Chapter Three
Klaus had no problem listening to those orders and carrying them out. He was out pretty quickly, and only woke up a few times, to which Ben calmed him down and read him back to sleep.
The next morning, his family came in, though one at a time. Luther came when he was still asleep, and left when he was asleep, also.
Diego came in next.
“Hey, buddy,” he said calmly, sitting down next to his brother’s bedside. “It’s Diego, I’m your brother.”
“D- Dee- a- ay- go?”
“Yeah. I know it’s weird because I’m just a stranger to you, but I’m your brother.”
“I- I’m s- so- sorry.”
“It’s okay, it’s not your fault.” Klaus’ eyes drifted open and shut, almost closed. “Hey, it’s okay. Get some sleep.”
When he woke up, Allison was by his bedside, holding his hand. “A- All- Ally?”
“Hey, Klaus. How you holding up?”
Klaus really was too tired to speak, so wrote in the notebook.
'Ive hed owrse ODs'
“Yeah, I bet you have.” She smiled. “But, I wasn’t there for you then. I’m sorry.”
'Its okya you hed clare to lok aftre'
“Yes, but I also have a brother to look after… you remember her name?”
'Looks liku et'
“Hey, I brought you some eyeliner, and some nail polish. Luther left a sketchpad and pencils, but you were asleep.”
'Ben sais hellu'
“Well tell Ben I say hello, too. Say thank you for looking after you when I couldn’t.”
'Clare!'
“You’re not going to make me feel not guilty about it, Klaus.”
Klaus looked into the corner of the room, where someone was standing. Someone dead. A hole in his head and eyes black, another hole in his stomach. His eyes widened as he realised who it is. He turned to Ben. “I- is he?”
“The guy that crashed into you? Yep. I guess he died.”
“Klaus? Is everything okay?” Allison asked.
“Y- yeah. J- just goa- ghost.”
“What ghost?” Klaus grabs the sketch pad and pencil from beside his bed and draws a sketch of the man he sees.
When he’s done, Allison turns to the corner of the room, where the man is standing. She half expects to see a torn apart man, but there is nothing.
'can yuo do my makuep plaese'
“Absolutely, but then I need to go, Five’s next.” She leaned to get the eyeliner, and put it on him, and then painted his nails a deep ocean blue.
“T- th- thank y- you.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?.” She smiles as Klaus nodded, and left.
By the time Five came in, Klaus had lost his voice, and didn’t want to talk anymore.
“Hello Klaus,” he sat down on the chair next to the bed. Klaus held up the HELLO hand. “Well that’s about the only thing you can spell.”
Laughing slightly, Klaus wacked Five with his notebook.
'yuo are rihgt thuogh.'
“How you doing?”
'tired'
“How long are you in here for?” Klaus shrugged. “So, I read in the paper that the guy in the lorry that we thought ran off was dead.
'i know his goast is in thi croner'
“Really? I didn’t know it was that fast. Interesting.”
'im sure the huose is fallnig aprat withuot my'
“Oh yes, it’s very… interesting. Mom keeps making you breakfast.”
'wat do i heva?'
“Waffles. Always. It’s always waffles for breakfast… oh, you told me not to let you forget someone. Dave?”
'dave?'
“Yeah, I think he’s from Vietnam.”
'that esplains the dog tags'
“Yeah, they’re his, I guess. Do you remember Vietnam?”
'couldnt evre forgrt it'
“Do you remember Dave?”
'parsialy'
Five looked at his watch. “Shit, better go. See you tomorrow, yeah?” Klaus smiled, waving the GOODBYE hand as he did so.
By the time Vanya came in, Klaus was tired and beginning to take in whatever is happening to him. A tear was rolling down his face.
Vanya held her brother’s hand, not needing him to say a word to let her know what was going through his head. More tears fell down his face.
“Hey, Klaus. It’s okay.”
“I- it- it’s n- not o- okay.”
“No, it’s not okay. But we’re all here for you, and we’re going to help you through it.”
“Y- ye- yeah.”
They hugged for a long time, and it was special. She didn’t ask him to explain, or make him say what she wanted to hear. It was nice to just… hug.
Klaus yawned as he lay back on the bed. His eyes eyes drifted open to closed, then forced them open again. “Hey, it’s okay. You sleep.”
“W- will y- you s- st- stay w- wit- with m- me u- un- until I- I s- sl- sleep?”
“Yes, if course.”
“T- th- thank y- you.”
And she did. She watched as her brother drifted into a deep sleep, from which he did not wake until 10am of the following morning.
A nurse was the first person to come in. “Hello, do you remember me?” Klaus shook his head. “I’m Alice, your nurse. I’ve been looking after you for a few weeks now, and was thinking that you may be able to go home tomorrow or in the next couple of days. I’ve spoken to your family who are on board and have readied the house for your arrival. Does that sound okay?”
Klaus simply nodded, taking out the sketchbook and pencil. He drew Ben, who was sitting in front of the window, looking out at the city beyond.
Allison was the only person to come in that day; the others were busy. “Hey, Klaus. What are you drawing?” Klaus showed her the now-finished picture of Ben. “Is that Ben?” Klaus nodded. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’m sorry the others aren’t here today, but the nurse said about coming home tomorrow, so you’ll see them all then. Five insisted I bring this.” She held out a bag containing a Peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich, which Klaus took.
“He also insisted I remind you about Dave, so you won’t forget him. He went to the vet office and got a photo of him and what I assume is the rest of the platoon. You’re on there, too.” She passed him an a4 photo of his squadron. Despite his memory trouble, he remembered each and every one of them without fail.
“D- Da- Dave.”
“Did you love him?”
“A- a l- lo- lot.”
“I bet you miss him.”
“M- mo- more t- th- than a- an- any- anything.”