Chapter 18
"So, you're going to be staying with
Kevin," my mother explained as the nurse wheeled me out the hospital
doors. Me staying with Kevin? Chances are that alone would bring me back to the
hospital.
She continued. "Your father and I don't
think you should be flying yet and doing a lot of travelling, and your doctor
agreed with us one-hundred percent. So, Kevin offered to have you stay with
him."
"Didn't everyone else already head
back?"
She zipped my jacket. "Howie and AJ flew
back to Florida, but Brian will be with you. I'd just stay myself but Aaron has
a lot coming up and...But maybe I could arrange it?"
"No, Mama, just go back. I'll be
fine."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah, Kevin can be my servant!"
"Sweetheart, we'll never live to see that
day."
She did indeed have a point.
The nurse handed me a heavy set of papers.
"All right, Mr.Carter, this contains instructions to your after care. You
can't do any lifting because of the stitches and you'll need to watch your
diet. There's also information on how to continue taking your
prescriptions."
"Thanks, Ma'am."
My mother smiled pointing into the lot.
"There's Kevin and Brian." I sighed, thankfully the hospital had been
able to keep all of us hidden and release me easily. Brian flashed me a huge
smile. "Hey, Nicky! Ready to go home?"
I nodded. "Let's roll."
My mom took the papers from my hands handed
them to Kevin. "Could you please make sure he does everything the doctor
ordered?"
"Certainly, Mrs. Carter."
She kissed my cheek. "Well, I guess this
is my cue to exit. You're positive you'll be all right?"
"Yeah, Mom, Brian won't let me do
anything bad and Kevin will probably give
me a leash."
"Okay, you just be careful and make sure
you call me!"
I hugged her. "I promise, Mommy."
Brian grinned. "Don't worry, Mrs. Carter,
Kevin already got him a pretty green leash."
I watched her smile as she walked back into
the hospital. "All right, I'm trusting you three to behave."
"I'll keep them in line," Kevin
assured her as she waved to us.
I faced my nurse. "Could I please get out
of this wheelchair?"
"Hospital procedure, Nickolas, I have to
wheel you to the car."
I rolled my eyes. "In that case, let's
hurry to his van."
"Very well."
She continued to ramble directions to Kevin
and Brian. Typical medical behavior-talk to the patient like they're not enough
there.
"And that's about it," she finished
as Kevin helped me into the van.
Finally, I was heading back to a normal life.
Well, as normal as my life can get.
********************
"Will you be okay sharing with Brian or
do you want your own room?" Kevin asked as he set my luggage down.
"This will be fine. I just want to lay
down and rest."
Brian fluffed my pillows. "Nick, you
want me to sit with you?"
"If you like."
Kevin headed to the door. "You need
anything, Nick? A drink or something?"
"Could I have a glass of water."
"Sure, I'll be right back."
I faced Brian. "Why is he fussing over
me? Ever since we got in the car he was asking if I was okay or if I needed
anything."
"What's so wrong with him caring?"
"Nothing. He's just acting weird."
Brian sat down beside me. "He feels
guilty, Nick."
"Why would he do that?"
"He wishes he would've taken you to the hospital
when you first started feeling sick."
I shrugged. "It's no big deal."
"Maybe not to you, but it is to
him."
"It wasn't his fault the electric went
out and I had a fever."
Brian chuckled. "Nevermind."
Kevin returned holding my water. "Here,
Nicky, it's also time for your pills."
I whined involuntarily. "Already?"
"Yeah, sorry, bud."
I swallowed them roughly sipping the water.
"You sure you don't want anything else,
Nick?"
I sighed. "No, I'm fine." I stared
at him. "Why are you acting so weird?"
"I was just worried, Nick."
I couldn't understand it. Why was he so
worried? All of the guys came to see me in the hospital after the surgery
except....Kevin.
He frowned. "Well, I'll leave you alone
now. Come on, Bri, he needs his rest."
"No!" I cried. "I want both of
you to stay. I want to talk."
"About what?"
"What's going on with you?" I asked
abruptly.
"Me?"
"Yeah, Kev, you've been acting funny ever
since I got in the car. You're offering to get me anything but you wouldn't
stop by room in the hospital. What's going on?"
Tears rimmed his green eyes. "It hurt too
much, Nick. I couldn't stand to see you yet. I mean, if anything would've
happened it would've been my fault!"
"No, it wouldn't. Blame my appendix,"
I chuckled.
"I'm not joking, Nick! I should've
listened to Brian. Then, maybe you wouldn't have been in so much pain."
"Kevin, it would've hurt no matter what
and you never listen to Brian, anyway."
He wiped his eyes. "I guess it would be a
good idea for me to start. He was right, you are closer to him and he knows you
better."
This was a switch-since when was I trying to
comfort Kevin? "Kevin, it's okay, man. Don't cry."
Brian wrapped an arm around him. "You all
right?"
"No, I'm not all right- none of us
are."
His cousin paused. "What are you talking
about?"
"What happened to us? Brian, you're so
protective now-your always scared. I'm a freakin' whimp that sobs. Howie and AJ
are pushing everything into their work...And Nick.." He turned to me.
"I haven't seen you show emotions in years. You use to cry more than any
of us-and now you're the only you that doesn't. What happened?"
"What's the use? When I would cry someone
in management would tell me to shut up. And I've learned not to."
He shook his head. "Don't learn to do
that, Nick. Never learn that."
I lifted my head. "All I wanna' know is
why were you and Rok fighting like cats and dogs?"
Brian laughed. "When don't we fight like
that?"
"Seriously, Rok."
"Well, Nick, Kevin and I use to argue a
lot about how you were treated in the beginning of all this, you know that.
You'd be sick all the time and sad.....When you got so sick it just brought
everything back. Right, Kevin?"
"Yeah, I didn't want to make Nick go to
the hospital if he didn't want to. Because when I bitched at you about getting
heart surgery faster-you about took my head off."
Brian blushed. "Oh, yeah, sorry about
that."
I crossed my arms. "And you two called me
immature? I think I deserve an apology!"
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Keep on
wishing."
Typical.
He frowned. "But I am sorry for a lot of
things. I'm sorry for the way you were treated and that I didn't force your ass
to the hospital. Brian was right."
Brian smiled. "I never thought I'd hear
those words." He paused. "So, do you forgive us, Frack?"
I reflected over all the things that had
happened to us on this rollercoaster ride to fame. Everyone was bound to get a
little uptight, weren't they? In the beginning, we were forced to do everything
our superiors said-as if we were animals they could whip. Now, we were
branching out on our own to live our lives and career in full. Neither was
easy. I shrugged giving them a small grin. "Why wouldn't I forgive you? I
think we all just caught a little case of cabin fever."
The End
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