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.Panic.Then the world went black.Just the Right Notes - 137 Chapter SixteenElliot's head hurt.His arm hurt, too.It was broken.It didn't matter, though.None of that mattered because Graham was lying, pale and unconscious,in a hospital bed with machines and tubes, and he hadn't woken up since the accident.Elliot sat in the chair next to Graham's bed, holding his lover's hand and trying, by sheer force ofwill, to get Graham to open his eyes.Nothing.There was nothing.No motion, no sense.Nothing.He put his head back against the chair and sighed.Graham would wake up.He would.Elliot had to believe that."Elliot?" One of the little twink woodwind players cleared his throat."Do you need anything?"Yes.For Graham to wake up.He shook his head, though."Are you sure? There's a vigil for him tonight.Press and stuff."That had him sitting up in a hurry, his head screaming at him for it."A vigil? He's not dead, youknow.""We know, but.I'll tell Roger you're in here.The company wants to do stuff, I'm sure.""Do stuff? What do you mean, do stuff? Just leave us alone." He couldn't believe this.His babywas.somewhere else, and the company wanted to 'do stuff'? "Please.Before I get agitated.Thenurses don't like it when I get agitated.""Sure.Sure.If he wakes up." The twink waved one hand."When." Elliot glared.He was about to start growling and getting nasty.The kid shrugged, sighed."How are his hands?"He stared him down."I asked you to get out of here.Do it."Damn it.Vultures.Assholes.His Graham was lying there unconscious, and all they cared aboutwere those talented hands.He didn't care about Graham's work, about the music.He cared abouthis lover.He always had.Just the Right Notes - 138 He stared until the kid left, and then he turned back to his Graham.His beautiful, dear lover.Hisbeautiful, quiet, stubborn baby.He moved to sit on the side of the bed, took Graham's handagain."Come on, G.I need you."Graham's fingers were still, cold.He held them in his, willing warmth to come into them, willingGraham to be better, to be well.The accident played through his mind again.He could remember that beautiful, bright face,Graham laughing.They were talking about something silly, and then he'd looked up and therewas that van, barreling down on them.On Graham.It had been a city van, and the driver hadn't even seen them.He could still see it hitting Graham,every time he closed his eyes.A shudder moved through him."Elliot? I came as soon as I could get a flight." Graham's manager, agent, and oldest friend camein, arms filled with flowers, two huge cups of coffee, and one of those iPod stereo set-ups.Hegot a worried smile, Janie looking frazzled and exhausted."How're you? What can I do? Has hewoken up yet?"Oh, it was nice to have someone here who cared about Graham himself.He got up and helped relieve her of the flowers and the iPod, then gave her a hug."No.No, hehasn't woken up yet.Maybe hearing your voice will do the trick -- tell him if he doesn't wake up,you'll sign him up for another one of these dreadful tours he hates so much.""Anything." She kissed his cheek."We'll make it better, Elliot.I promise.""Yes.We will." He hugged her once more."It's about time someone showed up and said that.""I mean it.I brought music for him, coffee for you, and my laptop.I'll get on the insurance andon the city now.He'll have the best doctors available.How are you?""Exhausted -- I was ready for the second shift to show up.""Do you have a room here?""Nope.They cleared me after they put the cast on.And don't bother trying to get me go to a hotelor anything -- I'm not leaving his side." The chairs weren't that uncomfortable."Okay, but they need to put you in a.a decent chair, huh?""They've got better chairs than this? You want to see what you can do for me?" He knew one ofGraham's favorite things about Janie was how she got things done.Just the Right Notes - 139 "Yes.Have you eaten? Do you need pain meds?" She pushed one of the coffees in his hand andheaded out the door."I need to speak to who's in charge here!"He didn't bother answering any of her questions, just called out a "Thank you" and let her go.He eased himself down, breathing in the good scent of fine coffee.Janie was here.He hadbackup.Which meant he could concentrate on making Graham wake up and get better."Okay, G.It's time for you to stop this and come back to me." He knew that Graham was inthere.The doctors said that Graham had some trauma, but the swelling was down, the bleedinghad stopped.He rubbed Graham's hand."I'm not going to leave you until you wake up.I'm goingto haunt you."One of Graham's legs was broken, one shoulder, and they'd sewn up what seemed like acres ofskin.When Graham finally woke up, there was going to be a heavy recovery period, lots ofphysio -- but Elliot was going to see his lover through it.He was going to take his baby home, take him to the cabin.Love him.He couldn't think ofanything else that mattered.***Elliot looked out the window of Graham's hospital room.It was raining.It seemed fitting, really.The gloomy day matched his mood.His lover was still comatose.The doctors assured him Graham would wake when his lover was ready.Well, Elliot was ready.Elliot was past ready.He wanted Graham back, damn it.He turned from the window to glare atGraham's still, pale form."You hear that, G? I want you back.Now."They had played audio books, music, the TV constantly, barraging Graham with input.It wastime.He went his iPod and found the last piece Graham had created.He hit play.He was prettysure he knew this one by heart."Maybe I should go record the zoo for you, G.The sounds there had you excited when we left,didn't they?"Was that a twitch?He moved to sit on the edge of Graham's bed, close enough that their hips touched.He tookGraham's hand in his."You remember the zoo?" He leaned in and chuckled
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