《 Skip a Beat 》

What's there

Newt finally seemed to hear her, and Queenie watched as his heart rate dropped from 137 bpm to 96 bpm over a couple minutes. He still looked rattled when the nurse left the room, leaving the vase on the table clean and the water replaced.

Jacob wasted no time in dragging his chair closer to Newt and dropping into it.

"Hey, it's fine. 'Kay? They're alright," he comforted a shell-shocked Newt. Somehow, his friend looked even paler than before.

Newt wished he hadn't tried to sit up. His head hurt even more, and the white hospital lights flashed right into his eyes. He groaned softly and dropped back onto his pillow, closing his eyes.

"Leta, could you get the lights?" murmured a gentle voice that he recognised to be Queenie's. Newt didn't realise that he was squeezing his eyes shut until the soreness disappeared.

Tentatively cracking them open, he realised that the whole room was bathed in shade, the little daylight there was peeking through cracks in the curtains.

Newt tried to thank her, but his throat ached whenever he talked and no sound came out.

Queenie just gave him a weak smile, inclining her head slightly.

"Newt, your heart rate is getting faster again," pointed out Leta.

Newt glanced at the screen, trying to ignore the growing pain in his head. She was right. His heart rate was 106 bpm.

He sighed, resting his head back on the pillow. He was thinking about Tina without even realising it.

"Newt. Stop worrying, she's going to be fine. They're both going to be fine," consoled Queenie, standing to move by his side.

"Yeah, I thought you said worrying means you suffer," piped up Jacob. Newt found himself staring at the ceiling, trying to conceal his smile.

Glancing back at his friends (as much as he could), his smile faded slightly. "But what if they're in trouble? I didn't even get to see them before they left..." He trailed off, staring solemnly into space.

"They have a dangerous job Newt. Trouble is the whole reason their career exists," said Leta quietly, knitting her manicured eyebrows together.

Feeling the urge to need to distract himself, Newt fiddled with the little remote in his hand.

He wasn't usually the kind of person to worry. In fact, he was told often that he didn't worry enough, but this was different. This was about two of the people he cared about most in the world. Where one of his friends was concerned, Newt couldn't help but worry.

"Come on Newt," soothed Jacob. "If anyone's capable of taking care of themselves, it's Tina. She's going to come back just fine."

"Both of them," added Queenie. "You'll see."

Newt nodded, chewing on a lip. Hundreds of thoughts whizzed around his head, contributing to his already throbbing headache.

"Put up a fair fight too," Leta was murmuring. Newt trained his gaze on her, studying her expression.

What?

"Well, buddy, I mean..." began to elaborate Jacob, upon seeing his curious demeanour. He sighed, meeting Newt's eyes. "She took one look at you lying unconscious in the bed, and... she said she didn't want to leave," he finished, leaning forward in his chair.

"What?" breathed Newt, not entirely sure why he was asking.

Tina didn't want to leave? Why not? She loves her job...

"Yeah, well..." Queenie subconsciously fiddled with the hem of her pleated dress. "She didn't want to leave you, honey. Said she felt guilty about not being there for you," she said, her grass-green eyes meeting his blue-green.