobster," Johnny added.

"August, are you okay, honey?" Stella asked, noticing his expression.

August nodded slowly. "Yeah. I think so. I mean, I'm shocked. But not totally surprised—there were times I could tell something was going on between you two. Honestly, I'd have picked someone with better food in their fridge. But other than that... Johnny's a great guy. If you're happy, I'm happy."

"We're very happy," Johnny said, reaching for Stella's hand. His rough grip softened the second he laced his fingers with hers.

"Awesome," August said. "So... can I go get my water bottle now?"

"Sure, go ahead," Stella smiled.

"Thanks. Oh, and Johnny—" August said, pausing.

"Yeah?" Johnny asked, lifting his chin.

August studied him, serious and unwavering. "Look, I trust you with my sister. I'm happy for you both. But don't hurt her. I'm not talking as your student right now—I'm talking as her brother. I promised my mom and dad I'd always protect her. Dad's still around, sure, but it's still my job. I'll always look out for her."

Johnny didn't flinch. He leaned forward slightly, his rough exterior softened only for this moment. His eyes locked with August's, unshakable and steady. "I get it, man. And I don't just say this lightly. I love your sister, August. I've loved her from the second she walked into my life, and I don't care what anyone thinks. I will never hurt her. Ever."

August's jaw tightened, scrutinizing him for any sign of falsehood. Johnny's hands clenched briefly—not in aggression, but to show he meant every word. "You trust me with her life, with her heart—I'm saying right now, I won't let you down. She's mine, and I'm hers. You don't have to worry. Not today, not ever."

He glanced at Stella, standing quietly by the couch, and subtly positioned himself slightly in front of her, just enough to make it clear without saying a word: he would always be her shield. A small, protective edge softened the intensity in his eyes. "No one's gonna hurt her on my watch. Not a step, not a second. I've got her back. Always."

August's shoulders relaxed slightly. He nodded, a small, reluctant smile forming. "Alright. That's all I needed to hear. Just... keep her safe, Johnny."

Johnny smirked, a flash of his signature Cobra Kai swagger returning, but tempered by the weight of his promise. He reached for Stella's hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. His thumb brushed over hers, firm, possessive in the quietest, most loving way. "I swear, August. She's my everything. I got her back. Always."

August gave a final nod, then turned and walked out to grab his water bottle. Johnny exhaled softly, turning to Stella. She smiled up at him, eyes soft and full of trust. He stepped close, pressing his chest lightly against hers, and leaned down to press his forehead to hers. "I love you, Stella. No one else, just you."

Stella's lips curved into a smile, feeling the weight and truth in every word. "I love you too, Johnny. Always."

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

"Morning, Stella," April greeted warmly, as Stella walked into the Emergency Room

"Morning," Kara and Lori chimed together, flashing matching smiles at their best friend.

"Morning, girls," Stella replied, tucking her purse away in her locker.

"So, how did it go with telling August about you and Johnny?" April asked.

"Surprisingly, he was okay with it. Although he said he wasn't super surprised something was going on—apparently, there've always been little moments between us." Stella admitted.

"August isn't lying," Lori said knowingly, tilting her head with a playful smirk. "So how do you feel since you told him?"

Stella's shoulders softened, a quiet glow spreading across her face. "I mean, I feel better. Now my family knows. It was killing me to keep that secret from him. And...I just love Johnny so much."

Kara clasped her hands dramatically, grinning. "Ugh, obsessed. That's so chic."

Lori twirled a strand of hair. "Seriously. That's hot."

Before Stella could laugh at them, Maggie's voice carried across the floor. The sliding glass doors whooshed open, alarms blaring as paramedics rushed in. "Stella, Dr. Halstead—incoming, Trauma 3," Maggie called.

A gurney barreled down the hall. "Sixty-one-year-old male, BP 140/90, fever 101. Called it in himself but could hardly breathe by the time we got there," the paramedic reported.

"Please..." the patient rasped, trying to lift his head.

"Sir, I need you to relax," Stella said gently, laying a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"Listen to me..." the patient gasped.

"Just try to relax, okay?" Stella reassured.

"All right, let's start a neb treatment and get 125 milligrams solumedrol IV," Dr. Halstead instructed, snapping on gloves.

"Okay, got it," Stella replied, already moving.

"Let's transfer him. On my count. One, two, three," Dr. Halstead said as they lifted the man onto the trauma bed. "Let's get that neb treatment."

Stella leaned in, voice calm and steady. "Just try to relax, sir. All right, I need you to take a deep breath for me, okay? There you go." She fitted the oxygen mask snugly over his nose and mouth.

"Do you have any family we should notify?" Dr. Halstead asked.

"No... I need... I need to speak to Sharon," the patient forced out between breaths.

"Deep breaths," Stella coached, steadying the mask.

"I need to speak to Sharon," he repeated, straining for air.

"Relax, relax," Stella soothed, keeping her hand firm on his shoulder.

"Sharon. Sharon," he persisted, voice breaking. "McGee."

Maggie stepped in, brows furrowed. "What did he say?"

"Something about a Sharon," Stella answered, adjusting the breathing treatment.

"McGee. He said McGee," Dr. Halstead clarified.

"That's Goodwin's maiden name," Maggie realized, startled.

The patient pointed weakly toward her, nodding in affirmation.

"Keep taking deep breaths, sir," Stella urged, her tone soft but firm, never letting go of his shoulder.

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After a while of breathing treatments, the patient was stable enough to sit up and speak. Stella stayed close at his side, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. His eyes softened when she asked his name, and he introduced himself as Reggie Dixon.

"I had a fever and a headache for the past week. Figured I had the flu. Next thing I know, I can't catch my breath," Reggie said.

"Any history of illness?" Dr. Halstead asked.

"Had a flare-up of colitis a few months back. Doctor put me on a course of steroids." Reggie said.

"Reggie Dixon." Sharon's voice warmed the room as she entered.

"There she is. Just like I remember," Reggie said, his tired eyes brightening.

Sharon laughed softly. "It's been way too long."

"It sure has." Reggie smiled at her fondly.

"Reggie and I grew up in the same neighborhood." Sharon said. "Haven't seen each other since when, the summer after my senior year in high school."

"That's right. I'd just gotten back from Vietnam," Reggie said.

"You served?" Stella asked kindly, her eyes soft with respect.

"Oh, sort of. The only thing I ever shot was my Pentax 1000." Reggie chuckled faintly.

"Reggie was a photographer with Stars and Stripes," Sharon said. "Now, they said you're having trouble catching your breath?"

"Well, I can't say you're making it any easier," Reggie teased, and Sharon laughed again.

"Mr. Dixon, you said the doctor that put you on steroids. Can you get us his information?" Dr. Halstead asked.

"I can but he's in Paris." Reggie said.

"In Paris?" Sharon questioned, rather surprised

"Yeah. Reuters had me stationed there, and I transferred back here. Time to start the next chapter." Reggie said.

"And is there anyone we could call? Are your folks still living? How about a wife?" Sharon asked.

"Never married. Never put down any roots. Heard you were running the show at this place, so I told the dispatcher to route me here. Knew you'd have my back." Reggie said.

"Yeah. You know that's right. I'm glad you did." Sharon said.

"April is going to draw some blood so we can order a few tests." Dr. Halstead said.

"I'll be right back." Sharon said as she patted his arm.

Stella followed Sharon and Dr. Halstead out into the hallway, walking with quiet grace, listening as they began discussing possible causes.

"So what are we looking at here?" Sharon asked.

"Well, he was on a course of steroids, which could have weakened his immune system. We could be looking at a respiratory infection." Dr. Halstead said. "We'll get a chest X-ray and start him on broad spectrum antibiotics and see what the labs say, Maggie."

"Copy." Maggie said.

"If you suspect anything, write it down, and you let me know the second you get results." Sharon said.

"Yes, ma'am." Dr. Halstead said.

"Okay." Sharon said as she walked away.

"Was it just me, or..." Dr. Halstead started.

"No, she was definitely flirting." Stella confirmed, her lips tugging into a small smile, which made them both laugh softly despite the tension.

Later, Stella and Dr. Halstead hurried back at the sound of Reggie's call for help.

"Mr. Dixon?" Stella's concern wrapped her words in tenderness.

He was clutching his abdomen, grimacing. "Feels like it's on fire."

Dr. Halstead lifted his gown, revealing what looked like a rash.

Reggie's voice wavered. "It feels like something's alive in there."

Stella leaned closer, her expression soft but unflinching. "It's not a rash," she murmured, voice gentle but steady. "Those are worms."

Reggie looked at her, frightened. "How the hell did I get worms?"

"Have you traveled recently to any underdeveloped countries? Anywhere tropical?" Dr. Halstead asked

"The south of France is as tropical as I've gotten in the past 20 years." Reggie said

"What about before that? You said you served with Stars and Stripes. Did you do any time in country?" Dr. Halstead asked

"I was with the 7th Cav when they took Quang Tri. What, does that have something to do with this?" Reggie asked. "What aren't they telling me?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I wanna get a stool sample. See what the labs say." Dr. Halstead said

"Yeah. Just try to rest, Mr. Dixon. We'll be back soon." Stella said as she walked out of the room

"So what were you driving at in there?" Sharon asked

"I think we're looking at a parasitic roundworm called strongyloides. I've seen a bunch of cases at the VA. I'm guessing he picked it up in Vietnam." Dr. Halstead explained

"But that was over 40 years ago." Sharon said

"Mrs. Goodwin, you know as well as we do, that the worms embed themselves in the intestinal wall, and can remain dormant for decades." Stella said

"The steroids he was on to treat his colitis must have suppressed his immune system, allowing the larvae to proliferate." Dr. Halstead said

"So we put him on an anti-parasitic. That should clear him up, right?" Sharon asked

"The worms have reached the surface of his skin. I'd say he's in a hyperinfective state." Dr. Halstead said. "Mrs. Goodwin, I'm sorry, but most patients don't survive this."

"I don't want you two throwing in the towel before we've even started." Sharon said

"Ms. Goodwin, we're just presenting our medical opinion." Dr. Halstead said

"I don't want your opinion. I want you to keep him alive." Sharon said as she was trying not to cry.

Later, Stella heard monitors beeping from Reggie's room. Both she and Dr. Halstead ran into his room where Sharon informed them he had a gastric hemorrhage.

"Let's get him on the rapid transfuser. Two of red cells, two of plasma and a five pack of platelets." Dr. Halstead said. "Stella, can you give me an NG tube?"

Stella nodded and gave him the NG tube. Dr. Halstead placed the tube down Reggie's nose, only it would not go in.

"Reggie, stay with me, I'm here." Sharon said

"It's not clearing." Dr. Halstead said to Stella. "Start a PPI drip, vasopressin, and page GI. We need to get control of the bleed."

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"GI's got his bleeding under control, but his sats are down to 88. His lungs are deteriorating." Dr. Halstead said, as he, Stella, and Mrs. Goodwin stood in the hall.

"So what now?" Sharon asked

"We'll see how he responds to the inhaled nitric oxide. He's on a PEEP of 10. There's still room to increase. If his sats don't improve, we might consider a paralytic drip." Dr. Halstead said. "But I do have some options."

"Why don't we put him on ECMO?" Sharon asked

"While putting him on ECMO might protect his lungs, it wouldn't be addressing the inflammation affecting the rest of his organs. It might buy us a little time, but it won't help him fight off the hyperinfection." Dr. Halstead said

"So you're against it." Sharon said

"That's right." Dr. Halstead said

"See what else you can come up with. It'd be nice to get ahead of this thing instead of always playing from behind." Sharon said

Later, while Stella was at the nurses station, she was conversing with Maggie. "I've never seen her like this. She's always stoic." Stella said

"All I know is that, when Sharon was graduating from high school, Reggie came back from 'Nam. They practically spent the entire summer together. It was her first real love." Maggie said

"So why didn't it work out?" Stella asked out of curiosity

"Well, Reggie wanted her to travel the world with him. But, but Sharon was going to college in the fall. And then her now ex-husband came along and it was just..." Maggie continued until they heard Sharon yelling at Dr. Halstead

"If you had listened to me earlier, we wouldn't be out of options!" Sharon yelled to Dr. Halstead

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Goodwin." Dr. Halstead said

"What's going on?" Stella asked as she and Maggie walked over to Dr. Halstead and Sharon

"The infiltrates in Reggie's lungs." Dr. Halstead said. "Complete white out. They're barely functioning."

"So what do we do now?" Sharon asked

"Mrs. Goodwin, the condition his lungs are in, there's very little hope for recovery. We should try to make him comfortable." Dr. Halstead said

"What about ECMO?" Sharon asked

"I'm afraid all ECMO will do is delay the inevitable." Dr. Halstead said

"I have been listening to your advice all day, and look where we are." Sharon said

"Mrs. Goodwin, all due respect, I'm telling you that it isn't gonna help." Dr. Halstead said

"Your concerns are noted, Dr. Halstead. Put him on ECMO. I can assign this case to another doctor, if you prefer." Sharon said, getting frustrated

"He'll do it." Stella said. "He'll put Reggie on ECMO. I'll call up to the ICU."

"I'll take care of the arrangements myself." Sharon said as she walked away

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"I knew it wouldn't help, and so did you." Dr. Halstead said. "I figured we had safety in numbers"

"I know. But if we'd had an alternative plan, to save his life, yeah, I would have held firm with you. But we didn't. So we tried the Hail Mary." Stella said. "And Goodwin knows that we did everything we could"

Later, after all interventions had been tried, Sharon stood beside him in the ICU, her composure fraying. Stella approached gently.

"Mrs. Goodwin?" Stella said, catching Sharon's attention. "I was just wondering if you needed anything."

"No. I'm fine." Sharon said, though grief already wrapped around her like a heavy shroud.

"Okay." Stella softly replied, backing away just enough to give Sharon space, but still remaining within reach.

"What is it about first love that just...sticks with you?" Sharon asked suddenly.

"It's like... it's like those last 40 years don't even exist. One day he's saying goodbye to me, and the next, he's showing up here on a gurney. Reggie Dixon." Sharon said. "These machines are gonna save him."

"No." Stella softly spoke.

"No." Sharon agreed, her voice breaking.

When the decision was made to withdraw support, Stella remained at Sharon's side, her hand a gentle weight of comfort.

"Are you ready?" Stella asked quietly, her voice breaking with compassion.

Sharon nodded.

Dr. Halstead disconnected the machine. The steady hum gave way to silence, then the flatline echoed through the room. He placed his stethoscope against Reggie's chest and bowed his head.

"Time of death, 20:53," Dr. Halstead said.

Stella pressed her lips together, fighting the sting in her eyes. She had stood beside patients in their final moments before, but every time, it broke something open inside her. Watching Sharon lose her first love brought back her own ache—the hollow in her chest that would never fully heal since losing her mother. She steadied herself, willing the tears not to fall here, not now.

Her hand remained firm on Sharon's arm until the very end, her compassion unwavering, even as her own heart quietly splintered.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

Stella closed the apartment door behind her, leaning against it for a beat longer than usual. The day's weight sat heavy in her chest.

Johnny was sprawled on the couch, a half-finished beer on the table, the faint buzz of the TV behind him. The second he saw her, though, the casual slouch was gone. He stood, setting the bottle down, and crossed the room with purpose.

Without a word, he cupped her face and kissed her—hard, hungry, like he'd been waiting all day just for this moment. Stella melted into him at first, drinking in his warmth, but when he pulled back, her hands fisted into the front of his white shirt, clinging so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"Hey, hey..." Johnny murmured, his voice low but urgent, searching her face. "What's wrong, babe?"

Her breath shuddered, and the dam broke. "I—" she choked out, tears finally spilling. "There was this patient today. Sharon's first love. I watched him die, Johnny. And it just... it reminded me of Mom. Sitting there, watching someone slip away, knowing you can't stop it." Her voice cracked. "I held it together at work, but inside... I felt like I was breaking all over again."

Johnny's jaw flexed, his fire flickering for a moment like he wanted to fight the whole damn world for hurting her. But instead, he pulled her against his chest, arms locking around her like steel. "Stell... you don't gotta hold it together with me. Ever. You hear me?" His voice softened, raw. "Let it out. I got you. Always."

Pressed against him, Stella sobbed into his shirt, her fists still clutching the faded fabric as if it were the only thing keeping her upright. Johnny held her tighter, resting his chin on her hair, his swagger stripped bare in the quiet of her apartment. For everyone else, he was the hard-edged sensei of Eagle Fang. For her, he was just Johnny—utterly hers, and unshakably there.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

Later that night, Stella lay on her side in bed, her favorite Miss Elaine nightgown soft against her skin, the lace gathering and rosebud at the center catching the dim light.

The door opened quietly, and Johnny stepped in, peeling off his tee shirt as he moved. He didn't rush, didn't say a word—just slid under the covers beside her. Immediately, he pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her as if she were the only thing keeping him anchored.

Stella pressed herself against him, her hand resting against his chest as she exhaled a shaky breath. "Johnny... I love you so much," she murmured.

Johnny's rough exterior softened entirely, just for her. He pressed a kiss to her temple, then whispered, "I love you too, Stell. More than anything."

They stayed like that, bodies intertwined, hearts beating in sync. Words weren't necessary beyond that. Just the warmth, the quiet, and the deep, unshakable love they held for each other.

They lay there, tangled together, the world outside fading into nothing. Stella's head rested against Johnny's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, her fingers tracing the familiar lines of his arms.

Johnny tightened his hold slightly, as if he could keep every danger, every fear, every shadow away from her with his embrace alone. "You know I've got you, right? Always," he murmured into her hair.

"I know," Stella whispered back, her voice soft and tired, yet full of trust. "I've never... felt this safe with anyone before."

"Good," Johnny said, his voice gruff but warm, a hint of that Cobra Kai edge softened by the depth of his love. "'Cause you're mine, Stell. Always."

She let out a quiet laugh, a mix of relief and happiness, and pressed a gentle kiss against his chest. "And you're mine," she said.

For the rest of the night, they stayed like that—no words, no distractions, just the quiet rhythm of breathing and the unspoken promise of their hearts. Johnny's arm draped over her, a lifeline, a shield, a vow. And as sleep finally claimed them both, the only thing that mattered was that they were together, utterly and completely.

But before her eyes closed for good, Stella shifted slightly, her voice a fragile whisper against the steady rise and fall of his chest.

"The only thing I ask," she murmured, her fingers curling into him, "is that you outlive me... so I never have to live another day without you."

Johnny stilled, her words cutting straight through the armor he wore for everyone else. He tipped her chin up, locking eyes with her, his jaw tight but his gaze impossibly soft. A faint smirk curved his lips, but his voice was low and certain.

"Listen to me, Stell. I'm not goin' anywhere. Not tomorrow, not ten years from now, not ever. You're it for me. You got that? World can throw punches, life can try to knock me down—but I'll always get back up, 'cause you're here. And as long as I've got breath in me, I'm never leaving you."

He brushed his thumb across her cheek, the swagger slipping into something bare and real.

"You're my forever, Princess. End of story."

Stella's eyes filled, her heart twisting at the fierce tenderness in his tone. She pressed closer to him, her voice breaking with love. "And you're mine."

Johnny's smirk deepened, the rough edges of his voice curling into something warm. "Yeah... I like the sound of that. You and me against the world, Stell. Nobody's taking that from us."

Her breath caught, the promise in his words igniting something deep inside her. She lifted her face, and before she could even speak, Johnny closed the distance, his mouth crashing onto hers with a hunger that stole every thought.

The kiss wasn't gentle—it was fierce, claiming, but threaded through with all the love he could never quite put into words. He was sealinb his vow, not just with words, but with every kiss, every touch, every heartbeat that promised he was hers—and hers alone.

The world outside faded into nothing. All that remained was the fire between them, the unspoken promise of forever written in their embrace, and the way they clung to each other as though nothing could ever tear them apart.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

The night had settled, the air heavy with warmth and the faint hum of the city beyond the window.

Johnny lay half-asleep, one arm draped protectively around Stella, his fingers resting against the soft fabric of her nightgown.

The steady rise and fall of her breath was the rhythm he'd learned to fall asleep to. The world was quiet here. Too quiet. Sometimes that stillness felt like peace; sometimes, it reminded him of everything he couldn't fix.

He felt her shift, the faint twitch beneath his palm. A soft sound escaped her throat—broken, uncertain. He didn't need to see her face to know.

Even before his mind fully woke, instinct took over. Without opening his eyes, he slid his arm tighter around her waist, drawing her against him until her back molded perfectly to his chest. His breath brushed the nape of her neck when he murmured, voice thick and husky with sleep,

"Hey... what's goin' on, Princess?"

Stella stirred, blinking slowly, her voice trembling like the edge of a dream. "Didn't mean to wake you..."

"You didn't," Johnny murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder. "You were twitchin'. Dreamin' about somethin'?"

She hesitated, then spoke softly. "Just... I saw her again. My mom. It felt so real, like she was right there. And then she was gone." Her voice cracked. "It still hits me sometimes, out of nowhere."

Johnny opened his eyes. The ceiling blurred above him, but he wasn't seeing it—he was seeing her pain. The way her voice trembled. The way he could feel her heart breaking inches from his own. And he hated it—hated that there wasn't a damn thing he could do to fix it.

He pressed his face into her hair, inhaling her scent like he could steady himself on it. His arm tightened around her, holding her the only way he knew how. "Wish I could've met her. She'd be proud as hell of you."

Stella smiled faintly, though her eyes shimmered in the dark. "You think so?"

"Yeah," Johnny said, no hesitation, no doubt. "'Cause she raised a fighter. Not just some nine-to-five robot, but someone with a heart big enough to break and still keep goin'. Takes guts to do what you do, Stell."

She turned in his arms then, their faces just inches apart. Her hand came up to his cheek, thumb brushing over his stubble. He looked at her—really looked—and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe.

"I don't feel strong," she whispered. "Sometimes I feel like I'm just barely holding it together."

Johnny's thumb moved along her jaw, his touch gentle but grounding. "That's the thing, though," he murmured. "You still hold it together. Doesn't matter how many hits life throws, you keep gettin' back up. That's real strength. Eagle Fang style."

Her soft laugh broke the tension, fragile but beautiful. "Johnny Lawrence, you always know how to make me smile."

A smirk ghosted across his lips, half pride, half love. "Yeah, well, don't go tellin' anyone. Gotta keep my rep."

"Your secret's safe with me," she teased gently.

He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his calloused fingers lingering against her skin. "Good. 'Cause you're the only one who gets this side of me anyway."

Her voice softened. "And you're the only one who makes me feel safe enough to fall apart."

Something in his chest twisted, sharp and deep. Safe enough to fall apart. Christ. He wanted to tell her he'd carry it all—every ache, every ghost, every sleepless night—if it meant she'd never have to hurt again. But he didn't know how. He'd never known how. All he could do was hold her tighter.

He kissed her—slowly, tenderly—like a promise he couldn't put into words. When he pulled back, his voice was raw. "You don't gotta be tough all the time, Stell. Not here. Not with me."

She rested her forehead against his, eyes heavy but full of trust. "Then don't be tough either," she whispered. "Just stay with me."

He swallowed hard, his reply barely a breath. "Always."

They fell quiet again. Johnny pulled her close, the blanket tangled around them, his hand moving in slow, absent circles along her side. He stared at the ceiling over her shoulder, the heaviness of love and helplessness pressing into his chest all at once.

If he could fight it for her—death, loss, memories—he would. He'd swing until his knuckles broke and the whole damn world stopped hurting her. But he couldn't. So instead, he held her. Tight. Fierce. Like he could keep every shadow away with his arms alone.

As her breathing evened out, Johnny stayed awake, watching her drift to sleep. He pressed a quiet kiss to her forehead, eyes burning.

He couldn't make it all go away.
But he could be here—every night, every breath, every time she woke shaking.

And for a man like Johnny Lawrence, that wasn't failure.

Author's Note :

Hi! I decided to start using episodes from Chicago Med as well, as it's one of my favorite shows! Hope you all enjoyed. 🩷

Medical Translations

ECMO- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Colitis - inflammation of the lining of the colon

PPI Drip - Proton Pump Inhibitor

Vasopressin - a pituitary hormone which acts to promote the retention of water by the kidneys and increase blood pressure

PEEP - Positive End Expiratory Pressure

Paralytic Drip - powerful muscle relaxant used to prevent muscle movement during surgical procedures