What She Almost Lost, a Falling Overnight Fanfiction
Title: What She Almost Lost
Film: Falling Overnight
Pairing: Elliot/Chloe
Word Count: 764
Warnings: None
Chloe tapped her foot anxiously. How long had it been? Hours? Minutes? She couldn’t tell. All she knew was that Elliot was in the surgery room, and had a 50% chance of coming out. The waiting room was quiet, with the occasional phone ringing or shoe scuffling. And she couldn’t handle the quiet. So she did the only thing she could think of to occupy her mind. She thought about Elliot.
What did she know about him? She knew that he did stuff with the web, stuff with mentor sites. She knew that he liked bananas. She knew that he wanted to go to Spain, France, and India. She knew that he liked to ride Mel’s ex’s bike. She knew that he swore a lot. She knew that he was lonely. She knew that he loved his family. She knew that he colored his toe blue out of boredom. She knew that he loved sugary cereal, especially Frosted Flakes and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. She knew that he liked chicken. She knew that his nose bled all over a girl he was making out with once. She knew that he got along amazingly with her friends. She knew that he had to lean down to kiss her. She knew that his lips were soft. She knew that he smelled like cinnamon and tasted like mint. She knew that his arms made her feel safe. She knew that his hair ran through her fingers perfectly. She knew that they had known each other for a little under 24 hours. She knew that she could lose him, after barely even having him. And she knew that she loved him.
What would she like to know about him? She’d like to know his favorite animal. His favorite color. His favorite book, movie, and tv show. She’d like to know if he preferred Batman or Superman, and the name of his second grade English teacher. She wanted to know little facts about him, little, insignificant things that would mean nothing to others, but would mean everything to her. She wanted to know him better than anyone. But most of all, she wanted to know if he would leave this hospital with his heart still beating.
Chloe couldn’t take it for much longer. She curled up on the couch she had been sitting on for God knows how long, pulling her knees to her chest, and burying her face in her arms. She squeezed her eyes as tightly as she could, but she could feel that the tears were stronger. She couldn’t help that sob that she let out. Or the one after that. Or the one after that. Or any of the sobs after that.
“Excuse me, miss?” Chloe looked up into the kind brown eyes of a young nurse, crouching down to be eye level with her. “Is everything alright?”
“Yeah.” Chloe sniffed and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “Everything’s fine.”
The nurse tilted her head to the side and smiled softly. “Someone you love getting a risky surgery?”
“Believe me, you’re not the first person I’ve seen. Family member? Friend? Boyfriend?”
Chloe sniffed again. “M-my boyfriend, I guess he is. He’s getting a tumor removed.”
“I’ve seen plenty of brain surgeries, miss. I promise you, he’s in good hands.” The nurse patted her on the knee, stood up, and walked away. Oddly enough, that didn’t give Chloe much reassurance.
Luckily, Chloe didn’t have to wait much longer. Not five minutes later, the door to the operation room opened, and the doctor exited. Chloe stood up and almost sprinted over to the doctor. “Miss Webb,” the doctor said. “About Elliot…”
Chloe opened the door to the hospital room. “Hey Elliot,” she said, closing the door behind her. She sat down on the edge of the bed, where she was met by Elliot’s beautiful sapphire eyes and perfect smile.
“Hey,” he slurred. “Did you wait out the entire operation?”
Chloe nodded. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I had left and you died.”
Elliot wrapped his fingers around Chloe’s, grinning brightly. “But guess what?”
Chloe giggled, feeling the tears coming again. “What?”
“I know, you idiot.” She kissed him, treasuring the feel of the lips she almost lost.
“Someone’s emotional,” he whispered against her mouth as she started to cry.
“I almost lost you.” She pulled away, but continued to hover over him.
“But you didn’t.” He squeezed her hand. “And you won’t have to.”
Chloe just smiled and wiped her tears, and kissed him again and again.