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John didn't realize anything was wrong at first.
Arthur! Get up!
There had been a loud cracking sound before their vision went black. By the time Arthur blinked his eyes open again, all John could tell was that they were on the ground.
We need to move, I can't see where he is.
They'd separated from Noel, the detective going around the back of the building while they went in the front. They didn't want to risk Mr. Jones getting away, but John hadn't seen him coming until it was too late.
Arthur groans, his hand sliding into view as he attempts to push himself up. John immediately goes to help, but finds that he can't quite get a grip on the floor beneath him. Arthur yelps, vision blacking out again as his head is slammed back down.
For fucks sake! Get him off of us!
John's hand isn't making contact with anything until he sweeps it above their head, colliding with an ankle. He latches on, pulling as hard as he can and digging into as much skin as he can reach with his too-blunt nails
Get up Arthur!
With great effort their eyes open again and John can see a mud crusted shoe inches from their head, the other apparently squarely between Arthur's shoulders. John wishes he could do more , but he shoves as hard as he can, watching as the other foot has to move to correct the man's balance. Arthur takes the opportunity to buck, the man cursing loudly as he stumbles off to the side from the unexpected motion.
Move! Now! Yell for Noel!
Arthur makes a noise of protest, but John can see him brace his hand and push up, getting his feet underneath himself and managing to stand. John can hardly make sense of their surroundings as their vision blurs and warps, but he can see the man now, brandishing the bat he'd apparently taken to the back of their skull.
"Noel!" Arthur attempts to shout, but it's hoarse and barely carries.
Back up a few steps and yell again! There's no way he heard that!
John realizes a second too late that the bat had been swung again and Arthur couldn't react fast enough. His hand is crushed between Arthur's body and the floor as he falls again, clearly unconscious from his lack of movement as their mark moves closer.
"Coupla stupid fucking cops, no way I'm gonna let you bring me in."
Arthur, wake up! John urges, hand scrabbling against the ground until he can twist it towards Arthur's ribs, scratching as best he can through the material of his suit. You need to get up, come on Arthur!
For a horrible moment all John can picture is Kellin gutting them with the knife, the cops gun firing, the creature under the mines, Arthur dying and John being powerless to stop it.
"Hey!"
Noel!
John can't see him, but he can hear a gun being cocked, the scuff of shoes as Noel pauses just inside the warehouse doors. John can picture him leveling his gun, taking in the scene with a critical eye before deciding what to do next. "You're gonna come quietly Mr. Jones."
"Quietly, yeah. Sure," It's spat with more derision than John would think of for three words. His hand is crushed further as an additional weight is planted on top of Arthur, the unpleasant creak of ribs pressed too hard to the ground.
Now would be a great time for you to get up, John hisses, picturing that bat being raised over their head once more, seconds and inches away from their skull being crushed.
"Don't move," Noel warns, and John can hear him take a careful step closer, "This is your last chance."
"As if you're gonna shoot me," Mr. Jones scoffs.
If John could flinch, he would at the crack of gunfire, then the thud of a body hitting the ground behind them with a pained wheeze and the clatter of the bat.
"Fuckin' asshole," Noel mutters, running over and cuffing Mr. Jones if the rattle of metal is anything to go by. "I grazed your arm, stop your whining. Hey kid, you alive over there?"
John is slightly surprised when their eyes flutter open since Arthur hadn't responded to anything John had done in an attempt to wake him. Arthur's hand slides into view once more as he goes to pick himself up.
"Alive, yes," Arthur manages to get out, but it takes a few tries.
Noel is clearly relieved at his response, "Alright, you okay to sit tight for a minute? I'm gonna go get him situated in the car. Don't go anywhere."
Arthur hums, not quite managing to get out a response before Noel walks away. He does slowly go through the motions of sitting upright, but only gets as far as leaning back against the wall, head tipped forward as he balances his forearms on propped up knees.
That was too close Arthur, you're lucky Noel was just around the corner, John gripes, bringing his hand up to pat at Arthur's chest. Dirt comes away on his palm which he quickly dusts off. Are you even listening to me?
Arthur makes another noise, and concern surges through John, sudden and overwhelming.
Arthur? Are you okay?
John notices too late the blood dripping onto their lap from somewhere he can't see. Drop after drop begins to stain Arthur's thighs an unseemly crimson. He brings his hand up, frantically patting at the front of Arthur's head, then the sides and back of it. His hand comes away sticky and red and he tries to keep himself from panicking.
You're bleeding…Arthur! You need to tell Noel you're hurt!
"Who…Who are… what are you…" Arthur's words slur enough that John feels dread beginning to replace the concern. Arthur wouldn't have forgotten him that easily - right? Surely he was just asking who they'd been chasing after or…
It's…I'm John - you need to yell for Noel again!
"Noel…" Arthur whispers, his own hand coming up to press against his face, "God…what happened?" The words are muffled beneath his palm, their eyes slipping shut once again.
No no, stay awake Arthur, John urges, You need to stay awake until Noel comes back. He'll be able to help! I'm sure!
"Too loud ," Arthur hisses, head dropping to rest on his knee. John cradles the side of Arthur's head, feeling blood soaking through his hair, slicking it down and dripping down his arm. If he had a heart, it would be pounding with apprehension. As it was, all he can do is press his palm harder in hopes to help staunch the bleeding even when the pressure makes Arthur whimper.
John wants to be able to yell for Noel himself, growing impatient as he feels his arm become wet with blood, no doubt irreparably staining the sleeve of the suit they'd just bought. Why was he bleeding so much? Was this normal or was something seriously wrong? Was Arthur dying while sitting here waiting for Noel to come back? He tries to keep Arthur's eyes open, but they slip shut for longer and longer intervals as he begins to make a noise of protest every time John speaks.
"Okay Arthur! We can take him to the station now," Noel calls, the announcement making Arthur open his eyes once again. John could almost cheer in relief as he sees a hand being offered to them both. It takes Arthur an endless moment to take it, grip weak, but Noel doesn't seem to notice as he heaves Arthur to his feet and lets go of his hand.
John wishes he could close their eyes at the onslaught of motion, the room spinning around them in a dizzying kaleidoscope. He can hear Arthur's breathing become shallow, heart pounding in their ears as he blindly reaches for Noel.
Tell him you're hurt! Say something before he walks away and you fall over again! John yells, then almost immediately regrets it as Arthur lets out another pained whine, knees buckling and - as he predicted - heading straight to the floor. Just before he collides with it however, Noel darts into their darkened vision, jerking him back upright with a secure grip on their arms.
"Arthur!" Noel says with alarm, "Shit kid you're bleeding, why didn't you say anything?"
Because he's not even talking to me! John says with frustration. Fucking say something Arthur!
"Please stop yelling," Arthur nearly begs, and that alone makes the dread curdle in John's incorporeal chest.
"Okay okay, no more yelling, nothing from you too John," Noel reassures softly, pulling at John's arm to bring it over his shoulder and keep Arthur from listing any further to the side. "Where'd you get cut?"
"Hit," Arthur grits out, clearly having to catch his breath before continuing. "Did you not…see the bat?"
Of course he saw the bat, it would be nearly impossible to miss.
"I didn't realize he'd brained you with it, sorry Arthur," Noel apologizes, "Lean on me, here, we'll get you taken care of."
"I can still walk…Parker…" Arthur mutters, low enough that John almost missed it but the name sends that panic racing once more.
That's Noel , not Parker, John snaps with more aggression than he intended. How hard did he hit you?
"Ah, that's not good," Noel says, voice strained. "Arthur, where are we right now?"
John would be holding his breath if he had lungs. Their vision twists from where it'd landed at their feet up to a wall, then to look at Noel. It was the first time John had seen Noel since they'd split outside of the building. At least he didn't look any worse for wear compared to their sorry and bloody state.
"Arkham," Arthur mumbles, gaze dropping to the ground, then going black as he shuts his eyes.
Keep your eyes open , John tries to say sternly, but the realization that not only did Arthur think Noel was Parker, but that he thought they were in Arkham gives John the very real fear that Arthur doesn't remember him. Keep talking to Noel - don't fall asleep.
"Right, kid, I know you hate it, but I think you need to go to a hospital," Noel says apologetically. "You're not thinking straight right now, let alone walking straight."
Arthur scoffs, but can't seem to find the words to protest.
He's right, it's not good for you to forget we're in New York, John says it lowly, almost to himself since it doesn't seem like Arthur isn't going to stop ignoring him anytime soon. His hand taps anxiously against Noel's shoulder, thinking through all the many times Arthur had been injured before. He'd been disoriented at times, but he hadn't mistakenly thought they were in an entirely different city. Or forgot who he was with.
Arthur didn't talk about Parker. Not since he told Noel about him when they started working together in New York.
John had been so scared to admit it. Noel already knew - at least a little bit from their conversation before infiltrating the Order, but he hadn't known that it was John who killed him. Arthur had told John he would need to tell Noel himself.
He'd refused for the longest time. Noel had come to terms with the fact that he was a fragment of the King in Yellow - and that alone brought a confusing mix of feelings. He didn't need Noel to know he had taken Arthur's friend from him, had lied to him about it for so long.
Yet, one day they were in a park and sitting at the benches, Arthur had remarked on how it reminded him of a park back in Arkham.
"I would go there with Parker all the time," Arthur mused. "It was nice to walk, a good way for us to talk over cases when we started running in circles."
Noel had given them a curious look, "Your old partner, right?"
"Yes," Arthur's voice was soft. "John, you wanted to talk about him, right?"
Arthur, you know I don't.
"You need to."
"Talk about Parker?" Noel asked curiously, as he usually did when it was clear the two of them were having a conversation involving him and yet leaving him out of it.
"John," Arthur urged.
John growled, frustrated at being cornered. After an endless moment of internal debate, he folds. You'll…repeat exactly what I say?
"As I always do when you talk to Noel," Arthur said agreeably.
Okay. Alright. John hadn't had time to mentally prepare his script, his fingers threaded between Arthur's where their hands rested in Arthur's lap. Arthur begins to dutifully repeat his words, pitch lowered slightly to match his tone, At this point he'd practiced letting John speak through him that they had a fairly efficient system.
When I first…possessed Arthur, he wasn't alone. He was in his office with Parker - his partner. His best friend. It…I don't know exactly what happened, I don't know if it was his attempted interference with the ritual, or whether I had something to do with it but- He keeps his gaze down at the white knuckled grip he has on Arthur's hand, the tension running up his arm to where his control stopped at the elbow. Parker died because of me. And…I lied. About it. He still struggled with this, he had apologized to Arthur multiple times, they had both talked through this enough but it never made it easier. First I told him that he was the one who killed Parker. Then I said I killed him - just to get under his skin. Honestly, I didn't know how he died. We only found out the truth later when… John hesitated. He didn't want to talk about their time in the Waylay, the before and after of it all.
"John," Arthur said quietly, but John didn't want to hear that 'it was okay' again, they had talked through it enough and he didn't want Noel to think any less of him than he already inevitably did.
Don't. I know.
"Hey, you said it yourself," Noel said, reaching over and covering John's hand with his own. After a moment John releases Arthur in favor of a brief squeeze from Noel. They were still in public, he wouldn't be able to hold on for long, but John already misses it when Noel draws away. "You don't know what actually caused it. I can say though, as someone who had extensive dealings with the King that a lashing out of power could've done it. That means though that it wasn't you, because you aren't the King anymore, right?"
John drags his gaze up, seeing understanding in Noel's eyes, a sad smile on his face.
"It's very human of you to feel guilty about that John, I bet that was not something you wanted to talk about."
I didn't want to talk about it, John grumbled to Arthur. You forced my hand.
"And you've said you didn't want it hanging over you, that you wanted Noel to know at some point," Arthur had rebutted, much to John's chagrin because he had said that. He just wasn't expecting to deal with it so soon.
Great, now we don't have to talk about it anymore, right? He said it pointedly to Arthur, but Arthur repeated it. You didn't have to tell him that!
"Only if either of you want to talk about it," Noel's smile grew sadder, "I know how hard it is to lose a partner."
They had left it at that, but of course John thought about the conversation often during the long nights while Arthur was sleeping. Parker had been such a sticking point between them for so long, and the fact that Noel knew how it felt made guilt simmer just under the surface any time Parker was mentioned even in passing.
Which makes John feel worse as Noel begins grilling Arthur about questions he should have been able to answer.
Where were they? New York - not Arkham.
What had they been doing? Chasing a suspect - not drinking the night away at Jack's.
Who is he with? Noel - not another confused "Parker".
Arthur, what the hell is wrong with you? John can't help growling when Arthur gets the date wrong for the third time in a row. It wasn't January, it wasn't 1927, it definitely wasn't the 12th.
"Hey John, might want to loosen up a bit," Noel suggests, voice tight. John realizes that he had been digging his hand into Noel's shoulder. He releases him, then huffs as Noel addresses Arthur again. "What's John saying?"
Tell him I'm asking what's wrong with you!
"I don't…" Arthur screws his eyes shut and John groans in irritation. It's cut off when Arthur finishes with, "Who?"
Who?! John! Me! John can't help but yell.
"John?" Arthur repeats, bewildered.
A car door is opened, the muffled sound of Mr. Jones handcuffed in the backseat - John assumes that'd been what had taken Noel so long - and they're deposited in the passenger seat. John briefly mourns the loss of contact from Noel as he quickly walks around the car to the driver's side.
"Alright, yeah we're going to the hospital," Noel says breathlessly. The engine turns over with a dull roar and John grips tightly onto the door handle as Noel peels out of the parking lot of the warehouse. "Keep talkin' will ya?"
"A fuckin' hospital? For the graze you gave me?" Mr. Jones hollers from the backseat.
"Not for you," Noel calls back, "You, I don't wanna hear anything else out of."
John can see the way Noel's hands are gripped tight on the steering wheel, clearly more worried than his expression was letting on for Arthur's wellbeing.
"Arthur, where am I taking you?"
John waits, tapping his fingers on Arthur's knee where his hand had come to rest. Arthur doesn't offer an answer.
Tell Noel we're going to the hospital.
Arthur doesn't say anything.
For fucks sake Arthur, wake up and tell him where we're going!
Arthur sucks in a breath between his teeth, pausing for a moment before saying, "Hospital."
"Okay, and what road am I taking to get there?"
John squeezes Arthur's knee, relieved when he opens his eyes to look around. It's difficult to get their vision to focus, then to actually spot a street sign as they're passing it. Looking out the window as the car was moving actually made it worse but he manages to catch it before Arthur shuts his eyes again. Tell him Main Street .
Arthur doesn't answer.
Main street, it's not that hard, John thought they'd be long past the point that Arthur would ignore him for any reason. It's becoming increasingly difficult to keep his voice level as there is still no response.
"Hey, I need you to keep talking to me Arthur, you can't fall asleep like this."
"Mm," Arthur says the syllables, but gets no further despite John's additional urging.
"Alright that's fine, we're almost there. You don't gotta talk, you just need to listen," Noel says, voice carefully even, but John can feel the car accelerate past the already high speed it was traveling. "I'll drop you off and get you looked at, then I'll have to take care of Mr. Jones here."
Noel was going to leave them? No, he can't do that, not when Arthur was refusing to acknowledge him - how is he going to communicate with them? John doesn't want to be left alone again.
Arthur hums again, the most acknowledgement it seems either of them are going to get.
If you can't talk, at least give me a sign you're listening to me, John says quietly, moving his hand until it bumps against Arthur's. He doesn't take it, letting it remain limp as John attempts to twine their fingers together. I'm not going anywhere, you can't just pretend I don't exist. Worry is clear in his voice, making it lose its bite but John can't even bring himself to care about that. Not when Arthur wasn't keeping a grip on his hand and his breath was continuing to stay shallow. John didn't know how much longer he could stand this.
"Here, we're here," The car comes to a gentle stop despite the urgency that Noel says it. John offers his hand immediately upon their door opening again, feeling Noel haul them upright. "We'll get you fixed up Arthur, just hold on."
In the rush of getting Arthur to the hospital, John forgets what being here actually means . The last time they'd been in a hospital had been with Daniel, before that was the coma. John feels his grip tighten on Noel as he pauses at the desk.
"Hey doll, we've got a pretty bad concussion here," Noel says to the nurse working the desk. "He's havin' a hard time staying awake, can you take him right now?"
"He's still bleeding quite badly," The nurse says with concern, coming around the desk and taking Arthur's arm, "I'll take him back sir. Just fill out that paperwork for me, alright?"
Wait, Noel hold on - you need to come with us! John says, unsure where this woman was leading them since Arthur still refused to open his eyes. Noel easily takes John's hand from where he was clinging to his shoulder, giving it only the briefest of squeezes before he lets go.
"I'll take care of that, I'll come back in a bit," Noel says - and John knows it's more from him but a bit is not a measurable amount of time.
Noel vanishes from view and Arthur is led to a room with a single bed - a small miracle considering the ward most people went to in recovery. John doesn't have the time to consider this as the nurse begins reading through questions and taking vitals.
Arthur doesn't respond to any of it.
It doesn't take long for the nurse to realize this, leaving the two of them in a bed with a promise to return shortly. John isn't even given a minute before Arthur has gone limp against the hospital mattress. Unconscious. Unresponsive. Injured.
The situation is too familiar, a sick sensation of deja vu washing over him. It wasn't an exact repeat of Kellin, but John has to rest his hand over Arthur's long-healed stitches to remind himself that he had been patched up - repaired after that instance.
John knows if he had a body there'd be clear signs of him panicking - lungs heaving, heart pounding, limbs trembling. As it was, he could feel his hand shaking, tears pooling beneath Arthur's lids as he tried valiantly to keep a lid on his panic but Arthur had been quiet for so long and Noel hadn't come back yet.
What if this was a repeat of the coma? What if he had to sit here, voiceless and trapped until Arthur recovered - or he didn't . He didn't know which outcome was worse.
The door opens and he hears familiar footsteps, this time nearly crying with relief . Noel was here, that was better than nothing. But he couldn't talk to him - he was voiceless and trapped.
"Hey John," Noel greets, voice tired, "I'm sorry I took so long. Had a bit of trouble processing our friend Mr. Jones since I had to file paperwork for Arthur too. And-" He pauses, clearly noticing something. "John, you alright?"
No, no he was not alright but there was no way for him to communicate that because Arthur wasn't awake.
"Shit, we really need to find a way for you to talk when Arthur is down like this," Noel mutters to himself. There's a rustling and the click of a pen. John can feel the warmth of Noel's hand wrapped around his own, pulling it over the side of the bed. "Okay, this isn't a great solution but here - here's a pen."
As he says it John curls his fingers around the pen, feeling the tip of it pressed to a piece of paper.
"Good okay, press down harder - yes. Tell me somethin' John, anything."
All thoughts had fled his mind except for one, and John wasn't sure if he could even spell it clearly enough for Noel to read it. He tries, though, feeling Noel adjust where his hand was placed as he slowly and carefully loops through each letter.
"A-F-R-A-I-D," Noel slowly spells out as John writes, the letters clearly difficult to discern. "What are you afraid of? Oh wait, here, let me move the paper over so you have more space."
John waits, hand trembling as the paper crinkles and Noel guides his hand down once more.
"F-O-R-G-O-T…M-E…." Noel sighs heavily, "Yeah, yeah I'd be afraid too if someone couldn't figure out who I was."
John taps the pen hard against the paper, unable to articulate that he doesn't know what to do if Arthur doesn't remember him when he wakes - if he wakes - or that from what they could both tell, he was remembering things from before they'd been bound together,
"S-T-U-C-K…B-E-F-O-R-E…A-R-K-H-A-M," Noel seems confused for a moment before it clicks with a shaky breath to punctuate it. "Oh, okay I understand now." He moves the paper, putting a blank page down. "Head injuries can be scary, but just because he didn't know where or when he was just means he was confused. He might not remember right away but he will."
John isn't as reassured by that in the slightest.
“C-O-M-A…wait, when was he in a coma?”
This was the most inefficient way to communicate, John twitches his hand in annoyance as he shifts it down the page to continue, tapping the few words he'd written previously and could reuse.
“S-T-A-B-B-E-D…coma…F-O-R…M-O-N-T-H. Oh John,” Noel’s hand grips his own tightly, the pen falling to the table. “Hey, I’m here okay? Arthur’s gonna be fine, he’ll wake up and he’s not gonna forget you or me. This hospital is top of the line, they’ll take good care of him.”
It’s almost enough to reassure him, knowing Noel won’t intentionally leave him alone in this place, but he won’t be convinced until Arthur talks to him again, acknowledges his presence. Even now the silence is starting to get to him.
“You know, when I was in the Dreamlands there was a… nightmare I kept reliving,” Noel says quietly. “I’d be walking to the hospital in Harper’s Hill, after I’d come home from the war. I was made to believe that my Noel was alive, brought over and waiting for me. Except I’d get up to his room, and he wouldn’t remember me. Or he was laying there unresponsive. Or he was fresh off a grenade blast. I saw a lot of horrifying possibilities to his death, but him forgetting me was always the worst.”
John squeezes as hard as he can, feeling the bones in Noel’s hand shift, but he doesn’t let go.
“I hated thinking about it, because when I came back to this world all I could think about was walking into that hospital and finding Noel waiting for me. I didn’t know if I wanted that to be the case or not - would it be better that he was alive and couldn’t remember me? Or dead and truly free from all of this?” Noel brings their clasped hands up to his face, pressing his lips gently to John’s knuckles. “It’s horrible to think about. But it’s easier when you’re not alone. And I’m not planning on leaving anytime soon.”
But you did leave , John wants to say. Because despite it all, Noel had a job and Arthur wasn’t going anywhere for a while. He knew the song and dance, had heard the visitors to the hospital say goodbye day after day to the people they loved and cared for. The difference was that they had someone to go home to, and John had been stuck waiting.
“I’m not, John,” Noel insists, and John realizes he’s crying again as Noel brushes away tears with his thumb. “I’ll be here until he wakes up."
But what if he doesn't, John says, pained. It must've been communicated in the tight way he held Noel's hand, the man making a sympathetic noise.
"You want me to keep talking?"
A hard squeeze, Yes, please.
"Okay, how about I tell you about some of the cases I've dealt with here in the big city?"
John can't exactly keep track of the time with Arthur's eyes being closed, but Noel describes the details of four extensive and complicated cases before Arthur stirs. John pulls away, pressing his palm to Arthur's chest to feel his heart beating steady and strong.
Arthur, wake up , He pleads. Noel and I are here waiting for you.
"Hey kid, why don't you open those eyes for me?"
Another shift beneath his palm, then a bright flood of light as Arthur attempts to open his eyes, then slams them shut with a noise of protest. Seems he could still feel the brightness of the lights despite not being able to see them.
That's good Arthur, try again, John urges, Keep your eyes open if you can.
"John?"
"Yeah!" Noel sounds as relieved as John feels, "Yeah, John's still here."
Tell Noel he was driving down Main Street to the hospital earlier.
"John says…" Arthur's eyes slip shut for a brief moment before they open again. "You were driving down main street to the hospital earlier."
"Oh thank Christ," Noel grips John's hand between both of his own, forehead falling to rest on his thumbs. John feels as relieved as Noel sounds. "Do you remember what happened?"
"Not too much I'm afraid," Arthur mumbles, "My head is pounding from whatever it was though."
You were hit twice in the head with a bat, John deadpans.
"You have a pretty severe concussion," Noel adds sympathetically, "You've been pretty out of it."
Very out of it.
Arthur hums, reaching for John's hand. Noel lets him take it without protest. "By out of it you mean…?"
You thought we were in Arkham, you couldn't answer Noel's questions about the date or what we were doing , John says, hesitating before adding, You called Noel Parker.
"Jesus," Arthur breathes, "That bad?"
"You wouldn't talk to either of us," Noel continues, "I couldn't get you to tell me what John was saying." There's a blank space there that Noel is leaving open for him, and John hesitates only for a moment before filling it.
You didn't know who I was.
"Oh John," Arthur clutches his hand, holding it over his chest in the closest approximation to a hug as he could get. "I'm sorry, friend."
It's fine, John says quickly, wishing he could blink away the tears building behind their eyes but Arthur seems intent on keeping his eyes open this time around. You're…okay now.
"We were both pretty worried," Noel says, "We brought you to a hospital after all."
Arthur grimaces, "Yes, it must have been really bad for that, I should've been paying better attention."
"Don't sweat it," Noel reassures, "He managed to catch us both off guard - not following the path we thought he'd go. Not your fault he got the jump on you."
"Well, I'm sorry for worrying you both."
"No apologies needed, but I am gonna go grab a nurse to see what we can do to get you out of here. You got him handled John?"
I'll take care of him, John says. There's a surge of relief when Arthur immediately repeats it. It was so much easier like this, knowing he'd be immediately heard. The only thing better would be if he had a body he could speak with on his own.
Arthur waits until the door clicks shut before speaking again. He still hadn't let go of John's hand, which steadies him more than he cares to admit.
"I'm sorry for worrying you so much, John."
Like Noel said, you don't need to apologize, John says, but it does make him feel better to hear it .
"I know, but you deserve to hear it. I know you're not a fan of hospitals," The clear understanding of why he doesn't like them goes unsaid.
You're awake and aware now. That's all that matters, and John finds that that's true. As long as Arthur can listen and respond to him, he doesn't feel nearly as trapped. He knows he's not being ignored, intentionally or unintentionally.
"Both of those could be debated, I'm not sure if I could accurately answer questions if an investigation was being carried out," Arthur mutters to himself.
Good thing Noel's here to take care of that for you.
"Right…what happened while I was out? Did Noel get everything sorted with Mr. Jones?"
John hesitates, To be honest Arthur, I'm not completely sure. Noel would have a better idea than I do, I was just trying to keep you from falling asleep.
Arthur hums thoughtfully, "Yes, Parker did say it was dangerous to fall asleep with a concussion. Usually I was the one trying to keep him awake the few times he got clocked hard enough for it to be a concern. I've been lucky to avoid head injuries for as long as I did."
Hearing Parker's name feels like a punch to the gut, but John doesn't have a chance to respond as the door is swung open and Noel strides in with a nurse in tow, chatting about one thing or the other.
Somehow Noel gets Arthur released despite being advised that he stay overnight. John doesn't think he'd be able to stand if he had to stay in the hospital another minute - let alone hours while Noel would be out (because visiting hours wouldn't allow it) and Arthur would be out (because even as Noel walks him out his blinks are becoming longer and longer.)
"Noel, can you keep talking to John?"
"Huh?" Noel sounds as surprised as John feels at the sudden statement as they're driving back to their apartment.
"I can't really keep a thread of conversation going right now," Arthur says apologetically, "And I…back in Arkham, or I guess outside of it, I was injured pretty badly. Ended up in a coma for about a month and that meant John was alone for all that time. I don't want that to happen again."
It's okay Arthur, John manages to say. He shouldn't be so stunned that Arthur would offer, that he would notice John's apprehension so quickly and easily. You're awake now and that's not going to happen again.
"I know it's not going to happen again, but there's no reason for you to sit here in silence for the rest of the drive."
"Sure thing," Noel agrees, "You care about the subject?"
Arthur shakes his head, then has to shut his eyes tight at the motion. John doesn't even mind it this time, riding out the wave of vertigo along with him. "Anything to keep me awake till we get back to the apartment at least, do you have a preference John?"
John thinks back to what Noel had been recounting before Arthur had woken up. Do you have any more interesting cases?
"Are you kidding? I've got years worth I can go through, we haven't even gotten to my second year on the force." Noel chuckles, "How about this one…"
John feels himself settle for the first time since this whole debacle started. A learning experience - that's what Noel had called it before they'd headed into the warehouse. He'd certainly learned a few things.
The fear of Arthur forgetting him was still alive and strong.
The worry that Arthur would be incapacitated and there'd be nothing John could do to fix it.
The realization that without Arthur he was voiceless and trapped unless he got his own body.
And that they really, really need to find a way for him to talk to Noel without Arthur as the middleman.
That could be solved later though, for the moment John resolves to help Arthur stay awake with a gentle squeeze to his knee when his eyes fall shut for too long, or urging him to reply to Noel when he's gone quiet. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough to keep them both going and that was better than nothing at all.