Tristan could never figure out the right thing to wear when it was important. Throwing yet another set of checked shirt and striped tie on the growing pile on his floor, he was determined to look flawless. This was going to be the event where he solidified his place with the A-Gays. Just as he pulled another possible combo out of his closet, his phone vibrated. It was a text from Charlie's phone, so it must've been from Charlie's sister Eddy. Tristan read the text and dropped the shirt and tie immediately. He was out the door in seconds, hailing a cab to the hospital.
David was just getting out of a client meeting when he got the text from Charlie's phone. He called Other David immediately to pick him up and drive him to the hospital. Becka and Brad were in the middle of bickering about household cleanliness when they got the text. Steve was on his way to Haven to bring Edward some dinner because he was working late when he got the text. Upon hearing this, Edward asked Josh to hold down the fort while he met Steve at the hospital.
Somewhere in Boystown, a man was in the shower. His boyfriend was dressing in the bedroom, getting ready for a gala. The man's phone rang on the bed and his boyfriend, being the type that he was, picked up the phone. It was a text from Charlie. He was immediately filled with jealousy and suspicion.
"Diego?" called the man from the bathroom, getting out of the shower. "Was that my phone?"
"No babe," Diego lied, deleting the text message. "It was mine."
*
"We're doing everything we can," the nurse assured them.
"Except telling us what the fuck is going on!" Eddy screamed. Hunter held her back.
"Please," Hunter said, "If you could just tell us something... "
"Bring him back!" Eddy screamed, breaking down into sobs. Hunter held her as Steve, Edward, Tristan, Becka, Brad, and the Davids came rushing in.
"How's he doing?" asked Steve.
"He went into cardiac arrest," said Hunter. "They've been trying to resuscitate him, but we don't know... " Charlie's doctor came out of the ICU. They all braced themselves for the news.
"I'm sorry... " he started. But they didn't hear the rest: that was enough to send them into tears and comforting.
*
There was a long beep.
A nurse wrote down 6:16PM as the time of death.
The long beep continued.
Another nurse began to bring the sheet over Charlie's face as another began to shut off the life support.
Then... there was a short beep.
And another.
And another.
Charlie opened his eyes. Shadowy figures loomed above him. Voices that seemed like they were on the other side of an echoing hallway said things like "He's clear" and "Impossible." He realized how weighed down he felt all of a sudden, not just by the tubes and wires that were attached to him but by the very act of breathing. The moments before were a blur: the empty bar, the white light, the drawing of the phoenix. The choice. He wasn't sure if it was real or some drug induced dream, but before it all faded away, Charlie made sure to commit that memory to his soul: he had made the choice to come back. Now he couldn't fuck it up.
*
As the documented next of kin, Eddy and Hunter were allowed to go in for a few minutes to see how he was. Hunter stayed back by the door, letting the actual next of kin talk to him. Eddy pulled up the chair next to the bed and held his hand. Charlie opened his eyes, slightly.
"Hey Ed," he said in a weak voice that reminded her of when he woke up from getting his appendix removed when they were kids. She was strong for him then, the protective big sister. At this moment, she wasn't strong enough to keep the tears from streaming down her cheeks.
"Hey Chuck," she said, kissing his hand. "Don't you ever fucking do that to me again."
"I know. Sorry. I'm such a dumbass."
"Stop it. Nobody blames you. I texted everyone in your phone. There is a waiting room full of people who have been hoping and praying for you to make it... "
"Where's mom and dad?"
"They were at that conference in Beijing. They hopped the first plane back as soon as I got a hold of them."
"You texted everyone? Is... ?"
"No, he's not." Which reminded Eddy that she needed to find a certain ex of Charlie's and kick him in the balls.
"God, I'm such an asshole. Of all the things I could think of... "
"Stop it," Eddy said. "You are surrounded by people who love and care about you. You were dead and now you're not. These are all good things. Fuck everything else."
There was a light knock at the door and Hunter opened it. It was the intern who Hunter recognized as Tyler's crush.
"I'm sorry," said the intern. "Charles needs his rest."
"Fargo," Charlie said, as the hot intern exited. Eddy laughed, kissing him all over his cheeks, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Bank," she said, getting up to leave. Hunter held the door for Eddy, looking at Charlie wistfully as he began to walk out.
"Hunter... ?" Charlie croaked, in a dry and raspy voice.
"Yeah, dude?"
Charlie looked Hunter dead in the eye and managed a weak smile. "Fuck you too."
Then Charlie fell asleep.
###
