ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴏᴠ

𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦

♛♛♛

For the last few days, time felt as if it were slower.

Minutes would feel like hours, hours would feel like days. By the time lunch flew around, it was as if the entire morning hadn't passed.

Hazel felt herself slowly but steadily sinking into a dark hole. It had only been two days, now on the third, but she was miserable.

Still, she hadn't left the hospital, hadn't left the room or talked to anyone other than Trace'aline and Gracie—which had only been a few words.

She wanted Julius. She missed him. So, so much.

Hazel sat beside his bed in her usual spot, tracing his tattoos on his hand and silently staring at her actions.

Her soul was far, far away from the world, as were her mind and heart. Maybe her body was here on the earth, though her head was amongst the clouds.

Hours passed with Hazel like this, casually holding his hand and resting her head against the side of his bed.

His heart rate would rise and fall, which made her nervous and difficult at times, but the more it happened, the more she became accustomed to it.

Except about a minute before nine, when Julius' heart rate began to rise dangerously, and Hazel became alarmed.

Smacking the emergency button far too many times, she cries and holds his hands in hers sorely trying to calm his heart—but it doesn't work.

Immediately, doctors and nurses rush in. When the doctor takes over, Hazel is thrown out and left to the outcome.

She stood there staring at the door, shamelessly witnessing doctors come and go, sirens and shouts bustle all around her.

Her legs give out, and she collapses on the cold ground, curling into a ball and sobbing, pleading up to the heavens to save him.

♛♛♛

An hour had passed. Silence came from every end of the hall, up until the doctor came out with a small, sad smile.

"Miss Alexis?"

Hazel stands unsteadily to her feet. The look of hysteria and shock on her features was so raw and helpless.

"Yes?" Her voice cracks and she clears her throat immediately after to sound clearer.

The doctor gives her a willfully look and gestures for Hazel to sit down, immediately making her anxious.

"Is Juls okay?"

She fears for the worst. She doesn't know if she wants to know the answer or not.

The doctor exhaled lightly and glances down at her papers.

"Julius is going to be fine."

A quiet, unsteady breath leaves Hazel as she looks up to the heavens with nothing but gratitude. It was a miracle.

"He had a small heart attack, this can happen after such a tragic incident, it shocks the body and because he was stuck in a coma, it took over him fairly well." Hazel's breath hitches.

He would've been in more pain.

"But he is finally awake, and you can go in and see him since it appears you're the only source of contact in Julius' life." Hazel frowns with confusion as she says this while looking down at her clipboard, but relief washes over her as well.

"What do you mean?" She sniffles and shifts closer to his door just by an inch.

The doctor smiles halfheartedly and points to something on the paper in front of her. "It looks like Julius had only placed you as an emergency contact."

Her heart skips a beat as she feels truly shocked and adored. She thought it was almost honourable that she was the only one, although she is unaware of anyone else with whom he was close too.

"Thank you," Hazel says and immediately makes leave towards Julius' room.

As her hand ushers to open the door, she pauses.

Three entire days had passed without him. All filled with the anxiety and uncertainty if he were to wake or not.

The pain was all she's felt the past few days and opening this door was finally going to give her a happy ending. Maybe.

The door opens and Hazel steps inside.

Her gaze was kept to the floor only until she saw the shadow of a figure moving. And it was at that moment she realised everything she had left, was him.

His body was entirely sat up. His legs dangled off of the bed, his head down and eyes stormy and frowned as he tries to detach and rip off any of the needles within his veins.

Hazel is completely taken aback. She is completely still as she realises Julius is awake and in his usual form right in front of her.

When he looks up on time, his entire demeanour shifts into something that may be defined as love.

"Hazel..." He smiles gently, rising to his feet as if he hadn't been knocked unconscious for three days plus have been shot and had a mini heart attack.

Hazel, on the other hand, freaks out and tells him to sit down again.

"Juls! Lay back down you're going to hurt yourself!" She rushes up to him and clutches his biceps, attempting to push him back onto the small mattress.

He doesn't budge and instead looks at her with amusement.

When she realises this, she glances up at him, noting how close they were and then realizing that he was finally awake.

"Oh my god, Juls!" She squeals and gently, but firmly, hugs herself to his chest.

He immediately throws his arms around her, tightening them as she tightens hers.

She felt his warmth and listens to the beats of his heart against her as tears of joy streamed down her cheeks and soak through his hospital.

Hazel finally breathes.

"I'm so glad you're back. I missed you, I was so scared," She goes on and on, sobbing and sniffling until her chest shakes with hiccups.

Julius consoled her. He comforted her to the end, saying sweet nothings into her ear for more than a lifetime.

"I wouldn't ever leave you, my girl." He placed a kiss on the side of her cheek, gently turning her face away from his chest.

"No more crying, I can tell that's all you've been doing." He softly wipes away the ones that rush down, her pink coated cheeks growing more.

"Julius," She whispers, sniffling and embracing his touch.

"I was so scared." Her bottom lip trembles and he gently shakes his head, bothered while looking at her broken state.

"I know, I'm sorry." He whispers back, his voice deepening as he does.

Hazel was indeed frightened, she looked at him now and all she thought of was how close he was to dying. How close he could be to it again.

"Don't apologise. It's okay, you're okay." She promises him, tightly hugging his neck with her body wrapped around his.

"Are you in pain?" She asks softly, being careful not to apply any pressure on him even if he only pulsed closer to her.

Shaking his head, he placed his chin on her shoulder. "No."

Humming in approval, she is nevertheless cautious of him, treating Julius as if he were a fragile flower.

They remain in this position for what feels to be an eternity. Hazel was unable to let go. At least not yet. She'd just gotten him back and longed to cuddle him to make up for the three days.

"I hurt you bad this time, didn't I?"

His words were softly spoken, but she couldn't help but notice the underlying bitterness. Though she acknowledged that he was blaming himself, only leaving her confused.

"Not you, Juls." She declares, pulling back for the first time in minutes to check on him.

Julius had initiated back into his signature impassive facade, something he couldn't help. He innately shook his head and looked to the side.

"Still hurt you." He rubs her hip with one hand and then points his head toward the door as it flies open momentarily.

Hazel looks over her shoulder and identified the same nurse that had been checking in on Julius every day.

"Hi, Wendy." Hazel chirps, giving her the first smile she's made.

Wendy seemed awestruck looking at the two, even if her shock lingered a little longer on Julius temporarily.

She clears her throat and walks forward into the room.

"Good evening, Hazel. And Mr Santo."

Julius doesn't look at her or answer; instead, his gaze is drawn to his girlfriend, who appears to be in the happiest of moods.

"I just need to check a few things before—

"I'll be fine." He confirmed in his deep, demanding tone. Julius was only ever like this with people other than her, which is mainly work folks.

She seems taken aback again by his bluntness, Hazel shakes her head disappointedly at him, now turning to the nurse.

"How long does he have to stay here?"

The nurse, Wendy, looks over at the clipboard of information and glanced back up seconds later.

"Well, we do prefer our patients to stay 2-3 nights if they are feeling ill. Though Mr Santo seems to be perfectly okay for now, we recommend that he stays overnight merely in case anything happens."

Hazel bobs her head and gives Julius a stare. "We stay one more night and then we go back home, yes?" She uses his method, imitating his actions and terminology as she tilts her head in a challenging sort of way.

Julius was utterly flustered.

"Yes." He replies slowly, quietly. Ignoring the way she felt his hands tighten around her hips and the way his fingers tickled the stretch marks.

Hazel moves away from him to allow the nurse to assess Julius. She takes a step to the side and studies her shoes, while the nurse runs her fingers over him—for professional reasons.

When her eyes naturally gaze up, they find his. Julius fixed his gaze on her, his eyes flashing a mischievous smile that only Hazel could see.

The nurse was taking his blood pressure, her manicured hands on his biceps. Hazel's glance seemed drawn to that, making her uncomfortable but said nothing as she saw it simply as 'girlfriend' jitters.

"Your blood pressure is normal. Everything else seems to be fine too. Just take it easy," She smiles at him, standing up straight not forgetting to squeeze his forearm in the process.

Julius didn't notice, again. But what he did notice was Hazel's doubtful gaze. So he stood to his might, Hazel was taken aback by how forward he was.

With the nurse still lingering about, he takes Hazel by the hips and presses a kiss against her neck, his natural aura objectifying her completely.

"Juls," She giggled, placing a hand on the back of his neck.

"Hm?" He kissed behind her ear, smirking underneath her skin.

"There's a perso—

The door loudly closing cuts off her words and brings both of their gazes to meet. She looks over to the door and then covers her mouth from laughing, finding it nearly evil that she was going to burst out in giggles.

Julius chuckles and looks down at her trying to hold in her laughter, he caresses her cheek and pulls strings of hair behind her ear.

"You can laugh," He smirks and she erupts out in giggles, leaning her head lazily against his chest.

Shortly, Julius laughs with her and for a moment or so, they laugh together.

Hazel sobers up slowly, peaking her eyes up at him.

"I love you." She tilts her head to the side, gazing up at the love of her life.

He inhales deeply, his chest rising and his jaw clenching as he swoops down to kiss her cheek ever so intently.

"And I love you, my Angel."

♛♛♛

With their arms looped together, Hazel opens up their front door and leads them inside.

The home was exactly as they had both left it that night. Hazel hadn't returned after the incident so it was left untouched.

"Baby you don't need to hold me, I can walk fine." Julius looks down at his girlfriend, the frown on her face causing him to shake his head. "Hazel," He lifts her chin and angles it toward him, "Stop worrying."

She huffs in frustration and moves out of his hold, closing the front door behind him.

"I can't, Julius." She explains, seemingly out of breath.

Flashbacks of only hours ago flashed brightly in her mind, reminding her that in just a little time Julius could get hurt again. And she panicked.

He turns around to face her, carrying his body as close to hers until she was backed up against the front door and his stone-hard body.

Hazel's eyes watered; she didn't want to see him in pain again, she didn't want to experience what she felt. It was too overbearing because if he had died, she didn't know what she would've done.

His touch pulls her away from her subconscious and only focuses on the feel of his fingertips under her chin, how they slowly graze up her jaw and then over her tears.

Another hand comes to her own, lifting it with his up toward his chest.

They make eye contact and Hazel sniffles as he places her hand on top of his beating heart, laying his on top of hers.

He tilts his head at her with an intensified gaze and runs his thumb over her bottom lip.

"I'm here Hazel, not going anywhere." He murmurs, watching her breathe in and out safely.

"I know. I just," She cuts herself off, closing her eyes while she feels the beats of his heart. Slowly bringing her into a calmer state—something close to acceptance.

She brings her arms around him, nestling her head onto his chest and intently allowing her to hear his heartbeats.

"See," He whispers into her ear, "I'm all better."

Allowing her eyes to rest, she relaxes her body and soul with his.

"The police tried to ask me questions but I panicked." She confesses, feeling compelled to spill everything she'd been holding within to him. As she always had done with her best friend.

"Daniel was the one that had shot you," She looks up at him now, removing her head from his heart. "He hasn't officially been taken away."

Julius shakes his head, clenching his jaw as it ticks—something Hazel knew he did when he was mad.

"Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it."

Hazel grimaces, suddenly forgetting that Julius was just as bad. Though, he hurts the wrong instead.

"I want him locked away, though Juls. He has to pay for what he did—and I mean in prison." She looks at him sternly while he fights to look away.

"We'll talk about it later?" She hints, giving him a gentle smile.

Julius releases a breath and nods, holding her against his body.

"Shower?" He smirks, raising a brow at her mischievously.

She turns red as ever, looking away from his beautiful eyes instead gazing at his muscular neck.

"Okay..."

Momentarily, he picks her up and swings her over his shoulder with her squealing all the way.

"Julius your wound!" She shrieks and lazily watches him walk up the staircase to their bathroom.

All he does is chuckle, playfully smacking her bottom.

"Juls!" She squeals again and tries to look at him but catches nothing but the back of his head falling back in laughter.

As they enter the bathroom, Hazel falls back to her feet and immediately catches his lips.

Both fall into the realm of passion and love.