darker_london | Welcome Back (Peter, Open to Anyone) (Reply)

Peter was choking. He couldn't breathe because there was something in his throat and his eyes snapped open, almost immediately blinded by light. Where was he? Why couldn't he breathe?! He tried to reach for his mouth, to remove the obstruction, but he couldn't move his arms. Oh god, he was paralysed again. Alarms went off all around him and Peter made a horrified noise until he heard someone rush towards him.

"Oh, Peter! It's okay! You're just breathing on your own. Just a second..." Abby reached forward and she made to remove his breathing tube. "Calm down, Peter!" And, once he was still, she pulled the tube from Peter's throat.

Peter gasped quickly, taking in deep lungfuls of air before dryly croaking, "water. Please."

Abby was already prepared for that. She held a glass of water that had been resting on Peter's beside table up to his cracked, dry lips. Peter drank the entire thing in a matter of seconds. Then he let his eyes focus on her. He had hallucinated quite rampantly over the last few days, and he couldn't be sure this was real. "Why'm I...wha?"

Abby blinked, but she was just grateful that he was able to say anything. She hadn't believed it when Alexei and Deirdre had brought him in, but then she'd felt his pulse. Seen him breathe. And then he'd gone in to shock and he'd stopped breathing, but she'd managed to put the kibosh on that right quick. It worried her, but as long as it didn't happen again... He was on an IV now, to take care of the dehydration and starvation, but nothing could prepare him mentally. Especially not retroactively. "Alexei and Deirdre found you, Peter. We...thought you were dead. I'm so sorry."

"Abby?" Hearing Peter actually say her name after so long having to remind him of who she was, actually caused Abby to choke up and she covered her mouth and nodded. "I'm...stuck." He tried to move his arms. "Did I get par..paira...non-movey 'gain?"

"Oh! No!" Abby moved to his restraints and she worked on undoing them. "I just didn't want you to do yourself a mischief if you woke up suddenly. IVs and breathing tubes and...sundry. Too much opportunity to cause injury. And you don't need any more."

Much to Abby's surprise, the second she had Peter's restraints off, instead of backing away from her, Peter reached out and pulled her in to a hug. He clung to her tightly, unwilling to let go for anything. He let out a shuddery breath against her shoulder. "God...am I really out of there?" His voice was small and so weak and Abby felt her heart break all over again.

"You really are, Peter." She said, running her hands over his back.

"I was terrified. How long was I...?"

"Five days." Abby said softly.

"Felt like forever." But five days wasn't bad. He thought it had been longer.

Abby pulled away and she gave him a sympathetic look. "Peter...I'm so sorry. There's..people here. Do you want them?"

Peter nodded enthusiastically. "Please. And food. People and food."

Abby smiled and she nodded. "Absolutely." Then she moved to the door and she leaned out into the waiting room. She was about to cause a stampede and she knew it. "He's awake." She called softly. "You can come in. A few at a time would be best." Though that command was probably futile. Then she went off to find Peter something to eat that wasn't normal hospital fare. After five days in a box, he deserved better than that.