Final Goodbyes

The night went as it went, dark and dreaded. Ula never moved off that seat, as she kept her face close to Jamal's. Even with what the doctors told her, she still held hope that something would happen. That something could happen. But she wasn't a medical professional and they told her the reality of the situation. He was pretty much dead, and nothing could be done about it.

The only sounds keeping her company now were the soft chirps of the outdoor birds, as the world moved on. Even once this was all over, no one, except those that were really close to him, would care. Maybe some of the city folks, but they had work and their own families to care for. Speaking of which, it reminded Ula the one time she had seen her kids since Jamal's arrival. It was only a couple of hours after the surgery was completed, and they were asleep in one of the guest bedrooms the hospital had provided. But they had to know. They had to know what happened to their father.

With little energy, she didn't even wish to personally get them as her fingers wrapped around the caller's handle. She pressed a button and only had to wait a couple of seconds before someone answered her.

"Bring my kids to Jamal, please." she responded, before being reassured that it would be done.

The chirps had disappeared by now, as Ula sat still in the silence that she was used to for the longest. It was the only thing to bring her comfort at this point, as her head laid against the wall. She just wanted to cry, even though the tears had run dry a long time ago. 

As the minutes went on, a knock finally forced her to turn her head and told whoever to open the door. The first thing she saw was Laken holding up a blanket, probably what he was sleeping with, as he rushed towards her. 

"Ma!" he grabbed her leg tightly, "I missed you so much!"

She instinctively placed her hand against the top of his head, as she slowly began to caress him. Another small whimper brought her focus back to the door to see a nurse holding up Jackie in her arms. Her baby's eyes were still closed, although it was sucking its thumb in a somewhat adorable manner. 

"She wouldn't stop crying, Ma. I could barely sleep!" Laken chuckled, as the nurse handed Ula her kid, "Um, Ma?"

Ula turned to see Laken staring at him. She forgot to pull the blanket up in time as a sharp breath was sucked in. All she could do was watch as Laken's eyes fluttered to his father's face and process what he was seeing.

"Do you need anything else?" the nurse could sense the mood sorrowing.

"Yeah," Ula took a small sigh, "It's time."

The nurse didn't even need more information, as she took a nod and told them that they would be back in a couple of minutes with the doctors. Once the door closed, Ula refaced Laken, who was now grabbing on the blanket. 

"Laken." Ula looked at him with little emotion on her face, "Look at me."

"What-, What's wrong with Pa?" Laken turned to her with confusion. "Why is Pa looking like that?"

"Sweetie, I need to tell you something very important. You need to listen to me."

"Okay." he looked down at his feet, "Is it bad?"

"Well," Ula was controlling herself with deep breaths, not knowing how she wanted to say this, "Not really. Your father is-, um, taking a very long nap."

"A long nap?" Laken's face changed into one of a little more excitement, "I love naps!"

"Laken, listen to me." Ula didn't even realize tears were coming out of her again, "Listen to me, please. This nap lasts a very long time. Longer than any of us here will be alive for."

"You mean Pa not waking up again?" Laken turned to his Jamal again, as he couldn't help but try to connect some dots, "Was it the baddies in big city place?"

"Sweetie, you're too young to understand it all." Ula started to wipe away the water off her face, "You'll know the truth when you're older."

"Ma, you not okay. You want a hug?" was all it took from him for Ula to break down completely, as she couldn't take it anymore.

Laken only stood there in silence as he watched his usually fierce and demanding mom, sulk away with emotions from everything that happened. Pa was only sleeping right now, so they could wake him up again, right?

"We can wake up Pa again, don't worry Ma! I'll do it, then we can all get ice cream!" Laken tried cheering her up.

"Laken, he's not coming back! Do you not get it, boy!" Ula yelled out in pent-up emotion, "Your father isn't coming back, ever!"

Laken couldn't even process those words as it only made Ula break down even more. Pa wasn't coming back? That couldn't be true. He always did, no matter what. He believed that.

The boy turned back to stare at his father's damaged face, as he raised a hand to graze it. It felt rough and ragged, as Laken grabbed the blanket to get a better view of his condition. He held his little breath as the boy could finally see all the work the doctors did. His father wasn't like this before, in fact, he never saw him like this at all.

The sight forced Laken to step back in shock, almost tripping and falling to the ground. This couldn't be his father, it wasn't possible. This wasn't the same man, he was stronger than this. The boy couldn't help but clench his fists tightly in thought, confused at the world around him. If this was really him, why wasn't he there to help him? Pa could have used him and he wouldn't have been in this position.

"Ma," Laken turned to look at teary-eyed mother, "I'm going to hurt the baddies who did this."

"Laken," she sputtered out, still unable to speak properly.

"You were right. This no good. You being sad, makes me sad too. I'll do it, for you and Pa." Laken hurried past her and opened the door.

"Laken!"

The boy didn't turn around as he managed to slip through and took a quick look to his left. There wasn't a single person in sight, as it was looking better for him to escape. As he started to move the opposite, he turned his head right into someone's leg, knocking him back on the ground.

"Woah, are you alright kid?" the person moved down to his level.

Laken rubbed his head for a second, before looking to see who it was. It was one of the doctors, as the man brought his hand to lift him back up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." the doctor readjusted his glasses as he paid better attention on the kid, "What's your name?"

"Laken." The kid looked behind to see a couple of more people behind the man, meaning his chance to get revenge would be even more difficult.

"Oh," the doctor looked at the room they were in front of and connecting some dots, "Is your father in there?"

Even though he didn't want to answer, Laken couldn't help but nod after some time, reluctant to give away such information. He didn't really have a choice though, as the doctor could only nod.

"Okay, were you looking for us?"

"I was going to get the baddies that made Ma sad!" Laken forced out, in the sense of rage, "Pa is hurt badly! He should be happy!"

"Well, Laken. We can make him better." the doctor nodded, although the ones behind him held an uneasy look, "I should really introduce myself, my name is Dr. Thomas, but I think your mom knows me better. Is she in there?"

Laken refused to answer, folding his arms across, as Dr. Thomas knocked on the door regardless. They could all hear Ula make a small whimper for them to come in, as they did so. Just as Laken was going to move past while they were distracted, Dr. Thomas grabbed his hand with a smile on his face. This man was smart, the boy couldn't help but be impressed, as everyone was now inside.

Ula was still in the seat, barely holding Jackie up, as the tears on her face soaked into the jacket she had worn since arriving. She hadn't even tried to stop Laken, as she never had the energy to stop him at the moment. The two made brief eye contact, as Laken could see little reaction from his mother, as Dr. Thomas cleared his throat. 

"It seems as if everyone is finally here." Dr. Thomas waited for the door to be closed, "I know this may be hard for everyone, but I can ensure you that Jamal will no longer be in pain."

Ula sniffled through those words, as her hands trembled with every second. Laken could see her struggling to hold onto Jackie, as he poked at one of the doctors closest to him to get her.

"Have you signed the paperwork, ma'am?" Dr. Thomas asked, with Ula slowly nodding as she moved her head to the small stand next to Jamal's bed.

"Very well, the procedure will be quick and take no more than five minutes. We'll sedate his body in case of any reaction due to his powers, before administering the final drug to end his pain." 

Laken could only look at his mother, as she nodded in something she never wanted to do. It was only for his father's sake that she was doing this. His opinion was invalid, as the boy could do nothing but watch the doctors move around the bed. One of them was holding a small tray with three syringes, as Dr. Thomas grabbed the first one.

"This one will loosen all his muscles so the drug will sedate him better." he showed Ula, before injecting it into his skin.

It went through with ease, as Laken could do nothing but watch the liquid go into his body. A small hiss came through the skin, as everyone's head turned to look towards the source. A very small stream of steam was exiting his skin, as many in the room had never seen such a thing before.

"Hm, perhaps his powers are still somewhat active? That's very strange, they should've been inactive for some time now." Dr.Thomas couldn't help but assume, "Everyone, please do take note so we can study this once we're completed."

Laken glanced at Ula and saw her eyes widening in surprise. Was Ma not expecting this at all, as he was thinking similarity, although something was obviously off. That was very clear from the get-go.

"Regardless, we'll proceed with a sense of caution." the main doctor grabbed the second syringe, "This one will completely sedate him before the next one stops his heart."

Everyone in the room watched as Dr.Thomas went to grab Jamal's arm, before pulling it back abruptly. 

"Wow! That's a lot warmer than before!" he cried out, before someone shouted for everyone to see.

Looking in their general direction, they could see the machine starting to pick up on something before a small beep broke through the room. A small murmur broke between the group, as Dr. Thomas was quick to get the readings.

"Im-, Impossible! That shouldn't be physically possible!" he stuttered out.

"What's happening?" Ula looked at everyone in confusion, "What's going on?"

"We're getting brain activity again. Something that we hadn't seen in days." the man was flipping through the reports of his progression, "Jamal Wrint might still be alive."

Ula was slow to get up off the seat, as she grabbed Jamal's arm and felt his warmth. Even before anyone else, she was first to note something more strange. His dark skin was slowly softening compared to its prior firm texture, with a somewhat orange glow coming through. The warmth coming from him practically flowed through her, as the others in the room noticed the phenomena. 

"I've never seen anything like that." One of the doctors could see the orange clearly, as its shine filled the room with vibrant lighting.

Dr. Thomas remained quiet, as he was too focused on writing down the observation he was seeing. The thought of this even having a sliver of a chance of occurring was impossible, but Jamal Wrint defied the odds once more. This man could really do it all.

"Jamal." Ula muttered, her voice strained with little energy, "Come back to me. Come back to us."

It was as if it was all it took for the glow to disappear as quickly, as the room became silent again. Nothing happened for several seconds, as even a few doctors thought it might have been his body's final moments. Truly a performance, if it was the case, they kept to themselves. Ula's sight didn't budge as she stared at the man the entire moment, waiting for anything to happen. Then, it was the moment they were waiting for.

.....

Jamal's eyelids were briefly trembling before he managed to open them after a week. His vision was blurry, as he couldn't make out his surroundings. Where was he again? Damn, who was he? He couldn't help but try to look around, although nothing was clear.

However, there was a voice in the back of his head, trying to say something to him, as the vision was starting to sharpen. He could make out the shapes of multiple people in whatever room he was in, although there was someone extremely close to him.

"Jamal!" the feminine voice snapped him into reality, which he instantly recognized it.

"U-," he tried to speak, although it was harsh and strained, "Ula."

It was as if his body was paralyzed, as it was a struggle to even move his neck to look at her, but he could finally see her again after all these weeks. She looked tired, as he could manage to feel her hands grabbing his.

"I-," Jamal tried to say, as Ula took his oxygen mask for him.

"Ma'am!" Dr. Thomas tried to warn her, although a doctor next to him grabbed his shoulder.

"Let her." she said, giving him a nod. "It'll be fine."

Ula didn't listen, as she set it on top of his chest. Even as hard as it was, she could see him trying to maintain eye contact with her the entire time.

"I'm, I'm so sorry." Jamal managed to force out, before Ula placed her lips onto his.

They didn't part the entire time, as Jamal could feel the water from her tears landing over his face. He missed every single second of it, as he could feel her hands grab onto his face. She never left his side, Jamal figured out, as she pulled back and wiped the tears off her face.

"Never, and I mean never, do that to me again. You hear me?" Ula stared him down.

"I-"

"Promise me, Jamal! I don't want to lose you like this again!"

"Yes." he sighed, as the doctors nodded towards Ula.

"We'll give you guys a moment or too, before we run some test and discuss the next steps." Dr. Thomas brought his head down, "As for you sir, it's great to see you made it."

"Thank you, everyone." Jamal could only nod, as his body was fighting off the muscle-loosening drug, "Although, I don't remember too much. And can I get some water?"

One of the doctors nodded, as the medical team left the room in a single-filed line. It only left the family within, as Laken had yet to say a single word during the entire ordeal.

"Pa?" Laken came up to the bedside, "You're not taking a long nap?"

"I wish," Jamal managed to laugh out, before wheezing in pain, "Everything hurts so much still. What did I do?"

"You don't remember?" Ula had Jackie back in her hands, "Not a thing?"

"No." Jamal could see the doctor bring him a glass, with another person behind him.

"They wanted to see you as well." she nodded, as another woman with blond curly hair stood in her place.

"Wait," Jamal had to look twice, before letting Ula give him a fourth of the cup, "Alice?"

"They say you always do the impossible, but I've never seen anything like this." Alice could only shake her head, "Rising back from the dead, aren't we now?"

"I suppose." Jamal tried to focus on the prior events, but couldn't remember anything. "What's going on?"

"You really don't remember?"

"I wasn't lying now." Ula shook her head.

"No, not since-, since you guys teleported away. Not even when I was asleep or whatever."

"Well, who doesn't like a good ol' storytime?" Alice turned to Laken, who had a small smirk across his face, "Maybe not for you kiddo, for the grownups themselves."

The kid just side-eyed her, as Ula couldn't help but smile. All the stress and worries from this ordeal had taken a toll on her, but she could finally rest.

"Say," Jamal coughed out again, "How long was I out for?" 

"About a week," Alice looked at Ula, who was slowly nodding off, "But it's probably best we wait for everyone to be in a clear state."

Jamal was going to follow suit with another question until someone knocked on the door once more. How many more people wanted to be here, Jamal wished for that answer, as it was opened to the sighting of multiple doctors and a few of the advisors he recognized from months prior.

"Jamal Wrint!" one of the people in the crowd shouted, waking up Ula abruptly, "I'm sorry."

"Um, what's going on now?" Jamal had more strength in his body, as he was able to shift his neck to get a better view.

"That's what we'll get to the bottom of right now." A more serious advisor moved up to his face, "So let's start with the most pressing matter at hand: Why did you blow up that damn city?"