Invictus

[Captain Canada]

Season VI | Episode 5 - Godspeed

The hospital corridor had become its own strange world.

Time no longer moved in hours or minutes for Zane. It moved in nurse rotations, doctor visits, and the occasional update that never seemed to contain enough information to ease the crushing weight sitting on his chest. The fluorescent lights overhead never dimmed. The polished tile floor never changed. The muted sounds of hospital life continued endlessly around him, as though the building itself existed outside the normal rules of the world.

Zane sat alone in one of the plastic chairs lining the wall, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands folded tightly together in his lap.

He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten.

He couldn't remember the last time he had showered.

Hell, he couldn't remember the last time he had changed clothes.

Everything after Ashlee’s phone call had happened in a blur. He remembered racing back to his condo. Remembered throwing random belongings into a duffel bag. Remembered fumbling through his phone with shaking hands while ordering an Uber.

Then came the airport. The frantic search for the next available flight. The hours spent trapped inside an airplane seat while his imagination tortured him with every possible outcome.

Every minute in the air had felt like an eternity, feeling like every delay was personal.

Every second that separated him from Pittsburgh felt unbearable.

And now he was here. Waiting.

Still waiting.

The doctors had repeatedly told him to go home. The nurses had encouraged him to get some sleep. They told him to shower. Change his clothes. Eat something substantial.

Take care of himself.

Zane had nodded every time they said it. Then he stayed exactly where he was because he didn’t know what “taking care of himself” even meant at this point. He wouldn’t be sleeping. He couldn’t wash off what he felt. A change of clothes wouldn’t mean a change of circumstance.

So he remained planted in the same chair, day bleeding into night and back again, watching strangers pass through the corridor while his life sat suspended in uncertainty.

His phone had buzzed constantly for the first day.

Texts. Calls. Messages from teammates. Coaches. Marie. Tyson. People checking on him. People asking questions.

People trying to help. Eventually the sound became unbearable. Irritating. Like a fly that just wouldn’t stay swatted away.

He stopped answering. Then, he descended into no longer reading them. Finally, he powered the phone off altogether and shoved it into his pocket.

Silence felt easier. Everything felt easier than trying to explain what was happening inside his head.

The worst part wasn't even the fear anymore. It was the numbness. At some point he had cried himself dry. The tears simply stopped coming.

Now he just felt heavy and detached. The exhaustion creating an outer shell along his skin.

More than once he had pinched himself, hoping the sharp sting of pain would somehow snap him awake. The first time had been in the airport. The second time had been beside the hospital vending machines. The third had happened sometime during the night when he sat alone in the waiting area staring at a blank television screen.

Every time the result had been the same. Just the same nightmare waiting for him.

Zane slowly adjusted himself in the chair and lifted his head. The hospital had entered one of its quieter periods. The emergency room rush had apparently subsided for the moment. A nurse pushed a cart down the hallway. A doctor walked briskly around a corner while reviewing a tablet. Someone laughed softly several doors away.

The sounds blended together into a distant hum. For the first time all day, nobody seemed to notice him. And for once, he was grateful.

He exhaled slowly and rubbed his palms together. "I fucking hate being here."

The words slipped out quietly. No one heard them. The statement lingered in the empty space in front of him.

His eyes drifted toward the floor. Forty-eight hours ago his biggest concern had been football. Transfer portal decisions. Recruiting pitches. The possibility of playing in the Big Ten or SEC.

His entire life had revolved around one enormous decision. Now none of it felt important.

Now he sat alone in a hospital corridor wondering whether the most important person in his life was about to leave him too. The thought settled heavily in his chest. His grandfather was gone. His father had seemingly disappeared when everyone needed him the most.

Now his grandmother lay behind a set of hospital doors while doctors monitored her condition. The ache inside him intensified.

"Everybody keeps leaving me."

Slowly, he powered the phone back on, the screen illuminated immediately. Notifications flooded across the display. Dozens of them. He ignored every single one.

His thumb moved deliberately through his contacts until he found the name he was looking for. For a moment, he simply stared at it. His heartbeat quickened. His throat tightened. The hospital corridor suddenly felt much quieter than before.

He pressed the call button. The phone rang. Each ring felt impossibly long to the point he almost hung up.

Then the line connected.

A familiar voice answered. Zane closed his eyes. For a second he couldn't speak. His breath caught somewhere in his chest.

All the words he had rehearsed vanished. All the explanations disappeared. He swallowed hard. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded smaller than he intended.

"Hey."

Silence greeted him for a moment from the other side. Zane squeezed the phone tighter.

"I know this is a lot to ask."

"Can you come to Pittsburgh?"

His voice wavered.

"I need you."

And for the first time since arriving at the hospital, Zane stopped trying to carry the weight of the world entirely on his own.

***

Bianca sat in front of Katie's vanity mirror, squinting slightly against the brightness of the lights that framed it. The bulbs cast a warm glow across the room, illuminating every detail of her face and making her reflection appear far more polished than it ever did in the cheap mirror hanging in her own dorm room. The lighting seemed almost professionally designed, highlighting the smoothness of her skin and catching the natural shine in her dark hair. She leaned forward slightly, studying herself with a level of scrutiny that probably bordered on ridiculous.

Her fingers disappeared into her hair, combing through the thick black strands from root to tip. The silky texture slid effortlessly through her fingertips, drawing a small smile from her.

If there was one thing she had inherited from her parents without complaint, it was her hair. Bianca often joked that her Greek family had given her enough stress to last several lifetimes, but they had at least compensated by passing down some exceptional genetics.

Her mother was constantly offering unsolicited advice, her father never seemed capable of relaxing, and family gatherings usually evolved into debates loud enough to shake the walls. Still, as she admired the healthy shine reflected in the mirror, she had to admit they had done something right.

She leaned even closer toward the glass, narrowing her eyes as she inspected her eyebrows. They were nearly perfect, but a few tiny stray hairs had appeared along the edges. To anyone else, they were practically invisible. To Bianca, they stood out immediately.

"Do you have any tweezers?" she called toward the bathroom without turning around.

For several seconds there was no answer beyond the sound of drawers opening and closing.

Then came Katie's voice.

"Hold on."

Bianca could hear her rummaging through what sounded like every drawer in existence.

"Where the fuck did they run off to?"

The frustration in Katie's voice made Bianca laugh quietly to herself.

The sound felt refreshing.

Normal.

For the first time in what felt like forever, things between them felt almost familiar again. The heaviness that had settled over Katie's life during the past several weeks hadn't vanished, but it wasn't dominating every moment either. Tonight felt different. Lighter.

Katie had been the one to suggest they go out.

Not to some massive party to get blackout drunk, or to chase some chaotic college experience. Instead, she had found a small hole-in-the-wall bar where they could simply relax for a few hours and enjoy each other's company. As Katie had put it earlier that afternoon, college didn't have to revolve around drugs, alcohol, and boys. The statement had surprised Bianca coming from her, but it also made her hopeful.

The fact that Katie had even wanted to leave her dorm room voluntarily felt like progress.

The only boy currently involved in the evening's plans was Darius, whom they had both texted and practically demanded show up later.

A few moments later, Katie emerged from the bathroom holding a pair of tweezers above her head like a championship trophy.

"Found them."

Bianca laughed outright. "You're actually a queen."

Katie grinned and crossed the room before handing them over.

Once Bianca accepted them, Katie paused behind her and studied her reflection through the mirror.

Her expression immediately shifted into disbelief.

"You literally have nothing to tweeze."

Bianca rolled her eyes and leaned toward the mirror again.

"I disagree."

"You are hallucinating."

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

Bianca carefully angled her face.

"See? Right there."

Katie stared.
"Should I get a magnifying glass or something? Bitch, there is nothing there."

Bianca pointed.

"Right there."

"Congratulations, your conquest to becoming part-dolphina has finally been realized."

Bianca broke into laughter. Katie shook her head dramatically.

"You're ridiculous."

"Thank you for the gas-up though."

"I'm not gassing you up. I'm telling the truth."

Before Bianca could respond, she felt Katie's arms suddenly wrap around her shoulders from behind.

The unexpected embrace caught her completely off guard.

Katie squeezed her tightly and rested her chin against the top of Bianca's head.

"You're gorgeous," she declared. "Beautiful, actually."

Bianca froze for a second. Katie continued before she could respond.

"And I'm really glad you're in my life."

The words settled heavily between them. Bianca stared at their reflection in the mirror. For a moment she didn't know what to say.

Katie had always been affectionate in her own way, but this felt different. More sincere. More vulnerable. Eventually, a warm smile spread across Bianca's face.

She lifted one hand and rested it over Katie's forearm.

"That was unexpected." Katie laughed softly. "But thank you."

Her voice softened.

"I appreciate that."

Katie simply shrugged, though the smile never left her face. When Bianca met her eyes through the mirror, she could see something she hadn't seen in a long time.

Relief - not complete healing or happiness, per se - but relief.

Katie looked down at her. "I know things aren't fixed, but today feels lighter. Like, there’s not a mountain sitting on my chest today.”

Bianca listened. Katie's smile softened.

"I don’t know, I feel a little more like myself today."

Bianca turned her head enough to look directly at her. There wasn't really a response for something like that. So, she simply nodded.

Katie nodded back. The understanding between them was enough. A moment later, Katie's eyes shifted toward the vanity.

"Your phone."

Bianca looked down. The screen was lighting up repeatedly against the tabletop. She frowned.

The caller ID wasn't immediately visible from where she sat.

Katie motioned toward it.

"You're ringing."

Bianca reached forward and picked up the phone. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the screen. Without another thought, she accepted the call and lifted it to her ear.

"Hello?"

***

Marie sat alone at one of the many empty countertops that lined the campus café, her fingers loosely wrapped around a ceramic mug that had long since lost any trace of warmth. A small spoon rotated lazily through the latte inside, creating slow ripples across the pale surface before settling again. The afternoon rush had come and gone hours earlier, leaving the café caught in that strange lull between busy periods when the only sounds came from the low hum of refrigerators and the occasional hiss of an espresso machine somewhere behind the counter.

Her shift had ended a long time ago.

Still, she remained seated.

Her eyes drifted toward the large windows overlooking campus, watching students move between buildings bundled in winter coats and knit hats. Most of them looked stressed, burdened beneath backpacks and stacks of books as final exams loomed over the semester's final days. Normally, Marie would have been right there with them, scrambling to finish assignments or studying for upcoming tests.

Instead, she found herself staring blankly through the glass.

It had been a few days since that walk home with Zane after the team’s season-ending loss. Days since the phone call that had sent him racing back to Pittsburgh. Too many days since his world had seemingly been turned upside down all over again.

His communication hadn't stopped entirely.

There had been a few texts. A few check-ins. Short messages letting her know he was still above ground. She mentally checked herself that this was a poor choice of words to be thinking.

He was doing as alright as someone could be under the circumstances.

She couldn't blame him for being distant.

After everything she had learned about his life, she honestly didn't know how anyone would function normally after something like this. The murder of his grandfather had already reshaped him once. Now his grandmother - the one person who had remained steady throughout all of it - was in a hospital bed.

What exactly was she supposed to expect from him?

A part of her desperately wanted more. More updates. More conversations. More certainty about where they stood.

But every time those thoughts surfaced, guilt followed immediately behind them.

The situation wasn't about her. It wasn't even close.

Still, sitting helplessly hundreds of miles away left her feeling restless in a way she wasn't accustomed to.

Useless.

She frowned at the word as it formed in her head.

No.

That wasn't quite right.

What could she realistically do? Fly to Pittsburgh uninvited? Call him every hour demanding updates? None of that would help.

And yet she couldn't shake the feeling that she should be doing something.

Anything.

Her coursework certainly wasn't providing a distraction. Most of her exams that semester had been take-home essays that she had finished days earlier. The final assignments sat submitted and graded. For the first time all semester, she actually had free time.

Unfortunately, free time left room for thinking.

And thinking had become the problem.

The sensation of a hand settling gently onto her shoulder pulled her from her thoughts.

Marie looked up.

"Hey."

Standing beside her was Alexis.

The sight immediately softened Marie's expression.

Alexis had been one of the first people she'd met when she started working at the café. A year older than her and deep into the Nursing program at Syracuse, Alexis had trained her during her first semester behind the counter. She had shown Marie everything from operating the espresso machines to handling the impossible customers who treated their morning coffee like a life-or-death emergency.

She had also taught her every shortcut worth knowing.

Today, Alexis wore her blonde hair hanging just above her shoulders. Bright pink hoop earrings swung gently as she tilted her head, while flashy eyeshadow framed curious eyes that immediately landed on the untouched latte in front of Marie.

"You want a top-up?" Alexis asked, nodding toward the mug.

Marie looked down. The spoon stopped moving.

For the first time she realized she had been stirring the same drink for nearly fifteen minutes.

A small laugh escaped her.

"I probably need to leave here, honestly."

Alexis smiled.

"Yeah?"

Marie nodded as she finally pushed the mug away.

"I think so."

The response earned an understanding look, but Alexis didn't move right away. Instead, her expression shifted slightly as she took a longer look at Marie.

Her brows furrowed.

"Everything okay?"

The question landed harder than Marie expected.

For a moment, she considered brushing it off with some joke. Instead, she stood and stepped forward.

Before Alexis could react, Marie wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug.

Alexis immediately returned it. The embrace lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough.

Marie exhaled slowly.

"Everything's okay," she said quietly. "I'm just a little stressed."

Alexis rubbed her back reassuringly.

"Exam week's almost over."

Marie smiled despite herself.

"If only that was what I was worried about."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Alexis laughed.

The two separated, and Marie grabbed her coat from the back of her chair.

"Get some rest, babes - you look like you need it" Alexis said.

"You take care of yourself."

With one final smile, Marie headed toward the exit.

The warmth of the café vanished the moment she pushed through the front doors.

Cold air hit her like a wall.

She immediately dug both hands into the pockets of her coat and shivered as winter wind swept across campus. Students hurried past her with heads down and shoulders hunched against the weather while clouds hung low overhead, threatening snow.

Marie had only made it a few steps down the sidewalk when she felt a vibration against her side.

Her phone. She stopped walking and pulled it from her pocket.

The caller ID illuminated the screen. Her heartbeat quickened slightly.

For a brief moment she simply stared at the name before pressing accept and lifting the phone to her ear.

"Hello?" she said.

[djp73]

Who swooping in

[redsox907]

Zane ain't gonna pull a Caine and invite both bitches he in love with, is he?

[Caesar]

Will WCW even go? We know she only cares about herself.

[Soapy]

"Can you come to Pittsburgh?"

His voice wavered.

"I need you."

[Captain Canada]

Who swooping in

Zane ain't gonna pull a Caine and invite both bitches he in love with, is he?

Nah, Zane ain't nearly messy (autistic) enough to think that's just something that can happen and not be wild.

Will WCW even go? We know she only cares about herself.

Lots of hate going on over here. But, we move.

"Can you come to Pittsburgh?"

His voice wavered.

"I need you."

Let the beat breathe, brodie.

[Captain Canada]

Season VI | Episode 6 - Peekaboo

Dr. Marisia Gomez immediately struck Zane as younger than he had expected. If someone had told him she was 35, he would have believed it without hesitation. Her dark hair was neatly pulled back, and she carried herself with a calm confidence that felt almost effortless.

At first, Zane had been a little put off by how youthful she looked. There was a selfish part of him that wanted the person delivering news about his grandmother to look older, more seasoned, as though age alone somehow guaranteed answers. That feeling disappeared within moments of speaking with her.

Unlike some of the physicians, specialists, and nurse practitioners who had passed through over the last forty-eight hours, Dr. Gomez spoke to him like a human being. She never drowned him in medical jargon or rushed through explanations. Instead, she carefully broke things down into terms he could actually understand.

She seemed to recognize that beneath the six-foot-plus frame and college football status was still an 18-year-old kid trying desperately to make sense of a nightmare.

Zane couldn't blame the other medical staff for their distance. The hospital never seemed to stop moving. Every hallway carried another emergency, another family, another crisis demanding attention. He could only imagine the things they witnessed on a daily basis. Still, Dr. Gomez felt different. She looked like she genuinely cared.

When she approached him in the hallway and gently called his name, Zane immediately rose from the uncomfortable chair he had practically become attached to over the last two days. He towered over her, but somehow she still commanded the conversation without ever raising her voice.

"Zane," she began carefully, "I wanted to update you on your grandmother's condition."

His stomach immediately tightened.

Dr. Gomez folded her hands together and delivered the news with a measured gentleness that somehow made it easier to hear without making it hurt any less.

"Mary suffered a massive stroke," she explained. "The blood supply to part of her brain was interrupted for longer than we would have liked. However, the fact that Detective Draper found her when she did significantly improved her chances."

Zane closed his eyes.

The words “massive stroke” echoed inside his head.

He felt tears threatening to surface again. Somehow, after two straight days of crying, shock, and exhaustion, there were still tears left somewhere inside him. He swallowed hard and forced himself to remain standing.

Dr. Gomez continued.

"Your grandmother is currently in a coma."

The sentence landed like a hammer.

Zane pressed his lips together and looked toward the floor.

Mary was supposed to be cooking Sunday dinners, lecturing him about the girls he was letting in his life, and calling him every week to make sure he wasn't spending too much money. She wasn't supposed to be lying unconscious behind a hospital door attached to machines.

Dr. Gomez gave him a moment before continuing.

"We've seen some response," she explained. "Her brain activity is minimal, but it is present. That's encouraging. We're monitoring her closely, and right now we're cautiously optimistic."

Zane cleared his throat.

The question came out rougher than he intended.

"What kind of timeline are we talking about?"

Dr. Gomez nodded, clearly understanding why he was asking.

"The majority of stroke-related comas don't last very long," she explained. "Usually we're talking days or a few weeks. Once we move beyond a month, that's when concerns become more significant."

Zane nodded slowly.

He absorbed every word while simultaneously feeling incapable of processing any of them.

His grandmother was one of the healthiest people he knew. She walked everywhere. Ate better than anyone in the family. Rarely got sick. Even after Felix's death, she had somehow managed to remain the strongest person in every room she entered.

Now she couldn't wake up.

The reality of it felt impossible.

Dr. Gomez studied him for a moment before continuing.

"There is something else I need you to understand."

Zane looked up.

"Comas following strokes aren't common," she said carefully. "And while we're hopeful, they do carry higher mortality rates than strokes on their own."

The words settled heavily between them.

Zane immediately looked down at his hands.

He hadn't even realized how badly they were shaking until that moment.

His fingers twisted together nervously as his mind tried desperately not to imagine worst-case scenarios.

Dr. Gomez noticed. She didn't mention it.

Instead, she gently shifted the conversation elsewhere.

"Have you been able to reach your father?"

The question immediately brought another wave of frustration. Almost instinctively, Zane reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

The screen remained empty. No texts, no calls, no nothing.

He shook his head.

"No."

The answer came out sharper than intended.

He sighed and rubbed a hand across his face.

"It's just me right now."

The admission felt heavier than he expected.

She glanced around the hallway before reaching into her coat pocket and pulling out a small notepad. Quickly, she scribbled something onto a sheet of paper. She tore it free and handed it to him. Zane looked down.

A phone number.

"My personal number," she explained.

His eyes widened slightly.

She continued before he could protest.

"I have your contact information from the guest records. If there's any change - good or bad - you'll hear from me immediately."

Zane stared at the paper for a moment. The gesture felt unexpectedly kind. Then Dr. Gomez's expression hardened slightly.

Not cold, just firm.

"You need to go home."

Zane immediately opened his mouth. She shook her head.

"No."

The single word stopped him.

"You need sleep. You need a shower. You need clean clothes."

Zane looked away. Dr. Gomez folded her arms.

"Respectfully, Zane, you look awful."

A small, humorless laugh escaped him despite everything. She pointed toward the chair he had practically lived in.

"There's nothing else you can do sitting in that chair."

Zane's eyes drifted toward Mary's room. Dr. Gomez followed his gaze.

"She knows you're here."

Dr. Gomez nodded toward the hospital exit. "If anything changes, we'll call you."

The finality in her voice left little room for argument.

Zane stood there for several seconds before finally accepting what she was saying. He was exhausted. Completely exhausted. The kind of exhaustion that seeped into bone and spirit alike.

Slowly, he nodded.

"Thank you."

Dr. Gomez offered him a small smile.

Then she turned and continued down the hallway, disappearing around the corner to attend to the next patient who needed her attention.

Zane remained where he was.

His eyes drifted toward the partially opened door of Mary's room.

From where he stood, he could see her lying in the hospital bed. The blankets seemed far too large around her frail frame. Machines surrounded her on every side. Wires stretched from her body to monitors that blinked and beeped with mechanical consistency.

The sight twisted something deep inside his chest. This wasn't the woman who had raised him. This wasn't the woman who had somehow held their family together through every tragedy life had thrown at them..

Zane swallowed hard and stared for another long moment.

"I won't be gone long," he whispered quietly, more to himself than to her.

Then, with one final look toward the room, he turned and slowly made his way toward the exit.

***

Zane stepped from the busy hospital concourse into the hallway that led towards the visitor’s entrance. The lighting remained the same, but the space felt a smidge less tense in comparison to the other department. Less machines beeping, less nurses stalking around, less desperation in the air.

People came and went around him carrying coffee cups, flowers, backpacks, and overnight bags. Life continued moving as though nothing had changed, while his own world felt completely frozen.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, preparing to order an Uber. The battery was lower than he liked, and he made a mental note that he would eventually have to find a charger wherever he ended up sleeping tonight. Just as he unlocked the screen, another incoming call illuminated the display.

Tyson Rashford.

Zane stared at the name for a second.

A part of him genuinely wondered whether he had the emotional capacity to handle a conversation right now. Every interaction felt exhausting. Every decision felt impossible. But at the same time, he knew he couldn't spend every waking second trapped inside the reality of that hospital room. If he did, he would lose his mind.

He took a slow breath through his nose and answered.

"What's up?"

Tyson's voice came through immediately, calmer and more measured than usual.

"First things first, Johntay filled me in on what happened," Tyson said. "My thoughts are with you and your family."

Zane closed his eyes briefly.

"Thanks."

"I sent you a text too," Tyson continued. "But I'm sure you've gotten about a thousand of those."

A tired laugh escaped Zane's throat.

"Yeah. More than a thousand, probably. I just... don't really have it in me to deal with all that right now."

"That's exactly what you have me for."

The response was immediate.

Zane frowned slightly.

Tyson continued before he could ask what he meant.

"Listen, your football season is over. I know what's happening with your grandmother changes everything, and rightfully so. But the reality is that your time at Syracuse is probably done."

Zane stopped walking.

The words forced him to pause on the sidewalk.

"What do you mean?"

Tyson's tone remained professional but gentle.

"I mean there are people asking questions about you already. Schools want information. Programs want to know where your head is at. You've got a condo full of belongings sitting in Syracuse. You've got a car parked in a student lot. There's a whole bunch of logistical stuff that needs attention whether you're emotionally ready for it or not."

Zane rubbed a hand across his face. When Tyson laid it all out like that, it sounded overwhelming.

And yet, it also sounded like a problem he didn't want to think about.

"I guess it would be nice not having to deal with all that right now."

"Exactly."

Tyson sounded almost relieved that Zane understood.

"That's the least I can do until you and your family are in a better place to start making decisions."

For the first time during the call, Zane felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. Tyson had always been ambitious, always looking five moves ahead, but at least he was practical.

There was a brief pause before Tyson spoke again.

"That being said, I do need to gently remind you that decisions regarding your future will need to happen sooner rather than later."

Zane nodded despite being alone.

"I know, I hear you."

"So here's what I'm proposing," Tyson continued. "I'll process your transfer portal paperwork in the meantime. No commitments. No promises. Just getting your name officially entered so we aren't losing valuable time. Are you good with that?"

The question made Zane's chest tighten.

His season at Syracuse was over. His career there was probably over too. The thought hurt more than he expected. He hadn't won enough games. Hadn't accomplished enough. Hadn't brought Syracuse back to relevance the way he dreamed he would. However, he also knew he couldn't repeat the mistakes he'd made after his grandfather's death. Back then, grief had dictated every major decision he'd made.

He couldn't let that happen again.

His answer came quietly.

"Yeah."

Tyson waited.

"Yeah, go ahead."

"Alright."

There was a sense of finality in Tyson's voice now. "I'll handle it."

Zane looked down at the sidewalk beneath his feet.

"Appreciate it."

"And Zane?"

"Yeah?"

"If you need anything, I mean anything, call me."

Zane listened.

"Transportation. Information. Clarity. Whatever. Just reach out."

"Thanks, Tyson."

The call ended shortly afterward.

Zane lowered the phone and resumed walking toward the exit doors where rideshare pickups were typically waiting. His thoughts felt scattered. Between Mary's condition, Rasheed's disappearance, the transfer portal, and the uncertainty hanging over every aspect of his life, he felt like he was trying to carry too much weight at once.

He had only made it halfway down the hallway when he heard someone shout his name.

"Zane!"

He turned immediately. At first he thought he was imagining things. Then he saw them.

Marie and Johntay were jogging toward him from the opening doors.

For a moment he simply stared, shock washed across his face. Neither of them should have been here and yet there they were.

Marie reached him first. Without saying a word, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
.
For the first time in what felt like days, Zane allowed himself to lean into someone else's support. The tension he had been carrying loosened ever so slightly.

When they finally separated, Johntay stepped forward. Instead of his usual grin or joke, he simply pulled Zane into a dap and held onto his shoulder longer than normal. The difference in his demeanor was immediately noticeable. The typically loud, carefree Johntay looked genuinely concerned.

"Good to see you, gang."

Zane looked between them.

"What are y'all doing here?"

Marie answered first.

"Johntay called me."

She glanced toward the receiver standing beside her. "He told me what was happening. Then he booked two tickets and told me we were going to Pittsburgh."

Johntay shrugged.

"Damn right." A tiny smirk finally appeared. "I wasn't about to spend my money flying Tyshawn or Jaedn out here."

That earned the smallest laugh from Zane. Johntay pointed at him.

"Then Marie told me what was really going on and I knew I had to come support my nigga."

The sincerity beneath the joke wasn't lost on him.

Zane swallowed hard and nodded.

"I appreciate it."

"I know."

Marie stepped closer again.

"We just, I don’t know, we hoped we weren't intruding." Her voice softened. "I didn't like the idea of you being here by yourself."

Zane looked at her for a moment before glancing away.

"My dad still hasn't shown up."

The words tasted bitter.

He shook his head.

"So honestly? Friendly faces are kind of exactly what I needed."

Marie squeezed his hand. Johntay nodded in silent agreement. For the first time since getting to the hospital, Zane felt slightly less alone.

Then another voice cut through the air.

"Zane!"

His heart felt like it had temporarily stopped. The voice was instantly recognizable. He turned his head toward the parking lot entrance.

And froze.

Standing several yards away was Bianca.

***

Zane felt as though the ground had shifted beneath his feet.

For a moment, all he could do was stare at Bianca.

The hospital, Marie standing beside him, Johntay's presence at his shoulder - everything seemed to blur together as his mind struggled to process the sight of her standing only a few feet away. He could still remember the last time he had seen her in person. Not through a screen. Not through old photographs. Not through memories that had become increasingly difficult to separate from reality. The actual last time. The airport. The distance between them. The uncertainty neither of them had known how to overcome.

And now she was here.

After all this time.

Zane's gaze flicked briefly toward Katie, who stood slightly behind Bianca, then over toward Johntay.

The expression on his teammate's face mirrored his own disbelief.

At first, Johntay had merely looked confused by the interruption. Then recognition had settled in. Zane practically watched the math happen in real time as Johntay connected the dots. His eyebrows shot upward before his face twisted into a look that could only be described as horrified realization.

The absolute worst possible timing.

If Bianca felt awkward about any of this, she hid it remarkably well.

She approached with the same calm confidence she always carried herself with. There was no hesitation in her stride. No nervous fidgeting. No outward indication that nearly a year had passed since she'd stood this close to him.

At first, Zane thought she was coming in for a hug.

Her shoulders softened slightly and her posture shifted forward as if acting on instinct.

Then her eyes landed on Marie. Then Johntay. The adjustment happened almost immediately.

Bianca cleared her throat and stopped several feet in front of them instead. Katie slowed beside her.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the group. Finally, Zane found enough functionality to speak.

"What are you doing here?"

Before Bianca could answer, Johntay looked directly at Zane.

"Hold on," he said. "You invited her?"

Zane immediately shook his head.

"No."

He looked back at Bianca.

"I didn't tell her any of this."

Beside him, Marie folded her arms across her chest. She hadn't said a word.

Her expression remained polite, but there was no missing the tension that had entered her posture. Her mind was clearly trying to process multiple pieces of information simultaneously. Ex-girlfriend. Unexpected arrival. Hospital entranceway. Emotional crisis.

It was a lot.

Before anyone else could speak, Bianca raised a hand.

"Can I explain before everybody starts interrogating each other?"

The group quieted.

Bianca took a breath.

"Last night I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize."

Zane frowned. She continued.

"It was Cam."

That immediately caught his attention.

Bianca looked directly at him.

"He told me about Mary. He said you were in Pittsburgh and that he thought you could probably use a familiar face around right now. I’m assuming since you guys don’t really talk much he doesn’t know about the status of our relationship."

She glanced around briefly before shaking her head, eyes once again setting on Marie for a mere moment before bouncing away.

"Honestly, I'm surprised he isn't here himself."

The confusion on Zane's face deepened.

"Cam?"

He almost laughed from disbelief.

"I haven't heard from that dude since graduation." His brows furrowed. "How the hell would he even know what's going on?"

Bianca shrugged. "It wasn't a very long conversation."

She shifted her bag higher on her shoulder.

"He basically told me what happened and that was it."

Then a small smile crossed her face.

"I booked two tickets on my parents' credit card and got on the earliest flight."

Katie nodded beside her. "We were heading home for Thanksgiving anyway."

Bianca gestured toward her friend. "I was bringing Katie with me regardless. So I figured if we were already flying back, we might as well come early and be here for you."

For a second, Zane genuinely didn't know what to say.

Everything felt surreal. His grandmother was in a coma. His father was missing.His future was - at best - a shitshow and somehow his ex-girlfriend had appeared in Pittsburgh because Cam - of all people - had told her to.

"I appreciate it," Zane finally said. "But a heads up would've been nice."

Bianca's eyebrow immediately lifted.

"If I texted you," she asked, "would you have actually responded in a timely fashion?"

Zane sucked his teeth. Before he could answer, Johntay muttered from behind him.

"She ain't wrong."

He shook his head, scratching at the five o’clock shadow building along his jawline.

"You are a pretty shitty texter sometimes, my nigga."

Zane immediately shot him a glare. Johntay threw both hands up in mock surrender.

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger."

A tiny smile threatened to form on Bianca's face. Katie finally stepped forward.

Her eyes moved between the group. "So..." she said. "Are you gonna introduce us to your new friends or what?"

Zane looked at her for a moment.

Seeing her brought back memories of Michigan. The recruiting visit. The party. The version of Katie that had seemed carefree and chaotic. He couldn’t quite put his thumb on it, but she seemed less bombastic. Less explosive. More reserved.

He nodded.

"Yeah."

He pointed toward Johntay.

"That's Johntay. We’re both receivers on the team at Syracuse."

Johntay gave a lazy wave.

"Pleasure."

Then Zane turned toward Marie.

"And this is-"

He stopped.

Something beyond Bianca and Katie had caught his attention. The words died in his throat. His eyes narrowed.

Every muscle in his body suddenly tightened. Bianca noticed the change immediately, Marie catching on not much further behind her. The color drained from his face.

His posture stiffened. His attention had shifted entirely past them. Slowly, Bianca and Katie turned around.

Johntay followed their gaze. Even Marie looked over her shoulder.

Then they saw him. Some couldn’t fully take him in because they didn’t know who he was. Some held their breath in their chest because they immediately recognized him. And they recognized what him being here now meant.

A tall figure had just entered through the hospital doors.

The exhaustion was evident even from a distance. His clothes were wrinkled. His beard looked rougher than normal. His shoulders carried a weight that seemed almost physical.

But there was no mistaking who it was.

Rasheed Jones.

For a moment nobody spoke.

The entire group simply watched him.

Rasheed hadn't noticed them yet. His eyes were fixed ahead as he moved through the entrance but Zane wasn't focused on any of that.

The shock of seeing Bianca had vanished completely.

All of it disappeared beneath a single emotion.

Fury.

All he could imagine was his grandmother laying at the front of the house she lived and loved in with his grandfather. With his father, who had supposed to have been there to take care of her having abandoned her for God knows what. When the family needed him once, where had he been? As per usual - no where to be found.

It all surged to the surface at once.

Zane's jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. His hands curled into fists at his sides.

The people around him seemed to sense the shift immediately because the look on his face wasn't merely anger.

It was the look of someone who had finally found the person he'd been searching for and judging by the fire burning behind his eyes, Rasheed Jones had just walked into a confrontation that had been building for a very long time.

[redsox907]

Zane gonna send Marie packing with the swiftness now that Bianca showed up lol

so, Zane called his Dad? Cause from the sounds of it, he didn't call Bianca or Marie

[djp73]

The gangs all here

[djp73]

Eli Holstein is pretty good in the game