Joe could hear the feint sounds of the hospital continuing their daily efforts in the background. His chest rose and fell, unconsciously in sync with Ilaria's. He'd been at her side most of the time, if not all of it save a trip to the loft to gather some personal items upon instructions from the Doctor, the same one he nearly choked into a bed next to her. That trip was somber in itself, yet seeing and experiencing Leo's sixth sense that something was wrong, made it even more heart wrenching. The doberman was now at the foot of her bed on the floor, sound asleep.

The dialysis wasn't a be all and end all for what Ilaria was diagnosed with. It was for the most part experimental. The beginnings of which were improvised. Sausage skins, orange juice cans, a washing machine and other common items were used to act as an artificial kidney, to clear toxins from the bloodstream. This was a step up and had some good results, but it was still in developmental stages. No-one really knew what to expect.

Joe wanted to believe Adontoro hadn't met their end yet. He had to hold onto the hope she'd pull through, that they'd both pull through. But the technology involved wasn't a confidence booster. And the constant monitoring by doctors and nurses, as if in training themselves, as if Ilaria was a guinea pig in a laboratory to be taken stock of, it had him less than confident. 

Gripping her hand tight and raising it to his lips, Joe planted a kiss on the back of it as he closed his eyes. If he were a man of religion a piece of text would be recited about now. Something to help focus the mind and energy on her recovery, and possibly call in some forces outside his understanding to help in the process. He'd given up on the Church long ago. He only believed in what he could verify. So with eyelids tightly closed, he remembered back to a time they'd spent together, hoping to slip into something more spiriting than the hospital room.

After a moment that bought with it a light smile, Joe slid off the chair that had been his refuge for the past four days. Laying down next to her on his side, he gabbed her hand again as he kept his eyes on her. With each passing second, his dark blues grew heavier. It seemed like the memory released some of his fears and unearthed a sense of peace within him. He hadn't slept too well since being here, always a hospital grade noise away from snapping awake, hoping it were to reveal some change in her state.

Not able to be any closer, and with a renewed sense of calm, Joe slipped away into a dream state.

"Doctor Santoro, we need to go. There was an explosion at the docks. Dac is bringing the ambulance around."

The voice jarred Ilaria from a sleep she didn't remember falling into. Suddenly alert, she sat up and rolled off the surgical table, stepping through piles of bloody gauze and instruments strewn all over the operating room. Glancing back, she saw a white sheet covering a body on the table she'd just gotten off of. Strange, she thought to herself, wondering who it could be that she wasn't able to save. 

The docks were consumed in thick, black smoke that made it hard to find any survivors. Through the choking fumes, she heard numerous voices screaming for help. It was a terrifying, haunting sound that she thought would never leave her mind after today. Groping over the ground, she finally found someone. The body was mangled and burned, but his eyes were open wide with panic. She reached toward him, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her down to him.

"You can't save them if you don't wake up."

"But, I am awake." Ilaria replied, confused.

With her words, the body disappeared. Startled, Ilaria jumped back, then started looking for the next survivor. Following the screams, she came to a woman lying on her side. She looked like she was homeless, with tangled, matted hair and tattered, ill-fitting clothes.

"You can't save them if you don't wake up."

Again, the woman disappeared right before Ilaria's eyes. The next three people uttered the same words before their bodies disappeared into the dark cloud of smoke. Overwhelmed, Ilaria covered her eyes with her hands. 

A moment later, she dropped her hands and found herself back in the operating room, standing beside the covered body on the table. Slowly, she reached out and drew back the sheet. A young man, maybe in his twenties, lay pale and lifeless. His face was familiar, but she didn't think she'd ever seen him before. There were no signs of injury. He looked strong and healthy. Seeing him dead on the table broke her heart. She touched the young man's hair gently, a tear in her eye. Behind her, she thought she heard a rustling sound, but when she looked, there was nothing there. Turning back to the table, she saw the young man's eyes open. 

"Who were you, bambino?" she asked. 

"You didn't wake up, Mama."

​​​​

The sounds of planes roaring overhead caught his first senses. Then gunfire. Lots, of gunfire. The kind that came from an antiaircraft gun, not stopping till the flying targets were out of sight again. Joe realized he was hunkered down in a bunker, his sight slowly coming to him, fading in from nothingness. As soon as he could make out where he was, thoughts of where he may have been were just as soon non-existent, already focusing on exploring more of the space around him.

The sounds of more machine gun fire rang out from somewhere outside the concrete strategic holding point. They were sporadic. They'd come and go, and sounded like they were from various distances and places. When his eyes could better focus, he firstly noticed he was in some kind of uniform. He couldn't tell which side he was on based on the fabric that clothed him, or who he was yet fighting, but he got a distinct sense of being in the thick of it.

Looking around he was enclosed by concrete and noticed there was a machine gun in a turret which had no-one manning it. The walls stepped down from the machine gun station and looked to head into a passageway. And that's when he heard it. The distinct sound of something whistling, coming from down the hallway he was looking down. Slowly, but surely, a light began to increase with the now whirring sound becoming louder. And all of a sudden, a flaming fire attached to the screams of a soldier, charging, all of it coming at him full pelt. Within seconds the space he was in became engulfed in flames and he could feel the distinct experience of being burned alive.

Then nothing. Then the sound of kids laughing. He couldn't fully make out the experience, sensing more than seeing, kids frolicking through an open field. They seemed happy. Blissful. As if purely innocent, and this place was untouched by anything but that energy. Maybe that was why Joe couldn't fully be in that zone. But he could almost step into their shoes, as they enjoyed themselves without a care in the world.

Then thunder. Rolling thunder. The sky cracked open with each crackle. The lightning instantaneously following, splashing the night sky in a sparking illumination. Joe could feel every piece of that energy, as if he were the sky itself. Open, free, completely and willingly ready for the thrashing, booming, deep sounds and the electrifying strikes. With each scintillating, dazzling display he felt alive. More alive than ever before. And oh so free, infinitely without borders, almost as if he were Zeus himself playing with his gifts to humanity.

And after a flash of scenes, some of which he'd never remember and had no clue as to what they were, he was back in a body again. He felt heavy. Heavier than he'd ever felt before. Yet calm, as he moved gracefully. He felt powerful. It was a different power than that of a God, of being the sky he'd now forgotten. It was of potential. What could be done, rather than what was being done. And as he stopped in front of a river, looking down at his reflection, an albino lion looked back at him.

The gorgeous white mane was thick. The deep brooding eyes were piercing. He knew it was a white lion, but he also knew it to be himself. He couldn't look away. He was transfixed by the majestic beast that he'd taken the form of. It captured all of him. He was nowhere else but here, now. The presence experienced was unimaginable and indescribable. He simple knew himself, balls to bones, as one and the same as this powerful animal, and at the same time one with all creation.

Everything wasn't exactly right, but it was closer. 

Leo had no trouble sleeping in this place, despite the innumerable scents that floated around from all directions. They were here, both of them, and hadn't left. That's what was most important. Of course, if the man was away, he was perfectly able to stand guard, and did so dutifully. But, when everyone was together, there was peace for the warrior.  

When his eyes closed and he allowed himself off duty, that's when the funny furry things would come so he could chase them. There was sweet smelling grass, and tree stumps everywhere that he could claim as his own. But the furry things that scattered and hopped as he bounded toward them - they were his favorite. He Cece caught them; he didn't need to. They were simply there to hero him sharp on his feet. It was training, just like the commands he learned from the man and the woman. Leo knew he was smart, and not just in commands. 

Something caused him to skid to a stop, letting the furry creatures get away - but it was that scent again. His ears pricked forward, and he sniffed in all directions. It was trouble. The same smell he'd known for weeks when the woman was around. He growled softly. Whatever it was, it was invisible, but dangerous. Everything was still; no wind through the grass, no rustle in the trees. With his nose to the ground, he sniffed to try and find some trail, some clue. 

In a clearing, he saw her. She wasn't laying down in the bed with the noisy machine anymore. She was in the river, swimming and smiling. Leo cautiously wagged his tail, slowly, and took a few steps further toward her. The scent of danger began to fade as he moved closer. The air around him was sweeter, lighter. The woman turned and spotted him. Leo stood and watched her for a moment, his head tilted to one side. She laughed, and then called his name. 

Oh, what a happy sound! He broke into a run toward her, barking his excitement as his paws flew over the leaves and twigs. The scent was all but gone. Finally, he reached the river bank and leaped toward her, ready to splash into the cool water and join her again. 

Then, he woke up with a start. Picking up his head, he sniffed the air frantically. Still, the bad scent was gone now. Up to his feet, he padded to the side of her bed. The man was there, asleep beside her. Leo whined and bounced his paws. "Come on, wake up!" He knew his whimpers and cries were only sounds to them, but he had to wake up the man. He whined again, then bounced enough to put his forefeet on the bed. His tail wagged wildly, and he buried his nose under the hand of the man. Almost. Come on, come on! She's almost here! He licked Joe's hand over and over. 

Ilaria blinked, then opened her eyes.

​​​​​​

It took him no longer than realizing something was licking his hand in the physical world to have him also snap back to it. Joe was surprised he'd even drifted off. His eyes lightly blinked open as the feeling of a wet nose and tongue persisted against his palm. He soon enough realized it was Leo being Leo. The whimpering though was a little different. It made him force himself awake a little quicker than would've otherwise naturally happened.

Joe's head was facing Ilaria's so as his eyes focused everything became clear. Before him, the beautiful hazel's he'd come to know were shining back at him. One would think such a sight would have them jumping for joy, ready to leap over the moon and fly close to the sun. Due to his recent dream, however, Joe was so relaxed and content that the response was much more tame. A soft grin appeared on his face.

"Well look who it is." Joe said in a sleepy tone.

Joe had his hands under his head in the likeness of a pillow which he now shuffled on to get a better view of Ilaria, propping his head against his hand using his elbow as a kickstand. If he didn't feel so peaceful before this moment a sense of relief would've washed over him. She was awake and just that alone meant their time together in this life wasn't yet done.

With a hand now lightly brushing through Ilaria's hair, Joe leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

Still in a bit of a haze, Ilaria silently stared into the beautiful blues that were watching her. Joe's face immediately took her back to the dream she'd left not so long ago. The face of the young man there on the table was not so different than the face of her love. Slowly, Ilaria gave a weak smile.

"I woke up. They're all going to be ok now, right?" 

His fingers brushed through her hair, sweetly pulling her back to being more fully awake. Behind Joe, Ilaria began to recognize her surroundings. The operating room was dimly lit, not the usual glaring brightness it usually had. There was a different sound in the background; a kind of whirring that she couldn't recognize. Before she could say anything else, a happy whimper came from the other side of her. A little confused, Ilaria slowly turned her head. 

"My brave boy. What are you doing here?" 

Leo bounced and wagged his tail, licking her hand happily.

​​​​​​Looking back to Joe, she squeezed his hand as it held hers. She tried to remember what could have put her here, but all her memories were jumbled in her mind. Her eyes flickered with concern. 

"Is everything ok? Is the baby...?"

"The baby is fine." Joe interrupted, still laying on his side with his head propped up next to Ilaria.

"How are you feeling?"

A passing nurse caught a glimpse of Joe talking to Ilaria, and upon closer inspection as she hung onto the door frame and poked her head into the room to bypass the glare of the lighting in the hallway, she noticed a very important patient mouthing words back. With a zip in her step she pushed off the wall and was off down the hall in search of Dr. Cohen.

Joe took a measured breath in. Although he didn't know to what extent Ilaria was okay, he just felt a sense of comfort with things, like they would be alright somehow. He'd been in many situations that the reaper had a hand in. Death was a constant in his world. And sometimes, without trying, he'd sense a moment or two where it was somewhat of a certainty.

Ray's demise was like that. He knew the guy wasn't leaving alive, as soon as the news was relayed in the park. Sometimes the hand of fate just pointed towards the exit. Everyone had an expiry date, bar none. And if you were able to come to grips with your fear around death, sometimes that peace allowed a little insight to the hands that moved the pieces behind the scenes.

Right in this moment, Joe felt none of that precognition. All he felt was a deep appreciation for the beauty of the women before him.

Not answering immediately, Ilaria took a few moments to try to take stock of herself. Overall, she felt surprisingly rested, despite the heavy haze that she now assumed was from medication. Her lower back seemed sore, but that was all she could really tell. 

"A little groggy, but I feel alright." 

Really, how could she not? Waking up next to Joe brought her joy no matter where it was. Whatever had happened, he'd been by her side, and that's all she needed to know. She smiled at him, feeling a different sense of calm from him. The way he touched her and held her hand was serene, and it seemed to flow from him into her. The heaviness of the dream she had began to melt away, leaving only the faint memory of a beautiful face. Taking Joe's hand in hers, her eyes gleamed. 

"I think it's a boy."

Joe kissed Ilaria's hand then rolled onto his back. Their fingers interlocked as he pulled her hand onto and placed it tight against his chest. As he scooted himself closer next to her, he couldn't help but think of his own father. The bond they shared that had made him the man he was today. Without him, his kindness, his pearls of wisdom, he'd have chalked himself up to being another outlined statistic on a shitty sidewalk somewhere.

"A boy, hey?"

Joe turned his head towards Ilaria, sharing some of the glow she was emitting, looking at her with a new found sense of pride.

"Are you sure?"

It had only been a dream, but the face of the young man was now unmistakable to Ilaria. She grinned and nodded a little.

"He's going to have your beautiful, piercing blue eyes, and the Santoro nose, I think."

She'd tell him about the dream later, but for now, she was just as happy to be lost in little moments with him. Adontoro seemed to be in for a whole different world of adventures. 

A gentle knock came from the door. Ilaria turned her head. She gave the young doctor a warm smile. 

​​​​​​"Doctor Cohen, I'm happy to see you. I assure you, I hadn't indexed to give you such a trial for your first week. I'm sure you have had a firm grip on things, though."

Joe didn't know where this was coming from but she spoke with such an assured confidence that all he could do was nod and smile in return. He wished it were to be a boy. A girl would be too much hassle given his line of work. He'd probably have her tailed by private detectives whenever she left the house well into her forties and end up killing her first handful of boyfriends. A boy, would be best.

As the doctor rolled in, Joe was still in his own little world, thinking about various things that would come with fathering a son. Currently, he was imagining the time he'd finally get to show him how to use a handgun, in the same manner his father showed him. At the mention of the doctor's name from Ilaria, Joe was nudged back into the moment. He raised his eye line to notice the man standing before them at the end of the bed.

"I'm sure you have had a firm grip on things, though."

A nurse nearly cracked into laughter, having to turn her head away, which Joe promptly noticed as he quickly caught onto the inside joke being unknowingly thrown out by Ilaria.

"Oh, he's had his hands all over the situation. I think Cohen's really taken it by the scruff of the neck and given it a tight squeeze." Joe said with a smirk as he looked directly at the doctor.

Joe was hoping his sense of humor wasn't lost on the doc. He'd try apologize some other way and at some other point in time. Given the turn of events with Ilaria now awake, Joe figured he'd ride that good vibe into some friendly banter, because if you couldn't laugh and tease at things of this nature, what was life about, anyways?

Dr. Cohen, who generally maintained a calm, quiet demeanor, gave a hearty chuckle. Clearly, Ilaria had missed something, but all in all she was just happy to see everyone in light spirits. 

As Joe got up, Dr. Cohen began to explain to Ilaria what had transpired, and what measures had been taken thus far. The nurse quietly and quickly worked around them, checking vitals and drawing blood. Ilaria asked questions and Dr. Cohen answered with no need to give layman's terms. 

"So, depending on these tests, we'll talk about maybe moving you home so you can be more comfortable. We can monitor you there and if need be you can come back for treatments. Hopefully, though, your kidney function has improved enough to allow full function."

​​​​​​