InsaneJournal

"Blink for me, Gavroche."
Who: Éponine, Azelma and Gavroche Thénardier, Courfeyrac, Enjolras and Bahorel
What: Gavroche wakes up.
When: 7th July
Where: The same hospital as their last log. The Sailor Senshi haven't gone to Vegas because they're too busy standing guard around here.
Rating: Probably only PG. There's no swears or anything. TW for medical situations, references to death in the dreams.
Status: Complete!

The rest of the day was rather the same, Gavroche not moving or reacting much or anything. The next morning much of the same. At least the hospital was kind enough to bring the entire group a meal (though Azelma assumed it was a certain couple of insanely rich elites spoiling them).

It was late, and the Amis were getting ready to leave for the night when Azelma caught something from the corner of her eye. Can she be mistaken...? When it happened she was quick to the side opposite of Éponine. She pushed a hand into his. “Gavroche?” Looked to her sister then back down.

Sure enough he was stirring. All he could start with was his hand as the rest of his mind started to remember how everything worked. He tightened his grip gently around both of their hands instantly able to hear Azelma burst into happy tears and cry out his name with a very obvious smile.

Courfeyrac turned from where he had been shuffling after the others, somewhat mindlessly, stepping back into the room but well out of the way of anything in case they needed a doctor or a nurse in here. As Enjolras followed, he pulled his friend over as well, and gripped his hand tightly as he dared. “Ave Maria, gratia plena” he muttered, half under his breath now.

“Please.” Bahorel added, to whatever Courfeyrac was going over there. It wasn’t like he’d actually been IN a church in over a decade but that didn’t mean that right now he didn’t wish for things to get better too. “Look, Mary, you probably like me a whole lot more than your...than your baby daddy or your son do so... can you actually help us out here?”

The sad thing was? he meant that in all seriousness. Hopefully it’d still be worth something, right?

Feeling that, Gavroche actually able to do something... the rush of emotions that ran through Éponine damn near made her cry. She squeezed his hand in return, tightly as she dared. “Gavroche... you had us so worried...”

She knew he probably wouldn’t be able to respond for even longer, but this was a start. A very good start.

Éponine was very much right in the fact he wouldn’t be able to respond. All he could do was squeeze their hand stronger until his eyes flickered open for a brief second.

“Nurse! Doctor!” Azelma called out, glad that they were right there to look over him. The doctor opened one of Gav’s eyes to check before pushing the two sisters away. The nurse helped with his mouth while the doctor ever so gently eased the feeding tube out of his throat. They checked over everything. They had to do their checks right?

When the nurse cleared the room to go grab the other, the doctor made a few reaction checks. “Blink for me, Gavroche.”

“I can do more... than blink...” His throat hurt to speak, if only for the tube that had been down to keep him fed. It was bright but he opened his eyes properly to see all of his friends and his sisters. He tipped his head forward and shut his eyes again before tipping his head into the pillow. “Why you guys fussin’ over me. Ain’t you supposed to be happy I’m here?” Laughed dryly only to groan and reach to hold his chest.

“Yeah, yeah something just like that.” Bahorel agreed, grin splitting his face. And because he couldn’t very well punch Gavroche in the shoulder right now, he went in for the kill, choosing Enjolras as his victim of choice for that moment.

Enjolras shook his head, but smiled at Gavroche. “You had us really terrified, you know that?” he asked. “I don’t think any of us want to...Well. I’m just glad you’re okay.” he said, then reached around to rub his shoulder and to nudge Courfeyrac after that was done. “Courfeyrac. ...Andre. Open your eyes, man. Look.”

When Courfeyrac’s eyes flew open, and settled on Gavroche, he broke into a smile at first, and then tears started falling down his cheeks. He was getting more used to letting these things out, and not bottling them anymore, and right now? that was about all he could manage. “Welcome back.” he managed.

“Only fussin’ ‘cause you gave us a scare.” Éponine hadn’t slipped, no, but her accent certainly had. Maybe that was something that was here to stay, whether she’d ended up in 1830s mode or not. “So glad you’re awake, Gavroche... we all are.”

“I blame you, ‘Ponine” He chuckled and reached for her hand again, and Azelma who was distraught with sobs. “Hey now, ‘Zelma. Stop your blubbering before your kid decides to come early!”

“Oh if you weren’t in the bed I’d...” Giggled through tears and reached up to wipe off her eyes.

Courfeyrac waited until he could get through and bent to give Gavroche a hug there, being really careful that he didn’t hurt anything in the process. “So, I hope that this sort of thing is not common among all of us.” he commented, raising an eyebrow. “I will not lose any of you again, all right?” And he stuck out his lip a little, in what was actually a much more effective pout than usual, considering how swollen it was, and how red his eyes were right now.

“I am so glad you are all right.” he added to Gavroche.

That was more like it... Éponine gladly took his hand, again giving it a light squeeze. “You won’t lose anyone, Courf. You’re stuck with us all - Thénardiers and les Amis both.”

“You guys seriously need to have more faith in me, and Courf stop bein’ a blubbering idiot.” Groaned and sat up to look at his chest. He went quiet before sighing. “I remember now... this happened. I die because I wanted to prove I had every reason and right to be there... and to avenge my sister...” Looked up to Éponine. “I had to make sure your death wasn’t in vain ever...”

“What...” Azelma gasped and her jaw slowly fell, her heart rate increasing. This had happened to Éponine?! “Éponine? This... you...” Or it was going to? Was she going to have the risk of losing her sister like this as well. Either way her stomach was now tensing like mad as she breathed a bit too heavily.

Well, that’d been something that Éponine had wanted to keep from her sister... for obvious reasons. At least it’d already happened, she supposed... “It’s already happened to me, little shadow... Scoot saved me.” She wasn’t going to mention how much blood there’d been. Even in comparison to what Gavroche had been through, there’d been a lot. “You’re stuck with me. I promise.”

“I.... you. You promise?” Azelma bit her lip, instantly holding her stomach because ow. Well until Gavroche gripped her hand. “Calm down please... One of us in the hospital bad enough. Ain’t needin’ you go into it to.”

“I’ll show you the scar if you need proof.” It wasn’t exactly in the easiest place to show, true, but Éponine valued her sister’s sanity and safety above petty things like that - besides, it wasn’t like Azelma hadn’t seen that part of her before. They were sisters after all... “Gavroche is right, though. Gotta calm down ‘fore somethin’ bad happens.”