Infinite

The flight landed in the Denver International Airport around quarter to three PM. It took about twenty minutes to exit the plane and another fifteen to locate my bag and pull it from the spinning thing. This airport wasn't quite as big as where I'd come from, but I was walking blindly towards the exit of the gate, seeing as I had no idea what the actual layout was.

When I stepped out, following a group of people towards the main entrance, I was surprised to hear my name. I turned to my right and couldn't help but grin at the guys who stood there, dressed head to toe in black. "Ryan, Jacky," I greeted eagerly as I pulled them both into a hug, "I told you guys I was going to take a cab and meet you at the hotel."

Ryan grinned and shook his head. "We couldn't let you do that," he argued as Jacky nodded along, "You flew all the way out. The least we could do was pick you up."

"How was the flight?" Jacky questioned, reaching to take my bag from me.

I shrugged. "It was decent. Fast."

"Ronnie'll pay you back when he realizes you're here," Ryan said, suddenly looking nervous about it, "He's also going to be pissed when he realizes we didn't tell him."

The three of us started out towards the front of the mid-sized airport to hail a cab. "How is he?" I asked.

"Tore up," Jacky replied, "and pretty beat up too, but he looks worse than he is." He looked over and met my gaze, offering me a reassuring smile. He wrapped his arm over my shoulders as Ryan called for a cab at the curb.

"I want to go to the hotel first," I said to the guitarist, not looking him in the eyes, "I need to get a room and drop my stuff off and clean up a little bit. I probably look worse than he does right now."

Ryan chuckled as he walked over and grabbed my bag. "Not even close, Att," he answered, only catching the last of my words.

"We already got you a room," Jacky said. Upon seeing my look, he smiled and added, "We used Ronnie's card, don't worry."

"Good." I nodded.

The hotel was only about ten minutes from the airport, and as we drove up Ryan explained that the hospital was only two minutes and a couple blocks away. The city was full of tall buildings that blocked much of the view from the ground, but mountains were visible off behind the hotel.

It was a grand hotel with high ceilings and gold trimming and quite a few people passing through. The check-in desk was to the right, the stairs were straight on, and a set of five elevators were built into the left wall. Ryan and Jacky led me inside one and scanned their room key against a black box that was built into the elevator in lei of buttons. It beeped and scanned their room key and then began lifting us to higher levels of the building.

"We're on the twelfth floor," Ry explained, "Derek and Ron are at the hospital. Leaving Ronnie alone right now just isn't a good idea."

The doors opened and we stepped out. I followed the boys down the hall and they stopped just feet away from the elevator. "We're 1219 and 1221," he said, "1223 is yours." He pointed at two rooms across from each other, and then one next to room 1219.

"I just need an hour," I said as I took the room key from Jacky's slim fingers, "I've got to unpack and shower, and get something to eat. Then we can head down there."

"That's fine," they said, "We'll run out and grab something to eat. What do you want? There's tons of places around here."

I shrugged and leaned through the open doorway of my room. "Whatever you guys want is fine," I replied, lightening my tone up a bit, "Pick something up for Ronnie too, I know how he is about food. Dere and Ron, too, if they haven't eaten. I'll pay you back."

"Don't worry about it, we've got it," Ryan answered with a shake of his head, "We're the ones who asked you to come out here. Keeping you fed is the least we can do."

I smiled at him appreciatively. "Alright, let me know when you're back. I'll try to hurry." I paused and then stepped out to hug them both tightly. "Love you, guys."

"Love you too."

"Love you too, Atticus."

They replied simultaneously and then turned and disappeared down the hall, clad in similar fashion. They were my family and I watched them go until I couldn't see them anymore. Then I turned back to look at the room I would be spending the next week in.

It was a pretty big size and really nice. There was one bed along a large wall of windows, a decent sized kitchenette and a door that opened to an incredibly nice bathroom.

I dropped my bag onto the bed and took a moment to experience the view. After a good look, I grabbed a set of clothes and turned towards the bathroom to get cleaned up. It was only a three hour flight, but I hadn't showered this morning. Too nervous, too sick feeling.

I was finished in just over a half and hour and was putting my clothes into the dresser that held the TV when Ryan and Jacky knocked at the door, claiming that they had food.

"I'm coming!" I called, taking another second to press the rest of my bag into the bottom drawer and push it shut. I hurried to the door and pulled it open, grinning at them as Jacky held up a Burger King bag.

"Got you a burger, chicken, and fries," Jack said with an easy grin, "We had no idea what you like." He forked over the bag and dropped next to me on the bed.

"I'm not picky," I answered as I dived into the bag and pulled my items out before giving it back to the guitarist, "What did you get the guys?"

"There's a McDonalds on the corner next to the hospital," Ry answered, "We figured that we could run back if they want something."

"Hot food might win Ronnie over better than cold," I agreed.

We took about twenty minutes to eat and talk and both of them repeated that he looked worse than he actually was, which made me nervous. Seeing him like that wouldn't help my resolve.

I ate about half of my chicken and the rest of my fries before I couldn't force down another bite, offering my burger to either of the guys as I stood to get something to drink out of the stocked-mini fridge.

"You alright?" Ryan questioned as I held up a soda, offering them each one.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I assured, "Flying just made me a little queasy. I think I'm just a bit overwhelmed with this."

"We didn't think we would be here either," Ryan agreed solemnly, "and we definitely didn't think that you two would be."

"Yeah, I don't know," I answered, turning away as I turned the conversation from that topic. There was no way I could keep my composure and discuss the end of our relationship. I wasn't even sure why I was here, except for the fact that the band had asked me to be. And I was sure that Ronnie had asked them.

We headed out after that, checking for our room keys before we left. They were right, the hospital was just a minute's walk to the north of the hotel. It was busy when we went inside, and the guys walked it like they had it memorized. I followed, practically holding my breath as we piled into the already packed elevator.

Ryan pushed in the button for the floor, even though it was already lit, and we rode up to the top. I leaned back against Jacky's slim body, grateful for the comfort and familiarity.

"This way." Ryan led us out of the elevator on the third floor. It was a calm hall with a nurse's station positioned in the middle. Rooms surrounded it in a circle, but I followed the boys down to the far side and then turned down another hall towards another circle of rooms.

"Room 334," Ryan said as though he was wishing me luck.

I looked back nervously, almost wishing I'd thought harder about what would actually happened when I arrived. "No one mentioned I was here?" I asked, even though I told them not to.

"No," Jacky answered.

I let out a nervous breath. "I'm kind of regretting that decision now."

The guys chuckled humorlessly and nodded. "Sorry, but we weren't going to be the ones to tell him that you actually came. He would've conned his way out of here."

"That's not what I'm worried about," I replied, taking a glance at the closed wooden door, "He might have a heart-attack if I just walk in and surprise him."

"At least he won't be in pain," Jacky quipped.

I glared at him, at how un-funny that really was, but couldn't help but crack a relieved smile anyway. The two of them headed in first, calling boisterous hellos into the groggy room, and I followed, wincing as my eyes landed on the singer. I saw him before he saw me, and the sight of him terrified me.

His eye was bruised and it continued from his cheekbone to the center of his forehead. His blankets were pooled around his waist and his ribs on the left were bandaged. His shoulder was wrapped up to his neck and slightly down his left arm where it disappeared under a sling.

He looked broken.

I felt every injury.