Baby

At first, it had been a struggle to get him moving.

"Left foot, right foot, Leo."

But she managed.

Despite aching from head to toe, throbbing pain from bruises that had not at all received proper time to heal, Savannah pushed the mere thought of showing pain to the back of her mind so that she could help Leo.

Leonardo. Her boyfriend—at least that's what was implied.

She didn't need to hear it. She really didn't. And that's what she told herself, but deep down Savannah would have given everything to hear Leo call her just that. To call her his girlfriend.

Or 'baby'. Or both.

Now isn't the time, Savannah, get yourself together.

It was a bit easier to snap out of her daze once she and Leo had neared the apartment, and out of nowhere Leo began to whimper like a kicked puppy and triggered Savannah's ears. But she didn't ask what was wrong. She knew the boy hadn't fully taken his mind off the car accident, nor from that nurse informing them that Oliver would be undergoing 'further examination', as she had called it. Savannah didn't like it either. But she was a bit less paranoid than the other.

"The door's open, Leo. Just go in and lie on the couch."

"...foot...which-"

"Left. Are you feeling dizzy? L-...Leo, no, the door's already open, what are you doing...?"

She could see how hopeless things were going and soon resorted to simply picking up Leo's left hand and escorting him over to the couch to help him lay him. And it was there Savannah took further notice of the boy's pale complexion. Leonardo really was getting himself sick over all this. The stress, the worrying, neglecting his own condition because he was more concerned with something else.

Pretty much exactly what Savannah was doing. Except she was a bit more skilled at managing it.

"Leo, you're really warm." With her hand resting on the other's forehead, Savannah sighed at the sight of Leonardo, breathing deeply, sweat on his face and neck. "Look at you..."

"Annie-"

"Don't try to talk, Leo, you're just wasting the energy you don't have. I'm gonna get you some water, okay? You need hydration."

She started to do just that, turning from the couch so that she could head over to the kitchen to get him a glass of cold water. But a weak touch of the hand stopped her in her tracks—delicately, a soft, brushing of the fingers as Leo attempted to grab Savannah's hand using what little energy he had left.

"Savannah..."

Even uttering a mere word, he sounded breathless. Savannah feared he would pass out any second now—at the same time, it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Leo needed the rest. But right now he seemed to be doing everything to fight that urge to fall asleep.

"Savannah, you're hurt..."

Heartbroken. Leonardo's voice quivered with emotion. His eyes did the same.

"Your bruises, you were hurt so bad, Annie-"

"Leo, I'm alright, it's not that bad-"

"Yes, it is, don't say that."

It was as though Savannah could hear the boy's inner voice as well, blaming himself for Savannah's pain all over again, like he hadn't stopped doing so since the incident happened, but now it was coming back to him full-force. So much had happened. So much since just yesterday.

It was overwhelming to all of them.

Savannah slowly lowered herself to the floor beside the couch.

A powerful urge to cry came over her in that moment, touching Leo's hand, running her thumb across the skin, delicate. She wished she could do more. For Leo, to make him smile, the way that Noah did so effortlessly. But she knew it was a matter of timing, a matter of patience. Leonardo needed her.

"With everything I've been going through lately, I need something like this...I need someone like you."

She couldn't forget how happy those words had made her. And still made her.

Savannah pursed her lips as she felt Leonardo squeeze her hand. Demanding attention in the slightest way possible.

"Annie, please rest..."

"You're the one who needs it," she said back immediately. "My heart hurts more than my body does. So it would help me a lot if you just took a nap, okay?"

"Take it with me."

"You're being clingy now," Savannah forced a soft laugh at him. "It's not like you."

"I don't want you out of my sight. I'll worry. You'll worry me, Annie."

"What do you think I'm gonna do? Go on a jog?"

"You did earlier..."

"That's not-"

She couldn't bring himself to argue. Truthfully, Leo had valid enough reason to worry, given Savannah's history of reckless actions even from today alone. Not to mention her dark years in high school.

Savannah wouldn't have been surprised if Leo were thinking about that, too. From their conversation early this morning.

She loved that Leonardo cared. Absolutely loved it, it filled a gap in her chest that she had doubted would ever be filled thanks to her insecurities fogging everything up. But right now she wanted it to be pushed towards the back of the boy's mind where it couldn't bother him.

Savannah shifted her position so that she could lean over and plant a kiss on Leo's cheek.

"I'll be okay," she whispered in assurance. "I just need you to be okay."

"Please lay down..."

He's not getting up, is he? "If I do, will you rest?"

"I will."

At this point Savannah was desperate. So with that confirmation from the boy, she scooped Leo's arm in her arms as carefully as she could and helped him all the way to the bedroom where she helped lay down again. And she climbed in right beside him.

Seconds later Leo already had his head buried into Savannah's shoulder. His arms wrapped around her, breathing unsteadily still, but he was on his way to becoming steady. It was simply a shock at first, an abrupt strike of emotions that once again nearly sent him into a panic, but he caught himself this time. Savannah was holding him tightly. She was here, she was okay, unlike the girl Leonardo had found on that roof years ago.

"I'm here, baby..."

Despite his protruding, negative thoughts, Leo didn't miss the soft-spoken nickname the other had let slip. It brought a blush to his cheeks, an unfamiliar, but warm and pleasant feeling to him. He even began to feel himself relaxing in Savannah's arms.

Savannah's strong, comfortable arms.

"I like that."

"Hm?"

"You calling me baby..."

The blush spread to Savannah now, but to an even greater degree. In her embarrassment, she forced yet another laugh. "Oh, you do?"

"Yeah," Leo breathed gently in response. "I'm your baby."

Savannah had never felt so relieved Leo couldn't see her face—beet red now, she was certain.

He's my baby. My baby. My boyfriend. Leonardo.

Crap. I forgot to get him water.

"Uh, Leo?"

"Who's Leo?" The boy muttered against her chest. "I'm baby."

"...baby, can you let go of me? Just for a minute, I swear, I just wanna get you some water. You should really drink some water."

"I don't need it..."

"Leo, please..."

"Who is this 'Leo'?"

Oh, he's so stubborn when he's sick. "Baby, you need to drink water. Let go of me and I'll be right back."

"Kiss me first in case I fall asleep while you're gone."

Leo's grip around her gradually began to loosen once Savannah placed another kiss atop the boy's head. Judging by the soft whine that followed, it wasn't exactly what Leo had been looking for, but he accepted it nonetheless.

"You're sick and not in your right mind," Savannah said to him with a fond smile. "Once you've got your strength back I'd love to hear those words again."

"Kiss me, Annie."

"I-...I said when your strength is back..."

"Where's my water?"

It's a good thing I love you.

On that note, she regrettably left Leo's side, walking out into the kitchen to retrieve a glass. She grabbed one from the cabinet, held it under the sink and started to fill it with tap water, then added in a few ice cubes. Halfway through her walk back to Leo's room, the muffled sound of a phone ringing interrupted her. Curious, she set the glass on the kitchen table and made her way over to the couch where the sound was coming from.

As it turned out, it was Leo's phone that had been buried in one of the couch cushions.

The caller ID read 'Noah'. Savannah took the liberty of answering it.

"Noah?"

"Savannah?"

"Yeah, it's me. Leo's in his room," she informed the other. "I told him to lie down, I was just about to get him some water when you called."

"Oh, okay. Thank you..." Noah gave a sigh of relief. "It's good to know you're taking care of him. It means a lot."

"Of course. Is everything okay?"

"Well, yes and no," Noah replied vaguely. "Oliver's fine, they're not forcing her to stay so I was actually gonna take her back to her apartment soon. I just wanted to call and let you guys know what was going on."

It was a weight lifted off her chest. Savannah knew Leo would be happy to hear this, and so it made her just as happy. "That's good," she said, "but what was the 'and no' part about? Is this like a 'good news, bad news' kind of situation?"

"I wouldn't say bad news, but...certainly news."

A considerable pause took place after this, but Savannah chose to wait it out until Noah decided on his own to elaborate.

"I think it's best for Leo to be present for this," he began. "I mean I could explain it to you over the phone but you'd probably be horribly confused. I mean, I'm still somewhat confused, but I'm getting there...anyway, how are you feeling? Haven't forgotten you were beaten half to death literally just last night."

"It wasn't half to death..." Savannah insisted, sighing. "And...I don't know, I guess it hurts."

"You guess, huh?"

"I'm trying not to think about it. I'm just trying to take care of Leo."

"That's both discouraging and reassuring." Noah permitted himself a chuckle. "Don't neglect yourself too much, buddy. Leo won't be too happy with you. But also I'm glad you seem to care about him so much. Like honestly. I really do."

Savannah unknowingly smiled at Noah's words. "That makes me glad, too, then."

"Mm. Hey, while we're on the phone, can I ask you something?"

"Uh, yeah. What is it?"

"You went to our high school, didn't you?"

Savannah felt her face drain of color, worried slightly that she'd lose some of the respect Noah had for her after revealing her little secret. But she didn't want to lie—she had already told Leo anyway, and Noah was bound to find out soon.

"I did," she answered after a moment. "I'm sorry, I should have admitted it earlier."

"No, it's okay," Noah said. "I'm sure you had your reasons. You lost a lot of weight, it's no wonder I was seriously second-guessing myself. But yeah, I thought you looked familiar."

"Yeah, I've changed a lot," Savannah said with a smile of her own starting to appear. "Because of Leo. I became encouraged to lose weight, to try harder, and...abandon my suicidal thoughts. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't be alive right now if it weren't for him."

"...holy shit."

Immediate regret seemed to wash over Noah, judging by the flustered noises and stuttering that followed these quiet words.

"Ah, sorry, I-...didn't mean to swear, or say anything stupid like that, sorry, I just-..."

"Oh, no, it's fine, you're good."

"Still, I'm stupid, sorry, uhh..." Savannah heard Noah loudly clear his throat, which for some reason she found amusing. "Well, I'm...I mean it's good you've changed in that aspect. Do me a favor and marry Leo then, will you? Spouse him up real good."

"Right." A laugh spilled out of Savannah's mouth. "So then you'll be coming back soon?"

"Oh, right. About that, can you drive?"

"Yeah, don't have a car, though."

"That's fine, you can use Leonardo's. Would you mind picking us up from the hospital?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Okay, thanks. Whenever you're ready, there's no rush. Make sure Leo gets his water and kisses and hugs or whatever."

"Mhm. I will."