**Chapter 15: Aftermath**

The hospital room was dimly lit, with only a few flickering fluorescent lights overhead. The smell of antiseptic and stale air filled my nostrils as I sat beside Johnny's bed, holding his hand in mine. He was injured, his face bruised and battered from the fight with the Socs. I felt a pang of guilt for getting him hurt, but he just smiled weakly at me. "Hey, Vik," he whispered, his voice hoarse from the pain. I squeezed his hand gently. "Hey, Johnny. How are you feeling?" He winced, trying to shift positions. "I'm okay, I guess. Just a little sore." I looked at the doctor's chart on the bedside table. "You've got a few stitches, and the doctor said you need to rest for a few days." Johnny nodded, his eyes drooping shut. I could see the exhaustion etched on his face, and I felt a surge of concern. As I sat there, holding his hand and watching him sleep, I couldn't help but think about the fight. It had been intense, with both sides giving it their all. But in the end, we'd emerged victorious, even if it was at a cost. Johnny was hurt, and I was still trying to process everything that had happened. The door to the hospital room creaked open, and Dally walked in, his eyes scanning the room. "Hey, Vik. How's Johnny doing?" I nodded, trying to keep my voice down. "He's okay, I guess. Just a little sore." Dally nodded, his eyes flicking to Johnny's face. "Good. I'm glad he's okay. We can't afford to lose him." I raised an eyebrow, feeling a surge of curiosity. "What do you mean?" Dally shrugged, his eyes clouding over. "I just mean that Johnny's a key part of our group. We rely on him, and we need him to be safe." I nodded, understanding. Dally had always been protective of Johnny, and it was clear that he cared deeply for him. As I sat there, holding Johnny's hand and listening to Dally's quiet conversation, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The Socs would be back, and next time, they wouldn't be so easy to defeat. I glanced at Johnny, who was still sleeping, his chest rising and falling with each breath. I felt a flutter in my chest as I realized that I was falling for him, hard. But I also knew that I had to be careful. Johnny was a complex person, with a depth that I was still trying to understand. And I knew that I had to be prepared for whatever came next. The hospital room was quiet, the only sound the beeping of the machines and Johnny's gentle breathing. I sat there, lost in thought, as the darkness outside seemed to press in on us. I knew that we were in for a long and brutal fight, but with Johnny by my side, I felt like I could face anything. As the night wore on, Johnny stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Vik?" he whispered, his voice hoarse. I smiled, squeezing his hand. "I'm here, Johnny. I'm not going anywhere." He smiled back, his eyes locking onto mine. And in that moment, I knew that I was his, and he was mine.