[center][h1][b][color=wheat]Jay[/color] vs [color=00a651]Dad[/color]! FIGHT[/b][/h1]
[img]http://imgur.com/fpelusR.png[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/cXutvNX.jpg[/img] 
[img]http://www.mens-hairstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Cool-Older-Men-Hairstyles-8.jpg[/img]
[b][u]Location:[/u][/b] The Hospital
[b][u]Interacting with:[/u][/b] Echo’s Dad[/center] 

[hr]
[center][i]Fourth collaboration post by [@ChaoticFox] and [@SgtEasy][/i][/center]

[hr]

It was eerily quiet after Tas left. Echo's rhythmic breathing and the equally steady beep of the heart rate monitor filled the room but silence dominated otherwise. She was covered in a blanket that hid her chest wounds, but a portion was tucked aside to allow the chest tube out. Her face was bruised around her cheekbones and the bridge of her nose, a large cut extended across her forehead and an oxygen mask covered her nose and mouth, keeping her from hyperventilating. 

Echo's father stood near the door, watching Jay's breakdown with a judging and overprotective look. He was an older man, however he did not look weak at all, quite the opposite. He let the young man finish his little apology and shook hands with Tas before stepping forward. 
[color=00a651]“Who the hell are you, laying on my daughter like an emotional wreck? I should have you escorted out.”[/color].

Jay held back the tears, taking in a deep breath of air. He softly let go of Echo’s hand and laid it on her stomach before standing up. His fists were clenched, his breathing heavy and as he turned, Echo’s father would see his wet, tearful eyes. Now, he wasn't trying to look aggressive but he was having a mental breakdown. A week of silence and then the sudden hospitalisation of his girlfriend made him an absolute wreck. Normally, he would try to win over the father with politeness and a gentlemanly, classy attitude. But today was a special case. He turned slowly, facing the taller man with a look of defiance. “[color=wheat]I’m sorry, [i]sir[/i][/color]” he spat the word out like venom, eyes still narrowing “[color=wheat]for crying next to my girlfriend’s hospital bed.[/color]” He was so pent up, too many emotions at once, that he didn't even think of the words that came out of his mouth.

[color=00a651]“Girlfriend….my daughter and….you're dating my daughter?”[/color] The man was fuming, a look of both anger and sadness on his face. [color=00a651]“Did you do this?! Did you do this to my precious little girl?!”[/color] He stepped forward, a cane in his hand, steadying himself. It was evident that the man had no idea that this had been from a car accident, or he was too overcome by emotions to care. He looked at Jay with rage in his eyes before moving to the opposite side of Echo, who had been stirring in her sleep. He looked at her frail figure, tears staining the blanket [color=00a651]“I knew this would happen if I let her go…”[/color]

Jejomar narrowed his eyes further, glaring at the accusatory looks Echo’s father was giving him. He pointed a finger at him, a small flow of tears escaping from his eyes. “[color=wheat]I would never do this to her! I would never hurt her, you accusing bastard! This was an accident and this has nothing to do with her going away from home! It was freakish, it was fast and I couldn't have done anything about it.[/color]” His eyes drooped down to her face. The extent of her injuries were unknown to him but it was apparent she got hurt. Badly.

The beeping from the heart rate monitor began to increase as the argument got increasingly heated, almost as if warning them that nothing good would come from this. Nurses began to look over to see what was going on but not one of them came over. Echo's father shot a wicked glare towards him, but instead of sending something back at Jay, he just sighed and sat down in another chair. He looked to Jay, anger still evident in his eyes [color=00a651]“Don't you dare call me a bastard. She's my daughter, my family. I don't want you dating her…she's just so fragile….you have no idea.”
[/color]
Echo stirred more in her sleep, her heart rate slowly creeping over 120 beats per minute. Her breathing was evidently increasing in speed as well, quite painful had she been awake.

Jay heaved heavily, his vision covered in red. He stared menacingly at Echo’s father and stood, nostrils flaring in anger. “[color=wheat]And why not?![/color]” He stared the man down, all of his emotions running through his head. How the hell was he supposed to just leave Echo? “[color=wheat]Why not? I love her and I will protect her, is that not enough? She's not fragile, she's a woman now, an independent and strong woman.[/color]” His breathing was deep and he was struggling but he hid his rage, calming himself.

“[color=wheat]I don't want to fight you about it. We both love her.[/color]” He whispered quietly, moving back to the opposite side of Echo's bed. “[color=wheat]Just, just, back off, alright?[/color]” He stepped away, glancing between Echo and the man leaning on the wall.

Echo coughed lightly, her eyes now open looking absolutely appalled at what just happened. She looked to Jay, then to her father before pressing the button to call a nurse. She gently removed the oxygen mask and, with a weak voice, addressed the two “[color=0072bc]You two….are unbelievable…[/color]” she paused, coughing a bit again, wincing in pain “[color=0072bc]Jay, I don't even know what to say….dad...get out. Now. You're both acting….like children, and Tas will kick your [/color]*cough*[color=0072bc] b-butts…when she finds out..[/color]”

When the nurse came in, she asked if getting a glass of water was out of the question. She promptly put her oxygen mask back on and let out a weak sigh. Her lungs burned like someone was pressing a hot iron to them and her chest felt like she was being stabbed. “You really did it this time Ecks…”

Jay was shocked at Echo before a feeling of concern came over him, a sense of normality returning to him. He became… well, Jay. He nodded slowly at the girl before flopping down next to her, sighing with his head down. “[color=wheat]W-Well, let her kick my butt seven ways to Sunday and stick my head on a pike but I'm not leaving you. I promised, didn't I?[/color]” His words had a sense of finality to it although he didn't raise his voice nor did he say it very loud. He gulped loudly, hands shaking. He turned his head towards her before quickly going back. His heart thumped loudly, cheeks flaring red once more. He heard laughter but chalked it up to the “Other Guy”. Damn

“[color=wheat]Done so much already, least I can do is stay.[/color]” He muttered quietly, taking a look at the past week. He wanted to say so much more but nothing came out. Just another heartfelt sigh was heard and his hand running through his hair. Then an annoyingly familiar voice came along. ‘[color=wheat][i]This is great. You screwed it up with your girl and pissed off her father. This is like a bloody movie! Sooo, when you guys break up, can you go for that Eva chick?[/i][/color]’

For neither the first nor last time in his life, he got annoyed at himself. Jay gritted his teeth silently and rolled his eyes. He couldn't understand a damn thing the other guy was saying. 

[youtube]https://youtu.be/j4-Gt6dUVj0[/youtube]

Echo looked over to Jay as her father left, looking weak and exhausted “[color=0072bc]He gets protective when I'm hurt….should've mentioned that..[/color]” she sighed closing her eyes. Everything ached in her body, her chest felt like it was on fire every time she took a breath and her face throbbed with her heart beat. 

“[color=0072bc]...Jay..I'm sorry…..f-for what I said before…[/color]” she wheezed, whimpering under the pain it caused her chest and gut. Tears rolled down her face as she squeezed her eyes shut trying to get past the pain. Why hadn't the nurses brought her more pain meds? “[color=0072bc]No Echo, you deserve this. You wrecked the car, you acted stupid. Suck it up. You are a devil.[/color]” She brushed a lock of blood-matted hair from her face and turned away from Jay. She never wanted him to see the weak and fragile side of her, especially not in this state. 
She reached over to her phone, it's screen now cracked in multiple places and scrolled down to the group chat, staring at the blank cursor that waited for input. No…she couldn't ruin everyone's day. She wouldn't. She gritted her teeth, whipping her phone at the opposite wall and breaking down into tears.  “[color=0072bc]What have I done…[/color]” she said as she cried into her hands.

Jay’s eyes softened, his demeanour turning calmer and gentler. He sat up and put a hand on her frail arm, giving a soft, reassuring rub. “[color=wheat]Hey, you did nothing. Nothing at all. The group would understand, Ecks.[/color]" When she continued crying, he sighed before gently turning her around to face him. He stared her in the eye. There was no barrage of heartbeats, no flaring of cheeks but the temperature of the room did feel higher than before. There was just a connection, the syncing of the heart, a rhythm of beats. Only the harsh, loud, beeping noise interrupted the silence. "[color=wheat]And [b]I[/b] should say sorry. [b]I[/b] was the one who injured Eddy. [b]I[/b] was the one to answer back at you when you brought it up. It was not [i]you[/i], Ecks. It was [b]I[/b].[/color]" He pointed at himself, finishing his whisper of an assurance. Sighing for at least the tenth time this session, he scratched his head and gave an awkward smile.

Echo looked at him with a weak smile, wiping the tears from her eyes [color=0072bc]“I love you Jay..”[/color]