The Nexus

Steve was leaving the bar with more difficulty than he'd thought. He stumbled into the door frame and took a minute to collect himself before trying to make it to the sidewalks. There was a group of men hanging out by the exit, which wasn't surprising given the theme of the bar... The group looked up in tandem and Steve looked back with a mixed expression.

"You come out of that bar?" One of the men hanging around spoke up, stepping out of the group. Steve fixed them with a glare.

"And if I did?" He stopped, swaying where he stood, daring them.

"Then we got a little message for you, faggot." The group converged and Steve nearly snarled, ready for whatever fight they were bringing him. Of course, he could hold his own against other men alone, but he hadn't counted on the metal pipes or broken bottles that entered the fray. He was quickly overcome as glass dust was sprayed in his face, right in his eyes.

Blinded and in severe pain, Steve fought back best he could, but it wasn't enough. THe group had planned this well and took him down in minutes. He was nothing more than a bleeding pulp by the time he heard sirens. He blacked out before the EMTs could get him loaded.

Francois had been Steve's night nurse for a few days now, but the man hadn't regained consciousness yet. He checked the IV drip and moved over to check Steve's chart to see if he needed more medication. The mans eyes were bandaged and he'd needed some surgeries on his eyes and to stop internal bleeding. Fran laid his ears back as he thought, and his fluffy brown tail swished slowly behind him.

Lucky for Francois, Steve was going to pull out of his unconscious state that night. It may not have been while Fran was watching over the injured man, but Steve would start to stir some time in the night. His body was sore all over and he'd suffered a minor fracture to one of his forearm bones, so moving the wrong way sent pain up his arm. He moaned loudly at the discomfort and disorientation of laying there without his vision and started to panic. He tried to sit up and feel for thing around him as his breathing and heart rate quickened.

Steve's movement sent alarms going off that had Francois coming to the room. "Hey...hey calm down." He moved over to the man and tried to get him to lay back down. "You're in the hospital...you're safe now." His ears laid back and hopefully he was able to get Steve relaxed. "Are you in any pain?"

Steve's immediate concern were his eyes. "Why can't I see?!" He was frantic to say the least and clutched at Fran when he was touched. "Everything hurts!" The events that led him there came flooding back and Steve struggled some more. "Where are the creeps that did this?"

"Shh...shh...relax. I'll get you some pain medication." He pushed the button to give Steve morphine. "You can't see because your eyes were damaged in the attack. They've done what they can to repair the damage but they need to stay bandaged for awhile." He waited to make sure the pain medicine kicked in and his tail swished slowly. "You'll have to talk to the cops about it. They wanted to know when you woke up."

Steve's system was flooded with the morphine and he slumped back against the bed. His breathing was still coming in panicked flutters. "Will I be able to see again?" He sounded scared and pathetic as he turned his head in the direction he thought Francois was in. "I don't know anything... it was dark." He was bitter then, trying to fight back the uncomfortable sting of tears.

Francois could tell that Steve was upset and he reached out and held onto his hand so Steve would know what direction he was in. "You should be able to. In time, you just need time to heal." He gave Steve's hand a squeeze, "Maybe something will come back to you in time. If you don't have anything for the police, those awful people that did this might get away..."

Steve set his jaw and clung to Fran's hand. "How much time?" He was really quite scared. As for the people who put him here getting away with it... He frowned and had to fight off the tears harder. They really did sting. "I would find them myelf and make they don't get away with if I could." He sniffed hard and swallowed. "How long have I been here?"

"I'm not sure. The doctor would be able to tell you more, I'm just a nurse." His tail swished again and he gave Steve's hand another squeeze. "You're going to be okay. Is there someone you'd like me to call? The police have probably notified your next of kin, but nobody is here right now." As for now long it had been, Francois smiled, "A few days."

Steve's hand hadn't relieved any of the grip it had on Fran's. "No..." He hadn't told his parents about his sexual preference still. Maybe if the cops had told them what happened and where.... They'd put two and two together and maybe they didn't want to come see him. Steve sunk heavily into the bed and let his head fall to one side. They definitely weren't coming if it had been a few days. "What's your name?"

"Are you sure? There must be someone who'd want to know you're awake...it's past visiting hours but I'm sure they'd make an exception." Fran didn't pull away, it was late and nobody else needed him at the moment. "Francois. You can call me Fran if you want. Do you prefer Steve or Steven?"

Steve's mouth pursed. "If they've called my emergency contact, then my parents know I'm here. What's the point in calling them again..." He was feeling his fear of telling them the truth rising, even if they might already know. Her shifted a little,finally releasing some of the pressure on Fran's hand. He just needed something to cling to. "Steve." He'd lift his head a little again, turning towards Fran some and wet his lips. "Uhm. Thank you."

"I'm sure they have, but you haven't woken up yet. I'm the night nurse so I don't know who's been here during visiting hours." He patted Steve's hand, "Steve it is then." He tilted his head, "What for?"

Steve let the topic of his parents drop. He couldn't think about them right now and what they must be thinking. "For being my nurse, I guess? I don't know." He felt embarrassed for having said it now that Fran had to ask. "Is there any way I could eat?"

Francois laughed lightly, "You don't have to thank me for that. I became a nurse because I like helping people." His tail swished a little harder, "I can see about getting you something. It's good that you're hungry...just relax and I'll be back in a bit with food."

If Steve let him go Francois would leave and place the order for food, while he checked on some of the other patients. In a little while he was back in Steve's room. "You awake still?" He headed in with the tray of food, it was just some broth and a plain sandwich...but it was better than nothing.

Steve did let his hand go and curled up in the hospital bed. It was strange being there alone, unable to see. It was certainly somewhat nerve wracking! Steve crossed his arms over his chest and just waited. The silence was getting to him right about the time Fran came back. He perked up. "Yes. I am. Did you get food?"

Fran came closer and started to set things up, "I did. Just some broth and an sandwich. We'll see how well you keep this down and then we'll see about getting you something more substantial." He watched Steve for a moment, "Do you think you can manage or would you like some assistance?"

Steve tried to sit himself up. It was disorienting and he felt a wave of dizziness just from the movement. His back and neck were stiff from taking the brunt of the led pipe. "I have no idea," He said rather sharply. This was a scary experience and the pain was making him irritable.

Francois flattened his ears and came a little closer, "Here...don't try and sit up, let me sit the bed up." He shifted things around and pulled the food closer. "Just try and relax, I don't want you to be in any pain. I can help you...I just didn't know if you'd appreciate that or not." He carefully scooped up some broth, "Here...I've got some broth. It shouldn't be too hot."