johnny who doesn't forget about you after he's brought back, but simply remembers things just a little bit wrong.
it's the middle of the night when simon comes to get you. he doesn't apologize for waking you when you crack open the door to your room because he knows you've been having trouble sleeping since johnny was shot. just blurts out that johnny is awake. alive. "he's askin' for you."
before you know it you're speed walking behind simon towards the medbay, cursing his long legs for carrying him so fast. he rounds corner after corner with you on his heels before stopping in front of a door. there's no name on the nametag. you assume he's going to reach for the door handle, but he lets out a deep breath and turns back towards you. "y'should really speak to price before you see him. wait here."
frustration bubbles up in your chest as simon vanishes around the corner. it's been almost a week since johnny was rushed off the helipad by the largest group of medics you'd ever seen for just one person. almost a week of no news, no information on his status, no way of knowing if he was beyond saving or just a step away from recovery. it was truly maddening.
price had been no help, although by the look on his face the many times you had questioned him he didn't know much more than you did. he looked just as tired, just as haunted. he's alive, price had grumbled while staring out his office window, cigar gripped a bit too tightly to be casual. that's all that matters.
it is all that matters, you think to yourself as you bounce on your heels outside johnny's room. its only been three minutes since simon went to fetch price, but as every moment passes your resolve starts to splinter. johnny is right behind that door. asking for you.
you've been desperate to see him. to simply watch him breathe, if anything. since the day you stepped foot on base, he'd bonded to your side like cement - much to your annoyance at first - and had stayed there ever since. within a few months you had to admit that he had officially earned his title as your best friend, again, much to your annoyance. johnny seemed to have a way of worming into people's lives with his charming smiles and thoughtful actions even if they didn't exactly want him to, simon was proof of that. it had been too long without him.
fuck waiting.
you had half expected some kind of code to get in considering the way they'd been keeping his condition under wraps, but the door swings open easily. the room is quiet except for the monotonous beeping of a heart monitor. a single light next to the bed casts a soft glow across the room, illuminating iv poles that almost look as if they're standing guard over their patient - the patient who cracks his eyes open and offers a sleepy yet devastating smile.
"there she is."
a sob threatens to spill out as you stride across the room to the side of the bed, johnny's eyes locked onto you as you move toward him. his smile is one of relief, as if he's the one leaning over your hospital bed to babble about how happy he is you're alive. he looks paler than usual, but you chalk that up to having been stuck in his little fluorescent corner for the past week. there's a bandage on the left side of his head, obscuring the wound that had nearly taken his life. you'd expected him to look different, delicate, perhaps even weak, but the man in front of you looked no worse off than having had a bad case of the common cold. of course johnny would cheat death and still come out looking no worse for wear.
"johnny," you whisper, his name coming out broken and weak. he grins - of course he would, mischief dancing in his eyes even while sitting in a hospital bed - and reaches his hand out to you. there's a slight shake to it as it lingers in the air before your fingers lace with his, pulling johnny's hand to your chest. there's an all too familiar burn behind your eyes, one you don't even notice until johnny tuts, raising his other hand to wipe the hot tears from under your lashes. his touch is calloused yet so familiar.
"stop your cryin' bonnie. m'here." johnny's hand cups the back of your head, pulling you towards his chest. it's all so much, his voice, his touch, the ever comforting smell of johnny on his hospital gown. his arms wrap around you, tugging you up to climb into the bed beside him. he presses your face into his chest, kissing the top of your head. well. that's new.
"you're alive."
"what gave it away?" johnny laughs as you lightly punch his side and the sound makes you feel dizzy. there had been a few days where you had doubted you'd ever hear it again. "don't be pulling your punches on me now, love. if i wasn't bulletproof before i sure am now."
"oh, shut up." johnny's arm releases from around your waist and you take the opportunity to sit up, examining his face. the crinkles around his eyes, the faded scar jutting across his chin. the sight of him feels so safe and familiar, and for the first time in almost a week you feel the icy tendrils of fear start to melt from your bones. a warm and calloused hand rests on your arm, his thumb rubbing light circles across your skin. "i don't know how they did what they did," you sniffle, fidgeting with the edge of his blanket, "but i'm so fucking happy you're alive. i didn't know what to do, they wouldn't tell me a thing, and when i saw you on that gurney - "
"hey." johnny's voice is softer than you've ever heard. his hand reaches up to cup your cheek, and you blink back at him in surprise. he touches your face gently, seemingly mapping it out with his eyes and fingers as if he's trying to burn the sight into his brain. you've been up close and personal with johnny more times than you could count, squeezed into the backs of trucks and squished impossibly close in pub booths, but he's never looked at you like this. like he was worried he'd never see you again, like it had been all he was waiting for.
something has definitely changed.
"i'm here now, and i've no plans of goin' anywhere anytime soon." johnny's eyes fall to where his other hand clasps yours, twisting his wrist so that the back of your hand faces upwards. a hum rumbles in his throat and he smiles, an almost lovesick smile that makes your stomach drop. "been thinking since i woke up," he says quietly. "and i don't want to wait anymore. it's time."
unease curls in your stomach, simon's earlier warning suddenly echoing like a siren in your mind. you should really speak to price before you see him. johnny doesn't seem to notice the gears turning in your mind as he continues trailing his fingers over your skin, watching the goosebumps raise along your arm intently. he moves down to your hand, your wrist still gripped in his, and pauses ever so slightly as his touch passes over the top of your empty ring finger. "time for what, johnny?" you ask slowly, carefully, gaze fixed on his dreamy expression.
cobalt eyes rise to meet yours. the corners of his mouth lift into a tender smile. "to get married, love."
your mouth goes dry. it feels as though he's knocked the wind out of you, the words slowly sinking into your bones like heat from a fireplace. to get married. to get married. to get married. the shock must be evident on your face, because johnny coos and cups the back of your head, tugging you face first into his chest once more. you're frozen, disbelief and confusion clouding your thoughts like smoke, and you shiver as johnny begins to stroke your hair and mumble quietly about making good on all his promises. "johnny," you stammer out, your voice muffled slightly by his hospital gown. "you know who i am, right? we're not - "
he scoffs, chuckling at you as if you're the one being silly. "of course i know who you are, love. could never forget you, no matter what happens to me." he ignores the way you shake your head at him, concern etching your brow as you sit up. "and i know, i know, we're not even living together yet, but don't worry. price was here earlier and i've already started working on charming him into giving us private quarters. might have to bend a few rules, but you know how good i am at that, don't you love?"
the sound of the door swinging open makes you jump in your seat. price strides purposefully into the room, simon in close step behind him. he stops abruptly when he spots you seated next to johnny, his mouth flattening into a straight line. "i see you got your visitor," he says lowly. he's speaking to johnny, but his eyes don't leave yours. something flashes behind them - concern?
no. a warning.
johnny doesn't acknowledge the unspoken conversation currently taking place in front of him. he continues absentmindedly rubbing circles into your skin, grinning at the two men as if he's won the lottery. "and she was worth every second of the wait, sir."
"she couldn't stand to wait either, it seems." price's voice carries no malice, only what sounds like resignation. a chill slithers its way into your bones as your eyes bounce back and forth between your captain and lieutenant. simon stands wordlessly behind price wearing his usual indifferent glare, but his body language is indescribably off. there's tension in his shoulders, a guardedness you've never seen from him, at least not in the company you're currently in. price has never looked so utterly uneasy, his weight shifting from his left foot to his right. he drags a calloused hand over his face before taking a few steps forward, his hands resting on his hips. you barely register the feeling of johnny's lips pressing against your hand, too focused on the look of pure pity price is sending you.
what now? help me, your eyes plead.
the only response you get is an ill-boding sigh. "i really wish you'd listened to simon."
a/n: this is me hitting the post button and then flinging my laptop across the room and running away bc im nervous - hello hello! this has been in my drafts for 74 years and i'm not sure if i hate the way i ended this, i'm sorry if it feels a bit rushed. the concept of johnny coming back wrong makes my brain go brrrrr i'd like to do a part two if anyone is interested! i hope everyone is having a lovely day (despite, yknow...everything)