Jay Aslan: Journey to the Top

Right, he was no longer ######, he was Jay Aslan. He didn't kid himself into thinking he would immediately forget his past, but he had to make an effort in moving on.     

Jay glanced at the clock and realized he had to wait a little while longer for his new family to come, so he rang the bell.     

A nurse came in, the same one as before. He wasn't sure whether Mrs. Jetson was busy or simply wasn't here yet. He asked the nurse for something to pass the time, and when she asked if a book would do, he nodded. She left and came back with the first three volumes of the Harry Potter series. How nostalgic.     

"Thank you." he smiled gently. The nurse was startled. He was... very handsome. She hadn't really noticed since he looked so frail a breeze would probably break him. His cheeks were hollowed too, but when he had smiled, his amber eyes had almost become slits and the mole under his left eye was very cute.     

She stuttered when she realized she was staring. "Uh... no problem. I'm Nancy by the way, Mary... that would be Mrs. Jetson for you, Mrs. Jetson will be there tonight. I have the morning shift, so don't hesitate if you need something."     

Jay nodded gratefully and she left. He didn't think much about her staring, he was aware that his awakening had become a hot topic in the hospital, he'd heard the staff gossip about him before.     

He took the first book and started to read. He had reached up until Hagrid takes Harry around to buy his school supplies when the door to his room was practically ripped open.     

Startled, he looked up at the source of the commotion and saw a woman leaning against the doorway, struggling for breath. She was a stunner. Probably 5"11, shoulder length blonde hair and amber eyes. She had well-drawn eyebrows and delicate lips. She was a stunner. And he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, who she was.     

"...Mom?" he called out. His heart was in his throat. How long had it been since he had called out that name? In his past life, his mother had died of cancer when he was 8, and later his father too had left when he had started college. He was an only child and so were his parents, he had always felt envious of people with big families.     

And then he felt it, part of the memories had come back. He remembered his first ski trip, Helen had scolded him when he had naughtily eaten snow as a mean to staunch his thirst. He remembered how worried she had been when he had gotten the lost in the mall, hysterically calling out his name. This was... his mother.     

Jay felt his heart warm up at the thought.     

Helen's heart was pounding furiously, she did all she could to keep from collapsing. The damn elevator had been out of service and so she had decided to dash all the way to the 12th floor by stairs, to the utter disbelief of her daughter. Her husband had followed her of course, but was unable to keep up with her pace when he had to carry Lou with him.     

When she heard the words she had for years dreamt of hearing again, she looked up and stared in a daze at the young man lying on the bed. He was looking back at her, seemingly unsure of what to say, what to do.     

But that was okay, because she knew. She walked towards his bed, slowly, as if afraid he'd disappear. She could feel the tears streaming past her face and her makeup was probably a mess but she didn't care. He was awake. Her baby... was awake.     

When she reached his side, she sat on the bed, her eyes never leaving him. She reached a trembling hand towards his face and he smiled and wrapped his own above it.     

"Jay..." Helen croaked, the tears blurring her vision now.     

"I'm here, mom..." she heard him say, before she pulled him tightly in her embrace, her body wracked by uncontrollable sobs.     

"You're awake *sob*, you are... *sob* awake... My *sob* baby..." Jay was caught-off guard by the heartbreak in her eyes, and felt a little guilty when he realized he wasn't really the person she had been waiting for. He gently patted her back as her tears and snot drenched his hospital gown.     

When Lee and Lou Aslan reached the room, this was the scene that greeted them.     

Lee was a man of few words whose ability to remain stone-faced no matter the situation had almost become a trademark in court of laws, but even him couldn't stop neither the trembling of his body nor the reddening of his eyes. His son... was back.     

He made his way forward as well and stood beside the bed on the other side. When Jay noticed him he let out a helpless smile and Lee couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.     

"Honey, if the car accident didn't kill him, your maternal care probably will."     

Helen froze before slowly letting go of her son. Then she whipped her head back towards her husband as the meaning of what he had said sunk in.     

"What did you say?" she almost growled.     

Lee ignored her and looked at Jay inquiringly, "What, too soon?"     

Jay couldn't help but chuckle, his dad was interesting. He took a good look at the man; probably 5"11 too, which was pretty tall for a Korean guy, Jay reckoned. Lee Aslan had dark black hair, deep dark brown eyes and thin lips that gave him a stern appearance. He seemed like a no-nonsense kind of guy, and Jay inferred his previous joke might have been a rare occurrence.     

He turned his attention to the last member of the family, duly noting that Mrs. Jetson's assessment had most likely been an understatement.     

"Hi." he couldn't help but break into a smile when he saw the little girl.     

She was staring at him unblinkingly. Just when he thought she would ignore him, her cute little voice sounded, "Big brother?"     

"Hm." Jay smiled, she was truly adorable.     

"You're awake!" she struggled out of Lee's arms and jumped on the bed, looking at him inquiringly. "You slept for soooo long, you know."     

Then her expression turned solemn – well, as solemn as a 5 year old goes – "You know, I don't think you should sleep again, grandma always says it's better to be a safe than a softy..." she blinked her eyes. "Hm... that's not it... I... no I forgot..."     

Helen chuckled and wiped her tears, "Baby why don't you show Brenda and Sammy to your big brother?"     

Lou froze before her eyes started darting all round the room and she fidgeted with her fingers. "Hm... they... they had a cold so I... I left them at home..." she softly whispered sneaking glances at her big brother on the bed in the process, and it was obvious to anyone watching that she felt guilty.     

This time even Lee couldn't help bursting in raucous laughter.