There were so many questions right now. How long would Mackey be in ICU? How long would they be in Connecticut? Could they move Mackey closer to home?
Was Mackey going to be okay when he woke up?
Because he was going to wake up. Soon. Hudson didn’t care what the doctors said about giving it time and an unknown prognosis and all that crap. Mackey was a tough asshole, and he was going to wake up fine.
He wasn’t sure Jack could handle anything less.
“Listen, Mackey. I know you can hear me,” Hudson said, looking out of the window of the tiny ICU room. “It’s time to wake up now. You can go right back to sleep if you need to, but it’s time. Tommy and the twins have to get on the road, and they just need to see you awake before they go, just for a little while, you know?”
He glanced over at Mackey, who was still so hard to look at. Pale in the places he wasn’t bruised and in this crazy contraption for his neck, wires and tubes running everywhere…
Jack had said it wasn’t Mackey’s first time, but it was Hudson’s first time, and it was pretty harsh.
“Jack… well, I don’t have to tell you about Jack. You know, I’m sure. You know how you’d be if he was lying here right now.”
“How’s he doing? Has he woken up at all?” Sid appeared from around the corner.
“No. I was just reminding him he should do that soon. You’re early for your shift; did you eat?” He’d decided Sid was his responsibility. He wasn’t sure why, maybe because Jack was focused on the other bullfighters, which was as it should be.
“I’m not hungry. I want to see his eyes. I need to know he’s in there. He doesn’t have to walk or anything, I need to know he’s stillMackey.”
Fuck him, he had no idea, and neither did anyone else, but he wasn’t going to let Sid lose hope. “He is. This isn’t his first time down this road.” He pulled out his phone and quickly texted Jack.
Hudson
Tell whoever is coming next to bring Sid some food. he hasn’t eaten
He wasn’t even sure Jack was awake right now, but he’d see the text eventually.
Jack
On it. U eat?
Of course his Jack was awake.
Hudson
Not yet.
He wasn’t hungry either, but he understood what he needed to do and taking care of himself was key.
Jack
Subs? Burgers?
He chuckled, because Jack hadn’t offered to get them tacos…
Hudson
How about a burger. And fries.
He was getting hungry after all.
Hudson
Maybe we should go sit, have a quick beer.
Maybe spend a few minutes in the same room? It had been a long couple of days.