The door came bursting open and a familiar dualed haired reaper came barging in unannounced, “A-Alan-senpai!!! You’re finally awake!” He shouted almost straight into the pour other reaper’s ears. One question Alan could not answer was how Ronald knew he was awake. Alan sat up slowly, gently taking the oxygen mask off. “Hello Ronald.” He smiled at first, then asked, “What happened to me? And how long have I been out?” Just as he hoped the younger reaper had the answer.

Ronald stared down at the floor with a look of depression, “Well about three days ago you had woken up from another coma and Eric had come to visit you to, ya know, see how you were doing and all. A little while after he left and I came in to visit as well. You and I talked for a minute or two until you started to topple over in pain, coughing up blood, and wailing in pain not able to breath. In a panic I called the nurses to help but when they got here you were already passed out back on the bed still coughing up your own blood and not breathing normally. I don’t know anything after the nurses came. They ushered me out before I could ask what they would do to help you.” Alan clenched the bed sheets hearing the story. He didn’t know it would be this serious, to the point where he would be in comas for days. Alan sighed with a great sadness growing in the tone. As the novice reaper kept telling Alan of the story his mind started to wander a bit. His gaze then wandered over the the nightstand where there laid a small bouquet of flowers. But the flowers weren’t just roses or daisies, but they were ericas, Alan’s favorite flower. The only person who knew of this was Eric. A tiny smile grew on Alan’s lips have knowing that Eric had visited him.

Ronald was still talking but Alan then interrupted him, “Hey Ronald…?”

“Hm? What is it Alan-senpai?” The blonde reaper asked his superior.

“I was wondering. Do you know who put these here?” Alan asked, gesturing to the flowers as he picked up the bouquet and lightly sniffing the wonderfully scented flowers.

It took the younger reaper a while to remember. Ronald scratched the back of his head trying to remember. A few seconds went by when he jumped a little raising his finger, “Ah, yes! I remember now! It was Eric-senpai! I recall him coming in with them in his hand while I, too, was visiting you two days ago. He came into the room just as I was leaving. Um, if I remember correctly I asked him what the flowers he had with him were and that I’ve never seen them before. He said something like this…” Then Ronald proceeded to do his best impression of Eric’s voice as he could, which wasn’t that bad either, ‘These are erica flowers, Knox. Alan’s favorite.’ And then walked in closing the door behind him, not saying another word to me. But I swear I could hear him talking behind it.” Alan ran his fingers over the soft petals of the ericas, smiling to himself. ‘It was nice of Eric to be so kind as to bring me my favorite flower. He’s so thoughtful.’

“Thanks Ronald, for telling me. But h-how did you know I was awake?”

Ronald’s eyes gazed at the ceiling and put his hand on chin thinking. Again it took him awhile to find an answer, “I… don’t really know but I heard you wake up while I was walking down the hall. No idea how I heard you, but I did.”

“Ah, thanks Ronald. You’ve been really kind.” Alan thanked the younger reaper.

With a slight burst of enthusiasm Ronald then said, “Well I should get going! Boss gave me overtime to me again…” The last sentence he calmed down and rubbed the back of his head, “As well as let you get some more rest. I’ll see you later Alan-senpai! Get better soon!” With that the novice reaper left the room, closing the door, with Alan waving him goodbye. When Ronald was out of sight and the door had fully clicked closed Alan chuckled to himself. He always knew Ronald had built up quite a reputation for getting overtime with William. It made him laugh how careless and irresponsible Ronald could be.

For awhile Alan sat in silence. The only sound he could hear was his thoughts. They weren’t any particular thoughts just random one to distract him from everything else. In fact Alan was too deep in thought he didn’t even know that someone had even entered his room and was trying to snap him out of his dazed. “What?!” Alan jolted awake from his so called “day dream”. A familiar laugh hit his ears. He knew who it was from that moment. He turned his head to see Eric laughing beside his bed. Alan flashed a smile at his partner, “Hello Eric!”

“Hey Alan. How are you feeling?” The blonde asked when he was done with his laughing moment.

“I feel a lot better than before, thanks for asking.” Alan beamed with joy. “How are you?”

“I’m quite fine,” Eric answered before pulling up a chair and sitting down in it. “Nothing much has gone on just more work…”

“Ah, I imagine William-san and the rest of you are a little busier without me helping out in the field.” In truth Alan hated putting more work other work on people, and since he had been in the hospital for who knows how long the rest of the Dispatch division would be short-handed and it was critical to the division that it stayed the exact opposite.

Eric nodded in confirmation, “Work has been piling up just a little more without you. But the most important thing is that my partnerisn’t out there with me.” They both smiled at each other.

“Well I should be out of here, and in the field, as fast as I can.” Alan said confidently. Eric had always remembered how persistent Alan was when it came to his job. That was one characteristic that Eric admired about his partner. Eric always wondered how Alan did it.

“Don’t rush yourself, Alan. You have been through a lot these past few days.”

“Don’t worry Eric, I’ll be fine.”

The two partners talked for awhile until there was a knock on the door frame. The reapers stopped talking and faced to door to look who was there. In the frame of the door, leaning against it, there was a man, not much shorter than Eric in a white lab coat with brown hair that was cut a couple inches above the shoulder. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” The man said politely. Both Alan and Eric shook their heads. “Well that’s good considering how close you two seem.” He said as he walked up beside Eric. “Hello, Mr. Humphries and Mr. Slingby. Let me introduce myself, I am Doctor Mathews. You may not have known this but I am the doctor that has been watching over you while you have been here in the hospital, Mr. Humphries.”

“Yes, thank you for doing all this for me Doctor Mathews. I really do appreciate your help.” Alan thanked as he dipped his head into a bow of respect and gratitude.

“There’s no need to thank me. To add onto that I have some good news. You are free to leave the hospital and go back to work. But there is one downside. If you are need of going out into the field you must be accompanied by support.”

“Why do I need support?” Alan question Doctor Mathews.

“Well considering you have gone into two commas in the past week both in a matter of a time span of one hour. One comma lasting for a day and the second lasting for three days. In such a short time span apart if you were to go into another while in the field we would not be able to find you in time for a treatment. On the other hand if you were to have another person with you they would be able to help you back to headquarters. And plus this was not issued by me. It was ordered by your division supervisor, William T. Spears. This is his concern.” The doctor stated.

Eric was surprised to hear that William had issued it. He never imagined his boss would issue something as serious as that.

Doctor Mathews continued, “By Mr. Spears he had issued that if anyone would like to be your support it is up to you, Mr. Humphries.”

Alan nodded and opened his mouth to speak but then Eric cut him off, “If Alan would allow it I would volunteer to be his support.”

“Eric…” Alan spoke as if he was going to protest but caught himself and started with something different, “I… I accept your offer, Eric.” Alan smiled. Happy with Alan’s decision Eric nodded accepting the resonsibility that he had.