Visitors (tags Kendall, Kate)

[Jefferson Davis McIntosh]

Jeff was glad of both his father's offer of transportation and Kate's offer of moral support. The car ride was largely silent except for the rain drumming against the roof, the perfect weather for a somber occasion. Nobody was in the mood for conversation, or else the other two passengers sensed that Jeff wasn't and kindly kept their peace.

The boy, for his part, worried over what he intended to say. He wasn't sure what the appropriate response was to hearing an ex had been attacked and put in the hospital, and though he mulled this over the whole long ride he wasn't any closer to a decision when they arrived at the hospital. The concrete parking garage seemed uncommonly full, so the car wound its way all the way to the top, letting out it's passengers into the rain so they could trudge back down toward the elevator. At least nobody else got on, and the elevator didn't stop until it reached the bottom floor.

Once inside what seemed a vast antiseptic maze Jeff realized that he not only wasn't sure what he was going to say, but he also wasn't sure how he even planned on finding Zach. "Umm, how do we find out where Zach is?" He whispered in panic as they marched along the corridors to the waiting room. He felt very ridiculous when his father informed him they'd just ask at the front desk, but his anxiety failed to abate.

Jeff shoved his hands into his jean's pockets, shuffling along behind his father. "K-Grace! What am I doing?! What do people normally say in situations like this?! I'm sorry you got jumped? Glad you aren't dead? You gotta help me!" He whispered frantically, but before she could supply him with any answers they had arrived at the waiting room, and there flipping through Forbes Magazine (he assumed because it was one of the few magazines on offer there, and not because she was particularly interested) was Zach's baby sister.

"Ummm, hey, Kendall. Is Zach...ummm....is he...can we see him?"

[Zach Doyle]

Kendall looked up from the notebook she was writing in. "Oh... Hello Jeff. He's in there, but I think he is awake, He is watching playoffs. You just need to be careful. He had two operations today and has a lot of stitches, so try not to upset him. Kendall stood and opened the door to her brother's room and held it for them. "Zach, Jefferson is here to see you," she said with a warning smile. "Try to stay calm and still. No tearing out stitches.

"Last I heard Jefferson didn't ever want to do anything strenuous with me ever again," Zach said quietly though it carried. "Hi Jeff, Katie. Thanks for coming." He was telling himself not to read anything into his ex-boyfriend's visit. It was probably a pity visit, something that didn't make him feel very good. Zach was very pale and there were small letters carved into his forehead but they were illegible.

[Jefferson Davis McIntosh]

Jeff managed to look offended at the idea he would upset Zach, even though he'd become an expert at this in the months since their break up. Still, he felt that as he'd bothered to come visit then he ought to be given the benefit of the doubt, not have people assume he was going to goad Zach further, or gloat or something equally awful. "Why the fuck would I come here to piss Zach off?" He grumbled under his breath, glaring at Kendall as she resumed her seat. "I'm not that much of a dick." He was pretty sure Kate would have told him if he were horrible enough to make hospital visits just to harass people.

His dedication to his good intentions were further challenged with Zach's muttered comment. He almost turned around and marched out the door; the only thing stopping him was the idea of explaining his very short visit to his father, who had volunteered to sit in the waiting room while the teens visited the patient.

"You look worse than this morning." Jeff informed the other boy, folding his arms across his chest and surveying his former friend. Both the multiple surgeries and the faint carvings on his face were disturbing indications of just how lucky Zach was to still be alive. "What'd you do, get in a fight with an angry butcher?"

He regretted this comment the moment it left his mouth; he was supposed to be here for reparation, not retaliation. Sniping was such a difficult habit to shake! "Umm, so I'm sorry about this morning. I don't really hate you." He muttered in a tone more grudging than apologetic. "And I don't want you to die or nothing. So umm yeah. I'm sorry you got knifed." Somehow that didn't sound quite as sympathetic as he'd intended it to, so he added, "Yeah, so don't die."

[Zach Doyle]

"The love of my family is overwhelming sometimes. My Uncle didn't want me to ever forget how he feels about me. And if I had died I couldn't have enjoyed his artistry for the rest of my life. "I'm sorry we fought Jeff. I'm not hiding anymore. I posted that I'm out before I went out this afternoon. I figure what use is being safe if I am just unhappy all the time. I would rather be a target than have you hate me. It hurts too badly. This last year has been hell. I have missed you so much Jefferson. I feel like I have a hole that I can't fill. Being stabbed was easier," he said, knowing Jeff wasn't likely to take his new apology well. He cowered down into his pillows and looked helpless and in pain , hoping it would soften Jefferson's ire.

[Jefferson Davis McIntosh]

"Your uncle. That's rough," Jeff sympathized. His own family had always been more tightly knit than Zach's, and even knowing that the Doyle's had a generally more dysfunctional family didn't make it any easier for him to comprehend his own flesh and blood attempting to murder him. "At least....at least you know. So he can go to prison now." He offered helpfully.

With Zach's admission he shrugged uncomfortable, mentally chiding himself for not expecting this; after their encounter this morning he should have seen the direction the other boy was heading in, a direction that spelled d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r. Or at least a-w-k-w-a-r-d.

"Oh. Ummm." He responded, glancing at Kate for support. She'd insisted he be sympathetic with those who wanted to stay in the closet, but she hadn't offered any advice on how to deal with exes who were hinting they wanted to get back together. Of course, he hadn't asked for any such advice, because he hadn't realized he was going to need it. "Your timing sucks." He said at last. "I wish I'd fucking known this when the police were questioning me earlier. They probably knew the whole fucking time! Laughing at me trying not to tell them!" He complained, disgusted with himself for trying to keep secrets for someone who had gone off and told everyone anyway.

He sighed audibly and turned his attention to the television, watching the tiny athletes scurrying around on the screen. Better to stick with football than to mess around with this relationship stuff; at least with football he knew the rules. "I really don't hate you." He sighed again, continuing to use the television as a diversion.

"And, you know, if you wanna be friends again, I guess that's cool. But I can't...I just....I can't, you know." He explained confusedly, wondering why it had to be so difficult to say they couldn't get back together. He felt guilty, as if he ought to want to go out with Zach again just because his ex had been attacked by his uncle, but he knew he'd be waiting for the relationship to unravel. "I'm sorry."

[Zach Doyle]

zach inwardly sighed and looked a Jeff, his eyes dark with pain.He had so many memories with Jefferson. He wasn't sure he could ever be with anyone as he had been with his ex. especially after that afternoon. He decided right then that he would be alone for the rest of his life. Besides he couldn't bring anyone else in to the horror show that was his life. He didn't know how far his Uncle Marsh might go to wreak vengeance on them."It's all right Jefferson, I am better off alone now."