Jay's POV
Pain has a strange way of becoming familiar.
At first, it's sharp. Unbearable. Loud.
But over time…
It quiets.
It lingers in the background, like something you learn to live with.
That's what my mornings had become.
I woke up slowly, my body stiff, shoulders aching the moment I tried to move.
A soft wince escaped my lips before I could stop it.
And instantly—
"Jay?"
His voice.
Low. Alert.
I froze.
"I'm fine," I said quickly, forcing my tone to stay normal.
Beside me, Keifer shifted. I could feel his eyes on me even before I turned.
"You winced," he said quietly.
"It's morning. Everyone winces."
"Not like that."
I sighed softly, turning my head to look at him.
His brows were slightly furrowed, eyes still heavy with sleep—but filled with concern.
Always concern.
"I'm okay," I said gently.
He didn't reply.
Instead, he sat up slowly, careful not to disturb me, and reached out.
"Show me."
I rolled my eyes slightly. "You just woke up and you're already acting like a doctor."
"Show me," he repeated, softer this time.
I hesitated.
Then gave in.
Carefully, I shifted so he could check the bandage on my shoulder.
His touch was light.
So light it made my chest tighten more than the pain did.
"It's healing," he murmured, though his jaw tightened slightly. "But you're still pushing yourself."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm literally lying in bed."
"Mentally, you're still running around like nothing happened."
I huffed quietly. "You're overanalyzing."
"And you're underestimating your injury."
Silence.
Then—
"…you're one to talk," I muttered.
That made him pause.
Then a small, reluctant smile appeared.
"Fair."
Keifer's POV
She was healing.
But not resting.
Not really.
I could see it in the way she held herself—like she was ready to move at any second, like stopping was unnatural to her.
And I didn't like that.
Not when she had two bullet wounds.
Not when she barely gave her body time to breathe.
"You're not getting out of bed today," I said suddenly.
She blinked at me. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"Keifer—"
"No."
I stood up, crossing my arms. "Doctor Jay, since you didn't follow your own advice, I'm stepping in."
She stared at me.
Then scoffed slightly. "You're unbelievable."
"And you love me."
"…unfortunately."
I smirked faintly. "Good. Now stay."
She shook her head, but I noticed—
She didn't argue further.
That was new.
Jay's POV
The first few days were the hardest.
Not because of the pain.
But because of him.
Keifer had turned into something else entirely.
Protective wasn't even the right word.
Overprotective.
"Don't move."
"I'm just sitting up—"
"Too fast."
"I'm turning—"
"Too much."
"Keifer."
"Yes."
"I'm not going to break."
"You already did," he said quietly.
That shut me up.
Because for the first time—
I realized something.
He wasn't being annoying.
He was scared.
Small Moments
"Eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"Eat."
"Keifer—"
"Jay."
I sighed and took the spoon from him. "You're treating me like a child."
"Good. Because you act like one when you're injured."
I gave him a look.
He didn't even flinch.
"Finish it."
"Bossy."
"Alive."
I paused for a second.
Then continued eating.
Keifer's POV
She hated being taken care of.
I could tell.
Every time I helped her, every time I stopped her from doing something, there was that flicker in her eyes.
Not anger.
Discomfort.
Like she wasn't used to it.
Like she didn't think she deserved it.
That bothered me more than anything.
"You don't have to do everything alone," I told her one evening.
She looked at me, confused. "I know that."
"Do you?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she looked away slightly. "I've always handled things myself."
"I know."
"And I'm fine with it."
"I'm not."
That made her look back at me.
"Why?"
"Because I'm here now," I said simply.
Silence filled the space between us.
Soft.
Heavy.
Real.
Jay's POV
Days turned into a routine.
Wake up.
Pain.
Keifer hovering.
Medicine.
Rest.
Arguments.
Soft moments.
Repeat.
But slowly—
Things changed.
The pain reduced.
The stiffness eased.
And I started moving more.
"Don't push it," he warned as I tried to stand without support.
"I'm not pushing it."
"You're literally pushing yourself up without help."
"I can walk."
"I didn't say you couldn't."
"Then let me."
He hesitated.
Then stepped back.
"Fine."
I stood up slowly.
Carefully.
The movement still hurt—but less than before.
I took a step.
Then another.
Keifer stayed close.
Not touching.
But ready.
Always ready.
"You're staring," I said.
"I'm monitoring."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
I smiled slightly.
One Night
That night, I couldn't sleep.
Not because of pain.
But because—
For the first time in weeks, I felt… restless.
I sat up slowly, careful not to wake him.
But of course—
"Jay?"
I sighed. "Do you ever sleep properly?"
"No."
"I noticed."
He sat up, looking at me. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Then why are you awake?"
I shrugged slightly. "Just thinking."
"About?"
I looked at him.
Then away.
"…us."
That got his full attention.
"What about us?"
I hesitated.
Then said it quietly.
"I'm not used to this."
"This?"
"Being taken care of."
He was silent for a moment.
Then—
"You don't have to be used to it," he said softly. "You just have to let it happen."
I looked back at him.
"And what if I don't know how?"
He smiled faintly.
"Then I'll teach you."
Keifer's POV
She was getting better.
Stronger.
But I could still see it—
The way she moved carefully when she thought I wasn't looking.
The way she suppressed her reactions.
The way she still carried everything alone.
So I started doing something different.
Not forcing.
Not controlling.
Just… being there.
"Walk with me," I said one evening.
"Where?"
"Outside."
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
Evening Walk
The air was calm.
Cool.
Quiet.
We walked slowly, side by side.
No rush.
No pressure.
Just… us.
"You're healing well," I said.
"Thanks to you."
"No," I shook my head. "Thanks to you. You're strong."
She smiled slightly. "I know."
I huffed softly. "Confident too."
"I have to be."
We walked in silence for a while.
Then she said—
"You were really scared, weren't you?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Yes."
She looked at me.
"I've never seen you like that."
"I don't like being like that."
"Why?"
"Because it means I can lose you."
She stopped walking.
So did I.
"Keifer—"
"I'm serious," I said, meeting her eyes. "Don't hide things like that again."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Jay's POV – One Month Later
Healing isn't just physical.
It's slow.
Quiet.
Invisible sometimes.
But one month later—
I felt it.
The strength returning.
The pain fading.
The normalcy creeping back in.
I stretched slightly, testing my shoulders.
Still sensitive.
But better.
Behind me—
Arms wrapped around me.
Familiar.
Warm.
"Better?" he murmured.
"Much."
"Good."
I turned slightly to face him.
"You know…" I said softly, "you're not getting rid of me that easily."
He smirked. "I wouldn't even if I could."
"Good."
He leaned closer, resting his forehead against mine.
"No more hiding," he said quietly.
"No more."
"No more taking everything alone."
"No more."
He smiled faintly.
"Then I guess we're both healing."
I nodded.
"Yeah."
Not just wounds.
But us.
Together.