when you get too close

Tanya could feel her own eyes water, and she leaned forward against the counter she was by. "Have the doctors said anything about the memory loss? Has she been released yet?" she asked quietly, not trusting herself to speak louder, though she swallowed hard and nodded. "I know you will, Luke. I know this must be hard for you, too. If things get too hard, don't hesitate to call us and we'll be there before you know it."

Michael frowned deeply with the man's words. He'd know it would happen, of course, that they would blame him. And he already blamed himself enough, he didn't need them blaming him, too, and using this to try to get to Leigh. "You can't do that," he said firmly, his voice strained as he tried to avoid raising his voice, not wanting to wake Leigh. "You can't take her away without it being her choice. If you're just going to use her accident to work in your favor, I won't let you and I know she won't, either, even without her memories."

Luke shook his head, despite Tanya not being able to see him. "She's still admitted in, I think they'll be coming to see her later." He explained gently, knowing that Tanya loved Reine so much. "Thanks, Tanya, you know it means the world." He bit his lip. "I'll let you know how we get on. I just can't wait to get her home." He explained.

Arthur sighed angrily. "Well you clearly don't take care of her." He spat venomously.

Tanya nodded as she listened to him, breathing out through her emotions. "Of course," she murmured, "I'm sure that the familiar surroundings will help, maybe, even if she can't remember them. Just... Both of you keep your heads up, yeah? I'm sure everything will work out."

Michael frowned deeply, his jaw clenching. "She's always been happy with me. And, despite everything you've believed and thought, I haven't hurt her in any way in the nearly four years since we got together," he said carefully, "I don't know what else to do to get you and her mother to approve of me or to like me, but, regardless of what you believe, I love Leigh and I want her safe and happy, so I have done and will continue to do everything in my power to take care of her."

Luke nodded. "Will do. Thanks again, Tanya. Love you." He spoke, hanging up before his emotion could spill out further. Putting his phone back into his pocket, Luke scrubbed his hand over his face, kissing Reine's hand, still clasped within his own, gently. Watching her chest raise and fall as she slept, Luke leaned to run his hand through her hair, allowing himself the honour to do so. "I love you. We're gonna get through this, Reine, I promise."

Arthur hung up the phone, not wanting to engage in an argument with Michael at that moment, knowing his daughter was struggling and wanting to prioritise her safety and feelings above all else, despite his disapproval of Michael.

Michael sighed out when the call ended and he frowned, setting his phone aside as he ran his free hand through his hair, making it even messier than it was from all the stress and worry. Leaning forward, he wrapped his other hand around Leigh's, giving her hand a gentle squeeze with both of his hands. "You're gonna be okay, Leigh," he told her gently, pressing a kiss to her fingers while his thumbs stroked her skin gently. "We're gonna get through this, together, just like we get through everything else." His eyes took her in, relieved to see that she seemed to be resting well enough, hopeful that she'd be okay. "I love you, so much, and I'm gonna be right here with you through it all, no matter what." He fell into a silence, there, just listening to her breathe, not taking his eyes off her.

Luke watched Reine carefully, his own exhaustion getting to him. Not wanting to sleep, not wanting to miss a single moment, Luke kept his eyes on her.

As if sensing Michael's hurt, Leigh stirred, her grip on Michael's hand tightening.

Reine began stirring after a bit, blinking tiredly, unable to sleep much do to the unfamiliar bed - not that she was even sure any bed would feel familiar, anyways - and the fact that Luke's voice wasn't filling the room anymore. Peering over at him, she watching him, blinking slowly. "You look exhausted," she murmured quietly, "Are you okay?"

Michael blinked with the tightened grip, watching her for a moment before he gave her hand a gentle squeeze in acknowledgement. "Hey, you," he murmured quietly, offering a smile, not wanting to disturb her but so easily able to tell that she was waking up, anyways. "Can't sleep well?" His expression softened with concern, but he leaned forward a bit to be closer to her.

Luke nodded. "I'm fine." He promised. "A little tired, but you're worth every minute of sleep that I lose." He promised, squeezing her hand gently. "I can't wait to get you home, somewhere you can relax without all of these machines." He told her.

Leigh instinctively shifted closer to Michael, shaking her head. "No, I can't." She admitted, resting her cheek on top of their entwined hands. Opening her eyes to look at Michael, Leigh offered him a weak smile. "You look tired." She commented. "You should nap."

"When was the last time you slept?" Reine asked quietly as she watched him, admittedly concerned. "You really should get some rest, Luke. I don't want you exhausted because of me." She frowned gently, worried, but she offered a weak smile, peering at the machines. "Yeah, I'm pretty ready to get out of this place. I feel like some kind of experiment."

Michael nodded slightly with the mention of it, shifting to pull one of his hands away, cupping her face gently to stroke his thumb over her cheek, as careful and gentle as humanly possible. "Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked quietly, scanning over her, just wanting to help her through everything in any way he could, no matter how small it was. He smiled, though, and shook his head. "Don't worry about me. I'll get plenty of sleep once we're both back home, safe and sound."

Luke hesitated for a moment. "About two days ago." He confessed, knowing that if Reine had her memories, she would scold him for being so stupid. "I'm fine, I promise." He smiled, leaning down to kiss her temple gently. "Once I know you're home, and you're safe, then I'll sleep."

Leigh looked at Michael disapprovingly, but an idea came to her head. "Would we share a bed at home?" She asked. "You know, before all of this happened." She hinted to the machines and the heart monitor that was still attached to her. Even in her own state of tiredness, she gravitated towards Michael, as if her body knew him but her mind didn't.

"Luke!" Reine complained with a frown, watching him with disapproval, "Even without my memories, I know that's not good! You need to sleep!" She pouted slightly as she watched him, though, for the moment he kissed her temple, she allowed her eyes to close for a moment before watching him with a pout. "Please?"

Michael blinked with her question, arching a brow with slight amusement but he nodded slightly. "We did," he confirmed quietly, "You loved claiming me as your pillow." He grinned teasingly, though the grin was tired as well, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Having you that close to me, in my arms, always put me at ease."

Luke grinned as Reine complained at him, loving how feisty she was, even with no memory of him or their relationship. "I can't." Luke admitted. "Back at home, the only way I'd be able to sleep was with you in my arms." He explained gently. "And I'm not doing that, not now. I don't want you to think I'm weird, or I'm taking advantage of you. I love you too much and I want you to take this at your pace."

Leigh thought for a moment, shifting away from Michael. "Get in." She smiled. She didn't care that she had no recollection of him, all Leigh knew was that with Michael, she was safe. She felt the love he had for her, and she felt herself returning it, her heart connected to his, and all Leigh could feel was that pull towards him. "And don't say no." She moved some of the wires, making room for Michael as she pulled the blanket back so they could share.

Reine snorted quietly, shaking her head slightly. "Okay, the only way you'd be taking advantage of me is if you forced your way onto this bed," she pointed out quietly as she watched him. "And you didn't even ask one way or another. So, come on, up you get, get up here and get some sleep, Luke. Please." She watched him for a moment but, to show that she was serious, she raised her blanket up, arching a brow expectantly as she watched him. She wanted him to get rest, but there was also a part of her that wanted to see if she'd be able to sleep better in his arms than not. Something about him so easily drew her in, despite having no memories, and she just wanted to be close to him despite not really understanding it.

Michael blinked several times, staring at her with mild surprise, shocked that she'd be so willing to let him on the bed with her, just so that he could get some sleep. His expression softened as he watched her. "God, you really are just so damn amazing," he murmured quietly but he eventually nodded, relenting to her orders before he stood up from his seat. Carefully, he climbed onto the bed and, almost on instinct, his arms wrapped around her before he could even think to stop himself, and he drew her in close, kissing the top of her head gently. "Even with what's going on, I'm still so lucky to have you in my life, Leigh." Taking a deep breath, he inhaled her scent, relieved that she still smelled so incredibly like herself, relishing in having her there in his arms, where she belonged.

Luke blinked, about to protest, but as soon as Reine said please, Luke relented and stood carefully from his chair. Climbing into the bed carefully, Luke settled down, making sure he wasn't tugging on Reine's IV and heart monitor. Instinctively wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Luke pulled her into his side, kissing the top of her head. "Thank you." He murmured. Feeling all his anxiety leave him as he felt Reine against him, Luke stayed silent, not wanting to ruin the moment.

Leigh smiled as Michael climbed in next to her. Feeling his arms wrapped around her, Leigh pulled the blanket over them both, using Michael's chest as a pillow. "I don't want you to go without at my expense." She murmured into the material of his t-shirt, feeling the safest she was sure she'd ever felt at the moment. As she inhaled the scent of Michael's cologne, Leigh relaxed completely, blinking slowly in content. Listening to Michael's heartbeat, Leigh felt her own heart synchronise with his, and she stayed silent, just closing her eyes and enjoying the contact between them.

Reine offered a small smile up at him, tugging the blanket around them, surprised with how immediately comfortable she was in his hold. Shifting, she pressed her face against him, her eyes sliding closed as she relaxed. "Thank me after you get some sleep," she told him quietly, enjoying being in his arms. His scent and warmth calmed her in a way she didn't understand but she definitely wasn't about to complain. Falling silent, she relaxed in an attempt to get more sleep, happy with being close to him.

Michael watched her but rubbed her back gently, a smile on his features. Kissing the top of her head again, he settled down, relaxing, comforted by the weight of her head on his chest and the scent of her. His hand rubbed her back gently as he closed his eyes. "I really do love you, Leigh," he murmured quietly, wanting her to know it, whether she had her memories or not - because, with or without her memories, she was still Leigh, she was still everything to him, and he still loved her. Breathing out, he relaxed, listening to the sound of her breathing as he tried to succumb to his exhaustion.

Luke rubbed Reine's back gently, using circular soothing motions to tell her that he was there, and he loved her, and she was protected. Luke couldn't fight his exhaustion much longer, of that he knew, and he didn't want to; he was content knowing that Reine was in his arms and she was alive after the worst 48 hours the two had gone through as a couple. Luke hummed a tune to Reine to lull her into relaxation, before exhaling deeply and settling down for a nap with her.

Leigh wrapped her arm around Michael's middle. "I can't wait to be able to say that back." She murmured, deciding that being honest was probably the best way to go. There was no point in lying about what she felt for him, she couldn't deny that there was something between them, and Leigh believed in fate, and Leigh believed in love, and Leigh knew that Michael was written into her fate somewhere along the way - almost four years as a couple couldn't be wrong. "Get some rest." She whispered gently, squeezing around his middle.

Reine breathed out in content with feeling the soothing way Luke rubbed her back, relaxing under his touch. She wondered how in the world she'd ever gotten so lucky to have Luke in her life, wishing she could remember their relationship, their life together. Hearing him humming, it eased her mind more and she managed to drift off after a little while.

Michael blinked, surprised to hear her words as he peered down at her, but he grinned slightly, happiness making his heart swell with the thought that she was even thinking about the possibility of returning the words. Nodding slightly, he closed his eyes again, holding her close, rubbing her back gently as he sang softly to her for a bit before he managed to get some sleep, content and happy to have her there in his arms, alive.

Luke woke up after a few hours, Reine still securely in his embrace. He kissed the top of her head gently, brushing her hair from her face as he began to rub her back once more, feeling refreshed after just a few hours of rest. Humming softly, Luke stared at the ceiling, counting the tiles as he thought about bringing Reine home, where she could be comfortable, not attached to various machines, and begin rediscovering what her life was like before all of this happened.

Leigh made a small noise of content as she woke up a few hours later, looking to Michael, who was still sleeping heavily, giggling as he snored lightly. Shifting them so she could sit up, she guided Michael to rest his head on her shoulder, wrapping an arm around him as she studied the dull, grey hospital room, wondering what Michael's house was like.

Reine was enjoying sleeping next to Luke, completely content and comfortable, feeling beyond safe in his arms. She stirred a bit after a while, though, hearing Luke humming and she blinked her eyes open, peering up at him. "Your hum sounds really nice," she murmured quietly, smiling slightly as she took him in. She looked over, though, as the doctor came in, smiling. He'd prepared the release forms, and he'd gotten everything ready to let Reine go home and he informed them of that. After having Reine sign the papers, he let her know that she could leave whenever she wanted but to make sure to set up a check up so that they could see how she was doing later on down the road. Nodding, Reine watched the doctor leave before she peered up at Luke.

Michael, feeling Leigh shifting near him, held slightly tighter around her before burying his face against her shoulder, breathing in her scent before he stirred eventually. "Hey," he greeted quietly, rubbing her back slightly before he smiled and kissed her temple, hoping that the day would go well for them. "How'd you sleep?" Hopefully, she'd be able to go home and he could get to work on helping her adjust to everything, and he'd do everything in his power to make her comfortable. Almost as soon as the thought passed through his mind, the doctor came in with the release forms, assuring that he was releasing Leigh today. He'd informed them to set up an appointment later for a check up to see how she was progressing but held the forms out for Leigh to sign.

Luke smiled down at Reine. "Thank god." He kissed her temple. "I can't wait for you to see our house." He told her with a smile. "I remember the first time you saw it, and you used to sit on the balcony for hours." He pressed another kiss, this time to the top of her head. Luke reluctantly shifted for Reine to get up, watching as a nurse came in to remove all the IV and the heart monitor and everything else Reine had been attached to. "Do you want me to get you an appointment fixed up?" He asked, shrugging off his jacket for her to wear, wanting her to be adjusted to the cold, October air. "And, if you like my humming, I'll sing to you later." He promised with a smile.

Leigh smiled. "I slept great, thanks to you." She murmured, looking up as a Doctor came in. She smiled, accepting the release forms and signing them carefully. Handing them back to the Doctor, Leigh hid her face into Michael's hair as a nurse came in to remove everything she was attached to. Feeling free of her restraints, Leigh smiled at Michael and pulled away from him, standing to her feet and stretching slightly. "I can't wait to get out of here." She looked to Michael. "How did you sleep, anyway?"